Did the weekend’s big brown photos on Facebook fire you up to chuck some streamers? Congrats to Phil on his 30-inch Hooch Tailwater gator and to Joe on his 32-inch Toccoa submarine.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Trophy Hunting?
Monday, March 1, 2021
Your Favorite Dry/Dropper?
Georgia trouters, what’s your favorite dry/dropper combo during your March recons?
Friday, February 26, 2021
UO Fishing Report - 2/26/21
Welcome to “Spring Break-Out.” This is what we’ve been waiting for! Sunny days in the 60’s will push water temperatures above the magic 50-degree mark, triggering midday bug activity and trout gluttony. It happened a few days last week and will repeat in the weeks ahead. We just have to deal with March’s weather yo-yo’s and hit the warm days when streamflows aren’t too high and muddy from frequent rains.
“Last Sunday the UGA 5 Rivers Club leadership team had the privilege of visiting Nacoochee Bend. I arrived early to have my 5-weight line replaced in the shop. We then spent several hours picking up trash and after hauling it out, had an opportunity to fish a little. The weather was beautiful, and fish were active. I was bobber fishing deep with a jig-style tungsten bead black stone and a #16 soft hackle pheasant tail, and the good old PT got all the attention. The fish are really strong, and they gave me and my 5 weight quite a battle. I used 4X tippet to the jig fly, then 5X to the PT. I then switched to a red San Juan worm behind a brown Pat’s Rubber Legs with equally good results. I would simply adjust the depth of my Air-Lock indicator according to conditions. Fish were abundant in deep pools, but we also had great success in runs with big cobble substate. One of our group, Ben Comfort, mopped up (literally) - fishing Euro-style with a single fly in water that some might have though too shallow to hold big fish. We also spent time sampling aquatic insects since we had a professional entomologist with us. We observed an abundance of small brown mayflies (the reason that the soft hackle PT is so effective). We all learned a great deal about the right and wrong way to take on big fish. There are many ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory when a big fish eats, and I think I experienced most of them. Thank you to my personal netman, Jimmy Harris, and the UO crew for their gracious hospitality. This was truly a special day. If you want to experience phenomenal fishing in a beautiful place, give Unicoi Outfitters a call.”
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Up Close and Personal
“Good Things Happen Up Close”
There’s casting, then there’s fishing. Amen! Distance casting heroes, reel in nearly all that fly line if you’d like to catch more trout. Take a lesson from the best trout wrangler around these parts and “be the heron.”
Give Dominick’s thirty-foot rule a try and see how close you can sneak up to your quarry. Thanks to Dominick for another great article. Enjoy.
https://troutbitten.com/.../14/the-case-for-shorter-casts/
Assembling Your Combo - Part 4
Hunter continues our discussion on the perfect flyfishing setup. Today we simplify leaders and tippet. We’ll start with an explanation of the role each plays, as it can be confusing for beginners. We'll end with the basics you need to get started with trouting in north Georgia.
First, the leader is a section of clear line (monofilament or fluorocarbon) that connects the thick fly line to your fly. It’s tapered, meaning it goes from thick to thin. Leaders come in different lengths and diameters depending on your situation. The diameter is only referencing the line thickness at the thin end of the leader where you tie the fly on.Second, the tippet is a spool of mono (or fluoro) that is all the same diameter, not tapered. You add tippet to the thin end of your leader to extend its life or customize it. Let’s talk options.
When choosing leader and tippet, think about the kind of fishing you will be doing. Small, overgrown creeks call for shorter leaders (7.5 ft, 4X) whereas larger streams or low, clear water and spooky fish call for longer leaders (9 ft, 4X).
First, you can use tippet to repair a leader. As you change flies or break off, the leader will get shorter and thicker, so using sections of tippet to replace the broken portion can help your leader last much longer and save you a few bucks. Google "triple surgeons knot" to learn a quick and easy connection!
A great way to get the most out of your leaders is to customize them. Here are some examples:
1) You can use the leader as-is (4X) for most stream fishing situations.
2) You can cut a foot off the thin end of a 4X leader and use the thicker end (about 3X diameter) for bigger flies or murky water.
3) For small flies or spooky fish, you can add 5X or even 6X tippet to the leader’s thin end before tying on your fly.
4) You can also use tippet to tie multi-fly rigs, increasing your shot at finding what the fish are looking for. Google “dropper flies” to learn about multi-fly rigs.
In summary, buy a few 7.5 ft, 4X leaders, a few 9 ft, 4x leaders, and one spool each of 4X, 5X, and 6x tippet. With that small supply, you’ll be ready for trout fishing this spring.
