Reading the water…
Reading the water…
Buford Tailwater — a summary of the published Georgia rules for this reach. The publication always wins; check it before you rely on anything here.
Summarized for convenience. The official regulations control.
Verified against the publication on July 24, 2026
Anglers age 16 or older must have a Georgia fishing license and a trout license.
All designated Georgia trout waters are open year-round.
Chattahoochee River from Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek: 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Night fishing is not allowed.
8 trout per day on general-regulation trout waters. Once you have kept your daily limit you must stop fishing for trout.
Buford Dam → GA Hwy 20 bridge
General trout-water regulations — no artificial-only restriction published for this stretch.
GA Hwy 20 → the boat ramp at NPS Medlock Bridge Park (immediately upstream of GA Hwy 141)
Artificial lures only.
This is the published boundary language. The single-hook rule belongs to delayed-harvest waters (Sope Creek → US 41, below this reach) — do not confuse the two.
This page is a convenience summary, not legal advice and not the regulations themselves. Each line above was checked against the sources on the date shown; regulations change, and the official publication is the only authority.