The Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam is not a native trout fishery; nor, is it considered a destination fishery.  However, the fishery is the only trout water in the immediate Atlanta area. Running directly through the City of Atlanta, the Chattahoochee River is a tailwater fishery that begins at Lake Sidney Lanier below Buford Dam. The Chattahoochee is better known as "the 'Hooch" to locals. River temperatures range between 46 and 58 degrees the majority of the year between Buford Dam and Morgan Falls Dam, located further downstream in the Roswell area. During the Winter months, the "Upper 'Hooch" water temperatures often drop into the 40's resulting in very slow fishing except when the "shad hatch" is coming through Buford Dam or you'd like to fish midges immediately below dam. The area just below Buford Dam is predominantly a midge fishery requiring light tippets and very small flies. It fishes best from Fall through Spring. During the summer months, this area can be very slippery to wade due to algae growth though midges exist there yeararound. Any area that just received a fresh stocking will find eager fish willing to take almost anything thrown in their direction.

There is documented proof of Brown trout reproduction in the 'Hooch.  Also, there are a good number of holdovers remaining from previous years stockings. Brown trout are no longer being stocked in the 'Hooch below Buford Dam. During low water years, in the limited number of gravel areas, natural reproduction of Browns does take place. Sadly, these areas are not highly protected to further enhance the fishery.

The Chattahoochee River below Lake Lanier and Buford Dam is classified by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as a year around trout fishery. Night fishing is not allowed on the 'Hooch primarily for safety reasons. Water release schedules are set by the Corps of Army Engineers at Buford Dam and can vary daily. A phone number (770-945-1466) is available to check the daily water release schedule. Tables are available that predict the rise and fall of released water at any location on the river, as well as showing access points. The 48-mile stretch of river from Buford Dam to Standing Peachtree Creek is managed by the National Park Service.

Officially, the 'Hooch is the southern most trout water in the United States. A few really large Browns are caught in the Upper 'Hooch on an annual basis. The state record Brown Trout was caught on a spin fishing rig in the Upper 'Hooch a few years ago which exceeded 18#'s. Natural growth combined with a Catch and Release philosophy, trout will grow larger and larger over time.

With the addition of a Delayed Harvest section located on the "Lower 'Hooch" below Sope Creek near Morgan Falls Dam in the year 2000, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has created a Fall through Spring fishery that is single hook, catch and release only, between the dates of November 1 and May 14th. Heavy stocking of hatchery fish from the Buford Trout Hatchery just prior to November 1, continuing on throughout the delayed harvest period, is the only means of supporting this trout fishery. Hot Atlanta summer months raises the water temperatures below Morgan Falls to the point that trout can not survive unless they can find a cool underwater spring flowing into the river. Thus, anglers are permitted to harvest trout anytime after May 14 in the Delayed Harvest section.

In late Spring, 2003, the Department of Natural Resources added 52,000 Shoal Bass of 1" size to the fishery at Cochran Shoals and south toward the Hwy. 41 Bridge. This adds to the excitement of the overall fishery and "beefs up" this area for the warmer summer months in particular. They are voracious eaters and are growing rapidly. Shoal Bass are really fun to catch on a fly rod!

Prior to the opening of the Delayed Harvest waters in Georgia and North Carolina, most anglers "hung up their waders" and waited for Spring to arrive; or, sought out the many private trophy and other trout waters in North Georgia only an hour or so north of Atlanta that fish well year around but especially well between the months of October and July of the following year.

A Guide is not required to fish the 'Hooch

The 'Hooch has ample individual access to a great deal of the best fishable water. Local fly shops always know "what's going on with the river, access points, and the most productive fly patterns to use at any given time" provided that the water is fishable. A guide is not necessary to fish the Chattahoochee. Therefore, Spring Creek Anglers does not guide on the 'Hooch below either Buford or Morgan Falls Dams. Most of the time, you are better off saving your money and just fishing with a buddy -- after checking with one of the local fly shops about "what's happen'n on the 'Hooch". Another handy resources is the click on the "Hooch Realtime Check" link on the Atlanta Fly Fishing Club web site where you will get an instant snapshot of current river conditions at both the Medlock Bridge and Paces Mill areas.

Ample wading areas on National Park Service land are abundant on both the Upper 'Hooch starting right below Buford Dam and all the way down to the lowest Delayed Harvest point at Highway 41 Bridge. The Lower 'Hooch in the Delayed Harvest section especially has ample access via park trails on both sides of the river.

With some form of watercraft such as a kayak, float tube or an individual pontoon boat, a greater stretch of water can be fished in any given day (see "Access Points" above). Individual pontoon boats in particular have become increasingly popular on the 'Hooch as well as other rivers in the Southeast. They keep you high and dry throughout the day. The 'Hooch does not have areas with major rapids and drop-off's like some other rivers in the Southeast except for a few areas that bears caution; but, it does have some very long slow stretches of water between shoal areas. These slow areas can be productive for cruising fish -- and can even become boring -- but gravels bars and shoals host a larger number of fish. A fairly new option available to the mobile angler is the jet-driven kayak from Mokai that allows anyone to navigate in either direction on the river. The National Park Service maintains several boat put-in and take-out locations. All watercraft must carry sufficient Personal Floatation Devices (PFD's) but, between Buford Dam and Highway 20 Bridge, all persons must wear a Coast Guard approved PFD at all times if they are in the river.

Don't feel comfortable about knowing just exactly where you are while floating on the river? Get a Garmin eTrex or other waterproof, handlheld GPS device that can easily fit in your fishing vest or other pocket. You can even set waypoints to keep track of those "hotspots" for future trips. If you are floating the river, it's best not to attempt to fish more than from one put-in to take-out point at a time. They look shorter on a map so use some caution estimating the duration of your on-water float.

Best Methods to fish The 'Hooch

•  Wade in the shoal areas such as Buford Dam, Jones Bridge Park, or
    Island Ford (all on the Upper 'Hooch); or, Cochran Shoals, the
    Pallisades, Whitewater, or Paces Mill (all on the Lower 'Hooch) --
    Always wear a good wading belt!
•  Float Tube
•  Individual Pontoon Boats
•  PowerDrifter inflatable (available from The Fish Hawk in Atlanta)
•  Canoes & Kayaks as transportation to shoal areas and gravel bars
•  Small Boats with Outboard Engines (such as a River Hawk)
•  Mokai Jet-drive Kayak

A River in "some" Trouble

Several groups such as The Upper Chattahoochee River Keeper have been addressing major issues and problem areas with regard to the stewardship of the river and its watershed.

Major problem areas include:

•  Rains bring high water levels that often "blow out the river" for many
   days
•  Siltation that turns the river to "mud" after major rain storms
•  Bacteria influx (point source storm water pollution)
•  River bank vegetation set-back encroachments by landowners
•  Declining hatches

A Good Place to hone your Fly Fishing Skills

The 'Hooch "is what it is" -- but we do think that it is a great river to practice your fly fishing skills - and it's close-by for Atlanta-area anglers. Getting on some water if only for a few hours beats not getting on the water at all. Utilize the 'Hooch to practice and hone your fly fishing skill set so that when you get that chance to fish other more "exotic" waters, you're ready!

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