Trophy trout at Blackhawk Fly Fishng!
Fall 2025
By John Trussell
Some say that if you want to catch big trout, you should head out west to the Yellowstone River, or other legendary trout waters. I did that trip many years ago and fished in the Yellowstone River, with little to show for results, but I did make some great memories!
The Nez Perce Ford on Yellowstone River in Wyoming. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs
But great trout fishing can be found close to home with just a drive to North Georgia and you can save a boat load of travel money. In the fall, a trip to North Georgia to see the changing leaves and catch a few trout is always an enjoyable field trip. I also try to keep up with the Georgia Department of Natural Resource’s trout stocking truck, when the list is updated and those sites can be productive if you don’t mind a lot of company.
Trout fishing in Georgia doesn’t get a lot of press, but it can be pretty good with some prep work and scouting out the best streams. Whether you seek native trout in the higher elevations or stocked trout in the lower section of cool water streams, you can experience good success. Make sure you have your fishing license, trout stamp and essential fishing equipment before you head out.
The area around Helen is a hotbed of summer fun with tubing down the Chattahoochee River, lots shopping, great restaurants and natural beauty all around. Anna Ruby Falls, near Helen, is in the Chattahoochee National Forest and a great way to experience the beauty of the forest and stretch your legs on a short hike to the falls. The Anna Ruby waterfalls begin on Tray Mountain, the 6th highest mountain in Georgia. Curtis and York creek start on the mountain top and converge at Anna Ruby Falls.
Anna Ruby Falls. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs
Another stream that begins its long trip to the Gulf of Mexico on the top of Tray Mountain is the Soque River. Named for an ancient Indian village that was called Sakuiyi in the Cherokee language, the name was shortened by early American settlers. The 28.5-mile-long river lies entirely in Habersham County and much of the river lies within private property, except for a 3/4-mile section near GA 197. But be forewarned that the private sections of the river are posted, and trespassers face quick arrest, so be careful and don’t wander into private property.
Recently I had the chance to fish with Blackhawk Trophy Trout Flyfishing and I can tell you it was a wonderful experience. If tying into a trophy trout of 3- to 12-pounds with a flyrod gets you excited, you have got to try Blackhawk. Owned and operated by John and Abby Jackson, the land has been in their family for a long time, and they have done to a lot of work and gone to a lot of expense to build a trophy trout fishing experience that you will greatly enjoy. They own 1.3 miles of the river shores, so you get access to some of the best trout fishing that the Soque River has to offer. Their headquarters is a remodeled 1860s era farmhouse that can accommodate up to eight people, special events or corporate groups. Also, a small chalet is ideal for couples and there is outside seating area for fireside chats after a great day of the river.
The farmhouse at Blackhawk Fly Fishing. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
After my wife Billie and I arrived, we were met by our fishing guide Wil Hammond, who got us squared away in the cozy farmhouse, which has comfortable beds and a very nice living room to watch television, read or build a fire in the fireplace. For dinner, we opted to head over to Laprade’s Restaurant, which sits on the banks for Lake Burton. We sat on the deck and watched the beautiful sunset, while I had a delicious meal of roast and shrimp with mixed grilled veggies, salad and bread. Billie chose the grilled chicken and we both felt like it was an excellent meal in a lovely setting that we’ll long remember. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful and commented that local -part time residents Ted Turner and Alan Jackson sometimes come by for a meal.
The next morning, bright and early, Abby Jackson gave me a brief rundown on the excellent trout fishery on the Soque River and Wil got me equipped with waders, felt-bottomed boots and a complete flyrod outfit that was matched to the large trout that we expected to catch. You can use your own equipment on a guided trip, or use their equipment, which is a big plus if you don’t get a lot of chances to fly fish and lack equipment. If you’re an experienced fly fisherman, you can also just pay an access fee and fish without a guide, but only fly fishing is allowed, and all fishing is catch and release.
Big rainbow trout are the staple of the fishery at Blackhawk. Photo by John Trussell
Wil and I took a short drive to the river and I was captivated by the beautiful sparking water, as it tumbled over the rocks and eddies of the river. This section of the river was about 25 feet across and ran about 2 to 4 feet deep, with deeper pools and looked like classic trophy trout waters. I was anxious to get a fly into the water and soon Wil had me standing in the edge of the water, casting out a glittery small ant fly, which was tied about 2 feet below a white Woolly Bugger fly to maximize our chances of hooking into a trout. To help me keep up with the location of the fly, we had a very small white strike indicator about a foot above the Wooly Bugger.
Wil was the head guide at Blackhawk and has many years of experience enticing these big trout to strike a fly, so I readily sought his expert advice. He suggested that I drift the fly though the deeper, darker water where the big trout lay in wait to attack food as it drifts by. These big and smart trout don’t get big by taking chances; thus, they can be hard to fool. They also just gently inhale a fly as it comes by, so strikes can be difficult to detect.
The river also has brown trout, like the one the author is holding. Photo by Wil Hammond.
Wil suggested that I set the hook with a smooth downstream motion of the rod, as the trout are always facing upstream in the current and you don’t want to pull the fly out of their mouth. After just a few casts, I hooked into a nice rainbow of about 2 pounds that acted like it did not want to surrender. So, we had a classic tug of war going on for a few minutes and that feeling of having a nice trout on the line, running strongly through the water and not knowing if you or the fish will win the battle, was exhilarating! This time I won the battle and I soon guided the trout toward Wil’s net. I felt a sense of relief as the trout eased into the net and that feeling of fishing success never gets old. We gently handled the trout to remove the hook, took some photos and released it back into the river to fight another day.
Wil kept the day entertaining as we chatted about the fish and a wide assortment of topics. I soon began to feel like we were connected through the trout, the river and shared life experiences that connect all outdoorsmen. But our minds never wandered far from catching more trout. I kept the fly rod busy with repeated casts into promising looking spots along the river and Wil sometimes suggested improvements to my tactics or location, which paid off with numerous large trout in the net.
Once I thought I had snagged the bottom, as the line did not move after I set the hook. But then the rod took a deep bend as a trophy trout made a mad dash up the river! My heart skipped a beat when I saw the monster size of the trout. I said to myself, “Please don’t go under that log, please don’t get tangled in that limb!” and basically held on.
The fish raced around the river and I thought it would break off any second, but I kept a firm tension on the line and hoped for the best. Luck was with me and after a good fight, I managed to work the trout in Wil’s direction. It would have been difficult to get such a large trout into the net by myself and Wil proved his great worth by easing the net under the large trout. The 7-pound brown trout was mine – at least for a few minutes. More photos were next to capture the moment and unforgettable memory.
We moved around, trying different stretches of river and were successful every few minutes. I hooked into another trophy rainbow of about 6 pounds that make a couple of leaps into the air, which made me wish I had a movie camera. I hooked into about 12 trout that morning and got most of them into the net – except the big one! Toward lunch time, I hooked into another very large, probably 10-pound-plus brown trout that I had under control for a brief period of time, until the hook came out. No photos of that fish, but still a great experience and I’ll get him next time.
The author with his big rainbow. Photo by Wil Hammond.
I highly recommend that you experience the excellent trophy trout fishing at Blackhawk next time you plan a trip to the North Georgia mountains. Blackhawk is located on the south end of the mountains, so it’s easy to reach and only a short drive from Helen, Clarkesville and Lake Burton.
Check out their website for full details and give yourself the opportunity to hook into a trophy trout that you’ll never forget!
John Trussell is a freelance writer making his home in Warner Robins. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writers Association and a 2014 inductee into the Georgia Hunting and Fishing Hall of Fame.