Best Fishing in Hiawassee

Lake Chatuge isn’t the only fishing possibility in Hiawassee. The nearby trout streams within a short scenic drive of Hiawassee are loaded with trout for much of the year. Anglers with conventional gear or fly gear have the opportunity to target stocked trout on many of the public water in North Georgia and Western North Carolina as well as the gorgeous wild trout that call the cascading streams home.

Lake Chatuge Fishing

Lake Chatuge is known for its big hybrid striped bass, healthy largemouth bass population, and its growing numbers of hefty spotted bass. The 6,500-acre impoundment is not as big as many of the Georgia reserviors further to the south, but this makes finding these fish easier on the anglers. The lake was once known for its population of smallmouth bass which have declined in recent years. The spotted bass have claimed the position at the top of the food chain in much of the lake, outcompeting the smallmouths.

Late spring and early summer are the best times of year to visit the lake as both the spotted bass, and hybrids will school up and feed on the surface sporadically throughout the day creating an excellent opportunity for anglers to enjoy a topwater bite. Learn more about the Hiawassee bass fishing from the pros at Fish North Georgia in their weekly podcasts.

Trout Fishing Seasons in Hiawassee

For visiting fly anglers and trout fisherman, Hiawassee offers year-round opportunities to find plenty of healthy brook, rainbow, and brown trout. The best locations to fish change with the seasons, forcing anglers to stay up to date in the fishing activity in the area.

Next to the endless hiking trails and scenic waterfalls of the area, there is no better reason to get outdoors than to wet a line in one of the many local trout streams. Whether exploring any of the small creeks to the south towards Helen, Georgia, or the North Carolina streams to the north such as Fires Creek or the Upper Nantahala River tributaries, experienced anglers will often join these three activities to find the best fly fishing opportunities Hiawassee has to offer.

Trout Fishing Hiawassee in Winter

The winter months provide the least number of opportunities to find hungry trout around Hiawassee. With that said, it is one of the best times of year for beginning anglers to catch fish.

The Smith Creek Delayed Harvest is found within Unicoi State Park, just south of town. Here, anglers can find hundreds if not thousands of freshly stocked trout patrolling the small creek throughout the cooler months of the year. Catch and release practices are mandatory within the North Carolina and Georgia DH sections during this time of year, which is why many anglers can find more success. You can learn more about the Georgia Delayed Harvest Trout Streams in this article.

Another option for fly fisherman planning ahead is to book a day on Dukes Creek. From October through May, Dukes Creek is open to the public on Wednesday’s, Saturdays, and Sundays for anglers with reservations. Dukes Creek is the only remaining trophy trout stream open to the public. The fly fishing here can be difficult as the bigger trout often get spooky as the open season progresses, but there is no better place in Georgia to land a 20+ inch trout. Be sure to brush up on the regulations before visiting as the stream is managed heavily.

Other trout can be found throughout the downtown area of Helen in the winter months, but the spring will give anglers the best chance at numbers of trout.

Spring Trout Fishing in Hiawassee

Spring undoubtedly gives visiting trout fisherman and fly anglers the most options on where to fish. Catch and release anglers can target larger numbers of trout on Dukes Creek and Smith Creek that will remain open through May. Towards the end of March, thousands of trout will begin being stocked throughout the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries above Helen.

In April, the annual trout fishing derby takes place in town where anglers can find plenty of trout, including some of trophy sizes, in the middle of town. This event draws big crowds and plenty of anglers throughout the weekend. For a closer drive High Shoals Creek is known for its good numbers of wild trout while Soapstone creek is stocked regularly in the springtime with fresh trout.

To the east, anglers can find trout and some scenic water fall hikes around Lake Burton. The Tallulah River, Coleman River, and Wildcat creek are the most popular destination for trout fisherman looking to explore. The following weeks will see many of these trout holdover in deeper pools in town and remain through summer. Above town, the main stem of “The Hooch” is stocked regularly along with Low Gap, Spoilcane, and Jasus creek within the Chattahoochee WMA. This is where you will find the majority of local anglers as this section is stocked with bigger numbers of fish. The fishing can be feast or famine here depending on your timing. Sunday afternoon and Monday morning might be the worst times for a visit as this stretch of river can be fished out quickly.

As spring turns to summer, the opportunities to target wild trout improve within the Chattahoochee’s headwater streams.

Summertime Fly Fishing in Hiawassee

Summer sees the end of the stocking season toward downtown Helen when the tubers take over the river. Trout fishing moves further upriver into the WMA where anglers see continued trout stocking through July in the cooler sections of the rivers and creeks. This is also when fly anglers can have the best luck dry fly fishing.

The key to improving your time on the water in the summer is to cover as much water as possible and get off the beaten path. Adventurous anglers can find plenty of wild rainbows and native brook trout by putting a mile or two under their wading boots.

Hiawassee Trout Fishing in the Fall

The early fall can be the most difficult time to find trout in Helen, but also the best time to be outdoors. Football, hunting, and other engagement keep many trout fisherman off the water in the fall. This leaves the river, creeks, and the beautiful fall color change to the anglers that truly love hitting the river.

Low water makes trout spooky this time of year but with the proper stalk and careful presentation anglers can see good success on a dry fly. Rains during this time of year will raise the trout’s activity level making for the best days on the water.

As November arrives the cycle will repeat itself when the Delayed Harvest section on Smith Creek and Dukes Creek open back up.The first week in November often sees an uptick in fishing activity that quickly dwindles again, leaving more room for visitors looking to enjoy the solitude of the outdoors.

For more information about Fly Fishing North Georgia or trout fishing in Helen, check out the Georgia Wild Trout website and stay up to date on all you need to know. If you need some help progressing on the steep learning curve that comes with fly fishing, their North Georgia Guided Fly Fishing Trips are a great way to advance in the sport and learn all about our wonderful trout fisheries here in Georgia.