Jimmy Harris
Senior Member
It’s cold and rainy outside today. That will change our game, at least until it warms back up next week. Topwater reports from earlier this week might not apply as well to newly chilled waters, but the dredging intel will be spot-on. For now, go deep for trout in the colder water. Deeper water, too? We’ll have to wait and count our rainfall totals tomorrow to see if it will be any deeper for your weekend. Right now we’ve gotten only 1/3 inch and streamflows have barely bumped.
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/uv?site_no=02330450
Dry fly die-hards can still toss their preferred, floating bugs with some hope as long as the water is over 50F. Next week’s return of sunshine might help this bite a bit.
Lake bass and stripers are slowly stirring, but still very hit-and-miss. HenryC and his reservoir navy want more cold air to cool off Lanier and create a consistent surface bite.
Go as soon as the rain quits. If not for the catching, then definitely for the cool-weather casting and prime-time leaf looking!
The Details:
Wes’ Hot Fly List:
Dries: Yellow or orange Stimulator, October (orange) Elk Hair Caddis, tan Chubby Chernobyl, tiny Parachute Adams or Blue Wing Olives for flatwater risers.
Nymphs: Walt's Worm, Girdle Bug, Lightning Bug (silver), Rainbow Warrior, Micro Egg, Hares Ear, Frenchie, Pheasant Tail.
Streamers & Warmwater: Sparkle Minnow, Triple Double Rainbow, Clouser Minnow, Finesse Changer, Murdich Minnow, Cowen’s Something Else, and Red Squirmy or small Black Woolly Bugger for fresh stockers.
GA Public Waters
Headwaters:
We had no headwater reports this week, as most of our blueline fans have now detoured to either (a) bigger, downstream trout waters or (b) hunting. Bluelining should still be good as long as water temps stay above 50F. Keep throwing a dry/dropper rig and consider the risers as “bonus” fish.
Delayed Harvest:
GAWRD fisheries region supervisor Anthony Rabern said that GA’s mountain DH streams will be stocked for this year’s DH season, which kicks off on November 1. We usually give the state and fed folks that first day to complete their stocking trips, and advise anglers to give them a try soon afterward. Fish will be schooled up at their deposit points until high water and hunger distribute them better in the weeks ahead. Flash and movement are the keys to these naive stockers. In 2-4 weeks, you’ll need your small nymphs and drag-less drifts to solicit strikes from smartened salmonids (like the NC fish now).
Other Trout Streams:
There might be a chance of some other fall stockings, so sign up to receive the WRD weekly fishing reports and trout stocking lists. Have your kid, a Zebco, and some worms or Powerbait on standby.
Fishing – Georgia Wildlife Blog
Trout Fishing | Department Of Natural Resources Division
Our buddy Mo got back in the game and shared a 10/27 Dukes report: “Kurt and I fished Smithgall and did fairly well, despite the clear water. We caught a bunch of tiny rainbows, which gives us hope for the future population. We also landed a couple of real nice bows, while uncapping a few that straightened out our tiny nymph hooks!”
NC Streams:
Delayed Harvest waters fished well, but anglers had to up their games to fool the more experienced and educated stockers. Dredger hit Nan DH on Tuesday and had a decent day. The water was skinny and he had to find deeper pockets and pools, preferably in the shade, to get bit. He went Euro before lunch with a Sexy Walts anchor and a tiny Frenchie as the dropper.
At lunch, he noticed more flying October caddis and tiny (#24) BWO’s. He re-rigged to a dry/dropper (October Caddis, Frenchie) combo and finished the day with another handful of fish, including a few on top. All three flavors of stockers and some wild bows were fondled.
RonW’s bunch did better:
“Here you go...what a day! Yesterday (10/23) was another stellar day on the water for the Trio. We fished some new water on a familiar creek and it didn't disappoint. We went up about 2 miles, cherry-picking the good runs and also fishing the pocket water in-between. My Purple CDC Ronko did it again. Stocked fish and wild fish just can't leave this fly alone. I easily caught a couple of dozen on the same fly, including two stud browns back to back about 30 minutes apart. Upon photo analysis, it was the same fish!
I remembered my waders and took zero falls in the creek, which is a win right there. Add in numbers of fish with a few quality fish mixed in and time spent with great friends and you have yourself a life-long memory to file away.”
The Park:
The Smokies streams were low and clear and full of spooky residents. Dredger hit one park locale last Sunday afternoon. Fishing was great but his catching was slow, at least until the shadows fell on his dry/dropper rig. He woulda caught more by strictly nymphing, but wanted to enjoy a last hurrah with dries before it really turned cold.
A cornucopia of consolation prizes still made the day great: clear water, fall leaf colors, colorful wild bows and browns, and a BIG elk herd at dusk. Hint: if they aren’t visiting the Cherokee visitors center, then hang the next right toward greener grass at the Job Corps Center.
Private Waters:
TomO had a great day on the Soque. It was all nymph-fishing, down deep with a healthy amount of split shot. We had plenty of action all morning on various mayfly nymphs and small egg patterns. We did manage a real nice brown, which fell for a very small egg pattern.
I watched Grant practice his nymphing skills on the Chattahoochee yesterday. He landed three chunky bows in short order on “a good drift” and some small, dark natural nymph like a hare’s ear.
Paying It Forward
We’d like to give a shout-out to the White County News for its excellent article on this event!”
https://www.whitecountynews.net/local-newsletter/reeling-new-generation
Reservoirs:
HenryC checked in: “Striper fishing on the pond is still very hit or miss. They feed one day and then take the next day off. Water temps on Lanier are cooling and we should be getting into the consistent temps needed by the next week. Every year is different and this year once again shows that. Fish on Lanier are definitely a little stockier as we are seeing more 8-10lb fish than in past seasons. Fish have been caught already on artificials up to 15lbs, which is a great sign for the lake population. We should start seeing birds helping locate the schools of fish over the next couple of weeks. Intermediate fly lines with flies in the 2" to 4" range are what you need. Fish are either on small shad or medium herring and that's the conundrum. Having a 2" fly on when you find a school eating herring won't get you a bite. Same when you throw a 4" fly and your school is eating 2" shad. If you have two rods, rig them both and be ready to “match the hatch” at your bow. Good luck and I’ll see you on the pond. “
That’s the latest scoop on this cold and rainy day. Hey, we need the liquid and the chill. They’re both good for the fish! And we hope this hot intel has warmed your buns enough today to pack your car and make some weekend memories. By dusk!
Why? Get inside to a TV:
Go Braves!
