I am in need of some information!!

bchandler · 05-04-04, 08:17 PM

Hello I wanted to see if you could help me or lead me in the right direction. My family is coming to Blue Ridge Georgia June 21-24 to stay in a cabin on the Tocca River. We live in South Georgia so we catch bass, bream, crappie and other fresh water here. We have a pond here at the house and I have an 8 yr old son that has gone fishing crazy!

Now I said all that (whew!) to say this he is just bothering me to go trout fishing while we are there. What are some tips and good places to go. Is the Toccoa a good spot we are going to be staying on Aska Rd somewhere and right on the river.

Your help is appreciated!!

Beth

Josh Barnett · 05-04-04, 09:19 PM

BCHANDLER:

The Toccoa River, is in some places, a wonderful trout fishing stream. Now, with the knowledge of Metrela Brown and the new Unicoi Outfitters: Blue Ridge right there near the river there are many opportunities which can be opened. I highly suggest getting in touch with her via the "Ask Unicoi Outfitters" forum located at the bottom of the main forums list. You may even consider a guided trip.

Joshua Barnett

------------------
Joshua Barnett
caddisfly08@yahoo.com
1-706-354-8500

Call me for all your flies!

JOHNKIES · 05-05-04, 09:57 AM

Good advice from all these folks, but if your eight year old is typical, the fishing patience window is probably 52 minutes or less. The Toccoa above Lake Blue Ridge does have trout, but due to water temperatures, how close you find trout to the lake is seasonal. But do fish the river right outside your cabin door - you never know!

Highway 515 goes from Blue Ridge toward Blairsville and the Toccoa River bridge east of town is just below the dam. There is a munincipal park on the west side of the river with the park road just before the bridge. Cross the 515 bridge over the river, turn right and follow the signs to a public area immediately below the dam. Both of these areas are nice and open, typically well stocked, and good areas to use bait to take home that stringer of stockers if that is part of the plan.

Another nice area with public access is Horseshoe Bend Park just outside McCaysville which is about eight miles north of Blue Ridge. Beautiful park that has almost a half mile on river. Several folks mentioned Unicoi Outfitters at the foot of main street and they are definitely worth a visit.

And since you are going to be there a week, you might want to visit the marina on Lake Blue Ridge and check out their pontoon boat rentals. We have done this many times, renting one for the day with friends, cruising the lake and pulling up on an island or national forest beach and having a nice picnic lunch. Of course the idle time on the boat can used for some lake fishing and I have found wading the shallows after lunch can be surprisingly productive!

Have fun, Blue Ridge is a nice vacation spot.

coolh2o2 · 05-05-04, 11:45 AM

Hi bchandler,
Take it from someone who actualy lives in the area.You will find good trout fishing
at your cabin on the Toccoa year round.Also
smallmouth bass and hellbenders.Be welcome and have fun.

Tom · 05-05-04, 12:16 PM

Floated the Toccoa with James Buice (I was lucky winner recently)yesterday, Tuesday. We put in at Curtis Switch and took out Horseshoe Bend Park...good trip. Started slow but as the temps warmed up we saw a variety of bugs coming off and the trout started looking up. Not a lot of action right on top but emergers worked quite well. My biggest trout was just 13", but a real beauty of a rainbow. The shoals and the pools and runs just beneath the shoals were the most productive. Tight Lines, Tom

Snowpee · 05-05-04, 01:04 PM

To add to Josh's post, definitely check out Unicoi Outfitters in Blue Ridge and talk to the folks there, they're very knowledgeable about the area. They don't just work there, they fish there!

If you're not the kind to take on a guided trip, and just want to taste the local flavor with a youngun' in unfamiliar territory, the dam right off the main highway is very accessible waters and has a few fish. When I was there last, you could cast pretty much anything so long as it was a "small dry fly" and pull in something. Granted, three quarters of them were no longer than my hand, but some were over a foot. Between the two of us that were there that trip, we pulled in over 50. To someone who regularly fly fishes, it wouldn't mean much if they saw what we caught, but it was a lot of fun to pull in a couple dozen just-borns

. Growing up on the Flint, if I were 8 I could have only been so lucky

That was a different season when we were there, I have no idea what they're biting on the Toccoa now.

