Black BassSpotted, largemouth and redeye bass all inhabit the Etowah River. Overall bass numbers can be considered "fair", with spots comprising 80 percent of the black bass population. Most are less than 12 inches, but magnum spots 20 inches and 4-plus pounds in size are present.

Technique - Jigs, buzzbaits, shallow running hard baits like Rapalas and inline spinners should illicit strikes. For larger spots, fish live bait in deep water, working baits near cover, especially cover associated with flowing water.

Target - Any pool or log jam along the river may hold bass, but the area from the Highway 1 (Rome Loop) boat ramp upstream for 5-6 miles holds better numbers of spotted bass.

White Bass Anglers should expect average catches of white bass this spring. Larger females will run 2 pounds, while most males will average 3/4-pound.

Technique - Try small white or chartreuse jigs or 1/4 to 1/2-ounce shad-patterned crankbaits such as Rat-L-Traps, Rapalas or Bombers. Select crankbaits that run in the 5-8 foot depth range. From a boat, cast these baits as close to shore as possible to mimic a bait fish fleeing to deeper water. A steady retrieve is usually all that is needed to spark a strike.

Target White bass seasonally stack-up in the Etowah River during their spring spawning run. Outside this mid-March through early May period few white bass will be found in the river. Anglers seeking these spawn-run-fish should target the lower river miles above the Etowah's confluence with the Oostanaula River in Rome. Target, downed-trees, boulders and creek mouths in search of these mini-linesides. With limited bank access, this river is best fished from a small boat, canoe or kayak.

Striped Bass The crown jewel of the lower Etowah! Striper fishing is best done from a small boat between April and October. Outside these months, anglers will find few stripers in the river because they migrate back to the lake in fall. Average fish will be 6-7 pounds, with a few 30-pound fish lurking in the depths. Expect fewer than normal larger stripers in 2013, due to the severe drought conditions experienced regionally in 2007 and 2008.

Technique - Live shad is key, though artificial lures have their place on the river. Try throwing large surface lures, like a Zara Spook or Redfin, to draw powerful surface strikes from hungry striped bass. Cast these lures upstream of cover, allowing the lure to swing past likely strike zones on the retrieve. Use this same technique when fishing live bait as well. A bait caster fitted with 20 to 30-pound line and mounted on a stout 7 to 71/2-foot rod is a great all-around river striper rig.

Target Stripers will congregate in the river from the low-head Thomson-Wyman Dam in Cartersville, downstream to Highway 1 (Rome Loop) during the heat of summer. Within this lengthy river stretch, stripers may occupy any pool, especially those associated with fallen trees or logs. A number of natural springs and cold tributary creeks feed this river stretch and create thermal refuges for adult stripers in the summer.

Catfish Catfish offer anglers one of the best opportunities in the area. Channel, blue and flathead cats are all available. Average blues weigh in at nearly 3 pounds, with 8 to 10-pound fish being commonplace. Blue cats larger than 40 pounds are caught every year from the lower section of this river. Channel cats are usually around a pound, with better fish weighing 5 pounds.

Technique - Live or cut shad, fished on the bottom, is preferred in the pursuit of trophy cats. For more consistent catches, chicken livers, earthworms and catalpa worms are the more common options for producing good catches of "dinner-size" catfish.

Target Look for larger cats in the river's deep flowing pools, especially those associated with structure like log jams or boulders. Catfish will often move into shallower flowing waters in the evening to feed.

Bream Bluegill, redbreast and redear sunfish dominate the Etowah's bream fishery. Expect average fish to be around 6 inches, with larger fish in the 7 to 8-inch range available.

Technique Crickets and worms are an angler's best bet, though small jigs and in-line spinners can be effective bream catching techniques.

Target For sunfish, target the river area above Highway 411. Fish areas immediately downstream of fallen trees and logjams, which provide current breaks for these slack-water inhabitants.

• BREAM
• BLACK BASS
• CATFISH & STRIPED BASS