I'm going to be spending significant time on the north side of Atlanta (Sandy Springs area). Anyone done any fly fishing in the area?

If I can work it into my work schedule, I may try to do a half day guide trip in the next few weeks. Otherwise, some easy access wading would be good.

Lake Lanier

Shoal Bass are on my list and you are in the right area

Ooh, shoal bass throws a new wrinkle into my thinking. Hadn't even considered that.

I just saw that there was some trout fishable waters in the Atlanta area and that was all I had in mind.

There are streams you can lease access to that have some absolute hogs for trout in them. My uncle and cousin do a spring time lease for them and their clients and haul out monster trout. Also, the Atlanta athletic club has some great bass fishing in the water hazards, may be a little harder to get on there if you don't know a member.

You might consider getting a little further north, above Lake Lanier, for some trout fishing. Look into the Chestatee river up toward Dahlonega or the upper Chattahoochee toward Helen.

PineTreeAg said:

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Shoal Bass are on my list and you are in the right area

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WTH are shoal bass? Please, in Texan.

These guys catch some pig Browns just on the north side of town.

River Through Atlanta Guide Service

87Flyfisher said:

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These guys catch some pig Browns just on the north side of town.

River Through Atlanta Guide Service

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I was looking at their site yesterday. I may give them a call this week and talk to them.

There are some public spots around Brigadoon where you can get in with waders and walk a good distance. It's beautiful up there.

If you want to spend some money, Brigadoon keeps some huge fish in their part of the river with nets.

http://brigadoonlodge.com

Unicoi Outfitters in Helen! I lived in Atlanta for a year and became really good friends with the owner. One of the nicest guys I've ever met. Everyone else at the shop is great as well and can point you in the right direction.

Unicoi offers lots of guided fishing. The chattahoochee right behind their shop is excellent if you wanna catch good numbers of large fish. You can do guided or pay less and do self guided. But a lot of the trophy fishing up there is going to be on private water with stocked fish that are fed. There are some monsters. Still a ton of fun but some people don't like that. They offer some float trips on public water as well.

I think they also recently started doing guided shoal bass trips too if you wanted to look into that. Can be a lot of fun at the right time of year.

Lanier right now is fishing really well for stripers on top also. May wanna look into that.

As far as diy, Jones Bridge Park on the Chattahoochee is easy access and they stock it. A little difficult fishing and sometimes heavily pressured, but there are lots of fish. That's the only park I ever fished at near town but I think all of the parks along the River are stocked and can have good fishing.

I spent most of my fishing time up north in the mountains which I would definitely recommend. Beautiful area. All of the little creeks around Helen hold plenty of small trout that are fun. And the public part of the Chattahoochee through Helen can fish well. Dukes Creek is also trophy water that is open to the public but you have to reserve a spot far in advance.

Just go to Unicoi in Helen and they will help you out. Let me know if you have any other questions.

SanAntoneAg said:

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PineTreeAg said:

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Shoal Bass are on my list and you are in the right area

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WTH are shoal bass? Please, in Texan.

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Shoal bass are a distinct subspecies of black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, Guadalupe, etc) that are endemic to certain parts of the southeast, specifically Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Micropterus (a/k/a - black bass) variations

Shoal bass

They get bigger but shoal bass have a distinctive pattern:

Do they do any trips on the Soquee River? I am up in North Georgia a good bit and was wondering. Thanks

Yea they can book you on the Soque. I think they have one or two different properties they can book through. There are some crazy big fish on that river. I never fished it but see pictures all the time. Noontootla Creek Farms is another place they fish that is lots of fun. I fished there once. Really pretty and some big fish. And in May/June there are lots of hoppers so you can fish big foam hopper patterns and catch some really nice fish on top.

Was going to recommend the Wright Patman overflow spillway, but then I realized the OP was talking about the one in Georgia.

SaltyFly11 said:

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Unicoi Outfitters in Helen! I lived in Atlanta for a year and became really good friends with the owner. One of the nicest guys I've ever met. Everyone else at the shop is great as well and can point you in the right direction.

