The Toccoa River, Blue Ridge Georgia

You should check this place out!! Blue Ridge Georgia IS the Trout Capital of Georgia and the Toccoa River is it's crown jewel. A 2.5 hour flight and a 90 mile beeline out of Atlanta brings you to another world. Let's review the amenities:
Big Fish Live In The Toccoa
The climate is NOT the subtropical steam bath that us northerners would imagine. As I write this morning (sitting on the deck of course) the temperature is a balmy 61 degrees with a high projected to be 83. It's projected to be 85 back home today so it's a draw. An altitude of 1800 feet takes the stuffing out of the humidity too. We get a light shower in the late afternoon on some days and a light shower on some nights. Easily managed!

The average high in January is 49 degrees and in February it's 54. In Worcester, for those months, it's 31 and 35 respectively. This means that January and February down here are equal to our April in central Ma. Some years it snows (average of 5 inches), some years it doesn't.

The Terrain - Georgia has 26 peaks over 4000 feet and most are around Blue Ridge. The long growing season and about 60 inches of rain make for a lush temperate rain forest condition and the first thing that you notice is that the streams and tribs along hiking trails are full and flowing. THERE'S A LOT OF WATER HERE!! The forests are thicker and denser too. Springer Mountain, the southern end of the Appalachian Trail, is "just down the road a bit"!

After Fly Fishing Blue Ridge is cool without being an overdone tourist mecca like North Conway or Manchester VT. Lots of restaurants, breweries, fly shops and even a bamboo rod maker on Main Street!! Hiking has been great!!

Fly Fishing

The Toccoa is basically two rivers, the freestone above Blue Ridge Lake and the tail water below the lake. Above the lake it's a "delayed harvest", AKA C&R, from the Fall through the Spring and it's one of the most beautiful streams you can fish. The Tail water below the dam is packed with trout (and tubers) during the heat of the day. An online water release schedule is accurate and you must adhere to it because it comes up fast.DON'T TRY TO FISH THROUGH IT. LEAVE THE RIVER! Also take note that most fly fishers fish this tail water section WET during summer. Also take note again that this is not a slippery rock garden like the Deerfield or the EB. Wading is easy along the gravel and sand bottom and during non release times the flow is only knee to thigh deep in most places.

The Trout
Browns and bows are the game down here with the occasional brookie thrown in. One can hire a guide and drift through the lower Toccoa or explore the public access spots and branch out from there. It seems that EVERYONE uses indicators down here and it seemed that I got some long looks when I was swinging soft hackles which worked real well down here.

Blue Line Fishing
There are many small streams that feed the bigger rivers in this area. Noontootla Creek is one of them and it is a special regulation, wild trout stream. No bait and only one 16+ inch fish can be taken daily. Most of your fish will be 6 to 12 inches making it really a C&R stream. It can be tough going on this stream with very limited casting room. Use a short rod. Use a tenkara rod on the lower stretches.

Where We Stayed

Our "Cabin", totally surrounded by forest and with great views of the mountains, was within 5 miles of at least a half dozen prime public access spots on the Toccoa.

The owner, Steven Lockhart, appointed this place really well with just the right vibe to suit the outdoor minded. No garden gnomes here, just cool and tasteful digs. Two bedrooms, two baths, big deck, screened porch, hot tub, gas grill, AC and great views. More photos below.

I would not even think of recommending this place if I didn't think it was a great place to stay that happens to be surrounded by blue ribbon river fly fishing. If interested contact: Steven Lockhart at email address: aquaeuphoriallc@gmail.com   or  www.airbnb.com/r/sandral28005

Ken

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