issue 31
june/july 2017
Southern Trout
www.southerntrout.com
Publisher’s message
Jimmy Jacobs in Hall of Fame
T
ime flies when you are having fun.
That’s the best way I can describe the fast ride we’ve been on for more than five years. We’ve grown to five magazines and a staff of around a dozen. I don’t say often enough that it is the passion for fly fishing that brought us together and keeps the team so energized. It is especially gratifying when of the family receives much deserved accolades. Jimmy Jacobs, editor of Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing Magazine, is among the second class of inductees into The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians Hall of Fame
(HOF). The Marietta, Georgia resident has devoted his life to providing information to readers on the great fly fishing for trout found in the Southern Appalachians. His book, Trout Fishing in North Georgia, is the bestselling title ever on this subject. If you are the sort of person who keeps scores and lists, you already know that since the launch of Southern Trout Magazine (STM), Jacobs has had an article in every single issue. He chooses the subjects for own articles, which makes sense since he knows more about the magazine business than I do. When we were seriously considering the launch of Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing (SSFF), he was the first choice to be its editor. I regard that as quite a coup on our part. Since taking the reins on SSFF, Jacob’s approach to the managing content destined for design was so far ahead of what we were previously doing, that is now our official template that all of the others editors use. Getting Jacobs and the rest of the STM family on board is the reason this train is no longer in a train wreck. Jacobs is to be Inducted in the Museum HOF's Communications category for his contributions as the author of numerous fly fishing books and articles, seminar speaking, and
www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 3
Southern Trout
Publisher’s message
(cont.)
photography. His accomplishments in just fly fishing are incredible and well known, but few here may know that he is also a dedicated bird Publisher Don Kirk Assoc. Publisher Jerry Davis hunter and a hiker who has roamed trails that Assoc. Editor Ragan Whitlock are both on and not on maps. Managing Editor Leah Kirk Other 2017 inductees who have Special Projects Dir. Loryn Lathem contributed significantly to the tradition of fly Photographer/Writer Adam Patterson fishing in the Southern Appalachian Mountain Editorial Consultant Olive K. Nynne region include North Carolinians, Mac Brown and Joe Messinger, Sr. Last month Maryland fly Contributors fishing legend Lefty Kreh was inducted at another location. The second annual Museum Hall of Bill Bernhardt Bill Cooper Fame inductions will be conducted on August 26, Kevin Howell 2017 at the Southwestern Community College Harry Murray Swain Center in Bryson City, NC. The inductions is expected to draw museum supporters as well as the family and friends of the inductees. FIELD STAFF Ron Gaddy We look forward to attending the induction that Columnist honors Jacob’s life work.”
Craig Haney Columnist Jimmy Jacobs, Georgia Editor Roger Lowe Columnist Bob Mallard Columnist Steve Moore Columnist Bob Borgwat Columnist
ON THE COVER Cover by Todd L.W. Doney www.todddoney.com
Southern Trout is a publication of Southern Unlimited, LLC. Copyright 2017 Southern Unlimited LLC. All rights reserved. 4 l June 2016 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Yep, it’s just that easy with Western North Carolina’s premier fly shop and guide service. Kevin Howell and his experienced staff have been fishing the surrounding 500 miles of prime trout waters so long, they know all the fish on first name basis. And they’ll be more than happy to make a few introductions.
PISGAH FOREST, NC
GUIDE SERVICES | ONLINE & RETAIL STORE | LESSONS
THIS ISSUE From the Editor
3
32
14
Gearhead 14 Small Streams Gearing up for Going Down
26
Battle of Gatlinburg 26 Trout Fishing Tournament Sunburst Trout Sponsored Eisenhower Trout
32
New Fly Guy The Fantastic Forceps
34
62
34
Black Wing Olive Chronicles 48
Roughing it in Blue Ridge
Fly of the Month
52
Rod Review - Helios 2 104-4 Tip-Flex Fly Rod
58
PITA
54
The Best Fishing Club 62 Meeting I Ever Attended CLOSE LOOK- Virginia/West Virginia Featured Destination
68
Featured Fly Shop Serenity Now Outfitters
82
Featured Fly Tyer Cole Fischer Charlottesville, VA
90
52
Hardy County: “WV’s Panhandle Trout Hub”
6 l June 2016 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
THIS ISSUE
122
68 160
136
Featured Fly Shop Albemarle Angler
98
West Virginia's Top Trout Town - Lewisburg/ Greenbrier County
104
Featured Resort Elk Springs - Resort & Fly Shop
114
The Perfect Weekend Trip 126 Fishing Along the Appalachian Trail and Shenandoah in FA
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178 92
140
Book Review 136 Wade Fishing the Rapidan Featured Artist Kevin Fricke
140
Kick Boatin' Virginia's Bronzeback Trout
154
Georgia's Bavairian Trout Town: Helen, GA
168
Coming Alive in the Mountains
182
Are You Ready for Jar Flies? 196
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SweetWater Brewing Company • Georgia • SweetWaterBrew.com
Cashiers, NC
gearhead
Small Stream Gearing for Goin Down
14 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
ms: g Up ng
gearhead BOB MALLARD
A
fter losing myself in the world of large rivers, big fish, driftboats and technical fly fishing for a decade or so, I returned to the small streams where I learned to fly fish in search of solitude, simplicity, unspoiled surroundings and wild native fish. While big water is fascinating, it lacks the intimacy found in small streams. Ditto for big fish: While impressive and often hard-won, they are rarely as beautiful as small wild fish. Rowing takes planning, and time away from fishing. And while I love challenging fishing, it doesn’t have to be hard to be fun: And small streams present their own challenges. Fishing for wild native fish in small intact ecosystems represents fly fishing in its purest form. No hybrids, triploids, rounded tails, or clipped or shredded fins, just pure unadulterated wild trout. No dams, artificially cooled water or critters that are out of place, just natural environs with wild native things that belong there. The tackle used for small stream fishing is traditional, and in some ways simple. No fast-action rods, large arbor reels with high-tech drags, fly lines with complex compound tapers or difficult to manage long light leaders. Short medium- or slowaction rods, click-and-pawl reels, lines with single-stage tapers and short stout leaders are all you need.
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gearhead Over the past six or so years, I have become a bit of a small stream fanatic. I now spend much of my time in the backcountry, targeting fish that would not have passed the “size test”, in water I would have considered boring and unworthy of my attention less than a decade ago. I had accumulated four fly rods seven feet or shorter and 3-weight or lighter for fishing small streams. They were made from glass, bamboo and low-tech graphite. None were what you would call “fast”; three had internal ferrules and two had downlocking reel seats. And none were the popular four-piece configuration found in most rods made today. Three of my four small stream rods were matched to small-arbor reels, two of which had traditional click-andpawl drags. None of the reels measured more than 3” from top to bottom, or more than 1” side to side. I purchased special hybrid wading boots for wet wading, and stockingfoot hip boots for early spring and late fall. I bought two small chestpacks and two fannypacks. I outfitted a neoprene belt with a knife and flask, purchased water bottles for my fannypacks, and put water filters in each of them for backup. My small stream fly selection is a fraction as large, or as diverse, as what I carry on the river, and includes traditional patterns such as bucktails, wet flies and attractor dries that I wouldn’t dream of using on big water. But I had a hole in my quiver. I needed a short, light-line packable fly rod to complement my 7’ 9” 3-weight 5-piece pack rod. The idea of being hours, or even days, away from the truck with just one rod at my disposal did not sit well with me. To go that far and be benched due to an unfortunate, and seemingly inevitable twist of fate seemed wrong-headed. I wanted something in the 6’ 6” range designed for a 2-weight line and in a four-piece configuration so I could easily pack it in with me. It had to have a slow or medium action so as not to overwhelm what are usually small fish, and be physically light so as not to add any unnecessary weight to my already overburdened backpack. 16 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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When it comes to short light-line rods, your options are far more limited than they are regarding longer rods in heavier line weights. In fact, most major fly rod manufacturers don’t make anything shorter than 7’, and much of what they do make is too fast for the task at hand – short casts and small fish. My search led me to JP Ross & Company in upstate New York, purveyors of fine custom specialty fly rods. I decided on their four-piece Beaver Meadow carbon silica rod in a 6’ 6” 2/3-weight (www.jprossflyrods.com/collections/beaver-meadow-small-streamrods). With six standard models and custom options available, I opted for a custom version with a down-locking nickel and wood reel seat. At just $400 to $500, this is a premium rod at a less than premium price. Per JP himself, the Beaver Meadow “was designed to fish small streams for brook trout.” He refers to Adirondack brook trout as his “favorite fish”, and small streams as his favorite place to play. So, it doesn’t surprise me that the rod does everything I want it to do, and well. It excels in tight quarters, is light to carry and has a great action, referred to as “medium”, for light-line fly fishing. The Beaver Meadow is made from a blend of carbon fiber and glass fused with silica. It fits somewhere between traditional glass and modern graphite, and performs accordingly. The result is a rod that is more responsive and crisper than glass, but stronger than graphite, while maintaining a more glass-like feel and action. It is also a beautiful rod. 18 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Next I needed to find a reel to match my new fly rod. Like fly rods, the choices are somewhat limited as you go down in size. I wanted something simple, light and rugged, as well as traditional and good looking. Many of today’s reels are too bulky – especially large-arbor ones -- and a bit heavy for short light fly rods. After looking around, I chose a Hardy Duchess in the 1/2/3 size (www.hardyfishing. com/hardy-reels-fly-reels-hardy-duchess/hardy-duchess-reel/1373354.html). This heirloom quality high-end British-made machined reel employs a click-and-pawl drag, is only 3” tall, and weighs just over 3 ounces. It is a handsome and functional piece, and costs roughly $400. As for fly line, consider Scientific Anglers’ Mastery Double Taper (www. scientificanglers.com/product/mastery-double-taper/). The short front taper is perfect for fishing pocket-water and the double-taper design helps you roll-cast when traditional casts are impossible due to tight quarters and low canopy. While my immediate need was a second backpacking rod -- shorter and lighter than what I already had -- my Beaver Meadow from JP Ross has become part of my everyday arsenal due its versatility and fishability. It fits perfectly between my 6’ 2-weight glass rod and 7’ 3-weight vintage Winston WT graphite rod. The Hardy Duchess takes an equally worthy place in my collection of reels. JP Ross of JP Ross & Company is also a founding member of Trout Power, a group working to protect and preserve the native brook trout in the Adirondacks of New York (www.jprossflyrods.com/pages/trout-power-initiative) www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 19
gearhead
Small Stream Rod Pros and Cons Pros: Purchasing a dedicated small stream outfit allows you to address a specific set of conditions. It also allows takes wear-and-tear of your everyday tackle, which while it costs a bit more up front, evens out over the life of outfits.
Cons: Like any specific-use product, small stream outfits don’t do everything well. While
you are sacrificing some level of versatility, they do some things very well – and that is fish small streams. And as noted above, it will cost you a bit more upfront.
Small Stream Rod Do’s and Don’ts • When buying a small stream outfit, remember what you will be doing – fishing small water for mostly small fish. Rods from 5’ to 7’6” and 2-weight to 4-weight work best. If you fish mostly very small streams, consider a rod from 5’ to 6’ and 1-weight to 2-weight. If you fish mostly larger streams, consider a rod from 6’6” to 7’6” and 3-weight to 4-weight. • Steer clear of fast-action rods as they don’t cast well at close range, and they do not roll-cast well. Focus on medium- to slow-action rods, including glass, bamboo, hybrids such as carbon silica and graphite. • Consider buying a small-arbor reel with a simple click-and-pawl drag to reduce bulk and weight. Be careful with heavier reels as it will cause your outfit to balance poorly, and a butt-heavy rod feels worse than a tip-heavy rod. • Choose fly lines with simple tapers and short front tapers, including double-tapers. Avoid lines with long front-tapers or complex multi-stage compound tapers. • Use leaders in the 6’ to 7’ 6” and 4x to 5x range. Avoid leaders that are longer than your rod as you will often have limited line beyond the tip anyway. Ditto for anything lighter than 5x, the fish don’t care but the rocks and trees do. • And as always, try before you buy… What works for me may not work for you. And think out of the box, some of the best small stream products made come from lesserknown companies.
Conclusion: Small stream fishing calls for a different type of rod than large rivers and
stillwaters. Shorter lengths help work around shoreline vegetation and low canopy while making it easier to execute bow-and-arrow casts, etc. In my opinion, a dedicated small stream rod is money well spent.
BOB MALLARD has fly fished for over 40 years. He is a former fly shop owner, blogger, writer, author, fly designer and native fish advocate. Look for his books 50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northeast and 25 Best Towns Fly Fishing for Trout (Stonefly Press). He can be reached at www.bobmallard.com, info@bobmallard.com or 207-399-6270. 20 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
gearhead
Landing Nets and Fly Boxes of the finest hand-selected hardwoods and burls.
Order today www.bitterrootnets.com (509) 570-8856
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“Some of North GA’S Finest Land, in Sautee Nacoochee GA. Secluded & protected by surrounding mountains, this peaceful setting has 67+ acres with pristine trout streams, rushing waterfalls 2 homes, barns, sheds, & a log cabin circa 1803. Just minutes away from the Soquee River and the Appalachian Trail. Must see to truly appreciate the beauty. A hunting and fishing Paradise. Contract Patricia Bower 770-5306300 or Brandon Lovell 706-7682005. Keller Williams 706-8397355. For more info and images, click here.
