The Virtual Fish Camp
A Flyfisher's Guide to Southeastern Waters
SECTION THREE
SECTION 1
Fishing Regs
Licenses Hatch Charts
Generation Solunar Tables MoonPhases
Float Times
SECTION 2
Rods
Reels
Flies, Lines,
Leaders & Tippets
SECTION 3
Where to Go?
The "Hooch"
The Hiwassee The Flint River
SECTION 4
Fly Tying Entomology
Fly Swaps
Patterns
Where To Go?
The "Hooch"
The Chattahoochee River tailwater that trout enthusiasts are concerned with, extends 46 miles southward to the mouth of Peachtree Creek. The river downstream of Buford Dam (Lake Lanier) is open to year-round fishing. It is stocked weekly (March through Mid September) from Buford Dam downstream to Chattahoochee River Park, located just downstream of GA Hwy 9 (Roswell Road). Access to the river is available at road crossings, National Park Service parks, county parks, and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers park below Buford Dam. Fishing can be done from the bank, small boat, float tube or wading. The section between the GA Hwy 20 bridge and the boat ramp at Medlock Bridge Park is restricted to artificial lures only. The entire river is is closed to all activities from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Personal floatation devices must be worn between Buford Dam and the GA Hwy 20 bridge when in or on the water.
The section below Morgan Falls Dam is also open to year-round fishing and is stocked annually with fingerling sized brown and rainbow trout to provide the angler the opportunity to catch more "wild" trout. Largemouth bass, crappie, yellow perch, bream, catfish, chain pickeral, carp, and suckers are also caught. This river section is also very popular for wading, sunning on the rocks, rafting, float tubing, kayaking, and canoeing during the summer months.
There are some "holdover" trout in the Chattahoochee River, and a few sometimes reach lunker proportions. Popular fishing methods include boat, bank, wading, and float tube. The river is subject to sudden water flow and level fluctuations due to hydropower operations at Buford Dam making it dangerous for those not familiar with the river. Generation schedules can be obtained by calling (770) 945-1466 before beginning a fishing trip.
On the lower sections of the tailrace, dry fly fishing can be excellent. Beginning in mid-May the Blue Wing Olive (size #14) hatch begins. This is followed by the Light Cahills (size #14 and #16), and the slate Green Caddis (size #14 and #16) fished both wet and dry. During the summer and fall months, the insects are smaller (generally #16 and #18), down to #20 and #22 when the little gray-black mayflies emerge. During the early spring, from late February to mid-April, large stonefly nymphs fished deep produce some large fish. Caddis pupae and mayfly nymphs are also good patterns several weeks prior to the emergence period. A top producer during this period is a green fur-bodied wet fly in size #14 with a brown partridge collar. The fall months provide excellent fishing for larger fish with spinning gear and small baitfish lures, and flyfishing gear using crayfish and large nymph and streamer imitations. Crayfish are an important part of the diet of the larger trout and several crayfish imitator flies do an excellent job on these fish.
Read about how it used to be on the Hooch!
Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper -- Excellent website devoted to the preservation of the Chattahoochee River.
Nacoochee Bend -- Talk to Jimmy Harris at Unicoi Outfitters about catching some "large" trout in North Georgia.
There are a number of National Recreation areas along the Chattahoochee River, south of Lake Lanier. Go to the National Park Service' Chattahoochee River Web Page. Here you'll find information regarding the many activities available in the recreation areas.
Click on the section of the Hooch you intend to fish. The map will then link you to a satellite image of that part of the river.
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The Hiwassee River
The "trout water" begins at the Apalachia Powerhouse where the cold waters of the Hiwassee arrive after having traveled approximately nine miles through an underground pipeline from Apalachia Lake. The section of the Hiwassee that we're concerned with begins below the powerhouse which is about 5.5 miles upriver from the Hiwassee Outfitters campground. The best trout water begins at the powerhouse and runs down to the US 411 bridge for a total distance of about 11.5 miles. Access to the river is abundant with the L&N Railroad bordering the south bank of the river from the campground to the powerhouse. The north bank can be accessed from the US Forest Service Road and the John Muir Trail. Downstream from the campground, the river can be accessed at the picnic areas along TN 30. The Hiwassee fishes similar to the Chattahoochee River in that power generation dictates the fishing methods to be used. Check the generation schedule before fishing by dialing 1-800-238-2264*4*22. During the period of no generation, wading is the only option for the fisherman. With one generator running, some wading is available, but a float tube comes in handy. Two generators are almost strictly float tube, canoe, raft, and driftboat fishing.
US 411 to Reliance
- 6 miles, broad open stream, average width of 200 to 300 feet, float tube or small boat required, mostly private farmland on both sides.
Reliance to the Powerhouse
5.5 miles, average width of 200 to 400 feet, primarily Class II whitewater, special regulations apply, stocked year-round by TWRA, releases come from deep in the impoundment making the water extremely cold, watch for rising water from generation releases.
The Area
There is not much in Reliance when it comes to restaurants, although Hiwassee Outfitters has a small snack bar. The closest towns with restaurants are Benton and Etowah. You might want to bring a cooler with groceries. Hiwassee Outfitters also has a fly shop, and licenses can be purchased there.
Big Bend - The Trophy Section
The Ole Man says, "The Hiwassee Trophy Section starts just above the campground, runs up to Big Bend. Artificial only. That's where the hogs live. You can walk out from the upper end of the campground where a creek runs in and catch the tail end of the trophy section from a cleared bank outcropping. Plenty of room for casting. I've never been through there that at least one 6 to 8 pound brown didn't roll up and eyeball me."
