Yellow River

The Yellow River begins above north of Opp, AL as a small creek. It joins Lightwood Knot Creek and these two streams form Lake Jackson. As the Yellow continues to flow through Covington County, it makes the transition from a small stream to a full sized river. The Yellow is normally run below HW 55 at Watkins Bridge. This section in southern Covington County forms the border of the Conecuh National Forest. There is very little development along the river. You will only see the occasional camp or access point.

Both largemouth and spotted bass are found in the Yellow River. The spotted bass are more common between Watkins Bridge (HW 55) and Givens Bridge (SR 4). You will also pick up small bream. This section is ideal for small boats and canoes. You best level for floating is 300-800cfs. There are no significant shoals or rapids. You may have to get around a logjam or two, especially near the confluence with Five Runs Creek.

The river becomes wider and the current slows down below Givens Bridge, largemouth become more common. Redbreast, redear and bluegill sunfish are also plentiful. Keep in mind that motorboats are also more plentiful below Givens Bridge and into Florida, because of deeper water and easy access with public boat ramps.

Trip Report

Level: 81.3 Flow: 500 cfs (steady)
Gauge: Yellow River at Oak Grove
Clarity: Clear
Weather: Mid 60's Saturday, Near 30 Saturday night, Low 70's Sunday, Clear skies
Section: HW55 Watkins Bridge, AL to SR 2 Oak Grove, Florida

Section I
Watkins Bridge (HW55) to Givens Bridge (SR 4)
Distance: 11 miles

The access below Watkins Bridge is downstream river right. There is a narrow dirt road that takes you 50-100 yards downstream. Here, the bank is not as steep as it is at the bridge. You will find an easy access for canoes or perhaps a small jon boat. There is no boat ramp here, and this section can contain minor logjams and obstructions. This is mostly a section for paddlers.

This upper portion of the Yellow River winds along with occasional rock formations. Low sandbars are present as the river makes deeper bends and turns. Most of the sandbars are suitable for camping as long as the gauge is below 800 cfs. Higher water will result in challenging fishing conditions and fewer possible camping spots. The river is not quite as clear as other blackwater streams in the area. However, you will notice very clear, spring fed tributaries entering on both the east and western banks. Wildlife is common along the river. If you are quiet, you may see deer, turkey, wood ducks, and the occasional beaver. Kingfishers, pileated woodpeckers, hawks, and owls are also prevalent along this remote waterway at the edge of the national forest.

There are two distinct areas with small rocky bluffs and deeper holes. One is found only several miles below the put in. The other is only a mile or two below the entrance of Five Runs Creek. There is good potential for spotted bass in these areas. There are also small boulders scattered along the bottom of the Yellow in a few spots. The woods can be very pretty in the early spring with dogwoods in bloom, red maples budding out, and the trees pushing out bright green leaves. Cypress trees are also common along the banks of the Yellow. The fishing was extremely challenging considering the post frontal/midspawn conditions. However, the scenery was nice, and we saw a lot of wildlife. Compared to other rivers in South Alabama, you may be surprised at how clean the river was. There is very little trash along the way.

Section II
Givens Bridge (SR 4) to Oak Grove, FL (SR 2)
Distance: 8 Miles

The access at both the put-in and takeout is excellent with public boat ramps at both locations. There are several long and straight sections as the river flows southward. You will also encounter several tight bends with logs along the banks. There is a clear route for small boats down to levels around 400 cfs in this section. Expect to see motorboats fishing for bass, panfish, and running trotlines for catfish.

There are several nice sandbars along this route. You won't find the rocks or boulders. There are also small sloughs and slack water areas off the main channel. Hardwood forests and cypress trees line the banks in many areas. There are some areas where pine trees come close to the rivers edge, but timber management practices seem to be more river friendly along the Yellow in both states.

This section is perfect for a half day of floating. Small plastic baits, crankbaits, and 1/8-1/4oz spinner baits are a good bet for the largemouth and occasional spotted bass along this section. Beetle spins, crickets, and worms will work for the panfish. With the increase in boat access, the fishing pressure makes the bite tougher here.