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We fish the most beautiful trout streams in the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains:
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No Experience necessary, we will teach you how to fly fish!
Rates starting at $75.00 per person! For reservations call 828-488-7665 Or book securely from our website!
828-488-7665 • FlyFishingTheSmokies.net Email guides@FlyFishingTheSmokies.net
Authorized Concessioner
24 l February 2016 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Aquamira Max with Geigerrig Hydration Pack Engine
www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2017 l 25
BATTLE OF GATLINBURG TROUT FISHING TOURNAMENT 2017 O
ne hundred and fifty four years after the Union Army came face to face with outnumbered Confederate forces that were forced to flee over the Great Smoky Mountains, the battle returns. This time the warriors arrive with different armament, carrying fly rods and spinning rods they will confront the greatest enemy they know, the mighty trout! Yes, men, women, and children alike will join forces to attempt to prove once again that they can outsmart one of the most beautiful creations on earth that has humbled, confused, and tormented them for generations.
On Saturday, September 30th, 2017 anglers of all ages will gather in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee to take part in the inaugural Battle of Gatlinburg Fishing Tournament 2017. The tournament presented by the Great Smoky Mountain Trout Unlimited chapter, Tennessee’s oldest Trout Unlimited chapter along with sponsor Southern Trout Magazine is just one part of the Sugarlands MountainFest Music and Outdoor Festival. This multi-day party also features music, marathons; and bike races that will welcome the return of fall in the
26 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Smokies. Sugarlands Distilling Company of Gatlinburg, TN is bringing an outdoor event with something for everyone to Gatlinburg, TN the last weekend of September, 2017. The Battle of Gatlinburg Fishing Tournament 2017 features not one but three different contests for every age and skill level. On Saturday, September 30, 2017 the morning kicks off with the “One Fly Royale”. This event is a fly fishing rod and one artificial fly, featuring catch & release only contest for seasoned anglers in downtown Gatlinburg. Limited to just one
fly and only 30 entries this one is for all the marbles, over $3,000 dollars in cash and prizes will go to the winners of this battle. The second tournament is aptly named the Spin “R” Fly; as in the afternoon these anglers have their choice of either a fly rod or a traditional spinning rod to pursue their quarry. Again artificial only bait is allowed with either rod choice as these contestants attempt to answer the age old question of which rod style catches more trout. Of course a sure crowd favorite will be the “Kid’s Tournament”, a contest for those
www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 27
THE BEST BLOOD KNOT TOOL
BLOOD KNOTS TIED FAST AND EASY Add new tippet to leader or construct custom leaders BLOOD KNOTS
Stronger than surgeon’s knot– smoother-they go through rod guides easier
Small, light weight (5/8 oz)
www.eztiesystem.com easy instructions included
12 years old and younger in a specially designated area just for them. Don’t let their age fool you, these juvenile anglers are just as serious and dedicated as anyone when it’s time to get down to business. A range of prizes will be awarded to them just like the other tournaments to help them in their pursuit of being a future outdoors enthusiast and our next generation of anglers. This celebration of the outdoors will be like no festival ever held in our Great Smoky Mountains with over four days of continuous activities and events. It may be summer now but just around the corner is the party of the year coming to downtown Gatlinburg, TN. This family friendly weekend is fun for the whole family right at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you are a runner, bicycle racer, angler or just someone who enjoys the outdoors, with just a hint of Tennessee shine this one’s for you! Join us as Gatlinburg and the Smokies welcome you home for fall! John Reinhardt President Great Smoky Mountain Chapter Trout Unlimited
Follow the link for details and registration all summer long: https://m.facebook.com/sugarlandsfestival/ Follow the Great Smoky Mountain Trout Unlimited website: http://greatsmokymountain.tu.org/ or Follow the Great Smoky Mountain Trout Unlimited Chapter on Facebook: http:////m.facebook.com/GreatSmokyMountainTU/
28 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
N I W
R T A
O T IP
R P S
S G IN
K L ! E T R O S RE
Enter to win by signing up for a free subscription to Southern T Magazine. If you are already a sub you are already entered!
Published six times a year, Southe the only magazine devoted exclusi fishing for trout in the South. You receive the information-packed we e-Newsletter.
a Trout bscriber,
The winner receives
• A two-day stay at Elk Springs Resort • A full-day guided fishing trip on Elk Springs River Contest runs June through August 1st. Good for any weekday exclusive of the months of July and October, and holidays. Winner is responsible for fishing licenses and transportation. ern Trout is Winner must schedule trips/stay no less than 30 days in advance. ively to fly Trips/stay must be taken before 01-07-2018. The winner will be will also announced August 5th in the ST newsletter.
eekly ST
The email addresses of subscribers will only be used to send out Southern Unlimited magazines (Southern Trout & Southern Kayak Fishing), and their respective e-newsletters. Under no circumstances are subscriber email addresses used otherwise or made available to any third party.
Cli
ck Th Ad is En to ter !
Eisenhower Trout
E
veryone knows that the Royal Coachman was the favorite trout fly pattern of Dwight D. Eisenhower. The five-star general and thirty-fourth president of the United States was also a no-nonsense cook. Eisenhower Trout was born on a campfire in a bacon drippings laden cast iron skillet. Today the Eisenhower Trout is the signature entry at Gatlinburg, Tennessee acclaimed Trout House Restaurant. Specializing in serving up dozens of different trout dish, their famous Eisenhower Trout is a real treat. Eisenhower Trout is a quite simple recipe. All you do is brown bacon in a skillet, crust the fish with cornmeal, and fry it in the bacon fat. It is super easy to make over the campfire in a cast iron skillet.
32 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Eisenh Ingredients 4 slices thick-cut smoked bacon 4 dressed whole trout (12 to 16 ounces each) Himalaya salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 cup yellow cornmeal
hower's Trout Recipe Instructions Cook bacon until it is crisp. Set bacon aside. Reserve drippings in the skillet. Season trout inside and out with salt and pepper. Roll trout in cornmeal. Place crusted trout in hot bacon drippings readied at medium/high heat. Fry until both side are golden brown on the outside and cooked through.
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ÂŽ
Don’t go home empty handed! www.sunbursttrout.com
Sunburst Trout Farms Is located below the Shining Rock National Wilderness in the Pisgah National Forest. Since 1948 they have been growing rainbow trout, and the farm is now run by third generation brothers Wes and Ben Eason.
Sunburst has a long standing commitment to quality. Their fish are hormone and antibiotic free, and the feed is made especially for them containing no mammalian by-products. All trout are cut to order in small bathces, mostly by hand, thus ensuring all products are of the highest standard. In addition to Sunburst’s flagship fillets you can also find their award winning caviar, as well as trout jerky, hickory smoked trout, cold smoked trout, smoked trout dip, trout sausage, and even some non trout products, pimento goat cheese and smoked tomato jam. Be sure to stock up on their Original Jennings Jerky! It’s shelf stable and perfect for those long days fly fishing. To order go online to www.sunbursttrout.com
314 Industrial Park Drive Waynesville, NC 28786 828-648-3010 • 800-673-3051
The Fa
new guy newflyfly guy
F
or the new fly angler, a forceps (aka hemostat) is an easily overlooked, critical tool. Do not make a quick purchase of the cheapest thing you can find! Examples of the wrong choices include medical hemostats or a set of needlenose pliers masquerading in the role. Neither of these poor imitations has the required range of embedded tools needed to deal with the challenges of fly fishing (Yes, there are other problems beyond casting!). Medical hemostats are typically small stainless steel versions of a fishing forceps with only one purpose - to grip. The handles on medical hemostats are skinny and bend without being able to put the required pressure on a split shot. Although strong, needle-nose pliers share the same singular purpose with the additional negatives of rusting quickly when exposed to water, being far too heavy to carry and no latch point to connect the handle to a zinger.
36 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
antastic Forceps
new fly guy
Steve Moore
www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 37
new fly guy new fly guy Even so, forceps marketed as “fishing forceps” or “scissors clamps,” may not have all the required features. It is well worth the additional cost to get the fully capable version of this essential tool. A good pair of forceps must be solidly made out of stiff, rust resistant material. The best example of good fishing forceps are the ones made by Orvis. These come in two models; the power jaw ($15) and the power jaw + scissors ($20). Beyond construction, the forceps must be able to do the following things to be useful on the stream:
First, it must have a locking clamp near the finger holes. Why does it need to lock? Most anglers carry the forceps attached to a zinger, and, without the clamp, it will jingle and jangle, swinging from side to side, in the open position. One of the first truths every fly angler learns is that if there is a way to get line tangled, it will happen; keep the forceps closed and tucked into a nearby vest pocket. 38 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
new fly guy
Second, the most critical feature of the good pair of forceps is a built up section providing additional leverage to squeeze split shot tight onto tippet. Given the length of the nose, it’s hard to get decent leverage all the way at the tip. However, a forceps with the built-up area near the pivot point allows the force to concentrate; providing a firm clamp of split shot to the tippet.
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new guy newflyfly guy
Third, with many flies being mass produced overseas, quality can be an issue. In particular, mass produced flies routinely cover the eye of the hook with thread. Rather than trying to clean this out with the pointy part of another hook, leverage the pin built into the jaw of a good forceps. The pin matches with a hole on the opposite side. Merely place the eye of the hook on the pin, squeeze gently shut and rotate the fly to remove the offending thread.
40 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
new fly guy
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new guy newflyfly guy
42 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
new fly guy
Fourth, the forceps of should have a narrow taper to a blunt point. A smooth exterior and tapered end facilitate using the forceps as a knot tying assist tool. The New Fly Guy column in the February 2016 issue offered a tutorial on many of the knots you can tie quickly using a forceps, including the clinch knot, Trilene knot and Kreh loop knot for attaching the fly to tippet and the surgeon's knot for splicing tippet. Fifth, an optional feature, but nice capability is to have a built-in line cutter/scissors as part of the forceps. Even though this is not critical since a fingernail clipper type line cutter is easy to use and quick to grab, it’s handy nevertheless. The final application is to release fish. This is where a smooth taper to a blunt point is necessary. The dull point protects the fish from further injury while working to free the hook. As always, I encourage everyone to mash down the barb when fishing for wild trout or stocked trout you intend to release. As a side note, you should not feel guilty about keeping a stocked fish. In many jurisdictions, the wildlife folks stock fish into streams that are cold in the spring and fall, but warm to the point of trout mortality in the heat of the summer. If fishing one of those locations, keeping a fish is very appropriate and probably encouraged. Check out Steve’s YouTube channel at KayakHacksFishing for more on this topic.
www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 43
Natural State Fly Shop is located within walking distance of the fabled White River, just up the road from the Cotter boat launch and public access. A full-service retailer and outfitter, Natural State Fly Shop offer flies, tackle, rental driftboats, shuttles, guided float trips on the White and Norfork Rivers, and guided wade trips on Dry Run Creek. Featuring products by Winston, Ross, Galvan, TroutHunter, Catch Fly Fishing, and many more; Natural State Fly Shop offers everything that the visiting fly fisherman needs. Natural State Fly Shop Shop: 870-471-9111
3392 Cotter Road 102 Harding Blvd. Mobile: 870-706-0820 870-321-2792
Cotter, Arkansas
www.naturalstateflyshop.com flyfishcotter@gmail.com
black wing olive chronicles
Roughing it
in Blue Ridge
48 l February 2016 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
J
eeezzzz…I thought it would never end. In late April the STM tribe descended on Blue Ridge, Georgia like a swarm of locust. As best I can tell they all got out of town Sunday morning before the local magistrate could process the complaints against them. As is my custom, I’m going to spill the beans on these reprobates, but to protect the guilty I’m not naming names, with the exception of course of the ringleader and that JD guy. The company was generous enough to provide extremely plush lodging that included a very large hot tub. It’s my understanding that funding was provided for meals, but except for a box of saltine crackers and two cans of sardines, there was nothing edible there that I could sniff out. In great supply though was what they referred to reverently as brown water and cool ones. Apparently when you're old enough to be a teenager’s beloved grandfather, you have the ability to live for several days on a purely liquid diet.
The government can abandon its subsidies of tobacco farming, at least that portion of it that involves supplying burly leave for wrapping cigars. I was mistaken for an ashtray three times on just Friday night alone. To tell the truth, I am still a little bit disoriented by all of the second hand smoke from third rate sticks, as the overaged “Peter Pans” referred to the brown things they stuck between their lips. The occasion for this crusade to relive their salad days was the trout festival in Blue Ridge. I like the event’s canine friendly rules where I was but one of many, many members of my species in attendance. A young wheat terrier kept nosing around me until I nipped his prying snout. He looked like a four-legged dust ball, but he thought he was a heaven sent suitor. I may not have a pedigree, but I do have class, and his pushy pursuit was not welcomed. On the other hand, I did enjoy batting my eyelashes at a Great Dane/Labrador cross. He was one dashing piece of eye candy. Also, I rather liked a lithe German Shorthair. Appearing to be formed of nothing but grilse, I lost interest in him though when he winded a dicky bird and thereafter simply would not let up his never ending vocalizations. The event had a number of those UGA bulldog dog clones. Is it me, or do all of those bulldog look like sumo wrestler? Digressing back to my rowdy bipod cabin mates. As much as I would delighted to tell you in great detail about their adolescent behavior, but as is the rule here, “what happens in Blue Ridge, stays in Blue Ridge”. Ah yes, one other thing. If anyone knows how I can get in touch with at Dane/Lab stud muffin, please email me at oliveblackwing@ gmail.com. I would really, really appreciate it.
www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2017 l 49
Is Swain County NC a Fisherman’s Paradis Hundreds of miles of native mountain trout streams flow
through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park above Bryson City and Cherokee — freestone creeks with native rainbow, brook and brown trout. Most streams offer all three species.
