Fly Fishing Ellijay, GA

Tanasi Outdoors is the fly fishing guide service for anglers in Ellijay, GA and the broader Gilmer County area. Our shop sits on River Street in downtown Ellijay, minutes from the Cartecay River and a short drive from the Toccoa, our home tailwater. Whether you live in town, you’re staying at one of the cabins on the Cartecay or Coosawattee, or you’re driving up from Atlanta for a weekend, we’ll match you with a guide and a trip that fits your day.

Reserve online. Spring and fall weekends book 4 to 6 weeks out.

our trips

Choose Your Trip

Drift-Boat Trip

starting at $450

Our signature offering. Float 6 to 10 miles of trout water with a guide on the oars, casting to rainbows and wild browns. The drift boat covers water you can’t reach on foot and produces the best numbers days of any trip we run. Most drift-boat trips out of Ellijay run on the Lower Toccoa, about 30 minutes north of the shop.

Duration: Half-day or full-day
Anglers: 1 or 2
River: Lower Toccoa (or nearby tailwater depending on flow)
Includes: All gear, drinks, snacks, lunch on full days
Best for: First-timers, couples, anyone who wants the most water covered

BOOK A WADE TRIP

starting at $275

A day on foot with heavy guide attention. From the Ellijay shop we can wade the Cartecay, Coosawattee, smaller creeks in the Cohutta Wilderness, or drive 30 minutes north to wade the Toccoa. Wade trips are the instruction-heavy option and the best fit for anglers who want to leave the day a measurably better fisherman.

Duration: Half-day or full-day
Anglers: 1 or 2
Best for: Anglers actively trying to improve, smaller-water fans, anyone more comfortable on land than in a boat

PRIVATE WATER

starting at $375

For clients chasing a trophy or planning a special-occasion day. We have access to private trout streams within easy drive of the Ellijay shop, all lightly fished, well stocked, and reliable even when public water isn’t cooperating.

Duration: Full-day
Best for: Trophy hunting, anniversaries, corporate hosting, rainy or high-water days

Why Book With Tanasi Outdoors

Local team, multiple shops

Our guides live and fish North Georgia and East Tennessee year-round. We operate shops in Ellijay, GA; Blue Ridge, GA; and Cleveland, TN, with one shared booking system and one team. Wherever you’re closest to, we have a guide and a shop ready.

Tanasi outdoors is On The Fly Excursions & spotted dog outfitters

Tanasi Outdoors is the next chapter of On The Fly Excursions and Spotted Dog Outfitters. After years of working together, the two companies merged on 2026 to form Tanasi Outdoors. You’ll find the same experienced guides, the same boats, and the same commitment to exceptional days on the water.

All gear included

Rods, reels, lines, leaders, tippet, flies, waders, boots. Bring your own if you want to. If not, we have you covered.

Best access from the Atlanta side

If you’re driving up from Atlanta, Ellijay is the closer of our two Georgia shops. The drive is about 75 minutes from north Atlanta, which makes Ellijay our most popular shop for half-day trips that start and end at home.

Our Ellijay Shop

Our downtown shop is the home base for fly fishing in Ellijay and Gilmer County.

28 River Street, Ellijay, GA 30540

(706) 633-0306

Drive TIme

From downtown Ellijay: ~2 minutes

From East Ellijay / Coosawattee: ~5 to 10 minutes

From north Atlanta (Alpharetta / Roswell): ~75 minutes

From Blue Ridge: ~25 minutes From Chattanooga: ~2 hours

Stop in to pick up flies, get same-day water conditions, finalize a trip, or browse the Tanasi Outdoors apparel line. If Ellijay is full, our Blue Ridge shop at 500 East Main Street, Suite 203 is about 25 minutes north and is closer to the Toccoa tailwater for drift-boat days.

Waters We Fish From Ellijay

The Cartecay is our walk-in home water from Ellijay. The Toccoa is our drift-boat home water and a quick drive north. Most Ellijay trips end up on one of these two, with private water and smaller creeks rounding out the options.

Cartecay River

Runs through downtown Ellijay. Smaller water, walkable, stocked and wild rainbows. Best for wade trips and beginners. Great option for a half-day that starts at the shop.

Coosawattee River

Formed where the Cartecay meets the Ellijay River. Mix of trout water and warmwater depending on the section. Underrated and lightly fished.

Toccoa River

About 30 minutes north. The big drift-boat fishery. Wild browns, stocked rainbows, year-round tailwater fishing.

Cohutta Wilderness streams

Small-stream wild trout water within reach of Ellijay. Ask about a backcountry day if you want something off the beaten path.

Private water

Lightly fished trophy streams within easy drive of the shop.

Lesson FAQ

Quick Answers

Where do we meet?

For most Ellijay trips we meet at our downtown shop or a river access point. You’ll get exact directions when we confirm your booking.

Can I stop into the shop before my trip?

Yes, and we encourage it. A short stop the day before lets your guide check rigs, swap flies if needed, and brief you on the next day’s water.

What if I've never fly fished?

About half of our clients each season are first-timers. A half-day wade trip on the Cartecay is the easiest possible introduction. The guide handles the technical stuff; you focus on catching fish.

What's your weather policy?

We fish in rain. We reschedule or refund for lightning, dangerously high water, or unsafe cold. If we cancel, you don’t pay.

Where should I stay?

Cabin rentals along the Cartecay, Coosawattee, and Toccoa Rivers are the classic Ellijay fly-fishing trip. Downtown Ellijay also has B&Bs and rentals within walking distance of the shop. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll point you to a good local option.

Book Your Ellijay Trip

Spring and fall weekends book 4 to 6 weeks out. Weekdays open up faster.