Trout Fishing in North Georgia: Local Tips & Spots

 

A Little About North Georgia Trout Fishing

Home to more than 4,000 miles of freshwater trout streams with much of it designated public water, the season in North Georgia begins in March and is fairly active through October 31st. You can commonly see the following fish here:

• Brook trout
• Brown trout
• Rainbow trout

Before you visit, don’t forget to buy a fishing license because everyone 16 years and older must have one to fish in this area. You can get them from the local bait shops or the gas stations and local Walmart if you don’t already have one. 

What Kind of Bait Do You need?

North Georgia trout fishing allows for several different kinds of bait, so if you prefer to fish with bait instead of a lure, you have a few options. After speaking with a few different locals in the region, a common thread emerged. Some of the possible baits included that the trout bit on:

• Trout worm
• The rebel wee craw
• Blue fox vibrax
• Mister twister micro crawfish
• Smithwick rattlin’ rogue
• Luhr-jensen hus

Best Fishing Spots in North Georgia

Now that you have your license and bait, you will have the opportunity to experience some incredible trout fishing in North Georgia. The cool thing about the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia is that you have plenty of fishing options available. You can decide based on experience levels and the type of venture you want to undertake.

Some of the best spots include:

• Lake Blue Ridge
• Chattahoochee River
• Ellijay River
• Cooper Creek
• Noontootla Creek

A lot of the popular streams have become a top choice for beginners because the trout waters have been stocked well, and you can access them easily with parking close to the fishing spot. The downside, however, is that with the easy accessibility, you will never feel alone, and you might feel like you aren’t experiencing the true fishing of the North Georgia Mountains. The advantage for a novice is that if you have trouble hooking a fish, you can always speak with some of the folks around to see what they might advise. You have better chances of hooking a trout this way.

For the more secluded experience, you have tons of streams that cut through some of the remote forests. While you will most likely need to hike through remote sections of the forest, it can be a beautiful experience in the thicket of nature.

Here are some things to remember to bring when trout fishing:

• A couple of bottles of water
• Nutritious snacks
• A good fishing cap
• SPF 30 sunscreen

In addition, don’t forget to bring along a basket or a cooler to take the fish home with you. However, if you’re hiking a long way, you may want to bring a fishing stringer with you instead because it’s less bulky.

Here are some of our favorite spots to try and catch a trophy trout:

Shallowford Bridge
 

You will find the fishing here the best above the dam. It sits on Aska Road, and you will find it on the Blue Ridge Old Steel one-lane bridge. This location is found on the Toccoa River. You can fish underneath the bridge or follow the dirt road to fish following the river.

This is along the Benton MacKaye Trail. This is a Delayed Harvest Area, which is a fly fishing term that you’re almost guaranteed to hear if you hang with fly fishermen. It refers to a specific period of the year when trout fisheries get heavily stocked, and you will see strict ‘catch and release’ policies during this time.

For a novice angler, it can be one of the best times to go because you can test your skills on the waters. This area gets stocked for trout season in early November for catch and releases through to the middle part of May.

Rock Creek
 

Found off Forest Service Rd. 69 on State Rte. 60, Rock Creek is between Dahlonega and Morganton. You will also find the Chattahoochee National Fish Hatchery along the Rock Creek. Along with this creek, many of the nearby streams come stocked with trout that is sent through the federal hatchery. Rock Creek has a good feeding ground, and it supports a large population of wild trout. You also have the native brookies at the higher elevation tributaries.

Jacks and Conasauga River
 

Located inside Cohutta Wilderness, you have over 45 miles of different fishing opportunities. On the Jacks, they’re open from March to October, and the Conasauga Rivers is open year-round. While the Jacks do not come stocked, it does have an active and thriving trout population. If you do decide to go on this river, you should get a detailed map from the Forest Service.

If planning a hiking or fishing trip to this area, it ensures that you have a better chance of finding your way if you get lost. Ask about guide services if you aren’t sure about heading out alone, as there are several reputable tour outfitters in the area.
 

Fishing and Relaxing in North Georgia

Trout fishing is such a relaxing activity, and for many vacationers, this is why they visit North Georgia. You can make it more enjoyable when you stay at one of our premier North Georgia fishing cabins. Instead of staying at an expensive $ 100-a-night hotel or an uncomfortable campground, we’d recommend staying at a vacation rental instead.

The advantage is that vacation rentals tend to have more personality and give great access to some remarkable scenery as you cast a line out. Imagine the breathtaking North Georgia mountains gracing the background of your next family portrait. Making memories like this is priceless.