We didn't have time to fish the area above the dam, but have heard a good deal about the stock that's come from it. It's a beautiful part of the river. Driving down Aska Rd, there's a lot of places I would have loved to stop and check out the fishing. If you make it down that way, check out the Toccoa River Restaurant, it's a local favorite.

You'll have a lot of fun at the cabins in Blue Ridge. The whole area is beautiful. I've had several friends stay in different cabins all around that area (including myself @ the Dogwood Riverside Inn) and I've heard nothing but good things from any of the cabins in BR.

TheEndlessEnigma · 05-05-04, 01:17 PM

on a side note being you are staying in the aska area some other good streams nearby are noontootla, stanley, cooper and rock creeks. which are just south of you and all are tributaries to the toccoa. the noontootla is the toughest stream which could also reap the largest rewards being stream bred trout of decent size. stanley creek has beautiful small wild rainbows. coopers is a mix of put and take and wild fish. rock creek is mostly put and take fishing. and all of these creeks are no more than maybe 20 minutes from where you are staying. and ditto on the toccoa river restaurant. it is quite good.

if oyu want to catch a few bass trout nad catfish in a nice mtn small lake/pond ... check out lake winfield scott ..... very nice place to camp and grill out swim and catch a few fish

[This message has been edited by TheEndlessEnigma (edited 05-05-2004).]

Obtuse Angler · 05-05-04, 01:59 PM

I wouldn't take a kid to Noontootla or to Stanley. Cooper Creek might be a good place.

------------------
Regards,
Obtuse Angler
"For those who enjoy drama, there'll be SPORT!"

Josh Barnett · 05-06-04, 06:55 PM

From Jeff Durniak:

Given the age of the child, NGTO is forgetting the best site: Rock
Creek, with a trout hatchery visit. Few things more entertaining to an 8
yr old angler than a half million trout swimming by him.

Joshua Barnett

------------------
Joshua Barnett
caddisfly08@yahoo.com
1-706-354-8500

Call me for all your flies!

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05-04-04, 08:17 PM	#1
bchandler Stocker Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fort Gaines, GA USA Posts: 2	Hello I wanted to see if you could help me or lead me in the right direction. My family is coming to Blue Ridge Georgia June 21-24 to stay in a cabin on the Tocca River. We live in South Georgia so we catch bass, bream, crappie and other fresh water here. We have a pond here at the house and I have an 8 yr old son that has gone fishing crazy! Now I said all that (whew!) to say this he is just bothering me to go trout fishing while we are there. What are some tips and good places to go. Is the Toccoa a good spot we are going to be staying on Aska Rd somewhere and right on the river. Your help is appreciated!! Beth

05-04-04, 09:19 PM	#2
Josh Barnett Native Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North Georgia Posts: 2,934	BCHANDLER: The Toccoa River, is in some places, a wonderful trout fishing stream. Now, with the knowledge of Metrela Brown and the new Unicoi Outfitters: Blue Ridge right there near the river there are many opportunities which can be opened. I highly suggest getting in touch with her via the "Ask Unicoi Outfitters" forum located at the bottom of the main forums list. You may even consider a guided trip. Joshua Barnett ------------------ Joshua Barnett caddisfly08@yahoo.com 1-706-354-8500 Call me for all your flies!

05-05-04, 09:57 AM	#3
JOHNKIES Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Laurel Park, NC USA Posts: 3,802	Good advice from all these folks, but if your eight year old is typical, the fishing patience window is probably 52 minutes or less. The Toccoa above Lake Blue Ridge does have trout, but due to water temperatures, how close you find trout to the lake is seasonal. But do fish the river right outside your cabin door - you never know! Highway 515 goes from Blue Ridge toward Blairsville and the Toccoa River bridge east of town is just below the dam. There is a munincipal park on the west side of the river with the park road just before the bridge. Cross the 515 bridge over the river, turn right and follow the signs to a public area immediately below the dam. Both of these areas are nice and open, typically well stocked, and good areas to use bait to take home that stringer of stockers if that is part of the plan. Another nice area with public access is Horseshoe Bend Park just outside McCaysville which is about eight miles north of Blue Ridge. Beautiful park that has almost a half mile on river. Several folks mentioned Unicoi Outfitters at the foot of main street and they are definitely worth a visit. And since you are going to be there a week, you might want to visit the marina on Lake Blue Ridge and check out their pontoon boat rentals. We have done this many times, renting one for the day with friends, cruising the lake and pulling up on an island or national forest beach and having a nice picnic lunch. Of course the idle time on the boat can used for some lake fishing and I have found wading the shallows after lunch can be surprisingly productive! Have fun, Blue Ridge is a nice vacation spot.

