Unicoi Outfitters is north Georgia's premier guide service and fly fishing outfitter, located on the Chattahoochee River near alpine Helen. Look for fishing reports, gear and book reviews, and general musings here from our staff and guides.

Friday, August 1, 2025

Unicoi Outfitters Fishing Report - 8/1/25



Summary:

Welcome to August!  It’s a good news/bad news time of the year for region anglers.  First, the bad news: it’s still hot and fairly dry.  Many trout waters have been too hot for much success.   


And now the good news, of which there is plenty.   Did you see the weather forecast??? Hooray!  We have a cooler week ahead of us, which will reduce headwater trout stream temperatures and give y’all a shot at stockers and high elevation wild fish. The two icy tailwaters will still fish well, and GAWRD has another decent stocking list posted today.   The river bass bite has been very good when waters clear between summer storms.    A few stripers are a bonus catch.  And Lanier spots are still in play!  


Details are in our blog. It’s new every Friday and will help you boost your own catch rates. 

http://blog.angler.management/

(Link in bio)


Reward yourselves for getting past a steamy July by taking a fishing trip during the cooler days at hand.  Do it before August heats up again!   Stop in either one of our two UO shops for supplies and timely intel.  Our guests are always glad that they did!


Helen: 706-878-3083. Open 8-5 daily.

Clarkesville: 706-754-0203. Open 8-5 from Monday thru Saturday.


Unicoi Outfitters: Friendly. Local. Experts.

www.unicoioutfitters.com


Wes’ Hot Fly List:  

(Wes said that last week’s list is still solid)


Dries:  purple haze, tan elk hair caddis, parachute and hard body ants, micro chubby Chernobyl, Royal Wulff. 


Nymphs & Wets: 

Stockers: red squirmy worm, peach egg, micro girdle bug, black woolly bugger, tan and olive mops, pink tag jig.


Mountain streams: hares ear, drowned ant, pheasant tail nymph and soft hackle, UV green weenie, prince nymph.


Streamers:

small black and olive buggers, bank robber sculpin, micro dungeon. 


(Bass & stripers) two tone stealth bomber, crawfish jambalaya, dead ned. Supernatural peanut, sweet baby cray.


(Panfish) mini stealth bomber, Boogle popper #8, brim reaper, girdle bug.


(Carp) squirmy hybrid, carp bitters, identity crisis.


Headwaters: 

Most small creeks have been getting recharged by afternoon storms. Unfortunately, the rainfall runs off quickly and streams warm back up when the sun shines again. 



Cooler weather is forecast, so the wild trout bite will be resurrected as long as those nighttime air temps drop back down into the 60’s. Float an Adams or ant at high elevations and north slopes to fool a few wilds before they resume their summer siestas. Hit the drought refuges , where fish are packed in, spooky, but competitive for the few bugs in the drift.


Ian and Charity just provided a nice Smokies update on their headwater wild trout. Tune in here:

https://randrflyfishing.com/the-fishing-report/



Stockers: 

GAWRD published another decent stocking list today. Hit those streams early to catch cooler water and more cooperative fish.  The higher uphill and earlier you go, the cooler the water.   Take those stockers home for dinner, as the “double trouble” combo of warm water and angling stress will do most of them in.

https://georgiawildlife.com/Fishing/Trout



Private Waters:

 We are shut down for summer. Feel free to call our shop now to reserve your prime fall weekend dates after October 15, a rough estimate for our reopening of private trout water opportunities.


Reminder:

We are still offering flyfishing-only striper trips at Nacoochee Bend.  Call the Helen shop at 706-878-3083 for details and to make your reservation.


Dredger struck out on them last night, as post-storm visibility shrank from 2 feet to 6 inches by 9pm. Athens Jay did slightly better this morning, landing 3 small stripers in the stained but clearing river.


Tailwaters:

They are our only large stream trouting opportunity during the heat of summer. Hit them early before the sun bakes your heads. On the Hooch, try streamers and junk flies for freshly stocked bows, and zebra midges and tiny black stones for resident browns that aren’t big enough yet to eat stockers and little browns.