The Big Bend Section is managed as a trophy trout fishery with special regulations. It runs from the railroad bridge at the campground, upstream to the Big Bend parking lot. The creel limit is two trout with a minimum length of 14 inches. Artificial lures only!
When wading I like to park at the Big Bend parking area and fish down to The Stairsteps and then hike back to the parking lot. There is a very good hiking trail that runs along the river and leads back to the parking area. The run directly below The Stairsteps has been very productive for me in the past. I've caught big fish in most sections of the river, but for sheer beauty it's hard to beat the Big Bend section!
Other Area of the River
The Hiwassee River is heavily stocked at the powerhouse boat ramp as well as the Towee Creek access and the Reliance boat ramp. The newly stocked fish are easily caught on Roostertails, flashy streamers, and small Countdown Rapalas. Paved roads allow for easy access along these areas of the "Hi". Downstream from the Reliance bridge, the water smoothes out. Farmland lines the river bank. Most of the adjoining land is private however, the river can be accessed at the Taylor's Island parking area and the Quinn Springs picnic area. There is a boat ramp downstream at the US 411 bridge. A canoe float from Reliance to 411 (6 miles) makes for a nice 8-hour float, providing access to seldom fished water. Have fun, be safe, and wear your PFD!
Don Denney's Hiwassee River Web Page
Tennessee Valley Outdoors has a good article on fishing the "Trophy Section" of the Hiwassee River from a driftboat. Go to the Volunteer Trout Page for information on the Hiwassee, Elk, and Tellico Rivers. If you need current hatch information for the Hiwassee, call Hiwassee Outfitters at (423)338-8115 or 1-800-388-8133. You can hear the generation schedule at 1-800-238-2264, press 4, and then press 22. Make sure you check the Chattanooga area Weather Radar before going fishing!
The Flint River
The Flint River begins as a tiny trickle beneath the concrete runways of Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport. It winds it's way through the heavily developed areas of Clayton and Fayette counties. As it flows southward, it soon reaches the heavily forested areas of Meriwether and Upson counties. I have fished the river as far north as Hwy 362 near Alvaton, Georgia and south where the river crosses into Talbot County. (Note-Several years ago during the summer months, I launched my canoe at the 362 bridge and paddled upriver about a mile. In one area, I saw some huge spotted gar. They had to be at least four-and-a-half feet in length!
Probably the most unique section of the river is the portion that flows through Upson county and includes Sprewell Bluff State Park. Here the river takes on the appearance of a river that would likely be encountered much further north. You'll find whitewater rapids interspersed with long, slow-moving sections of water.
The prize of the Flint would have to be the "Shoal Bass". As cherished as a wild brook trout, this specie is confined to the Flint and it's tributaries. Not to be confused with the "redeye" or Coosa Bass, the Shoal Bass is similar in appearance to the smallmouth bass and every bit as scrappy. The "shoalies" are found primarily in the fast water, nosing about the aquatic grasses in search of their favorite food - the hellgrammite. These shoal areas offer prime fly fishing opportunities for the bass, bream, crappie, and the occasional spotted gar. I often use a black wooly booger to entice the bass, a popping bug for the bream and crappie, and the infamous "garfly" for the spotted gar. Wadeable water can be accessed at the state park, or from Big Lazer Creek Management Area. There is a nice shoal area near Gay, Georgia (on Flat Shoals Road) known as Flat Shoals. I used to fish this area quite frequently as a youth and did quite well! I don't fish it anymore as the adjoining land has changed ownership and I've heard stories of vehicles being towed and trespass charges filed against violators.
There is more than one way to go about catching these Flint river shoalies. I like to use my driftboat (water levels permitting) or a canoe and float the section from the state park to Hwy 36 and the Flint River Outdoor Center. The FROC offers shuttle service between Hwy 36, the state park, Goat Mountain Campground, and the Hwy 18/74 bridge. There are boat ramps at the Hwy 18/74 bridge, the state park, and a primitive ramp at the FROC. I've used all three with the driftboat but would suggest only using the first two for anything bigger than a jonboat.
Points of Interest
Hwy 18/74 Bridge: Boat ramp. 20 miles upriver of FROC.
Dripping Rocks: 3 miles south of the Hwy 18/74 bridge. Take a shower in nature under the waterfall only a short hike up Double Branch from the river.
Goat Mountain Campground: 10 miles upriver of FROC. 1 day put-in and campground for two day trips. It is located halfway between Hwy 18/74 and FROC. Located at the mouth of Long Branch.
Rock House Mountain: About one mile downstream from Pigeon Creek. A short but steep hike leads to a cave under an overhang where a family of Indians is said to have lived, overlooking the river.
Sprewell Bluff State Park: 5 miles upriver of FROC. Launch site for a half-day float to FROC. A nice state park complete with picnic tables and a boat ramp. Well maintained trails lead upriver to several wadeable areas of the river. The section near the boat ramp offers about a quarter-mile area of easily wadeable water.
Yellow Jacket Shoals: This section of the Flint features Class III and IV whitewater and should only be attempted by experienced canoeists!
Big Lazar Creek Management Area: Talbot County, GA, 5,864 acres, Primitive camping available. Directions from Talbotton, GA: Take Hwy 80 east four miles to Pobiddy Road; turn left and go 6.4 miles to first dirt road on the left beyond Collinsworth Methodist Church; turn left and go 1.2 miles to area check-in station.
For more info: Check Kent Edmond's Web Page
Flint River Outdoor Center - 4429 Woodland Road (GA Hwy 36), Thomaston, GA 30286. (706) 647-2633 or (706) 674-2633. Camping and RV sites, store, canoeing, rafting, and tubing, fishing supplies.
Questions??? Contact the Webmaster.
An old Gerstner Tool Chest
holds my tying goodies!
Polar Fiber Minnow
