Unicoi Outfitters Fishing Report - 11/28/25

Welcome to winter! It was a chilly 28 degrees when I opened the Helen shop at 730 this morning.  Area trout streams have already drained off the 1.5 inches of early week rains and are now running low and clear once again.

And cold! 

 It’s that time of year once again to sleep in, eat a big breakfast, dress warmly, and hop in your favorite trout stream around 11AM. Let that midday sun warm the water and turn on trout that have frozen overnite. Headwater fish will hit more droppers than dries, while Delayed Harvest stockers will be hugging bottom and choosing between a bright lead bug (for fresh stockers) and a small, dull nymph dropper (for early stockers).

Lake striper fishing is heating up as reservoir temperatures fall.  A few spots are mixed in with the stripers. Smaller is better in terms of fly patterns.

We’re still collecting used flyfishing gear for Georgia college clubs. Feel free to donate!

Catch all the details here:

http://blog.angler.management/

(Link in bio)

Stop in either UO shop if we can help you out. Grab some of our Black Friday weekend deals,too. Good luck this warm holiday week!

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: parachute blue wing olive, Drymerger, small elk hair caddis’s, RS2, parachute Adams. 

Nymphs & Wets: 

DH Stockers: squirminator, Frenchdipity, lighting bug, CDC pheasant tail, twister egg, Ruby midge, small wooly buggers.

Mountain streams: zebra midge, soft hackles, micro mayfly, prince nymph, hares ear.

Streamers:

Sparkle minnow, barely legal, UV polar Jig, mini gulp sculp. 

Reservoir Bass & Stripers:

clouser minnow, low fat minnow, somethin else.

River bass:

Thrasher, dead Ned, sweet baby cray, clouser minnow.

Headwaters:

They’re low, clear, and icy due to our recent, freezing nights. The 1.5 inches of rain we received earlier in the week is long gone. You’ll do better once the afternoon sun warms the water a bit. Try a dry, but definitely add a small nymph or wet fly dropper below it. You might even slowly dredge the bigger pools for sluggish fish that retreated to their winter refuges.

UO buddy Gayland: “Happy Thanksgiving to you fine UO folks!  Yesterday I enjoyed fly fishing at Duke’s Creek with my friend Jackson Sibley.  A beautiful day on the stream!”

The GA Women Flyfishers teamed up with more than a dozen new ladies from the UGA 5 Rivers club for a weekend of camping and fishing in the upper Hooch watershed. 

The vets mentored the new college fly fishers and everyone had a big time. UO guide Sydney joined in the fun and helped a couple of gals to catch their first trout on the fly.

https://www.georgiawomenflyfishing.com/

Delayed Harvest:

This is the best of times on DH streams. Why? You now have fresh stockers deposited for this holiday weekend, and also the “experienced” fish that were released at the start of DH season.

Try some rubber leg stones or junk food (eggs, squirmies) for fresh fish and then small, dark bugs (Euronymphs, zebra midges, pheasant tails, etc) on real light tippet for the educated fish. Slow roll them on the bottom in softer water for best results when our water temps are now closer to 40F than 50.

UO buddy RSquared:

“Members of the North Paulding  High School Fly Fishing & Cold-Water Conservation Club used 5 gallon buckets to stock the DH section of Amicalola Creek on Tuesday. It was a cool rainy day, but the young anglers were able to catch trout after the work of stocking was completed. Big shout out to teacher-sponsors, TU volunteers, & Ga. DNR!”

Tooga DH tale:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BjxnE48QH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Stockers: 

There are still a few fall stockers around in the bigger GA streams. You can also fish downstream from DH boundaries to catch DH wash-downs after flood events. 

Private Waters: 

UO-Helen manager Wes: “Israel and I guided a private water trip during a very rainy Tuesday. We caught some really nice fish but still had to work for the bites we got even in the off color water. The best patterns for me were twister eggs, Duracells, and small dead drifted wooly buggers.”

UO guide Joseph: “Private water trouting remains good, but not great, due to low, clear water. We’re still getting lots of bites on small flies such as root beer midges, Duracells, unweighted pheasant tails and small stoneflies fished under yarn indicators. We’ve also caught a few fish on sparkle minnows by swinging them in heavy current.”

Tailwaters:

UO buddy Ryan: “This past weekend I hit the Hooch tailwater with 2 of my friends from our local pickup lacrosse group.  Each of them fought & "long distance released" a fish along with bringing one to hand each.  I landed 3 in between picking out tangles , tying on flies, and rigging up.  Fish were eating eggs, stoneflies, and hares ear patterns.  It was a warm evening, probably near the 70 degrees.  Dozens of caddis were hatching as the sun set, although rising fish were spotted. “

Warm Rivers: 

No recent reports.

