Wade Fishing Chattahoochee River

The Chattahoochee River is long, and we fish various sections of tailwaters and freestone stretches depending on the time of year. The most common section we fish is the tailwaters below Buford Dam. This 40-mile stretch offers ideal trout habitat, with stable, perfect temperatures year-round and a healthy population of wild brown trout, supplemented by weekly rainbow trout stockings during the warmer months. From April through Labor Day, over 360,000 rainbow trout are stocked in this section every year! 20-30 fish days are not uncommon. Browns are always catch-and-release, but rainbow trout can be kept on occasion. This is big water, difficult to wade, and dangerous to float without experience in the section. I’ve spent 50+ years fishing the ‘Hooch, reading her waters, exploring every downed tree, rock formation, and ripple, all while absorbing her beauty. Since it’s a tailwater, water levels fluctuate constantly, and a lot of experience is required to have a successful day. On wade fishing trips, we work much smaller sections, usually 1-2 miles in a day. Wade fishing on the Chattahoochee requires us to be selective about the locations, as the water levels constantly change. Experienced guides like ours are essential for reading the water and knowing where the fish are.