The Cahaba River
The Cahaba River is the longest substantially free-flowing river in Alabama. It is a major tributary of the Alabama River and part of the larger Mobile River basin. With headwaters near Birmingham, the Cahaba flows 194 miles through central Alabama through our home town Centreville and joins the Alabama River at the ghost town and former Alabama capital of Cahaba in Dallas County. Its home to the Cahaba Lilly and 131 different species of fish, 18 unique to the Cahaba. This is where our journey begins.
The Cahaba River Trail
We are starting right here in central Alabama on the Cahaba River. The Cahaba will get the most attention because it is our local river. The Cahaba Blue Way project maintains access points along the Cahaba River and the upper half heading north from Centreville is the easiest to access from home. We have already fished Pratts Ferry by kayak and there are two access points up river which allow you to float back to Pratts Ferry. The Bibb County Glades Preserve is actually on the Little Cahaba River a major tributary of the Cahaba and the reason why there are two access points above Pratts Ferry. The Cahaba River National Wildlife Reserve in West Blocton has 3 separate access points Cahaba River NWR Caffee Creek, Cahaba River NWR Canoe Beach, and Cahaba River NWR Boat Ramp.
There are 14 more access points available up river. A few of them like Buck Creek, another major tributary located in Helana, are special points of interest. This access point is just below a dam that that provides deeper water and hopefully better fishing above. The US HWY 280 access point is also beside a dam, except this access point is above the dam. Grants Mill is the last access point that is deep enough to fish year round.
