Coosa River Fly
Fishing
By Slapout
Mike

If we all woke
up this morning and the Alabama Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources (ADCNR) had just designated the 7.5 mile stretch
of the Coosa River from Jordan Dam to Wetumpka as “Fly Fishing
Only”, we’d all be surprised. The hardware and bait fisherman would
clearly be outraged. But for us fly fisherman, the designation
would have little effect because we already know this is some of the
best fly fishing water in Central Alabama. The Coosa rises in
Northwest Georgia near Rome, travels some 150 miles to Jordan Dam
through seven reservoirs, and drains 10,148.00 square miles of
Northeast Alabama and Georgia watersheds. When the Coosa leaves
Lake Jordan, 14 miles remain until it finds the Tallapoosa River to
form the Alabama. The first half of that final leg to the Alabama
is loaded with fly fishing opportunity.
The Coosa
River holds the typical mix of healthy Alabama game fish. Good
sized Spotted Bass predominate, but there are opportunities for
Largemouth and Redeye Bass. In a 2005 Coosa River Management
Survey, the ADCNR found that 26% of the Spotted Bass sampled from
this stretch of river were over 18 inches. The largest Spot
collected in that survey was 21 inches long. Bluegill, Red-Eared
Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish and Crappie are present in good numbers.
The river holds White Bass which make seasonal runs as well as
Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass. All these species are
exceptional fly rod targets. Freshwater Drum and Longnose Gar are
also present in good numbers and are occasionally caught on the fly
rod.
The River
Before the
dams, the Coosa from where Lay Lake is today all the way to Wetumpka
was one big series of impassible shoals, the most famous known as
the Devil’s Staircase. Most of the shoals today lie underneath the
lakes, but those that remain below Jordan dam create a unique
fishing opportunity for the fly fisherman in Central Alabama. From
the dam, the river flows southeast approximately 6 miles in a
straight line to the Highway 14 Bridge where it makes a 90° turn to
the Southwest as it flows into Wetumpka. For the most part, the
river bottom is made up of medium to large gravel, boulders and
bedrock. Between the dam and Gold Star Park in Wetumpka, the river
can essentially be divided into three types of water:
1)
The Shoal Waters-
There are
three major sets of shoals on this part of the Coosa that have been
classified as high as Class III whitewater. The first is the River
Falls section about 1.5 miles below the dam. River Falls is
essentially a one mile long set of braided channels around several
large islands. Fast riffles, runs and drops are everywhere, but the
major white water is at the bottom end of this section. You could
spend a full day fishing River Falls and not cover all the water.
The Rivers Falls section is also known as Gray’s Island Shoals. The
next shoal water is known as Moccasin Gap or Moccasin Shoals. This
is the shortest, but toughest whitewater on the river. As you leave
the River Falls section, it is about one mile to Moccasin Gap. The
Gap is really just one big ledge with two chutes running through
it. On the east side of the Gap is a small island and there are
rocky, braided runs around it. The final set of shoals and my
personal favorite are the Pipeline Falls—so called because there is
a propane pipeline crossing prominently marked just upriver from
where the shoals start. Pipeline Falls starts about one mile
downriver from Moccasin Gap. The Pipeline section is really three
major ledges spaced over ¾ mile of river with lots of braided
channels, rocky runs, small falls and pools and grassy islands.
Going downstream, the Pipeline section ends at the mouth of Corn
Creek. This last set of shoals is also known as Corn Creek Shoals.

Shoal areas are the feeding grounds
for a multitude of Coosa River fish
2) The Deep, Fast Runs at the Base of Each Major Shoal-
Below each of
the major shoals there are some deep, fast runs where the river
pours over the largest gaps in the ledges. I separate these as
distinct sections because they are the most productive places to
catch Striped Bass and Hybrids. These are deep, fast runs where
fish hold tight to bottom structure 6 to 10 ten below the surface.

The deep, fast runs below the
Coosa's major shoals provide good habitat for striped and hybrid
bass
3) The In-Between Waters-
The in-between
waters are relatively slow moving, deep pools interspersed with
underwater shoals
and a few islands. Many of the islands at low summer flows are
still submerged and covered with American Water Willow (Justicia
Americana) which attracts all sorts of damsels and dragon flies,
as well as small baitfish. These are prime feeding waters for bream
and bass in the early morning and evening hours. The edges of the
in-between waters are for the most part shallow, less than 18 inches
at summer flows. This is the primary zone for bluegill and red
breast sunfish in the summer months. The in-between waters also have
some areas of relatively deep banks that remain shaded in either the
morning or evening hours. These banks harbor the largest bream and
are bedding areas in the spring.
