Best Trout Fishing in Georgia
The Blue Ridge Mountains have the best trout fishing in Georgia, and the Chattahoochee River provides Georgia’s second-best trout fishing. Find out the best trout fishing throughout the blue ridge mountains and the Chattahoochee!
In this fishing guide:
And be sure to get your Georgia fishing license before you fish.
Best Places to trout fish in Georgia
The best places in Georgia to fish for freshwater trout are
And if fishing in North Georiga, consider crossing the border and check out East Tennessee’s best trout fishing spots.
Chattahoochee River
Anglers on the Chattahoochee enjoy year-round trout, catfish, and bass fishing. The largest trout caught in Georgia was 31.5 inches and 20 pounds, and it came from the Chattahoochee River. Located in western Georgia, the Chattahoochee runs between Georgia and Alabama.
Public access area: Highway 75 bridge
Jacks River
The Jacks River in Northern Georgia is 19 miles long and located in Fannin County. Anglers from all over the U.S. travel to catch its rainbow, brown, and brook trout. It runs along the Cohutta Wilderness Area and feeds a beautiful waterfall- Jacks River Falls.
Lake Rabun
Lake Rabun is located in north Georgia, and it is known to have Georgia’s highest-weighing rainbow trout. In addition, the lake is full of bass, walleye, yellow perch, and crappie.
Lake Seed
Lake seed is located in the mountains of northern Georiga and is known for its fish-filled water. Not only does the lake contain lots of trout, but there is also an abundant supply of perch, bass, walleye, and carp.
Public access: Unicoi State Park
Noontootla Creek
Noontootla Creek is located in Blueridge, GA, and runs into the Toccoa River. You can access its waters from Forest Road 58 and catch many brook trout. Many of the trout in Noontootla Creek are over a foot long.
Public access: Forest Road 58
Smith Creek
Northeast Georgia’s Smith Creek has some of the state’s largest wild trout. Located in Unicoi State Park, the creek is known for an abundance of rainbow and brown trout that measure over 16 inches long.
Toccoa River
The Toccoa River is located in North Georgia’s mountains and is known for its abundance of brook, brown, and rainbow trout. The Toccoa’s cold waters start high in Union County’s mountains and drain to the Blue Ridge Lake on the GA/TN border.
Public Access:
- Blue Ridge Damn
- Curtis Switch
- McCaysville
Toccoa River’s advantage: A lot of large trout! Most of the trout is about one foot long, but some are over two feet!
Best months to trout fish in Georgia
The most popular trout fishing in Georgia is in the north Georgia mountains, and trout season in the mountains is from March through October. However, way down yonder at the Chattahoochee, the best time to trout fish is in the winter.
Trout species in Georgia
The main trout species in Georgia are:
Brook trout
Southern Appalachian Brook Trout are native to Georgia’s cold mountain streams. Below is a Brook Trout distribution map by easternbrooktrout.org.
Brook trout typically grow 9 – 12 inches long and prefer small streams with gravel and lots of vegetation. They have a light flavor that is sweeter than most trout species.
Rainbow trout
Georgia’s rivers and streams have been chock-full trout since the late nineteenth century. Rainbow trout are sought after by anglers because they are large, tasty, and have a distinctive red or pink line, which makes the trout stand out.
Brown trout
Most freshwater trout prefer cold water, but Georgia’s brown trout can handle slightly warmer water than the typical trout. You will still find most of Georgia’s brown trout in the northern mountains.
Most freshwater trout prefer cold water, but Georgia’s brown trout can handle slightly warmer water than the typical trout. Nonetheless, you will still find most of Georgia’s brown trout in the northern mountains. Unfortunately, many people prefer trout species that have a less fishy flavor.
FAQ
What is the trout capital of Georgia?
Located in the north Georgia mountains, Blue Ridge is the trout fishing capital of Georiga.
What lakes in Georgia have trout?
You can catch plenty of trout in the following Georgian lakes:
- Black Rock Lake
- Dockery Lake
- Lake Conasauga
- Lake Rabun
- Lake Seed
- Lake Winfield
- Nancytown Lake
- Vogel Lake.
Does Georgia have good trout fishing?
Yes! There are about 4,000 miles of great trout fishing within the state.
Main photo by Nataly Grb from Pexels