The Etowah is fishing well for bass, but striper fishing is pretty much done for the year. Target bass with topwater flies like boogle bugs and swim frogs early and late in the day. If you’re willing to brave the midday heat, streamers imitating shad/baitfish will produce well: Clouser Minnows, Lunch Moneys, Flashtail Whistlers, Sparkle Minnows, etc. Bring lots of water and sunscreen!
The Toccoa Tailwater is good when generation allows. If you have a thermometer, bring it along and keep an eye on the water temperatures especially on the access points further downstream. Keep in mind that trout need cool water and mishandling or playing a trout too long can result in mortality this time of year. Access points like Tammen Park and Curtis Switch are better. Flies like Rainbow Warriors, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tails and Hare’s Ears, Duracells, and Black Higa’s SOS dropped under small Chubby Cherynobyls and larger Parachute Adams will all produce. Keep an eye out for hatches after generation or early and late in the day. We’re expecting the lake to turnover any day now – basically, the bottom of the lakes’s water and surface water “flip,” and results in unstable conditions on both the lake and tailwater. This means that the fishing may get tough for a couple weeks, but is also a good indicator that fall is nearly here!
Small Streams are fishing great right now. Look for mountain streams higher in elevation and heavily canopied, as these streams maintain cool water conditions year round. You can get away with 2-4 weight rods right now rigged with dry droppers consisting of size 12-18 dries (Parachutes, Stimulators, X-Caddis, and PMX) and size 12-20 nymphs (Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears, Split Case PMD’s, stoneflies). Walk softly and fish methodically.
The Toccoa Delayed Harvest is not fishing well. It’s too hot right now, but the delayed harvest starts the last saturday of October!
The Chattahoochee below Buford Dam is fishing great! Don’t forget that we guide on this National and Scenic River.
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!
Toccoa River Delayed Harvest flows
Allatoona Dam Release Schedule- (706) 334-7213
Cartersville Shop: (770) 606-1100
Blue Ridge Shop: (706) 946-3044
