The following charts provides a detailed list of Chattahoochee River hatches throughout the year—including recommend fly patterns and sizes. The most popular hatches and fly patterns include Blue Wing Olive (BWO), Yellow Drake and Caddis.
The Chattahoocheek River is a year round fishery that offers excellenting fly fishing opportunities. In the spring Black Caddis hatches take center stage and nymph fishing begins to pick up. Mid spring Sulphur hatches appear in the Delayed Harvest section.
As summer hits, and the heat roles in, terrestials make their entrance with a Japanese beetle hatch, and the apperance of ants and hoppers. Blue Winged Olive hatches that were strong through winter and spring continue to pop up from time to time througout the summer.
The predominant hatches during fall include Blue Winged Olives and Caddis. As the weather cools, and winter sets in, Midges and Black Stone Flies are the main hatches anglers should be aware off. Woolly Buggers and baitfish imitations are also effective during the winter months.
Insect | Size | Begin | End | Dry Fly Patterns | Wet Fly Patterns |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caddis | 14-18 | March | June | Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, Royal Wulff | Hare's Ear Nymph, Lafontaine Pupae, Prince Nymph, Z-Wing Caddis |
Blue Wing Olive | 16-24 | January | December | Parachute Adams, Sparkle Dun, Compara Dun, Adams | Pheasant Tail Nymph, Zug Bug, Hare's Ear Nymph, Barr Emerger |
Yellow Drake | 12 | July | February | Parachute Adams, Compara Dun, Sparkle Dun | Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare's Ear Nymph, Barr Emerger |
Sulphur | 18-20 | April | August | Parachute Adams, Compara Dun, Schroeder's Hopper | Pheasant Tail nymph |
Stonefly | 6-16 | January | June | Stimulator, Royal Trude, Elk Hair Caddis | Kaufmann's Stone |
Midges | 16-24 | January | December | Griffith's Gnat, Adams, Fitzsimmon's Midge, Bett's Emerger | Brassie, Serendipity |
Cranefly | 6-12 | July | February | Schroeder's Hopper, Jack Dennis Cranefly, Scalley Cranefly | Stimulator-Peacock, Hare's Ear Nymph, Pheasant Tail nymph |
Scud | 12-18 | January | December | Hare's Ear Nymph, Kaufmann's Scud | |
Sowbug | 12-16 | January | December | Hare's Ear Nymph, Kaufmann's Scud | |
Terrestrials | 6-16 | May | February | Para-ant, Foam Beetle, Dave's Hopper, Royal Wulff | Hardbody Ant, Wooly Worm, Pfitzer Special |
Crayfish | 4-8 | January | December | Wooly Bugger, Borger Crayfish, Beadhead Leach | |
Shad/Herring | 8-12 | January | March | Wooly Bugger, Clouser, Pearl Zonker, Brer Rabbit | |
Sculpin | 8-12 | January | December | Wool-head Sculpin, Whitlock Sculpin |