Masterclass: Tailwater Fisheries

Class is in session. Get your notes out, and learn you a thing or two about how to better fish tailwaters and understand streamflows in this Tailwater Masterclass.

Think that fly fishing is all about the flies you use? the presentation of the flies?...your drift?

No, more important than all that is knowing: - when to fish - and where to fish. This is the first element to "locating fish" or "locating productive water". And with all the water information available to you online, you are equipped to best plan your trips and have a better time on the water, if you know how to use it.

See below for the links referenced in the video, and for the "Cheat Sheet" showing you the stream flow times for common access points along the Chattahoochee!

Links and references mentioned in the video:

1. Planned Release Schedule Website: http://spatialdata.sam.usace.army.mil...

2. Buford Dam phone number: 770-945-1466

3. River Miles Map: https://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisi...

4. Real Time USGS Mobile Waterdata (water level and Turbidity) : https://m.waterdata.usgs.gov/

CHEAT SHEET! (thanks to the community at NorthGeorgiaTroutOnline):

Bowman’s Island – Zero!

Hwy 20 – 30 min

Settles Bridge – 30-60 min

McGinnis Ferry – 2.0 hr

Abbott’s Bridge – 3.0 hr

Pleasant Hill Rd/McClure Bridge – 3.5 – 4.0 hr

Medlock Bridge - 4 – 5 hr

Jones Bridge – 5–6 hr

Holcomb Bridge – 6-7 hr

Island Ford – 7-8 hr

Morgan Falls – 9-10 hr (on line flow gauge of 812.5 matches to 6 feet at Paces Ferry approx 2 hr later)

Cochran Shoals 10-11 hr