Soque River Fly Fishing: The Ultimate Guide
The Soque River is known for its trophy trout fishing, and it offers some of the best fly fishing in the state. On the Soque River, anglers will find plenty of fishable water, and the scenery is unmatched. The Soque is a great place to fish for trophy trout, and it's also a great place to relax and enjoy the beauty of North Georgia. Soque River fly fishing is an experience that you won't want to miss.
In today's Blog post, we want to share a few things about one of our favorite fly fishing rivers in North Georgia!
The Benefits of Fly Fishing On The Soque River
Fly fishing on the Soque River offers a number of benefits that you won't find anywhere else. For starters, the scenery is unmatched. The river winds its way through the North Georgia mountains, and the views are simply spectacular. In addition, the trout fishing on the Soque is some of the best in the state. Anglers will find plenty of fishable water and the trout are just waiting to be caught. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division stocking schedule shows when they stock the Soque River. The stocking occurs weekly from April through July 31st. After that they stock it twice before Labor Day, and once in the Fall (September/October). So you know there is no shortage of fish in this river.
Most of the land that the Soque River runs through is privately owned. There is some limited public access that you can find near the Jackson Bridge. The public access is clearly marked and runs from just below Jackson Bridge, to about 3/4 of a mile upstream. Keep in mind that once you exit the public section of the Soque river all of the water including the stream bed itself is controlled by the private landowner, meaning you are not able to stay in the creek and wade it to fish above and below the property line. You want to make sure you have permission to fish those places that are privately owned. Many of these landowners have invested both time and money into conservation efforts to keep this river a prime ecosystem for breeding these trophy trout.
For years the Soque River was a hidden gem that only local fly fishermen knew about. However, when you’re catching browns the size of small dog, you can’t expect to keep it hidden forever.
Here at Bowman Fly Fishing though, we have exclusive access to some of these private access areas on the Soque River. These areas are full of big, beautiful trout that are just waiting to be caught. So if you’re looking to get on the private streams of the Soque River, our fly fishing guides are the best in the business, and they know how to put you on the fish.
Tips For Fly Fishing The Soque River
When fly fishing the Soque River, it's important to remember a few tips to help you be successful. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Use the right Tippet size. We generally fish with 3x-5x tippet on a 5-6 weight rod here. Because this is a trophy trout section and there are some monsters here, you’ll need to be familiar with tippet selection for that size of fish. The last thing you want to do is have some 5x tippet on and hook an 8 pounder. If you’re just getting started and not familiar with tippet selection, here is a good guide on tippet size and fly selection that we've found.
- Fly Selection Streamers, nymphs and dry flies will all catch fish on this river. As always, pay attention to water-color and what’s hatching and that will give you the best idea for what the fish are eating and what to throw. Not caught up on your entomology? Check out this guide to learn how to “match the hatch”. If you’re with one of our guides, they do all of that work for you!
- Be Patient Fly fishing is all about being patient and waiting for the fish, but it’s easy for us anglers to forget this. If you're not patient, you'll spook the fish and miss out on a great opportunity. Our guides will teach you everything you need to know to be successful on the river. We'll show you the best techniques and flies to use, and we'll be sure to put you on the fish.
- Casting The Soque is truly a mountain stream and you’ll need to be familiar with roll casting here. There isn’t a whole lot of room for those big, overhead casts here (unless you want to catch trees). Roll casts will be your friend here. It will help keep your line out of the trees and on target for those holes where the trout are hanging out. If you aren’t familiar with roll casting and are coming here to fish on your own, we recommend practicing in your yard first. If you’re with one of our guides, they’ll coach you on how to execute the perfect roll cast.
- Be Stealthy You would think that a stocked river that is also supplemented with feed from private land owners would be an easy place to catch fish. But, these fish still need to be wooed into the bite. They have been targeted by very good anglers and they are familiar with all of your flies in your box. So keep this in mind as you wade along looking for these gentle giants.