Keep in mind that the Coosa is really big water and not really
suitable to wading, except in the shallower shoal areas. It is best
fished from a kayak, canoe or drift boat. Most of the best water
can’t really be reached or fished on foot. Relatively speaking, it
is a deep river as well. Although there are places you can wade for
a 100 yards along a gravel bottomed shoreline, you are just as
likely to step into a 10 foot hole off the back side of a ledge.
The Fly Fishing
Whether
you want to fish with floating flies or bugs, with nymphs or
streamers, the Coosa has fish and water to accommodate. Because the
Coosa is a tail-water with significant fluctuations in flows, it is
not really an insect rich stream but it does remain cool and
comfortable all summer long. However, there are pretty good
populations of damsel and dragon fly nymphs as well as crayfish in
the river, so # 8 and #6 Woolly Buggers replicate these well. Since
most dragon and damsel fly nymphs are in the water for one to two
years, these nymphs are available to fish year round. Most any
top-water bug you can use for bream or bass will work well when
fished properly. In low-light conditions, big bass will hold tight
along shorelines of the in-between waters, especially in weedy
areas. Well-placed and patiently fished deer hair bugs or big foam
poppers will take some nice bass. On the streamer side, the river is
loaded with shad and other baitfish so most streamer patterns work
well. All three of these techniques—top-water, nymphs and streamers
are effective when fished in the right place at the right time. For
most fishing, a 9’, 5, 6 or 7 weight rod is suitable. If all you
want to target are the plentiful bream in the in-between water,
lighter rods with floating line and poppers are ideal. But if your
quarry is big spots, stripers and hybrids, a heavier rod with
sinking tip or better yet full sinking lines are the most effective.
Big
spots love the deep plunge pools prevalent in all the shoal areas,
as well as the swift, but rocky channels that rush over the
falls. Both these areas can be difficult to fish when wading or
rock hopping, but easy when fishing from a properly positioned
kayak, canoe or drift boat and using the right technique. The
plunge pool is my favorite target. There is always a distinct seam
between the rushing water and a back eddy. Sometimes these areas,
although they don’t look deep, can be very deep, up to 4 to 6 feet
in some cases and hold enticing underwater ledges. These seams are
most effectively fished from downstream, casting a big nymph or
woolly bugger upstream on the inside edge of the seam. The fly can
be slowly bounced along the bottom or allowed to sink, then stripped
back aggressively. In both cases, it is imperative that the fly get
to the bottom. This is why full sink lines work well here. Using a
short (3’), stout (1X or 0X) tippet-leader of tied directly to the
end of the fly line ensures the fly stays deep in the water column.
If the leader is too long, the fly tends to ride up in the water
column. As in most nymphing, when the fly stops or the leader
twitches, set the hook. It might be a rock, but most likely it’s a
fish. If you are not occasionally hanging up on the bottom, you’re
fly is not getting deep enough.
The water that
Spots love, especially in low-light conditions, are the swift, rocky
runs that precede the drops over falls and chutes. These tail-outs
are food funnels that bring lots of insects and wayward bait fish
right to the bass. These areas are best fished from above using
traditional streamer swinging techniques. I generally position the
kayak about 30-40 feet above these tail-outs and off to one side or
another. Cast the streamer slightly upstream, mend the line as
necessary to allow the fly to sink and swing and strip it through
the tail-out zone. The Clouser Deep Minnow is an excellent pattern
for these areas because they are very effective baitfish imitations
and not prone to get hung up on rocks and snags. Fish these
tail-outs right up to the edge where the water flows over the falls
or into the chute. Many times, bass are holding right on this edge.
For the most
part, I’ve found the Striped Bass and Hybrids to locate mostly in
the deep (10’-15’), fast runs at the base of each major shoal,
especially in the warmer months. To reach the fish in these runs,
you have to get the fly deep. Full sink lines and short leaders are
the ticket. Position your kayak or canoe in the eddy water on one
side of the run and cast your fly across the run and upstream to the
head of the run. Mend the line to allow the fly and line to get to
the bottom. Swing and strip the fly aggressively through the run.
These runs need to be fished very thoroughly to ensure you present
your fly to all the available water. It is not uncommon to make
20-30 casts in a big run before a fish is taken. Clouser Deep
Minnows and big Woolly Buggers are my favorite flies for these big
runs. Surprisingly, some of the largest Bluegill I’ve taken have
come out of these deep runs.
