Fishing Season: All Year.

Chattahoochee River - GA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

50

Orvis Atlanta's Tip of the Week

Fishing Report for 3/20/23 Chattahoochee Tailwater Stratification (lake turnover) has ended for the year, and water should be clear until fall except during heavy rain. The wild brown trout are in post spawn, and are feeding actively as the days become shorter and we approach fall spawning season. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has discontinued their weekly stocking program for the year and will only stock the tailwater once per month until spring. Delayed Harvest stocking is continuing south of Morgan Falls Dam and is fishing quite productively. If you have any questions at all, feel free to come in and we will be happy to get you set up! For the Chattahoochee, state regulations require a certified personal flotation devise be worn by all anglers from Buford dam south to highway 20. Pay special attention to water release info online or call the number below for release schedules. Make sure to call the Corp of Engineers release hotline at 770-945-1466 before making your trip.

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Map of Chattahoochee River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

River Through Atlanta
Orvis Atlanta

5-Day Outlook as of 3/20/23

Water release should subside as the week goes on. Please call the shop or the dam to get more timely info. You can call Buford Dam for last min updates.770-945-1466

Techniques & Tips as of 3/20/23

Streamer fishing is a great way to fish and possibly catch a huge brown. Nymphing is always going to be the go to for those bottom feeding fish, the old Pat's Rubber legs, Worm patterns, midge patterns, attractors such as rainbow warriors and lightning bugs to copper johns, and the classic pheasant tails and hare's ears in 12-18. If you are throwing streamers, anything from wooly buggers if you're throwing the smaller rods to large articulated patters like the bottoms up and dungeon patterns by Galloup. As the temperature starts to warm up, small dry flies on the North Georgia streams are going to be another option. Make sure to have a few midge dry flies, BWO's, and caddis to tie on when the fish start to rise more consistently.

Local Species Available All Year.

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Brown Trout

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    Carp

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Orvis Atlanta's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Tungsten Cone Head Woolly Bugger Olive, Black 6-12
Shaky Worm N/A 14-18
Fly Formerly Known As Prince N/A 12-18
TH Duracell Jig Black 6-8
Kreelex Minnow copper/gold/silver 8
Rainbow Warrior Purple 18
Elk Wing Caddis N/A 16-18
Adam's Purple Parachute N/A 14-16
BWO's N/A 18-24
Zebra Midge olv, rd, blk 18-24

Tungsten Cone Head Woolly Bugger

Get down deeper with these conehead flies.

3.49

Item #962P

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Orvis Atlanta's Recommended Gear

Description: About Chattahoochee River

The Chattahoochee River one of the most scenic river systems in the south. It is split into two sections of trout water, the upper head waters sections starting near the town of Helen, GA. The second is a classic tail-race fishery. Starting at Buford Dam on Lake Sidney Lanier. The "Hooch" as locals call it makes its way south through Georgia, and forms the GA & AL border until it empties into Gulf of Mexico in Apalachicola FL The upper river is 28 miles of year-round trout fishing with a healthy population of natural spawning brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. The lower river is a 5 mile section of Delayed Harvest fishing that starts on November 1st and runs through May 14th. This section is stocked with both Rainbow and Brown Trout. South of this area the river turns into marginal trout water, but supports an amazing population of warm water sport fish all the way to its end in the Gulf.

Nearest Airport:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Hatches:

Junk Flies, Woolly Buggers, Big Articulated Streamers, Featherchangers

Best Time to Fish:

Low flows

Best Stretch:

Sope Creek to US-41

Best Access:

East or West Palisades