Striper Fishing The Chattahoochee River

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Peach State anglers are very lucky when it comes to striped bass. Due to species’ saltwater origin they pull and fight like a bulldog, however luckily for us inhabit many of our freshwater lakes and streams during the state. With the tidal water stripers that happen naturally in our coastal streams, we have populations that have been stocked in many of our reservoirs. These stocked fish thrive and grow quite well, anglers all over our state the chance to feel the tug of these big bruisers. (gameandfishmag.com)

On the river, the stripe run also coincides with another strange fishery – the spawning run of the skipjack herring. Not a glamorous name possibly, however remember the mighty tarpon is a herring as is the Atlantic and hickory shad. The skipjack  typically ranges in size from 14" to 24" and does indeed appear like a miniature tarpon. Best of all, they typically are present in big numbers, hit hard, jump high and run fast. We like to get on the water near daylight, fish stripers for 3 hours or so, then pull out the lightweight rods and catch some dozen skipjack to cap the day$. (flyfishga.com)

The Chattahoochee River system in North Georgia begins in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains just above the Alpine village of Helen and descends through many sections of whitewater throughout its journey to Lake Lanier. For most fishermen and nature lovers, most of this gorgeous trek is totally inaccessible. But, thanks to a specially-intended, 18 foot aluminum ship that incorporates both a tunnel hull and a jet outboard motor, I have been able to open the fabulous fishing and picturesque scenery to my clients for wildlife tours, fly fishing, or specific fishing for rare species like the shoal bass. (georgiafishing.com)

Working the double bait rig seems a fish chasing a smaller fish and will drive the stripers crazy. You may be able to on occasion get a double hook-up, too. A popping cork with a fly behind it also casts a long way and works well. For extra excitement add two flies on separate leaders behind the cork. If you hook one fish you’ll frequently see others chasing it trying to get the bait from it. With a trailing fly on the double bait rig a second fish will frequently hit. You can be able to land two at the time. (fishing-about.com)

Sunshine bass stocked in 2013 started to show up in anglers catches this past year. There was an approximated 3, 000 sunshine bass caught. Growth rates are very fast for sunshine bass in Medard do to the abundance of their favored food supply, shad. Most of the fish caught by anglers this past year were around a pound but with another year of growth these fish should be anywhere from 2-3 pounds this forthcoming year. Schooling sunshine bass are usually found in open water; but, anglers have had success catching them off the footbridge on the east side of the reservoir. The most productive time to fish for sunshines is fall through early spring when water temperatures are cooler. (myfwc.com)

Chris Funk is an avid outdoorsman and rabid photographer. He tells people his life revolves around 6 F s, his Faith, Family, Fur, Fins, Feathers and Fotography. He paddles all over the Southeast with his bride Angie and son Ethan. They fish for any critter that will tighten a line and it does not matter if it’s with regular gear, fly gear or bowfishing gear. He and his son are on the Jackson kayak fishing team and the whole family helps with a great group called Paddle4Tomorrow that gets people with special needs out for a day of paddling. (yakangler.com)

Nymphing is taking the most fish, mid level drifts with light weight is the way to go. WATCH THAT display! The streamer bite was so much fun recently! The inhabitant browns are more than wanting to take a streamer, not little streamers either. We have caught 12-16" browns on 7" streamers on 2/0 hooks we have been chasing the big boys on the hooch but the smaller willey browns are slamming them! So do not over look the power of a streamer. Fish eat other fish all the time, and big fish eat big flies. Use anything with Yellow, Rust, or White. Dream BIG, Think BIG, Fish BIG. (orvis.com)

Spring fishing season is upon us with hints of honey suckle in the air and mountain laurel with trout lillies in full bloom. As one of our clients exclaimed, ‘Chris, the fish are just the the gravy, it is beautiful out here!’ we’re excited about the new spring season with a better prevelence of stone, may and caddis flies during the tailwater in spite of the recent high goes from Buford Dam for the May recharge of Lake Eufalia or better know as Walter F. George. As water tables normalize downstream in Alabama and Florida the Army Corps will appease peak power demand when every household airconditioner kicks on mid day with the advent of warmer weather. (Click here for more info)

Down lined trout or herring have been working well from the creek mouths on halfway into the creeks. The fish have been hanging out from 30 feet all the way up to the surface. Keep a couple of down lines and also a couple flat lines out and let the fish strikes dictate where you fish. Troll an Umbrella Rig at around 1. 5-2 miles an hour and use a rig that covers the water between 15 and 25 feet deep. Keep a SPRO bucktail or a bigger Fish Head turn with a fluke trailer prepared to cast at fish you see on the surface. (gainesvilletimes.com)