Fishing Forecast - Chattooga River
Overview
The Chattooga River is a tributary of Weiss Lake. It originates near Lafayette and meanders about 51 miles to the southwest. A narrow river channel and numerous hazards make most of the river floatable only by canoe or small boat. Large prop and jet boats can navigate the river below Ga. Hwy. 27 with caution.
Contact Information: DNR Office: 706-295-6102
Best Bets: Bream, Black Bass, Striped Bass, Catfish
Chattooga River - Black Bass
Redeye Bass
Prospect: The black bass fishery is "fair" in comparison to this river's bream fishery. Expect most bass caught to be less than 1 pound, but anglers do have a chance to catch three different black bass species to include: redeye, largemouth, and Alabama bass. Lucky anglers catching all three species are well on their way to a Bass Slam on just one river. Redeye are more common in the upper reaches, while Alabama bass dominate the lower portion. Largemouth are least common, but may be found throughout the river.
Redeye Bass from the Chattooga River
Technique: Light colored spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and topwater plugs are all good choices. Crawfish jig imitations bumped along the bottom near structure also works well under most conditions. Stealthy anglers will fair best in these "skinny" waters.
Target: Fish deeper pools, especially those with woody debris. The largest individuals will be found
Chattooga River - White Bass
White Bass
Prospect: White bass are available on a seasonal basis. They migrate from Lake Weiss into the lower Chattooga in early spring, with the spawning run peaking in March and April. Outside of these months, fewer white bass will be found in the river. The spring white bass runs from 2020 - 2024 were strong, rebounding after several years of poor catch rates from 2016 to 2019. DNR sampling data suggest this year may be another good year for white bass fishing with anglers catching these mini-linesides like they did in the “good old days” pre-2016.
Female White Bass from the Chattooga River
Technique: Small jigs and shad-patterned crankbaits (Rat-L-Traps, Shad Raps, Flicker Shad, etc.) are favored lures for these "mini-linesides."
Target: Find spawn-run fish around creek mouths in the lower sections of the river , off Lyerly Dam Road.
Chattooga River - Striped Bass
Striped Bass
Prospect: These striped behemoths migrate into the river during the spring months, and good numbers remain through summertime in search of cool water refuge. The striped bass population in the upper Coosa River Basin (including the Chattooga River) is one of only a handful of naturally reproducing, land-locked freshwater populations in the nation. However, DNR sampling has shown that recruitment of those naturally spawned fish is highly variable from one year to the next. For example, the population failed to produce significant year classes in 2014, 2015, and 2017, causing an overall decline in the population from 2014 to 2019. Noting this issue, DNR began stocking the Coosa River annually in 2018 with striped bass fingerlings in an effort to supplement natural reproduction, and provide for more consistent year-class production. Those efforts have paid off and the population appears to be rebounding. As a result, anglers should see an abundance of younger fish, which will be in the 2-10 pound range this year. Strong year classes produced in 2016 and 2018 will provide the majority of angler catches in the larger sizes from 10-25 pounds. As always, 30+ pound stripers are available to anglers as well, if they have the strong skill, heavy tackle, and maybe a little luck necessary to conquer these behemoths.
Striped Bass from the Chattooga River
Technique: Best bets are live gizzard shad or cut bait, but aggressive stripers will hit shad imitations and top water plugs (Zara Spooks or Redfins) under the right conditions. To keep fish from breaking off on the numerous downed trees in the river, 20 to 30-pound line and heavier baitcasting rods are recommended.
Target: Target spring-fed pools, especially around fallen trees and logjams and in the mouths of cool water tributaries or springs. Look for flowing water near cover, as these are prime striper haunts. Linesides may also be found around the remains of the in the town of Lyerly.
Chattooga River - Catfish
Channel Catfish
Prospect: The catfish population is relatively modest. Channel cats greatly outnumber both flatheads and blue catfish. Most channel cats will be in the 1-pound size class. Blues and flatheads will average slightly larger in size.
Technique: Cut fish baits, chicken livers, catalpa worms and prepared stink baits fished on the bottom are recommended.
Target: Target channel cats in moderately deep flowing habitat, especially those found along outside river bends or near fallen trees or log jams. Also, don't overlook the downstream side of shoals, as catfish often feed in these areas from dusk into the night. The river sections around the towns of and are good areas to target this river's "whiskered" inhabitants.
Chattooga River - Bream
Bluegill
Prospect: Bream dominate the river's sport fishery and offer anglers a good opportunity to catch "dinner numbers" of fish. Redbreast sunfish are more abundant in the upper reaches, while bluegill dominate the downstream river reaches. Bream 5-8 inches long are common, with some individuals even topping the 10-inch mark.
Technique: For artificial baits, small is the key. Try small spinners and natural crawfish imitating jigs. For live bait, crickets or worms rigged under a bobber or bottom presentations weighted with split-shot are both effective techniques.
Target: For catches of larger bream, target the river section immediately above the city of . Concentrate in deep pools, behind logjams and along undercut banks. In summer, bream will bed in slack areas along the shore, behind debris and on the downstream side of sandbars.
Chattooga River - Other Species
Freshwater Drum
Prospect: Freshwater drum are a unique but common, edible river resident. Expect the average drum to run slightly better than 12 inches, but a fair number of "bull" drum will top 17 inches or better.
Technique: For drum, small white jigs fished along the bottom, crayfish, cut mussels and shrimp are the best techniques for catching them.
Target: For larger drum, concentrate in the swift "runs" of the river, which are generally 2-3 feet in depth at normal flows. Target runs along undercut banks and near fallen trees where actively feeding drum are often found. Areas immediately below shoals are also good stops for anglers looking to hook into a hard-fighting drum.
Additional Information
Current USGS river gage data for the Chattooga River just above Gaylesville, Alabama is available.
There are two dams on the Chattooga River. The first is the in Trion, which is impassible to boaters. The second is a small low-head dam further downstream in the town of . This dam is breached in several places and can be floated through by canoe or portaged around under normal water conditions.
Canoe/kayak launches are available at the on Lyerly Dam Road and farther downstream at the