Unicoi offers lots of guided fishing. The chattahoochee right behind their shop is excellent if you wanna catch good numbers of large fish. You can do guided or pay less and do self guided. But a lot of the trophy fishing up there is going to be on private water with stocked fish that are fed. There are some monsters. Still a ton of fun but some people don't like that. They offer some float trips on public water as well.

I think they also recently started doing guided shoal bass trips too if you wanted to look into that. Can be a lot of fun at the right time of year.

Lanier right now is fishing really well for stripers on top also. May wanna look into that.

As far as diy, Jones Bridge Park on the Chattahoochee is easy access and they stock it. A little difficult fishing and sometimes heavily pressured, but there are lots of fish. That's the only park I ever fished at near town but I think all of the parks along the River are stocked and can have good fishing.

I spent most of my fishing time up north in the mountains which I would definitely recommend. Beautiful area. All of the little creeks around Helen hold plenty of small trout that are fun. And the public part of the Chattahoochee through Helen can fish well. Dukes Creek is also trophy water that is open to the public but you have to reserve a spot far in advance.

Just go to Unicoi in Helen and they will help you out. Let me know if you have any other questions.

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That place looks pretty awesome, but that feels like equivalent of high fence canned hunting. There are some huge trout pictures on their website though.

Talking about Unicoi? Yes, it definitely has similarities but it is still a challenge no doubt. Not like fishing for wild trout in Montana by any means but It's a lot of fun for people that just wanna catch fish as you have a good chance at catching a 20 plus inch trout any day.

But like I said, they offer different trips as well. They do float trips on the Toccoa near blue ridge which is more typical fly fishing. It is stocked, but not with monsters and they don't oellet feed them.

Nantahala in North Carolina and chattooga on the s Carolina/Georgia border are both great fisheries as well. Public water diy. They are a bit of a drive but worth it. Really pretty areas and all the rivers around there should have some good dry fly fishing starting real soon.

Got it, thanks. Beautiful fish.

Actually, I quoted the wrong post. I was talking about that Brigadoon place.

I agree with SaltyFly11's recs.

Ill add these:

Head up to Cartersville to see these guys for trips and fishing spots:

https://www.cohuttafishingco.com

I lived in Rome, GA for a few years and they helped us out.

Also, since you are in the area, if you are looking for an amazing guided fishing trip there is a great hunting lodge in Gaylesville, AL that can put you on some great trips. The guy Harlan Starr knows what he is doing. He can also give you an amazing turkey hunt.

http://www.chattokeelodge.com/Pages/GenPage.asp?WGPID=109

Had a great time with the guys from Georgia Wild Trout,
Check em out
https://www.georgiawildtrout.com

rather be fishing said:

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SaltyFly11 said:

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Unicoi Outfitters in Helen! I lived in Atlanta for a year and became really good friends with the owner. One of the nicest guys I've ever met. Everyone else at the shop is great as well and can point you in the right direction.

Unicoi offers lots of guided fishing. The chattahoochee right behind their shop is excellent if you wanna catch good numbers of large fish. You can do guided or pay less and do self guided. But a lot of the trophy fishing up there is going to be on private water with stocked fish that are fed. There are some monsters. Still a ton of fun but some people don't like that. They offer some float trips on public water as well.

I think they also recently started doing guided shoal bass trips too if you wanted to look into that. Can be a lot of fun at the right time of year.

Lanier right now is fishing really well for stripers on top also. May wanna look into that.

As far as diy, Jones Bridge Park on the Chattahoochee is easy access and they stock it. A little difficult fishing and sometimes heavily pressured, but there are lots of fish. That's the only park I ever fished at near town but I think all of the parks along the River are stocked and can have good fishing.

I spent most of my fishing time up north in the mountains which I would definitely recommend. Beautiful area. All of the little creeks around Helen hold plenty of small trout that are fun. And the public part of the Chattahoochee through Helen can fish well. Dukes Creek is also trophy water that is open to the public but you have to reserve a spot far in advance.

Just go to Unicoi in Helen and they will help you out. Let me know if you have any other questions.

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That place looks pretty awesome, but that feels like equivalent of high fence canned hunting. There are some huge trout pictures on their website though.

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Nothing replaces a wild trout