Trout are also common in our four rivers – the Oconaluftee,
C
Great Smoky Mo National Pa
Little Tennessee, the Eagle Chambers Nolan Twentymile Hazel Creek Forney Creek Creek Creek Creek Tuckasegee and the Creek Fontana Dam Fontana Nantahala, one of Fontana Cheoah Lake Lake Lake Lewellyn Trout Unlimited’s top Fontana B Branch Fontana 129 Lake Boat Village Alarka 100 rivers. And now, a 2.2 Cable Ramp Marina Boat Dock Cove 28N Boat mile section of the Tuck Ramp Almond Lemmons Boat Park Branch through Bryson City has Boat Ramp Stecoah 143 been designated delayed 19 Wesser 74 Needmore harvest waters, and Road For more information, Nantahala River promises to have one of contact the Bryson City / the highest trout counts Swain County Chamber of Wayah Road (NC 1310) of any stream in the Commerce 800-867-9246. Upper Nantahala southeast. River
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Public Access
se?
Upper Raven Fork
ountains ark
Deep Creek
Indian Creek
Raven Fork Trophy Section
Lakeview Drive
Old 288 Boat Ramp
Tuckasegee River
k Alarka Creek Alarka Road
28S Little Tennessee River
Bryson City
Whittier Whittier Boat Ramp
EBCI Hatchery Big Cove Road
19
441 Tuckasegee River
Public Access
Conleys Creek
Heintooga Ridge Road
Blue Ridge Parkway Cherokee Indian Cherokee Reservation
19
Public Access
Raven Fork
Oconaluftee River
nd k
k
Straight Fork
441
Clingmans Dome
You be the Judge.
Straight Fork Road
Bradley Chasteen Kephart Fork Creek Prong
74 Conleys Creek Road
Dillsboro
441
Visit GreatSmokiesFishing.com for profiles of all 26 Swain County fishing locations on this map. All are just minutes from Bryson City, NC.
Two mountain lakes The 30 miles of trout offer trout fishing streams on the The 29-mile long, Cherokee Indian 11,700 acre Fontana Reservation are the Lake and its smaller downstream neighbor Cheoah Lake both have strong populations of trout, particularly near the mouths of streams flowing out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cheoah is regularly stocked by the State of North Carolina.
longest privately-owned and stocked fishing waters east of the Mississippi. The 2.2mile Raven Fork Trophy section is home to the biggest trout in the Smokies. This specially regulated section is fly fishing only and catch and release.
Failure to Launch: Duckworth’s PITA F By Colonel Roger Duckworth
I
was having lunch at Chattanooga’s new Champy’s location with Don Kirk, Jerry Davis (JD), and Steve Fry when the idea for this article evolved. Don and JD were visiting Steve Fry, President of the Appalachia chapter of TU, gathering information from Steve on Steve’s father, Hubert and specifically on Lou Williams and the early efforts in TN to develop a quality trout fishery. Steve has a large archive of newspaper articles and pictures from those early years as well as vast knowledge of the early fishery and trout management.
52 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Fly
Pain in the Arse (PITA) Actual fly used.
As we were enjoying the lunch and the scenery, we, of course, were discussing fishing. I showed JD and Don a picture of a South Holsten size 16 Sulpher taken in May on the South Holsten that had not been able to detach from its shuck and was struggling through the water. I then showed Don and JD my imitation of the natural. Don said its sounded mayfly version of Millennial Generation “failure to launch syndrome” and suggested that I do an article. I had seen the identical phenomena in August the year prior on the Clinch River just upstream from Clinton, TN so I deduced that this was not a rare occurrence. I know that predators (trout) key on stragglers so trying to imitate this fly might work. The photo shows the wings splayed but when I first saw them, they were “buzzing” across the water as they tried to escape the shuck while leaving a micro wake. The next morning I tied some flies for the day and tied two Puff Daddy style flies (the puff simulating the buzzing wings) but added a big clump of brown dubbing at the bottom 1/4th of the abdomen. The day was clear and about 70 degrees with little to no wind. That evening, after a great cheeseburger and curly fries at the Hickory Tree Cafe, I stationed at the tail of a long, shallow pool as the evening Sulpher hatch started. I scooped a fly from the water and it was a size 16 also. There were quite a few fish rising throughout the pool but I noticed several that were larger. I spotted a nice brown and moved to a position for a good drag-free drift and expected to take him with a Puff Daddy—no go. I then tried a Comparadun—no go. I then tried a Sparkle Dun—no go. Sinking emerger-ditto. Floating emerger— ditto. Spinner—ditto. After at least 20 casts, he was still rising. I also cast to several other fish within casting range during this period without even a refusal.
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I remembered the two flies that I had tied that morning and wound one on. On the first drift the nice brown took it! Unfortunately, I broke the 6X tippet on the hook set. I tied my last one on and in about 12 casts, hooked 9 fish. One of those fish being the nice brown after it started feeding again! So, is this fly the magic bullet? No, I have seen this happen too many times where the trout are on fire on a particular fly one night and mostly ignore it the next night. However, I suggest that you tie a few of these for the various mayfly hatches that you might encounter in your wanderings. They might save the day, especially during a strong hatch. Almost forgot that Don ask me the name of the fly and I said that I had not named it. I have now, after considerable consternation, named it the PITA fly (Pain in the Arse). I am not sure how good the name is but maybe Don can hold a fly naming contest in Southern Trout……. I plan to add this fly to my YouTube channel but it is an easy tie, just add a slug of brown dubbing to the rear section of a Puff Daddy. This might work on almost any floating dun pattern. I just happen to love the adaptability of a Puff Daddy style fly. Final thought. When you see a “newbie” on the stream, share some of your time, knowledge and flies with him or her. It will reward both of you. Show them what stream courtesy really means….. Lets change the stereotype of fly fishermen from elitist to team players. Col(R) Roger L. Duckworth South Holsten Sulpher with partially attached shuck.
54 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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rod review
104-4 Tip-Flex Fly Rod 58 l February 2016 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
O
ver the years, one may have noticed that the preferred length of fly rods is a bit like the ups and downs of skirt lines. There was a time when miniskirts were the rage, and then it was maxi skirts. It’s a yoyo trend that has come and gone for almost a hundred years. Fly rod trends seem to also have their own cycles. My first Orvis fly rod was a 6-foot, 2-wt. Flea. It was the late 1960s, and as I recall, it was the heyday of the miniskirts. As I grew older and more conservative, I transitioned from standard 8-foot fly rods in the early 1980s to a Fenwick 9.5-foot, 4-wt. I stuck with that rod for over ten years catching everything from high country brook trout to a 48-inch Atlantic salmon in the Miramichi River in New Brunswick. Orvis’ Helios 2 104-4 Tip-Flex Fly Rod is one of the latest entries in the currently popular 10-feet plus fly rods being grabbed up by the current generation of Euro nymphers and those who have rediscovered “high sticking.” Frankly, I have to admit that the Helios 2 104-4 Tip-Flex Fly Rod has a helluva lot going for it, even if you try to put it in the trendy, “maxi skirt” fad category. For starters, this 4-piece rods weighs in at a featherweight, 2⅝ ounces—less than most 9- to 9.5-foot fly rods. There isn't an insane amount of swing weight either in this Vermont bred fly rod. You can cast this fly rod all day. According to Orvis, the Helios 2 104-4 Tip-Flex Fly Rod is 20% stronger than their original series of Helios, and 20% lighter in hand with a 100% increase in tip-impact strength.
A good argument can be made that the heart of the Helios 2 is its fine-tuned tapers. The culmination of almost 150 years of rod building experience, these tapers deliver unrivaled tracking, accuracy, and lifting power. On the streams of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where we ran the Helios 2 through the drills, we rated it as best high sticking, euro nymphing we had ever worked with on these streams. The company’s Tip Flex design/technology is truly a game changing component of these fly rods. Orvis spared neither expense nor effort in creating the Helios 2. The components and finishes of the Helios 2 will make an old man drool, and a young man nutty. The burled wood insert and sleek skeleton reel seat serve as a seductive introduction to an ultra-high quality cork, Western-style cork grip. This fluidly transcends a shimmering dark blue blank adorned with a SiC stripping guide and flexible nickel/titanium snake guides. At 2 5/8oz. it is close to weightless. It is the sort of fly rod even a well-adjusted angler might confess to have slept with at least once The Helios 2 104-4 Tip-Flex Fly Rod comes with a rod tube and is backed by Orvis’ 25-year guarantee. If you opt for the complete rod outfit, you also will have a Mirage II (in pewter finish) that comes spooled with Hydros WF 4 Trout fly line and 125 yards of 20-pound Dacron line backing. It’s really a pretty sweet deal.
www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2017 l 59
A NANO BREWERY IN BLUE RIDGE, GA We were founded in October of 2012, and our first legal brew was shipped in July of 2013. We are a couple of old retired guys who were home brewing in an outdoor shower and graduated to this. We are still having fun which is why we are still open.
Our corporate mission is simple: If we don’t like it, we don’t drink it. If we don’t drink it, we don’t sell it. GRUMPY OLD MEN BREWING, LLC 1315 East Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA
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60 l February 2016 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Trout only live in beautiful places.
Fly Fish the Trout Capitol of Georgia. With over 550 miles of beautiful rivers and trout streams, Blue Ridge and Fannin County have the richest, most diverse all-season fishery in the state.
For a free Visitor’s Guide, call 800-899-mtns www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2017 l 61 BlueRidgeMountains.com
The Best Fishing Club Meeting I Ever Attended By William King
I
belong to the Central Lakes Fishing Association (CLFA). It is an area fishing club, which averages about three hundred dues-paying members. The remarkably large number probably indicates that fishing must be pretty good in the Central Lakes area. The club is made up of both men and women, from teenagers to octogenarians. The purpose of the club is to promote conservation and the sport of fishing, but I think most members are there to get an edge on catching the biggest and largest number of game fish that they can. Fifty to seventy-five people show up for most CLFA meetings. I remember taking my fishing buddy, Rodger, to a meeting at the Smokehouse Bar in early spring. It was one of his first meetings, and he was eager to learn more about the club. He was still weighing whether to join or not. Rows of chairs and a few tables were set up in the bar’s shabby back room. The room has no windows, has not seen a coat of paint in many years, and can barely hold seventy-five people. The tables and many of the chairs are wobbly, there is little to no ventilation, and it smells like stale beer. Yet the club still chooses to hold meetings there. The main attraction to this meeting site is that you can order alcoholic beverages and consume them during the meeting. A few tables are set up at the front of the room for the club officers, facing the membership. To raise money painlessly, the club sells raffle tickets before each meeting for fishing tackle, and it holds a 50-50 raffle. These activities and the annual dues enable the club to sponsor tournaments, as well as to support various local fishing charities and environmental organizations. This particular meeting’s feature was a fishing guide’s talk about catching salmon and other large fish in September in the Niagara River where it empties into Lake Ontario. This was his beat, and part of the purpose of his presentation was to drum up new business. Apparently, the fishing is spectacular when the fish run at that time of year.
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“Just look at this!” he said as he projected slides of grinning fisherman holding up large fish they had just caught on the bar’s blank wall. Even though the Niagara River was very far to go to fish, his presentation convinced me that I ought to fish there. Then the meeting’s highly anticipated moment of truth arrived. I am now going to announce who the first place winner is in our annual winter fishing tournament,” the club president boomed. These tournaments pique the interest of many members. I have witnessed otherwise normal club members behave with ferocious competitive intensity during these tournaments, as if they were professional fisherman and finalists competing in the championship BASS masters tournament, with a $25,000 first place prize and lucrative fishing tackle company endorsements on the line. An expectant hush fell over the room. The president grinned and paused a moment for dramatic effect. All eyes turned forward. “Bob Wilson, come on up!” exclaimed the president with a wide smile, holding up a twelve-inch tall gold trophy cup for all to see. Everyone applauded, cheered, laughed, hooted, or booed good naturedly, as the first place winner proudly weaved his way through the maze of tables to accept the trophy. “He must have bought the fish!” shouted one of his friends with a laugh. Bob looked at the heckler and flashed a wide smile. After additional official business was transacted, the president cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “There are going to be some rule changes starting with the next fishing tournament,” he announced. Suddenly the room grew quiet as the tournament junkies stopped talking (and drinking) to listen. “Starting with the next tournament, I am not going to spend five hours at Great River Tackle, tournament headquarters, from noon until 5:00 PM, waiting for all you fishermen to come in to register your fish. We hold three tournaments a year. This is too much time for the other club officers and me to spend waiting at the tackle store. The other club officers and I have better things to do,” continued the president. The statement was greeted with intense interest and dead silence in anticipation of what was coming next. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 63
“You can all come in from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM on tournament days to register. Shortening the registration time on tournament days will make my life so much easier,” the club president concluded. Bob Wilson, the newly anointed winner of the last tournament, sat near the front of the room, still basking in the adulation and congratulations of his fellow fishermen. Suddenly, he jumped up and started waving his arms to get the president’s attention. “You can’t do that. It’s not fair!” he howled. “What do you mean, not fair, Bob?” asked the president reasonably, even though he was clearly taken aback by Bob’s behavior. The room fell completely silent, and all eyes turned to witness this unusual situation. “You have to let people come in earlier!” shouted Bob. “No, I don’t,” said the president. “It’s not fair!” Bob shouted at the club president, even louder than before. “Yes, it is fair,” said the president, a little indignant at this turn of events. By Bob’s tone of voice and beet red face, it was clear that he was becoming more and more agitated. Every person in the room was riveted by the heated exchange that was rapidly escalating into confrontation. Realizing that something was terribly wrong, the club president took a deep breath, and asked Bob in a much calmer and normal tone of voice, “Bob, why can’t we run the next tournament like this?” By this time, Bob had really worked up a head of steam. His face was purple and he neither caught, nor responded to the shift in tone and attempt by the club president to de-escalate the situation. “Because I am getting married at 4:00 PM on that Saturday!” Bob shouted. The place went wild with laughter. Most members were laughing so hard, they were rocking back and forth in their chairs, and some were even slapping each other on the back. Rodger laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes. Bob, caught off guard by the burst of laughter, sat down. As the laughter subsided, the president stood very still, with a faraway expression on his face, deep in thought. “OK, Bob, just this once we will make an allowance for you to come in earlier that day to get your catch registered. Is that OK?” asked the president. Bob thought for a moment about the president’s offer. By now, his complexion had lost its purple hue, and he appeared to be returning to normal. “Yeah, that’ll work,” muttered Bob. The whole room erupted again with laughter. I turned to Rodger, who was sitting next to me, and said with a grin, “I have been coming to these meetings for a long time, but this is the best fishing club meeting I ever attended. What do you think?” “I think I’ll join!” said Rodger, his mind made up. 64 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 65
It isn't an obsession if you make money.
