columbus dam removal

[bronzeback]

Hey guys-
I saw a fishing show this weekend on sportsman channel called "One Cast With Shaw Grigsby". They caught shoal bass on the Hooch around Columbus and talked about the dams coming down, but didn't give a date. Does anyone have the details?

[smiley]

I know they have been talking about it for a few years now. Not sure of the actual date when they will be coming down tho.

[Shoal Tide]

interesting

[Rivercrawler]

It is going to be a good thing for the fish and the environment. And it going to bring a lot of money to Columbus area.

[riverlover]

Wow, that is pretty cool, you hardly ever see any free flowing rivers anymore. I'm surprised that would even be a consideration. I guess the power generation from it can be replaced by some other source.

[fishtaco]

Last I heard they were going to remove the dam and make a whitewater park. Whitewater means shoal bass right?

[LowHybred09]

There is a decent shoal bass population there now so I imagine it only getting better when those dams come down.

[Gator Hater]

There's a good bit of information on the web about the project. It is supposed to be completed in about 18 months. Below are a couple of links of interest for the project called Ready 2 Raft 2012. This project is the one of the primary reasons that The Outside World (a Georgia paddle sports and outdoor retailer, also a Jackson Coosa dealer) has just opened its second location in Georgia only a block or two from the river on Broadway in the midst of the Uptown Columbus shopping district. If you are in the Columbus TOW store ask Josh Brewer or the staff about the project. Josh is a whitewater guy and pretty excited about it. I believe they will soon be offering whitewater classes/lessons if they aren't already. They opened the new store last fall and are gearing up to be well established in Columbus by the time this thing opens.

http://columbusgawhitewater.com/index.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RznzxDAPkCg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EheGixzPsE8&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=922OnKd5b84

[Seminole Steve]

The dam removal is scheduled to begin this summer and will be completed by summer of 2012. It will create 2.5 miles of shoal habitat. And yes, they are making a whitewater course for kayaking enthusiasts. I expect the shoal bass population to increase substantially in the area. Right now there are small populations below each dam.

[bronzeback]

Thanks for the details everyone. They caught some nice fish on the show. I have a 13 yr. old son, and they were talking about rapids up to class IV when the dams come down, which has me a little worried. I imagine there would be ways around that for the anglers...

[aznflycaster]

That stretch from Oliver dam to the Dillingham st bridge has a decent shoal bass population. I have only caught a few shoal bass out of Bibb pond but the others have a decent population. I cant wait till they they take the dams out and restore the river because the sections between the dams tend to act like lakes because of areas with 30+ feet deep of water. When the dam generates it isn't too bad but when the gates at Oliver are open it gets pretty bad. I am also hoping they put a path for the kayak fishers to take when the dam opens because right now there are not any sirens. Hopefully the shoal bass population will get better with this because its right in my backyard only 5 mins from this stretch.

[Catawba]

Looks like another GA road trip in few years. "So many rivers, so little time" This really is something you don't see often enough. I can't think of any dams near here that we could return to free flow - the opposition would be considerable.

[Gator Hater]

Looks like another GA road trip in few years. "So many rivers, so little time" This really is something you don't see often enough. I can't think of any dams near here that we could return to free flow - the opposition would be considerable.

Duke Power did take out the small one on the Tuck at Dillsboro last year. Not exactly close to you but drivable to fish for a day.

[Catawba]

Thanks Gator Hater. I did a little online search and it appears there was some interesting back and forth between "stakeholder" with respect to generating hydro power vs recreational use ... good to see that in the end we have more free flowing water on the Tuck.

[RedHeron]

The first one (Eagle & Phenix) came down on 3/21! There's some videos of it on youtube.

[jjjbluray]

You beat me to it RedHeron. I was working in Columbus Friday when they blew it up, but couldn't get away to see it.

[FERAL ONE]

the friday shot wasn't much to see but the sunday one was a bit more spectacular. the rapid folks call cutbait is one heck of a sight when it is runnin' !!! my son and i took our cudas down to chase the skipjacks and with the water running hard it was quite a workout . i was tickled with how well the boats performed in that water. it was the first time i ever felt i needed the low position on the seat and i was thankful for it. my old boat would not have survived the trip for sure !