The dog day of summer mean its time to escape the heat and head for the headwaters and small streams of North Georgia or the cooled tailwaters of the Chattahoochee River or Toccoa River. The dry fly bite has been excellent. Trout can be caught on a myriad of flies as all insects are present in the past few weeks. Stoneflies, mayflies, caddis and terrestrial imitations will catch fish throughout the day. We have seen fair numbers of tricos, salmonflies, and the occasional caddis flying around. If you are out at an odd time when trout don't want to rise add a small/simple dropper fly below your dry. Majority of the hatching bugs are on the small end of the spectrum with some larger mayflies showing up in the evening. The Appalachian slam (brook, brown, and rainbow trout) is still very achievable on most days. Several customers have landed theirs on half day outings since June. Be sure to keep an eye for yellow jacket nests as theyve been quite abundant on the overhanging limbs again this year. The afternoon thunderstorms can pop up quickly as well, the thunder and lightning are not quite as scary as the heavy winds which down branches and trees quickly.
The tailwater below Lanier is still a good bet for a shorter day on the water. The normal patterns of midges and junk flies are still catching most of the trout. The recent rains we have had have thrown a bit of a curveball at the trout but with the right adjustments you can still do well. Bigger flies or small streamers have been fishing well in the lowlight hours. For a break in the trout action, bigger groups of bass than normal have also been gathering at the mouths of creeks once water levels in the feeder creeks reside.
The fly fishing near Ellijay is still slow with the warm water. Heading toward the higher elevation streams such as Amicalola or the Upper Tocccoa River Tributaries will be the best options for wild trout.
The fly fishing near Blue Ridge is still the best of any of Georgia's mountain towns. The small wild trout streams of the Cohutta Wilderness and Upper Toccoa River are going to be the best options until the late summer early fall rains arrive. The Toccoa River Tailwaters will fish well in the mornings before the tubers and kayakers crowd the river, but with the school year fast approaching you can expect these numbers to decline in the weeks to come. To the east, Rock Creek and Cooper creek will be some of the few creeks where anglers can find consistent stocked trout. Moving into the headwater streams will yield plenty of wild trout and great dry fly action.
The Dahlonega fly fishing has slowed down a bit in the past couple weeks, especially on the stocked waters. Dicks Creek will be the only consistently stocked creek from now until the Fall. The heavier traffic makes Dicks Creek a challenge to fish on weekends but stocked trout can usually be found until they're fished out by Monday. With the water in Boggs low, look for the trout to be tight lipped and spooky, but willing to bite if approached cautiously. The wild trout streams have been fishing well. The lower water levels have made them a bit more spooky so move slow. Hopefully the afternoon showers will raise water levels back to normal, but I believe that may just be wishful thinking.
The summer months are are causing things to slow for fly fishing in Helen. The heavier number of visiting anglers and the fewer stocked trout to go around make for slower days, but as vacationers retreat, expect the trout fishing to improve steadily. Stealth and accurate casting are key to landing the finicky wild trout and the remaining stocked trout. The fish that have fled to the more sheltered parts of the river have been incredibly picky. With a little hiking and bushwacking you can find plenty of nearly untouched water this summer.
Best of luck in our last month of summer. If you find yourself stuck at home hiding from the heat, check out our latest article on fly design and selection to better understand how to tie and choose your flies for targeting trout under different conditions. Our upcoming article will dive into essential fishing gear when on the water. Fall is just around the corner and now is the best time to start planning your trips to fly fish North Georgia's most scenic rivers during the color change. If you're beating the heat indoors, be sure to check out our new Fly Fishing Lessons section and join us on our journeys around the world to target exotic trout relatives and the important lessons we learn along the way.