Tips and Questions Answered for Newbies

TroutTackler · 02-22-07, 02:55 PM

Here is a great bunch of advice from GA WRD Regional Fisheries Supervisor, Jeff Durniak:

Georgia Trouting Through The Seasons
By Jeff Durniak, Northeast Region Fisheries Supervisor
GA Wildlife Resources Division (www.gofishgeorgia.com)

A. Flyfishing Best Bets

Spring (March – May)
Hint- #14 Adams or Caddis dry and a Prince dropper
Chattooga River - Rt 28 to NC line (Rabun Co)
Smith DH (White Co)
Chattahoochee in Atlanta
Dukes Creek (White Co.; reservations 706-878-3087)
Waters Creek Comeback (Lumpkin Co; need WMA stamp)

Summer (June – September)
Hint- six foot rod and six foot leader, Royal Coachman trude, small wild rainbows!
West Fork Chattooga – “Three Forks” tributaries
Most national forest extreme headwaters (Hooch, Moccasin, etc)
Noontootla (Fannin Co)
Toccoa River tailwater below Blue Ridge Lake
Dukes Creek in the mornings

Fall (October – December)
Hint- use light leaders with clear water; no fishing pressure; spawning browns.
Seasonal headwater streams (open til 10/31)
Upper Chattooga (follow the water temperatures)
DH streams (open Nov 1)
Chattahoochee in Atlanta

Winter (January- February)
Hints - long leader, split shot & eggs and buggers DEEP, 40F, fish the afternoons!
Chattahoochee in Atlanta (DH and upstream sections)
Dukes Creek
Chattooga DH
Smith DH (never muddy)
5. Toccoa tailwater (Feb caddis)

B. Flyfishing Supplies

Unicoi Outfitters - Helen, Blue Ridge (great newsletter): http://www.unicoioutfitters.com/
The Fish Hawk - Atlanta: www.thefishhawk.com
North Georgia Fishing Center – Cumming (Hwy 400): http://hammondsfishing.com/
Bass Pro Shops – Lawrenceville (Hwy 85): http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...D=94&storeID=3
Reeves Hardware – downtown Clayton (Rabun County)
Fly Box Outfitters – Kennesaw: www.flyboxoutfitters.com
Orvis Atlanta - www.orvis.com/intro.aspx?subject=1648

C. Kid-Friendly Trout Waters

Smith Creek / Chattahoochee River (Helen Area)
Dicks & Boggs creeks (Lumpkin Co)
Wildcat Creek/ Moccasin Creek State Park (fish hatchery, kids catfish pond, nearby streams)
Rock Creek (near Suches; USFWS hatchery)
Amicalola State Park (Dawson Co)
See “Northeast GA Fishing Guide” at www.gofishgeorgia.com

D. “Catch Your Limit” Trout Waters

Hooch – Helen and Buford Dam
Tallulah River (Rabun Co)
Dicks Creek (Lumpkin Co)
Cooper Creek (Union Co)
Blue Ridge Tailwater (Fannin Co)

E. Easy to learn:

North Georgia Trout Online: http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ngto/, then “message board” and “jump right in.”
New fishing friends/mentors with Trout Unlimited (http://georgiatu.org): Cornelia chapter (706-778-5377), Cumming chapter contact (770-560-9723). Rabun TU has excellent newsletter with hatch chart (www.rabuntu.com). Try a meeting, fishing trip, or campout.
State park and hatchery loaner fishing pole program, education programs (http://www.gastateparks.org/).
April-June kids fishing events (www.gofishgeorgia.com, click on “fishing,” then “take a kid fishing.”

