Broad River Fishing Guides
A shoal-broken piedmont river northeast of Athens with native redeye bass, good paddling water and almost no fishing pressure.
Guides on the Broad River
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About the Broad River
The Broad River drains the northeast Georgia piedmont between Athens and the South Carolina line, gathering several forks before running down to the Savannah. It is a shoal river – long flat pools separated by ledges and rock gardens – and that structure is the whole character of the place. The water runs stained rather than clear, the banks are hardwood and river cane, and outside of a few well-used access points you can float a whole day in summer without seeing another boat.
Redeye bass are the fish worth travelling for. They are a native piedmont species, small by bass standards but aggressive and beautifully marked, and they hold exactly where you would expect – in the seams below the shoals, along rock ledges, and in the pockets behind boulders. A small popper or a light spinning setup covers them well. Largemouth and spotted bass occupy the deeper pools, redbreast sunfish and bluegill are abundant and reliable, channel and flathead catfish work the bottom, and white bass push up from the Savannah arm in spring. Longnose gar sun themselves on the flats through summer.
This is paddling water first. The Broad River Outpost near Danielsville has long been the standard put-in for canoe and kayak trips, and the run down toward Carlton is popular in warm weather. Wading is possible around the shoal complexes when flows are low, which is the best way to fish redeye seriously. Much of the bank is private, so the float-and-wade approach keeps you legal.
Guiding is essentially nonexistent here, which is part of the appeal and part of the difficulty. Watch the gauge – the Broad rises quickly after piedmont thunderstorms and the shoals become genuinely dangerous at high flow.
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Access
Broad River Outpost near Danielsville - the standard canoe and kayak put-in.
Carlton - the gauge reach and a convenient lower access.
Highway 72 bridge crossing - middle river bank and launch access.
Watson Mill Bridge State Park - South Fork Broad access with shoals.
Anderson Ford - traditional river ford and access point.
Broad River Wildlife Management Area - public land along the lower river.
Clarks Hill backwater - the bottom of the river where it meets the Savannah arm.
Seasons
Spring: high stained water, white bass running up from the Savannah arm.
Summer: low clear flows, the best redeye bass wading and heavy paddling traffic.
Fall: falling water, feeding bass on the shoals and the most pleasant float conditions.
Winter: cold and little fished, with catfish and the occasional good bass day.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Broad River?
As of Sep 17, 5:45 am, the USGS gauge BROAD RIVER ABOVE CARLTON, GA reads 175 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Broad River?
Anglers target Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Gar, Redbreast Sunfish, Redeye Bass, Spotted Bass, White Bass on the Broad River in Georgia.
Where can you access the Broad River?
Broad River Outpost near Danielsville - the standard canoe and kayak put-in. Carlton - the gauge reach and a convenient lower access. Highway 72 bridge crossing - middle river bank and launch access. Watson Mill Bridge State Park - South Fork Broad access with shoals. Anderson Ford - traditional river ford and access point. Broad River Wildlife Management Area - public land along the lower river. Clarks Hill backwater - the bottom of the river where it meets the Savannah arm.
When is the best time to fish the Broad River?
Spring: high stained water, white bass running up from the Savannah arm. Summer: low clear flows, the best redeye bass wading and heavy paddling traffic. Fall: falling water, feeding bass on the shoals and the most pleasant float conditions. Winter: cold and little fished, with catfish and the occasional good bass day.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Broad River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Georgia agency site: https://georgiawildlife.com/fishing-regulations