Styx River

These are photos from Styx River, Elsanor/CR87 to Seminole.













Aaron White of Great Days Outdoors Magazine is pictured with a nice largemouth.











Aaron shows off a chunky Spotted Bass.











There are a lot of log jams on this section. Trip report is coming soon...

Big Escambia Creek 5/4/2006

*Updated photos from our Fox Ten Outdoors shoot on Big Escambia February 2007.











*Vania Kuy, Fox Ten Outdoors photojournalist shoots video of likely fishing spot.











* Vania takes a break and hauls in a nice spotted bass at the confluence of Sizemore Creek.










*We boated 20-25 nice spots. The largest was close to 2 pounds.








Big Escambia Creek forms near Frisco City in Monroe County and flows south through extreme S'west Conecuh County. The creek is reported to be covered with numerous log jams between CR 30 and I-65 as it enters Escambia County, AL. However, below I-65 there are some interesting sections to float up to the town of Flomaton. There is a clear 12.5 mile section from Sardine Bridge(CR 27) to Flomaton, with another access point halfway down this run at Murray Branch Road.

Big Escambia is a typical clear blackwater stream, and is very similar to it's nearby cousin, Little River which flows on the Monroe Baldwin County line. There are gravel bars, rock formations and occasional white sand bars. Overall, the drops and rock formations are more interesting on Big Escambia, but water quality is better on the Little. Big Escambia cuts through rock and clay, and the first 9 miles from Sardine Bridge (Cr27) contain some minor shoals that are borderline Class I. Unfortunately, gravel mines and clear cutting take there toll on Big Escambia as you get further downstream. The sediment is an issue keeping the river pretty shallow as you approach Flomaton.

Trip Report

I had a business trip in the Huxford, AL area on Thursday morning, and the rest of my afternoon was free. It only took one quick look at the Delorme Map book and a trip to Big Escambia Creek was in the works. This trip ended up being a solo experience and it was a rare treat. I called a friend, Jerry Hawsey, from the Brewton area who was very kind to help me with the shuttle. Special thanks to Jerry! The trip turned out to be perfect.














We have had several months of drought across the Gulf Coast, and most rivers are running quite low. This makes for excellent fishing, however, the streams can actually be too low to float. After Driving to the Sardine Bridge and looking at the 2.2 foot level (usgs), I went a little further downstream. I decide to float from Murray Branch Road to Flomaton (Us 31) making for a 6 mile trip. Sizemore Creek comes in above this lower section and adds substantial volume .















I drove into Flomaton and checked out the easy take out access on river right (N'west side of US 31), ate at Hardees, and went back up to Murray Branch Road. The put-in at Murray Branch is good, you have to try several dirt roads to find the best spot. This is a locals hangout from the looks of the trash scattered around. The put-in scenery gets a D-, but this is soon forgotten.















I began my trip around 1pm and planned to fish hard and paddle very little. The first two miles of Big Escambia had some twists and turns, along with a few very minor rock shoals. I began to catch fish pretty quickly. At one shoal area, there is an interesting lagoon on river left that you can paddle into. I caught one fine bull bream there on my flyrod. I picked up some small spotted bass throughout my float, mostly behind log jams. I caught a fish on a beetle spin, and one on a worm.. The rest were all caught on a #6 Frugal Frog Betts popping bug. The river slows down and gets more choked with sediment, but I did catch three bass near the powerline cutover 1.5 miles above Flomaton. The highlight of the day came when I caught a 2+ pound largemouth on a fly in this area. Most of my bass that I caught on a fly, hit when I was wading. When you canoe float fish these blackwater streams, its a good idea to get out and wade from time to time. Whenever, I see a deep cut against a high bank, with log jams that create slackwater eddies its time to pull over... I stop on the adjacent sand bar and wade fish so I can make a better presentation














Overall, the put-in was trashed and the river was pretty in most spots. I did hear a gravel mine in operation, in one small section. Otherwise, I saw no cabins, and no people for 5-6 hours. There were a few herons, a red headed woodpecker, and a water moccasin along the way. The timing worked out well. Jerry said he would be done with work by 6:30 pm. I saw the Flomaton bridge about 6:20pm and called on the cell phone, which works well at the takeout in the heart of Flomaton.

