Chattahoochee River · Guiding since 1994
Trout water runs right through Atlanta.
Orvis-endorsed fly fishing trips on 48 river miles of cold, designated trout water below Buford Dam, close to the city and a world away from it.
The Hooch
A western-style trout river, right here in Atlanta.
Cold water from the depths of Lake Lanier pours through Buford Dam and keeps the Chattahoochee cool enough for trout all year. Below the dam, 48 miles of designated trout water wind through more than 9,000 acres of protected parkland.
Osprey, otter, beaver and white-tailed deer work the banks while you fish. Rainbows of 16 to 20 inches are not unusual here, the browns are wild, and this river produced Georgia’s state-record brown trout, 20 pounds 14 ounces, in 2014.
“You can get a full western style experience right here in Atlanta.”Chris Scalley, owner and head guide
River news · October 2026
More oxygen for Hooch trout, July through November.
The Army Corps of Engineers’ new Buford Dam procedure splits minimum flows between the Unit 3 turbine and an aerated sluice gate. Dissolved oxygen goes up below Lake Lanier, and lake levels don’t change.
Buford Dam · Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Guide trips
Pick your water. We’ll handle the rest.
Guided trout trips
Float the tailwater in a drift boat for rainbows and wild browns. Cold water, technical drifts and fish that make every cast count.
Book a trout trip →
Striper fishing
Chattahoochee stripers hit hard, run fast and test your strength. Big pulls, bigger stories.
Book a striper trip →
Fly fishing classes
Casting, reading water and landing your first fish, taught on the river for every skill level. Private lessons too.
See classes →
Gift a day on the river
A guided trip is the easiest yes for birthdays, holidays and the angler who already has every fly.
Buy a gift certificate →The River Through Atlanta Guide
Fish Georgia & the Southeast.
Mountain trout streams, big-bass lakes, striper runs and salt-marsh redfish. Here’s where to go, what’s biting and how to get licensed, from guides who spend 200+ days a year on the water. And for trout on the Chattahoochee, you know where to find us.
Start here
Three guides that answer most first questions.
Georgia Fishing Licenses, Explained
Who needs one, when you need the trout license, and the fastest ways to buy before your trip.
Read the guide → 02 The HoochChattahoochee Trout 101
Access points, dam releases, special regulations and safety on Atlanta’s trout river.
Read the guide → 03 First tripYour First Guided Fly Fishing Trip
What to wear, what to bring and how a day in the drift boat unfolds, start to finish.
Read the guide →Explore the guide
Every way to fish Georgia, one place to start.
Trout & fly fishing
Cold tailwaters, mountain freestones and stocked winter water from Atlanta to the Blue Ridge.
- Chattahoochee tailwater48 miles, Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek, open year-round
- Delayed Harvest streamsFive streams, catch-and-release Nov. 1 to May 14
- Toccoa River tailwaterAbout 15 cold miles below Blue Ridge Dam
Bass
Spotted bass on deep, clear reservoirs and largemouth in grassy southern lakes.
- Lake Lanier spotted bassBest in fall, when spots feed on the surface
- West Point LakeLargemouth and crappie on the Georgia–Alabama line
- Lake SeminoleGrass-lake largemouth in southwest Georgia, best January to May
Stripers & hybrids
Big, hard-pulling fish in the reservoirs and cool river water around Atlanta.
- Lake Lanier stripersFall surface feeds and fish over 20 pounds
- Chattahoochee River stripersSummer fish below Morgan Falls, guided by River Through Atlanta
- West Point hybridsPlenty of hybrids, plus stripers up to 30 pounds
River bass & catfish
Paddle rocky shoals for Georgia’s native river bass, or chase trophy catfish on big southern rivers.
- Upper Flint RiverShoal bass, Georgia’s native river sportfish; best May–June and Sept.–Nov.
- Chattahoochee below Morgan FallsStocked shoal bass hold in the shoals
- Altamaha RiverTrophy flathead catfish, best in summer
Saltwater inshore
Redfish, seatrout and flounder in the tidal creeks and marshes of Georgia’s coast.
- Golden IslesPiers and marshes at St. Simons and Jekyll
- Savannah & TybeeTybee and Lazaretto Creek piers
- Fall on the coastSeatrout peak Sept.–Nov. and school reds run in fall. Free SIP permit required at 16+
Family & first casts
Easy-access ponds, panfish and kid-friendly events built for a first fish.
- Free fishing daysNo license needed for residents: June 5, June 12 and Sept. 25, 2027
- Buford Trout HatcheryVisit the state hatchery near Buford Dam; bring a license or Lands Pass
- Kids’ fishing eventsDNR events at stocked ponds around the state
Before you go
Where to get your license, flows and gear.
