Anyone have any good locations for river smallie fishing in Georgia? What gear do you like to use?

Outside of extreme northern Georgia, only a small percentage of bass fishermen know that smallmouth bass even exist in Georgia.  Smallmouth bass occur exclusively in tributaries of the Tennessee River, usually small streams that run north into Tennessee. The state record smallmouth was caught from Lake Chatuge and weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces. In the few Georgia waterways that hold smallmouths, the average size is around 3/4 pound, and GRF has not heard of any smallmouths caught from rivers or streams weighing over three pounds. Smallmouth are easy to identify because they are generally the only bronze-colored bass in the waters where they exist, though spotted and largemouth bass (usually greenish) occasionally show up.

    Smallmouth are at home in either fast or slow current, but in Georgia streams, they tend to reside in the faster, more shallow sections of a stream while the other species live in the slower sections. Bronzebacks tend to rest in deeper pools and move into shoal areas to feed, so the best areas will contain shoals and pools. Cover is important, too, especially in the form of downed trees and boulders. Smallmouth feed primarily on crawfish and small baitfish, so anything that resembles these staples works well. Light to medium spinning or fly fishing tackle works well for Georgia smallies and smaller lures tend to be productive.

    Crawfish crankbaits, tube jigs, four-inch plastic worms, 1/8 ounce spinnerbaits, and your favorite small topwater bait are about all you need to catch stream smallmouth. Flyfishermen may want to try wading the shallows with a popping bug or Woolly Bugger. Stream smallmouth are incredibly sporty for their size and tend to jump higher and more frequently than other bass. Though the average size is rather small, there are undoubtedly a few 3 and 4 pounders in Georgia streams, and these fish most likely don't get much pressure. 

SUWANEE BASS

GRF member Bill Bell hoists a beautiful Suwanee bass into his kayak.

    Let me start this by saying that I have never personally fished for Suwanee bass, so most of the information that follows is second-hand. The Suwanee bass is found exclusively in South Georgia (and more commonly in northern Florida) in the Suwanee, Alapaha, Withlacoochee, and Ochlocknee river systems. The Ochlocknee (in the Thomasville area) has by far the best reputation in Georgia as a Suwanee bass hotspot, and it holds the state record with a 3 pound 9 ounce fish. Suwanee bass average around 1/2 pound and are said to prefer the faster water in these streams, though the current rarely  gets brisk in these waters.

    Suwanee bass look like an amalgam of all the other bass species, but appear to have thicker, more rounded bodies and a hint of turquoise on their underbellies. Their favorite foods are crawfish, hellgrammites, and small fish, and Suwanees  hit down-sized bass lures well. Late summer and fall are said to be the best times to pursue these fish, as lower water levels tend to concentrate them in deeper, cover-laden areas. Be careful though, because big largemouth bass also inhabit these rivers, often in the same areas as Suwanee bass.

Thanks, great information! I will have to head south and try for some of those Suwanee bass!

I've heard unsubstantiated (local baitshop talk) reports of smallies in Hartswell, Russell and Clarks Hill, and just below the Clarks Hill dam on the Savannah River; maybe Fluke can weigh in.

I've heard unsubstantiated (local baitshop talk) reports of smallies in Hartswell, Russell and Clarks Hill, and just below the Clarks Hill dam on the Savannah River; maybe Fluke can weigh in.

 

Thanks, great information! I will have to head south and try for some of those Suwanee bass!

I've been fishing the savannah river for a long time and never heard of anyone catching any or caught any myself.  I've never caught or heard of anyone catching sturgeon either but that doesn't mean they arent there.

I live near Clayton, Ga and usually make the trip up to the little Tennessee near Franklin, NC to do some river smallie fishing. There are some stretches that you can float and some that you can wade.