Due to Fannin County’s current guidelines for all non-essential business, we will be closed from today till April 13th in Blue Ridge. We’re in the middle of updating our online store, so hopefully we will have that up and running at the end of the day tomorrow. We won’t have 100% of the store on there immediately (flies, fly tying especially), so if you can’t find something you’re looking for on the webstore, we can still add it to your order! Shoot me an email at jmilholland@cohuttafishingco.com. If you’ve got cabin fever, we have some openings for private water wade trips, and the Tick is fishing great right now! Call us at 4045619589 to book and with questions.
The Toccoa Tailwater was fishing very well before rain earlier this week, and should continue to pick up as the water clarity clears up towards the weekend. March Browns have been hatching and we’ve seen some pictures of Golden Stones coming out of the rocks. For dry flies, I would have some Griffith’s Gnats for midges and some Parachute Adams in a few sizes to match any dark bodied mayflies that you might see. Tan and Peach Chubby Cherynobyls in 8-10, Black and Tan Foam PMX’s, and Fat Albert’s are all staples on my nymphing rigs from now till October – I mostly use these flies as bobbers. For subsurface patterns, size 8-10 Pat’s rubber legs in brown, black, and tan/brown, size 10 Black Double Bead Stone’s, Brown Tungstones, and 20 inchers all find a place as my lead fly. For droppers, I like to throw rainbow warriors/lighting bugs, March Brown Jigs, Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles, Zebra Midges, and Clear Water Emergers.
The Upper Toccoa DH is still high and dirty. It might be floatable by the weekend, watch the flows on the US Geological Survey Gauge at Dial road – sub 800cfs is floatable, sub 500cfs is wadeable.
Small streams in the area should be getting very good towards the weekend as the water levels start to drop. These creeks are going to be high, so high stick methods with split shot will produce well, but don’t be afraid to throw a single dry fly in pocket water right now – March Browns (Parachute Adams) and stoneflies (small to medium sized Chubby Cherynobyls).
The Etowah River should break loose any day now, if the water clarity begins to clear. We recieved enough rain yesterday to blow out the river below Pumpkinvine Creek probably through to next week. If you don’t mind muddy water, the Corps of Engineers has been reducing flows at the dam to fishable levels for parts of the day, and if you want to catch a big Spotted Bass, these fish should be in prespawn mode right now. While I probably wouldn’t leave home without some conventional gear in these water conditions, you can throw some flies at these fish – Schmidterbaits, Cowen’s Coyote, and any other flies that are going to move some water and create some commotion will work. I prefer colors like Black and Purple, Chartreuse and Pink, and Craw colors in stained water.
We’re going to put together some tying videos and other content within the next couple weeks, including an updated Seminar-style video of how to tie and Fish Conner’s Jerk Minnow tomorrow. We want to know what you guys would like to see as far as tying videos, how-tos, etc., so let us know by commenting or messaging us on instagram!
Material List for Conner’s Jerk Minnow:
Thread: Veevus 150 Gel Spun
Hook: Gamakatsu B10S 1/0
Tail: Hareline 5mm Glass Rattle or Plastic Rattle, Polar Flash or Flashabou in Silver, Opal, and Gold
Body: Craft Fur, either in a homemade brush with Angel Hair or Ripple Ice Fiber, or Enrico Puglisi Craft Fur Brushes
Head: Laser Dub
Eyes: 6MM or 7MM Flymen 3D Eyes
Other Components Sourced elsewhere: White Heat Shrink Tubing 1/8th Inch, Goop (Shoe Goo), Gel Super Glue (Loctite Blue Bottle)
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