MARCH, 2006 UNICOI NEWSLETTER
We've talked about this magical time of the year in newsletters past but it's here again and we're just as excited as always. Trout season opens in Georgia this weekend, Saturday, March 25th. Sure, we realize many of you have been fishing all winter long and having a great time but there is still the psychological issue. Even if you have been fishing on a regular basis between last November and the present, we'll bet your attitude is undergoing a transition right now. You're beginning to think of spring wildflowers and bugs hatching. Rising fish and fewer layers of clothing. Less or even no split shot and casts that actually resemble that classic movement of line through the air that many of us fell in love with before we ever realized what flyfishing was all about. To the melody of "Summertime and the Living Is Easy" we go about our daily chores humming our own unwritten chorus of "Springtime and the Fishing Is Easy"WHERE TO FISH
In a nutshell, anywhere! Caddis, caddis, caddis! Pick a stream and you'll likely find some caddis activity right now. The Toccoa black caddis hatch is winding down a little but they're still there and the fish are gorging themselves on them. For the best results, try tying on a dry with a small black wet fly dropper. This combination can be deadly on the tailwater section of the Toccoa. You'll also find Blue Winged Olives, Midges and Hendricksons in sufficient numbers to attract trout. On the upper Toccoa, you'll also find caddis but don't forget to try swinging woolly buggers and other baitfish imitations through some of the deeper runs on this section. You may even surprise yourself with a nice smallmouth now and then. And an FYI on the proposed upper Toccoa Delayed Harvest: the first public meeting for discussion was held in Blue Ridge this past week and attended by over 30 interested citizens. There was no one in attendance opposed to the change in regulations. At this point, there is likely to be one more meeting before it's submitted to the DNR Board of Directors. This is a beautiful section of river that will probably become one of the most popular special regulation streams in Georgia. Easy access, less than 10 miles from downtown Blue Ridge and it has a road running along the entire length of the proposed DH section. The Forest Service Canoe access ramp on the upper end makes a perfect launching point for pontoon boats or float tubes. Just remember that the river flows back into mostly private land after it leaves the DH section so your take-out will have to be on Forest Service land unless you've made prior arrangements with the folks at Toccoa River Campground who have a great take-out location just upstream of Shallowford Bridge. Spend some time on this section during this spring and summer low water conditions so you'll have a more intimate knowledge of where to fish next winter.
There are also great caddis hatches coming off on our nearby North Carolina neighbors, the Nantahala and the Tuckaseegee Rivers. We've had recent wade trips on the Nantahala River where we caught lots of fish and pulled the hat trick (brookie, brown and rainbow) several times. We've had numerous float trips on the Tuckaseegee River in the past couple of weeks and the fishing there has been nothing short of phenomenal. Hundred fish days are not uncommon with quite a few fish in the 18 - 20" range. These delayed harvest streams will be fishing like a house on fire for the next two and a half months. If you've not tried them, make this the year you take the plunge. The NC non-resident fishing license is only $40.00 and is good for 365 days from the date of purchase. We're confident that once you try it, you'll get your money's worth from that $40.00 investment.
Back in Georgia, the Chattooga River continues to be the best thing this side of indoor plumbing. Many of you have heard us say this before but it bears repeating once again, "The Chattooga River is undeniably one of the most beautiful trout streams in the entire U.S." Whatever your passion, dredging the depths of deep runs and pools, floating a dry fly on glass slick pools or bouncing a dry/dropper combination through the shallow riffles, the Chattooga River has it. The Delayed Harvest section will continue to fish great through the middle of May and the water upstream of there will be coming into it's own as water and air temps begin to warm up. Regardless of which section you choose to fish, walk in a little ways to get away from the roads and the crowds. There's a secret way to find out what's happening on the Chattooga River; visit the Rabun TU website (http://www.rabuntu.com) and click to get to their newsletter page. The Chattooga is their backyard and there's lots of information available here. Actually, there is great information throughout the site concerning fishing and fishing related issues. Take a look at it.
LAKE LANIER STRIPER REPORT
From Henry Cowen on the stripers in Lake Lanier:
"The cold fronts we experienced last week seems to have put the fish off their feed. The good news is that this was a temporary thing. The water temps bounced back into the high 50's and it's oooooon! Nice stripers are being caught both mornings until 10am and at sunset. Fishing in the dark is starting to produce some big catches too. Size of fish are averaging in the 8-12lb range w/plenty of teenagers too. Here is the deal: Sinking lines are still the ticket. As for flies I am suggesting Clousers in grey/white, Coyotes in Grey/white or Chartreuse/white, BIG rattle flies and my baitfish pattern in Grey/white or Olive/white is probably the #1 fly right now. There are 3 bites that we are finding productive:
#1 Fish dock lites at night. This is a sure way to get the fish to eat.
#2 Fish the backs of the coves in the early morning (pre dawn until 9am) or in the late afternoon (4-7pm). We are starting to see loons and gulls give away the stripers positions. Use them to find the fish. Some fish are blowing up on threadfin and herring during those low lite conditions.
#3 Fish at night! Have not heard about the fish on bombers yet but I bet you it is just starting to happen. I know that the fish or on the secondary points in the coves and can be caught in the dark on some of the MAIN creeks that everyone fishes! That is all for now. I still have some open days in April. See you on the pond..........."
Henry Cowen guides flyfishing striper trips on Lake Lanier and is a nationally renowned fly tier and pattern developer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. You may contact Henry at henryc@marmellatacorp.com.
WHAT'S NEW
We've got the coolest thing in our shop in Helen. If you're a true small stream angler, stop in to take a look at the new River Raisin Rods handcrafted by Jeff Schaeffer. These little bamboo works of art are serious fly rods that look and cast like a dream. We currently have two models in stock. The "Little Miss" is a one-piece 4' 4" 3/4 wt. designed for only the smallest of wild trout streams. The "Fontinalis" is a one-piece 5' 4 wt. for use on the "big" wild trout streams of the headwaters. Each of these rods are priced at $550.00. You'll have to see them to believe them.
If your fishing garb is getting a little ragged looking, stop in to see what we've got in the way of fishing shirts from Columbia Sportswear. We've got a serious sale going on right now and you won't find better pricing anywhere.
This last item isn't really in our shop but we just discovered it and really like it. We suppose it's the normal evolution of our sport in this multi-media age but a couple of young guys out west have developed "Fly Fish Radio" and it's available as a podcast which you can download to iTunes and/or your iPod. These guys have weekly interviews with some really fantastic angling personalities and the information they offer is priceless. Topics range from Glenn Brackett and bamboo flyrods to Ian Colin and carp on the fly and Norm Albiston describing how to think like a fish. The interviews are truly entertaining and educational. You can visit their website at http://www.flyfishradio.com, download it to iTunes and really waste some serious time while working at your computer. Try it, you'll like it!
LAST WORD
As we anxiously look forward to a great season of fishing this spring, we want to encourage you to take someone fishing this year who hasn't had the opportunities many of us have been privileged to have. Mentor a kid or even an adult who wants to learn to fish but doesn't have a family member or friend to teach them. Show them what we're all so excited about; pass it on!
THANK YOU
As always, we are grateful for your friendship and your patronage. If you ever need current fishing information or specifications and recommendations on gear, please call us at (706) 878-3083 in Helen or (706) 632-1880 in Blue Ridge.
Remember, if you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, just reply to this email with the word "remove" in the subject line. On the other hand, if you know someone you think would like to know what's going on with north Georgia trout fishing, please have them send us an email and request to be placed on our mailing list.
Tight lines!
The Liars Club http://www.unicoioutfitters.com