Toccoa Tailwater, Upper Toccoa, Small Streams & Pre-Spawn Bass Fishing
Before the recent 4 inches of rain, we had some great weather floating the tailwater, which kickstarted our biggest hatch of the year—Black Caddis. With the cold snap and heavy rains, hatches have slowed down, but they’ll fire back up as soon as flows stabilize and temperatures rise.
For now, dry dropper rigs are the best bet. A Chubby Chernobyl with a Pat’s Rubber Legs and a caddis emerger like a Black Holy Grail or Swing Caddis has been the most effective setup. While only a few fish have been rising, it’s smart to keep Black Caddis dry flies in your box for when conditions improve. A sunny day could trigger better hatches and pods of rising fish.
If the skies stay cloudy and cool, streamer fishing has been hot. The biggest brown trout of the year are often caught on streamers from January through April, as they pack on weight after winter. This is one of our favorite times to trout fish on the Toccoa—whether you’re looking for rising fish on a warm day or big browns chasing streamers in high water. Give us a call to book a float trip!
The Upper Toccoa is currently running at 700cfs, making wading unsafe. Keep an eye on the USGS gauge, and once flows drop below 500cfs, wading will be possible again.
As the Upper clears up, floating remains a great option. Pat’s Rubber Legs, Worms, and Wooly Buggers are all solid choices, with flashy nymphs becoming more effective as the water clears. A good number of Black Caddis have been spotted, so keep a black caddis emerger handy if you see them hatching. Bobber rigs with split shot are recommended in these flows to ensure your flies get deep enough to reach feeding fish.
When rivers are blown out, higher elevation streams clear up the fastest and provide solid fishing opportunities. These creeks are flowing higher than usual, so dry dropper rigs or bobber setups will be the best approach.
A small stonefly with a caddis emerger is a good starting point. If fish aren’t eating the emerger, try a worm behind the rubber legs, which has been producing well. These less-pressured winter streams are a great alternative when bigger waters are too muddy.
Most people overlook river bass in February, but warmer weather is pushing water temps into the low 50s, triggering pre-spawn feeding behavior. Now is the time to catch some of the biggest bass of the year as they bulk up before spawning.
Swim flies like Sluggos, Swinging D’s, and Leggy Boi Changers fished on intermediate or slow sink lines are drawing aggressive strikes. The best retrieve? A few erratic strips, followed by a long pause—most fish are eating on the pause. Target banks and log jams, as bass are holding tight to cover. This bite will only improve as spring approaches.
Black Caddis & Nymphs:
Nymphs & Attractor Flies:
Streamers for Trophy Browns & Bass:
Whether you’re looking to dial in Black Caddis tactics, chase trophy browns, or target pre-spawn bass, we’ve got the flies, gear, and expertise to set you up for success. Stop by the shop or give us a call to book a float—this is one of the best times of the year to be on the water!
Toccoa Tailwater – Early Morning Dry Fly Action & Midday Strategy Early morning fishing on the tailwater has been great. A lot of good dry fly action can be found early. Tan and Olive Caddis dries behind a small hopper or a beetle have been finding fish. Dry...
This years Bassapalooza was one to remember. There were some new faces in the game as well as new conditions. Coming off of one of the rainiest months in history, this year we had the most teams competing ever with 22 total. Brian Shinall and Joe Smith won again this...
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