Jeff Durniak added a couple more links to specific locations on the Rabun TU website:
http://rabuntu.org/site/about/educat...ms/jeffs-tips/
http://rabuntu.org/site/about/educat...te-101-primer/

F. References

GA fishing licenses cost $9 for annual resident license and $5 for trout stamp ($24 and $13 for nonresidents); available online (www.gofishgeorgia.com), at 1-888-748-6887, and in local sporting goods stores. Kids under 16 – no license needed.
GADNR (Wildlife Resources Div. offices, trout maps, list of stocked streams, Parks Division): http://www.gadnr.org/. WRD - Gainesville regional office: 770-535-5498, Lake Burton Trout Hatchery 706-947-3112.
U.S. Forest Service (maps, campgrounds): http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/ or call 770-297-3000.
Trout Fishing in North Georgia: book by Jimmy Jacobs:

Trout Fishing in North Georgia: A Comprehensive Guide to Public Lakes, Reservoirs, and Rivers: Jimmy Jacobs: 9781561452439: Amazon.com: Books

Chattooga Delayed Harvest fishing article: http://www.orctu.org/fly_paper_jan_2004.htm
Georgia Outdoor News website: trout fishing page by David Cannon:
http://www.gon.com/

ASago · 02-22-07, 08:19 PM

GREAT POST David... I am going to make it sticky - thank you very much for gathering this info together!

BirdDawg · 02-22-07, 09:38 PM

Thanks for all of the useful information.

TroutTackler · 02-26-07, 01:02 PM

Hey guys, just to clarify and so I don't take any undue credit, this list was compiled by our very own WRD "servant", Jeff Durniak. I just copied and pasted it here.

THE EG · 04-13-07, 01:17 PM

Jeff mentions it briefly at the bottom.

"Trout Fishing in North Georgia" by Jimmy Jacobs in whatever edition it is now in.

I thought this was pretty much known by everybody but just realized it's been a couple years since it was probably brought up last.

DrTom · 11-26-07, 11:23 PM

Thanks for all the good information. I live in Savannah now and do not get to North Georgia as often as I would like, but I will use your suggestions over Christimas holidays. Thanks

TonyL · 09-18-10, 11:49 PM

This is great. I am new and just what i was looking for. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

02-26-07, 01:02 PM	#4
TroutTackler Native Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Monroe, GA Posts: 2,893 Blog Entries: 3	Hey guys, just to clarify and so I don't take any undue credit, this list was compiled by our very own WRD "servant", Jeff Durniak. I just copied and pasted it here. __________________ David Cannon

04-13-07, 01:17 PM	#5
THE EG Past Director, Hall of Fame Member, Designated Message Board Prude Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: East Cherokee County, GA Posts: 4,776	THE Book for North Georgia Trout Fishing Jeff mentions it briefly at the bottom. "Trout Fishing in North Georgia" by Jimmy Jacobs in whatever edition it is now in. I thought this was pretty much known by everybody but just realized it's been a couple years since it was probably brought up last.

11-26-07, 11:23 PM	#6
DrTom Stocker Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: bogart, ga 30622 Posts: 1	Thanks for Info Thanks for all the good information. I live in Savannah now and do not get to North Georgia as often as I would like, but I will use your suggestions over Christimas holidays. Thanks