Next up is bugs. We’ll help you with a basic selection of trout flies for success this spring. As always, swing by the shop or give us a call if we can help you further with your new flyfishing setup!
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
We're on the Square
Come see us on the square in downtown Clarkesville. You can find our second store now, since the sign is back up!
Jimmy: "We have our sign back! The historical renovations are now complete on our store and we had our sign and awning reinstalled this morning. We never closed for long during the pandemic but now we just look better. Drop in to see us!"
Assembling Your Combo - Part 3
Here's Hunter's low-down on fly lines!
Did you know fly lines can make or break your setup? It is very important to find a fly line that matches your setup and style of fishing to get the most out of your gear. Let’s talk about a few of the things to keep an eye out for when choosing a fly line.
The first aspect to look at is pretty straightforward, the weight and style of the line. Fly lines come in different weights, and you want to match this weight to your rod. Choosing the correct weight line for your rod is important as this determines how well the rod will load when casting so you can get the maximum energy from the rod throughout your cast. There are floating lines and sinking lines. Most trout fishing calls for floating line, however, you can use a sink tip or intermediate line for throwing streamers on the larger rivers. Warmwater fishing may call for either depending on the species you are targeting and the situation you are targeting them in.
The second aspect to look at is the taper or shape of the fly line. The most common category of taper is “weight forward”. This means the head or front of the line is heavier than the rear section. This is the most common among floating and sinking lines. Some prefer a taper style called “double taper” meaning that the line is tapered in the very front and rear, while the body of the line is the same diameter throughout. This is common on small creek setups as it can be beneficial for the short technical casts seen on small streams. Double tapers can also be reversed. When the front of the line wears out, turn it around and use the rear. When looking at tapers, they can be considered a soft taper, moderate, or aggressive. This refers to the rate at which the diameter tapers down in the front of the line. A soft taper is best for delicate presentations such as dry flies. Moderate tapers are good for all-around purposes, from dries, to nymphing, to small streamers. Aggressive tapers are found on lines designed for throwing large streamers or poppers to help turn over the weight of the heavier flies.
The third component is the materials in the line. Many lines nowadays are made with additives to help the line perform better. These can help the line last longer and cast better among other benefits. Our favorite, Scientific Anglers, uses an additive called AST or AST+ depending on the level you choose which we really like.
These are just a few of the things to look for, and the applications they can be used in. We could talk all day about different lines and what is best for you, so come by the shop, and let us help you find the perfect line for your perfect setup. We hope this helps narrow down all the options when looking to put together your perfect setup, and as always feel free to reach out if you have any questions about anything!
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Our Adopted Sisters
Flashback to earlier, “closer” times with UO guides Chuck and Hunter and their special guests at the Casting for Recovery retreat.
We can’t wait for “herd immunity” and a reunion at the Bend for more huge grins, high fives, and memories that will last a lifetime.
For more information on this program, the Smithgall Woods weekend retreat for breast cancer survivors, and donations toward it, visit the CFR-GA website: castingforrecovery.org/ga/ or contact cfrgeorgia@gmail.com
Assembling Your Combo - Part 2
Today Hunter's talking about reels!
The next component in your perfect setup to look at is the reel. There are a wide variety of reels on the market today, and there may be several that will work for your setup. The three aspects to pay attention to is the drag system, arbor size, and overall weight.The drag system can be sealed, non-sealed, or a click pawl style which just uses a clicker mechanism as the drag system. For most all-around setups a drag system is preferred, a click pawl style can be beneficial when fishing small creeks with small fish which don’t pull drag. A sealed drag system is great for a low-maintenance set up whereas a non-sealed system can require occasional maintenance but are typically more budget-friendly.
The arbor size is the diameter of the spool, and this determines the size of the memory coils left in your line and the retrieval rate. Large arbor reels are popular for their ability to leave less noticeable memory in your line while providing a faster retrieval rate.
The third aspect, weight, can be a major factor in choosing a reel. The goal is to find a reel which balances the rod nicely, as a reel that is too light will leave you with a tip-heavy setup that can cause fatigue after casting all day.
So what is your favorite style of reel for your setup?
Hope these tips help, and as always, come by the shop, put some reels in your hand and see how they feel to you!
Monday, February 22, 2021
Assembling Your Flyfishing Combo - Part 1
Are you thinking about giving flyfishing a try? Hunter, our Clarkesville store manager, just wrote a brief series about selecting a flyfishing outfit. We are sharing it here for the benefit of our rookies and prospects. We’ll start with rods. Enjoy!
And thank you, Hunter.
What’s your perfect setup?
