I can’t remember when I learned that people snare river redhorse, but I am sure the desire to do it followed quickly. The fish were known to me because of many sightings while canoeing on different sections of the Cahaba. Others had told me that they were sucker fish you couldn’t easily catch with a hook. They are bottom-feeders, eating clams, mussels, snails and insect larvae.
Unlike Cahaba Lilies, river redhorse are not limited to a small area that includes the Cahaba Watershed. The National Park Service reports they live in clear streams and rivers with sandy, rocky bottoms throughout the eastern United States and into Canada. It also states they do not live in waters with significant sediment or pollution. (In my discussions about redhorsing with Charles Griffen, he told me that in the 1950’s they came up Buck Creek as far as the mineral railroad trestle until development upstream decreased the water quality.) River redhorse aren’t even the only type redhorse in Alabama. Other varieties include the black, blacktail, grayfin, silver, shorthead, golden and “greater jumprock”.
After learning of snaring, I read articles and watched videos about the its history and practice. My first attempt to connect with someone who could take me was through a patient who has lived in Bibb County for many years. That area has some families for whom this is a tradition passed down for generations. I asked clumsily if he knew anyone who lassoed redhorse. He corrected my terminology and said that he did. I made contact and over the next two years tried to get down near Montevallo with him in the spring to learn. It never happened because of unfavorable weather and high water levels.
Then another patient told me that Ken Penhale had a redhorse mount at the Helena Museum. Ken also had a pole and wire snare, as well as a copy of an old newspaper article about Charles Griffen and his redhorse snaring. Ken volunteered to introduce me to Charles. We had several discussions about his fishing, as well as his extensive collection of Native American artifacts. We also made plans for me to join him sometime in April to attempt snaring my first redhorse.
In April when Charles called to tell me he had continued his consecutive streak of snaring redhorse every year since he learned as a child, I was on a trip with my wife and wouldn’t get back until the spawning was completed.
So, I decided to do all I could to be available and ready for this year. I asked Charles if it was possible to predict by date when the spawning would occur. When he responded that it was April 18-20th, I took the step of scheduling time off from my practice on those days. With my guide being over 80 years old, I wanted to do my best to experience this while he was able. I justified it as a bucket list item- honestly, I have referred to it as my “redneck bucket list”. Charles added that the spawning was sometimes delayed by a cold weather front coming through, because water temperature had to be warm enough. (The Alabama Department of Conservation Website says water temps between 71 and 76 degrees is needed; https://www.outdooralabama.com/redhorse/river-redhorse.). Rain early in the week caused the water to be to muddy and high during the target dates. This worked fine for my schedule because my mom was hospitalized and I needed to spend time there. On Thursday night I got a call from Charles. He had snared a redhorse that afternoon, continuing his streak of 72 consecutive years. He also felt the water level should work for Saturday morning. My schedule was clear and the weather looked good. I was encouraged everything was finally going to come together.
Charles has an old orange telescoping pole that he has used for many years. The traditional way is to cut long sections of river cane, lay 3 pieces side to side, tie them together, and hang them vertically for several weeks from a high limb with a weight on the bottom to straighten them. He had been unsuccessfully looking for a newer telescoping crappie pole, but had been told they may no longer be available. In 2021, Helena’s True Value hardware store ordered several for him. They finally arrived early in 2022. Charles bought all six, giving most away to friends and family- including me. He was proud to get them because they are hollow except for the end section. This reduces the weight, which is helpful when you are trying to hold and control a 16-17 foot pole over the water for several hours.
Our group met at Charles’ house early on Saturday. In addition to myself, and Charlie, Jr., a friend who had not fished with them for twenty years also joined us. We headed to an area on the Little Cahaba River in Bibb County. The redhorse come back to the same area to spawn. Their presence was confirmed by Charles and Charlie during their successful Thursday visit. At the river’s edge we slid down the sandy bank into a side channel of the river and then waded through it to an island. On its other side, the male redhorse had made a bed in the sand 15-20 feet into the river. Its depth was less that two feet, and it was three to four feet wide and a bit longer.
I was the only first-timer in our group, and struggled with the task. Seeing the fish was difficult because the sun in a cloudless sky produced a blinding reflection off the river, but also because the water was just stained enough to prevent me seeing the fish in the bottom of the bed. Keeping the snare vertical in the water with the weight grazing the bottom, trying to correctly judge if it was in line with the fish or on this side or the far side, and adjusting as the fish moved back and forth in the current were the other contributors to my challenge.
The others were quick to snare their first fish, and did it with a practiced smoothness. After many empty passes, and a few initial successes from which the fish escaped quickly, I was able to land my first redhorse. I eventually landed three (and almost brought in several more). Charlie, Jr. assured me I did well for my first trip. In the past they had someone who failed completely the first two years he joined them.
Interestingly, Charles remarked that they had not seen that many redhorse, or as many large ones, in many years. It was a great day for an old friend and a new one to share with him the river and a passionate hobby.
VB