North Georgia Rivers
Best Flies for Noontootla Creek (by Season)
Daniel Bowman
Updated June 18, 2026
4 min read
The short version
The best flies for Noontootla Creek are small-stream classics: a Parachute Adams (12–18), Elk Hair Caddis (14–18, tan and olive), Pheasant Tail and Hare's Ear nymphs (14–18), and — because of the dense hemlock canopy — terrestrials: foam beetles (14–16), foam ants (16–18), and inchworms (12–14) all summer. For fall's pre-spawn wild browns, fish a black or olive Woolly Bugger (8–10) or a sculpin pattern (6–8). Match the season: mayflies in April–May, terrestrials June–August, streamers October–November. Full water detail in the Noontootla Creek guide.
What flies should you use on Noontootla Creek?
Noontootla is a small, clear Southern Appalachian freestone creek with wild trout, so the fly box leans toward accurate small-stream patterns rather than big attractors. These are the must-haves:
- Parachute Adams (12–18) — the do-everything dry.
- Elk Hair Caddis (14–18, tan and olive) — buoyant and visible in pocket water.
- Pheasant Tail nymph (14–18) — the everyday mayfly nymph.
- Hare's Ear nymph (14–18) — a buggy searching nymph.
- Foam beetle (14–16) and foam ant (16–18) — summer terrestrials.
- Inchworm pattern (12–14) — dropped by the hemlock canopy all summer.
- Woolly Bugger (8–10, black and olive) — for fall browns.
- Sculpin pattern (6–8) — the fall streamer for pre-spawn fish.
Because hemlocks shade the water, terrestrials — beetles, ants, and especially inchworms — produce on Noontootla all summer long.
Which flies work in each season?
Noontootla's hatches are diverse but rarely dense, so match the month:
| Season | What's happening | Top flies |
|---|---|---|
| Feb–March | Black stoneflies, midges, early BWO | Nymphs; rare warm-day dries |
| April | Richest dry-fly month | Quill Gordon, Hendrickson (12–14), Blue Quill (16–18) |
| May | Sulphurs, March Browns | Sulphur (14–18), March Brown (12), caddis |
| June | Cahills, Yellow Sallies, Slate Drakes | Light Cahill (14–16), Yellow Sally (14), early terrestrials |
| July–Aug | Terrestrial season (hemlock canopy) | Inchworm (12–14), beetle, ant |
| Sept | Fishery restarts; tricos | Tricos, caddis, early streamers |
| Oct–Nov | Streamer season (pre-spawn browns) | Woolly Bugger / sculpin (4–8) |
| Dec–Jan | Midges, small mayflies | Small nymphs, slow presentations |
Why do terrestrials matter so much on Noontootla?
The creek runs under a dense hemlock canopy, and that overhead cover feeds the trout a steady terrestrial diet through the warm months:
- Inchworms drop from the hemlocks all summer — a signature Noontootla food.
- Beetles and ants blow and fall in from the streamside brush.
- Spruce moths add to the mix on the upper stretches.
- Fish look up — even midsummer, a well-placed beetle or inchworm draws confident eats.
Pair terrestrial know-how with matching the hatch.
What flies catch Noontootla's wild browns?
The creek's marquee fish are wild brown trout, and fall is when the biggest ones eat streamers:
- Black or olive Woolly Bugger (8–10) — the reliable searching streamer.
- Sculpin pattern / Sculpzilla (6–8) — imitates the creek's sculpins for pre-spawn browns.
- Slow, methodical strips through the deeper runs in October–November.
- Heavier tippet (4X) only for streamers in higher water — otherwise fish fine.
- See the broader streamer approach in how to strip a streamer.
How should you rig flies on this small water?
Noontootla rewards light, accurate small-stream tackle, not long heavy rigs:
- Rod: a 7–8 foot 3-weight; accuracy beats line speed in tight rhododendron tunnels.
- Leader/tippet: a 7-foot leader to 5X (general/dry-dropper) or 6X (technical dries); skip the 9-footer that snags the brush.
- Dry-dropper is a deadly searching rig here — see the dry-dropper rig.
- Polarized sunglasses are non-negotiable — the water is gin-clear and you can't read depth without them. Know the Georgia trout regulations and check regional hatches via Hatch Magazine; Noontootla has a special-regs, catch-and-release stretch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What flies should I use on Noontootla Creek?
Small-stream classics: a Parachute Adams (12–18), Elk Hair Caddis (14–18 in tan and olive), Pheasant Tail and Hare's Ear nymphs (14–18), foam beetles and ants plus inchworms for summer, and a black/olive Woolly Bugger or sculpin (6–10) for fall browns. Match the size and season to what's hatching.
What is the best dry fly for Noontootla?
A Parachute Adams in sizes 12–18 covers most situations, and an Elk Hair Caddis is the other staple for the pocket water. In summer, a foam beetle or an inchworm pattern is often the most productive "dry" because the hemlock canopy drops terrestrials into the creek all season.
When is the best dry-fly fishing on Noontootla?
April is the richest dry-fly month — Quill Gordons, Hendricksons, and Blue Quills hatch and the wild browns feed aggressively after winter. May (sulphurs and March Browns) and the summer terrestrial season are also excellent, while October–November shifts to streamers for pre-spawn browns.
What size tippet for Noontootla Creek?
5X for general nymphing and dry-dropper fishing, 6X for technical dry-fly work on the smooth runs, and 4X only for streamers in higher water. The creek is small and clear, so lighter, accurate presentations on a short leader outfish heavy rigs.
Do terrestrials work on Noontootla Creek?
Yes — terrestrials are a signature Noontootla food because the dense hemlock canopy drops inchworms, beetles, ants, and spruce moths into the water all summer. A foam beetle, ant, or inchworm pattern is often the most productive fly from June through August.
Fish Noontootla with a guide
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