Cohutta fishing co -- FISHING REPORT 11-17-22

Courtesy of guide Matt Morrison of Cohutta Fishing Co.

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Toccoa Tailwater: The tailwater has been fishing good. TVA is still sluicing at 400cfs, so float fishing has been best, but you can still wade around the access points. With last week’s air temps touching the 80’s, the fishing would slow down as the day went on, then picking up again in the afternoons. With this cold snap, fishing has been pretty steady through the day. The bug hatches have been starting a bit later though, so have some Parachute Adams or Parachute BWO’s in sz 16-18 with you. A lot of the BWOs and midges are tiny so fish the smallest dries you can. Because yes, fish can see that. Midges and Blue Wings have been killer on these cooler days, but the caddis aren’t done yet. Once the temps start getting back into the 50s, we will probably see more tan and October caddis again. We have been finally getting some rain here and there. During these days, or while the water is stained after, keep a stonefly as your point fly. You may not catch every fish on the stonefly but it will definitely attract some attention in stained water. Worms are also a great choice behind the stonefly after the rain. Once the water gets clearer, keep the stone but throw a more natural fly off of the back like a BWO or a Midge.

Browns are going to start spawning here soon. If you see spots where gravel looks a little lighter than surrounding areas or places that look like they’ve been fanned off, just steer clear of it! If you’re lucky enough to see a fish sitting on a redd, leave them be. It is a cool thing to watch and to take a video, but the spawning season takes a lot of energy out of them. These fish try to spawn every year, so leave them be so we can have a better fishery.

Upper Toccoa: The upper was low and clear the past couple of weeks and most fish were been condensed into the deeper holes. Thanks to some well-needed rain, the flows on the Upper Toccoa have been a little higher, hopefully spreading a few of those fish out. As of 11/16, the USGS gauge read 375 (still a good flow for wading). A lot of those fish have had a lot of junk fly patterns drifted past them, so throwing flies that are more natural, but have flash or a hotspot should work. Water temperatures are going to be cold, so Airlocks are a better option than dry-dropper rigs to make sure you’re getting down to those fish in deeper holes. Swinging buggers with soft hackle patterns behind them can be effective during these colder days.

Small Streams: With the rain this past week and more to come in the forecast, the bump in flows should flush a lot of what’s left of the leaves out. Stoneflies feed on the leaves and get dislodged with the higher flows. Dry-dropper rigs with a Pat’s Rubber Legs and a Blue Winged Olive nymph (BWO) is a solid option. Something like a small pheasant tail variation or mayfly nymphs in black, gray, or olive. If the water is dirtied up from rain, swap the BWO for a worm. Brown trout in the wild trout streams are spawning, so watch your step for any redds or light patches of gravel.

Hot Flies:

• Pheasant Tails (16-18)
• Clearwater Emerger (16-20)
• Zebra Midge (16-20)
• Rainbow Warrior (16-18)
• Pats Rubber Legs (8-12)
• TungStone (8-12)
• Parachute Adams (16-20
• Parachute BWO (16-20)
• Elk Hair Caddis Tan (14-18)
• Elk Hair Caddis Orange (12-14)
  

Cohutta Fishing Company supports Blue Ridge Mountain TU. Drop by the store in Bluie 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.