Fishing Report October 3rd, 2019

The Etowah River is still hot. The switch should flip any day now – water temperatures should start to drop with the air temperature. When this happens, the  bass bite on the river should be very good. I recommend throwing topwater poppers and swim frogs early and late, and switching to streamers imitating shad like Clouser Minnows, Flashtail Whistlers, and Lunch $’s in shad or tan. I always have a selection of flies with varying actions and weights so I can adjust how and what part of the water column I am fishing in order to dial in what the fish like.

The Toccoa Tailwater has been fishing well when conditions allow. Get out there early or late to beat the heat. Broken and riffled water will hold fish, so I like to fish dry droppers consisting of a buoyant dry fly followed by a fast-dropping nymph through this water. Also look for seams in the deep pools with heavy nymph rigs – Pat’s rubber legs, double bead stones, and tungsten jigged nymphs like soft hackle pheasant tails etc. If we get some rain this weekend and the temperature drops, the tailwater should begin to fish very well, and will continue to do so through the fall.

The Toccoa Delayed Harvest starts up in November. These streams offer great opportunities to learn how to fly fish, hone your skills, and just to get out and catch a bunch of trout. Now is the time to get geared up, tie some flies, and prepare for the fantastic fishing that we have approaching this fall. Give us a shout at either shop if you have questions or are getting prepped.

Small Streams are extremely low and clear right now. If you’re going to hit these streams, dress in natural, drab colors . Right now, the approach of these streams will make or break the day, so be mindful of your presence on the water – walk softly and fish methodically. I would recommend fishing dries and dry droppers, so 14-18 Parachute Adams/Purple Hazes, 14-16 yellow stimulators/PMX’s, small chubby chernobyl’s, and simple pheasant tail and hare’s ear nymphs lightly weighted with or without a soft hackle.

Check the generation schedule before you plan your trip! We do not recommend that you float the Etowah if Allatoona dam is releasing water. We do not recommend wading the Toccoa if the TVA is releasing water. Check the release schedules and be safe!