Brushy Creek, AL to MS

This Brushy Creek has a neat canyon feature a few miles below the put-in.

**This is not Brushy Creek in the Bankhead National Forest
***This stream is in lower Alabama (and MS)

There are countless small waterways that are named "Brushy Creek" in the state of Alabama. This particular Brushy Creek is a tributary of the Escatawpa River that has some interesting shoals, followed by very challenging logjams.

The stream begins in Greene County, MS near the community of Pisgah. It flows southward into George County, MS. Scarborough Creek and Tennesse Creek add to the flow. Brushy becomes just large enough to paddle at Brushy Creek Road. Then the flow begins to head southeastward for four miles, crosses the Alabama line, and flows another 1.5 miles before hitting the Escatawpa.







Here is another shot of the unique claystone ledges.






The stream cuts through a layer of sandstone and claystone with gradient of about 7 feet per mile. There are several extended shoal areas in this twisty, swift area of stream. You also will encounter one class I drop of about three feet. Much of the land along the creek is posted. Proceed with caution. You will see several cabins along the way. The flow flattens out two miles above the Escatawpa. The streambed becomes sandy in nature, and the occasional logjams become more numerous. Brushy enters the Escatawpa 2.5 miles above the HW 98 access.

The best way to navigate Brushy Creek would be in a small, light tandem canoe with two paddlers to help carry over the logs. A small sit on top kayak would also work very well. The creek is very narrow and paddling a longer sea kayak would be problematic. Sit-in kayaks like "Pungos" might work, but it would be more dangerous due to the logs and strainers. Pack a light amount of gear to make the portages easier.







Logjams and spotted bass co-exist along Brushy.








From a fishing perspective, it would be difficult to flyfish. The creek is just too tight. A short 5 to 5 1/2 ft. spinning rod with 6 lb. test is ideal. The spotted bass fishing is very good. They like 4" worms and small spinnerbaits. Bring some small beetle spins, because and there are also some very pretty longear bream that locals call "sun perch." See the report below.
















The best way to gauge the level on this creek is the Big Creek level, above Big Creek Lake. This is a similar stream, though slightly smaller, that is located 5-10 miles to the east of Brushy. Here is my best guess in translating the levels between Big Creek and Brushy Creek. High levels could be dangerous due to the numerous logjams and strainers. For a visual level, if you can run the first shoal just downstream of the bridge, you should be fine.

5.5ft, 200 cfs - High
4.5 ft, 100cfs - Medium (Best)
3.5 ft, 50cfs - Low (Best for Fishing)
3.0 ft, 40 cfs - Minimum









Curtis shows of a nice Brushy Creek Spot.







Trip Report

Level: 3.0
Flow: 48 cfs (falling slowly)
Best Gauge: Big Creek above Big Creek Lake, or visual.
Clarity: Clear
Weather: Upper 50's, Cloudy
Section: Brushy Creek Road-HW 98 (5.5mi on Brushy, 2.5mi on Escatawpa)

Curtis and I paddled Brushy on Sunday, February 4th 2007 in a tandem Mad River Explorer 16'. A shorter 15' canoe would have been even better. The question is, are the logjams worth it? The fishing is really good and the shoals are neat. The logs are especially bad in the lower section, partly due to Hurricane Katrina. They slow the trip down big time. I am ready to do it again. Curtis says he would prefer a more open stream like Little River in Baldwin County or Big Escambia Creek.






Most fish were 1-2 pounds...








We set out from Mobile at 10:30am, arriving about at the Brushy Creek Road put-in bridge 45 minutes later. We unloaded the canoe and fishing gear. Curtis' road bike was our shuttle. We decided to flip a coin to see who was going to have ride the bike back up.

The idea was to drive the truck with the bike in the bed back to Escatawpa Hollow, and leave the truck there. The unlucky loser then had to bike it up HW 98. And, then turn right and peddle north on Beaver Creek Road until it merges with Brushy Creek Road and the bridge. The winner got to set up the canoe and gear, and then ease upstream and fish a little. Curtis called heads, the coin said tails. Curtis had to ride. The agreement was that I get to bike the shuttle next time.

