Photo by Polly Dean.

It’s a constant amazement to me that some folks in and around Atlanta are unaware that the Chattahoochee River holds fish. I’m routinely reminded of this when casually mentioning to a neighbor or friend that I spent a day fishing on the river, and only a few miles from my home in Marietta.

I’m even approached at the river as I’m suiting up with boots and waders. “What kinds of fish are in here?” I’m asked.

My questioners are usually quite surprised to hear that I catch trout while I stand in water only yards from bustling interstates 75 or 285. They’re even more surprised to learn that this fishery running right through our great urban concentration produces trout angling of a quality to rival any North Georgia Mountain stream -- and especially in the dead of winter!

For example: The state-record brown trout was taken from of the Chattahoochee River in November 2001. Charlie Ford caught the monster brown, which weighed in at 18 pounds, 6.72 ounces, in the tailwater section of the ‘Hooch, just minutes from north metro Atlanta.

Originating at Buford Dam at the southern end of Lake Lanier and meandering southwest into the midst of metro Atlanta, where it ends at the mouth of Peachtree Creek, the Chattahoochee’s tailwater trout fishery stretches 48 miles. The National Park Service manages portions of this stretch of river along with 10,000 acres of parklands and access points in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

The tailwater passes through subdivisions, a number of large, impressive homes dotting its shore. Along some stretches, cliffs rise sharply from the banks and forested areas shield the river, making one forget that urban sprawl lurks just beyond the trees. In shoals, the water tumbles as clear as a mountain creek over rocks, and in long, deep, slow pools, it runs dark, reflecting the brownish-grays of leaf-bare trees along the banks.

Fishermen divide this tailwater of the ‘Hooch into two main sections. Each exhibits its own unique characteristics, and either would be an excellent choice for catching trout during the cool winter months. (Cont.)

THE UPPER TAILWATERS
The upper tailwater runs for 35 miles of river from Buford Dam down to Morgan Falls Dam, a small hydropower unit. Numerous access points along the upper tailwater provide excellent floating, and a couple of wading opportunities.

Few anglers know this upper section of the ‘Hooch’s tailwater as well as does Chris Scalley. He grew up in Roswell hunting and fishing the Chattahoochee River and its surrounding areas. He’s been fly-fishing since he was a young boy, and though he’s seen his share of exotic fishing destinations, he now lives and works -- and can be found almost on a daily basis -- on the ‘Hooch.

Scalley has guided anglers on the river under a National Park Service permit for more than 13 years. His personal and professional goal: to see the Chattahoochee reach its maximum potential as a trout fishery.

As he works closely with biologists from the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, Scalley’s become somewhat a lay expert on insects and macroinvertebrates. He also stays in close contact with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- which operates Buford Dam and controls water levels on the river -- as well as the National Park Service, which controls most public access to the stream.

His passion and his knowledge have made him perhaps the Chattahoochee River’s greatest angling advocate. This is evident when he speaks to clubs, organizations or anyone who steps into his boat, which I recently was fortunate enough to do.

Allen Hansen and I had fly-fishing gear in hand as we boarded Scalley’s jet boat at a ramp in the Jones Bridge Unit of the Chattahoochee River NRA on the Fulton County side of the upper tailwater section. Powerboats aren’t a common sight on the Chattahoochee, as numerous shallow, rocky shoals along the tailwater tend to deter boaters with outboard motors. Since it has no prop to bang against any of those, Scalley’s jet engine is ideal for skirting the skinny water and rocky outcroppings.