FINDING THE CATS

North Georgia anglers are blessed with worthwhile catfishing in nearly every lake and river in the region. A few venues, however, do stand out.

Coosa River
This has got to be the hands-down favorite for upstate catfishing. The blue, flathead, and channel catfish native to this stream are present in almost mind-boggling numbers. And even though the river is just slap full of catfish, that doesn’t stop them from growing to huge sizes: Fish exceeding 30 pounds are regularly caught, and specimens topping 50 pounds are definitely out there.

The Coosa comes into being at the confluence of the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers in downtown Rome and wends its way from there to Alabama and Weiss Lake. The section of the river from Mayo’s Bar Lock and Dam downstream to the state line is the stretch most favored by anglers.

It doesn’t require a long survey of this river for an angler to find a profitable catfish hole. Likely areas include creek mouths, outside bends and bluff banks, and the section of the river around the state Route 100 crossing harbors plenty of those.

The Coosa can be accessed by both bank-fishermen and boat anglers at Heritage Park in downtown Rome, Lock and Dam Park off Blacks Bluff Road southwest of the city, the River Road boat ramp off SR 20 west of Rome, and the Brushy Branch boat ramp off Blacks Bluff Road west of SR 100. Download a free Coosa River fishing guide, which contains a map, at www.gofishgeorgia.com. Oostanaula River

We’ve already met this medium-sized Coosa tributary, which offers creditable catfishing in its own right. Blues, channels, and flatheads all are available.

The Oostanaula has surrendered some huge catfish over the last few years, as a dedicated band of local anglers has taken to spending summer nights relaxing on the river and figuring out the secrets of its whiskerfish. A smart technique to try involves fishing large live bream in deep holes at night in the SR 140 crossing area.

For much of the year the Oostanaula is easily navigable by small boats, but shoals sometimes prove to be obstacles during summer’s low flows. Paved boat ramps are available at the SR 140, 156, and 136 Connector crossings.

You can download a free guide to fishing the Oostanaula River, which features a helpful map, at www. gofishgeorgia.com. Blue Ridge Lake

Moving east into a total change of environment -- from a fertile lowland river to a high mountain lake -- we come to Blue Ridge Lake, whose considerable catfish prospects are largely neglected. This 3,290-acre Tennessee Valley Authority reservoir, which impounds the Toccoa River near the town of Blue Ridge in Fannin County, is celebrated far more for walleyes and smallmouth bass than for anything with whiskers. But according to Georgia Department of Natural Resources surveys, a solid population of channel catfish and even some large flathead cats are out there for anglers to catch.

Target fiddler-size channel cats by tossing them chicken livers, cut bait or commercial stink bait. Stick with a live bream near deep-water structure if a large flathead catfish is what you’re after.