Smith Creek Trout Fishing

Smith Creek provides year round trout fishing opportunities for visiting anglers in Helen, GA. The locations and opportunities may change throughout the year but the creek remains productive in every season. Stocked trout are the main target for anglers though wild trout can be found in the upper reaches. Smith Creek is a great option for folks looking to get kids out on the water for a day of trout fishing. It's smaller size, wadable waters, and convenient trails that run the length of the trout stream are convenient for beginners and young anglers. There are two main seasons for trout stocking on Smith Creek.

The first stocking season begins in April and corresponds with the initial stocking for most of North Georgia's trout streams. This section is located above Unicoi Lake. Stocking occurs weekly through Labor Day when it then slows to once a month until October. Fishing in this area can be quite productive but will turn into combat fishing during periods of heavier traffic. Stray trout can be found further above and below the bridge as the creek flows into the lake for anglers looking to avoid crowds. Normal trout fishing regulations apply in this section of Smith Creek above Unicoi Lake. The trout are typically easy to catch as they rarely last for more than a few days in this section of the creek. Pressing further upstream, anglers can begin to find the occasional wild rainbow mixed in with the many shiners and creek chubs.

Smith Creek Delayed Harvest

The second stocking season begins in November with the opening of the Georgia Delayed Harvest. This stretch begins below the dam on Unicoi Lake and extends downstream to the end of Unicoi State Park. The Smith Creek Delayed Harvest is stocked once a month throughout the Delayed Harvest Season which wraps up in May. Trout here are managed under CATCH AND RELEASE regulations during the season. Anglers are limited to ARTIFICIAL LURES with NO SCENT only in order to prevent additive fish mortality from gut hooked trout. Fishing here is quite popular during the cooler months as trout can be found throughout the two mile stretch of productive water. Anglers looking to get away from the crowds and the most pressured trout can venture further downstream to find trout that are typically more aggressive. These trout avoid the barrage of flies, lures, and wading anglers that trudge through the holes closer to the parking area.

Fly Fishing Smith Creek

For anglers targeting trout on the fly in Smith Creek, a handful of flies is more than enough to find success. Brighter, flashier patterns (eggs, mop flies, worms, woolly buggers) will find more success following the stocking of trout each months. After these trout have been caught and educated a few smaller, more natural patterns will often work best. The most important thing to note is a good drift with a terrible fly will catch more than a terrible drift with the best fly in the box every day of the week.

While hatches tend to be uncommon most years, keep an eye out for caddis in November, December, and from Late March on. Inquisitive trout, especially brown trout, will key in on these bugs when they're around. During the coldest part of the winter (January and February) midges can be king when heavily pressure trout are holding in clear, slow water. Small is key at these times and may be the only option when pressured trout are the only thing around. Some other bugs (mayflies and a few stoneflies) can be found on the creek but factor little into the trout's diet for the most part once they take to the air.

You can learn more about similar opportunities in the area in our articles on Fly Fishing Helen, Fly Fishing Clayton, Fly Fishing the Soque River, and Fly Fishing the Chattahoochee River. If you would like to cut the learning curve down, our Guided Fly Fishing Trips in Helen provide an educational and enjoyable day on the river, all while setting you up for success in your future outings in the area.