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close look - wv/virginia
“W
ater rich” aptly describes most of West Virginia’s counties, but none are as diverse as is Hardy County. Tucked away in the northeast corner of the Mountaineer State, Hardy County covers just under 600 square miles, with its most prominent feature being its expansive valley that is bisected by the South Branch Potomac River with its surrounding magnificent valley. Known for its world class fishing for bronzeback trout (i.e. smallmouth bass), the South Branch is flanked by tributary streams that teem with rainbow, brook and brown trout. Hardy County is an invariable smorgasbord of fly fishing opportunities that has long been a popular destination for out of state anglers. This is especially true of those hailing from Pittsburg, Baltimore and Washington, DC. The toughest part for those folks who make weeklong fishing trips to Hardy County is determining which streams you will cast flies at first. If they are the fickle sort, such decisions can cause them to lose sleep. The trick to hitting the fly fishing buffet is having a good game plan. My suggestion to those who are eager to explore Hardy County, is to establish a “base camp” at the Trout Pond Recreation Area (TPRA) of the George Washington National Forest located near Wardensville. Although small and perhaps disappearing, Trout Pond is still referred to as the state’s only natural lake. Formerly called Old Pond, written account of its holding “native trout” date back to the early 1800s when it is believed to have been as big as four to five acres, compared to its diminished size to today of just under two acres in rainy weather and to a half acre or less during spells of dry weather.
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“W
featured destination
Hardy County:
WV’s Panhandle Trout Hub”
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close look - wv/virginia featured destination
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featured destination
Just over a generation ago Trout Pond used to be 35 feet deep in places and was stocked with trout. It owes its presence to collapsed limestone window that held in the influx of run-off stream draining Long Mountain. Collapsed limestone sinkholes are not uncommon in the Southern Appalachians, perhaps the best known example being Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, the formation of long standing lakes such as Trout Pond is exceptionally rare. In 2002 U.S. Forest Service officials documented a suspected in the limestone cavern beneath Trout Pond. In short order, the water level began to drop to almost a drained, dry state. Currently it refills during wet weather, but as soon as the rains stop it drains rather quickly. Trout Pond Recreation Area boasts two bodies of water, Rock Cliff Lake and Trout Pond. Rock Cliff Lake is a 17-acre man-made lake with a maximum depth of 36 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. Stocked with trout and holding other game fish, cozy little Rock Cliff Lake is "almost heaven�. While Trout Pond is a romantic name, Rock Cliff Lake is incredible fishing. Created in 1969 it has a maximum depth of 36 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. Trout are stocked just prior to April 15, and then bi-weekly through May, and twice in October. Logs and brush fish attractors have been placed in the lake that circled by a trail that provides bank fishing access. Rock Cliff Lake. Paddle crafts and boats with electric trolling motors are permitted. Basing out of the Trout Pond campground we made the short drives to a number of streams during our four-day stay in Hardy County.
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close look - wv/virginia
Trout Run A dashing rivulet, Trout Run is an 18 milelong tributary of the Cacapon River. It rises in the George Washington National Forest between Devils Hole Mountain and Great North Mountain near the Virginia state line in, and empties into the Cacapon River at Wardensville. Trout Run is stocked from January through May between the State 55 bridge, a half mile above the mouth at Wardensville, upstream seven miles to the Halfmoon Trail crossing. Summer fly fishing is better above the trail cross. Locals fond of challenging wild trout hold Trout Run’s headwater tributaries; Deep Gutter Run, Halfmoon Run and Thorny Bottom Run in high regard. South Branch of the Potomac The South Branch of the Potomac River is well known to kayak anglers who travel here to paddle its currents and cast to feisty bronzeback trout (i.e. “smallmouth bass”). They like many others are surprised when they hook one of the rainbow or brown trout in the South Branch of the Potomac as far downstream as Moorefield in Hardy County. The South Branch, the largest tributary of the Potomac River in West Virginia, rises in Highland County and flows over 200 miles northeastward across the eastern panhandle to its junction with the North Branch of the Potomac River near Green Spring. Its tributary, the South Forks drain western Hardy County. If float trips are your thing, and you have a lot of admiration for bronzeback trout, the South Branch is a rarely crowded place to go fishing
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featured destination
TroutRun
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close look - wv/virginia
Lost River 74 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
featured destination
North River A tributary of the Cacapon River, the mouth of the North River into the Cacapon is located at Forks of Cacapon. Its headwaters two streams that converge in the rugged hollows of Hardy County’s South Branch Mountain. Here the North River begins its journey of over 50 miles, first entering passing through the communities of Inkerman and Rock Oak where it is joined by Grassy Lick Run. The North River continues to flow east as a shallow stony creek through a gap in Short Mountain where it is boundary line between Hardy and Hampshire counties and home to the Rio Turtle; a large turtle-shaped rock painted to resemble a turtle when it enters into Hampshire County. Once in February and once every two weeks from March through May the North River is stocked from WV Secondary Rt. 8 bridge above Rock Oak downstream four miles to Rio. Access is by State 29. Wild trout can be found in the headwaters tributaries Skaggs Run, Pot Lick Run, Horn Camp Run and Waterlick Run.
Cacapon/Lost River The Cacapon and Lost River system is West Virginia’s easternmost stronghold for brook trout. The Cacapon’ watershed’s many cold, clean headwater streams are regarded as critical brook trout habitat. This watershed today consists of isolated patches of high quality fishing, but restoration efforts have been underway to link disjoined populations of the colorful, native char. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 75
close look - wv/virginia
Thirty miles long, Lost River is geologically the same river as the Cacapon River. So named because it flows into an underground channel northeast of McCauley along State 259 at "the Sinks" and reappears near Wardensville as the Cacapon. The source of the Lost River lies south of Mathias near the West Virginia/Virginia border. Lost River is stocked with trout between January and October from the vicinity of "Hanging Rock" above McCauley, at accessible points downstream to a mile above US 55 bridge at the Public Fisherman Access Area. Wild trout are found in the headwater rills; Culler Run, Snyder Run, Upper Cove Run, Howards Lick Run, Kimsey Run and Baker Run.
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featured destination
Other nearby streams include Waites Run that is stocked January through May with from WV Secondary Rt. 5 bridge at Wardensville upstream over six miles. Waites Run has a run dotted with Class II to IV rapids that is popular with paddlers when the flow levels are high after moderate rainfall. Nearby, Moores Run is also stocked with trout between January and May. It receives trout from the mouth upstream two miles along WV Secondary Rt. 23/13. State 259 crosses this stream north of Wardensville. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 77
Curtis Fleming on Hardy County Trout Fishing
“Hardy County is the area which encompasses the most condensed number of fishable streams - it is absolutely one of my favorites!” says Curtis Fleming, host of the Fly Rod Chronicles and West Virginia’s Trout Ambassador. “I used to go there to fish as a child when my parents took me there to camp on family trips. We also lived in that area for a short time. Those streams were my "go to" streams. One of my favorite hidden secrets was Waites' run, accessed right outside of the town of Wardensville, it’s a hidden gem - an easy, pop over the mountain to Trout Run. Those are two small mountain streams that have great brook trout numbers along with awesome stocked fish in the spring and fall.” “A larger stream I highly recommend is the Lost River where a state record brook trout was once caught,” says Fleming. “Warden Lake can be a hot spot, but if you are looking for a camping experience check out Trout Pond Lake. We regularly took our girls there when they were little to practice their biking skills, hiking, and getting their feet in the water. It was priceless family time. Now with Corridor H making accessibility even easier to access, Trout Pond is an even bigger draw for families seeking an amazing experience.”
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79 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 . 678-762-0027 AlpharettaOutfitters.com . Alpharettaoutfitters@yahoo.com www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017
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close look - wv/virginia
L
ocated in heart of Lewisburg, West Virginia is Serenity Now Outfitters, one of the Mountaineer State’s premier fly shops. Something of a landmark in this historic little big town, the shop is operated by Craig Miller, a fly fishing entrepreneur who knows the Greenbrier Valley like the back of this hand. The retail store resides in an old general store building that is over 100 years old, complete with the original hardwood floors and quaint, small town charm.
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featured fly shop
“Lewisburg and the historical downtown area is home to many shops, restaurants, first rate hotels and bed and breakfasts that cater to visitors, making it a superb location for a fly fishing base camp,” says Miller. “You can travel in any direction from downtown and will end up on a fishable body of water within a short drive. Quality trout, smallmouth, and muskies roam these waters. Our downtown location is a true fly fishing crossroads.”
“West Virginia is rugged and has an infinite beauty that offers miles and miles of public water,” says Miller. “WV is also within a day’s drive of most of the eastern population, so its proximity to the big city life makes it a desirable escape for the metropolitans. People are nice here, and the fishing is good.”
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Serenity Now Outfitters has been in operation for 14 years. It came to fruition due to Craig Miller’s deep passion for the outdoors and the lack of an existing shop in the Greenbrier area. Sensing the need to accommodate the growing interest in fly fishing around Lewisburg, Miller was recruited by the local convention and visitor’s bureau to bring his business to fly-fishingopportunities-rich community. Since opening its doors, the driving force at Serenity Now Outdoors has always been to offer superb customer service and quality goods and apparel. Their customers influence which products that are carried, which tends to vary and change slightly through the seasons. Miller notes that he has learned that the most important items to carry in the shop are essentials that are needed on a daily basis such as flies, tippet, leaders, indicators, nippers, forceps, etc. “We have quite a few new fly fisherman that come into the shop, especially during our busier spring and summer months,” says Miller. “We offer guided casting instruction and fly fishing trips for those who are interested. I think the best words of advice that we can provide overall is to be patient. Many of the guys, especially the older gents, get discouraged quickly when they are unable to master the sport overnight. We encourage newbies to keep their expectations reasonable, to slow down, and to enjoy their time on the water.” “When Serenity Now Outfitters first started, I did 85% of the guided trips personally, with the other portion with in-house guides. Juggling that responsibility with the retail side of the business became a bit much for me to handle, so we work with a couple like-minded and professional guiding operations now for all of our fly fishing trips. Once in a blue moon, you will find me on the water with clients.
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“The fly tying aspect of our shop is a small portion of our total sales, peaking in the winter months and during the spring hatches. We have a few die-hards who come in on a regular basis, in addition to visitors who will pick up one or two small items, such as a pack of hooks or zonker strips, each time they make it to our neck of the woods,” says Miller. “We offer fly tying classes, as well as refer our fishermen to the local TU chapter, who occasionally have fly tying workshops and get-togethers. Special events, such as Women, Wine, and Waders and Project Healing Waters, provide opportunities for fly tying in a group setting with seasoned instructors.” “The uniqueness of our shop is most profound in that we carry many different lines and categories of outdoor related items,” says Miller. “Some of the product lines that can be found in house are Patagonia, Life is Good, Keen, Chaco, Olukai, Innova Disc Golf, Ruffwear, Tuffy Dog Toys, Nalgene, Kleen Kanteen, Croakies, Redington, Rio, Dr. Slick, Ross, and Loon Outdoors. With such a broad spectrum of goods, there is something for everyone in our shop.” “Our mission in attracting and keeping customers is to provide knowledgeable and attentive customer service coupled with the highest quality gear available. We continually give back to the community by sponsoring local events, tournaments, organizations, and fundraisers. This has helped strengthen our bond to the community and customer base. Inadvertently, many visitors stop by the shop when they are in town, regardless if they are need of product, to say hello or give a pet or two to our friendly shop dog River.” Also visit us at www.serenitynowoutfitters.com
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RIVER THROUGH ATLANTA CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER GUIDE SERVICE
RiverThroughAtlanta.com
710 Riverside Rd., Roswell, GA 30075 770-650-8630
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Featured Fly Tier Charlottesville, Vir
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- Cole Fischer I rginia
f you are a Charlottesville, Virginia based fly tier, do you get up in the morning to go to a Blue Ridge Mountains trout, or first go east to a coastal river or flats? Do you alternate your choices, with odd number day east, and even number days west. This is the dilemma Cole Fischer faces each day; one foot in a trout stream, and the other in warm/salt water. This time management challenge also spills into his professional fly tying pursuits. Before you feel too sorry of Fischer though, consider the fact that he may very well be the of Virginia’s ‘Young Turk’ tiers. “I currently live about 15 minutes north of where I grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains just outside of Charlottesville Virginia.” says Fischer. “I spent most my childhood spending the summer evenings throwing poppers at bass. Once I started chasing native fish in local mountain streams, they became my passion.” “My dad, Greg Fischer, has always been my mentor in fly fishing, as he was the one who introduced me to the sport”, continues Fischer. “I cut my teeth on the James and Rivanna River chasing smallmouth and largemouth bass. I’ve been fly fishing ever since I was introduced to it.”
