Chauga River South Carolina Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Brown Trout (Wild and Stocked)
Rainbow Trout (Wild and Stocked)
Brook Trout (Wild and Stocked)
Size
Medium
Location
Northwestern South Carolina
Nearest Towns
Mountain Rest
Season
Year-round
Access:
Good in areas but hiking required to
reach the best sections
Non-Resident License
State of South Carolina
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
The trout season follows the general South Carolina regulations.
Spring:
Spring is the best season to fish the river
Summer:
The water can get a little warm during the hot summer in the mainstem but it stays well oxygenated and cool in the remote areas of most of the uppermost sections.
Fall:
Autumn is a good time to fish the river.
Winter:
Fishing during the winter can be good on warm days.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing the Chauga River South Carolina
The Chauga River is a little known and far under used trout stream that’s located in northwestern South Carolina. Recent improvements in the quality of the water in the middle and lower sections has helped but the upper, headwater sections offers the most for those willing to put a little effort into their fishing.
The Chauga River is thought of by most anglers as a put-and-take fishery and much of it is. The main portion of the river is regularly stocked in many areas. The best sections of the stream are far from any roads. It flows through a wilderness through a very rugged canyon or gorge like area that requires a good bit of hiking to reach. The Chauga River has lots of casscades and waterfall and plenty of white water.
Although the main stream has some stem-bred trout and holdover trout from previously stocked trout, most of the fish that are caught from the Chauga River are those
most recently stocked.
The Chauga River isn’t exactly a small stream. Many areas of the stream average as much as forty feet wide. It begins in the mountains near the little town of Mountain Rest and eventually flows onto the Tugaloo arm of Lake Hartwell.
The main part of the river is stocked where there are accessible sites for fishing. The remote areas of the river are stocked from helicopters during the Fall. Most
of the wild trout reside in the uppermost reaches of the stream as well as the many tributaries. Some of the tributaries are on private land but it is very doubtful
anyone that asked permission would be turned down to fish the tributaries that are on private property.
Don’t under estimate the effort required to reach these backcountry areas of the Chauga River. It is wild country that’s very difficult to reach in areas. It requires long hikes on less than ideal trials. The stream doesn’t have a nice trail that follows alongside it like South Carolina and Georgia’s more popular Chattooga River. Some sections don’t have a trail. In most headwater areas where you can reach the stream, you will be limited to fishing within the confines of the stream.
There’s another little known fact outside the local area about the Chauga River. It holds some very large, holdover brown trout in the main part of the river where during the Summer the water is marginal for rainbows from a water temperature standpoint.
The state of South Carolina has done a great job of improving the Chauga River. They are stocking fingerlings in some areas, fitting lakes that feed tributary streams with bottom release devices to keep the water cooler, and many other things that are greatly
contributing to this river’s ability to support trout.