Fishing Forecast - Suwannee River
Overview
The Suwannee River flows from the Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico. The 33-mile portion of the Suwannee in Georgia contains dark tea stained water and provides a unique fishing experience. Anglers will not find many redbreast sunfish, bluegill or bass, as commonly found in other south Georgia rivers, however, there are other fish to catch, including warmouth, flier, chain pickerel and bullhead catfish.
Contact Information: DNR Office: 912-285-6094
Best Bets: Chain Pickerel, Warmouth, Flier, Bullheads
Suwannee River - Catfish
Brown Bullhead
Prospect: High water levels this winter should contribute to good Bullhead fishing this year.
Technique: Use worms, chicken livers, dead shrimp and crickets.
Target: Target the bottom, in deep water and along the bank edges.
Suwannee River - Pickerel
Prospect: Chain pickerel fishing should be good this year due to high water levels throughout the winter.
Technique: Shallow-running crankbaits like the Rapala Minnow or Rooster Tail are particularly effective.
Target: Fish slack water areas, such as the mouths of with vegetative cover for higher success.
Suwannee River - Other Species
Flier
Prospect: Fliers and warmouth fishing should be good this year due to the high water levels that have persisted throughout the fall and winter.
Technique: For fliers, a favorite artificial bait is the "yellow sallie." The best bait for warmouth is live crawfish.
Target: Warmouth are distributed throughout the river with a slight increase in number as you travel downstream to . Target flier year-round in the upper reaches of the river near the ; concentrate efforts in sloughs and backwater areas.
Additional Information
Refer to the USGS gage located at Fargo, GA when planning your fishing trip. Optimal water levels for fishing are between 3-6 feet of gauge height.
