Smith Creek

Stream Location: White County

Special Regulations: Delayed Harvest from November 1st – May 14th

Wild Trout: Unknown; I have yet to try and explore above Ruby Falls

Stocked: Rainbow, Brook, and Brown

Other Species of Note:

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis, Royal Wulff, Terrestrials 

Nymphs: Caddis Puppa, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares, Stone, Squirmy Wormy, Mop, and Perdigon 

Streamers: Minnows, and Wooly Buggers

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Wading Stick: Yes

Casting: Overhead, Tuck, Bow and Arrow, and Roll

About:

Starting at the mouth of Ruby Falls in Unicoi State Park, then going in to Unicoi Lake, then starting again below the dam at Unicoi Lake you have Smith Creek. Smith Creek is a year round stocked stream available to all anglers, however Smith Creek doesn’t really begin at Ruby Falls, it truly begins above the falls and has the possibility to have wild brook trout in its head waters (this I haven’t explored yet). Still yet Smith Creek might be one of the prettiest streams I have encountered here in Georgia and it is one of five Delayed Harvest Streams. The Delayed Harvest season here in Georgia is from November 1st – May 14th, and the Delayed Harvest section for Smith Creek is located from the mouth of Unicoi Dam to the Unicoi State Park boundary. 

Honestly I am not being fictitious about how beautiful this stream is, it is truly an amazing freestone stream that is meticulously cleaned by the workers of the park. Also it has the best parking area that I have ever seen on a Delayed Harvest Stream, not to mention there is a set of permanent bathrooms on site. Realistically it feels like you are fishing at a resort, because technically you are. 

The Stream, like I previous said, is a freestone stream that runs the mouth of Ruby Falls down to the Lake Unicoi. This section is only stocked during the summer time, take note that most of the fish here will probably fished out by the end of October, and looks like a mountain stream slowly meandering down to the lake. But the real gem of the stream is below the dam. Here you will find a quick moving stream that has long pockets, deep holes, several undercuts, and utterly beautiful water. From what I have seen, the State of Georgia does not slack off when it comes to DH waters, Georgia puts some slabs in these waters. 

As far as fly fishing, using mop flies, squirmies, and streamers work really well during the stocked season and the early months of the DH season. However after these fish become more accustomed to the stream and its traditional meal base, fly fishermen need to switch over to more traditional flies (ie pat’s stonefly, prince nymphs, pheasant tails, hares ear, and zebra midges… especially zebra midges during the winter months, I cannot stress how important these flies are during the winter months). During the stocking season you can pretty much fine the stockers in the deeper sections or in fast runs, but during the DH season you need to cover all of the stream because of water temps and the fish being able to freely move. 

Now for the bummer part! I know, I know, there is always a bummer part. Because Smith Creek is located in Unicoi State Park, and because of the Town of Helen, Georgia this stream gets hit hard year round. There really isn’t any good time to come here where you will be alone with the stream. However even though this stream can get very crowded I still would recommend it over some of the other streams here in Georgia just on how beautiful it is. Also there is a required parking pass that all visitors must purchase; you can get a yearly pass or you can get a day pass, I would strongly recommend just getting the yearly pass because this allows you to park in any Georgia State Park. 

Directions:

Turner Creek

Stream Location: White County

Wild Trout: None

Stocked: Rainbow Tout and Brown Trout

Other Species of Note:

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis, Royal Wulff, Terrestrials 

Nymphs: Caddis Puppa, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares, Stone, Squirmy Wormy, Mop, and Perdigon 

Streamers: Minnows, and Wooly Buggers

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Wading Stick: Yes

Casting: Overhead Tuck, Bow and Arrow, and Roll

About:

I am seriously feeling deja vu as I write this stream write up, it really seems that Georgia has a lot of creeks are set up for spin fishermen, or for those that really just want to take some fish home with them. Turner Creek is a very, very small creek that has very limited access, if I ever find a new access point to it that is on public land I will update you readers. 

Turner creek is a spring creek that has a freestone bottom, it looks a lot like a certain spring creek in Virginia that I love to fish. However there is very limited access to this stream. I would use everything in my arsenal to hammer these fish. Keep close to banks and also fish deep in the section where water flows over a grated sections. Just be warned; there is not a lot of creek to fish and getting into this area is a bit sketchy. I wouldn’t right off this creek if you are looking for some fish to take home, again fish it deep and be very thorough.

