March 26, 2022, set for the Helen Chamber of Commerce signature fishing event
ALPINE HELEN-WHITE COUNTY, GEORGIA—MARCH 2022–More than 400 pounds of additional trout and $4,000 in available prizes will soon be swimming in Helen, Georgia’s Chattahoochee River. The Helen Chamber of Commerce proudly presents the 33rd Annual Helen Trout Tournament, 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the Helen Chamber of Commerce Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen, Georgia 30545.
The Helen Chamber of Commerce will stock the Chattahoochee River with over 400 pounds of trout for this event. This beautiful stretch of the Chattahoochee that flows leisurely through the City of Helen, only 20 miles from the headwaters, is teeming with trout and has been known to produce trophy native trout. In addition, DNR will be stocking the river with trout during the tournament. (A Georgia fishing license and trout stamp is required by the State of Georgia; all tournament participants are to follow the Georgia DNR rules of fishing in the Chattahoochee River in Helen.) The crystal-clear shimmering water of the Chattahoochee flows from springs, tiny streams and tributaries in the National Forests and the Appalachian Watershed surrounding Helen. When you are not fishing, there are a multitude of shops, restaurants and hotels for the entire family to enjoy in www.HelenChamber.com.
Anglers of all ages will test their skill–trying to hook *tagged trout within the river boundaries, from the river access area on Escowee Street (just upstream from Hofbrauhaus Restaurant) downstream through Helen to the first Brucken Strasse bridge at Cool River Tubing. Fishing regulations are governed by the Georgia DNR. All anglers must have a valid Georgia Fishing License and Trout stamp.
To win prizes, anglers must catch a tagged trout and present it at the Festhalle for weigh-in, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Be sure to be in the Festhalle by 2 p.m. when the Prize Awards Ceremony and Bucket Raffle Drawing begin. This year the top three prizes are by individual weight for tagged trout and include:
- 1st place $1,000 fish sponsored by Cool River Tubing
- 2nd place $500 “Milton Davis” fish sponsored by the Helen Chamber
- 3rd place $300 fish sponsored by Heidelberg German Restaurant
- $50 for each of the next 25 tagged trout by weight
- $25 for the remainder of the tagged trout by weight
*Only 2022 officially tagged trout qualify for prizes.
Registered participants receive an official tournament T-shirt (while supplies last). Pre-registered reserved shirts will be held for pick up until 2 p.m., Saturday, March 26. T-shirts are sponsored by: Betty’s Country Store, Cool River Tubing, Cowboys & Angels Restaurant, Georgia Mountain Coaster, Habersham Winery, Heidelberg Restaurant, Helendorf River Inn, Hofbrauhaus Restaurant, LaCabana Mexican Restaurant, Outpost Gold & Gem Panning, Paul’s Steakhouse and Savannah River Chapter Trout Unlimited.
Event Registration: Registration is $20 per person. Participants can print an entry form from www.HelenChamber.com, have it postmarked by March 18, 2022 and mail to: P.O. Box 192, Helen, Georgia 30545. Online registration is at www.HelenChamber.com until 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2022. In person registration is from 4-7 p.m., Friday, March 25 and 6-9 a.m., Saturday, March 26, at the Helen Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen, Georgia. For information and registration forms, visit www.HelenChamber.com/events/trout.html or call 706-878-1908. For lodging, dining and visitor information visit www.HelenChamber.com or www.HelenGA.org or call 1-800-858-8027. Be sure to LIKE the Helen Trout Tournament page on Facebook.