We get a lot of questions about what set up (rod/reel/line) someone should get. The answer is it really depends. Over the next few days we will be going over these key components and explaining what to look for when picking out a new setup for yourself. Today, it’s rods. So what rod should you get? Depends on how you like to fish.
What weight should you use? Depends on what you want to throw. A good size for most styles of fishing is a 5 weight rod. This will help turn over heavier nymph rigs, streamers, and the such and also allow you to land a dry fly delicately. Some prefer lighter weight rods if you are solely dry fly fishing very small creeks, or doing a technique called euro nymphing using a 10 foot 3 weight rod. A 5 weight rod will also allow you to do a little warm water fishing for bass and bream in the area during the summer with small poppers and streamers. If you are looking to fish primarily large streamers for trout or bass, and maybe even some large poppers in the summertime for bass, a rod in the 6-8 weight range will be best for you depending on the size of the fly you are looking to throw and the quarry you are chasing.
A third aspect that some overlook is the action or speed of the rod. This refers to how deep the rod flexes when being cast and how fast it returns to straight. A slower, or full to mid-flex rod will cast better with small lightweight flies or with short casts as this allows the rod to fully load up with the short amount of line being used on short casts, such as small mountain creeks. A faster action, or tip flex rod will cast better with large flies, large nymph rigs, or long distance as these rods take more weight to fully load the rod.
As always, there is more that could be discussed about rods, but this should help give you a basis for deciding what your perfect setup will be. Come by the shop, get some rods in hand and see how they feel to you and learn more about them.
Next up, Reels!
Bolo Bugs!
BOLO Bugs!
Sunday, February 21, 2021
Tug of War
Plan soon to make your own lifetime memories on a sunny afternoon astream. Call us at 706-878-3083 to book your trip or to get some hot intel on public waters.
Saturday, February 20, 2021
New Fish Chief
We have a new state fisheries chief.
Dredger: “I worked with Scott for two decades. This is a great pick for WRD Fisheries staff and especially for the Georgia angling constituency, from mountaintop speck chasers to Okeefenokee bowfin fans.”Congrats Scott! You’re welcome up here any time.
https://georgiawildlife.com/new-fisheries-chief-
UO Fishing Report - 2/19/21
This week will be warmer and drier and will provide some very good fishing opportunities! Small streams are already fishable, while big streams will take some time to recede to safe wading levels after this week’s 3-4 inches of rain. Watch USGS stream gauges and call local fly shops for stream updates. Your other tools for success are a weather app, a stream thermometer, your trusty nymph box, your dusty dry fly box, and scheduling flexibility. If you can plan your trips for the warm afternoons, catching will be better with increasing water temperatures. Wes’ weekly hot fly list includes: Skwala stone (olive) #10, Micro mayfly nymph (olive) #16, Squirminator (red, pink) #14, Egg (chartreuse) #14, Simi seal leech (black, red) #10, hares ear nymph #14-18, and a couple dries, the gray elk hair caddis #14-16, and parachute Adams #14-18 as the big dry above your dropper or the small BWO imposter. Angler trip reports, hot tips, and more great pics follow. Good luck and be respectful of high water! Headwaters Landon: “I caught a nice bunch of little wild bows from IDBIS creek while turkey scouting with my dog. Water was cold and high, and fish were found next to woody structure. Fish ignored the dry, but ate the #18 france fly dropper.” RodneyT, “I have fished my favorite wild Brown Trout stream a few times this past month. The latest artic blast had fish hugging the bottom and the bite has been slow, but picky wild browns can be enticed to bite in the late afternoons when it warms into the high 40's and low 50"s. My best success has been derived from drifting a small black (size 12) woolly bugger and then slowly stripping it back. Dropping a size 16 or 18 pheasant tail behind the bugger can increase your catch rate.” We had a reliable trio of Dukes Creek reporters in Sautee, SimmsFlyGuy, and our own Jake. The standard Smithgall theme held true last week. When the water was clear and normal-to-low, small nymphs on thin tippet (6x) worked, but only when the operator was stealthy. Anglers lucky enough to hit high, dirty water scored on big, meaty bugs like stoneflies and leeches on thicker tippet. Delayed Harvest DH streams have fished well when the weather and water have been favorable. They should fish really well with dropping flows and rising temps this week. “Scratch’s” NGTO Smith Creek report: “Saturday 2/13: I figured the rain and cold would keep the sensible fishermen away from Smiths and I was correct - only a dozen cars in the parking lot at noon. I tried all the sensible flies - Y2Ks, black WD40s, rainbow warriors, olive midges, white midges, eggs, purple rubberlegs, olive rubberlegs, etc... - but the only action I got was on a white foam beetle used for a dry dropper that brought