Directions:

Chickamauga Creek

Stream Location: White County

Wild Trout: None

Stocked: Rainbow Tout

Other Species of Note:

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis, Royal Wulff, Terrestrials 

Nymphs: Caddis Puppa, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares, Stone, Squirmy Wormy, Mop, and Perdigon 

Streamers: Minnows, and Wooly Buggers

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Wading Stick: Yes

Casting: Overhead Tuck, Bow and Arrow, and Roll

About:

I have almost come to conclusion that the state of Georgia loves to create areas designed specially for spin fishermen and also some for fly fishermen. Chickamauga Creek has only 30 yards of access, it is literally just one large hole that someone can fish for a couple hours. I am positive that this creek gets fished out almost as soon as it gets stocked. I have spent hours looking for other spots that the state of Georgia could also stock, however my search has not yielded anything as of yet. I have even went as far as to ask a local fly shop about it and they are almost certain that this is the only area that fishing is allowed publicly. 

The stream flows straight off of a small water fall into a massive hole, one that is very deep. From there it flows down past a nice wood covered bridge, then you will see the no trespassing signs begin. 

My advice is to fish this hole using nymphs, mops, squirmies, or using a wooly bugger. The reason being is that I believe that the fish that are stocked here get hammered with about everything but a fly. Using something very buggy might produce a very productive day. I wouldn’t right off this creek if you are looking for some fish to take home, fish it deep and be very thorough.

Directions:

Crumbley Creek

Stream Location: White County

Wild Trout: None

Stocked: Rainbow Tout

Other Species of Note:

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis, Royal Wulff, Terrestrials 

Nymphs: Caddis Puppa, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares, Stone, Squirmy Wormy, Mop, and Perdigon 

Streamers: None

Waders: No

Net: No

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Tuck, Bow and Arrow, and Roll

About:

Well I finally found a place that is a spin fishermen’s dream come true, this stocked stream is very small and also very confined. You will be lucky to even be able to roll cast on this stream. Your best bet is to cast out just enough to carry your fly down the stream a bit, then using a tuck cast bring your fly or nymph back up stream to float down. 

The stream is very small and confined, as I have previously said, however the stream seems to be a very healthy freestone stream. The main problem with this stream and why it should not really be considered is that it has very little public access, not even 30 yards. Also It is very tough to fish unless you are a very skilled in fishing in very confined areas. My advice is to go to Smith Creek if you are in the area.

Directions:

High Shoals Creek

Stream Location: Swallow Creek WMA

Wild Trout: Native Brook Trout and Wild Rainbow Trout

Stocked Trout: None

Other Species of Note:

Gear: Seven Foot Rod, nothing above this.

Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis, Royal Wulff, Terrestrials 

Nymphs: Caddis Puppa, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares, Stone, Squirmy Wormy, Mop, and Perdigon 

Streamers: None 

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Wading Stick: Yes

Casting: Tuck, Overhead, and Roll

About:

How can I describe High Shoals Creek? A place that I never thought would have existed here in Georgia. A place that is so incredibly like Virginia, a place that has such great beauty, while is absolutely so frustrating. I guess I can describe it for those that are familiar to the brook trout scene in Virginia with three words: Little Stony Creek. It reminds me soo much of Little Stony Creek that I can not put my head around it at times, it has all of the characteristics and all of the headaches. 

For those that are not familiar with Little Stony Creek or the Cascades (as the stream is generally known as), Little Stony is one of Virginia’s premier native brook trout and wild rainbow trout streams. It is one of the few heavily restricted streams in Virginia because of such. However it is also one of Virginia’s most popular hiking destination because of the beautiful water falls at the end of a two mile hike. Honestly it is one of the bane’s of my existence during heavy tourist season.

Just like Little Stony Creek, High Shoals Creek, is a beautiful hike to two amazing water falls, it also has some of the prettiest native brook trout and wild rainbow trout in it, and of course there are a billion tourist that love to frequent High Shoal Creek for the waterfalls. It is maddening! 