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Fischer’s passion for tying flies started in 2009 when he received a fly tying kit for Christmas. According to him, it’s only been uphill since then. In short order he was teaching himself new tying techniques— steadily pushing the boundary of what he could create on his vise. Lacking a fly tying mentor influenced Fischer to constantly push himself to create effective fly patterns that reflected his own unique style. Early on I tied a lot of Clousers and poppers,” says Fischer. “They were simple and I was able to mess around with materials and colors to fish during the summer months on my local rivers. I rely on commercially available materials and love to experiment with the latest new materials” In 2014 I started tying commercially with a lot of my saltwater patterns which have been used everywhere from the middle of Texas, to remote places off the coasts of Honduras. Additionally locally I teach a fly tying class every last Wednesday of each month at Starr Hill Brewery in Charlottesville.” When asked what four flies do you consider essential to carry when fly fishing smallmouth bass streams of Virginia he noted that his top 5 is simple. You need to have something to throw up top (Boogle Bug); something with flash (he usually resorts to any sort of minnow with tons of flash); something dark and bigger, such as just a black and blue crawdad; and big articulated streamers like the Sliders that he ties. He adds that success on these water is not so much determined by your choice of fly patterns, but how it is fished. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 93
close look - wv/virginia “I rely a lot on articulated deer hair slider patterns throughout the past few years, says Fischer. “They fish well and can be fished in almost all levels of the water column which is why they’re a staple in my box. “When it comes to trout, my favorite to tie and fish is the Parachute Adams. It’s always been such a classic and beautiful fly.” “There are a few materials that I’ve been working with the past year or so which have really made a difference in my patterns. One is the RuSuperFly crab claws that Pat Cohen and I came to develop for my Fischer’s Falling Crab. “For me the best thing about being creative at the vise is that you go out and do your own thing” says Fischer, You don’t need approval from anyone but the fish that you're putting the fly in front of. Flies are artwork that can ether capture the attention of someone in a store or the attention of a tailing redfish in the grass. It’s important for me to have my flies do both and I think if you’re looking to be a better fly tyer, that’s the point you want to be at.” Cole Fischer is available to teach classes and speak to groups. Additionally he is available for a custom tier. You can get in touch with him at FischersFlyCo@gmail.com, or
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Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fischersflyco/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FischersFlyCo/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/fischersflyco
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C
harlottesville has emerged as the Virginia’s “Top Trout Town” and its unofficial seat of government is the Albemarle Angler. This fly shop has been in business for 17 years in its original location.
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“Virginia a special destination for fly fishermen,” says John Schablein, manager of the Albemarle Angler. “Depending on the season, here fly fishermen have the opportunity to catch multiple specie. You could be catching stripers and other saltwater fish and hop in the car and four hours later you are catching mountain brook trout. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 99
close look - wv/virginia “We focus our expertise on the diverse fishing opportunities from high mountain streams to large flowing bass fisheries such as The James River. On those trips you can catch rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish, gar, carp, and muskie “The driving forces behind The Albemarle Angler’s focus is all the customers interested in getting outdoors and/or folks wanting to learn fly fishing,” continues Schablien. “The sport has changed over the years from grandpa’s pastime to everyone’s past time. We have children as young as seven learning with us, teenagers, young adults, and up. The less attractive change in fly fishing over the last two decades is online purchases.” The Albemarle Angler is the sort of fly shop where one feels right at home.
As a top-shelf retailer, found there is such well-known lines as Simms, Orvis, Fishpond, Korkers, Rio, Trouthunter, MFC, Reddington, Sage, Gloomis, Scott, Hatch, Lamson, Hardy, Temple Fork Outfitters and more. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. With fly fishing increasing in popularity, the Albemarle Angler has responded to interest destination fly fishing that has increased over the past decade. They offer an expansive selection of travel destinations to Idaho, Tennessee, New York, Mexico, Bahamas, and even Cuba. “We welcome the novice fly fisherman at the shop,” says Schablein. “We have on average 2 novice anglers a week walk in with questions. We have all in-house guides who are the same folks working behind the counter so you know when you come in that you can get the best in-house information.”
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“Folks often ask, when are your ‘Orvis 101’ classes? Our answer is ‘Any day,’ because anyone on staff at the Albemarle Angler can provide in house instruction. In addition to the free daily 101 classes is a free brief casting session outside when we have enough staff to do so. Every time you walk into our full service, locally owned fly shop you have the opportunity get a 101 fly fishing course.” According to Schablein fly tying is not the primary engine driving the retail success of the Albemarle Anglers. This does not slow this Charlottesville-based fly shop commitment to the art of wrapping hooks with feathers and fur.
"When are your Orvis 101 classes?....Any day."
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close look - wv/virginia “We like involving customers in fly tying because we enjoy it and so do they, not because it helps our retail numbers,” says Schablein. “We keep in stock some of the most popular materials for the fly tier and we also offer instruction. Every January and February we have free fly tying classes in-house. The last Wednesday of every month we offer Fly tying Classes at
shirt to buy, and this is not always a bad thing,” Schablein “Small full service fly shops will often match any price and also take any coupon that a large store would. Small businesses value their customers because they have fewer of them due to their small size, and therefore purchasing a beginner fly rod from a small fly shop that includes a lifetime of education.”
Star Hill Taproom in Crozet. If a tier has a question about how to create a specific fly, we will show them any day they come in.” The current demise of the big box stores should be a boon to locally owned fly shops such as the Albemarle Anglers. Growing fast though is the preference of many fly fishermen to make purchases online. Sometimes it takes more than ambiance and personal service to give small businesses the edge. “Consumers are used to purchasing online and when it comes to which color
“When it comes to customer retention we find nothing to be more valuable leaving customers with positive energy as they leave the store. If a customer has a problem, we take care of it. We also offer a lot of free educational classes throughout the year in order to attract more angler,” says Schablein. He says Virginia fly fishing interest is high and up overall. Noting more people seem to be appreciating and respecting the outdoors.
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Lewisburg/Gree
T
he southern fly fishing community is a remarkably eclectic group that thrives on exploring new waters. For this evolving lifestyle part of picking unique fly fishing destinations is what we have come to refer to as “top trout towns”. Lewisburg in West Virginia’s Greenbrier County is the hands down choice for Mountaineer State’s Top Trout Town designation.
West Virginia’s T By Ed Rivers
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enbrier County
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If you stand in the middle of Greenbrier County, it is impossible to sling a dead cat there without it splashing down in the middle of great fly fishing. Pretty much the same is true when it comes to abundance of great watering holes, especially if have been smitten by the craft beer drinking bug. The love of prospecting new fly fishing water is why you are reading this. The biggest angling show in Lewisburg is the Greenbrier River. A broad, sweeping flow, it course through much of the county and skirts Lewisburg. During exceptionally heavy rains, the Greenbrier can be a naughty girl, but the world class angling for bronzeback trout (also known as smallmouth bass), gets the great river a lot of passes. The Greenbrier River is formed by the confluence of the East Fork Greenbrier River and the West Fork Greenbrier River in the town of Durbin, West Virginia. From Durbin the Greenbrier River flows southwesterly through Pocahontas, Greenbrier, and 106 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Summers Counties before it joins the New River in the town of Hinton, West Virginia. The Greenbrier County portion of the Greenbrier is one of the country’s top rated float streams lending itself equally well to kayak and canoe passage. Additionally, much of it, and especially the Greenbrier’s many sweeping shoals, offer endless wade fishing opportunities. Bronzebacks in the four pound range are plentiful. Greenbrier County is literally loaded with trout streams. My personal favorite is Second Creek, a dashing midsize freestone trout stream. Flowing near historic Lewisburg, Second Creek is one of the state’s only handful of fly-fishing-only, catchand-release fisheries. The stream is easy wading, often constricting down in places to 20 to 30 feet wide and has some really great, slow, deep pools on its lower half. You’ll find 1.5 miles of fly-fishing-only water at Second Creek near Lewisburg. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 107
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Downstream is flows for several miles before emptying into the Greenbrier. Second Creek is stocked in the spring and fall, but it has an overlooked resident population of brown trout that can exceed 20-inches. Second Creek is a robust, trout food rich flow with an abundance of caddis and mayflies plus protein packed scuds. Fishing pressure is highest in the spring, and summer time flows can make Second Creek quite challenging. You can reach the creek via Route 219 going south from Ronceverte, to County Road 65 and then onto County Road 62 to the low-water bridge. Anthony Creek is one of Greenbrier County’s best stocked trout streams. It passes through both public and private land and offers easy access in a number of places. State Route 92 runs near or parallel to Anthony Creek and has adequate roadside pull-off parking. Anthony receives trout in January and February. It offers good fishing through May, as the stream receives weekly stockings then, and has above average fishing through July for street smart holdover trout. Other Greenbrier County stocked waters of note include the South Fork of Cherry River that gets trout releases from one mile above Richwood upstream nine miles to Cold Knob Fork. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 109
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Nearby Laurel Creek is stocked monthly, February through May. Largely known only to the locals is Milligan Creek that is stocked at the old Hern Covered Bridge. Big Clear Creek is stocked once in February and once every two weeks in March, April, and May. The Cranberry River which arguably the most popular stream in the area, rises in Pocahontas County to tumbles 27 miles through parts of Greenbrier, Webster and Nicholas counties. Sixteen miles of the river flows through the Cranberry Backcountry that is closed to vehicle traffic. Fly fishermen can walk or bicycles this 16-mile gated section. USFS Route 76 parallels the stream from its headwaters to the Woodbine Recreation Area, just six miles upstream from the mouth of the Cranberry. If roughing it in a little tent and cooking on a fire is not your cup of tea when exploring new waters, Lewisburg is the ideal base of operations. Downtown historic Lewisburg is known as the jewel of southern West Virginia. Thanks in part to this small town’s proximity to the world renowned Greenbrier Resort, Lewisburg has an artsy, cosmopolitan air that definitely sets it apart. Home for 3,800 residents, Lewisburg is home to West Virginia’s official Theater in The Greenbrier Valley Theatre, as well as one of only four Carnegie Halls in the world. This artistic community is magnetic that draws entertainers, actors, musicians and artists from near and far. Travel Magazine named Lewisburg the “Coolest” small town in America in 2011. Lewisburg has its share of must visit watering holes. One watering hole that I strongly recommend is the Asylum. Located in downtown historic Lewisburg, the Asylum offers upscale comfort food, craft beers and spirits, and a laid back scene. Opened in 2014, it provides the perfect place to grab a bite and a full bar, as well as live music. If you suds and burgers are you thing after a day astream, you will find this is the town’s best meat between buns. The Irish Pub on Washington Street is another must stop watering hole. Owners Andrea and Patrick have a long history in the pub business. They met each other at Patrick's brother Danny's pub in New Orleans, where they both worked. An award winning, authentic Irish Pub, it has a welcoming, friendly atmosphere. They will pull you the perfect pint of Guinness (they sell more Guinness than anyone else in the state!) or handcraft your favorite cocktail. The Towne Tavern is a great place to kick back and relax your casting arm. I recommend their $2.50 Daily Bar Drink Specials during Happy Hour that will allow you to wash down the popcorn, or snack mix or peanuts in the shell. The Towne Tavern has 12 beers on tap and 24 bottles that include the old staples down to some ever changing microbrews. The food is rock rib great too. Lewisburg offers fly fishermen the opportunity to cast all day, then in the evening to stroll amongst its historic streets while getting a taste of its unique, Top Trout Town culture. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 111
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Elk Sprin
Resort & Fly S Monterville, W
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lk Springs Resort Lodge in West Virginia is not on your southern trout fly fishing bucket list, then it is certainly time for you to jot it down on your stairway to heaven list. A closely guarded secret, Elk Springs Resort is a fly fishing haunt of Craig Morgan (country singer/outdoors tv show host), Curtis Flemming (host of Fly Rod Chronicles), Josh Stewart (Batman in Dark Knight Returns), and others have Elk Springs Resort on their radar. Elk Springs Resort is located on the Elk River. The Elk’s headwater are found in Pocahontas County. It meanders 177 miles from its headwaters westerly through some of the Mountaineer State’s most rugged and remote terrain. The Elk terminates at Kanawha River and the major population center of Charleston. The river flows which drains. Once abundance of elk along the river prompted pioneers here to so name the flow. Odds are the river’s Indian name Toqui-min-cepe (one of several) that reportedly required too many vowels.