Fishing & trout licenses
Anglers 16 and up need a fishing license, plus a trout license for trout. Residents pay $15 and $10 a year. Buy online, in the Go Outdoors GA app or at 1-800-366-2661.
Go Outdoors Georgia →Flows & dam releases
Releases can raise the river fast, and the water stays near 50°F. Check the schedule at 1-855-DAM-FLOW, and wear a life jacket from Buford Dam to the GA 20 bridge.
Chattahoochee River NRA →Trout stocking reports
Stocking runs late March through October. Georgia DNR posts a weekly report, email alerts and an interactive trout map.
Georgia trout fishing →Flies, gear & advice
Grab the right flies and a fresh report before you go, from Orvis Atlanta in Buckhead or your local fly shop.
Local fly shops →In season now
Late fall: cooler water, fewer crowds, hungry fish.
This is one of the best stretches of the year to be on the water in Georgia. Here’s what’s happening right now.
- 01
Delayed Harvest opens Nov. 1
Five Georgia streams, including the Hooch from Sope Creek to US 41, go catch-and-release with single-hook artificial lures and monthly stockings through May 14.
- 02
Oxygen help below Buford Dam
The Corps’ new aerated releases run through late November when conditions allow, good news for tailwater trout.
- 03
Fall browns on the Hooch
Cooler days put browns on the move. Give spawning fish and their gravel beds a wide berth.
- 04
Surface action on Lanier
Fall is when Lake Lanier’s stripers and spotted bass feed on the surface.
- 05
Seatrout and reds on the coast
Seatrout peak September through November, and school-size redfish fill the marshes in fall.
Beyond Georgia
Southeast road trips worth the drive.
South Holston River
A TVA tailwater where wild browns make up most of the catch, with famous sulphur hatches.
Best: spring through fall. Spawning areas close Nov. 1 to Jan. 31.Great Smoky Mountains
About 2,900 miles of streams with native brook trout plus wild rainbows and browns.
A Tennessee or North Carolina license works park-wide.Nantahala & Tuckasegee
Cold mountain rivers with Delayed Harvest water a few hours from Atlanta.
Delayed Harvest: Oct. 1 to June 5. Fall 2026 stockings start Nov. 2.Lake Guntersville
Alabama’s largest lake, with trophy largemouth in the milfoil and hydrilla.
No. 4 on Bassmaster’s 2026 Southeast listSantee Cooper Lakes
Lakes Marion and Moultrie: giant blue catfish, crappie and the birthplace of landlocked stripers.
No. 1 on Bassmaster’s 2026 Southeast listMosquito Lagoon
Sight-fish for redfish on shallow flats along Florida’s Atlantic coast, with seatrout and snook too.
Best: November through AprilTrout on the Chattahoochee
That part’s on us.
Every guide on this page is free to use. When you’re ready for the best day on Atlanta’s trout river, book an Orvis-endorsed guide who knows it run by run.
Guided trip with River Through Atlanta
Reviews
What anglers tell us after a day on the Hooch.
Patient with beginners
First-timers and families leave casting with confidence, and with fish in the net.
Knows every run
Guides who read this river seam by seam and put you where the fish are.
Gear that’s dialed in
Clean, high-quality rods and reels and a well-run day from start to finish.
Something new to learn
Even anglers with 30 years on the water say they picked up new tricks.
Do I need fly fishing experience?
No. Beginners are welcome, and your guide teaches casting and presentation as you go. Plenty of first-timers are casting with confidence by the end of the day.
Do I need a fishing license?
Yes. Anglers 16 and older need a Georgia fishing license, plus a trout license to fish for trout. On the Chattahoochee, carry both. Buy them online at Go Outdoors Georgia, in the Go Outdoors GA app or by phone at 1-800-366-2661.
When is the best time to come?
The tailwater fishes year-round thanks to cold releases from Buford Dam. Book a weekday and you’ll have the river almost to yourself.
How do dam releases affect a trip?
Water can rise fast when Buford Dam releases, and it stays near 50°F year-round. Your guide plans the day around the schedule. If you wade on your own, check it first at 1-855-DAM-FLOW.
What should I bring?
We bring quality gear. You bring your license, layers, rain gear, polarized sunglasses and a hat.
Can I give a trip as a gift?
Yes. Gift certificates are an easy yes for birthdays, holidays and anglers who have everything.
Roswell, Georgia
The river is calling.
Book a weekday trip and have the Hooch almost to yourself. Questions first? Call or text the guide.