It’s a fishing day

Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater) fishing conditions · Georgia

Tomorrow, 1 pm–7 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 84. Water is 61°, inside their 45–68° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 84 for rainbow trout, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 844 pm
  2. 84
  3. 84
  4. 847 pm
  5. 69
  6. 69
  7. 6910 pm
  8. 59
  9. 59Sun
  10. 641 am
  11. 64
  12. 64
  13. 594 am
  14. 59
  15. 59
  16. 597 am
  17. 59
  18. 59
  19. 5910 am
  20. 59
  21. 64
  22. 841 pm
  23. 84
  24. 84
  25. 844 pm
  26. 84
  27. 84
  28. 747 pm
  29. 69
  30. 59
  31. 5910 pm
  32. 59
  33. 69Mon
  34. 741 am
  35. 74
  36. 74
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
61°F

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
10 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:40 pm

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
66°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Georgia regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

84Worth the tripTomorrow, 1 pm–7 pm

Water

61°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside rainbow trout's active range. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

8 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Georgia statewide: 8 trout a day, no minimum length, and all designated trout waters are open all year. Delayed-harvest streams are catch-and-release with artificial lures Nov 1–May 14.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Georgia

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

84Worth the tripTomorrow, 1 pm–7 pm

Water

61°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside brown trout's active range. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

8 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Georgia statewide: 8 trout a day, no minimum length, and all designated trout waters are open all year. Delayed-harvest streams are catch-and-release with artificial lures Nov 1–May 14.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Georgia

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer30.03 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:40 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:03 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 4:10 pm–5:10 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:30 pm–12:30 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:10 am–7:10 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A rare urban trout tailwater — the cold flow below Buford Dam runs through metro Atlanta as the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, stocked with rainbows and holding wild browns within sight of the skyline. Waded and floated; one of the most-visited trout fisheries in the South.

Georgia: 8 trout a day, no minimum length. Downstream, from Sope Creek to US 41, is delayed harvest (catch and release, artificial lures, Nov 1–May 14); upstream, GA 20 to Medlock Bridge is artificial lures only. No night fishing from Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek. Watch Buford Dam generation flows.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Lanier29 mi · GeorgiaBest tomorrow 1 pm–7 pm
78Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater)?

Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater) is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater) have?

Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Georgia: 8 trout a day, no minimum length. Downstream, from Sope Creek to US 41, is delayed harvest (catch and release, artificial lures, Nov 1–May 14); upstream, GA 20 to Medlock Bridge is artificial lures only. No night fishing from Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek. Watch Buford Dam generation flows.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater)?

state agency regulations apply at Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater) tidal water?

No. Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.