Float Trips
Float trips put you on the water in a drift boat or raft with an expert guide at the oars — covering miles of river, accessing water no wading angler can reach, and keeping you on fish all day long. The same type of trip typically associated with fishing western rivers, right here in our backyard.
A float trip is exactly what it sounds like — you fish from the comfort of a drift boat or raft while your guide works the oars, reading the river and positioning you for the best possible casts. Instead of covering a single stretch of water on foot, you cover miles of river in a single day, accessing pools, runs, and seams that wading anglers simply never reach. It's a more relaxed, more productive, and one of the most fun ways to spend a day on the water.
At Bowman Fly Fishing, we run float trips on several of the best rivers in the region — the Toccoa River in North Georgia, the Tuckasegee River in Western North Carolina, the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers for Striper and Bass, as well as several others. Each river fishes differently and offers its own experience, but every float shares the same DNA: an expert guide, a well-rigged boat, and a day designed around putting you on fish.
Most people who have never experienced fly fishing from a drift boat or a well rigged fishing specific raft are surprised by the comfort and stability of fishing from the boat. These aren't float trips in a canoe or small inflatable, this is fishing from a purpose built 14-16 ft boat designed specifically for 2 anglers to be able to effectively work the water while the guide navigates the river. You can comfortably stand and cast and move around, fish seated to sneak up on wary trout, or even take a break to step out and wade at times if so desired.
This is often thought of as the quintessential guided fly fishing experience and is without a doubt one of our most popular types of trips.
Float Trip Rates
All float trips are priced per boat for 1–2 anglers. All gear provided. Rates are consistent across rivers — choose your water and we'll handle the rest. Note: the Tuckasegee River is available as a full day only. View All Rates →
4 hours on the water — 1 to 2 anglers per boat
$425
Per boat
8 hours on the water — 1 to 2 anglers per boat
$575
Per boat
What Clients Say
“Took my three boys on a drift boat fly fishing trip and it was awesome. Have been on over 100 fishing trips and charters — all of us agree this was one of the best. Daniel and his guides were so kind and patient.”
“2-day trip — day one was a float on the Tuckasegee where we caught 50 trout. Day two was on the Soque. Our guides Trey and Will were incredible. Can't wait to get back.”
“We have fished with Daniel and his team on six different occasions. I fish out West, in Michigan, and in Maine — Bowman Fly Fishing was second to none.”
On a wade trip, you park at a specific stretch of river and fish on foot often covering somewhere around a mile of river in a day. On a float trip, you fish from a drift boat or raft while your guide rows you through miles of river over the course of the day. You can get out and wade during a float trip but often we are covering water and fishing from the boat.
It depends on the river. Our Toccoa River and Tuckasegee River floats are excellent for beginners — the boat provides a stable, comfortable platform and gets you away from the trees on the bank. Your guide will coach you through everything you need to know and typically float trips are a good option for chasing quantity of fish in a day. Our Striper float trips on the Chattahoochee and Chestatee are accessible to all skill levels as well, however if you chose to chase them on a fly it's not the best place to start. In general, float trips are one of our most beginner-friendly options, particularly when targeting trout.
All of our float trips are set up for 1–2 anglers per boat. If you have a larger group, we will have multiple guides and boats to accommodate the group size. Even numbers of guests typically is ideal for float trips so everyone can fish in pairs.
We primarily float the Toccoa River in North Georgia, the Tuckasegee River in Western North Carolina, and the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers for Striped Bass. Each river has its own character, season, and target species — visit the individual river pages to find the right fit for your group and contact us anytime about other possible options.
Polarized sunglasses, sunscreen, and layers for the weather. We provide all rods, reels, flies, and terminal gear. No waders are needed for float trips, but if you like to get out and fish on foot some on the way down you'll want to bring them along. Fishing licenses are required for all rivers and vary by state — Georgia licenses at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com, North Carolina licenses at ncwildlife.org.
Our guides monitor water levels and conditions closely before every trip. If conditions on a specific river are unfavorable, we'll work with you to identify the best available water that day, and will reschedule if it looks to be unfishable or dangerous — one of the advantages of guiding multiple rivers is that we almost always have a good option. We fish rain or shine and only cancel for dangerous conditions like flooding or lightning or if we have extreme factors that will make fishing unproductive.
Choose Your River
North Georgia's most productive tailwater. Rainbows and Browns from a drift boat on arguably the best Trout fishing float Trip in Georgia.
→ Learn MoreHigh fish counts, three trout species, and stunning Smoky Mountain scenery. A true do-it-all experience — available October through early June.
→ Learn MoreChase hard-fighting Striped Bass in the fast flowing rivers of the Southeast, a truly unique experience for one of our favorite gamefish. Fly or conventional tackle welcome. Late March through August.
→ Learn MoreOn the Water
Ready to Get on the Water?
Drift boat or raft, trout or stripers, Georgia or North Carolina — we'll match you with the right river and put you on fish. All gear included. 90 minutes from Atlanta.
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