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“Elk Springs Resort got its name from the springs that surface at our property,” says Tracy McClain, the resort Marketing Manager who lives for wild streams. “The Elk River starts 12 miles upstream from us and travels 3.3 miles before diving underground to travel five miles through a limestone cavern before resurfaces at our property to refill the river at the Mill Pool. The water temperature is 42-58 degree. Hatches here are huge in the spring and early summer.” The property has been a hatchery for nearly 30 years and the fly shop opened 20 years ago. Daron Dean found the place about 15 years ago and would drive from Kentucky to fish the Elk. He would always ask if it was for sale. After a few years the owners decided to sell it and Daron jumped at it. Daron has now owned it 11 years and has added nearly $10 million into making it what it is today. 14 cabins, a 6000 square foot lodge, a restaurant, and the largest fly shop in West Virginia The property covers over 10,000 acres of back country fishing and hunting, as well as the Elk River access, hatchery, pay ponds and spring creeks. “The lodge predates the fly shop,” says McClain. “However, pretty much everything here is new except a couple cabins. The older buildings have been replaced with new buildings. Lodging options include one room primitive but comfortable cabins,and to full size cabins with kitchen, living rooms bedrooms. Lodge rooms are available in suites and studios. We are tucked away deep in the Allegheny Mountains with no cell service and 40 miles from the nearest stop light.” The fly shop is well-stocked and features lines from Simms, Sage, Fishpond, Winston,
Redington, Yeti, Abel, Montana Fly Company, Flymen Fishing Company, G.Loomis, Ross, Rep Your Waters, Umpqua, Rio, Royal Wolff, Smith, Trout Hunter The shop also carries a wide selection of local patterns tied at the shop to supplement bins of Umpqua fly patterns.
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Dining options are the finest in the region. Ellie May's Ole' Mill Restaurant is only steps from the Mill Pool on the Elk River in the same building as the fly shop. Very popular, and highly recommended is trout freshly caught within the hour of going to your plate. Other noteworthy entries include ribeye steaks, smoked meatloaf, smoked wings, stir fry, and brisket. Ellie May's Ole' Mill Restaurant has a full bar with six local drafts. The upper reaches of the Elk is a seldom heralded limestone spring
creek chock full of wild rainbow trout and brown trout, including many in the 20 inch range. A vibrant population of native brook trout prosper here too. Locally known as the Lady, the Elk from its headwaters downstream for almost five miles is under catchand-release regulations. Thereafter the Elk seeps underground to continue over five miles through limestone caverns, with the largely dry old riverbed passing over a curious area known as the Dries. Elk River then makes a robust return to the
surface via a mammoth underground spring upstream from Rose Run Bridge and passed over a massive limestone ledge known as Whittaker Falls. This sections of the Elk is also managed under artificial-lures-only, catchand-release regulations. Quite rich in nutrients for a Southern Appalachian freestone stream, the Elk is noted for its hatches, that include various species of blue-winged olives, slate drakes, green sedge and cinnamon caddis, and most prolific of all, sulphurs.
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“Elk Springs Resort is a special destination and point of lodging,” notes McClain. “We offer public access to the elk river with or without a guide. We also have nearly 20 miles of private guided waters including five miles of Back Fork of the Elk and many native brook trout streams. The Elk is a very unique river with some of the most prolific hatches in the eastern U.S. Its sulphur hatches often are so thick that you cannot see the other side of the river. The fish here are average 16-to-20 inches long with www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 119
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many over trout in the 25 inches range. We advise fly fishermen to bring a big landing net.” “The most overlooked fishing opportunity here is the three mile catch and release section which is all wild, streambred trout,” says McClain.” No stocking has occurred there for over 35 years. This is especially true when the water is high
and muddy and you are casting streamers to big browns on streamers”. McClain notes that most of the Elk Springs Resort staff are fly fishermen and women who take pride in sharing their knowledge of the river and what flies to use. The guides are the most trusted in West Virginia with over 200 days a year on the river either guiding, scouting or
fishing. Noteworthy too is the guide musky and bass trips offered by the staff. “They live in the back country, highlands of West Virginia,” noted McClain. “The feeling of being in remote wilderness at Elk Springs Resort includes on any given day you will see bald eagles, ospreys, black bear, fishers, deer and more.” Some find we
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have strange sense of humor, but the staff is the friendliest and most helpful anyone could ask for. If big trout and plenty of them is what you seek, then this trip is what you need. Don't let the sounds of banjos scare ya, it is probably a tourist picking away.�
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The Perfect Weekend Trip Fishing Along the Appalachian Trail and Shenandoah in Virginia By Lee Walker
W
ith the dog days of summer nearly upon us, June and July are the perfect time to hit the Appalachian Trail in Virginia for a short day trip, or a longer backpacking trip. More of the Appalachian Trail passes through Virginia than any other states and the views can’t be beat. From pastoral scenes, to forest and farmland with creeks running through it, they are sure to make avid anglers and first-timers alike, very happy. In Shenandoah National Park, you can cross the A.T more than 30 times, never leaving your car and there are more than 1.2 million acres of forest lands and 1,000 miles of stream protected from development. With more than 70 mountain streams and 38 species of fish present, the Shenandoah National Park it a fantastic option for anglers. Here at Southern Trout, we’ve planned out the perfect weekend trip for you, follow our route to some of the best fishing streams and rivers along the trail. And while Virginia is home to or a destination for more than 800,000 anglers each year, you are likely to find your own private fishing hole along the route we have planned out for you.
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What You Need To Know: Perhaps the most important thing you will need for a weekend of fantastic fishing in the Shenandoah is a fishing license. Required for everyone over the age 16 years of age, a one year license is $23. The non-resident fee is $36 and with both licenses, there is an available trout fishing license when fishing designated stocked trout waters and a $4 National Forest Stamp for fishing within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. There are also reciprocal agreements in place for certain waters with North Carolina and Maryland. The money from the fishing license stays within the state and within the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and goes to such things like trail maintenance, boat access, fisheries management, and many other popular outdoor recreational programs. In order to improve the angling experience and respond to anglers needs, the Department is also working to improve fish habitat, develop shoreline access, and build fishing piers that offer access for persons with disabilities. “Fortunately for Virginians, there's a lake, river or stream within an hour's drive from just about any location in the state, making it easy and economical to get away from it all for a day on the water, fishing, and relaxing.� said Bob Duncan, Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries A worthwhile investment for every member of your party, whether they are fishing or not, all Virginians benefit from the conservation and economic activity generated by anglers. Fishing alone is responsible for more than $1.3 billion in economic impact in the state. You can conveniently pick up your license online at www.dgif.virginia.gov/licenses/ or in person at any licensed dealer.
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Day 1 Morning: The Hughes River Start your day early in the morning, driving about 40 minutes from Jollette, Virginia to the Hughes River. You can access some of the best spots on the 14 mile long Hughes via Skyline Drive, near the Shaver Hollow parking area near milepost 38. The best spots are about 1.8 miles down to the Nicholson Hollow Trail which runs along the stream. Hiking shoes and waders are essential to fishing this spot. Native brook, brown, and rainbow trout are plentiful and you will have good luck in the early morning hours at this popular spot. Bring your fly rod as imitations of terrestrial insects produce well in the summer months.
Day 1 Afternoon: Rose River Trailhead Considered one of the most beautiful hikes in the Shenandoah you won’t want to leave the Rose River off your itinerary. From Hughes River, drive approximately 40 miles to the Rose River trailhead, stopping in Syria for a late lunch. Park at Fishers Gap to access the top. Shortly after starting down the mountain on Rose River Fire Road, you will take the Rose River Loop Trail to the left about a half mile down the trail, take a blue-blazed trail to the right for 0.5 mile to the stream. You will find a cold, crystal clear freestone stream with an abundance of brook trout. Waders aren’t needed and you will find plenty of space for laying out a nice dry fly drift. After a full day of fishing, spend the night at the Graves Mountain Lodge near Syria.
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close look - wv/virginia
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Day 2 Morning: Staunton River The fishing along the remote upper part of the Staunton River in can be a real challenge but worth the effort for those trout anglers looking for a stream off the beaten path. The Staunton River can be reached by following Route 662. Stop at the parking lot at the end of the road and follow Graves Mill Trail to the Staunton River Trail. A feeder to the Rapidan River, the Staunton is not as wide as its neighboring streams but has bountiful hatches that support an excellent population of feisty brook trout. This is a perfect rock hopping stream that offers pool after pool action. Some of the pools are fairly deep where the current is slow where a weighted nymph can produce good results.
Day 2 Afternoon: The Piney River From Route 662, drive an hour north to the Piney River via US 29, stopping in Lynchburg for a late lunch and refreshments. The best option for stream accessibility is by parking at the Piney River Ranger Station south of Milepost 22. Hike down Range View Cabin Road to where Piney Branch Trail leads off to the left. This trail follows the stream to the bottom of the mountain. Make sure you reserve lots of time to fish this stream as the best parts of the Piney for fishing are about a 2 hour hike in. But you will be rewarded with abundant trout and beautiful scenery. During early spring and summer, check the water temperature as it will normally dictate the best fly selection to use for the day. If you choose to park elsewhere along the road, be mindful of the residents that live in this area. There are many nice areas along the stream to camp if you decide to extend your weekend for another day. Whether you choose to follow our route for the day, the weekend, or longer, you are sure to find abundant fish, few people, and some of the best views in the south east. Lee Walker is the Outreach Director for the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries and an avid fly fisherman.
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close look - wv/virginia
Click here to order
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book review
S
teve Moore has authored a series of highly detailed, where-to, howto guide books on several of Virginia’s major river. The longtime STM columnist, Moore’s approach to telling where and how to fish. His unique, micromanagement style books are richly illustrated with photos of the places noted in the text. Our favorite in the CatchGuide series is Wade Fishing the Rapidan River of Virginia: From Smallmouth Bass to Trout, a self-published paperback that he came out with in 2015. The Rapidan River is an angler's dream fishable year round since the watershed includes smallmouth bass as well as mountain brook trout. Following the precedent set in his other CatchGuide books, Steve starts the coverage at the mouth of the Rapidan where it slams into the Rappahannock at the smallmouth bass fishing heaven known simply as "the Confluence" and ends above the old presidential retreat at Camp Hoover high in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The volume notes eleven reliable access points between those two locations opening up over 20 miles of water. Even though the book runs over 31,700 words that is not enough to describe the fabulous fishing on this premier river. Its 55 pictures, coupled with 13 maps enable reader to eye on the water and make your own judgment before you drive to any particular location. In the Internet age, pictures and words are not enough. The book includes 68 GPS coordinates to obtain customized directions via the Internet or put the coordinates directly into a GPS to guide your day on the water. Beyond wade fishing, Steve discusses each access point in terms of its compatibility to launch a canoe or a kayak. Once in the water, floating anglers will be well served to use this guide to move quickly to the good spots and not waste time floating over unproductive water. The detailed coverage from Elys Ford to the Confluence is exceptionally focused and useful.
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Escape to Extraordinary. Escape to Blue Ridge. With a cabin vacation from Escape to Blue Ridge, premium amenities are as important as creating priceless memories. Year-round adventures are as abundant as picturesque mountain views. And making an escape isn’t just accepted, it’s encouraged.
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uests breathe easier here, and it isn’t just the mountain air. It’s the entire Eseeola experience: award-winning cuisine, exceptional service, and of course, first-rate fly fishing on the Linville River. Call Today for Reservations
175 Linville Avenue Linville, NC 28646 (800)742-6717 www.Eseeola.com
featured artist
KEVIN F 140 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
FRICKE Loryn Latham
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L
ike most great artists, creativity is innate; it’s built into your design and this stands true for artist Kevin Fricke. Photography is something that few have a natural skill for, and having harnessed that skill, Fricke has taken it to another level and started manipulating his incredible photography to produce unique and incredible works of art. “I have no formal training in photography,” he says, “ but my two older brothers are also into photography and have taught me all I know. I have been into photography as a serious hobby since 1997 when I got into backpacking and started visiting some unbelievably beautiful places. My first trips I brought disposable cameras but as the years went by I have upgraded my camera situation and now use three different ones. “ Seriously pursuing his talent, he says “I have a point and shoot waterproof camera for the fish pictures, a Canon DSLR and a newly purchased 4/3 format camera for backpacking. “ Although his experience with photography is plentiful, he says this is not the case with fishing.
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“My fishing experience is rather short. I started fishing in 2011 when my brother introduced me to Tenkara and it just snowballed from there. I fell in love with the ease of this style of fishing and the simplicity and compactness fit in perfect with all the backpacking and hiking I do. By the time you read this I will have just fished my 500th day overall!” When asked about the kinds of fishing he pursues, he explained that he is a loyal tenkara fisherman. “Tenkara fishing is the method I started with and to date is the only method I have tried. I usually fish mountain streams and rivers with the occasional lake thrown in as that is where I am hiking but any stream will do. My ideal day is fishing a mountain creek for cutthroat trout with nobody around.” What’s so unique about Fricke’s work is the processing it goes through, taking it from a standard image to something almost psychedelic. “I start with an Image that I like and put it through Photoshop adjusting contrast and color levels. Then I put it through between one and three filters, each creating a different look. This process for me is mostly trial and error, taking hours to run through the best methods to create an image I am happy with.” www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 145
The best images for this, explained by Fricke, are those taken underwater or close up shots of the fish once it’s out of water. “I have tried images of people fishing but the response to them has been underwhelming. Over the years the most popular images have been underwater shots that have great clarity.” The use of filters as a means of manipulating work has been done for years, but not quite the way Fricke uses them. “The filters are definitely an ongoing process. Not only does Adobe Photoshop have its filters but there are so many plug-in filters from other companies that there is really no limit to what you can do with your image. I started using one filter and have progressively used more over the years to the point where I have bought a number of plugins. I imagine as time goes by there will only be more and more options for people to use.” Compared to the technique of squinting in a dark room, his enhancement process is a little different. “It’s a little different in the fact that I am using finished images before I start the manipulation. It’s also easier now to take an image and try something new on the computer, where you are a click away from starting over and trying something different.