The Best Times of Year To Go Fly Fishing On The Soque River
The best times of year to go fly fishing on the Soque River are in the cooler months of the year. The cooler conditions and water really push the trout to be more active and feeding. In addition, the weather is usually nicer in the cooler months, making it a more enjoyable experience for you while you're fighting the big fish! We generally fish the Soque River the most during the cooler months of October through April. However, the Soque is a great place to fish for trout, and it's also a great place to relax and enjoy the beauty of North Georgia year round. The fall on the Soque River has unmatched scenery when it comes to the leaf change. There’s something special about wading into the river and catching fish amid the colorful surroundings of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the fall.
Fall in North Georgia offers some amazing weather! The highs generally stay in the 70’s and the lows around the mid 40’s. There’s nothing like getting off the river and heading to your lodge or airbnb to sit a fire around the firepit and enjoy the night air. If you’re around in mid October, you’ve got to check out the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival. This would be a great opportunity for you to bring your family along and enjoy all that North Georgia has to offer outside of fly fishing.
We do offer wade trips year round on an exclusive section of the Soque River. So if you can’t make it in the fall, that’s no problem! Our guides are some of the best in the business, and they know how to put you on the fish. No matter what time of year you come to fish with us, we'll be sure to make it a trip that you'll never forget!
What To Do After Fly Fishing The Soque River
As much as we would like to fish all day, at some point we have to stop. Below are some of our favorite things to do outside of fly fishing on the Soque River. These are our go to places where you can grab some food or explore the abundance of outdoor activities that North Georgia has to offer:
Places To Dine
Clyde’s Table and Tavern- Clyde’s offers a variety of menu items from appetizers & entrees to signature cocktails and local brews. Everything on their menu is house-made and made fresh to order. They truly have something for everyone in their family friendly environment.
Creekside Deli - Located within walking distance of the Cleveland Square, Creekside Deli serves a wide array of sandwiches, subs, burgers, hot dogs, salads, soups, dinners, and daily specials. They offer fresh and delicious food in a prompt manner and at affordable prices. They have indoor and outdoor seating that is, yup, you guessed it…creekside!
Mountain Fresh Creamery - After you enjoy your dinner, head on over to Mountain Fresh Creamery for some of their amazing ice cream! They provide a wholesome, all natural product, fresh from their farm to your family.
The Copper Pot - Go check out this brick oven eatery, located in downtown Clarkesville, GA. They specialize in good food and craft cocktails. Their atmosphere is amazing and their food is even better!
The Cottage Vineyard and Winery - Voted one of the top 25 wineries in the USA, The Cottage is an experience you will never forget it. Their tasting room is open 7 days a week and they offer private events if you want to schedule something for larger groups!
Things To Do
Smoky Mountain Trader - This outfitter offers an eclectic experience while shopping for outdoor gear. Whether you’re looking for gear, apparel or just to stop in and take a picture with Bigfoot, you’re going to want to check them out.
Wildwood Outfitters - They offer a variety of river trips for all ages and expertise. Whether you want a leisurely float down the river to soak in the scenery or an adrenaline kick while you are running the rapids, they can make it happen!
Buford Trout Hatchery - If you’re up for the hour drive, this trout hatchery is worth it! You can do a self-guided tour of the hatchery that is stocking Georgia’s designated rivers. With over 500,000 trout being raised here, it’s worth the drive!
Smithgall Wood State Park - Smithgall Woods is an angler’s paradise. One of north Georgia’s premier trout streams, Dukes Creek, runs through this spectacular mountain property and is a favorite for catch and release fishing.
Unicoi Outfitters - If you want to find a place to stock up on flies before hitting the Soque River or any other local streams, Unicoi Outfitters is your place! In addition to the variety of gear offered in Clarkesville, they also carry plenty of fly-fishing and fly-tying equipment.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to fly fishing the Soque River and the activities that you can look for when you’re off the river. If you’ve found this article helpful please be sure to share it with your friends! If you would like to catch some of these Soque River monsters than be sure to book a trip with us!
We hope to see you on the river soon!