North Georgia Fly Fishing Report – July 2006

Chattahoochee Tailwater
Water temp: Mid 50s
Chris Scalley of River Through Atlanta said that summertime is when the ‘Hooch really stands out above the rest because of its constant cool temps.
“Thirty miles downstream of Buford Dam, it’s still no warmer than 58 degrees,” Chris said.
Chris also noted that the fish will really be keying in on terrestrial patterns over the next few months. He suggests throwing basically any black-ant pattern, foam beetles, hoppers and crickets. Scuds and sowbugs are also year-round food sources, so don’t neglect to tie on a lightning bug, hare’s ear or Kauffman’s Scud.
Hatching aquatic insects in July should be limited to BWOs and midges, so watch out for a hatch if you’re on the river.
Visit <www.chattahoocheefoodwebs.org> for a comprehensive hatch chart. Also, call (770) 945-1466 for current dam-generation schedules.

Dukes Creek
Water temp: Mid 50s
“For people who know how to fish Dukes, it’s been fishing fairly well,” said Jimmy Harris.
Jimmy has had several people come into his fly shop in Helen and report numerous catches of fish better than 20 inches. But, with the water as clear and low as it is, remaining unseen and using light, long leaders attached to tiny soft hackles and midge larvaes may be an angler’s only hope in hooking up with a trout.

Toccoa Tailwater
Water temp: Mid 50s
Metrela Brown said there are many different insects coming off the water right now, although the hatches are a bit sporadic. “We’re still seeing Cahills, tan, olive and brown caddis, Blue Winged Olives and a few Sulphurs and Yellow Sallies,” Metrela said. “Terrestrials like Japanese beetles, ants and inch-worms are working as well.” Size 14 and 16 appeared to be the most common.
She also said that more successful flies are all subsurface patterns. Pheasant tails, micro-stone patterns, caddis larvae and wooly buggers have all been working great on the Blue Ridge tailwater.
Jimmy Harris reported a great day on the Toccoa recently while on an outing for the Foothills Chapter of Trout Unlimited. “In about four hours I had landed 25 or 30 fish,” Jimmy said.
He was fishing an emerger similar to a Klinkhammer that enticed fish when nothing else seemed to work.
To check generation schedules before you go, call (800) 238-2264, then press 4, then 23.

Small Streams
As temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer, anglers will have to follow suit and head to higher elevations to the smaller headwater streams.
Metrela Brown reported seeing big golden stoneflies around a size eight and large pink hendricksons in a size 10 in an “unnamed stream.”
Other bugs to match are Yellow Sallies and various colors and sizes of caddisflies.
Attractor patterns such as Stimulators, Adams (Irresistables, too) and Humpy’s have also been working very well.