Fly Fishing For Striper in Georgia

While Striped Bass are technically native to some coastal streams in Georgia, their abundance across the state is due to stocking projects. The aim for these projects were to introduce a new sportfish into our lake and river systems as well as keep local baitfish populations in check. They are now widespread and exist in most of our coolwater reserviors and streams across the northern and middle reaches of the state. The Coosa/Etowah River, Middle Savannah River, Chattahoochee River/Chestatee River, and Nottely River Watersheds all host healthy populations. For fly anglers, Lake Lanier and Chattahoochee River drainages get the most attention. These fisheries are incredibly consistent and produce some of the largest Striper in the state. These fisheries are quite different and do require an understanding of the nuance it may take to find success. The most important factor in fishing the North Georgia rivers or Lake Lanier for striped bass is timing.

Fly Fishing Lake Lanier Striper

Lake Lanier provides the best opportunities to find a Striper on the fly of any lake in Georgia. This is especially true for plus sized individuals that grow over 20 pounds. While the striped bass live in the darkest depths of the lake throughout the summer and warmer periods of the year. Striper move shallow in the mid fall and can be found cruising shallow water through May and even into early June in years with heavier Spring rains.

Fall Fly Fishing for Striper on Lake Lanier

Beginning in mid October, threadfin shad and small blueback herring will begin to move shallow in the middle reaches of the lake when night time temperatures begin to drop. Striper will begin to follow and can be found in the lowlight hours corralling bait along the humps and long points. As the Autumn progresses, the lowlight bite can move to a day long bite. Roaming schools of striper will cover miles and miles of water in many of the large tributaries in search of food. Finding bait is CRITICAL this time of year in order to land a fish. While schooling striper aren't often picky when they are feeding for much of the year, the fall months will find these fish fixating on smaller bait. This is overlooked by many anglers who will need to match this smaller than normal bait size. One to two inch streamers will give anglers the best odds through December on the middle and south end of the lake.

Winter Fly Fishing for Striper on Lake Lanier

On the arrival of winter in December and January, Striper will push bait in the lake in one of two directions. Some will move to deeper haunts to overwinter while others will migrate into the backs of creeks in an attempt to find the warmest water in the lake and more primary production. Anglers can target these shallow flats and creek channels in these months to find hyper aggressive fish feeding on trapped pods of bait. While the early morning bite is the most consistent, anglers can find schools of fish shallow throughout the day, especially under overcast conditions.

Spring Fly Fishing For Striper on Lake Lanier

Beginning in March, Striper will once again start to move from their wintertime haunts and spread throughout the lake. This is the best time of year to take advantage of the night time bite. Fishing under lights is at its best in March and early April. As the waters warm, threadfin shad and blueback herring will begin to spawn making the night and early morning bite incredible. While feeding tends to taper off by mid morning, fish can still be found cruising around. While some populations of this fish will remain in the middle and lower extents of the lake in the Spring, others will opt to head up the Chestatee and Chattahoochee Rivers for their faux spawn.

Striper will stay in the rivers as late as early June as they try to spawn. Their efforts will be fruitless as the rivers are not able to sustain enough flow for a long enough time in order for eggs to hatch. Anglers can target these fish on their way in and out of these rivers for an unforgettable fight on a fly rod in the often swift waters. By May many of the fish have returned to the lake where they can be found schooling around points in the mornings and evenings. This time of year they can be found bashing herring alongside the hefty spotted bass of Lanier. While the surface action is difficult to pass on, anglers will often find more success just beneath the surface when targetting the striper in these schools.

Fly Fishing For Stripers in Georgia's Rivers

Spring runs of Striped bass can be found in the Etowah, Coosawatee, Nottely, Chestatee, Chattahoochee, and Savannah Rivers. Runs will begin as early as late March with the Savannah and upper Etowah rivers often seeing the first fish in March. Warm rains in April often trigger the first large run of fish up these rivers with larger groups moving into the Chestatee and Chattahoochee Rivers above Lake Lanier. Anglers can float these rivers in the spring months for a shot at running into giant striped bass in skinny water. Fish will stage in deeper holes and creek confluences as they continue upstream. Shiners, creek chubs, suckers, and even stocked trout will find their way onto the menu for these opportunistically feeding fish. Striper will often move in waves upstream, triggered to move forward when ideal conditions are present. Flashy and eye catching streamers are best when fish are on the move. Smaller flies may be better when targeting lazy fish lurking in slow water. The window to catch these fish is not often longer than two months so plan an trip accordingly and follow the rains and water levels to improve your odds of hanging one of these river monsters.

Summer Fly Fishing For Striper

Late Spring in early Summer sees an influx of striped bass moving up the lower elevation sections of river on the Chattahoochee and Etowah. Below the dams on Allatoona (Etowah) and Morgan Falls (Chattahoochee) Summer run striper will move upstream from Lake Weiss and West Point Lake in search of cooler water temps and abundant bait. Both threadfin shad and gizzard shad will be corralled in shoals and other pinch points where healthy Striped Bass will take advantage of the easy feeding opportunities. These runs will be the last of the year until the temperatures cool once again in the Fall. Larger flies that can attract plenty of attention are best at this time. Look for rising or falling water levels to trigger feeding frenzies on these rivers in the warmer months.

Striper Fly Fishing Guides in Georgia

If your without a reliable watercraft, Striper fishing on the fly can be daunting or near impossible. Our guides at Georgia Wild Trout offer trips on both Lake Lanier and the Rivers of North Georgia to target these predatory fish. For more information on these guided fly fishing trips for striper, check out our page on Guided Striper Fly Fishing in Georgia. Our guides can put you in a position to have the most success on the water. To book your trip, head to our Fly Fishing Trips page.