Cohutta fishing co -- FISHING REPORT 08-01-23

Courtesy of guide Matt Morrison of Cohutta Fishing Co.

Photo: Dan with a stud rainbow caught on a high-water float with guide Matt Morrison.

Toccoa Tailwater: Temps on the tailwater are still staying cold. The water coming out of the dam is still staying at 56 degrees. As you go farther downstream, the water temps start coming up with each creek that flows in. At Horseshoe Bend Park, temps are getting up to 66 at midday before the generation comes in to cool it back down.

So, if you’re wade fishing stick to Tammen Park or Curtis Switch. Fishing in the mornings has still been great. Dry-fly action on caddis, sulfurs and yellow sallies has been working well first thing in the morning. Transition to dry-dropper rigs as the sun gets up and the fog clears. For your dry-dropper rigs, smaller chubbies with pheasant tail variations have been finding fish. After about 11 am, the fishing has been turning off.

High-water float-fishing has been good if you’re looking for bigger fish. If you want to learn high-water tactics for hunting down bigger sized fish, now is the best time to learn. Give us a call at the shop -- (706) 946-3044 -- to book your trip.

Upper Toccoa: Temps on the upper Toccoa are too warm for trout right now. DH season will start back up in November.

Small Streams: Small Streams are your best friend with all of these summertime storms. In a lot of these streams, the water can be getting pretty warm. Keep going up in elevation to find some cooler water, and you should find some better fishing. When it comes to dry flies, yellow is king this time of year -- PMX’s, Stimulators and Parachute Sulfurs are great flies to start off with. If one of these summer storms passes through, try fishing a dry-dropper rig and hang a small Pat’s Rubberlegs from the dry.

Warmwater: With trout-fishing windows getting shorter, it can be good to give the trout a break. Warmwater species can be a great way to switch things up over the summer. Bass and Bluegill are eager to eat a fly, and they’re easily accessible in rivers, creeks and lakes.

We are coming into some of our favorite summertime bass fishing, when bass will come up for topwater flies like poppers and terrestrials. Carp and Stripers can also be a fun alternative for some more experienced anglers. If you’re new to warmwater fly-fishing or want to hunt down some stripers, give us a call at the shop -- (706) 946-3044 -- and get on the books!

This Week’s Hot Flies:

● Flashback Pheasant Tail (size 16-18)

● Jigged Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail (size 16-18)

● Frenchie (size 14-18)

● Perdigon

● Parachute Sulfur (size 14-16)

● Red Copper John (size 16)

● Pat’s Rubber Legs

● Tungsten Pat’s Rubber Legs

● Tungstone (size 12)

● Yellow PMX (size 12-14)

● Yellow Stimulator (size 12-14)

● Boogle Bug

● Mr. Wiggly

Cohutta Fishing Company supports Blue Ridge Mountain TU. Drop by the store in Blue Ridge for the best in fly-fishing gear. Be sure to mention that you’re a member of Trout Unlimited to get an in-store discount! Also, If you feel inclined to do so, we’ve attached a Fish Log for the Toccoa Tailwater to fill out. Call us any time if you’re looking for a quick fishing report or have questions! (706) 946-3044.

ABOUT COHUTTA FISHING COMPANY

Located in the mountain town of Blue Ridge, COHUTTA FISHING CO. stands out as a Premier Fly Shop, Outfitter, and Guide Service in North Georgia.

From the moment you step into our store, we strive to provide the best customer service possible, with friendly and knowledgeable shop staff and fishing guides.

If you’ve never touched a fly rod, we offer schools, guided fly fishing trips for Trout, and information that can help you get your feet wet.

For the advanced angler, we offer guided fishing on world class fisheries in Georgia and destination travel trips, both in country as well as abroad. We also stock the shop with gear and tackle selected with expertise and input from our fishing guides that can up your game from companies like: Simms Fishing Products, Orvis, Thomas & Thomas Fly Rods, Nautilus Fly Reels, Filson, Fishpond, Montana Fly Company, and more!

Call us! (706) 946-3044

Tap catch-and-release trout waters in GA-TN-NC for 'Bows, Browns, Brookies

By Bob Borgwat/ReelAnglingAdventures.com

In North Carolina and Tennessee, it's October 1 ...

In Georgia it's November 1 ...

Both dates mark the season opening day for catch-and-release fishing on selected waters across the southern Appalachian Mountains, where the local fishing regulations limit anglers to flies and artificial lures only, most of them including restrictions that call for single-hooks only.

It's a time of year when fly-fishermen make up the majority of the anglers you'll see on these special trout waters that carry these restrictions well into 2022. Before you fish, check each state's fishing regulations for specific rules and demarcation of the DH water you plan to visit.

Learn About "DH"

It's no secret anymore. The best trout fishing in wintertime across the southern Appalachian Mountains is often found in the "delayed harvest" trout waters of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

The program restricts trout fishing on these sites to catch-and-release fishing only, using artificial lures/flies with single hooks. All trout caught must be released immediately unharmed.

DH Rules Found Here:

In Georgia ...

On Nov. 1, just 10 miles outside Blue Ridge, a short-but-sweet, mile-long stretch of the upper Toccoa River opens its DH season through May 15, 2022.

Stocked four times from November through March, the area locals call "Sandy Bottoms" attracts wading anglers and floating anglers alike along a rugged stretch of national forest off Old Dial Road. The short stretch is popular with anglers in small drift boats and float tubes. Wading anglers hope river flows drop to less than 300 cfs to safely navigate the riverway on foot. Click here to read the Dial river gauge.

Other "DH" waters in Georgia include Smith Creek at Unicoi State Park near Helen; Amicalola Creek east of Jasper; the Chattooga River east of Clayton; and the Chattahoochee River near I-75 in the Atlanta suburbs.

In Tennessee ...

Just 35 miles from Blue Ridge, the Hiwassee River "DH" section includes 7 miles of prime Tennessee trout habitat on the largest river in the region. Both wading and float-fishing is supported on the scenic river at Reliance, where the "DH" section stretches down the tailwater from the powerhouse release gates to the railroad trestle in Reliance.

Beware: The HIwassee is big water -- up to 200 yards wide -- with variable flow rates and big shoals of class II and III whitewater. Waders watch for minimum flows of 150 cfs, while drift-boats require minimum flows of 1,800-3,000 cfs to safely clear the rocky river bottom. Click here to check river flows daily.

In North Carolina ...

About an hour's drive east from Blue Ridge, out around US Highway 76 near Topton, NC, arguably the most ideal fly-fishing water in the region lies at roadside along Wayah Road. Here, the Nantahala River DH section winds and tumbles its way 4 miles down a steep gradient that features plunge pools, boulder gardens, long glides and stair-stepped ledges. On "the Nanty" ou can learn everything you need to know about fly-fishing just beyond the pavement's edge. Eventually, the "DH" is stocked with about 18,000 trout by the time the season ends on June 4, 2022. Play the water level here by ear ... there is no reliable water gauge available to read on the Nantahala DH.

Other DH waters nearby in North Carolina include a mile-long piece of Fires Creek near Hayesville; nearly 3 miles of Big Snowbird Creek near Robbinsville; a 2+ miles long stretch of the Tuckaseegee River near Bryson City; and 6 miles more of "the Tuck" at Webster.