Trout Fishing In Helen GA | The Ultimate Guide
Trout Fishing in Helen GA
If you're looking for a great trout fishing spot, Helen GA is the place to go. The Chattahoochee River offers some of the best trout fishing in the state, and there are plenty of other spots where you can find trout as well. In this article, we'll discuss where to trout fish in Helen GA, what to expect with the water conditions, and what kind of flies are most effective.
Trout fishing in Helen GA can be a blast, especially during the spring and summer months. There are several options for good fly fishing in Helen and the surrounding area. You might recall this area from a famous Alan Jackson song…."Way down yonder on the Chattahoochee..." you know how it goes. However, the "Hooch" is known for far more than being part of a famous Alan Jackson song. This is one of the most popular trout fishing spots in the area, and it offers plenty of opportunities for anglers looking to hook some trout, and large ones at that!
There are other trout fishing hot spots in Helen, GA like Dukes Creek and the Soque River. Both of these rivers are known for their large trout populations, making them great options for trout fishing enthusiasts. Whether you're looking to catch trout on the fly, or prefer to use conventional methods, there are plenty of great spots in Helen that will help you land some big ones.
Where To Trout Fish in Helen GA
There are numerous other waters in and around Helen GA that make it the perfect place to go fly fishing. Whether you're an experienced trout fisherman, or a beginner looking to get into the sport, there are plenty of options for trout fishing in Helen. So grab your gear and head on out - the trout are waiting!
Dukes Creek
Fly fishing at Dukes Creek is an amazing opportunity. It runs through Smithgall Woods State Park and is one of the premier trout streams in North Georgia. It's actually the only Public Trophy trout stream in the state of Georgia. This of course makes it a very sought after destination and puts a lot of pressure on the fish. Because of this, you do have to make a reservation ahead of time to fish there. They are only open to day use anglers on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. If you choose to stay in one of their cottages, fishing is open every day of the week. You'll need to call ahead to make sure the dates you want are open and available.
This stream is only open from October through May and is stocked once per year. This is a wonderful option for fishing during the winter months when the other waters aren't catching fish as much. Plus, the proximity to Helen is a wonderful bonus. It's only 3 miles from downtown Helen and provides a nice place for respite but with convenient access to stores and shopping.
Your go to flies for this section should be small ones. Midges and nymphs all fish well in this creek. When the creek is experiencing high water conditions, this tends to make the trout run a bit more aggressive and you can throw on a wooly booger and really go after them!
Chattahoochee River
The best spot on the Chattahoochee River to trout fish is the tailwater section right below the Buford Dam, where the water is deep and slow moving. This section is notorious for producing some freakishly large brown trout naturally, in addition to being stocked with rainbow throughout the year.
There is a delayed harvest section on the Hooch below Morgan Falls Dam that is catch and release only from November 1st to May 15th. Strangely, the best time to fish this river is during the winter months which is not the usual case for most trout streams. The regular activity at the dam keeps the trout active and feeding year round though.
The section of river near the Buford Dam doesn't have a great insect population due to the fast moving water and regular disruption when they release. When cold spells come through and kill the baitfish in the lake above the dam, this is high time for going after those big browns since they will be feeding on the dead baitfish. The aquatic insect population does improve as you move downstream and get close to the section that runs from HWY 20 to Abbot's Bridge. This section is artificial bait only, so if you're a conventional fisherman, keep this in mind.
As always, stay aware to what's hatching. Below you will find a hatch chart for the rivers we mentioned in this article. The chart should help be a good guide for what to throw in order to have some success during your time on the water.
Soque River
The Soque River trout fishing is a wonderful option for trout fishermen, especially those that are looking for something a bit more secluded or off the beaten path. This river runs through beautiful North Georgia mountains and farmland alike so you'll get to see some gorgeous scenery as you're trout fishing on this section of water.
The trout on the Soque River don't get a lot of pressure, making them easier to catch. It should be noted that this section is a Private Trophy Steam and can only be accessed by hiring a guide. The benefit to this is that this trout stream has no closed season, meaning you can fish it year round. It also means that you get a chance to catch some truly monster trout that are sure to excite every fisherman that treads here.
The trout are stocked by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources weekly from April through July and then twice before Labor Day and then once in the Fall. This is a catch and release section only and the landowners here take pride in helping to keep these fish healthy year round so they will remain available for other anglers to enjoy.
Head on over to our Soque River Fly Fishing page to learn more about what all the fuss is about!
Fishing Conditions
The trout streams described above are all great options for trout fishing, but the conditions can vary depending on the time of year. For example, the Chattahoochee River tailwater section can be a great place to trout fish year round, but the best time to fish it is during the winter months when the baitfish population is high.
The Soque River is a Private Trophy Stream and can only be accessed by hiring a guide, so make sure you check with local businesses before heading out to trout fish here. The good news is that this trout stream has no closed season, so you can fish it year round.
The trout in the Chattahoochee River are stocked by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources weekly from April through July and then twice before Labor Day and then once in the Fall, so make sure to check with them for up to date information on stocking schedules.
As always, make sure to consult your local fishing forecast before heading out trout fishing to get an idea of what kind of conditions you can expect. For the tailwater sections, you should always check what the Dam release schedules are, especially if you plan on wading. The releases can come fast and unexpectedly and makes for a dangerous situation to be caught in.
Stream Flow and Current Conditions
Below you will find 3 gauges. One gives the current water volume in ft, the other water volume in CFS (cubic feet per second) and the water temperature. You can use this as a CURRENT guide, because it will always display the current data that the USGS has.
If you want to understand more about how to read and interpret these readings, the crew over at the Fly Fishing Photo Project put out an awesome Tailwater Masterclass titled "How To Fish The Chattahoochee River" on YouTube. I highly recommend watching it so you can understand how to fully maximize the data on hand.
Current Chattahoochee River Conditions
Fly Fishing Hatch chart
We hope you've enjoyed this article on fly fishing in Helen, Ga and that you'll be able to use it for years to come! Now stop reading, get your gear together and let's go fishing!
About The Author: Daniel Bowman
Daniel cut his guide teeth with two seasons at Egdorf’s Western Alaska Sports Fishing by running jet boats with clients on the Nushagak.
Today there’s no boat ramp too narrow, steep, or downright rambunctious that Daniel’s not willing to drop his Hyde drift boat down for an optimal day on the water.
He’s a can-do expert who is there to serve with a positive mojo which always translates into a well-executed trip, whether floating the beautiful Toccoa River tailwater in North Georgia or wading and pestering trophy trout on private waters from Blue Ridge to Cleveland, GA.