Jimmy Harris
Senior Member
The weather and water conditions are lining up to give y’all a great fishing week ahead. Just remember to bring your raincoat. Dust off your dry fly boxes and put them back in your vest, in case you stumble onto an early hatch or two, like caddis on the tailwaters.
Stripers are finally starting to show in the reservoir shallows, according to HenryC. Pond bream and bass are also sliding up to the warmer shallows of mid-Georgia ponds.
You have a lot to choose from, so take your pick for the week ahead.
Wes’ Hot Fly List
Dries: Parachute Adams, Stimulator, Elk Hair Caddis.
Nymphs: Mighty May, Sloan Baetis, Skwala Stone, Micro Egg, Depth Charge Caddis.
Streamers & warm water: Sparkle Minnow, Triple Double Rainbow, Finesse Changer, Sweet Baby Cray
Public Waters:
DH Streams:
No recent reports received on our Delayed Harvest waters. They should fish well after their early Feb restocking and scattering of those stocker pods by recent high flows. Try an attractor fly (Egg, Squirmy, Pats Rubberlegs) as your first fly and drop a small dark wet or nymph off the back for the smarter residents. With more moderate air temps, you can try fishing early or late to avoid the weekend crowds on popular streams.
Dukes Creek:
Landon hit Smithgall Woods on Wednesday, right after the rain, and scored well:
“I put 26 in the net in 5 hrs. The water cleared up quickly and I had to change flies a bunch to keep up with conditions. I started with a big Pats/big Pink San Juan when it was up and ripping. Then I changed to a Leech/small shell pink San Juan combo as it started clearing. Finally, I switched to a Small San Juan/Soft Hackle Hares Ear combo once it cleared.”
Tailwaters:
Toccoa:
Remember the Toccoa Tailwater caddis hatch. Maybe you can catch a break in TVA dam discharges this week and catch some early spring surface action.
TVA Lake Info App
https://www.tva.com/environment/lake-levels/tva-lake-info-app
Hooch:
RonW: “ Kurt, Moe, and I fished below Buford Dam Sunday for about 4 hours. I committed to throwing streamers all day again. The 6wt with sink tip gave me a workout in that 7-10mph+ wind. I managed 2 nice browns to hand, one on a white baitfish pattern and one on an Olive Sex Dungeon. All in all, I'd consider a couple of wild browns and some time on the water with some great friends a win. I definitely got some much needed hydrotherapy today.”
Flat Water:
Henry C: “Striper fishing on Lake Lanier is finally turning the corner. For the past 3 weeks, we are starting to see fish moving up into the water column. We aren't anywhere near where we want to be but we are far better off than we were 4 weeks ago. You must pick your days and weather patterns to be successful. Fish are both deep and shallow but are moving quickly. Windows of opportunity are often short-lived but going out and catching a few is becoming a more regular occurrence. This should only improve and by mid-March we should be in full spring mode. Somethin Else, GameChangers Clousers and Coyotes are your best flies. Had a 10 fish day last week when it all came together with winds, moon phase, and weather pattern...”
www.henrycowenflyfishing.com
Athens Jay: “My local pond bream are moving into shallow water and eating Pat’s Rubberlegs.”
Bassin’ fans might enjoy the upcoming Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell. This “super bowl of bass fishing” on March 4-6 hosts the country’s top professionals. More info here:
https://m.bassmaster.com/news/lake-hartwell-host-2022-bassmaster-classic
Afar:
Israel took some time off to fish warm, salty seas with friends and checked in:
“The fishing has been tough. Been getting only 1 maybe 2 shots at Permit each day. But we’ve done really well on the Bonefish. A Spawning Shrimp fly on the reef flats has been the ticket.”
That’s the latest intel from our clan and fans. The week ahead looks good for wetting a line on lake or stream. Your biggest challenge will be choosing your destination from the long menu at hand. Good luck!
