The Soque River is a 30-mile-long tributary of the Chattahoochee River in northeastern Georgia whose watershed, headwaters and mouth lie entirely in Habersham County.
The river has a vibrant heritage dating back to the Native American tribes that originally inhabited the region. The name “Soque” is said to be derived from the Cherokee word for “raccoon” because the area was known for its profusion of raccoons.
The river played a major role in the early settlement of the region by providing water for agriculture, industry and transportation. In the 19th century, the river powered sawmills, grist mills and other industries along its banks.
Today, the Soque River is known for its scenic beauty and excellent fly fishing opportunities. The river is a popular destination for fly fishing, primarily for its natural beauty and population of trophy-sized trout.
The river is protected by the landowners who realize the importance of a sustainable trophy trout fishery, and by a nonprofit organization, the Soque River Watershed Association (SRWA), that’s dedicated to protecting and restoring the river. The SRWA was established in 1998 by local residents and focuses on protecting the river’s water quality and ecological integrity.
The Soque River is unique in the state, as it begins and ends within Habersham County; and it serves as a vital headwater tributary to the Chattahoochee River, which supplies 70% of Atlanta’s drinking water. The final destination of the waters that spring from Habersham County is the Apalachicola River that empties into the Gulf, in Northern Florida.
This past Friday, I fished the Soque’s upper reaches, near Batesville, Georgia, with my longtime friend Bob Seeger of Blue Ridge, Georgia. We spent the day on a stretch of the river managed by Dragonfly Lodge, with guide Phil Culver. After meeting Culver in nearby Batesville, we drove a short distance to the river and donned waders and boots while Culver rigged our fly rods with leaders and flies. During the day, we fished several stretches of the river. At first the trout were picky, until Culver discovered the nymph patterns that the trout were keyed in on. For the balance of the day, we had some of the best fishing that either of has ever seen.
Fishing a combination of double nymphs and dry flies with nymph droppers, we estimated that we caught between 15-20 trout from 22-24 inches. These trout weighed in at 6-8 pounds and put up excellent fights that featured runs, jumps and headshaking rises to the surface. The highlight of the day was a rare catch by Seeger of a Kamloops rainbow trout, a fish in the steelhead family that’s renounced for its vivid colors and fight. Besides being one of the best days of fishing, the ambiance along the river’s banks made for an exciting and relaxing experience. An experience we both look forward to exploring in the future.
For more information, or to book a trip on these storied waters, contact Culver at 707-768-8922.
