Toccoa River, Georgia
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On The Fly Freshwater
April 2026
Article and photos by Jimmy Jacobs
Blue Ridge in Fannin County has been proclaimed the Trout Capital of Georgia by the state’s General Assembly. That fame has also led to the town being the site of the annual Blue Ridge Trout and Outdoor Adventure Festival. This year’s event takes place on April 25th.
The tailwaters of the Toccoa River downstream of Blue Ridge Lake can be credited as a major factor in that proclamation and the location of the festival. Yet, the fishery on the river could best be described as the Peach State’s “other tailwater.” The designation has nothing to do with the quality of the fishing, but just that the Chattahoochee River, which is nearer to Atlanta, gets all the publicity.
The roughly 15 miles of trout water from Blue Ridge Dam to the Tennessee border at the twin towns of McCaysville, Georgia. and Copperhill, Tennessee constitute a great fishery. In fact, the river can lay claim to some of the best dry-fly action found in Georgia.
While all those miles of water offer float trips for fishing, the only drawback on the Toccoa is lack of shoreline access to trout. Tammen Park just downstream of the dam and Horseshoe Bend Park in McCaysville offer two, with the final being Curtis Switch that provides very good wading access at about 4 miles below the dam.
Wade fishing the Toccoa as a Blue Ridge Scenic Railway train passes.
Curtis Switch gains its name from this site on the historic Hook and Eye Railroad that parallels much of the Toccoa tailwater. The odd name of the rail line, which is still in use by the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, refers to the hook of a sharp “S” turn in the tracks near Talking Rock, Georgia and the spot near Apalachia Dam on the Hiwassee River in Tennessee where the tracks circle a hill and go through the “eye” when they pass under themselves.
At Curtis Switch both a modern bridge on Curtis Switch Road and an older abandoned span cross the river. Between them is an unpaved parking area at the start of North Toccoa River Road. Here the river drops over a mild shoal beneath the modern bridge and into a deep hole. This is a spot that gets stocked trout and a lot of fishing pressure. It is possible to wade across the river below the hole, thus providing casting locations on both sides.
Additionally, it is possible to wade downstream under the old bridge to an Indian fish weir. This structure is formed by rocks laid in the river to form a downstream “V” shape. The Native Americans would place baskets at the foot of the V and then herd fish downstream into the baskets. The deeper run along the east bank below the weir often holds some trout.
Fishing at the foot of the Indian fish weir.
Expect to encounter stocked rainbow, brown and brook trout in the 8- to 10-inch size range in these areas. However, bigger fish are possible. Near the downstream ramp a 30-plus-inch brown trout was landed a few year back.
A Georgia trout slam is possible while fishing at Curtis Switch.
From the weir the river gets deeper until it is no longer wadable. However, about half a mile downstream on North Toccoa River Road, a small TVA boat ramp provides another area where limited wading is available.
The TVA boat ramp below Curtis Switch.
Of course, the wading here, as on any tailwater is dependent on power generation releases from Blue Ridge Lake.
Most of Georgia’s mountain trout waters are small, fairly infertile streams, where the fish attack anything that floats past, then spit it out if it’s not to their liking. The Toccoa tailwaters defy that stereotype
The cold water and lack of major scouring by water released (except for the area immediately downstream of the dam) are ideal for supporting insect life. Hatches can be large and mostly predictable, thus the trout in the Toccoa can be a bit more selective.
During the late winter on into early spring the dry flies to put on the water are Black Caddis, black or cream midges, Hendricksons or March Browns. When rings start appearing on the surface, the fish are likely targeting on one of those.
As the spring wears into early summer, expect to switch off to Sulfurs and Light Cahills. Still later in the summer Grey Caddis patterns and cream midges become important.
If you are not seeing any surface action, drifting Prince Nymphs, Red Copper Johns or Pheasant Tails under a strike indicator can draw some strikes. Or you can strip black or olive Wooly Buggers to attract the fish.
Being a tailwater, safety is of utmost concern when fishing the Toccoa River below Blue Ridge Lake. When the dam releases water, the river rises quickly. Always be aware of your surroundings, watching for increased debris floating downstream, the water clouding or the sound of the shoals changing. All of these are heralds of rising water.
For release schedules call the TVA at 1-800-238-2264, then hit 4, followed by the Blue Ridge code 23. The information is also available online at tva.com. Click the link for View Your Lake and then Blue Ridge on the drop-down menu.
