Toccoa Fishing Tips: Rainbow Trout
Welcome to the Toccoa River, located right outside of Blue Ridge, Georgia. Blue Ridge is the county seat of Fannin County, Georgia - the Trout capitol of The Peach State. Our name, Trout Town Outfitters, was inspired by the awesome trout fishing and relaxed atmosphere that Fannin has to offer. Whether you're navigating the river in a drift boat or a fishing raft, the Toccoa offers some of the best opportunities for rainbow trout fishing in the region. This guide is you some generalized tips and tricks to help you catch some of the Toccoa’s Rainbow Trout.
Understanding Rainbow Trout in the Toccoa
Rainbow trout thrive in the cold, clear tailwater of the Toccoa, with the nutrient-rich waters of Lake Blue Ridge creating the perfect ingredients for aquatic insect life. A healthy year-round population of midges and some awesome seasonal hatches keep our trout well-fed. Rainbow Trout like to hang out in faster, more oxygenated water during the warmer months, moving to slower/deeper water when the weather cools off. In any situation, look for areas where the fish can easily maintain position while staying close to “feeding lanes” of current. (Bubbles and seams are your tell-tale signs that subsurface conditions are great for feeding)
While some rivers are famed for their dry fly hatches and consistently rising fish, people on the Toccoa will see the most action beneath the surface. Well-presented nymphs, streamers and other sub-surface flies and lures are the ticket…though you could see some great topwater action at any time of year.
Essential Gear and Tactics
Selecting the right setup is crucial for a successful day fishing the Toccoa tailwater. At Trout Town Outfitters, we recommend 5-6 weight fly setups, and 4x-6x tippet, depending on conditions. Long leaders are the move here, as the water in this river will most likely be clear and shallow.
For those folks who prefer to spin fish, try to shoot for a sweet spot between a panfish/crappie setup and a bass setup. You want something in the neighborhood 4-6 lb. test with lightweight lures (neutral or sinking) for our shallow waters.
Best Times to Fish
Timing and conditions will impact your success rates, but don’t let a little weather keep you at home. The Toccoa River enjoys year-round fishing opportunities, with the opportunity to catch fish from peak summer to deep in the winter. This is because as a tailwater, the water feeding the Toccoa tailwater comes from the bottom of Lake Blue Ridge. This water maintains a consistent temperature year-round, and keeps the conditions beneath the surface relatively static for most of the year.
Rainbow Trout naturally start their spawns in the spring, which means that you’ll start to see some aggressive behavior, territorial fish and some heavy feeding in April-May. Also note that Rainbow Trout are solitary feeders, meaning that the largest fish will occupy the very beginning of a feeding run, as Rainbows will not tolerate a smaller fish taking up position in front of them to forage.
Most folks who struggle to catch fish are either fishing the wrong water, aren’t fishing deep enough in the water column, or are positioned in a spot where the fish can see them. Be mindful of your position relative to the sun, and be mindful of shadows, waves and splashes as you fish.
Fishing Techniques and Strategies
Stealth and patience are your allies, as rainbow trout are easily spooked by sudden movements, waves or shadows. For the fly fishing teams - keep your fly line upstream of your fly and use long leaders (at least 9 feet) to present subsurface flies. Fly selection could vary based on conditions and stocking, though some of the most popular go-tos like phesant tails (14 to 16) or Pat’s rubber legs (sizes 10 to 14) produce striks consistently.
For spin fishing, getting your lure or spinner down to the level of the fish is half of the battle. Even though the Toccoa is pretty shallow on average, fish will sometimes hold in deep, slow water for easy ambush. Colors are secondary to presentation, though I’ve noticed that a lot of Toccoa rainbows tend to favor yellow or black.
Regardless of your tackle, the old adage “change your level before you change your fly (or lure)” is important on the Toccoa. Wait until you are getting hung up on the bottom with no strikes before trying something different. If you aren’t hitting bottom, you aren’t deep enough.
Conservation and Respect for the Ecosystem
As stewards of the Toccoa River, we advocate for catch-and-release fishing and responsible practices to ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem. This river isn’t just a great resource for recreation, its waters bring millions of dollars in tourism and investment in the outdoors every year. People love visiting for our outdoor spaces and healthy trout, so please tread lightly as you enjoy this resource. Using barbless hooks, handling fish with wet hands, and releasing them quickly minimizes their stress and preserves the trout population for future generations.
Social media has probably led to more fish mortality than poachers and pollution, so it’s important to keep your fish wet and release them quickly if you don’t plan on harvesting. Photograph your fish close to the surface of the water and only remove the fish from the water for a short photo. For those folks who like to spin fish, we highly recommend single hooks over treble, as they are much easier to manage and minimize fish mortality.
Regardless of your fishing tactics, a soft touch and an attitude of “pay it forward” when it comes to releasing fish will keep this amazing fishery healthy for generations to come.
We’ve got you covered
We here at Trout Town Outfitters want to help you have a great time on the river while chasing her trout, so please don’t hesitate to drop us a line should you have any questions prior to booking. We carry an assortment of flies and lures that can be added to any boat rental, and enjoy a close relationship with the fishing community in Fannin County. If we don’t know the answer, we will gladly point you to someone who does.
Tight lines, and see you soon.
