Moving up the Flint, the first major obstacle encountered by the migrating stripers is the Georgia Power Company dam that impounds tiny Lake Chehaw. Here the fish congregate in large numbers and draw attention from area anglers. Though relatively small, the dam site is angler-friendly, providing parking for a small fee, a boat ramp and restroom facilities. There is improved tailwater access with steps leading from the powerhouse right down to water level.

"There's a wing wall just behind the powerhouse," Weller said. "Fishing is allowed right on top of the wall. There's also a little pier right at water level. When the water is low enough, you can fish from that as well. It is easy and accessible and a pretty popular spot."

Quite a few diehard striper and hybrid bass fishermen hit this area pretty hard, especially during spring when there is a lot of water. The more water coming down the Flint, the more the stripers concentrate below the dam.

The Chehaw tailrace is a typical Flint River site, containing big rocks and a limestone bedrock riverbed. There is little sand or sediment. The waters coming through the gates of the dam wash that away.

"If you don't want to fish from the dam, boat access is quite easy here, if the water is high enough for boat-ramp use," Weller explained. "Just be careful during those high-water, fast-current times. Make sure you're in a decent-sized boat. Don't try it in a johnboat or the like.

"As on any tailrace, you just have to exercise caution. There's no buoy line or restriction barrier here. Use common sense," he added.

The majority of anglers here are artificial bait-fishermen, though some opt for live shad caught with cast nets. Favored lures are large crankbaits and bucktail jigs.

"Use heavy tackle when you fish here," Weller advised, "especially during high water when the bigger stripers are hanging around. There are some big fish out there. We once collected a striper that weighed 65 pounds. As any fisherman knows, a really big fish hooked in high, fast water will often have its way with you."

Weller suggested using heavy-duty spinning tackle or stout baitcasting gear. Use a stiff rod, and if you're really serious about landing a big striper, don't spool up with any line under 20-pound-test.

There are no special live-bait regulations to be concerned with, but anglers must be aware that the creel limit is 15 stripers and/or hybrids. Only two fish in this total limit can exceed 22 inches in length.

"That limits the number of big fish an angler can take in one day and helps protect the big-fish population," Weller explained.

As a rule, most of the striped bass at the Albany dam run between 5 and 20 pounds, with a good abundance of 7- to 12-pounders. Of course, there's also that occasional 40-pounder-plus thrown into the mix.

The winter/spring striper run at the Chehaw dam and elsewhere is generally over by mid-April, though last season's run lasted well into May.

"February through early April is best," said Weller, "but they'll hang around the tailrace as long as there's high water and optimal water temperatures."

Another spring striped bass/hybrid bass fishery on the southern reaches of the Flint is located in the tailwaters of the Lake Blackshear Dam, upstream from Albany off State Route 300. This area has become quite popular with anglers in recent years. Owned and operated by the Crisp County Power Company, the Blackshear Dam tailrace is a good deal bigger than the Georgia Power facility downstream. It features a relatively new earthen dam reconstructed after the devastating Flint River flood of 1994.