Suwannee River
The Suwannee River flows from the Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico. The 33-mile portion of the Suwannee in Georgia contains dark tea stained water and provides a unique fishing experience. Anglers will not find many redbreast sunfish, bluegill or bass, as commonly found in other south Georgia rivers, however, there are other fish to catch, including warmouth, flier, chain pickerel and bullhead catfish.
Prospects and Fishing Tips
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Best Bets |
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CHAIN PICKEREL, WARMOUTH, FLIER & BULLHEADS
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Catfish |
| Prospect |
Bullhead fishing should be fair this year. |
| Technique |
Use worms, chicken livers, dead shrimp and crickets. |
| Target |
Target the bottom, in deep water and along the bank edges. |
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Pickerel |
| Prospect |
Expect low numbers of chain pickerel this year due to the extremely low flows that were present last year. |
| Technique |
Shallow-running crankbaits like the Rapala Minnow or Rooster Tail are particulary effective. |
| Target |
Fish slack water areas, such as the mouths of oxbow lakes with vegetative cover for higher success. |
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Other Species |
| Prospect |
Fliers also are available and are the most abundant fish sought by Suwannee anglers. Anglers may also catch a few warmouth. |
| Technique |
For fliers, a favorite artificial bait is the "yellow sallie." The best bait for warmouth is live crawfish. |
| Target |
Warmouth are distributed throughout the river with a slight increase in number as you travel downstream to Fargo. Target flier year-round in the upper reaches of the river near the Okefenokee Swamp; concentrate efforts in sloughs and backwater areas. |
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Additional Information |
Refer to the USGS gauge located at Fargo, GA when planning your fishing trip. Optimal water levels for fishing are between 3-6 feet of gauge height. USGS gauge information can be found at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?02314500
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Best Fishing Times Key |
Excellent:
Good:
Fair:
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