Photo: Thomson200, public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons
Below Allatoona Dam the Etowah River runs nearly 49 miles west to Rome, where it meets the Oostanaula to form the Coosa. Its shoals and deep pools hold one of the nation’s few naturally reproducing landlocked striped bass runs, plus Alabama bass, big blue catfish and a spring white bass run.
- Best betsStriped bass, Alabama bass, catfish, bream
- StripersApril to October, from Thompson-Weinman Dam to the Rome Loop
- Dam releasesAllatoona Corps office, 706-334-7213
- DNR contactArmuchee office, 706-295-6102
Before You Go
When Allatoona Dam is generating, the river can rise 3 to 4 feet in a short time, so call the Corps for the release schedule and watch for rock ledges. Numerous shoals make this a canoe, kayak and small-boat river. A ramp sits just below Allatoona Dam, but a low-head dam downstream limits boating from there; the Highway 1 (Rome Loop) ramp is the main access on the lower end. Fish consumption advisories apply to some species on this river.
2026 Fishing Outlook
| Species | Outlook | Where and how |
|---|---|---|
| Striped bass | The river’s crown jewel. DNR stocking since 2018 has the population rebounding; most fish run 2 to 10 pounds, with 10- to 25-pounders from strong year classes and a chance at 30-plus. | Thompson-Weinman Dam in Cartersville down to the Rome Loop, April to October, around logs, springs and cool creek mouths. Live shad, big topwaters, shad-pattern crankbaits and jerkbaits. |
| Black bass | Fair to good. Alabama bass are about 80 percent; most are under 12 inches but 4-pound “Bamas” are there. A few 6-pound largemouth each year; redeyes are rare. | Five to six miles above the Highway 1 ramp, and above Highway 113. Jigs, shallow crankbaits and inline spinners; largemouth near big logjams and below Allatoona Dam. |
| White bass | Good spring run, mid-March to early May; females to 2 pounds. | Lower river above the Oostanaula confluence. Small white or chartreuse jigs and shad-pattern crankbaits. |
| Catfish | One of the area’s best. Blues average about 3 pounds with 8- to 10-pounders common and 30-pounders every year; channel cats twice as abundant. | Deep pools with logs or boulders, Highway 113 to Highway 411 and around the Rome Bypass. Cut or live shad for big fish; livers and worms for eating size. |
| Bream | Bluegill, redbreast and redear around 6 inches, some to 8. | Above Highway 411, just below logjams. Crickets, worms, small jigs and spinners. |
| Drum and others | Excellent drum numbers, most about 12 inches, bulls to 20; plenty of buffalo and redhorse. | Swift 2- to 3-foot runs, especially 2 miles above the Highway 1 ramp. Small jigs, crawfish or worms on the bottom. |
Lake Sturgeon: Release and Report
DNR has stocked more than 400,000 lake sturgeon in the Coosa basin since 2002, and they can’t be kept. You’ll know one by its rounded snout, toothless mouth under the head, four whiskers, bony side plates and shark-like tail. If you hook one, release it right away (cut the line near the hook if it’s swallowed) and report where you caught it to the Armuchee office at 706-295-6102.
Etowah River MapAllatoona Dam to RomeMore nearby: Lake Allatoona fishing, the Oostanaula River, the Coosa River and our Georgia rivers guide.
Sources we checked
Facts in this guide were checked against the agencies and operators that run these places:
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.