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02-22-07, 02:55 PM	#1
TroutTackler Native Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Monroe, GA Posts: 2,893 Blog Entries: 3	Tips and Questions Answered for Newbies Here is a great bunch of advice from GA WRD Regional Fisheries Supervisor, Jeff Durniak: Georgia Trouting Through The Seasons By Jeff Durniak, Northeast Region Fisheries Supervisor GA Wildlife Resources Division (www.gofishgeorgia.com) A. Flyfishing Best Bets Spring (March – May) Hint- #14 Adams or Caddis dry and a Prince dropper Chattooga River - Rt 28 to NC line (Rabun Co) Smith DH (White Co) Chattahoochee in Atlanta Dukes Creek (White Co.; reservations 706-878-3087) Waters Creek Comeback (Lumpkin Co; need WMA stamp) Summer (June – September) Hint- six foot rod and six foot leader, Royal Coachman trude, small wild rainbows! West Fork Chattooga – “Three Forks” tributaries Most national forest extreme headwaters (Hooch, Moccasin, etc) Noontootla (Fannin Co) Toccoa River tailwater below Blue Ridge Lake Dukes Creek in the mornings Fall (October – December) Hint- use light leaders with clear water; no fishing pressure; spawning browns. Seasonal headwater streams (open til 10/31) Upper Chattooga (follow the water temperatures) DH streams (open Nov 1) Chattahoochee in Atlanta Winter (January- February) Hints - long leader, split shot & eggs and buggers DEEP, 40F, fish the afternoons! Chattahoochee in Atlanta (DH and upstream sections) Dukes Creek Chattooga DH Smith DH (never muddy) 5. Toccoa tailwater (Feb caddis) B. Flyfishing Supplies Unicoi Outfitters - Helen, Blue Ridge (great newsletter): http://www.unicoioutfitters.com/ The Fish Hawk - Atlanta: www.thefishhawk.com North Georgia Fishing Center – Cumming (Hwy 400): http://hammondsfishing.com/ Bass Pro Shops – Lawrenceville (Hwy 85): http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...D=94&storeID=3 Reeves Hardware – downtown Clayton (Rabun County) Fly Box Outfitters – Kennesaw: www.flyboxoutfitters.com Orvis Atlanta - www.orvis.com/intro.aspx?subject=1648 C. Kid-Friendly Trout Waters Smith Creek / Chattahoochee River (Helen Area) Dicks & Boggs creeks (Lumpkin Co) Wildcat Creek/ Moccasin Creek State Park (fish hatchery, kids catfish pond, nearby streams) Rock Creek (near Suches; USFWS hatchery) Amicalola State Park (Dawson Co) See “Northeast GA Fishing Guide” at www.gofishgeorgia.com D. “Catch Your Limit” Trout Waters Hooch – Helen and Buford Dam Tallulah River (Rabun Co) Dicks Creek (Lumpkin Co) Cooper Creek (Union Co) Blue Ridge Tailwater (Fannin Co) E. Easy to learn: North Georgia Trout Online: http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ngto/, then “message board” and “jump right in.” New fishing friends/mentors with Trout Unlimited (http://georgiatu.org): Cornelia chapter (706-778-5377), Cumming chapter contact (770-560-9723). Rabun TU has excellent newsletter with hatch chart (www.rabuntu.com). Try a meeting, fishing trip, or campout. State park and hatchery loaner fishing pole program, education programs (http://www.gastateparks.org/). April-June kids fishing events (www.gofishgeorgia.com, click on “fishing,” then “take a kid fishing.” Jeff Durniak added a couple more links to specific locations on the Rabun TU website: http://rabuntu.org/site/about/educat...ms/jeffs-tips/ http://rabuntu.org/site/about/educat...te-101-primer/ F. References GA fishing licenses cost $9 for annual resident license and $5 for trout stamp ($24 and $13 for nonresidents); available online (www.gofishgeorgia.com), at 1-888-748-6887, and in local sporting goods stores. Kids under 16 – no license needed. GADNR (Wildlife Resources Div. offices, trout maps, list of stocked streams, Parks Division): http://www.gadnr.org/. WRD - Gainesville regional office: 770-535-5498, Lake Burton Trout Hatchery 706-947-3112. U.S. Forest Service (maps, campgrounds): http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/ or call 770-297-3000. Trout Fishing in North Georgia: book by Jimmy Jacobs: Trout Fishing in North Georgia: A Comprehensive Guide to Public Lakes, Reservoirs, and Rivers: Jimmy Jacobs: 9781561452439: Amazon.com: Books Trout Fishing in North Georgia: A Comprehensive Guide to Public Lakes, Reservoirs, and Rivers: Jimmy Jacobs: 9781561452439: Amazon.com: Books Chattooga Delayed Harvest fishing article: http://www.orctu.org/fly_paper_jan_2004.htm Georgia Outdoor News website: trout fishing page by David Cannon: http://www.gon.com/ __________________ David Cannon Last edited by THE EG; 02-14-13 at 10:20 AM. Reason: Removed Highland Outfitters and Orvis Norcross: no longer present

02-22-07, 08:19 PM	#2
ASago Founder, Past Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Sep 1994 Posts: 1,293 Blog Entries: 1	GREAT POST David... I am going to make it sticky - thank you very much for gathering this info together!

02-22-07, 09:38 PM	#3
BirdDawg Native Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hoschton, GA Posts: 565	Thanks for all of the useful information.

09-18-10, 11:49 PM	#7
TonyL Native Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alpharetta Posts: 92	This is great. I am new and just what i was looking for. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!