I was a bad judge of time. Curtis waited 20 minutes at the bridge while I fooled around with some spotted bass upstream. We finally got on the creek about noon. I told Curtis I was sorry he had to wait. But, that he would love the creek. It was full of fish. Curtis said "I booked it down 98, and it wasn't fun with the 18 wheelers. But, the ride up the country road was great."








This pose is beyond cheesy.








We caught fish right away. We caught six fish out of one pool in the first mile. The spots were hitting 4" black finesse worms with a 1/0 EWG Gamagatzu hook and 1/8 oz. or 1/16 oz. screw-in head weight. I also had good look with the 5" Gulp shaky worm. Throughout the afternoon, we caught a good 20 or so fish. Some of the spots were smaller - around a 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound. We both caught several fish well over a pound. The fish were found in most of the deeper holes and bends. The ones we didn't catch were visible in the clear water as we canoed downstream. Later in the run, I switched to a small 1/8 mini king spinnerbait. It seemed to work just as well.

We encountered some really neat shoals in the first 3-4 miles. There were several sections where the light shoals would continue for 50 yards or more. One drop was a definite class I, even at this lower level. It was a good three foot ledge. I would imagine it would be very fun when Big Creek is running a 100 cfs or so. The upper section did contain a few logjams, but nothing major.








Holding onto a branch with your teeth keeps the boat still and both hands free for fishing.





The fishing seemed to slack off a little towards the bottom. We still caught a few, but the holes were not as deep. You also would find the holes right behind the log jams. By the time you got the boat over the jam, the fish were spooked. We were also in a hurry. We were running out of daylight. In the last mile or two, we were hoping the Escatawpa was right around every bend. Instead we found some tricky logjams. Most were low enough that we could slide the boat over the log. Some logs were low enough in the water to slide over. Twice though, we had to get out of the creek and carry through the woods.








Escatawpa at night. There are more photos on my 35 mm that show Curtis and the Creek. Coming soon.










We reached the Escatawpa just after sunset. It was pretty much dark. We had a good 2.5 mile paddle left. The Escatawpa was pumping at 1230 cfs so the current helped us along. The sandbars stood out in the fading evening light. A full moon rising in the east brightened the sky a little. We made good time in the swift current. It wasn't long before the noise and lights of HW 98 appeared in the distance.

It was a challenging paddle and six hours is not enough time if you plan to fish.

Sipsey River Photos

Brushy Creek Photos

Trip Report 1-23-07


Level: 5.0 ft
Flow: 300cfs (falling)
Gauge: Sipsey Fork at Grayson
Clarity: Ultra Clear
Weather: Upper 40's, Mostly Cloudy
Section: Brushy Lake FS 245- Hickory Grove Road FS 255

Brushy Lake

The entrance to the Bankhead coming from the north side and Wren, AL on HW 33 .





After paddling the Upper, Upper Mulberry, I headed for my real destination - the Bankhead National Forest. My goal was to spend three days and two nights exploring Brushy Creek and the Sipsey Fork.

This all started in early January, when I learned that I had four vacation days left over from 2006. I had to take them in the next few weeks, or I would lose them. It would most likely be time off during the week, in the coldest month of the year. I was going to be vacationing by myself. Nobody else would be interested in running rivers and camping in the cold weather. To me, I knew it was an excellent opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in Alabama on my own.








Brushy Lake







I spent several days before my trip looking at computer models and forecasts. There were two possible trips depending on the weather. I was either going to Southeast Alabama to float the Choctawhatchee and the Pea Rivers, fishing for Spotted Bass and camping on sandbars. Or, I was going to the Bankhead to maybe hunt, attempt to fish, and definitely canoe camp in the colder weather. I also was going to be biking my shuttles. I found the roads in the Bankhead to be fantastic to bike on.







Wide open roads with little traffic.







