Blue Ridge Fly Fishing

The mountain town of Blue Ridge, Georgia is a mecca for outdoor loving folks and especially for the fly fisher. Fannin County has the esteemed title as The Trout Capital of Georgia and rightfully so. Hundreds of miles of great trout streams lie within its borders. And, people travel from all over the country just to sample the waters. Most of the land within Fannin County is Chattahoochee National Forest which is a rugged landscape with amazing flora and fauna. Blue Ridge Lake butts right up to the city limits and its sapphire blue water give boaters and fishermen access to quiet waters surrounded by mountain vistas.

 

The mighty Toccoa River starts high up in the mountains South of Blue Ridge and has the distinction of flowing North providing great fishing until it is stilled by the lake. The area downstream of Sandy Bottoms Canoe Launch is Delayed Harvest water and is fantastic fly fishing in Fall, Winter, and Spring. Tributaries on the Upper Toccoa River give the angler in Blue Ridge fly fishing miles of water to explore. Cooper’s Creek on Coopers Creek Wildlife Management Area is a lovely stream with huge trees and rock outcroppings that give the angler a real experience of how the Appalachian Mountains looked in ancient times. Wild and stocked rainbow and brown trout can be found here. Rock Creek located on Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area has several miles of small stream trout fishing also with wild and stocked fish inhabiting the creek. Be sure to visit the Rock Creek National Fish Hatchery while you are here. Rock Creek Lake is upstream of the hatchery. It is also well stocked with trout. Noontootla Creek is found on the Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area has miles and miles of special regulations catch and release wild trout water. Fly Fishing Blue Ridge wouldn’t be complete without a visit to this stunner. Rhododendron lined banks keep the water cool and clear. Wild rainbow, brown and brook trout live here and can be a challenge to catch most any day but make up for it in their beauty.

 

Downstream of Lake Blue Ridge the Toccoa River Tailwater or Lower Toccoa has about 15 miles of fine trout water. If you are wanting to fly fish North Georgia, be sure to make a stop at one of the 3 public access points on the river. Tammen Park, Curtis Switch, and Horseshoe Bend Park give the wading fly fisher about 3 miles total of water to fish. Just be aware of the generation schedule for that day from the Blue Ridge TVA hydroelectric dam. You don’t want to be in the water when the water is released from the dam. It can be extremely dangerous! There are boat ramps available at each of the 3 parks that you can put your kayak or canoe in. If you are wanting to float North Georgia waters for trout this is a great place to start. Catching a trout on the fly is a good way to enjoy the Blue Ridge area and we can help!