Gary Taylor

Pennsylvania | The South | Colorado | California

Winter Trouting in the South
Many people have a preconceived notion of the hot steamy South, either through literature or film. While this sultry stereotype prevails over a large part of the geographic South in the doldrums of summer, there are some mountainous regions that don't fit this mold.

The Middle Fork of Little River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of many wild trout streams with ample winter fishing oportunities for brown, rainbow, and brook trout.

The Appalachians, sometimes referred to as the Blue Ridge Mountains, extend south into North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, and provide cool water for trout on the fringes of the deep South. These higher altitudes, with some peaks over a mile high, produce fantastic underfished habitat for brook trout, browns, and rainbows all year. Water conditions may rival the Rockies in the western United States and Canada. The big difference is that southern winters are relatively mild and trout fishing here is a year-round activity. Most winter days, the air temperature averages in the mid 50s or low 60s. A couple of cold snaps yield only a few days of freezing or near-freezing weather throughout the winter.

Opportunities for great trout fishing, even great dry-fly fishing, are common in November through February. From small streams to sprawling tailwaters, this southern smorgasbord will suit anyone's desires. Here are a few of my favorites in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

Georgia
When many areas of the country are buried in snow and anglers are at their tying desks dreaming of spring, northern Georgia provides trout fishermen with prime water conditions and great fishing opportunities. With an increasing number of delayed-harvest streams, Georgia anglers have several exciting options for winter fishing trips.

Delayed harvest streams permit catch-and-release fishing with artificial lures and flies between November 1 and May 14. These special regulations began in Georgia four years ago with the designation of a 1-mile stretch of Smith Creek, downstream of Unicoi Lake in Unicoi State Park near Helen. Today Smith Creek remains one of Georgia's most popular winter streams and is only 1.5 hours north of Atlanta.

Other delayed harvest streams have been created as a result of the overwhelming success of Smith Creek. Amicalola Creek, also just 1.5 hours north of downtown Atlanta, provides over 3 miles of secluded stream. A large stream by Georgia mountain standards, Amicalola Creek offers easy access at the upper (Devil's Elbow Road) and lower (Highway 53) boundaries of the delayed-harvest section.

The newest addition to this program is actually a cooperative project among the states Georgia and South Carolina and the landowner, the U.S. Forest Service. The Chattooga River, one of the first streams in the country to be designated a National Wild and Scenic River, offers 2.3 miles of easy wading and great fishing. All access is from the Highway 28 bridge with walking trails on both sides of the river. The delayed harvest section is from the Highway 28 bridge upstream to the mouth of Reed Creek on the Georgia side of the river. Because of its location on the state boundary, anglers may fish with either a Georgia license and trout stamp or a South Carolina fishing license.

The most interesting and unexpected trout stream in the state is arguably the delayed harvest section of the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta. Over 5 miles of this Lake Lanier tailwater flow right below the I-285 perimeter on the north side of Atlanta and provide anglers with an excellent quick fix when they don't have time to drive to the mountains. The state stocks this water heavily, and the fishing during the winter is unusually reliable.

While purists may avoid these four hatchery- supported fisheries, anglers who would rather fish than dream about it will find them an excellent antidote to the winter blues. The fish aren't large on average, but you can find 14-inch and larger holdover browns and rainbows. On warm, sunny days you may find #16-18 gray caddis and #18-20 Blue-winged Olives hatching, but usually you must concentrate on bouncing nymphs and stripping streamers.

North Carolina
There are not many streams in America where you can catch trout consistently in January on a dry fly. The Davidson River is one of these rare jewels. The Davidson (30 minutes southeast of Asheville, North Carolina) has midge hatches every afternoon and trout rise in the long, straight slicks warmed by the winter sun. Water levels are usually high at this time of year, but the river is still wadeable. High water masks your approach and allows you to use heavier tippets, which you'll need to land these Western-sized trout.

Brassie

In the mornings, fish midge pupae and larvae imitations. When the sun warms the water, switch to emergers and then dry flies. Arrive armed with #18-24 Brassies, Copper Johns, and Serendipities. Griffith's Gnats and Adams (#18-20) fill the need for the late topwater feed.

My other North Carolina favorite only a few miles up the road is the French Broad River. The main stem of the French Broad is formed above the town of Rosman by the confluence of the North, East, and West forks. From Rosman to Brevard the river is a float fishery with deep transparent waters. Streamers and large nymphs fished under indicators are both effective on the rainbows, with most of the river's large browns coming to streamers. You may receive the surprise of a lifetime if you hook one of the river's large muskies, which average about 20 pounds.

In North Carolina, the French Broad River has dependable winter dry-fly fishing and some very large trout.

All forks of the French Broad are good winter fisheries, with the East Fork being the most scenic and easiest to wade. All three rivers are full of brown, rainbow, and brook trout. Expect the average fish to be 10 to 18 inches.

Wild Trout in the Smokies
Fall and winter in Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be an excellent time for an angling sojourn. Summer tourist season ends in early fall, leaving one to wander over 700 miles of wild-trout streams in solitude. The Park ceased all hatchery stocking in 1974, making the Smokies a wild-trout mecca.

Little River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides dry-fly fishing on warm overcast days but produces fish more consistently in the winter with streamers and nymphs.

You can gain access to Little River, one of the Park's larger streams, along Little River Road. It provides excellent fishing for browns and rainbows. Brown trout are aggressive in the fall, so streamers are a logical tactic. Many other streams at slightly higher elevations provide phenomenal brook trout action. Miles of brook trout streams closed to fishing 27 years ago were reopened in July 2002. Nymphs and streamers are normal fare in the winter but on warm days you may find fish rising to small Blue-winged Olives, midges, and dark gray or black caddis. A #18 Parachute Adams seems to work for whatever is hatching and erases the stress of the past summer's technical fishing.

Shorter days and colder temperatures mean you do not have to jump out of bed at the crack of dawn to be on the river. Fishing the warmest part of the day is most productive. There is no closed fishing season in the Smokies and you need only a North Carolina or Tennessee license. No trout stamp is required. On warm winter days, you will find quality fishing late into December. January and February can be great, but you should expect less consistency. My wife and I have spent the New Year's holiday fishing these streams for almost 20 years!

Capt. Gary Taylor and his wife, Wanda, own Taylor & Taylor Fly Fishing Schools (423-336-9908) and live on the Hiwassee River in southeast Tennessee.

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