Ponds:

Our friend, UGA 5Rivers clubber Emery checked in: “My dad and I were fishing at Pursell Farms in Alabama on one of their notorious bass ponds. We had only had a bite or two for the day so I switched my flashy fly out for a white wooly bugger. We were just chatting when I felt a bite. Set the hook and landed the fish.  I had myself a 5-6 lb bass!! Best catch of the day, with about 15 between the two of us!”

Lakes:

UO guide Joseph; “Striper fishing on Lanier has really picked up in the past week or so. We’re seeing some good groups of fish that are staying on top for longer durations.  They are being a bit picky as far as fly and presentation. For flies, small somethin else’s with beadchain and lead eyes fished on a slow sinking intermediate line have been best. 

I still have some availability for December and we are now booking January through March. If you can bear the cold, this time of year is one of my favorites! To book or inquire call the Helen store at (706)878-3083 or visit my website at www.josephclarkflyfishing.com”

Afar:

UO buddy Megan migrated south for the holiday: “South wind off the Gulf coast near Perdido Key — and wet wading in November is always a good idea. Sight-fishing for redfish on the lagoon side of Johnson Beach with a trusty grey and white EP fly. Had two eats and landed this guy, which made the four mile pre-Thanksgiving walk well worth it.”

Events:

We’ve been collecting used flyfishing and camping gear from our TU buddies and giving it to new fly anglers with the UGA and GA Tech 5 Rivers flyfishing clubs. If you’d like to donate any gear or supplies (leaders, Indi’s, tippet, flies) feel free to drop them off at our Helen shop.  We’ll get your goodies to the club leaders.

Congrats to Dawg fans and condolences to Jacket backers. Both of y’all, try some hydrotherapy soon.    Bundle up in warm clothing and get outside this weekend to burn off your extra Thanksgiving calories. Follow the sun and fish the warm afternoons for your best “early winter “ action this week. Stop in either UO store for Wes’ hot flies and our Black Friday deals. Warm up before or after your chilly trips afield. We’ll leave the heat on for y’all.

Unicoi Outfitters: Friendly. Local. Experts.

www.unicoioutfitters.com

Unicoi Outfitters Fishing Report -11/21/25

Summary: 

Region trout streams are still low and clear, but water temps are perfect. While most trout have been caught subsurface, there’s been enough dry fly action to keep us looking for those opportunities.  Most DH streams just got restocked and those naive fish are cooperative. Introduce a new angler to flyfishing this week; they have a great chance at scoring.

Stripers are scattered and frustrating anglers. But they’re big if you can catch up with them.

We’re collecting used flyfishing gear for Georgia college clubs. Feel free to donate!

Catch all the details here:

http://blog.angler.management/

(Link in bio)

Stop in either UO shop if we can help you out. Good luck this warm holiday week!

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: parachute blue wing olive, Drymerger, small elk hair caddis’s, RS2, parachute Adams. 

Nymphs & Wets: 

DH Stockers: micro girdle bug, Duracell, rainbow warrior, frenchie, Diamond midge, 

Mountain streams: zebra midge, soft hackles, micro mayfly, prince nymph, hares ear.

Streamers:

Small sparkle minnow, mini shimmer bugger, barely legal. 

Reservoir Bass & Stripers:

clouser minnow, low fat minnow, somethin else.

River bass:

Thrasher, dead Ned, sweet baby cray, clouser minnow.

Headwaters:

They’re low and clear and warm for this time of year. Spoilcane was 56F at 8AM. 

Most of the leaves are now off the trees and you won’t catch as many while drifting your bugs. Try dry/short dropper rigs and hope they key on the dries while it’s warm.  I don’t think the forecasted rain will amount to much, so plan for your skinny water game to continue through the holiday week.

Delayed Harvest:

Most of GA’s DH streams just got a fresh helping of stockers, in advance of your holiday fishing trips.   

We’ve had good reports from Smith, Ami, and Chattooga.  In fact, a good fishing buddy said he hit the Tooga today and saw the bird fly.

