Rivers & StreamsNo Baitfish per NPS
Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam) Fishing Guide
Georgia
The Lanier Tailwater, from Buford Dam down to Bull Sluice Lake at Roswell, where cold releases from Lake Lanier keep stocked rainbow and wild brown trout year-round.
Part of the Chattahoochee River.
Photo: Scott Long via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Trip at a Glance
Anglers come to the Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam) for rainbow trout and brown trout. Rainbow trout and brown trout are good year-round here; for brown trout and rainbow trout, Parachute Adams, Blue-Winged Olive and Pheasant Tail Nymph are a good place to start.
There are 12 shops nearby (4 fly, 9 bait and tackle; some are both), including Fly Box Outfitters in Marietta. Also nearby: Lake Lanier.
Season at a Glance
Legend
This Month Prime: Top Months Open, Slower Spawning
Season Rules & Licenses
- Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek: fishing hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; no night fishing. Georgia DNR WRD 2026
- GA Hwy 20 to the Medlock Bridge Park boat ramp (just above GA Hwy 141): artificial lures only. Georgia DNR WRD 2026
- National Park Service rule in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (36 CFR 2.3): live or dead minnows and other bait fish, amphibians and non-preserved fish eggs may not be used or possessed as bait (the park designates no waters where they are allowed). NPS 2026
Rules: our short summary, not the official text. Gear & Tackle is independent, not a government site; rules change, so read the agency's current rules before you go.
Most anglers need a Georgia fishing license; age cutoffs and exemptions are set by the state.
Parts of the Chattahoochee River
- Main PageChattahoochee RiverThe Chattahoochee from Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek in Atlanta, 48 miles of designated trout water inside the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: a cold tailwater with stocked rainbow and wild brown trout below Buford Dam, and below Morgan Falls Dam a Delayed Harvest trout section with shoal, largemouth and spotted bass and summer striped bass.
- Rivers & Streams · Georgia · You're HereChattahoochee River (Buford Dam)The Lanier Tailwater, from Buford Dam down to Bull Sluice Lake at Roswell, where cold releases from Lake Lanier keep stocked rainbow and wild brown trout year-round.
- Rivers & Streams · GeorgiaChattahoochee River (Morgan Falls)The Chattahoochee from Morgan Falls Dam to Peachtree Creek, with the Delayed Harvest trout section from Sope Creek to Cobb Parkway, shoal, largemouth and spotted bass, and striped bass that run up from West Point Lake in summer.
Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam) Species
Species per Georgia DNR WRD.
Images: Duane Raver, USFWS. Public domain.
What to Use
Rainbow Trout
Good year-round
Fly
9 ft 5 wt rod, weight-forward floating line, 9 ft 4X to 5X leader. Add a sink-tip and 3X for streamers.
Rod, Reel and Line
- RodRedington Classic Trout Fly Rod · 9 ft 0 in, 5 weight, 4 pieceCheck Price
- ReelRedington Behemoth Fly Reel · for 5 and 6 weightCheck Price
- LineRIO Gold Fly Line · 5wt floatingCheck Price
- LeaderRIO Tapered Trout LeadersCheck Price
Tie On in November
- Fly for November · #4-12Woolly Bugger · Umpqua Wooly Bugger✓ Named by Georgia DNR WRDCheck Price
- Fly for November · #12-18Hare's Ear Nymph✓ Named by Georgia DNR WRDSee Options
- Fly for November · #10-16Prince Nymph✓ Named by Georgia DNR WRDSee Options
- Fly for November · #16-22Zebra MidgeTailwaters.See Options
- Fly for November · #14-20Pheasant Tail NymphSee Options
- Fly for November · #12-20Parachute AdamsSee Options
Spin / Cast
6 to 7 ft ultralight or light spinning rod, 1000 to 2500 reel, 4 to 6 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Rod, Reel and Line
- Rod & ReelUgly Stik GX2 Ultralight Spinning Combo · 7 ft ultralight rod, size 25 reel, 2 pieceCheck Price
- LineBerkley Trilene XL Monofilament · 4 or 6 lbCheck Price
Tie On in November
- Lure for November · 1/16 to 1/4 ozInline Spinner · Mepps Aglia Inline Spinner✓ Named by Georgia DNR WRDCheck Price
- Lure for November · 1/16 to 1 ozCasting Spoon · Acme Kastmaster Spoon✓ Named by Georgia DNR WRDSmall sizes for trout.Check Price
- Bait for November · Whole or halfNightcrawlers✓ Named by Georgia DNR WRDBait Shops
- Bait for November · Pea sizeTrout Dough Bait✓ Named by Georgia DNR WRDBait Shops
- Bait for November · KernelsSweet Corn✓ Named by Georgia DNR WRDBait Shops
Named by Georgia DNR WRD: the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division names this kind of fly, lure or bait for this fish here; tap the name for its page. It names the type, not the product we link, and does not endorse this site.
