It’s a fishing day

Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater) fishing conditions · Georgia

Today, 1 pm–7 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 96. Water is 56°, close to the 55° rainbow trout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 86 for rainbow trout, goTap 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. 863 am
  2. 86
  3. 86
  4. 866 am
  5. 86
  6. 86
  7. 819 am
  8. 81
  9. 81
  10. 8612 pm
  11. 96
  12. 96
  13. 963 pm
  14. 96
  15. 96
  16. 966 pm
  17. 86
  18. 86
  19. 869 pm
  20. 76
  21. 71
  22. 71Tue
  23. 71
  24. 76
  25. 763 am
  26. 76
  27. 76
  28. 766 am
  29. 76
  30. 71
  31. 819 am
  32. 71
  33. 81
  34. 8112 pm
  35. 86
  36. 96
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
56°F

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
5 mph

From the northeast

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:51 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
51°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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

96GoToday, 1 pm–7 pm

Water

56°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in rainbow trout's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

88GoToday, 1 pm–7 pm

Water

56°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in brown trout's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

The water

  • Water temperature56°F
  • Barometer30.41 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:51 am
  • Sunset today6:51 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:50 am–8:50 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:40 pm–2:40 pm
  • Minor solunarTonight 6:30 pm–7:30 pm

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 today 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.