UO buddy Spangler: “Hey Dredger, some overdue tailwater if you need: Lanier tailwater has been good last couple weeks in hour-or-two spurts when I can get out. Last week I actually got some to eat a dry right at dark in some pocket water and several came up to make a swipe but they missed it or I missed them. I shook some bushes walking along the bank to see tiny cream colored midges fly off, so closest thing I had was a 16 Griffith’s Gnat with a CDC wing I came up. Maybe it looked like a cluster of them but the little wind browns were into it. One tip I picked up was by dusk I couldn’t really see my dry well, if at all (not that I ever can) so I use some of those paint markers to add a sighter above my flies (since I’m high sticking them leading them through) and I could see where they were tracking from that and just wait for the splash when they took the dry.”




(Editors note: drop that midge 2 feet behind a larger, fluffy dry that you can see.  An Adams, para ant, or stimmy is a strike indicator with a hook in it.)


Warm Rivers: 

They remain a best bet this week!   Hot weather and drought are prime ingredients for a summer bass bite.  Just watch for clear water between these PM storm surges. The Hooch at Hwy 115 had three feet of visibility this afternoon and should fish okay tomorrow. 

It will fish even better with each passing, rainless day. Watch the USGS Hooch (Leaf) and Chestatee gauges before you head out.


UO guide Joseph: “Shoal bassin’ was good last night. We struck out on stripers in the low water, but that could change with next week’s rain. Our bass came on Ned rigs bouncing the bottom in shoals and along shaded banks. For flies stealth bombers and boogle bugs should be good right now, along with crawfish patterns down deep when the sun is high.”




UO Helen manager Wes: “I did a river bass float early this week with clients Jonathan & Jake. We had a high-numbers day catching shoalies & spotted bass on small swimbaits and topwater poppers. We also caught a few bonus stripers along with the bass!”



UO friend RSquared got back into the action: “Last week I fished a creek in West-Metro Atlanta for Shoal Bass. The fish were small, but scrappy. Most were under the 8" minimum for the Ga. Bass Slam, but 3 were in the 8" - 9" range. Both Crawfish & Hellgrammite patterns were producing fish.”



The UO duo of Jimmy and Dredger had a fun Wednesday afternoon wade on the Hooch, landing north of a dozen shoalies up to 16 inches. 







They were in the shoal shelves and along deep, slow, woody pool banks. Fish came on both fly (bottom bounced woolly bomber) and spin tackle (swim and surface plugs). If you don’t have a woolly bomber, try sliding a real small slip sinker on your leader before tying on that #4 black bugger.



Dredger ran north of the border on Monday night for another Smallie fix. He found much clearer water and more eager fish. The switch turned on at 8pm and he landed a handful of Smallies to 11 inches on his small popper. His catch would have doubled if he had remembered a hook hone for the dull point, which he discovered too late.



Ponds: No recent reports. The pond bite will slow with this hot weather that will drive fish deeper. It’s still worth a shot in the mornings before the sun rises above the treeline. Cruise along the shady banks for bass and bream hunting show breakfasts. There are plenty of small lakes in state parks and on the national forest across the region to try. 



Jim at GAWRD has a great north GA report today that includes reservoir intel, a list of small public lakes, and special trout fishing opportunities. Scroll to the bottom here:

https://georgiawildlife.blog/category/fishing/


Lakes:

The Lanier morning bass bite continues. UO guide Joseph: “Fishing is still steady on the pond. My buddy Tyler and I got out earlier this week and had another great morning of topwater bass fishing. It seems like the fish are moving out slightly deeper on points and humps, however there is still some good schooling action. With water temps rising further it will become more of a conventional tackle game as fish won’t stay up as long. For flies game changers, wiggle minnows, poppers and other 3-4 inch baitfish patterns will work. For conventional gear flukes, serpentine swimbaits, and top water walking baits are the best ticket. With the cold front next week the water temps should stabilize and hopefully we are able to get a few more weeks of topwater! To book a trip call the Helen shop at (706)-878-3083 or visit www.josephclarkflyfishing.com”



Afar:

UO guide Israel got out of Dodge and just reported: “Smallies way up north sure are fun on boogle bugs!”