Other Picks: general for this fish, each checked against state and federal agency pages, not specific to this water. Ask a local shop what is working.
Gear: rods, reels and lines are starting points, sized from each maker's page. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Buy Local
Shops near Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam):
- Fly Box Outfitters, MariettaWebsite
- Angler's Bait and Tackle, DoravilleWebsite
- Orvis, AlpharettaWebsite
Map of Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam)
Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam) Fishing Videos
Picked by Gear & Tackle: for what they show about the Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam). We don't make these videos, and none is a review of a product we link.
Watch Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam) Fishing Videos on YouTube
Planning for a Month
Prime in November
Good Year-Round: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Daylight
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Moon
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Typical Weather
63°F high, 41°F low
About 4.2 in of precipitation for the month.
Typical Flow
1,716 cfs
Most years 983 cfs to 3,855 cfs.
Typical, Not a Forecast: weather from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals at a station about 6 mi away; flow from USGS gauge 02335815, 2000 to 2026.
Also Worth Packing
Clothing for November comes first, picked from typical weather here.
Waders & Boots
Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders
Durable, breathable four-layer waders built as a daily driver for seasons of wading.
Pack It For: Year-round
Check Price Maker's PageWaders & Boots
Simms Freestone Wading Boots
Supportive wading boots with determined traction for a full range of wading conditions, worn over waders or wading socks.
Pack It For: Year-round
Check Price Maker's PageApparel
Frogg Toggs Pro Action Rain Jacket
A durable, waterproof hooded jacket for a wet month.
Pack It For: Nov to Mar
Check Price Maker's PageNets & Tools
Frabill Rubber Mesh Landing Net
A floating trout net with tangle-free micromesh rubberized netting and a flat bottom that supports the fish's weight evenly.
Check Price Maker's PageSunglasses
Costa Polarized Fishing Sunglasses
Polarized lenses cut glare so you can see fish, structure, and flats.
Check PriceApparel
Simms SolarFlex Sun Hoody
A UPF 50+ hooded sun shirt with a vented hood and extended sleeves, for long, bright days.
Pack It For: Apr to Oct
Check Price Maker's PageApparel
Buff CoolNet UV Neckwear
A UPF 50 sun gaiter for the face and neck.
Pack It For: Apr to Oct
Check Price Maker's PageSome links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Ramps and Launches on Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam)
Source: Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division Boat Ramps. Hours and fees change; check before you go.
Shops Near Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam)
Guides and Charters Near Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam)
River Through Atlanta
Roswell, Georgia
Per their website: Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Largemouth Bass, Half-Day Trips, Full-Day Trips, Float Trips, Lake Trips, River Trips
River Fishing Adventure
Woodstock, Georgia
Per their website: Striped Bass, Half-Day Trips, Full-Day Trips, Lake Trips, River Trips
Lake Lanier Fishing Guides
Buford, Georgia
Per their website: Striped Bass, Half-Day Trips, Full-Day Trips, Lake Trips
