I'd leave the shorty at home, but bring everything else you have. Better to be overprepared then to get cold. Higher elevation rivers and creeks are colder, while the larger lower elevation rivers are a bit warmer here. I am still wearing pogies on some colder stretches. I am from the south originally and confess to being a cold water puss. For playing drytop and shorts are fine. I usually put some sort of thermal protection on my legs on harder stuff in case of a swim or rescue situation. I have been wearing my drysuit a lot lately. You don't need it, but if you have it, damn its nice to not be cold and sopping wet at the end of a long day. If you want to represent true southern style though, you'll just be bare-chested with a PFD!