Now’s the time!
Spring 2026
By Ron Brooks
Spring is here, and the Coosa River is currently turning out some fine catches of white bass. March and April are the prime months to look for whites in the river downstream from Rome. The ideal launch site is at Lock and Dam Park, downstream from Rome. This launch allows you to fish downstream from Rome.
Mayo’s Bar Lock and Dam on the Coosa River downstream of Rome. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
The Coosa River is formed by the confluence of the Oostanaula and Etowah Rivers right in downtown Rome. Just south of the city, the Coosa shallowed in the past, and boat traffic was unable to traverse the resulting rapids. In 1910, construction began on a dam with a lock that would permit boat traffic to traverse the entire river. That dam and lock operated from 1913 until 1941, when rail and/or road traffic became the more economical method for moving goods to Alabama and points beyond.Today, the remnants of the lock-and-dam structure are part of a Floyd County park. The structures provide a glimpse of history to the many anglers who launch there to fish the Coosa River. But for today’s anglers, the park provides access to some fantastic fishing.
White bass migrate upstream to spawn each spring. They use the same rivers and tributaries each year as they move upstream. They will head against the current until they reach a water-flow blockage (pronounced ‘dam’) or the ideal spawning water temperature of 52 degrees. There, they will breed and lay the eggs of the next generation of fish.
These fish are free spawners, or broadcast spawners. There are no beds or nests; the males release sperm into the water around a female, thereby fertilizing her eggs. These fish feed very little during their upstream trip. Most of the fish you catch in the Coosa River proper will be post-spawn fish that are headed back to Weiss Lake.
Photo by Ron Brooks
Because these fish move into streams and tributaries to smaller bodies of water, they can be caught at the mouths of these streams and tributaries. The river current in the Coosa is ideal for floating along off the bank and casting to the myriad small creeks and streams along the way. In March, you will catch more and fatter fish back in the tributaries; then in April, these fish will have spawned, and you will catch more fish out in the Coosa River proper. These fish are headed back to Weiss Lake. Just drift along and chunk your lure toward the bank and slowly bring it back to the boat.
Photo by Ron Brooks
Baits for white bass include some small standard bass baits, such as a Strike King KVD crankbait in chartreuse. Small jigs, usually white or chartreuse, are great for use with light tackle. Jiffy Jigs in Vidalia, Georgia, makes a large variety of jigs and jig heads for catching these Coosa white bass. While the company specializes in crappie jigs, these baits are ideal for Springtime white bass fishing. By the way, you will likely catch a few crappie on the Jiffy Jigs in your foray.
You should be aware that parts of the Oostanaula and Etowah Rivers, and the Coosa River from Downtown Rome, still contain PCB contaminants. From 1953 to 1977, the General Electric transformer plant in Rome released contaminants into the river systems. While time has allowed the situation to abate somewhat, there are still some warnings on fish consumption from these rivers.
Take a day to drift the Coosa this spring and have fun on your light tackle catching these small but hard-fighting white bass.
Ron Brooks was a long-time resident of metro Atlanta and now living in Jacksonville, Florida. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writers Association. Contact him at jbrooks@bellsouth.net.