05-05-04, 11:45 AM	#4
coolh2o2 Native Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Blue Ridge,GA,USA Posts: 35	Hi bchandler, Take it from someone who actualy lives in the area.You will find good trout fishing at your cabin on the Toccoa year round.Also smallmouth bass and hellbenders.Be welcome and have fun.

05-05-04, 12:16 PM	#5
Tom Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Rabun Gap, GA USA Posts: 2,068	Floated the Toccoa with James Buice (I was lucky winner recently)yesterday, Tuesday. We put in at Curtis Switch and took out Horseshoe Bend Park...good trip. Started slow but as the temps warmed up we saw a variety of bugs coming off and the trout started looking up. Not a lot of action right on top but emergers worked quite well. My biggest trout was just 13", but a real beauty of a rainbow. The shoals and the pools and runs just beneath the shoals were the most productive. Tight Lines, Tom

05-05-04, 01:04 PM	#6
Snowpee Native Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Canton, GA Posts: 102	To add to Josh's post, definitely check out Unicoi Outfitters in Blue Ridge and talk to the folks there, they're very knowledgeable about the area. They don't just work there, they fish there! If you're not the kind to take on a guided trip, and just want to taste the local flavor with a youngun' in unfamiliar territory, the dam right off the main highway is very accessible waters and has a few fish. When I was there last, you could cast pretty much anything so long as it was a "small dry fly" and pull in something. Granted, three quarters of them were no longer than my hand, but some were over a foot. Between the two of us that were there that trip, we pulled in over 50. To someone who regularly fly fishes, it wouldn't mean much if they saw what we caught, but it was a lot of fun to pull in a couple dozen just-borns . Growing up on the Flint, if I were 8 I could have only been so lucky That was a different season when we were there, I have no idea what they're biting on the Toccoa now. We didn't have time to fish the area above the dam, but have heard a good deal about the stock that's come from it. It's a beautiful part of the river. Driving down Aska Rd, there's a lot of places I would have loved to stop and check out the fishing. If you make it down that way, check out the Toccoa River Restaurant, it's a local favorite. You'll have a lot of fun at the cabins in Blue Ridge. The whole area is beautiful. I've had several friends stay in different cabins all around that area (including myself @ the Dogwood Riverside Inn) and I've heard nothing but good things from any of the cabins in BR.

05-05-04, 01:17 PM	#7
TheEndlessEnigma Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Canton, GA Posts: 3,959 Blog Entries: 3	on a side note being you are staying in the aska area some other good streams nearby are noontootla, stanley, cooper and rock creeks. which are just south of you and all are tributaries to the toccoa. the noontootla is the toughest stream which could also reap the largest rewards being stream bred trout of decent size. stanley creek has beautiful small wild rainbows. coopers is a mix of put and take and wild fish. rock creek is mostly put and take fishing. and all of these creeks are no more than maybe 20 minutes from where you are staying. and ditto on the toccoa river restaurant. it is quite good. if oyu want to catch a few bass trout nad catfish in a nice mtn small lake/pond ... check out lake winfield scott ..... very nice place to camp and grill out swim and catch a few fish [This message has been edited by TheEndlessEnigma (edited 05-05-2004).]

05-05-04, 01:59 PM	#8
Obtuse Angler Native Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Centre, AL Posts: 683	I wouldn't take a kid to Noontootla or to Stanley. Cooper Creek might be a good place. ------------------ Regards, Obtuse Angler "For those who enjoy drama, there'll be SPORT!"

05-06-04, 06:55 PM	#9
Josh Barnett Native Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North Georgia Posts: 2,934	From Jeff Durniak: Given the age of the child, NGTO is forgetting the best site: Rock Creek, with a trout hatchery visit. Few things more entertaining to an 8 yr old angler than a half million trout swimming by him. Joshua Barnett ------------------ Joshua Barnett caddisfly08@yahoo.com 1-706-354-8500 Call me for all your flies!