Chattahoochee Boating

[HoochRat]

Hello fellow water rats. I would appreciate any information you can provide. Just purchased a small boat, small motor and would like to us on Hooch. Boat and motor draw about 8 - 9" and it is prop driven. Could not afford a jet drive. Where are descent areas on the hooch to use my new toy. I am very interested in Morgan Dam, however the ramp and parking area leave a lot to be desired. "Do I need to bring weapons to fish here" I fish fly rod, ultra light, and sometimes explosives when I can get a permit. Just Joking....

You old timers, share your wealth of knowledge. THX.

[Drifter]

Hoochrat,

If it's trout your after, forget about MF. Put your boat in at Medlock and motor downstream to the Old Jones Bridge area(trestle). Get out and wade the shallows. Also stop and fish some log jams on the way down. Try around the bridge pilings at Medlock. Upstream from Medlock ( about a 1/4 mile) you'll encounter a minor shoal which holds fish.

This section is pretty tame so it would be a good spot to learn. Also the Abbotts Bridge access is easy on a first time boater.

Better yet, get a copy of Hooker's "Angler's Guide to the Atlanta Chattahoochee."

Good luck,
Usual disclaimers apply, YMMV,

Drifter

[HoochRat]

Thanks Drifter, I live just above Buford Dam and fly fish there all the time. I will be off work for about 10 days and wanted to explore the Hooch down stream. I tube float the top end, however I am looking for more water to whip. I have looked for Hooker's book around town. Looks like I will need to order on line from NGTO. I have been shadowing the message board here for about two years. Fun watching the group react.

Thank you for the earlier information.

[Danny Leigh]

HoochRat,
You can put in at Jones Bridge and fish either upstream or downstream between the 2 shoals. If you feel adventurous you can float down below the shoals, (go through west side of shoals) and you can go all the way to Island Ford. I have gone below the shoals before many times, but have never made it to Holcombe Bridge.

Motoring upstream can be slow at times and you may have to get out and pull the boat upstream, but it is runnable.

You can also put in at Azalae Drive off Roswell Rd. and motor all the way up to Island Ford. During low water you may have to run around the shallow sand bars, but they are usually easy to see and not many rocks until IF.

I have a 14' jonboat and use a 6 hp. gas motor and a trolling motor to move around.

Good luck

[Danny Leigh]

East side of the shoals NOT west.
Sorry

[superchub]

Hey...I am in the tailwater chapter...I'll keep you posted when the meetings are held and put you on the e-mail list for the newsletter. We usually meet at the Hatchery, the tuesday before the last tues. each month. There should be a meeting in Sept.
SC (pat)

[HoochRat]

Would like to thank "Drifter" and "Danny Leigh" for the river information, and "Hooker" for the book. I had a BLAST this past week hitting every rock in the Hooch. I was able to find a copy of Hooker's book "Angler's Guide to the Atlanta Chattahoochee." It is worth ever cent for the information contained.

I have been off all this week and have tried to wear out several rods.
*Fly fishing below the dam was fair as always. Late in the evening the best, after the generation was stopped.
*I live close to Lake Lanier and the crappie fishing in the boat houses has been tough. Night fishing appears to be the best. Fish are deep and spread out. "I fish for everything."
*Camped out several nights in the North Georgia mountains. Jacks River is a waste right now, John's creek ok had better luck in the small lake upstream from hatchery.
**Chattahoochee River - Melock portion: Never caught so many trout. I have fished for years and now I fully understand bending the barbs down on you hooks. You can fish faster and release fish easier. Gotta be easier on the fish. Did not fly fish this portion, will be back when alone or with other fly fishers.
**Jones Bridge: Mother of the river, wore out a fly rod on Wednesday evening below the ramp in the shoal. Using 6' - 3 weight rod with #16 Elk Hair Caddis and Black Ant pattern. I never saw so many fish breaking the surface. I caught and released more fish (fly fishing) than ever before. Some fish looked fat as if heading into a spawn. Brown's trout were the main catch, few rainbows.
**Jones Bridge: Friday morning early, fog still on river, water 55*. Had a new trout fisherman in boat. The river was high and fast. Motored up stream to the bottom of the shoal. Floated down stream to the boat launch. Fish were everywhere. Ultra light fishing with Rapala floating minnow. Trout pattern the ticket. We fished this way for several trips, motor up float down. Then it happened, motored back up with lure behind boat. Thought I was hung on rock, reel started singing and line going out. Then I felt the tug and run. It was a fish and a good one. Well by the time I got the boat stopped and first saw the fish my heart had skipped several beats. He got away right at the side of the boat. Boy was my passenger impressed with the size. I was even more impressed. Brown trout over 14 inches (net has 12 inch opening) and a real fighter.
We started trolling up and down the river. This should be against the law. We were so busy catching the nobel trout and releasing him that we bent the barb out of the hooks for more ease of removal. I looked in the B*** Pro catalog last night, thinking about putting out-riggers on my little boat and dragging teasers behind!!! Rain storm ran us off the river.

We kept 8 fish and I cleaned them last night, will smoke them on the cooker this evening and give to fishing friend.

Point of this long posting, "Lovers of the Hooch" take a new fisher person out and let them see the beauty of this river. The more people that see and appreciate this God given gift will only help us all. People who drive over the river each day do not think anything of it. Put them on the river and they change. My fishing friend us so mad that anyone would dump waster water into the Hooch. He is a convert and now has an investment in the river. Take a busy person fishing, they change right before your eyes.

Sorry for the long post, I loved the Hooch before and now it is stronger. Keep it clean and sweet, please for all of us!

Couple of days left to fish, must go and get wet.

[phlyster]

That was a nice post, it's neat to hear that you took a week off, and fished a lot, and to hear how and where you fished.

Thanks for the interesting post!

Peace,
Blake

[Drifter]

Hoochrat,

Great trip report! Thanks.

The Drifter

[Danny Leigh]

Thanks for the report HoochRat!

I have taken my 3 yr. old son with me and my dad a couple of time this year and can't believe how good he is at throwing a line and catching those trout. Jones Bridge usually has alot of fish and is a great area to fish from a boat.

I have also taken a few people that have either never trout fished before and rarely trout fish and Jones Bridge has never let us down. They always come away with a greater respect for the river.

Good fishing