Here’s an oldie but goody to clue in newcomers to the bird:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4vSdxcYqn0

UO buddy “Banker” hit that river  on Tuesday and shared his secret sauce: “Mike, who you met at the Rabunite fly tying event, is still recovering from health issues,  so Doug J and I wanted to see if he could make it in to The River from the GA side.  He did fine and was thrilled with the experience.  We both are sorting out new euro rods, his a 10 foot 8” 3 weight and me a 10 foot 3 weight.  We used similar euro leaders, his a little shorter than mine with a 017 Maxima butt off his regular fly line because he is still getting used to transition from conventional gear.  Mine was 15 feet from a euro shorty line to tippet ring: 10 feet 015 Maxima, then 3 feet Amnesia red 12 lb  transition, and finally 2 feet of RIO 2 toned 010 sighter before tippet ring.  Then about 3 feet of 5x floro tippet to the anchor fly (water was low).  Unlike Mike, I attached my leader directly to the euro shorty line with a nail knot and then looped the euro shorty to my 3 weight line.  I thought this was awesome, no hangups moving in and out of the tip top and guides and much less sag than the 3 weight line outside the rod tip.  

We tried different flies and rigs and the best producers for me and Mike were peachy orangy yellow eggs (salmon roe Eggstacy on 3 mm Taco Egg for his, fluorescent apricot Fulling Mill EZ mini UV egg yarn behind a 2.5 mm red bead for me).  We both fished the eggs about 18” off the bend of a heavier anchor fly, him a 3.0 mm squirmy worm (forgot color) and me a 3.5 mm tan mini jig bugger with the rubber legs on the side (you know the one because your shop sells them).  I also put a soft hackle dropper further up the tippet but caught nothing on it, as fish were hugging bottom.  We each caught a few on our anchor flies but most hit the trailing egg.  

Doug J, who is an experienced euro nympher, kept it simple - he caught all of his on a plain Walt’s Worm, not the sexy version.  His leader set-up is even simpler - long 013 Maxima butt section then about 5 feet of two toned sighter to the tippet ring, looped to a euro shorty line.  I was super impressed with how little sag he got so will try his leader next time.  Water temp  maxed out at 46.7 mid afternoon (Mike has a precision thermometer).  A little slow in the am but as soon as water temp cleared 45 in late morning it was game on.  Finally toward the end Mike saw risers in some slow water along the far bank and switched to a dry dropper rig with a midge emerger and caught a few more.  I just sat on the bank watching him and smiling thinking of Doug Adams.  Then off to Mama Gs for dinner (awesome as always) and the rest is history.  Folks are welcome to visit our Gold Rush TU chapter (Dahlonega) and join in on our fun.”

https://georgiatu.org/find-your-georgia-tu-chapter-here/gold-rush-chapter-733/

NCWRC recently redosed its DH streams and they’re fishing great, thanks to those naive stockers. Here’s some bonus NC intel from our friend, Kevin, at DRO:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ChK7i3V3Y/?mibextid=wwXIfr

UO buddy Nanette:.

“Ken and I had a great Wednesday at Fires. He landed way more bows and browns than me, but I got two nice brookies on a #16 BWO that my husband tied. The water was very low and clear. The fish were looking up and even sipping on top. I think Ken caught most of his on a root beer midge (we used dry/dropper rigs). 

We saw hunters with dogs in trucks, and Ken thought they were bear hunting. Heard lots of hollerin and dogs barking at one point and I was on high alert for a terrified bear crashing into the creek near me. Thankfully I had no such visitor.”

UO guide Sydney:  Had a fun fishing trip on my off day, Tuesday.   I floated the Tuck DH  with my NC friend.  Watched two hatches happen and fish feeding everywhere-  and had one  of the best days of dry fly fishing I’ve had in a long time! Small bwos and light cahills (size 16&18) put us on fish.

My fishing day was topped off with a stop on my way home at Rabun TU’s monthly meeting. The program was “fly tying for all” and I helped a few rookie tyers to produce their first eggs!”

UO staffer Dredger ran up to Nan DH today (21st) and reports: “ got up there around 930.  Low clouds and warm (54F) water had both bugs and fish active right at the start . 

Small (#20) gray caddis, microscopic black stones, and a few BWO’s fluttered about. I only saw 3-4 rises all day, but fish were active sub-surface. Best fishing was in the low light before noon. Best bugs were a #16 copper frenchie in the morning and a #20 copper zebra midge as the day brightened a bit. Wild fish were more cooperative early (best was a 11-inch brown), while the stockers ate all day. Quit at 330 (water temp 56) to head home and write the UO weekly report.  

Most of those low-IQ fish were hefty brookies, followed by jumping bows and a few browns. The water is low and the wading is easy, but flows are still better than in GA and  there’s more fishy pockets up there right now.”

Stockers: 

There are still a few fall stockers around in the bigger GA streams. You can also fish downstream from DH boundaries to catch DH wash-downs after flood events. 

Private Waters: 

They’re low and clear and challenging, but experienced folks are scoring well. Low and clear flow means long, light leaders and small, dark bugs.

