Settles Bridge

[trembljj]

Anyone have any opinions on this part of the Hooch. I plan to drive there this weekend.

[S.Trutta]

The area up from the bridge is quite wadeable if your careful, is rocky pocket water. About a mile upstream from the bridge there is a very nice section of runs and riffle that always holds a bunch of fish. Be careful wading this area though, some of those ledges drop off into holes that could hide a volkswagon, and the hole under the bridge really does have a VW down there!!!!


Rich

[chrisfish]

I haven't fished this section in about two years. When I lived in Suwanee, I would visit often. I love it! It is quiet, holds lots of fish, and you can find any kind of water you want. Be careful wading, there are some deep drop offs. Watch for the water rising too. It comes up VERY fast!

Chrisfish

[Trout8myfly]

Try using the SEARCH function on the toolbar above to look for other posts on Settles Bridge - there have been many posts over the years.

Use the link below for a Google map to Riverside Elementary. The school is near Settles plus you'll see signs for the park off of Johnson Rd. which intersects off Suwanee Dam Rd. (Flip to the satellite view, zoom in, and you'll see some of the shoals referenced in other posts.)

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=5445+...4&iwloc=A&hl=en (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=5445+Settles+Bridge+Road+Suwanee,+GA+30024&iwloc=A&hl=en)

Riverside Elementary
5445 Settles Bridge Road Suwanee, GA 30024

Turn at the four way stop just past the school and follow the dirt road to the parking area. You then have three general choices.

1. Follow the marked path down to the old bridge and wade fish the nearby rocks and shoals.

2. Walk upstream a few hundred feet and then look to the left; you'll see a gap in the trees and a clearing. Keep to the right in the clearing and you'll see another path that leads down to the water.

3. Shoals several hundred yards downstream from the parking area may be more productive but it's a challenge and a half getting in and out of the river because of the steep banks. Between these shoals and the old bridge is a flat sheet of very slow and very deep water.

Be sure to call the Dam for water generation schedules 770-945-1466.

[skibum]

Early and Late are best times. Lots of small wild browns in this area.. Some days they'll hit anything, other days nothing seems to work.. Water comes up just over 30min (this is not water you wanna be out in when the river starts coming up!!) after a release and takes about 3 hours to drop once the release has ended..

[chrisfish]

got me thinking ... anyone else hit that area just as the water was dropping? I did well there one day when the water was still kinda high but dropping. Just a thought ...

Chrisfish

[BeerDawg]

Would it be a good idea to have a float tube? I might try and hit it also.

[Trout8myfly]

Float tube is a good idea .. some deep holes to avoid and float over. The challenge is hauling the tube and yourself out of the river downstream of the bridge - the bank is very steep and with all this rain will likely be very muddy and hard to climb without a tube, let alone with.

That said at low tide there is a lot of very wadeable water.

[skibum]

We've worked our way up there in the boat during high water and floated back down as the water levels drop.. It can be gooood fish'n ;) In fact I know some guides head out for the rising water as well ;) It's just tough to wade around there when the water is up. Gotta know where your going stuff...