"Also, the longer they run the generators, the better the fishing. It's not worth your time if the generators only run for a few hours. Look for at least eight hours on the schedule."

The generating schedule for the George Dam is available by calling the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but a schedule for releasing water is not available for the Andrews Dam. According to the Corps, Andrews begins releasing water 30 to 45 minutes before the generators spool up at George.

While the current affects feeding along the entire length of the river, its greatest force occurs in the first couple of miles below the dams. Additionally, the opening of the gates is like ringing a dinner bell, as the gates funnel shad, rough fish and other critters to the waiting catfish below. The baitfish swept through the dam are disorientated, so they are easy pickings.

Furthermore, the dam is an obstacle to both catfish and forage moving upstream, and the cool, deep water with current is ideal habitat for large catfish. The biologists responsible for the Chattahoochee report that more angling occurs per acre in the tailrace areas than anywhere else along the river.

COLLECTING BAIT
"In my opinion," Greene said, "the most important factor in catfishing is fresh bait."

According to Garrett and Greene, the best bait for catching blue, channel and white catfish is shad. Both prefer gizzard shad for its tough and oily flesh.

Greene uses a cast net to catch as many shad as possible when he arrives. He says the best places to find shad below the George Dam are at Franklin Landing, where it forms an eddy; the sandbar upstream from the highway bridge immediately below George Dam; the mouth of Hog Creek on the Georgia side, which is about a half-mile below the dam; and the lock wall.

"If you cannot catch shad," Greene offered, "try catching a dozen bream with a rod from shallow eddies and areas of slack water tight against the bank."

Once he has collected enough bait, Greene first prepares the bream and large gizzard shad by removing their scales, as they interfere with the hookset.

"For gizzard shad," Greene explained, "fillet one side and leave the backbone on the other. Then cut the filets into chunks 1 1/2-inch square. If you cut them any larger, the increase in drag will cause the bait to spin in the current.

"Then there's the head -- it's a prize piece," he continued. "You want to fish the head where you expect to catch a big fish."

Garrett also cuts his bait into small pieces; he makes his 3/4-inch squares.

"You catch more fish," Garrett advised, "even though they may be smaller. However, the biggest fish I ever caught was on a small piece of bait."

When shad are scarce, Garrett usually stops at a fish house on the way to the lake to buy mullet. Alternatively, he will use rabbit.

"The meat is tough," he said, "and it has a good odor. It also turns white after being in the water for a few minutes. Since catfish feed using both odor and sight, rabbit makes exceptionally good bait."

On the other hand, Greene's back-up bait is more conventional. He buys shrimp from the grocery store.

"Use shrimp if you cannot get anything else," Greene said. "Shrimp is a good bait that will at times compete head to head with fresh shad -- but not always. Fresh shad is the best bait year 'round, no question."