Chattahoochee River North Georgia
The Chattahoochee River offers some of the best trout fishing in Georgia.
The Chattahoochee River begins from tiny streams in the high Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia and flows down through the little resort town of Helena, Georgia. It is a typical, beautiful Southern Appalachian freestone mountain stream that flows around many large boulders.
The uppermost part of the stream, or Upper Cattahoochee River, and its headwater tributaries, contain small brook trout. They are protected from the rainbows and brown trout by a natural waterfall just above the confluence of Henson Creek. Most of the lower section of this river is just off of state highway #75. The middle section of the river is located along road #44 in the Wildlife Management Area.
You will find both stocked and wild trout in the river. The lower area near Helen has plenty of public water but the fish are mostly stocked trout. There's not much natural reproduction of trout in the lower section of the river.
The section of the river that is in the Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area is probably the best section of the stream to fish. Both hatchery and wild trout exist in this part of the river. The area above Henson Creek is strictly brook trout fishing.
This freestone river has a good population of aquatic insects. The wild trout rely on them from birth and it is usually necessary to pay attention to what the trout are eating at any given time. They can become selective, especially when substantial numbers of insects are
available in the larval or adult stages of life for them to eat.
The chance for a trophy trout is a distinct possibility!
The Chattahoochee River begins from tiny streams in the high Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia and flows down through the little resort town of Helena, Georgia. It is a typical, beautiful Southern Appalachian freestone mountain stream that flows around many large boulders.
The uppermost part of the stream, or Upper Cattahoochee River, and its headwater tributaries, contain small brook trout. They are protected from the rainbows and brown trout by a natural waterfall just above the confluence of Henson Creek. Most of the lower section of this river is just off of state highway #75. The middle section of the river is located along road #44 in the Wildlife Management Area.
You will find both stocked and wild trout in the river. The lower area near Helen has plenty of public water but the fish are mostly stocked trout. There's not much natural reproduction of trout in the lower section of the river.
The section of the river that is in the Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area is probably the best section of the stream to fish. Both hatchery and wild trout exist in this part of the river. The area above Henson Creek is strictly brook trout fishing.
This freestone river has a good population of aquatic insects. The wild trout rely on them from birth and it is usually necessary to pay attention to what the trout are eating at any given time. They can become selective, especially when substantial numbers of insects are
available in the larval or adult stages of life for them to eat.
The chance for a trophy trout is a distinct possibility!
Fishing Access Type:
Boat N
Kayak Y
Wading Y
Boat N
Kayak Y
Wading Y
Fishing Access:
Upper Chattahoochee
Map
Upper Chattahoochee
Map
- Upper Chattahoochee Campground (34.786070, -83.78295); Camping area; walk-in access to Chattahoochee's extreme headwaters via Horsetrough Trail.
- Chattahoochee River Road/FR 52 (34.718282, -83.748236); Forest Service road paralleling the river for most of its length through Chattahoochee WMA.
- Wilks Road/FR 44 (34.799762, -83.799762, -83.743505); Forest Service road with direct access to Upper Chattahoochee Campground off GA 75.
- Robertstown (34.745813, -83.745813); Look for pullouts along GA 75.
- Helen (34.701094, -83.722397); City Park in Helen is one of several access points to the river through this stretch.
- Chattahoochee R. watershed upstream from the GA Hwy 255 crossing of the Chattahoochee R.
- Little Tesnatee Cr. watershed (includes Turner Cr watershed) upstream from the mouth of Turner Cr.
- Town Cr. watershed upstream from the mouth of Jenny Cr.
- Amy’s Cr. watershed upstream from GA Hwy 17
- Chattahoochee R. watershed upstream from GA Hwy 255 crossing of the Chattahoochee R.
- Liberty Cr. watershed
- Middle Fork Broad R. watershed
- Nancytown Cr. watershed upstream from Nancytown Lake
- North Fork Broad R. watershed
- Panther Cr. watershed
- Roberts Branch watershed
- Soque R. watershed upstream from the mouth of Deep Cr.
- Toccoa Cr. watershed.
Fishing Style:
Nymph
Dry Fly
Spinner Fall
Terrestrials
Streamers
Nymph
Dry Fly
Spinner Fall
Terrestrials
Streamers
Equipment:
10' or 11' 3wt rod
10' or 11' 4wt rod
9' 5wt rod
9' 6wt rod
10' or 11' 3wt rod
10' or 11' 4wt rod
9' 5wt rod
9' 6wt rod
Flies: Hatch Chart
Water Flow: Data
Species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brim, Crappie, Catfish, Large Mouth & Small Mouth Bass, Striper
Misc. Information: Fishing License
