Georgia boasts more than 4,000 miles of trout streams, but the state is at the extreme southern end of natural trout water in the eastern United States, so many streams that can support stocked fish, can’t sustain natural reproduction. The Jacks River, a medium-sized steam flowing through the breathtakingly beautiful Cohutta Wilderness Area, is an exception to the rule. The Jacks offers excellent angling for wild rainbow, brown and brook trout from its headwaters in Fannin County until it joins the Conasauga River near the Georgia-Tennessee border.
But there’s a catch!
You have to work for these fish.
Unlike much of North Georgia, the Cohutta Wilderness has managed to escape the developers. Ninety miles of trails crisscross more than 60-square-miles of wilderness — and not a road to be found. The 16.3-mile trail paralleling the river requires more than 40 crossings; all of them fords. Most of the trail traffic is hikers enroute to a sixty-foot high waterfall. Few anglers fish this stream — not for a lack of good fishing — but because it's difficult to access. Those that do go to the trouble to make the hike may be well rewarded. Jacks’ trout are much larger than those of its neighbor, the Conasauga River. Most are rainbows but it also holds some nice wild browns. As always, anglers are encouraged to practice catch-and-release, especially on these wild jewels.
Jacks is a gin-clear freestone stream, so these trout are extremely spooky. A stealthy approach and careful presentation is mandated. Rainbows in the 12-to-14 inch range aren’t uncommon, and browns, although fewer in number, have been known to top nine pounds.
Fly fishers should spend mornings working the deep, slow pools with size 8 or 10 stonefly nymphs, then try running #16-18 dry flies through the riffles in the afternoon. After an hour or two, you quickly learn that the preeminent mayfly on the Jacks is the blue-winged olive. Pack plenty of BWO imitations, nymphs and emergers. Other effective dry patterns include green and slate drakes, light cahills, quill gordons, black and tan caddis, and midges. In the summer months pack a good supply of terrestrials including black and cinnamon ants, inchworms; and grasshoppers. Streamer patterns, especially wooly buggers and crayfish are also very effective.
To get there from Atlanta, take I-75 north to exit 293 (US 411) Go north on 411 to Cisco, GA. Turn right onto Old Hwy 2/FS 16 and follow until it ends. Continue on the gravel road, turning right at a fork in the road. From the 3-way intersection with FS 51, continue straight on FS 16 for another 8.7 miles. Bear right at the next intersection and the parking lot/trailhead a short distance away near the Tennessee/Georgia state line. Start walking.
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