WINTER FISHING ON THE TOCCOA RIVER
Lower Toccoa This section lies below Lake Blue Ridge and the TVA hydro-electric dam. Access to the dam can be found at Tammen park located about 400 yards below the dam. Lush aquatic vegetation provides a fertile habitat for various species of insects. More common hatches include midges, blue wing olives, and small caddis.
Wading Access on the Lower Toccoa
Wading: Public Access on the Lower Toccoa Wading: Blue Ridge dam canoe access Tammen Park Curtis Switch park in Mineral Bluff, GA Horseshoe Bend park in Mccayesville, GA.
Floating Access on the Lower Toccoa
Floating: Access on the Lower Toccoa Tammen park canoe launch Curtis Switch boat ramp Horseshoe Bend park boat ramp Mccayesville city park boat ramp
Hatches near the dam. The most common hatch will generally be various types of midges. The best hatch occurs after a full generation as the water recedes to normal levels. Feeding will typically occur sub-surface or near the film. Other insects to consider are Baetis (BWOs), Caddis and Cranefly.
A few fish from the dam
Fly selection and rigging
Dries Parachute Adams 16-20 Parachute BWO 18-22 Elk hair Caddis (Tan or Olive) 16-18
Nymphs Pheasant tail 16-20 Olive Hare s Ear 18-20 Zebra Midge (Black, Olive, and Gray) 18-24 Soft Hackle (Purple, Olive, Red) 16-20 Rainbow Warrior (Pearl or Black) 1820
Emergers Caddis emergers 16-20 BWO emergers 18-22 Midge emergers 18-24
Leaders and tippets 5-6x flourocarbon tippet 10-14 4-5x monofilament leader
Rod and line weight 8.5-10 3-5 wt. rods 3-5 WFF (Weight Forward Floating)
Guide s choice rigging techniques
Guide s choice rigging techniques Dry Dropper Indicator with two droppers Drop-shot Swing rig
Dry Dropper Caddis dry with Zebra Midge and soft hackle Para-Adams with Zebra Midge Para-BWO with soft hackle Caddis dry with caddis emerger
Indicator with two droppers My personal go-to rig for fishing the Toccoa. I like to deploy small dries and midges when floating with clients because it s as close to a sure thing as anything else. Aim small, miss small Pheasant tail with Zebra Midge or Rainbow Warrior. Olive Hare s Ear with Soft Hackle.
Drop-Shot The point of drop-shotting is to get weightless flies close to the bottom without actually touching it. Utilizing split-shot on an elongated tag to present flies vertically in the water column. Any unweighted fly pattern.
Swing-rig Swinging Flies can produce some of the most exciting fishing and is a very useful tactic even when fish are rising. It is also a smart way for beginners to speed up the learning curve because less casting is needed. Tandem soft hackle rigs. Small buggers and leeches.
A note on junk food
A note on junk food Misconceptions: Used for those who struggle to match the hatch or generally don t know what to do. Used by rednecks who have recently taken up fly fishing. Used to catch pellet heads and fresh stockers.
A note on junk food Misconceptions: Used for those who struggle to match the hatch or generally don t know what to do. Wrong.. This is the dumbest assessment. Like any category of flies, junk has its place and time when needed.
A note on junk food Misconceptions: Used by rednecks who have recently taken up fly fishing. So what? At least its not corn.
A note on junk food Misconceptions: Used to catch pellet heads and fresh stockers. While often true, many stocked fish will begin to hone in on naturally drifting insects and forget about junk food. Although I often utilize junk food to draw attention to another natural fly in my rig. Call it an attractor rig.
A note on junk food a second helping. Using junk food as sub-surface indicators. Useful as attractors for other flies. Tactically placed in fly boxes to throw off the attention of anyone sneaking a peek at your secret flies. Gets em everytime.
More fish from the Toccoa
Photo credits to Daniel Peeples and Beau Beasley.
A special thanks to Tailwater TU for all you do to support Georgia s freshwater resources.
Contact information for guide services and casting lessons. Chase Pritchett (706)-271-8135 bluwingolive@gmail.com