Helen Trout Tournament
The Helen Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the 37th Annual Helen Trout Tournament on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Fish the famous Chattahoochee River in Helen, Georgia for your chance to catch tagged fish worth up to $1000! (Subject to change). The Helen Chamber of Commerce will stock the Chattahoochee River with over 400 pounds of trophy trout! In addition, Georgia DNR will be stocking the river with trout during the tournament as well. The Trout Tournament will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
$4,000 in prizes available for tagged fish! (Prizes and sponsors subject to change as we get closer to date)
All prizes are by individual weight for tagged trout: (Prizes and sponsors subject to change as we get closer to date)
1st Place $1,000.00 – Fish sponsored by Cool River Tubing
2nd Place $500.00 – “Milton Davis” fish sponsored by the Helen Chamber
3rd Place $300.00 – Fish sponsored by Heidelberg German Restaurant
$50.00 for the next 25 tagged trout by weight
$25.00 for the remainder of the tagged trout by weight
Weigh-in ends promptly at 2:00pm. Only trout officially tagged for the current year’s event are eligible for prizes.
$25.00 entry fee per Participant (subject to change). Anglers must have a valid Georgia Fishing License and Trout Stamp. All tournament participants must follow Georgia DNR Rules & Regulations for fishing in the Chattahoochee River in Helen, GA.
Registered participants receive an Official Tournament T-shirt (while supplies last). Pre-registered reserved shirts will be held for pick up until 2pm on the day of the tournament. T-shirts are sponsored by: Appalachian Baits, Betty’s Country Store, Cool River Tubing, Cowboys & Angels Restaurant, Georgia Mountain Coaster, Heidelberg German Restaurant, Helendorf River Inn, Hofbrauhaus German Restaurant, LaCabana Mexican Restaurant, Outpost Gold & Gem Panning, Paul’s Steakhouse, Savannah River Chapter Trout Unlimited. (Sponsors subject to change as we get closer to date).
DATE
Saturday March 28, 2026 6:00am – 2:00pm
Final weigh-in ends at 2:00 PM at the Helen Festhalle.
LOCATION
Helen Festhalle (In-person Registration & Weigh-in)
1074 Edelweiss Strasse
Helen, GA 30545
Tournament Fishing Location
Tournament fishing shall be limited to the river access area on Escowee Street (just upstream from Hofbrauhaus German Restaurant) downstream through Helen to the 1st Brucken Strasse bridge at Cool River Tubing.
REGISTRATION
Online Registration
Use our online registration form to enter and pay online.
Online registrations will be accepted through 9:59PM on (date to be announced)
Mail-in Registration
Download our mail-in registration form to enter by mail. Send your registration form along with a check or money order for $25.00 (subject to change) to:
Helen Chamber of Commerce
P. O. Box 192
Helen, GA 30545
Mail-in Registrations must be post marked no later than (date TBA).
In-person Registration
In-person registration will be available at the Helen Festhalle at the following times:
Friday March 27, 2026 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Saturday March 28, 2026 6:00am – 9:00am
For more information about the Trout Tournament, please call the Helen Chamber of Commerce at 706-878-1908.
For lodging, dining and visitor information call 1-800-858-8027.