The forecast pointed at a heavy rain the north part of the state on Sunday. That system was to stall out in the southern part on the state Monday through Wednesday, leaving the north dry. Monday through Thursday was my window of opportunity. I headed north through the rain, catching the higher water on the Mulberry Monday afternoon. I stopped ion Cullman for the traditional Mexican feast at the local Loopy's. Then, I pushed west on U.S. 278 through Addison, and north on SR 63 to Brushy Lake campground. There are two maps that are very helpful in this area besides the Delorme map book. You can order at water resistant Bankhead map from Carto-Craft Maps 205-822-2103, and you can download the Black Warrior WMA hunting map.
The Carto-Craft map is the best, and is also available at the stores in Wren, AL north of the forest.







I had the place to myself.








I found the campground completely empty. I was perfect. There was no water and no electricity. There was a bathroom with a chamber pot toilet that was fairly clean. I found 13 sites to choose from. I picked a spot with lake view that was in the central portion of the campground near the bathhouse. The sites were level, clean, and had a nice table to cook on.







A cozy site.








The 33 acre lake is clear and very pretty. Brushy Creek and Owl Creek enter on the north end and keep a steady flow of clean water that drains the protected forest. There is a day use area close to the lower end. Brushy Lake offers fishing form bass and bream. I'm sure it gets some fishing pressure in the warm weather months. A short paddle around the lake, and a fairly short portage around the dam on river right brings you to the start of the remote 10 mile paddle on Brushy Creek. It was a nice place to get a good nights sleep right at the put in for tomorrow's float.

Here is a shot using the self timer on my Pentax right after a 21 mile bike ride form Hickory Grove road.












A short paddle across the lake takes you to the put in for Brushy Creek.

Upper, Upper Mulberry Fork

Mulberry Fork at the BCC takeout




The Mulberry Fork of the Warrior is one of the most consistent and popular whitewater runs in the state. Near the Cullman - Marshall County line, the Mulberry forms close to the town of Arab (pronounced A-Rab). The water quality is fair, and can get pretty muddy above the USGS gauge level of 4.5 feet. There are a large number of chicken houses in the area, as well as other agricultural impacts. However, the bluffs are scenic and the Mulberry is a nice low gradient, high volume river with nice waves.













Hawaii 5-0 Rapid at 6.5 feet

The Lower Mulberry Fork is the section below U.S. 31 at Garden City. It provides straightforward class II action with good play spots. This section can be run at levels as low as 3.8 feet, and is usually running in most of the winter and spring months. It also can develop some very impressive wave trains at higher levels of up to 7 feet. The take out for this short 3 mile section is at the Haiwai 5-0 wave playspot at the Birmingham Canoe Club parking area. This is also the site of the Mulberry Fork Races each spring. This is an extremely popular stretch of Alabama whitewater. The best fishing would be at levels below 4.5 feet. The river clears up nicely and spotted bass are plentiful. It would be interesting to float below the BCC takeout and fish the river to Black Bottom or Sloan. This could be done in a canoe at levels in the 3'-4' range.

The Upper Mulberry Fork is considered to be the 6.5 mile section between County Road 10 and U.S. 31. This section still receives the extra volume of the Duck and Broglen Rivers which enter just above CR 10. It does need a little more water - say around 4.5 feet - to be running well enough to enjoy the whitewater action. All the rapids are straightforward class II's and like the lower section, produces bigger and bigger waves at high levels. The section is a nice rollercoaster ride above 5'. Below 4.5' you might drag some, but the river runs clear and the fishing would be good.

There are some other options above these two sections if the water is up. But, like many Alabama streams at their headwaters, a good whitewater floating level is usually too high for fishing. The low gradient section between County Road 51 and County Road 10 could make a decent float fishing trip at levels around 5 feet. Above County Road 51, you pretty much have to wade it it at levels that are fishable. The minimal float for class I-II whitewater between U.S. 278 and County Road 51 is 5 feet.

So that leaves the section above U.S. 278. Alabamawhitewater.com refers to this as the Upper, Upper Mulberry Fork of Warrior. This is a nice class II+ section that can be run after recent rains of 1.5" or more. This headwater run begins at State Highway 67, and is only floatable when its too high to fish. Ideally you want a rising level above 5.5 feet on the Garden City Gauge. As of early 2007 there are several logjams that you have to go over or around, but they are worth the effort if the water is pumping. There is very little flatwater, and the pools are short.

