Nothing has really changed as far as the fishing goes. We’re going to continue to be closed to the public, but feel free to email me at jmilholland@cohuttafishingco.com or call the shop phone at (706) 946-3044. If looking for gear, tying materials, or anything else, you can either check out our new webstore here, or call us if you can’t find what you’re looking for on the webstore. We’re also partnering with Sight Line Provisions this coming Monday, April 13th for a webstore takeover. Basically, if you buy somthing on Sight Line’s webstore, it supports Cohutta. Fishing has been phenomenal lately, and will only continue to get better as the air and water temperatures warm. We’ve got rain in the forecast but don’t let that scare you off. Stay safe and stay healthy!
The Toccoa Tailwater as of last week is inaccessible at Horseshoe Bend Park, and Tammen Park is probably closed now. I called Wednesday last week, so that may have changed since then. Curtis Switch might be open as it is a TVA access point. I would call the county before heading to fish the tailwater. IF it is open, I would mostly prospect with subsurface patterns imitating big stoneflies like pat’s rubber legs and tungstones, followed by a dropper fly like a March Brown Jig, Holy Grail in olive, or a Rainbow Warrior. I start replacing my strike indicators with Chubby Cherynobyls this time of year, and I would also carry a few dries just in case – Parachute Adams 12-16, Elk Hair Caddis in Tan 14-16, and Griffith’s Gnats 16-22. The DNR should have stocked recently, so I would predict fishing to be very good.
The Upper Toccoa is still running high, at 686 cFs. Water clarity is getting better, and if you can float this stretch it should be very productive. I wouldn’t try to wade this until the flows drop below 500 cubic feet per second. For flies, I would recommend the same stuff as the tailwater, but fish strike indicators and a lot of split shot. Streamers should also produce, so bring along some Mini Dungeons, Sparkle Minnows, and Kreelex’s.
Small Streams should be at perfect levels right now. If you head through the Chattahoochee National Forest, there have been a few closings in group areas and campsites. I would call the Blue Ridge District office to make sure that the stream you plan on fishing is accessible. The number for their office is 706-745-6928. If I were going to the mountains, I would fish dry dropper rigs with my dry fly selection including Chubby Cherynoybls 12-14, Tan Elk Hair Caddis or X-Caddis, 12-14, and Parachute Adams 12-16. For dropper flies, I would try some stonefly imitations like Pat’s Rubber legs 10-12, Small Tungstones, pheasant tail soft hackles 12-18, and some Holy Grails in olive or tan.
The Etowah River is fishing well for Spotted Bass, when generation allows. Water clarity might be off still, depending on what stretch you float. I would take a 6-8 weight rigged with floating and intermediate lines. Weighted and unweighted shad patterns in both natural colors and bright chartreuse, and flies with some serious flash should all be in your box. I like Kreelex’s, sparkle minnows, Clouser Minnows, and Lunch Money’s right now.
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
Blue Ridge Shop Alternate number: 4045619589