Written by Atlas Editorial · Last updated
The Chattahoochee River's Alabama/Georgia border reach covers two distinct tailrace stretches. Below West Point Dam (a USACE dam, not Georgia Power, completed 1975), the free-flowing shoal stretch is short — roughly 6-7 river miles before hitting more dams — but it's the one river in this entire set genuinely within the native range of true shoal bass (Micropterus cataractae). Below Walter F. George Dam and George W. Andrews Lock & Dam, the free-flowing reach is the real long river — roughly 100 miles toward Lake Seminole and the Apalachicola.
Chattahoochee River — two Alabama/Georgia border tailrace stretches: a short shoal reach below West Point Dam and a genuinely long free-flowing reach below Walter F. George / George W. Andrews
Below West Point Dam
West Point Dam is a USACE dam (not Georgia Power), completed in 1975. The free-flowing stretch immediately below it is short — roughly 6-7 river miles — before more dams begin downstream. A roughly 15°F summer temperature differential makes this a cold-water refuge, and water can rise 3-4 feet within about 2 hours of generation starting.
Species on this reach
True shoal bass (Micropterus cataractae) — this is the one river in this set genuinely within the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint basin, the species' native range.
Present in this tailrace.
Present in this tailrace.
Stocked in West Point Lake upstream, but not confirmed specifically in the below-dam tailrace itself.
Access points
- Shawmut Airport ramp — Valley, AL.
- Langdale ramp — Valley, AL.
- Riverview ramp — Valley, AL.
Seasonal notes
Statewide striped bass spawn late March through April, with cool-water migration into tailwaters from late May into early June. Fishing in this tailrace is generation-dependent — check the release schedule.
Alabama/Georgia reciprocal license agreement (Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.122) applies south of the Georgia Highway 109 bridge. Under this rule, white bass + striped bass + hybrids combined are limited to 15/day, with only 2 allowed at 22 inches or over — stricter than the standard statewide limit. The Chattahoochee basin is on ADCNR's exception list for the big-catfish size restriction, so effectively no size limit applies to large catfish here. PFDs must be worn, not carried, in the West Point tailrace.
Always verify current statewide and lake-specific rules at /regulations/ before fishing.
Below Walter F. George Dam / George W. Andrews Lock & Dam
This is the genuinely long free-flowing stretch on the Chattahoochee's Alabama border — roughly 100 river miles running toward Lake Seminole and the Apalachicola River.
Species on this reach
Present in this long free-flowing reach; striped bass require flowing water for reproduction.
Present in this reach.
Present in this reach; the Chattahoochee basin is on ADCNR's exception list for the big-catfish size restriction.
Access points
- Abbie Creek Park — Alabama side.
- Odom Creek Park — Alabama side.
Seasonal notes
Statewide striped bass spawn late March through April, with cool-water migration into tailwaters from late May into early June.
Alabama/Georgia reciprocal license agreement (Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.122) applies south of the Georgia Highway 109 bridge. White bass + striped bass + hybrids combined are limited to 15/day, with only 2 allowed at 22 inches or over. The Chattahoochee basin is on ADCNR's exception list for the big-catfish size restriction.
Always verify current statewide and lake-specific rules at /regulations/ before fishing.
Fishing regulations, generation schedules, and water conditions change. Alabama Fishing Atlas provides informational content only. Verify all regulations with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources before fishing, keeping any fish, or launching watercraft. We are not liable for decisions made based on information published here. Full disclaimer →
Data sources
- outdooralabama.com/rivers-and-mobile-delta/chattahoochee-river
- outdooralabama.com/reservoirs/west-point-reservoir
- outdooralabama.com/reservoirs/lake-eufaula
- outdooralabama.com/reservoirs/bartletts-ferry
- outdooralabama.com/temperate-bass/striped-bass
- law.cornell.edu Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.122
- aonmag.com/fishing/fishing-the-chattahoochee-below-west-point-dam
Data last reviewed: 2026-07-01