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Guide to Fishing the Oostanaula River For more fishing information visit the Georiga DNR website at www.gofishgeorgia.com or call (706) 624-1161. T.I.P (Turn in Poachers): To report game/fish law violations, fish kills, or hazardous spills: call (800) 241-4113 . GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES / WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION / FISHERIES SECTION 2070 U.S. HIIGHWAY 278 SE / SOCIAL CIRCLE, GEORGIA 30025 The Oostanaula River forms northeast of Calhoun where the Coosawattee River meets the Conasauga River. From there it flows 49 miles southwest before meeting the Etowah River at Rome to form the Coosa River. There are five public boat ramps on or near the river to provide boat access. Common fish species in the Oostanaula include: carp, smallmouth buffalo, redhorse suckers, blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, redbreast sunfish, bluegill, longear sunfish, redear sunfish, spotted bass, largemouth bass and freshwater drum. Anglers wishing to consume their catch should pay attention to the fish consumption guidelines as described in the sport fishing regulations or at ww.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/. w √ Boating Check List • Each person on board must have a readily accessible U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved Type I, II, III, or V (hybrid) Personal Floatation Device (life jacket) in good condition (no rips/tears). Type V (hybrid) devices are acceptable only when worn and securely fastened. Each vessel, except for Class A vessels, canoes, and kayaks must be equipped with at least one type IV (throwable) device. All children under age 10 must wear an appropriately sized USCG approved life jacket while on a moving boat, whether t is by drifting, sailing, or mechanical power. i • Boats with enclosed areas that may trap gas or vapors are equired to be equipped with a USCG approved fire extinguisher. r • Carry your fishing license and boat registration with you. • Check your boat’s trailer, navigation lights, and fuel before eaving home. l • Carry a first aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen, extra clothing, ood, and drinking water. f • Be aware of, and abide by all fishing regulations. • Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. BE AN ETHICAL ANGLER! Ethical anglers fish responsibly, consider the rights of others, portray a positive image, and help to protect and conserve our natural resources. Be an ethical angler, the future depends on it. Ethical Anglers: Know and obey the fishing regulations. Keep only the fish they can use and release all others. Pass on the tradition by taking a child fishing. Leave a place cleaner than it was found. Do not transfer fish or plants between bodies of water. Report violations and pollution. Do not litter! Dispose of fishing line properly. Do not tresspass. Are courteous of others. Lend a helping hand. # # # # # # # # # # # Fishing Tips Catfish offer the best chances for success on the Oostanaula with blue catfish and channel catfish being the most abundant. A few blue catfish exceed 40 pounds and are generally found in deep holes. Many trophy-fish anglers fish at night using large, live or dead fish as bait. Those less interested in trophies will often find catfish in shoals or other shallow habitat during the morning and evening hours. Anglers fishing for catfish may catch a lake sturgeon but they must be released unharmed immediately after being caught. Lake sturgeons are being reintroduced by the DNR into the Coosa River system and cannot be harvested. Sturgeon can be identified by its rounded snout, a toothless mouth on the bottom of its head, four “whiskers” in front of its mouth; bony plates on the side of its body and its shark-like tail. Anglers can help this reintroduction effort by reporting any sturgeon they see by calling the Calhoun Fisheries office at [PHONE REDACTED]. More information on this reintroduction project can be found at ww.gofishgeorgia.com w White bass and striped bass are a popular quarry on the lower river in early spring when they leave Weiss Reservoir for their annual spawning run. A few small striped bass are found year- round but the fishery is generally limited to the March-April spawning run. Bass, bream and crappie inhabit the river year round but fishing is best in the cooler waters of spring and fall. Spotted bass is the most prevalent black bass species and bluegill is the most abundant bream species. Tips on using the map • The map is most useful if viewed in color. • Maps in this series (Coosa, Oostanaula, Etowah, Coosawattee and Conasauga rivers) are of the same scale so they can be pasted together if desired. • The mileage labels represent distance from the river’s mouth. • Boaters can use a GPS and the following GPS coordinates to estimate their position on the river. Mile Lat Lon Mile Lat Lon 0 N 34 15.221 W 85 10.603 26 N 34 27.208 W 85 01.889 2 N 34 16.736 W 85 10.328 28 N 34 28.599 W 85 01.508 4 N 34 17.810 W 85 09.290 30 N 34 28.104 W 84 59.659 6 N 34 18.386 W 85 07.420 32 N 34 29.461 W 85 00.740 8 N 34 19.957 W 85 07.361 34 N 34 31.024 W 85 00.787 10 N 34 20.001 W 85 08.568 36 N 34 31.372 W 84 59.165 12 N 34 20.876 W 85 06.877 38 N 34 30.628 W 84 57.421 14 N 34 22.437 W 85 07.545 40 N 34 31.964 W 84 58.181 16 N 34 22.990 W 85 05.957 42 N 34 32.863 W 84 57.168 18 N 34 23.992 W 85 04.989 44 N 34 33.957 W 84 57.468 20 N 34 24.847 W 85 06.459 46 N 34 34.438 W 84 55.757 22 N 34 25.691 W 85 04.761 48 N 34 33.239 W 84 54.663 24 N 34 25.910 W 85 02.754 Units are in degrees and decimal minutes ---PAGE BREAK--- » [ » [ » [ » [ » [ # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Conn Spur Loop 30 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 2 8 14 2 4 6 2 # # Riverview Park Boatramp D y k e s Cr . Bartow Co. Floyd C o. Town Cr. PINE CHAPEL RD. O Crane Eater Cr. Calhoun # Hwy 156 Boatramp # Conn 136 Boatramp # Hwy 225 Boatramp REEVES STATION RD. B i g D r y C r . Wo odw ar d Cr. A r m u c h e e C r . Mu ck C r . Joh ns C r. R ob bi n s C r. Bl ue S p r in g Br . Bow Cr S n a k e C r . Graham C r. C onnesena C r. Jones Bend Troutman Bend Oot hka loo ga Cr Resaca Adairsville Plainville Kingston O o s t a n au la R . Conas auga R. O o s t an a ul a R . Oost an a u l a R. C oo sa w at t ee R . Floyd Co. Gordon Co. Chattooga Co. # Hwy 140 Boatramp E t o w ah R . Horton Bend ' ' , , 75 75 ( ( ( ( ( / / / / / 4 41 27 41 41 " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1 53 140 140 156 156 136 136 225 53 293 53 53 156 293 225 293 156 53 Oostanaula River Coosa River Basin River miles are distance from mouth except for Coosa River, which is distance from state line. 1 0 1 2 3 Miles Boat Ramp River Miles Railroad Bridge » [ # N Road Bridge