West Fork of the Chattooga River Georgia 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 (native)
Size
Small to Medium
Location
Northwestern Georgia
Season
Year-round
Access:
Fair
Non-Resident License
State of Georgia
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
You can fish the stream anytime of the year.
Spring:
Spring is the best time of year for fly fishing the West Fork of the Chattooga River because of the hatches.
Summer:
The stream fishes okay during most of the Summer.
Fall:
Autumn is a great time to fish. Brown trout spawn in the fall and become easier to catch during the migration.
Winter:
Warm winter days brings some good fishing at times
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 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing West Fork of the Chattooga River Georgia
The Chattooga River is one of Georgia’s and South Carolina’s better trout streams. In one sense, Georgia has more to do with the Chattooga River than South Carolina does because most of its major headwaters come from Georgia. Some of its water also comes from North Carolina. The West Fork of the Chattooga is the major headwater stream that forms the Chattooga River. It’s formed by the confluence of Holcomb Creek, Overflow Creek and Big Creek. This portion of the West Fork of the river lies within the Wild and Scenic River Section of the Chattooga River.
Most of the West Fork of the Chattooga River can be accessed from state highway #28 and Forest Service Road #86 which follows along the River. The three miles of water above that up to the forks of the feeder streams must be accessed on foot. It’s not exactly a small stream. The West Fork is about the same size as the upper part of the main Chattooga River. It has both wild rainbow and brown trout but it’s also stocked its entire length. The Three Forks area, where the three tributaries join, can be accessed via the Three Fork Trail.
Holcomb Creek is the easiest to access of the three tributaries of the West Fork of the Chattooga River. Forest Service Road #86 follows along most of its lower section. The last mile of the stream is within the Wild and Scenic River corridor and must be fished from the Three Forks Trail. The part along the road is stocked and mostly fished by the corn guys. The section above the point the service road departs the stream is quite small and must be accessed by foot. The upper section has a population of wild rainbows.
Overflow Creek is the main upper tributary to the West Fork. Big Creek isn’t really big and isn’t really worth fishing. Overflow Creek is. It contains wild trout only. This stream begins in North Carolina and has brook trout in its headwaters. Fly fishing the West Fork of the Chattooga River in the Overflow Creek section requires hiking. This is a good section of water well worth fishing.
All things considered, fly fishing the main stem of the West Fork of the Chattooga isn’t much different from fishing the main Chattooga River. The big difference is the state of Georgia can claim all of its water.