The Cooper Creek WMA is located between Blue Ridge, Dahlonega, and Blairsville. Next to Rock Creek, Coopers Creek is one of if not the most popular place around Blue Ridge to go trout fishing in North Georgia. The dozens of campgrounds, and road side pull offs that lie adjacent to the main stretch of Cooper Creek, along with the heavy input of stocked trout it receives despite its small size. With the feasts that follow weekly stockings during the season, famines are soon to follow as the catch and keep fishermen will keep a close eye out for the stock trucks.
Consistent fly fishing success is best found by moving around and looking for holes that less mobile anglers are willing to visit. A bit of stealth on the water will put you in front of more stocked and wild trout. Once you have located groups of stockers or unpressured waters, trout will typically be very willing to eat. In addition to stocked trout in Cooper Creek, wild trout can be found from below the dam at Lake Winfield Scott, all the way to Cooper creek's confluence with the Toccoa River as well as all of the smaller tributaries to the north. These smaller creeks and tributaries of Coopers Creek possess smaller wild rainbow and brown trout, along with our coveted native brook trout. Rhododendron branches provide cover for these skittish trout so be prepared for some arduous bushwacking and longer walks.
Coopers Creek Fly Fishing
Fly Fishing Coopers Creek is typically best after a hike away from the campgrounds and parking areas where most anglers pound the stream for stocked trout. While stockers will often fall for most junk fly patterns, wild trout prefer smaller dry flies in the Spring, Summer, and into the Fall. Mulky Gap Campground is a common starting point for fly fisherman and conventional anglers looking to explore the creek. Simplifying your fly fishing gear is recommended on the creek as it will make for a smoother day on the water when carrying only the essentials. Learn more about the Best Flies for North Georgia here.
When times get tough on Cooper Creek, there may be better options nearby when Fly Fishing Dahlonega, Fly Fishing Blue Ridge, Fly Fishing the Toccoa River, or Trout Fishing Rock Creek. If you are looking for more stocked trout fishing, our article on North Georgia's Stocked Trout Streams breaks down the many stocked streams of the state. Our article on Fly Fishing North Georgia takes a deeper dive into the many fly fishing opportunities, while our article on the North Georgia Delayed Harvest Streams breaks down some seasonal options available in the cooler months.