First constructed as breastworks overlooking the river in 1814, and later built into a log stockade, Fort Early served as a significant trade outpost in conflicts between European settlers and Native Americans throughout The First Seminole War. At the end of the conflict the fort was abandoned and reclaimed by the landscape but the marker showing its location was placed in 1916 by the Daughters of the American Revolution. To visit the marker follow GA 300 until about 1 mile from the Worth County line.
Named for their prominent barbels resembling a cat's whiskers, catfish are found across the globe on every continent except Antarctica. Three species of catfish are pursued for sport in the Flint River. Of those three, blue cats, channel cats, and flatheads, only the channel cat is native to the watershed. Anglers seeking out catfish will commonly target deep, slow moving waters and fish with live or dead bait on the bottom of the river. Lines will be set and watched for hours at a time waiting on a cruising catfish to sense the bait and move in for a strike.

Catfish are benthic feeders meaning they live low in the water column and feed from the river bottom. This does not mean, however, that they are only found in deep waters or that they only eat a baited hook resting on the river bottom. It is common for anglers fishing poppers and swimbaits in the shoals, targeting shoal bass, to be surprised when a catfish ends up on the line. Curious and indiscriminate, catfish will strike just about anything resembling food that swims past.
The wrong kayak paddle for an individual paddler can turn an otherwise great day on the river into a trip plagued with exhaustion, blisters, and even capsizes. Picking out a paddle should be given the same consideration as picking out a kayak with decisions made about size, materials, and design.
Kayakers generally exhibit three different paddling styles and paddles are specifically designed for each. A high-angle paddler paddles aggressively with forceful strokes and the paddle's shaft held at a high angle. This is common with whitewater kayakers who are quickly maneuvering their kayak around obstacles and dangerous river features but are generally paddling shorter distances. High-angle paddles have a short shaft and broad blade for maximum energy transfer to the water.
Low-angle paddlers focus on efficiency for traveling longer distances in calmer waters by keeping the angle of the paddle shaft less severe and making less-aggressive strokes. This style of paddling conserves energy for a long day on the water and low-angle paddles have longer shafts with long, narrow blades. Less surface area on the blade results in less energy being needed for each paddle stroke but the paddler is able to exert less power when moving the kayak through rapids and swift water.
Paddlers who frequent class I-II rivers such as the Flint typically develop a mid-angle paddling style. Longer distances between access points require energy be saved but occasional shoals and swift water require the ability to quickly maneuver the kayak around river features. A mid-angle paddle has a longer shaft and a blade broader than a low-angle blade but not as broad as a high-angle blade used by whitewater paddlers. This gives mid-angle paddlers the ability to conserve energy but to also exert force when needed to navigate a hazardous section of river.
Paddle length is determined by the distance from throat to throat and is measured in centimeters. A throat on a paddle is where the blade joins the shaft. A decade ago, paddles in the 220cm length were commonly used but kayaks, especially sit-on-tops have become significantly wider to address user-requests of more stability. For most paddlers today who are paddling a newer kayak, a minimum shaft length of 230cm is going to be required. A paddle that is too short will force the paddler to reach further to the side with each stroke causing instability and and a higher likelihood of capsize in rough water. It is also uncomfortable and burns a lot of energy.
Efficiency is also determined by the materials used to construct the paddle blade and shaft. Budget-friendly paddles are made with heavy, poor quality nylon blades and aluminum shafts and can be tough to find in lengths of 230cm or longer. These paddles flex quite a lot with each stroke and waste a paddler's energy. The poor quality of materials also makes them far more likely to break mid-trip. High-end paddles are built with carbon shafts and carbon blades and are as light as feather and very stiff. These designs are the pinnacle of efficiency but the lightweight materials sacrifice durability and the blades will quickly wear down in rocky rivers like the Flint.
A paddle of the correct length for the paddler and kayak, with a carbon shaft and quality nylon mid-angle blades will serve most paddlers on the Flint and similar rivers for years without issue. A local outfitter will have a variety of these paddles in stock and can work with paddlers based on their height and the width of their kayak to find a paddle in the right size and materials. For more information on selecting a paddle, click here for an online guide by Werner Paddles.