In the foothills of North Georgia, the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River begin their southward trek across the state toward Florida and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. As it makes its way south it combines with the Flint River in Middle Georgia and eventually becomes the Apalachicola River in Florida.

Getting out in the shoals (as Jimmy Harris of Unicoi Outfitters is doing here) is key to finding the upper river's shoalies. Photo by Don Baldwin

Today there are several large reservoirs along the route that supply drinking water and recreational opportunities for the state. These reservoirs have changed the characteristics of the river and have formed isolated fisheries along the way. One such area is the Chattahoochee River above Lake Sidney Lanier.

Between the mountain town of Helen and the upper end of the lake, the river winds its way through the foothill as a relatively shallow, clear mountain stream that cascades over rocky shoals. In some sections these shoals are short stretches containing a few big boulders, but in others the whitewater created by the flow tumbling over the rocks stretches the width of the river for hundreds of yards. This swift clear water is excellent habitat for one of Georgia's native bass species, the shoal bass.

The shoal bass is only found naturally in the Chattahoochee and Flint River basins in Georgia and was not identified as a separate bass species until 1999. Prior to that time it was thought to be a subspecies of the redeye bass, which is also a native to the state.

Shoalies, true to their name, prefer fast moving, shallow, water around rocks as their primary habitat. They are fierce acrobatic fighters when hooked. Shoal bass angling has been growing in popularity since the species was identified and these fish are the targets of anglers from the basic to the most sophisticated. The feisty fish will attack natural bait like worms, crickets and crayfish, or artificial lures like small in-line spinners, small- to medium-sized surface lures and poppers.

Light spinning tackle on short but stout rods is the choice of most anglers, as it is best suited to casting the small baits in the sometimes tight quarters around the shoals. But there is an increasing population of fly-fishermen who are beginning to show up in the shoals stalking these fish.

Jimmy Harris of Unicoi Outfitters and his staff now offer guided outings for shoal bass on the upper "Hooch." He confirmed that interest in these fish is on the rise among fly casters.

"The shoal bass is a great alternative for trout fishermen on the Chattahoochee, particularly when the weather gets hot during the summer," Harris noted.

He described the shoal bass as an ambush feeder that lies in wait under rock ledges and in churning water to attack unsuspecting prey as it is washed downstream in the current. These bass aggressively charge out of their lairs and also slam baits drifted by them. In the clear, shallow water it is often possible to see the fish flash out and take the lure. That adds some excitement to the action.

In this area of the river, most of the shoal bass are in the 1- to 2-pound class, but Harris said the occasional 4-pounder keeps things interesting.

For fly casters, 5- or 6-weight rods are in order, as well as heavy tippets of 1X or 2X. Even though the water can be ultra clear, the turbulence of the rapids limits visibility so the heavier tippets don't usually affect the strike rate. While fishing, it is also a good idea to check the tippet often for frays. The rocks in the shoal are hard on monofilament line, and these fish are tough fighters that use the current to their advantage. A weak tippet often results in a lost fish.