I didn't grow up here so I'm trying to learn how to fish this south GA river. Very clear water most of the time, depth of 3-8 feet. Contents are LMB and Shoal bass. I've been told to go with a Smithwick Devil Horse above the shoals and a black work in it. I've tried it for 2 years---no luck. The only bass I catch here are blind. I'm looking for guidance on how to fish a relatively shallow clear water river for bass.

I've ran into bulimic bass. You know they eat it and then spit it back out but, I ain't never seen any anorexic bass.  : LOL

Joking aside, I would try grubs or tubes.

Tubes, tubes, tubes!  I am the biggest fan of tubes.  I rarely catch anything on them in lakes, but on streams they are my go-to.  I like the larger flipping, hand poured style of jigs.  I'll usually rig them on a 1/16 bullet sinker with a tex-posed 4/0 EWG.  

I prefer to work my way upstream, throwing above cover and then hopping it back along with the current.  All my best strikes come from pulling the bait with the current right around an obstruction.  The bass hiding on the downstream side dart out and slam the bait as it moves by.

Most prey that bass feed on in rivers try to swim across the river (on top).  Try throwing small topwater hardbaits and weightless plastics.  Swim the bait on top and hang on. Wait to feel the weight of the fish on the line before setting the hook.