Chattahoochee River Trout Fly Fishing

Trout fishing below Buford Dam is a fishery we are fortunate to have. There’s truly no place like home, and my home is the Chattahoochee River. Over the past 40 years, I’ve stalked trout in streams and rivers from Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Alaska, Canada, and Arizona to North Carolina, Florida, as well as Argentina—and the Hooch remains one of my favorites.

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.

A typical day of float fishing covers 3 miles in a half-day trip and up to 9 miles in a full day. We move from one hole to the next, thoroughly working fish-holding spots in a beautiful setting. Beginner trips start on land, where we practice casting, hooksets, and other techniques before we head out for the 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.

We typically use 9ft 5wt or 6wt rods for long casts, deploying 9-foot 3x leaders, usually fishing 2 flies under an indicator. The trout in these waters can be finicky, so having the right setup is crucial. Our team will make sure you’re properly equipped for success.

Another popular section of the Chattahoochee River is below the Morgan Falls Dam. This is a seasonal trip, running from October 31st through the end of May, known as delayed harvest trout fishing. This section is underfished, where we primarily target rainbow trout. It’s also a challenging river to drift in certain sections.

Our float and wade trips on this stretch are very similar, and this is another beautiful area we love taking guests to.

At TIE ONE ON, we are all about ensuring a successful fly fishing experience, one that is defined by you. For beginners, we’ll teach you the basics and introduce you to the thrill of landing your first trout. For more experienced anglers, we can focus on technical fishing, trying something new. We might take a long drift and fish the banks with streamers in search of trophy browns, or we can do a headcount trip and hop from hole to hole. Whatever your preference, we’ll customize your trip to exceed your expectations.