Chatahoochee river fishing

Question
I have just started taking my kids to fish in the Chatahoochee river in a boat. We also go to Lake Eufala and Seminole occasionally.  Usually we only catch a few small bream each time.  I was wondering what tips you may have on catching bream, catfish and crappie in the river.  

Answer
Buster; To be very honest I have fished the Chatahoochie only a few times with the exception of where it joins the Flint in Lake Seminole.  However I think I can be of some help because the fish you seek are similar in any river or lake.

Catfish for the most part are nocternal feeders but can be caught in the daytime if you find the places where they hang oug.  Most of these fish stay in deep holes where there is a current break and then leave to feed at night.
If you are taking your kids you will probably want day fishing.  Try to find a place where there is current but which is broken somewhat by something.  Sometimes just a drop off will be enough or a bend or where a large tree has fallen in the water.  Fish from the upstream side of these breaks using cut bait, crawfish, gobs of worms, minnnows or some of the prepared baits.  Let your bait flow down into the deep water from upstream or under the log from upstream.

The outside bend of a river is usually deep but often the current is swift.  Look for an eddy caused by something in the water and fish it.  Be careful with the kids in the swift water though.  

Crappie are Crappie are Crappie.  They will bunch up in a down treetop or any other brush.  Crappie will be at some given depth and it is up to the fisherman to find that depth.  They may be hitting just under the surface, half way to the bottome, on the bottom or anywhere in between.
I would suggest you try to find a place where the current was slowed by something or back in a cove.  Crappie do not usually like a lot of current but want some nearby.

Brim can be caught by fishing near the bottom of most any kind of cover.  I used to catch river brim by casting toward  a bush or tree from upstream letting my split shot and worm drift down under the cover.  I am sure the Chatahoochee should be little different from the Apalachicola in fishing for catfish, brim and crappie.

I kow I am speaking from long past experience but I doubt if the fish have changed since I fished for them in the river.

Thaks for calling on me to answer your question.  If I can be of future help please call on me via All-experts.

Sincerely

Jack L. Gaither
Lake Seminole Ga.