Trip Report 1/22/07 - Upper, Upper Mulberry













A class I shoal near the put-in


Level: 6.2 ft
Flow: 2100 cfs (falling fast)
Clarity: Stained
Weather: Upper 40's, Cloudy
Section: HW 67 - US 231 (Near Holly Pond, AL)

I had some leftover vacation days to take in January, and choose to head to north central Alabama for some solo camping, paddling, and cycling. My goal was to spend most of my time in the Bankhead National Forest, but I wanted to catch the Mulberry or the Locust on my way up.

A good soaking rain fell on Sunday the 21st, pushing the Mulberry Fork level to 6.8' that night. I left Mobile around 5am Monday morning for the Cullman area. I chose the Mulberry Fork as my destination because I figured it was the best chance to meet up with some other paddlers. The reality of the situation was though, that it was cold and cloudy Monday in January. Nobody was on the river that day.

I considered paddling the lower Mulberry, but the 6+ foot level was a bit pushy for a solo open canoe trip. I had paddled this section at a similar level in the early 90's and remembered the lunch stop rapid to be pretty impressive. After taking some pictures of the Haiwii 5-0 at the put in, I headed up river for the more technical and less pushy upper Mulberry.

The river at HW 67 put-in had crested overnight. It was running fairly clear and looked to be fairly close to the minimum for this run. This was a much safer option for a run by myself. This is actually considered to be a class +II run, but that rating is for levels above 6' at Garden City and rising. The gauge is far downstream from this section and represents what happened upstream a good 12-24 hours earlier. I would consider it borderline class II at 6.0' an falling due to the strainers and logs, and the technical nature of the drops.

Setting up a shuttle by myself was a new concept to me. The main thing I wanted to accomplish, was to leave the vehicle at the bottom of the run - at the take out. That way, when I was tired and wet at the end of the run, I didn't have a bike ride to deal with.











Floatation is a good idea anywhere on the Mulberry




So, first I drove the canoe up to State Road 67. The access is steep, but a short carry around the rock ledge on the downstream river right side was possible. I took my 16' Mad River Explorer (with my new carry yoke on the center thwart) off the truck, carried down to the river, and locked it up. I stashed my extra gear in the woods nearby. Secondly I drove my truck (with a Trek Road Bike in the back) back down to the take out. There is great parking at the downstream river left side at U.S. 231. I left the truck there and began my first serious bike ride in probably ten years.

My shuttle route was west on U.S. 278, then north on County Road 1742. The traffic was heavy on 278, but the distance was short. Traffic was minimal on 1742, but there was the occasional chicken truck passing through with it's wonderful aroma. I also encountered a few loud, but harmless dogs along the way. I took a right on County Road 1725 to shorten the distance slightly. I then took a right on State Highway 67 and peddled the short downhill ride to the put in. Overall the ride was about 10 miles, but none of the hills were especially steep. It took 30 or 40 minutes in all.

The word is that the owner of the property at the HW 67 bridge downstream river right is friendly. I did not meet him, but be careful not to block his gate to his craft shop if you park there. There is enough room on the shoulder to park 1-2 vehicles here.

The run itself started out with a number of minor shoals and a few interesting logjams. I can only recall one logjam that I had to carry over. You could squeeze over or around the rest at this level. At higher levels, some of the log jams could become serious strainers for the unprepared. The whitewater action picks up, and the logjams disappear after Pan Creek on river right adds to the flow after the second mile.














Nice Bluffs!



I enjoyed several nice drops. There was some good scenery with picturesque bluffs along the way. The river did have some trash in it though, and there was that faint smell of the chicken farms. Apparently many of the property owners along the river don't care about keeping the stream clean. I was surpirsed there were only a few cabins. However, there were a several areas with rope swings that looked like places where the locals party and swim in the summer.











The best of the drops (a little blurry)




I'd love to run it again directly after a big rain when the lower Mulberry is too big. I imagine the redeye and spotted bass fishing would be pretty decent when the the water warms up, and slows down - in the late spring.