UO buddies, GATU Dream Trip hosts John and Laine, are still finding some really nice cutts in Yellowstone Country. Here’s Laine with evidence.



UO buddy Splatek shared his young son’s Montana adventure video. Spencer is quite the angler!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAMA-r4k6Zc


UO buddy Mo once again wins our distance award: “Hey Jeff. I hope all is well. Here are some picky grayling from the Vrbas River in central Bosnia.




 These fish live downtown as the river runs right thru this city. This is urban fishing at its best. The sound of traffic from the road. Spectators look on and holler as they stroll on the sidewalks along the river. Stream-side cafes right on the river bank if you feel like a cold brew or a macchiato. Small city hustle and bustle and rising grayling in the middle of it all. 



Anyway, caught a few and lost a few but won’t forget this experience any time soon.”


That’s the latest from our Helen neck of the woods. Get out ASAP on one of these rare, cool August days.  One good fishing trip may help you weather the GA summer til cool September nights recharge all of us and our quarry. Stop in soon to get some prime intel from Wes, Joseph, and Iz… If Iz ever decides to come back to Georgia. Good luck everyone! Wet wade and chill out soon.



Unicoi Outfitters: Friendly. Local. Experts.

www.unicoioutfitters.com

Friday, July 25, 2025

Unicoi Outfitters Fishing Report - 7/25/25



Summary:

We’re in the season of “angler oppression.”  The heat, humidity, and lack of rain have most fish and anglers in foul moods as we slog thru another hot Georgia summer. While our angling menu is limited, there are still some fun opportunities out there for us. They are: wild trout in north slope headwaters, stockers up high, stockers and a few wild fish in icy tailwaters, Lanier breakfast bass, and some fun river bassin’ floats.  Just don’t forget your bug dope!


Details on these menu items are in our blog. It’s new every Friday and will help you boost your own catch rates. 

http://blog.angler.management/

(Link in bio)


Stop in either one of our two UO shops

Helen: 706-878-3083. Open 8-5 daily.

Clarkesville: 706-754-0203. Open 8-5 from Monday thru Saturday.


Unicoi Outfitters: Friendly. Local. Experts.

www.unicoioutfitters.com


Wes’ Hot Fly List:  

Dries:  purple haze, tan elk hair caddis, parachute and hard body ants, micro chubby Chernobyl, Royal Wulff. 


Nymphs & Wets: 

Stockers: red squirmy worm, peach egg, micro girdle bug, black woolly bugger, tan and olive mops, pink tag jig.


Mountain streams: hares ear, drowned ant, pheasant tail nymph and soft hackle, UV green weenie, prince nymph.


Streamers:

small black and olive buggers, bank robber sculpin, micro dungeon. 


(Bass & stripers) two tone stealth bomber, crawfish jambalaya, dead ned. Supernatural peanut, sweet baby cray.


(Panfish) mini stealth bomber, Boogle popper #8, brim reaper, girdle bug.


(Carp) squirmy hybrid, carp bitters, identity crisis.


Headwaters: 

Headwaters are skinny and warm. 

At 9 this morning Spoilcane was 68 



and a high Hooch trib was 66. 



Tallulah trib temps are in the Stocker paragraph. On Wednesday afternoon Sarah’s was 71F (with stockers slowly circling a pool), and a couple of tiny, high, shaded Chattooga tribs were 66 and 68F, respectively.


Wild fish are packed into their summer drought refuges and sullen in the hot water. Give nearly all of our south slope streams a break until we see some cooler nights. Try morning trips to high elevation, north slope streams, and tempt those pool dwellers with your standard summer fare: para ants, Adams, and elk hair caddis. Get them back in the water ASAP.


Stockers: 

WRD’s weekly stocking list is a bit shorter, but still has a nice number of streams to choose from. Burton Hatchery manager Colt Martin said his agency is putting out some nice fish wherever they can find water cool enough to accommodate them.

https://georgiawildlife.com/Fishing/Trout




Plan on keeping the stockers you catch. The combo of warm water and angling stress will do them in anyway, so it’s either you or the raccoons who will be enjoying fresh stockers for supper.


