Unicoi Outfitters is north Georgia's premier guide service and fly fishing outfitter, located on the Chattahoochee River near alpine Helen. Look for fishing reports, gear and book reviews, and general musings here from our staff and guides.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Dukes Creek after the Big Winter Storm

by Landon Williams (the guy who gets to fish more than the law allows)

Did you survive Snowpocalypse 2016?! Hopefully so and were able to get out and enjoy the decent weather we had Sunday. I took advantage of some poor but probably warm soul’s no-show slot at Dukes creek yesterday afternoon and had a great day. Water was running at a normal winter flow but was very balmy with the recent winter weather. Still, fish have to eat and if you were persistent and patient, good fishing was one’s reward. I practiced what I always preach and found the Sun and the fishing was much improved for my angling trio compared to the poor reports I heard from the ice filled morning. Mop Flies took their fair share of fish from the others in my group but I did best with an 18 hares ear soft hackle trailed behind a small egg. Fish were hugging bottom and getting it in their face was key. My weight ranged anywhere from 3 BB split shot to two 3/0 water gremlins 
dep
ending on the depth and current speed of my fishing locale. Long fluorocarbon leaders were key to punching through current and delivering tasty morsels to the resident fish.
It was a fairly normal angling day for the winter time but believe it or not, I caught more fish on the soft hackle than I did anything else.  A slow deliberate raising/lowering of the rod at the end of the drift was deadly and even fooled a couple of nice sized “PHD” trout too! If you didn’t get outside yesterday and instead opted to watch Carolina’s clinic against the Cardinals or Peyton VS Brady, at least know that your opportunity was there!

See you on the creek!
Landon