The Etowah River is currently flowing at 1500 cFs from Allatoona Dam. The water was stained yesterday, but Water temperatures are great right now, especially for August. We anticipate August to be fantastic for Striper and Bass. For Striper, I’m fishing an 8 or 9 weight rod with an intermediate clear tip fly line and using a tapered, 7 foot 20lb leader. Flies that imitate threadfin and gizzard shad will work, so Lunch $’s, Flashtail Whistlers, big Lefty’s Decievers, and Popovic’s hollow fleyes. For Spotted Bass, a 7 weight fly rod with a floating fly line should be the weapon of choice. We’re throwing Gurglers in white and olive, Boogle Bugs, big cherynobyl ants, and other topwater flies at these fish. If topwater doesn’t produce for you, switch to clouser minnows, Galloup’s mini dungeons and Nancy P’s in craw, white, or natural colors.
The Toccoa Tailwater is fishing well, but the water from the Dam to Hemptown creek is gin clear. Fish early and late, and be prepared to downsize and fish light line, so 5x or 6x tippet and small unweighted flies imitating Blue Winged Olives, Little Yellow Stoneflies, Golden Stones, and Caddis: size 16-18 pheasant tails both with and without a soft hackle collar, split case BWO nymphs, small hare’s ear colored double bead stones, and LaFontaine’s Caddis emerger. From Curtis to Horseshoe Bend Park, the water clarity will clear quickly, but a little bit of stain doesn’t hurt right now. Pat’s Rubber Legs, black and olive Wooly Buggers, and rainbow warriors/lightning bugs should all be on the menu.
Small Streams should be fishing well. These creeks received much needed rain but will likely still be clear in the higher elevations, so dry droppers consisting of yellow sally or golden stone imitations for the dry followed by a small soft hackle dropper. I love to take a 3 weight, a cup of yellow dries, and a pair of wet wading boots to the mountains this time of year because the heavily canopied higher elevation streams provide a refuge from the summer heat. They also stay fish-able most of the day!
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