|  |     The hooch is the southeast's best trout fishing tributary per the
    outdoor life magazine.  The part that I fish is in Georgia, north of
    Atlanta, and south of the dam at Lake Lanier.  You are really talking
    prime trout waters.  The state record rainbow is about 20 lbs, caught
    in the hooch, and same goes for state record brown.  You also have them
    thar damned snakes, such as water moccasins, cotton mouths, etc.  But,
    they are rare to see.
    
    Ways of fishing the "Hooch", are via float tube and waders, raft, john
    boat, or a strategic fishing hole from the bank.  My personal favorite
    is float tube and waders.
    
    I fished during a thunder shower on Saturday, and caught five trout
    within 2 1/2 hours, while my buddy caught 4.  All were caught on
    sinking rapalas.  
    
    When they release water from the dam, you DON'T go fishing.  The water
    is up about 8 feet, and the current will suck you down.
    
    I am used to lake fishing for rainbow trout in Southern California, and
    NOTHING compares to hooking a 5 lb native rainbow on Lake Arrowhead on
    2 lb line, and water clarity of 40 ft.  Fishing Lake Arrowhead, and the
    Eastern Sierra is definitely heaven on earth.  I even have a personal 
    favorite rod and reel combo that I will not blemish by using in
    Georgia.  It is a sacred combo that is fished ONLY in So Cal.  Did you
    know that Bishop California, located in the eastern sierra, is the
    trout capital of the world?  FACT!
    
    Bob
    
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|  |     No, I do believe that was the Chatuge river.  That river thar in the
    back country of tennessee and Jawga, boy.
    
    Squeal like a pig, cuz you look like a sow to me!.  Nothing like that
    on the chattahoochee, at least not where I fish.
    
    bob
    
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|  |     The "Hooch" is not only good trout fishing, but also some bass and 
    real "southern" catfish. mmmmmmmmm good eating.
    
    I'm not a river buff, but Southern everything is different from what is
    done up "North". Can be lots of fun, if you know what to do and how to
    do it.
    
    This will be  my 3rd summer here in Georgia and I still love the
    mild winters (fished on Lake Lanier November 11, 1990) and didn't have
    to cut a hole in ice to launch a boat. I'm going out this weekend with
    a friend, (if we don't have more thunder and lightning storms). Will
    let you all know if I can catch 2 on the same lure this time out. ;-)
    
    As for the "Hooch", reminds me of the Saco River in Maine. Starts out
    real small in the mountains (don't all rivers) and gets big and ugly
    the further down you go.
    
    Ya'll need to visit and try the Southern fishing sometime soon. Got a
    friend in New York (Bill), that I hope will be here for training again
    this summer. The canoe is waiting for ya and I'm saving the ice for
    your cooler chest to take all those fish back to the "Big Apple".
    
    Carol
                       
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|  |     Hey Carol,
    
    You are just over the wall from me.  I went down the hooch the other
    day, and guess what.  They started to release water from the dam when I
    was less then half way to my destination.  All I could do was reel in
    my line, and enjoy the FAST ride.  
    
    By the way, I was in float tube and waders.  Looking forward to tear
    them up on sinking rapalas.  A friend of mine told me he heard two
    guys caught 164 trout in 4 hours on the hooch.  Of course they released
    all but 18.  
    
    hooked on fishin
    bob
    
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