Forgetting about all of the people that come here, disregarding the no climbing the falls signs that people ignore just to cliff dive right into a monstrous hole, a hole that probably held dozens of native brook trout at one time, lets talk about the stream itself. As far as I know there are no restrictions on this stream, which shocks me, you would think the State of Georgia would  have some type of restrictions for this stream because of the native brook trout. However you would be wrong. Also this stream is not as easy of a hike as Little Stony Creek is, even though it .3 miles shorter. Also I really hope you like Laurel bushes, they are everywhere.

First of all you will have to drive straight up a mountain, praying that no tourists are there – that you will not find cars parked all the way up to the mouth of the trail. Then at the mouth of the trail you will have to hike about 1.5 miles straight down the mountain you just drove up. The trail is very steep, I really hope you have brought some type of studded boots or sandals, but it eventually levels off right where an angler should start jumping into the creek to the right of the trail. Unlike Little Stony Creek, you will start fishing the head waters at High Shoals and work your way down stream (that is if you do not care to be as stealthy as you should be in brook trout waters). Each and every hole is roughly the same for the first quarter mile or so, big drop into a big hole, with a very long and shallow pool following it. All of which has some type of Laurels to block easy overhead casts. This is where having a very short rod will come in handy, you will not be able to do many false cast for distance, instead you will need to maximize what little false casts you can make, and rely on precision shots. Also you will need to use roll and tuck casting every chance you can.

As you work your way down the stream you need to use extreme caution and common sense when it comes to some of the holes that you can fish. Remember you are going down a mountain, with very slick and sharp rocks, and it is at least a 1.5 mile hike out – this is not the area that you want to fall and break anything in. Each hole will get a little more difficult as you come up to the first small waterfall with the Laurel bushes getting thicker and thicker. After you get past this section you will come up to the first waterfall called Blue Hole Falls, if you are lucky enough to fish this section without any tourists jumping into the hole from above, make sure you fish this section deep with a  heavy nymph, mop, or squirmy. Hopefully you can coerce a fish out hiding. Below this hole are several other holes, again be very cautious because the second waterfall, which is named High Shoals Falls, is very high and is blocked by Laurels. Below the second waterfall fish the small trickle that forms out of the falls, you will be amazed by what is there, also this starts the wild rainbow section of High Shoals Creek. From here you can continue to fish down to where it meets the Hiwassee River, however this is as far as I have ventured to fish. More will come as I try my luck down this stream.

Additional Comments:

After reading this I hope that I have conveyed some very important information, and I hope it doesn’t dissuade you from fishing this gem. Ultimately you need to plan to come here during the week time when no one is off to fish or hike, be very careful and plan out a trip here. Notify someone of when you are going here and what time to expect you back. I would even suggest telling them a time that you will call them when you get to Helen or back into cell service, this way they can notify the Towns County Sheriff’s office for help if you don’t call back.

Directions:

West Fork of the Little River

Stream Category: B

Wild Trout: None

Stocked Trout: Rainbow

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Terrestrials 

Nymphs: Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Squirmy Wormies, Mop Flies

Streamers: Minnow Patterns, Wooly Buggers

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Overhead, Roll, and Tuck 

About:

If you can find the West Fork of the Little River than you are doing better than most, it took me almost two years of searching back roads and looking at overhead maps to find exactly how to find it. As for fishing this creek I really can not say much because I haven’t fished it but once. It really wasn’t that good in the area that I fished because of low water conditions. Also there is a very long section that goes through a farm that I never got to explore. Hopefully one day I can provide more information on this str3e

Directions:

Rush Fork

Stream Category: C

Wild Trout: None

Stocked Trout: Rainbow and Brook

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Terrestrials 

Nymphs: Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Squirmy Wormies, Mop Flies

Streamers: Minnow Patterns, Wooly Buggers

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Overhead, Roll, and Tuck 

About:

Rush Fork might be one of the most interesting and cutest, yes I said cutest (don’t judge me), streams in Floyd County. A large majority of the stream will require you to walk through farmers fields to access the stream. Fortunately you do not have to have their permission to do this, and no permit is required. However please be aware that these fields have animals in them and that they can get out if you leave gates open. Also please do not litter, pack out what you pack in. If you lose a fly to a branch, please retrieve it if possible. Pretty much what I am getting at is we want to keep these farmers happy, if we keep them happy then they will continue to let us fishermen use their property.