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The age of the computer and digital enhancement has opened the door to so many different effects that there is really no limit to what you can create.” And what would be the Holy Grail of images to capture and create? “For me the shot would be a half above water and half below water, catching a fish taking the fly being cast just as it hits the water, while catching the image of the fly fisher casting. I don’t even know if this is possible to capture with my equipment.” Trial and error, Fricke repeats, when asked about his advice to readers who might be interested in underwater fish photography. “Make sure you have patience and take a lot of photos. For every image I get that is in focus and frame, I have twenty that are out of focus or frame. It’s tough when your subject is an unwilling animal.” Finally, as a reminder, Fricke leaves us with some great advice! “Expensive underwater photography equipment is not required! I use a Fujifilm X80 waterproof point and shoot that cost $150.00 and come away with great photos.” www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 149
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Kick Boatin’ V Bronzeback T By Harry Murray
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Virginia's Trout y L
ittle did I realize when I purchased my first kick boat 30 years ago that I would become so excited about using it for smallmouth bass fly fishing. Actually I got it one August with the intentions of using it on the Yellowstone River in Montana for trout fishing that fall. A friend who had been using his kick boat all summer for river smallmouth fly fishing politely suggested, “It is not rocket science, but you should try your boat a few times before we head to Montana with them.” The next day I put mine in the North Fork of the Shenandoah River close to Edinburg, Virginia. The river was quite low and I knew this stretch of water very well so I saw it more as a “boat ride” than I did as an adventure for great fishing.... I was in for a wonderful surprise!
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I put my kick boat in the river at the upper end of a 200 yard long, slow pool that was only three feet deep in most places. There were many stretches where the aquatic grassbeds were 30 feet wide running 50 feet down the river ten feet off the banks. The large bass here were very wary and I had not caught many since the river became so low a month earlier. By drifting quietly along the main part of the river outside of these aquatic grassbeds and casting a Shenandoah Blue Popper size 6 across them so it landed close to the river bank I caught dozens of nice smallmouths. This stealthy approach, I am sure, was the reason for my success. This was my introduction to just one of the many features of the kick boat for smallmouth river fishing. Let us look at some of the other advantages these boats give us then we will investigate some of the angling tactics. Kick boats are so light and compact that you can put them in the river and take them out at access points which are too cramped or rugged to launch a boat or canoe. This feature alone lets you fish remote sections of the rivers that receive little angling pressure thus giving you better fishing and solitude. By drifting through riffles that are too shallow for a regular boat I have often had outstanding fishing in behind many islands on the rivers. The quiet approach and low angler profile you can achieve with these boats will help you catch many wary bass, especially when the rivers get low. 156 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Let us look at the tactics I use when I am floating the rivers in my kick boat. When I float through a riffle into the head of a pool I stop on the side of the river, even dropping my anchor if necessary, so I can fish the interface right where the riffle enters the main pool. These riffles hold great populations of madtoms and hellgrammites and the bass feed heavily on both of them. My two most productive flies here the Murray's Black Madtom size 4 and Murray's Heavy Black Hellgrammite size 4. A good tactic is to make gradually lengthening casts across stream and after the fly sinks deeply, I swim it slowly back across the stream bottom by stripping it six inches every ten seconds. After several gradually longer casts allow your kick boat to drift downstream, stopping every twenty feet to repeat this fly swimming tactic. Some pools have back eddies on the slow side of the river below these riffles. The kick boat gives you an advantage because if these eddies are less than three feet deep the large bass are very wary. You can easily stop 30 feet out in the river from the eddies and fish the whole area thoroughly with a hard surface bug such as the Shenandoah Chuggar size 4. Frequently many rivers have a series of rivercrossing ledges in the main sections of the large pools. These ledges may come up to within several feet to several inches of the river's surface and they may be from 20 feet to 100 feet apart with the water from four to six feet deep between them. Some of the largest bass in the rivers are found here because these areas provide both feeding stations and homes to them. I like to anchor my kick boat on the upstream end of each one of these in turn and fish the whole area below them thoroughly with streamers by swimming them slowly across stream. Many creek chub minnows are found in these stretches so two of my most effective flies are Shenk's White Streamer size 4 and Murray's Magnum Creek Chub size 4. 158 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Shallow gravel bars along the sides of the rivers hold great numbers of shiner minnows and young sunfish. This is a perfect part of the river to fish with a kick boat because the hot spot here is where the gravel bar tapers off into the deep part of the river. You can drift down the river 40 feet out from the outside edge of the gravel bars and catch many bass that cruise here to feed on the shiners and sunfish that stray too far from the safety of the gravel bars. The Silver Outcast Streamer size 4 is a good match for these shiner minnows and the Murray's Magnum Bluegill size 4 mimics the sunfish. Other great feeding stations that are ideal to fish with a kick boat are the down falls. Many large oak trees topple into the rivers when high spring floods undercut their streamside roots. They are tethered to the banks by their roots while the tree tops are pushed downstream by the currents. These provide excellent cover for the bass as well as the shade which attracts the large bass. I like to drift quietly down to these down falls about 40 feet out from the river bank and fish a Shenandoah Surface Chuggar Bug size 4. I start by casting it tight to the bank where the roots hold the down fall. A firm strip-pause-strip action is usually very effective from right against the down fall out for 15 feet. Each successive cast is made two feet further along the down fall and fished out with the same action as you drift along. Often these down falls will produce a number of large bass and you might consider anchoring your kick boat to fish the whole area thoroughly, carefully working each bass out away from the down fall to fight him so he does not scare the other bass. In addition to the tactic of fishing across the aquatic grassbeds into the banks which I discussed doing on my first day out with my kick boat here is another ploy which gives me many large bass late in the summer when the river become low and the aquatic grassbeds get thick. Many large slow pools that range from four feet to six feet deep become almost solidly covered with aquatic grassbeds. These are wonderful for the large bass because they provide food, cover, and shade. From the point where www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l July 2017 l 161
the grass grows up from the streambottom the current pushes the upper part of the plants downstream. This creates many cavern-like feeding stations for the bass as well as many ten foot to fifteen foot open bays within the almost solid grassbeds. These areas are ideal to fish with a kick boat because you can drift quietly through the full length of the pool and cast a bug such as a Shenandoah Blue Popper size 4 into each of these open bays as well as to the openings along the edges of the grassbeds. Often the strike will come as soon as the bug lands on the stream so be ready to set the hook. If, however, the strike does not come right away you can impart a slow pop-rest-pop bug action to cover the whole area. These pools are often so productive that I spend an hour to fish a pool the size of a football field. Since you may be drifting miles away from other anglers and houses there are a few safety measures you may want to consider. Always carry an emergency boat patching kit in case you punch a hole in your boat. An anchor on a 30 foot rope is very useful. However, carry a knife so you can quickly cut the anchor rope if the anchor gets stuck in deep fast water. I once had a dangerous close call on this because I did not have a knife. I carry a five piece extra fly rod in its case behind my boat seat in case I break a rod. A good raincoat is a must. I always keep one in my dry bag behind my boat seat. In this same dry bag I have a change of clothes, drinking water, food, first aid kit, and a cell phone. Always let someone know where you plan to launch your kick boat and where you plan to take out at the end of the day and what time you expect to take out. I like to float from three to five miles on a full day trip. I strongly recommend using kick boats for river smallmouth fly fishing. I am sure they help me catch many large bass that I would not have caught otherwise. 162 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Fresh off of the presses: The first book ever dedicated to the Brook Trout of the Southern Appalachian Mountains
NEW FROM JIMMY JACOBS YOU KNOW HIM AS THE AUTHOR OF GUIDEBOOKS TO TROUT FISHING IN THE SOUTHEAST. NOW EXPERIENCE THE OTHER SIDE OF JIMMY JACOBS’ WRITING. THE CERDO GRANDE CONSPIRACY IS A NOVEL THAT TAKES YOU ON A WILD RIDE FROM ATLANTA TO KEY WEST, FLORIDA. The Cerdo Grande Conspiracy was born in a tale related to me by a reserve officer with the Monroe County Police Department that serves the Florida Keys. It revolved around an escaped pig on Stock Island that becomes amorous with a motorcycle in a convenience store parking lot. The owner of the bike and the pig's owner ended up in a fight as the biker attacked the pig. While it sounds surreal, locals have good reason to call the city at the south end of U.S. Highway 1 "Key Weird." Anything is plausible in this slice of paradise. And if it hasn't already happened, it likely will. Admittedly, some liberties have been taken with the original tale, but that's what fiction is all about. From that incident the story of the conspiracy to save the porker took root. Hopefully, you'll find that it grew into an entertaining romp along the southeast coast down to the American tropics. And, should you ever visit there, you just might recognize some of the locales in the tale. Jimmy Jacobs Kindle Edition $4.99 Paperback $9.99 AVAILABLE AT WWW.AMAZON.COM/AUTHOR/JIMMYJACOBS
The city of Waynesboro offers some of the finest trout fishing in Virginia. Trophy-sized rainbow and brown trout thrive in the South River Delayed Harvest Area, which flows right through downtown and has one of the two urban fisheries in the state. The South River Fly Shop on Main Street provies guided trips, classes and an extensive line of fly fishing products. Waynesboro is also home ot the South River Fly Fishing Expo in the spring. Attendees have the opportunity to enjoy fly tying, casting, and fishing presentations by regionally known professionals. Visit our website to learn more about Waynesboro, VA.
visitwaynesboro.net
Georgia's
Bavarian Trou Helen, GA N
Ragan Whitlock
estled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia lies a town unlike any other in the South. The strange, little town I am referring to is better known as Helen, Georgia’s Bavarian trout town. From the moment you turn the corner into town on Ga-17, the one entrance and exit, you notice what separates Helen from other mountain towns. As a failing logging town in the early 20th century, Helen needed a change to stay afloat. In 1968, local artist John Kollack teamed up with several businessmen to enact a strange makeover plan. With tourism in mind, the team decided to replicate a Bavarian alpine town. Cobblestone streets were added, color schemes were completely changed, and a yearly “oktoberfest” was eventually brought to the town. German beer taps flow and carriage rides are plentiful during the beautiful Fall season.
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ut Town:
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After spending a few hours in the small downtown, most visitors start to really consider the term “authentic” and how it applies to Helen, Ga. As a Bavarian town, it is of course not authentic. Despite the outside appearance, the Huddle House in town would never be misconstrued as alpine. The same can be said for many of the “trinket” stores and lodging options. Still, the bright star of the bunch, so to speak, does shine brightly. Hofer’s, a bakery and restaurant downtown, is one of the most appetizing places I have ever set foot in. An incredible selection of pastries and cakes line the way to the restaurant seating. Walking past the chocolate croissants and apple fritters in order to eat a full breakfast is a test of willpower unlike any other. Disregarding other forms of German authenticity, Helen is quite credible in other ways. The Blue-Ridge mountains may not be as massive or snow capped as the Alps, but they do provide incredible places of solitude. Within an hour of leaving Hofer’s restaurant, what I have decided is the proper time needed to digest the bowl of bacon/onion hash before fishing, there are hundreds of miles of trout inhabited water. The largest and most well known of these options lies in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The Chattahoochee river, which runs directly through the town of Helen, is not usually considered as a haven for wild trout. Those who have seen the river south of Helen may remember it best for muddy coloring and large catfish. In the National Forest, however, this stream thrives with small, wild populations of rainbow and brook trout. Miles and miles of road border the river and smaller tributaries, showcasing waterfalls and plunge pools all within walking distance. 172 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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The three wild trout streams flowing into Lake Burton are also well within the hour mark of Helen. Dicks Creek boasts the largest fish and most stream miles, but nearby Moccasin and Wildcat creeks are also quite productive. While no fisherman should expect wild trout over 12” inches to be caught with regularity in these regions, a peaceful and productive fishing day can always be found. Those fishermen looking for a larger catch should reroute their efforts to Smith creek, a delayed harvest stream directly next to Unicoi Lodge. This stream has the look of a small tailrace or wild trout water, but is teeming with stocked rainbows and browns. My personal best is 17”, but those with more experience on the stream speak of much larger fish. The delayed harvest sections are clearly marked, with a very large trail following the length of the section. Other than the occasional snake sun bathing on a rock, Smith creek offers a peaceful atmosphere that will match many wild streams. The upper section of the stream, where water spills down Unicoi Lake’s dam, has been known to hold rock bass from time to time. Using a dry-dropper rig, with the nymph at least 14” away from the dry fly, is a fantastic set-up for this stream. The same rig works great in the Chattahoochee National Forest and Lake Burton streams, as long as the depth of the dropper is adjusted for the more shallow portions. 174 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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After a long day of fishing, when the food energy from Hofer’s or Betty’s Country Store has waned, there are two places that always seem to rejuvenate the fishermen spirit. Habersham Winery, located within walking distance of Unicoi Outfitters fly shop, is by far the most relaxing place to drink in Helen. Wine tastings are inexpensive and delicious. Furthermore, the award winning wine is served by the glass to those who know just which bottle they prefer. Even though wine preference varies greatly, I have yet to take someone to Habersham for the first time without watching them leave holding a bottle of Heritage Red (½ cabernet, ½ muscadine). The other popular “end of the day” option is Paul’s Steakhouse. The food is delicious and diverse, but the bar carries the most attraction. Cocktails and beer are reasonably priced, and the atmosphere is always engaging. The restaurant sits directly on the river, and the entire downtown area is within walking distance. If you are staying a weekend in Helen, I would highly recommend making both of these watering holes a priority to visit. After all, how can you visit a “Bavarian” town without turning a few taps?