I saw some successful families on yesterday’s ride up the Tallulah.  It’s nice to see all the summer break kids outside, camping and fishing with their folks.  At 3PM the river at Rabun TU’s accessible fishing pier was 72F, 



Coleman was 70, 



and Tate was 67F. 



The river upstream at Sandy Bottoms was 70F, 



and I enjoyed watching Yogi gallop down the road after his midafternoon drink.  Go early and high to catch that cold water coming out of NC and the stocker bite will be better. And if you camp, put up your food. Or Yogi might just pay you a visit!


Private Waters:

 We are shut down for summer. Feel free to call our shop now to reserve your prime fall weekend dates after October 15, a rough estimate for our reopening of private trout water opportunities.


Reminder:

We are still offering flyfishing-only striper trips at Nacoochee Bend.  Call the Helen shop at 706-878-3083 for details and to make your reservation.


Tailwaters:

They are our only large stream trouting opportunity during the heat of summer. Hit them early before the sun bakes your heads.

UO buddy Hillis: “I fished the Hooch below the dam last Friday with a couple of fishing buddies. One of my buddies who was spin fishing caught several large bows and browns. He fished the dam yesterday as well and caught a bow measuring 19 inches, his biggest trout in 10 years of fishing below the dam. My other buddy also caught a really nice size bow today. And, I saw another guy spinning who had a 20 inch monster of a trout on his stringer. So, the DNR must have stocked some lunkers. Unfortunately, I only caught one small trout, regardless it was great to be on the water. “


Warm Rivers: 

They’re a best bet this week!   Hot weather and drought are prime ingredients for a summer bass bite. 


Lack of significant rain has our regional rivers running low and clear. The Hooch at Highway 115 was clear and 77F when I crossed it this afternoon. 

This is a great time to float or wade for resident spots, shoalies, and native redeye bass species. Aim for the shade of streamside trees or midriver ledges. And if the bass bite is slow, just downsize that popper and have a blast with redbreast and bluegill sunfish.  Hopefully you didn’t miss Wes’ midweek tips on river bassin.’

If you did, then here they are:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMaWyd4sVJu/?igsh=MWNrZzA2MjkycGY3dA==


You might also try for “freshwater redfish” in some of the shallows. Athens Jay gave this late report today: “Piedmont sight fishing for spooky cruisers on the flats. “



Dredger ran north of the border on Monday for an attempt at smallies. Despite three fairly rainless days in a row, the river was still stained, with about 3 feet of visibility. He still had fun wetwading and picked up four smallies, a few rock bass, and one mean redbreast that took on his size 4 stealth bomber.





Ponds: No recent reports. The pond bite will slow with this hot weather that will drive fish deeper. It’s still worth a shot in the mornings before the sun rises above the treeline. Cruise along the shady banks for bass and bream hunting show breakfasts. There are plenty of small lakes in state parks and on the national forest across the region to try.  My walk around Unicoi Lake this morning featured a cool male merganser and a pair of bald eagles.





Lakes:

The Lanier morning bass bite continues. UO guide Joseph: “Lanier has fished well over the last week or so. We are still seeing a strong topwater bite but this will slowly dissolve as water temps continue to rise. Points, humps and other structure adjacent to deep water is where all of our fish have been caught. For flies game changers, wiggle minnows and other baitfish patterns have been producing. For conventional tackle flukes, serpentine swim baits, and walking baits have been the best bet. If you’re interested in a trip now is the time to go! To book call the shop at 706-878-3083 or visit www.josephclarkflyfishing.com”





Afar:

Get outa Georgia if you can and try for some Rockies trout.   UO buddy SH and his lovely wife had a great time floating the Missouri in MT. He shared this pic:



That’s the latest, thin fishing news as both anglers and their quarry seek colder environments.  Take a break and tie some flies for fall. Or get up early and hit a headwater trout stream or clear shoal bass river. Better yet, head west to the Rockies for a summer trout fix that should hold you til October. Feel feee to stop in either UO shop to share your summer woes and stock up for the next cool spell, whenever that comes. We’ve been around for 31 years and will welcome your visits this summer. 


PS: don’t forget your bug dope on your north Georgia jaunts. The gnats are bad!


Unicoi Outfitters: Friendly. Local. Experts.

www.unicoioutfitters.com