UO company manager Jake: “Robert and I had a productive morning on Monday at Nacoochee Bend. The water is still low and clear so we opted for dry droppers in the slower stretches and lightweight indicator rigs in the riffles. We caught most of our fish on small midges, but Robert managed to land a really nice fish on a dry fly.”

UO-Helen manager Wes: “I guided a few private water trips this week. The fall bite continues and big fish are hitting the nets. With the continued low water conditions smaller flies on lighter tippet like 6X continue to be the best bet. The best flies for me this week were Ruby and Diamond midges as well as micro girdle bugs. “

UO guide Sydney: “Our Wednesday guest took an unguided trip to Nacoochee Bend and had fun.  He said he caught fish on small midges, soft hackles, and some some shop patterns that I recommended before he headed out.

I also had a guide trip early in the week at the Bend. Fishing has been tough  with low water and still no rain!!! But have found the Rx to still make them eat: small bugs on light tippet- redneck pheasant tails , cdc flies and midges. “

UO buddy Mo treated his dad to an afternoon at Nacoochee Bend. He reports:  Pop and I checked in at Unicoi Fly Shop in Helen around noon last Tue. After grabbing some supplies, and some expert intel from Wes, we fished the Bend. The water was low and clear and we could spot a few fish here and there. We fished light lines and smaller flies and quickly got some action from a few scrappy rainbows. Flies had to be drifted near the bottom to get bites. Size 16-18 natural, dull nymphs worked throughout the afternoon. Wes selected a small dark fly with a hot spot collar for us that also worked extremely well. 

Pop liked the top section so we went back and forth fishing from the middle and back up top. His bad hip keeps him from walking very far so the Bend was perfect for him, he loved it. Fishing was excellent too and he also caught the big fish of the day. After he let that fish go pop looked at his watch and said ‘It’s coffee time’. So, we walked up to the coffee shop by the mill and we had coffee right there on the deck overlooking the river. 

When we got back down to the water to resume fishing we found the fish were taking a break too. I set up pop with my euro rig and a couple of my confidence flies and let him have at it. He’s old school but he took to it like a duck to water and managed 3 more fish to hand euro nymphing. He was very pleased and I was very proud. We both caught plenty of fish and had a blast fishing and hanging out. Pop got have his stream-side coffee too and he learned how to euro nymph. It doesn’t get any better than that. Big shout-out and thank you Unicoi Outfitters!”

Tailwaters:

UO buddy Ryan: “This past Monday I hit the Hooch tailwater for my birthday.  I got out late, and the lack of sunlight with the sun behind the trees made it difficult to track my sighter.  I did the best I could tight line nymphing and made out with 10 before dark - 6 browns and 4 rainbows.  Decent action and the weather was great.  Size 20 hares ear jigs with UV hotspot were getting bit in the green stained water, via single nymphing w/ 6.5x."

Looks like the Toccoa just got spiced up via a great partnership:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DEoCxf5Jn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Warm Rivers: 

No recent reports. They’re looking great and running warmer than normal, so try a float soon.

Ponds:

No reports.

Lakes:

UO owner Jimmy: “ I was on Lanier a couple times this past week and the stripers are scattered all over the place.  The challenge with a fly is to find a group pushing bait to the surface.  99% of the fish I've seen on top have been singles, and they're like brown trout sipping BWO's.  If you can find a school busting the surface, you'll have a few good shots with the fly rod.  You may also find white bass in the mix.  My most memorable fish this week was one I never laid eyes on.  My 9 wt. didn't begin to turn this fish, and after a couple of minutes, it went down into the trees.  Sometimes it's the battles you lose that burn into your memory.  The fly of choice was Cowen's Somethin' Else.  It's hard to beat this time of year on Lanier.”

Afar:

UO buddy CDB: “Sorry, no fishing for me this week.  Too busy gathering fly tying materials!”

Events:

We’ve been collecting used flyfishing and camping gear from our TU buddies and giving it to new fly anglers with the UGA and GA Tech 5 Rivers flyfishing clubs. 

If you’d like to donate any gear or supplies (leaders, Indi’s, tippet, flies) feel free to drop them off at our Helen shop. We’ll get your goodies to the club leaders.

https://www.tu.org/conservation/outreach-education/headwaters-youth-program/explore-fishing/tu-costa-5-rivers-college-clubs/

Got some time off ahead of you? Take advantage of another warm bonus week and catch a few trout on top during your Thanksgiving holiday.  Or take a new fly angler to a DH stream and turn them on to our sport.  Be the hero!  Stop by either UO store for your fall and winter fishing supplies and holiday gifts. Happy holiday everyone!

Unicoi Outfitters: Friendly. Local. Experts.

www.unicoioutfitters.com