What a terrific day to be on the water. I was worried for a bit when the forecast was calling for showers. But after missing the previous weekends trip I was not about to turn back.. As the light rain fell during the ride to Blue Ridge we kept telling ourselves that fishing was better in the rain. Yeah, that’s it. It’s better. Actually I do find this to be true but that is a another article.
What started as light rain turned to overcast and then the sun finally started to poke through. The water temp was a cool 52 degrees and nearly clear. Time to fish. We unloaded our pontoons, rigged our gear and discussed the news we got at fly shop. (Unicoi Outfitters) Pink San Juan Worms and small black dropper flies was the prescription and we all decided to follow it. I chose a Prince Nymph to tie off the back of the San Juan added a couple of split shot above the lead fly and then tied on a small Elk Hair Caddis on my back-up rod. Finally we were ready to start our float down the DH section of the river.
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As we hit the first likely looking run I informed my buddies that South Carolina had given Georgia Department of Natural Resources a couple thousand Brooke Trout for them to stock into the North Georgia DH streams. Their smile grew just a bit bigger and sure enough not long after our first few fish each of us had landed one or two of these beauties.
As we hit the first likely looking run I informed my buddies that South Carolina had given Georgia Department of Natural Resources a couple thousand Brooke Trout for them to stock into the North Georgia DH streams. Their smile grew just a bit bigger and sure enough not long after our first few fish each of us had landed one or two of these beauties.
I cannot stress enough the importance of listening to the locals especially the local fly shop when it comes to which flies are most productive. As advised earlier in the morning, the Pink San Juan Worm was a killer. Both of the ones I used were so beat up by the end of the day, they have been scavenged to be retied at a later date. Not only this but also as told, tiny dark droppers also did the trick. The price I chose is exactly that. Small, dark and imitates a lot of different nymphs living on the stream bed. Now for the numbers……..…………..Between the three of us 60+ fish. Most all 12 inches or better. Some into the high teens. Brookies, Browns and Rainbows. Two reaching 20 inches. Lots and lots of missed strikes, lost fish and a few break offs. Man I love this stuff.
A trip to any one of the Delayed Harvest Streams in GA will be a treat. The Toccoa DH is fairly new but is excellent. Once the DH regulations end the river still offers some excellent fishing.Tight Lines.
Jason
Jason
