Georgia's 5 best trout rivers

The smallest of the streams listed, the Conasauga River is also the most pristine of the flows.It rises near Betty Gap, deep in the Cohutta Wilderness Area of northwest Georgia. From that point it flows for more than 15 miles to its junction with the Jacks River and the end of its trout water. Along that way it does not pass a single bridge, road or building.Wild, colorful rainbow trout are the staple of the fishing here, although some brown trout are present. Also, several of the small tributaries hold native brook trout.The only draw back to fishing the Consauga is the several miles of hiking required to get to the best waters.  Only foot travel is allowed in the wilderness area. The Chattooga River forms the border between Georgia and South Carolina in the northeast corner of the state. For many years it has been best known as a national wild and scenic river, a whitewater rafting flow and the site of the filming of the movie Deliverance.It also is an excellent trout stream. The upper reaches from the North Carolina border down to Burrells Ford are populated with wild, stream-bred brown trout that can reach lengths of 18 inches or more.Below the ford, both Georgia and South Carolina stock the Chattooga with rainbow, brown and brook trout. Within this lower section there also is a portion managed as a delayed harvest fishery.The Chattahoochee River begins along the Appalachian Trail to the north of the town of Helen. In its headwaters it is a small, tumbling flow populated with native Southern Appalachian brook trout.Once below Henson Creek Falls, wild rainbow and brown trout dominate the stream. As the river flows through the Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area it is a large mountain stream and is stocked with hatchery-raised specimens of both those species.After passing through Lake Sidney Lanier, the flow emerges as a full-sized river. The cold water coming off the bottom of the reservoir makes the 'Hooch hospitable to trout all the way down to Atlanta. Along the way it features an artificial lures only angling section, as well as a delayed harvest stretch of water. Although rainbow trout are stocked in the tailwater, the wild naturally reproducing brown trout are the main attraction.View the list »
A wild North Georgia rainbow trout.

City Guides newsletter

The regular Georgia trout season begins on the last Saturday of this month. Although some North Georgia waters can be fished year-round, being on-stream for opening day of the seasonal creeks is something of a rite of passage.

Related topics

Advertisement

Many metro Atlanta trout fishermen are already making plans for opening-day excursions. The timing would seem right to ask, what are Georgia’s best five rivers for targeting trout?

The following list presents the cream of the crop of big, coldwater flows in the state. Combined they offer virtually any trout fishing scenario found in Georgia. Yet, each has its own character that sets it apart from the others.

To forestall too much debate, the five are listed in alphabetical order.

JIMMY JACOBS SOUTHERN OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

View the list
  • The Chattahoochee River begins along the Appalachian Trail to the north of the town of Helen. In its headwaters it is a small, tumbling flow populated with native Southern Appalachian brook trout.Once below Henson Creek Falls, wild rainbow and brown trout dominate the stream. As the river flows through the Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area it is a large mountain stream and is stocked with hatchery-raised specimens of both those species.After passing through Lake Sidney Lanier, the flow emerges as a full-sized river. The cold water coming off the bottom of the reservoir makes the 'Hooch hospitable to trout all the way down to Atlanta. Along the way it features an artificial lures only angling section, as well as a delayed harvest stretch of water. Although rainbow trout are stocked in the tailwater, the wild naturally reproducing brown trout are the main attraction.
  • The Chattooga River forms the border between Georgia and South Carolina in the northeast corner of the state. For many years it has been best known as a national wild and scenic river, a whitewater rafting flow and the site of the filming of the movie Deliverance.It also is an excellent trout stream. The upper reaches from the North Carolina border down to Burrells Ford are populated with wild, stream-bred brown trout that can reach lengths of 18 inches or more.Below the ford, both Georgia and South Carolina stock the Chattooga with rainbow, brown and brook trout. Within this lower section there also is a portion managed as a delayed harvest fishery.
  • The smallest of the streams listed, the Conasauga River is also the most pristine of the flows.It rises near Betty Gap, deep in the Cohutta Wilderness Area of northwest Georgia. From that point it flows for more than 15 miles to its junction with the Jacks River and the end of its trout water. Along that way it does not pass a single bridge, road or building.Wild, colorful rainbow trout are the staple of the fishing here, although some brown trout are present. Also, several of the small tributaries hold native brook trout.The only draw back to fishing the Consauga is the several miles of hiking required to get to the best waters.  Only foot travel is allowed in the wilderness area. 
  • The sister stream of the Conasauga, the Jacks River flows parallel and to the east of that stream. Larger than the Conasauga, it rises outside of the Cohutta Wilderness, but then flows for 16 miles through that reserve.Near its mid point the river leaps over the Jacks River Falls in one of the most powerful displays in the Georgia mountains. Home only to wild rainbow and brown trout, the deep pools of  the Jacks often give up some larger fish.And as with the Conasauga, to fish the Jacks you pay the price in boot leather. The trails leading to the best fishing water on the river are from 3 to 6 miles long.
  • The Toccoa River flows west from the vicinity of the village of Suches, eventually passing through Blue Ridge Lake and emptying into the Tennessee River drainage. Along the way it forms a two-tier trout fishery.Above Blue Ridge Lake it is a big freestone stream holding both wild and stocked rainbow and brown trout.  This portion of the flow also hosts a delayed harvest fishing section.Once below the reservoir, the tailwater fishery on the Toccoa is regarded by many as having the best dry fly fishing water in the state. This lower portion has predominately stocked rainbow and brown trout, but some wild browns drop down form tributaries flows as well.With 16 miles of tailwater and only three access points, the lower Toccoa is a good flow for floating in a canoe, johnboat or drift boat.
View the list

, Atlanta Outdoor Travel Examiner

Jimmy Jacobs is an outdoor and travel writer that has spent the past two decades exploring the region from the Southern Appalachian Mountains to both the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Along the way he has won numerous Excellence In Craft Awards for writing and photography from the Florida Outdoor...

Advertisement

Today's top buzz...