Used to work on the Ocoee so here's my 2 cents - answers included below...

ABC wrote:
Hello,

I would like to go rafting on the Ocoee river (Tennessee) in April (Both
the upper and lower part). Is it required to make a reservation or is
it possible (since it is early in the season) just to go along and pick
an outfitter on the day of the rafting ?


Since it's early in the season, it probably wouldn't be difficult to do
a walk-up registration. However, you may want to make a reservation
ahead of time to save yourself the trouble of driving from one outfitter
to another in the event they aren't open, running trips, etc. I would
recommend Wildwater Ltd (my old employer) - they are on the Ducktown end
of the river. However, I would also suggest Southeastern or NOC as
well. There are about 25 companies or so to choose from but I don't
think you can go wrong with one of these three.

Also I've read that the Ocoee is not flowing continuously since water is
used for the making of electrical energy. At scheduled time water is
released for recreational purposes. After the moment they start
releasing the water into the river, is it recommended to wait an hour or
so before starting to raft because the flow of the river has to settle ?

Most companies don't put on right as the water comes up on the river.
However. if you get on the first trip of the day you can sometimes catch
up with the 'surge' or the initial wave of water. My experience has
been that rafting the surge is a very difference experience than rafting
at regular water levels. I really enjoyed guiding trips on the surge.

Enjoy the trip. Wear warm clothes.

Eric