one rainbow to the surface. My resulting jerk put that beetle in a tree above my head, never to be seen again. At about 3:00 I switched over to streamers, figuring I might as well give all my flies an equal opportunity at failing. That turned out to be the best mistake I made all day. A white conehead wooly bugger (bought at UO earlier that day) stripped across the current and upstream brought 5 fish to hand over the rest of the afternoon. I tried several other streamers in that time and it seemed like anything 'weird' drew the interest of the trout. I had another catch on a custom olive wooly bugger with yellow lead eyes and some strikes on a large black sculpin-like pattern with a brown fringe. The streamers performed best in fast-moving water, especially near the heads of pools. Another couple I talked to in the parking lot said they had some luck on Zebra midges after about 3:30. I may be incorrect, but I think that was the end of a break in the rain. Maybe some pressure change triggered a bite. I can confirm that they put some of the large broodstock in at Smiths, but she wasn't interested in anything I threw at her. I'm sure she's had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at her over the last week, so good luck to everyone who tries!” Chattooga DH: we have no recent reports due to last week’s crummy weather. I took a hike up there today (19th). It was milky and too high to fish safely, but should fish well when it recedes to safe wading levels in a day or two. Hopefully the high flows will spread out Walhalla’s superb February stockers. Remember to match fly size to flows, and try bigger and brighter bugs when the water is swift and stained. Scale down your flies as streams drop and clear. Tailwaters Told you so! UO Facebook followers may recall last week’s post, “Bolo Bugs,” and its videos. Folks on the lookout have indeed spotted waves of fluttering gray caddis on slightly warmer tailwaters like the Toccoa. Thanks to UO friend Daniel Bowman for the intel. Make sure you carry some gray bugs with you as the week’s afternoon sunshine “pops” some caddis like popcorn. Always check generation schedules and be very careful with dam discharges before fishing those tailwaters. Private Waters Nacoochee Bend guest Billy N: “Many thanks to Jake for the great tips today. We didn’t have the luck he thought we would on the section in the pasture, but the middle section made up for it. Look forward to fishing with y’all again soon. “ Our own Jimmy: “Young PJ Fitzpatrick and his dad Pres had a good Thursday afternoon at Nacoochee Bend. Water temperature held at 42 degrees and while there were little black stones coming off all afternoon, the action was deep in the clear cold water. Subtle takes required quick reflexes; something the younger anglers have an advantage with. Best flies at the Bend were a red squirmie worm, a Pats Rubberlegs, and Micro Mayfly, all behind a double scoop of split shot.” Lakes HenryC reports, “Striper fishing remains the same... You gotta pick your days for all the right conditions in order to be successful: a pre-frontal forecast with total cloud cover and preferably light winds (but that is not a game changer if windy). Combine that if possible with either the new or full moon phase and you’re putting all the chips for a good outing on your side of the table. On Monday of this week one of my addicted striper buddies hooked 5 under those exact conditions. This will work on ALL North GA impoundments (not just Lanier). It’s a very specific pattern to follow but one that works. The fish will be active at some point in the day when those conditions exist. If you can add a warming trend to this pattern then the fishing is even better! Let the gulls show you where the fish are. Plan your days to follow this pattern over the next 3-4 weeks and get after them!” Bonus Intel Sign yourselves up for GAWRD’s weekly fishing reports for lakes and streams. Most of you will likely tune into the north Ga segment of the statewide report. It’s great intel because they’re allowed to “cheat” with some electricity and nets... and use that trend data to manage the sport fisheries for our benefit. It’s about time for some hot walleye intel and a grocery run for fresh tartar sauce. https://georgiawildlife.blog/2021/02/19/georgia-fishing-report-february-19-2021/ Good luck this week as you enjoy a brief taste of spring, maybe even with an afternoon riser or two! Call, email, come in, or pull curbside if we can help you in Helen or Clarkesville. Don’t forget your sunscreen!
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Fish Story
We always enjoy a good fish story, especially when it hits close to home. What’s your favorite fish story?
This story certainly hit close to our home, and we thought we’d share Jessi’s “beginner’s luck” tale with y’all. She was fishing at “Headwaters on the Soque” with her guide, “George.” We know George MacMillan as our friend Coach Mac, who has also guided for Unicoi Outfitters since 1998.
If you’re a beginner and hook the fish of a lifetime, it’s always nice to have a veteran coach in your corner. Congrats to Jessi and 23-year veteran Coach Mac on this “fish of a lifetime.”
We hope you enjoy Jessi’s story as much as we did! Feel free to share your own memorable fish tales with us.