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N
26
VIRGINIA
KENTUCKY
Kingspor
TENNESSEE 75
81
Cherokee Lake
Norris Lake
Melton Hill Lake
Greeneville
40
Knoxville Fort Loudon Lake
40
Newport
Sevierville
Lenoir City
Townsend
J08-09
Great Smoky Mtns National Park
Sweetwater
Cosby
Mars Hill
Hardford
Pigeon Forge
Maryville
Loudon
Watts Bar Lake
26
Douglas Lake
Weaverville
Gatlinburg
J10-11
K10-11
Chilhowee
K12-13
L07-08
FontanaL09-10 Dam
L11-12
Bryson City
Sylva Robbinsville
M05-06
Etowah
M07-08
M09-10
M11-12
M13-14
Cullowhee
Cherokee National Forest
Murphy
NORTH CAROLINA
Ducktown
P01-02
Nantahala National Forest Dillard
McCaysville
GEORGIA
P12-13
26
M15-16
N15-16
Franklin
Reliance
TENNESSEE
Fletcher
Pisgah National Forest
L13-14
Tellico Plains
Ashevil
Waynesville
Cherokee
75 Athens
40 Canton
Maggie Valley
Rossman
Highlands
SOUTH CAROLINA
Clayton Blue Ridge
Not To Scale
Blairsville
Greenv
Chattahoochee National Forest
85
Index of Maps Featuring All or Partial Sections of Waters Listed J08-09 Blockhouse and Kinzel Springs USGS Quadrangles Little River downstream of Great Smoky Mountains Nationa Park, Hesse, Cane and Beard Cane Creek. J10-11 Wear Cove and Gatlinburg USGS Quadrangles Little River, West Prong Little Pigeon River and Gatlinburg special permit streams.
81
K10-11 Thunderhead Mountain and Silers Bald USGS Quadrangles Little River, Lynn Camp Prong, Fish Camp Prong, and Hazel, Forney Creek, Bone Valley Creek and Jonas Creeks.
Bristol
rt
K12-13 Clingmans Dome and Smokemont USGS Quadrangles Oconaluftee River, Raven Fork, Bradley Fork and Noland and Deep Creeks. L07-08 Whiteoak Flats and Tapoco USGS Quadrangles Cheoah River and Citico, Jake Best, Doublecamp and Slickrock Creeks.
Johnson City
NORTH CAROLINA
Cherokee National Forest
L09-10 Fontana Dam and Tuskeegee USGS Quadrangles Fontana Lake and Eagle, Hazel, Yellow, Sawyer and Stecoah Creeks. L11-12 Noland Creek and Bryson City USGS Quadrangles Fontana Lake, Tuckasegee River and Forney, Noland and Deep Creeks. L13-14 Whittier and Sylva North USGS Quadrangles Tuckasegee and Oconaluftee Rivers, and Soco, Dicks and Scott Creeks.
Pisgah National Forest
M05-06 Tellico Plains and Bald River Falls USGS Quadrangles Tellico, River and Bald Rivers and Wildcat Creek. M07-08 Big Junction and Santeetlah Creek USGS Quadrangles Tellico and North Rivers and Nabb, Santeetlah Creek, Little Santeetlah, West Buffalo, Little Buffalo Squally and Snowbird Creeks. M09-10 Robbinsville and Hewitt USGS Quadrangles Santeetlah Lake, Nantahala River and Tulula Creek, Long, Mountain Creek, Snowbird, Franks, Berts, Bear and Stecoah Creeks. M11-12 Wesser and Alarka USGS Quadrangles Little Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers and Alarka, Rattlesnake, Tellico, Burningtown, Cowee, Rhinehart and Sugar Cove Creeks.
40
lle
M13-14 Greens Creek and Sylva South USGS Quadrangles Tuckasegee River, Caney Fork and Greens, Savannah, Wayehutta and Cullowhee Creeks. M15-16 Tuckasegee and Sam Knob USGS Quadrangles Upper West Prong Pigeon River, Caney Fork and Moses, Mull, Wolfe and Tanasee Creeks.
Hendersonville
NORTH CAROLINA 85
Spartanburg
N15-16 Big Ridge and Lake Toxaway USGS Quadrangles Tuckasegee and West Fork French Broad Rivers and Tanasee, Robbinsville, Flat and Panthertown Creeks. P01-02 Tennga & Hemp Top USGS Quadrangles Conasauga River, Jacks River and West and South Forks of Jacks River and Mill Creek. P12-13 Rabun Bald and Satolah USGS Quadrangles Chattooga River and West Fork Chattooga River, Walnut Fork and Warwoman, Sarahs and Hoods Creeks.
A 85
ville
26
Š 2016 SAINT CLAIR MAPPING Updated 9/22/2016
Davy Wot World Class
www.davywotton.com
tton Fly Fishing American International Schools of Fly Fishing Outfitter and Guide Services for the White River region Custom Flies and Fly Fishing DVDs
Office: 870-453-2195 Cell: 870-404-5223
davyfly@ozarkmountains.com
Coming Alive in the Mountains by Jimmy Jacobs
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H
e
Common blue violet on a Georgia hillside in spring.
ere in Georgia we are blessed with a mild enough climate to make allseason trout fishing a reality. Adding to that, access to a variety of angling options spanning small streams, large rivers and delayed-harvest waters equals a year-round potpourri of opportunities for cold-water action. Despite those qualities, the late spring season in the Peach State mountains remains the true time for trout fishing. As the region finally breaks free from early morning frosts and the winds take on a warmer tinge, the highlands come to life after the long dormant fall and winter months. This is a time that just pleads with trout enthusiasts to grab a rod and head to a smaller mountain waterway. Listening to that siren song, I hooked up with Bob Borgwat of Reel Angling Adventures (reelanglingadventures. com) for a bit of hiking and fishing on the Cooper Creek Wildlife Management Area of north central Georgia. Our target destination for the day was the area’s namesake Cooper Creek, a tributary of the Toccoa River and stream with a couple of faces. For many it has been a long-time destination for camping and fishing for stocked trout around two U.S. Forest Service campgrounds on the lower end of the creek. For others, such as ourselves on this day, it offers treks to more isolated stretches in the Cooper Creek Scenic Area or in its headwaters region. In these areas the attraction is wild stream-bred rainbow and brown trout.
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Yellow corn lily popping up along the trail side..
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Like a lot of other Georgia anglers, when it comes to wild fish, I’ll leave the exact where to those of an adventurous nature, willing to expend some boot leather to explore the area. Rather, let’s talk about what the experience entails in getting to and fishing a Georgia mountain creek in the late spring.
Mayapples lining the feeder stream leading down to Cooper Creek.
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One adage that proves itself true when it comes to visiting remote, back country trout streams is that getting there is half the adventure. The sights, sounds and smells of the mountains in the spring make such adventures sensory joys. As we began walking down a long abandoned logging road, it was apparent that the dull brown leaf litter of winter was beginning to give way to a more colorful tableau. Fresh new greenery in the form of mountain wild flowers was popping up everywhere across the hill sides.
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Around old stumps and logs the delicate blue blossoms of common violets shimmered with the morning mist. Along the fringe of the old roadbed, crisp green leaves of yellow corn lilies – called mountain lilies by many folks – were protruding up through the mat of last year’s leaves. In one bottom along a feeder brook head down to the main creek, a thick mat of mayapples lined the stream, each plant standing erect like a small umbrella. Soon their white flowers with yellow centers would begin to appear, but often hidden from sight beneath the leafy canopy of the plants. At one point we stop beside the massive trunk of an old growth tulip poplar, one of many huge trees of this species along the trail. This one, however, was so big it begged for attention and a photograph to document it. Based on the length of Bob’s fly rod displayed across its width, the tree was pushing 6 feet in diameter.
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Bob Borgwat and the massive tulip poplar tree.
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Once we reached Cooper Creek, the stream offered more evidence of the beauty of spring in the mountains. Its crystal waters raced over rock ledges, darted around boulders and slide over stretches of gravel bottom. Occasionally the current lingered like it was resting, while pooling up at the foot of a drop or meandering around a bend in the creek. Quickly we were wading upstream, taking turns dropping dry flies on the surface of the runs. As the offerings bobbed along, the surface would suddenly open with a splash as black-spotted flashes of olive, tinged with red inhaled the flies. When brought to the net they revealed themselves as rainbow trout of 6 to 8 inches long.
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Rounding a bend, the stream is suddenly bordered by a big open field offering a grassy vista backed by ridges and peaks in the distance. We have reached what is call Indian Field. Laying deep in the scenic area, some sources point to this spot as being the oldest continuously cultivate field in Georgia. Lore has it that the little valley was tilled by Native Americans before the coming of European settlers. Then those early pioneer families continue the tradition and today the opening is used as a food plot by wildlife managers.
Bob Borgwat casting on a level stretch of Cooper Creek.
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Just upstream of me the creek funnels through a shoal to the right shore. The current then flows through a deeper area, skirting slack water that protrudes back under the roots of a streamside tree. Casting to the lower tip of the whitewater churning out of the shoal, my Royal Wulff floats high like a miniature boat, riding the tide at the divide between current and still water. With a splat a fish rises to attack the fly and the line goes tight. Very shortly I lead a rainbow into the net that glistens with vivid hues and measures a full 10 inches long. No giant, the fish still is a prize from such a small stream setting and a fitting exclamation point to a day in Georgia’s late spring highlands.
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A colorful wild rainbow from Cooper Creek.
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Are You Re for Jar Fli Don Kirk
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eady ies?
O
ur last 17 year Jar Fly hatch was in 2000. Jar Fly is the name old mountaineers applied to the various species of cicada that emerge in huge numbers in 17 year cycles. Everyone hears these high pitch winged insects, but for trout the sound is that of the dinner bell. Also known as locust, most of those found in the South are species in the genus Magicicada. These periodical cicadas have an extremely long life cycle of 13 or 17 years, suddenly and briefly emerging in large numbers. Magicicada has a number of distinct "broods" that go through either a 17-year or, in some parts of the South, a 13-year life cycle. My first recollection of hitting the Jar Fly hatch was around 1970 on Paint Creek in the Cherokee National Forest of East Tennessee. A friend who told me about gave me a 2-inch long pattern that he called a salmon fly. It looked more like a winged hellgrammite, but I took it to try. In those days the upper reaches of Paint Creek were under single hook, artificial only regulations, which translated to 99 percent of the hoard following the stocking truck at Paint Creek regarded the upper portion of the creek known as the “gorge� was more or less taboo.
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We often pitched tents at the recreation area’s campground which was also where the nobait fishing section of Paint Creek started. I usually did pretty good up there with Black Gnats and Royal Coachman flies. On a lark I tied on the salmon fly, which until then was the biggest load of cargo I had ever attempted to cast. The first cast was a 14-inch brown, the first of over dozen good sized trout I caught before losing that big fly to a tree. Any angler who has fished a good 17 year locust hatch is not likely to forget it. It’s the kind of experience that leaves you wondering about everything you thought you knew about fish. Hitting the hatch is largely dumb luck. Male Jar Flies produce a high, constant pitch that can reach 120 d. Hatches can last for as short a period of time as a couple days. Sometimes several males aggregate and call in chorus. When it is on though, you know it as the noise is not only deafening, but for some people is so intense that it causes headaches. 198 l June 2017 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Jar Flies hatch in broods. One area may have an intense hatch, while the next county over, the woods are silent. Since this occurs every 17 years or so, keeping up with where and when is daunting. Additionally, brood emergences are followed by less hatches of “stragglers.� I personally regard hitting a hatch perfectly is largely dumb luck. Much the same can be said about hitting a hatch of Carolina grasshopper in mid-spring in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you are fortunate enough to find yourself the crescendo of a cicada hatch, by all means think big. Odds are the biggest patterns carried most often by southern trout fishermen if a #6 to #8 grasshopper. At best these are about half the size of a Jar Fly, which can be the size of the end of your thumb. Very few patterns accurately mimic the jumbo size, winged insects. My recommendation is an Umpqua Neversink Cicada Popper. It floats well and performs well when trout have keyed in on large morsels. When you are fortunate enough to hit a Jar Fly hatch---THINK BIG.
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A Museum for the Southern Fly Fisherman
The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians — originally
located in Cherokee, NC — has a new home in neighboring Bryson City where it shares a building with the Bryson City / Swain County Chamber of Commerce. It’s centrally located on the town square across the street from the visitor center. The Museum is open Monday thru Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm and admission is free.
The scope of the museum covers an
area with more than 14,700 miles of accessible trout streams — the nine Southern Appalachian States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama; the Qualla Boundary, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Bryson City, NC
PHOTO BY JIM HEAFNER
Through exhibits and videos you’ll
learn about legendary “Stream Blazers,” the evolution of rods and reels, basic knots, fly-tying, types of gear, types of gamefish, regional fishing waters, and the history of fly fishing in the Southeast. Whether you are a long-time fly fisherman, or have only attempted or never tried fly fishing, you will find something to enjoy and to learn from in the museum.
FLY FISHING MUSEUM
OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS
Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians 210 Main Street Bryson City, NC 28713 800-867-9241
FlyFishingMuseum.org
best kept secret
8284793790
GrahamCountyTravel.com