Favorite Patterns

-(left) #6, 8
Black, Olive, Brown Wooly Buggers with Fluorescent Orange Flash
-(middle) #4,
6 Clouser Deep Minnows—Chartreuse/White, Blue/White, Black/Orange
-(right) #6,
8, 10 foam poppers/hoppers—Yellow/Black, Brown/Tan, Black/Tan with
Green Antron Bellies
Flows
Alabama Power currently has mandatory minimum
flow releases from Jordan Dam for whitewater boating and aquatic
enhancement of the Coosa and Alabama Rivers below the dam. Alabama
Power has been operating Jordan Dam under minimum flow requirements
since the late 1960's. These have been modified from time to time
with the most recent modification implemented in May 2000. The
following release schedule is in effect:
- From April 1 through May 31,
Alabama Power releases continuous base flows of 4,000 cfs for 18
hours per day from 3:00 p.m. through 9 a.m. For the remaining 6
hours, Alabama Power should release an 8,000 cfs pulse flow from 9
a.m. through 3 p.m.
- Beginning June 1 through June
15, Alabama Power reduces the continuous 4,000 cfs base flow at a
rate of 66.7 cfs per day, and the daily 8,000 cfs pulse flow at a
rate of 133.3 cfs per day.
- From June 16 through June 30,
Alabama Power ceases release of the daily pulse flow but continues
to release the continuous base flow reducing it to 66.7 cfs per
day.
- From July 1 through March 31,
Alabama Power releases a continuous minimum base flow of 2,000 cfs
regardless of inflow.
On weekends
only from June 16 through October 31, Alabama Power releases flows
of either 4,000, 6,000, or 8,000 cfs continuously from 11 a.m. to 5
p.m.
Access
Public access
to this part of the Coosa is limited to essentially three public
sites and two commercial sites. The first public access is an
unimproved launch site on the east side of the river at Jordan dam.
This is reached from Highway 231 via the Jordan Dam Rd. This site
is where all the kayakers and weekend canoeists launch their day
trips. Five miles downriver at Corn Creek Park, there is another
public access at the mouth of Corn Creek just below the Pipeline
Falls section. Corn Creek is a small wilderness park with picnic
tables and such. About ½ mile below Corn Creek is the Southern
Trails outfitter launch site with its campground. Just below the
Southern Trails site, the river travels under highway 14 and makes
the 90° turn to the southwest. Tucked into the shoals about halfway
to Wetumpka is the Coosa River Adventures outfitter launch site.
Both Southern Trails and Coosa River Adventures rent canoes and
kayaks on the Coosa. Coosa River Drifters, a fly fishing guide
service, offers guiding fly drift boat fly fishing trips on the
Coosa. Finally, 7.5 miles from Jordan Dam is Crommelin's Landing
Boat Ramp (ADCNR) at Gold Star Park in Wetumpka. This is a
well maintained city park with good parking and facilities.
Outfitter Links
Coosa
Outdoor Center (Southern Trails)
Coosa
River Adventures
Coosa River
Drifters
Taking Care of Yourself and Your Gear
Although I
am repeating myself, the Coosa from Jordan Dam to Wetumpka is a big
river. It is relatively remote in the sense that once you are on
the river at the dam, its five miles before there is an easy way to
get off the river. The banks are steep, tree-lined and overgrown
with lots of poison ivy. The rocks are sharp and at times
slippery. As the name Moccasin Gap suggests, water moccasins and
copperheads are not unusual sights along the river. For safety
reasons, I wear my life vest 100% of the time, even when I am wading
because the flows of any tail-water can always change suddenly.
Felt sole wading shoes make dragging the kayak up through the
shallow shoal waters much safer and easier. A good set of open
finger gloves designed for fishing keeps paddling blisters at a
minimum and prevent cuts when you grab rocks or handle fish. The
gloves, as well as wearing a long sleeve shirt prevent sunburn
during the heat of the day while preventing a lot of insect bites in
the early morning and evening hours. Although not unique to the
Coosa, wearing polarized glasses and a wide brimmed hat make wading
and kayak maneuvering easier in the shallows because the bottom can
be seen much more clearly. Finally, make sure you secure your gear
when navigating the bigger sets of falls. If you spill and drop a
rod or tackle bag in the Coosa, you will likely never see it again.
The depth, visibility and current will surely send it out of reach
very quickly.
Don’t Ignore the Coosa River as a Serious Fly Fishing
Opportunity
The Coosa
River will probably not make it into a top 100 fly fishing
destinations list. It is just not that glamorous. But, the
opportunity to catch good numbers of Spotted Bass, big Striped Bass
and Hybrids, and loads of scrappy bream using traditional fly rod
techniques in a river as beautiful as the lower Coosa, is not to be
ignored.
|