Now that we know a little bit about our quarry, let's look at some of the best places in Georgia for tangling with Mr. Whiskers. You may run into it just about anywhere in the state, but the fishing holes listed below are some of Georgia's best.

WHERE TO FISH
Peaceful and full of monster flatheads, the Altamaha River is close to perfect for catfishing. The Altamaha is a large river, and one of few left in Georgia not impounded at some point along its course. With 137 miles of river downstream of where the Oconee and Ocmulgee meet to create it, the Altamaha is the largest flow found entirely within the Peach State.

The Altamaha has seen some changes in its recent times. Non-native flatheads were illegally introduced into the river sometime in the 1970s and have dramatically changed the fishing the river offers. The angling for other species, notably redbreast sunfish, has suffered because of the flathead's predatory nature and booming numbers.

But efforts to introduce anglers to flathead fishing have proven successful. Pulling huge flatheads from the Altamaha's deep holes has become a favorite pastime of local anglers.

The Altamaha is a wide and meandering river. Bends in the river channel are always the most productive areas to fish, and this stream has plenty. Since their introduction, flathead catfish have spread throughout the Altamaha River. However, the lower half of the flow has the most fish and offers the best fishing. Flatheads can be found even into the tidal zone, although their numbers decrease the farther into the brackish water you go. Anglers shouldn't completely overlook the upper river though, since it too has produced some huge catfish.

The river stage strongly influences fishing. High water generally means a poor day, and stable or falling water means your chances of catching catfish are good. Since the Altamaha drainage is large and extends well up into the Piedmont, weather conditions many miles away can be a factor. The best fishing is when the U.S. Geological Survey gage near Baxley is at 3.5 to 5.5 feet. When the reading is above 6.5, fishing is going to be very tough. Low readings of 0.5 to 2.5 result in good fishing, but navigating the river can become a problem.

The river is full of good places to fish from start to finish, but a few areas stand out. Upstream of U.S. Highway 84, the big bends in the river have plenty of cover and deep holes favored by flathead catfish. Really, anywhere in the nearly 40-mile stretch of river from Jaycees Landing to Altamaha Park has the potential of supporting a great fishing trip.

The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division publishes a free pamphlet titled Guide to Fishing the Altamaha River. This includes a river map and has information on launch sites, camping, and fishing hints. As a quick glance at the guide shows, access is excellent, with a selection of public ramps and private fish camps up and down the river. Contact the WRD Waycross Fisheries Section office at (912) 285-6094 to obtain a copy. Also available free from WRD is their Flathead Catfish Fishing Guide, which includes everything you need to know about flathead catfishing.