 

As farmer as fishing, well Rush Fork is not the most idealistic place to fish unless there is a decent flow of water. When it is really shallow the creek in most places is almost non-existent, but when the stream is high it flows just like any other stream. However since this is a small spring fed stream you need to fish it like a spring creek. Sight fish and stay as far away from the creek bank as possible, a long nymphing rod will do wonders on this creek. Also if you see grasshoppers or any other terrestrials in the field, definitely use a hopper or terrestrial pattern. I wouldn’t even attempt to use streamers on this creek. Even if the stream is high water, it is usually crystal clear so you need to be as far away from the bank as possible.

 

Additional Comments:

There are not many pull off spots on this creek. Be mindful that the access to this stream is provided by farmers, so do not block any gates and make sure you shut them.

Directions:

Poorhouse Creek

Stream Category: C

Wild Trout: Brook

Stocked Trout: Brook

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: None

Nymphs: Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Squirmy Wormies, Mop Flies

Streamers: None

Waders: No

Net: No

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Tuck 

About:

Pourhouse Creek might be one of the best of the three smalls streams in downtown Sturat. It is by far not the largest stream in the world, but it at least looks like a stream that will hold trout, and one that is easily fishable. There are tons of pull off spots, so you don’t have to worry about having your car hit, and there are very few no trespassing signs on this creek.

As far as the creek is concerned, it is freestone/sandy bottom stream-with  deep holes, long flats and big rocks/structures that trout can hold up behind. I would fish this creek using fast sinking nymphs and let them drift through these deep holes, that or use streamers and fish above the hole. Over all Pourhouse is decent at best, but still not worth the drive if you do not live in the local area.

 

 

Directions:

South Mayo River (SF)

Stream Category: C

Wild Trout: Brook

Stocked Trout: Rainbow and Brown

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: None

Nymphs: Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Squirmy Wormies, Mop Flies

Streamers: None

Waders: No

Net: No

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Tuck 

About:

The South Mayo River in this section is both still a creek and forming into a small river. The Upper portions of the this section reminds me a lot of the NF section, it is small and very hard to fish. There are tons of foliage blocking the the river, which is very frustrating trying to get to river. Not to mention you have to watch for no trepassing signs constantly through this section. However once the South Mayo River, and the NF Section, and Pourhouse merged into one small river the South Mayo river starts to shine.

There is a small park in the industrial park part of Sturat that the city of Sturat is trying to convert into a Greenway, like the Cities of Roanoke and Salem. It is in this section that the South Mayo River is the most accessible, it has deep holes, long flats, and actual trout. Honestly this will be the best place for a person to fish, not to mention it has its own parking lot.

Additional comments:

Still, like I have said before, there are tons of other mountain streams that could easily be stocked with trout in Patrick County that would be better fisheries. Also, unless you live in Sturat, there are tons of better streams located in that area that hold nice trout and are a lot more accessible.

Directions:

South Mayo River (NF)

Stream Category: C

Wild Trout: None

Stocked Trout: Brown and Rainbow

Other Species of Note:

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Terrestials

Nymphs: Hares ear, pheasant tail, prince, stone, perdigon, squirmy wormy, and mop

Streamers: tiny, tiny minnow and wooly buggers

Waders: yes

Net: yes

Wading Stick: no

Casting: Tuck

 

About:

The South Mayo River (NF) might be one of the crappiest streams in the state of Virginia, with so much other water to stock I have no clue why the state of Virginia would stock such a stream. The water can be cold at times, and it does come from from fresh mountain water, however the creek is very, very tiny… it is not a river yet. 

Personally I love fishing all water, and yes some creeks can be very tiny and still have amazing fish living in them. However this portion of the South Mayo River is not one of them and it should be abandoned for more ripe streams in Patrick County near the Blue Ridge Parkway.

If you do not heed my warning and decide to fish this area, be prepared to be disappointed because the fish here get fished out quickly, and be prepared to tuck cast only. 

Additional comments: 

There are very few pull offs, so once you are at one of these stay there. Also lock up your vehicle, though I love Patrick County it is still not a safe place to leave cars unlocked. 

Directions: