Unicoi Outfitters Fishing Report - 9/18/26
We’re still stuck with low, clear, and warm trout waters on our freestone streams, but some cool, wet weather is in next week’s forecast. Stick to high elevations and north slopes for cooler water and cooperative wild trout. Stockers are scarce, except in tailwaters, but next week shows some promise. River bassin is still good in the low, clear water, while reservoir shallows are still in their summer siestas. Nomads migrating far north and far west are getting the jump on fall weather and better fishing.
Check out all the details in our full report, here:
https://www.unicoioutfitters.com/fishing-reports
Unicoi Outfitters: Friendly. Local. Experts.
www.unicoioutfitters.com
Sautee: 706-878-3083. Open 8-5 daily. (2454 GA Hwy 17, Sautee-Nacoochee.)
Clarkesville: 706-754-0203. Open 8-5 from Monday thru Saturday.
Wes’ Hot Fly List:
Dries: purple haze, parachute ant, elk hair caddis, orange stimulator.
Nymphs & Wets:
Micro girdle bug, frenchie, flying squirrel, prince nymph, pheasant tail, root beer midge.
Streamers:
Jig bugger, sparkle minnow, bank robber sculpin.
River stripers:
Mop tail changer, bangtail, clouser.
River bass:
stealth bomber, Boogle bug, crittermite, hairy fodder, black leech or bugger.
Bream & Carp:
Hybrid worm, carp it bomb, gill scorpion, amnesia bug, mini jig bugger.
Headwaters:
They’re still low, clear, and warm in the afternoons. The good news is that our overnight low air temperatures are slowly dropping, so you have a few more morning opportunities to chase little wild fish. Stick to high elevations here in GA or, better yet, across our northern border.
The real good news is that a cooler and wetter weather pattern hits us next week. That should resurrect our headwater trouting opportunities. Have those para-Adams, ants, and stimmies ready.
Did you catch Dredger’s wild trout tips that he shared on Wednesday?
UO buddy Jay went north and reports: “Headed north of the Georgia border for a music festival this week, and did a little fishing. Higher elevations and cooler temperatures sure felt nice. Fish were very spooky in low, clear water, but I got lucky a few times. I was able to find all three flavors of trout. And the clearest indication that fall is coming came in the form of one of the prettiest trout I have ever seen. Check out this speck! I fished dry flies on two different streams and a size 18 October Caddis was the winner.”
Stockers:
Slim pickins’ since the final stockings for the spring/summer season occurred at Labor Day. Aim for leftovers in the two tailwaters or bigger mountain streams like West Fork Chattooga, Cooper, Dicks, and Tallulah.
And watch out for next Friday’s list. This DNR bulletin just arrived:
“There is not a Weekly Trout Stocking Report today-but look for a special stocking report next Friday before Nat'l Hunting & Fishing Day on Sept. 26!”
Private Waters:
October is just around the corner and our prime fall weekends are filling up fast. Call your favorite shops and guides ASAP to “net” good trip dates before the new year. For guided trips right now, stick with the tailwater outfitters, who are fishing cold reservoir outflows.
Tailwaters:
UO buddy Ryan: “Earlier this week I had a guided euro nymphing trip on the Hooch tailwater. The first several fish came fairly quickly, and then we hit a lull in the action for a period of time before the next big fish broke off. I might chalk it up to low dissolved oxygen levels as well as pressure swings.
This is the norm this time of year during turnover. The action can be hit, miss, or somewhere in between where the fish make you work for them. This trip was one of those days, where covering a lot of water was necessary. Our efforts were rewarded with a big rainbow and a nice Chattahoochee wild brown to finish off the day, with a half dozen to net in total and a number of quick strikes seen. Consider throwing nymphs with silver beads, a hotspot, or an egg to get fish’s attention in this stained turnover water. I’ve caught some of my best Hooch browns this time of year so get out there & tight lines!”
Feel free to contact the Hartley duo for breaking Hooch Tailwater intel and maybe a guide trip:
Ryan Hartley: 678-468-0440
Myles Hartley: 678-900-0835
Warm Rivers:
They’re still a best bet, thanks to minimal rain and low, clear water. You have another 4-6 weeks to enjoy a wade or float trip on them before higher, cooler water slows down the topwater bite. I like wading the Tooga for Barts whenever the Clayton gauge reads 1.4 feet or less. I’ve done well on black buggers during the day and small yellow poppers as the evening shadows grew across the pools.
UO owner Jimmy: “I’ve been fishing with Boogle Bugs in the past few weeks but wasn’t getting any nice size bass. Yesterday I decided to try a Rapala Shadow Rap and it worked very well. I will say that the river is still extremely low. The gauge at Cornelia read .9’. That’s the lowest I’ve seen it in probably 20 years. Wade anglers will have a much more enjoyable time than floaters.”
We have a great selection of bass plugs at our Clarkesville store on the downtown square, so stop in before or after your river trip.
UO-Helen manager Wes: “I got out one morning this week for a couple of hours in pursuit of Chattahoochee bass. I managed to find a few of these gems. Early in the day a small popper caught some fish while a sparkle minnow was the better choice once the sun came out.
Late summer/early fall can be a great time to get after our local Redeye bass and sharpen your fishing skills for the cooler fall fishing temps soon to come.”
Ponds:
No recent reports. Still a good bet for bass and bream around downed trees and especially at dawn and dusk.
Lakes:
No news. Still too hot with lotsa boat traffic and most bass and stripers taking shelter down deep.
Afar:
UO buddy RSquared: “Back to Redeyes over here in Almost Alabama last week. Heading North to Michigan tomorrow for Salmon so I should have a different report next week!”
UO buddy Myles has detoured from his Hooch Tailwater: “For the last 2 weeks, I’ve been preparing and tying flies for a 17 day long road trip. Thursday the 17th was the start. Fly into Bozeman, then fish my heart out throughout my ventures back. To start off, I made my way through Yellowstone. After a couple hours of driving, and multiple bison roadblocks, I made it to the first stream I’d fish this trip. Though there wasn’t much time left in the day, I managed to catch 2 beautiful cutthroat before the sun set. The water read 47.5° and the air was cool, so I kept my dry box tucked away and tried out my luck with my typical flies. A good ole stonefly pulled through for me! Looking forward to what the rest of the fishing adventures have in store!”
Events:
Check out the Casting for Recovery online auction and their great October 1st party to fund their breast cancer survivors retreat at Smithgall Woods.
The Soque River Watershed Association’s fundraiser is right around the corner - Sept 24th. Check knout the list of trophy streams in the auction.
That’s the latest news from a warm and dry northeast Georgia. We have high hopes for a cooler, wetter week ahead as we finally approach October and the true kickoff of our fall trout season. Good luck. Stop in our Sautee shop if you need some slick orange dries for those October risers.
Unicoi Outfitters: Friendly. Local. Experts.
