A visitor to the Trout Pro website recently brought to my attention that the Toccoa River located in the North Georgia Highlands has a recently developed canoe trail. The Toccoa River is nearly 60 miles long from its headwaters near the town of Suches, Ga. to Tennessee near McCaysville and is bisected by the Blue Ridge Lake. The canoe trail starts at the Deep Hole Recreation Area and flows 13.8 miles to the new take-out at the Sandy Bottoms Area, where you will find parking, a ramp, and toilet facilities.
According to Kevin Dallmier’s article in the “Georgia Sportsman” magazine the canoe trip has two good day trips. The first is from Deep Hole to Sandy Bottoms or Dial crossroads, and the other is from there downstream to just above Blue Ridge Lake. The last good take-out above the lake is at a rapid known as Noontootla Boil. This is where Aska Road parallels the river for a half-mile or so.
The Toccoa River is stocked with trout as are the tributaries and this can provide adequate fishing for trout that average from 6” to 13”. It should be noted that the trout are primarily feisty browns. Fly casting is a favorite in the upper reaches of the river because of the deep slow moving pools. In addition to the upper Toccoa River, there is great tailwater fishing below the dam at the Blue Ridge Lake.
Access from Morganton is by taking SR 60 14.6 miles to the entrance of the Deep Hole Recreation Area. After you arrive, you have the option of using the canoe trail or by hiking the river from roadside access points. A wooden fishing pier can accommodate the physically challenged anglers. For much more information about the Toccoa River CanoeTrail ,visit their web site.
Check out Georgia Wild Trout if you are interested in a guided fly fishing trip in the area.
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