• Tucked beneath the ridgelines of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Smith Creek in Unicoi State Park offers some of the best small-stream fly fishing in North Georgia. With the Creek Freaks, you’ll experience this coldwater gem on a guided trip focused on rainbow and brown trout, surrounded by ancient trails, forest canopies, and cultural memory.

    Smith Creek flows from Unicoi Lake and is managed in part as a delayed-harvest fishery, providing a mix of catch-and-release waters and wild-feeling pockets. The creek’s tight runs and boulder-strewn pools are ideal for technical dry fly, nymph, and euro-style presentations. Whether you’re a new angler learning to read water or a seasoned trout hunter, Smith Creek delivers both challenge and reward.

    But this trip offers more than trout. As we explore, you'll hear about the Cherokee communities who called this land home, the meaning of “Unicoi” (from the Cherokee unega, meaning “white,” or “fog-like,” likely referring to the foggy ridges), and the early mountaineers and settlers who carved a life from the hills. We'll walk old trade paths and consider the cultural and ecological transitions that have shaped these waters — from Indigenous stewardship to conservation efforts today.

    Trip Highlights:

    • Fish for rainbow trout and brown trout in a cold, clear mountain stream

    • Explore delayed harvest and wild-feeling water sections (depending on season)

    • Learn about the Cherokee origins of “Unicoi,” local Native American trade routes, and the Appalachian frontier legacy

    • Beautiful setting in Unicoi State Park, with optional hike-in opportunities for more secluded fishing

  • Join the Creek Freaks for a guided fly fishing and heritage experience on Yahoola Creek, a crystal-clear mountain stream flowing through the heart of Dahlonega, Georgia — the site of America’s first major gold rush. This trip blends coldwater fly fishing with a living history lesson through the forests and foothills of Lumpkin County, where Cherokee trails, pioneer roads, and mining relics still shape the land and the story.

    We’ll fish cool runs and plunge pools for wild and stocked rainbow trout, with the chance to hook into brown trout in deeper bends. As we move along the creek, your guide will share stories of the Cherokee Nation who once thrived in these mountains — and of the Trail of Tears, which began in part with the displacement of Native communities following gold discovery in 1828.

    You’ll cast where miners once panned, and walk where ancient footpaths led to tribal councils, hunting grounds, and sacred sites. Whether you're a seasoned angler or curious newcomer, this trip offers a rare chance to match the hatch and connect with Georgia’s deeper currents of history.

    Trip Highlights:

    • Fly fishing for rainbow and brown trout in cold, clear North Georgia water

    • Interpretive history of Cherokee lands, the Georgia Gold Rush, and early Dahlonega settlements

    • Access scenic creekside trails, riffles, and remote pools

    • Ideal for trout anglers, history buffs, and lovers of Georgia’s mountain heritage