Athens and UGA Anglers
4.9 stars on Google, 165 reviews · from $400 · Soque private water about 90 to 110 minutes from Athens
Athens is a longer drive than the metro towns, so many Athens anglers make it a two-day trip: one day on the Soque, a night in the mountains, and a second day on different water.
The route
Head north on Highway 441 toward Demorest, then take 384 toward the Soque. Plan about 90 minutes to an hour and fifty, depending on where in Athens you start and which stretch you're fishing. Your guide sends the meeting spot the day before.
Two days
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day one | Drive up early and fish the Soque private water, known for large trout. Stay the night in Helen or Clarkesville. |
| Day two | Fish Noontootla Creek for wild browns, then drive home. |
Bowman can recommend lodging for the night. For one angler, a full day costs $550 on the Soque and $600 on Noontootla, so the two days come to $1,150. Three friends sharing a guide pay $900 and $980 a day.
Who comes
Bowman's Athens clients tend to be UGA alumni groups, faculty and anglers who care about wild trout. They want the Soque or Noontootla and don't mind the drive. A bachelor party from Athens works the same way, often with a night in the mountains.
Timing matters on the Soque: Bowman usually rests it from June 10 to September 20. Fall, winter and spring are the seasons to book from Athens.
Questions
About 90 to 110 minutes, north on Highway 441 toward Demorest and then 384.
Many Athens groups fish two days, one on the Soque and one on Noontootla Creek, and stay overnight in Helen or Clarkesville.
Between September 20 and June 10. Bowman typically stays off the Soque in the warm months in between.
On the way north