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.
It's always interesting to have well-known fly anglers fish with us. We are either looking to see their surprise when they discover how much fun it is or to see how well their personal technique performs on "our" water. Yesterday we were privileged to have author Allen McGee of soft hackle fly fame fishing at Nacoochee Bend. Those of you who follow my own writings know that I think the soft hackle is the perfect fly and I love to fish them. Having an accomplished soft hackle expert validate my thoughts just makes me want to get on the water right now and swing a few. By the way, Allen is one of the presenters at the upcoming Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival at Unicoi State Park on June 2nd, 3rd & 4th. Some of his presentations will be on-stream at Nacoochee Bend. Here is what Allen had to say about his trip:
"I had a great day up there today! I probably caught 25 - 30 fish, seriously. Most of the day I fished down at Yaz Crossing and just above there. It is good water for swimming and swinging soft-hackled nymphs. It's really nice in that section. I caught most of my fish on #14 black soft-hackled nymphs with silver bead heads. Also I caught some on Orange Hare Thorax Nymphs #12. I want to thank you very much for letting me fish there today. I think my presentation for the Southern Conclave FFF will be great on that water. Thanks again, and here are a few pics."
This could be your kids or grand kids with these great smiles on their faces if you take them fishing. We have 2 upcoming events that will allow you to do just that. On Sat. April 30, the US Forest Service, along with the Ga DNR and Foothills Chapter of TU will sponsor the Nancytown Lake Kids Fishing Rodeo at Mt. Airy.This event is for kids aged 2-15 years old and will start at 8:00 AM and last til 11:30. Volunteers will be there to help the kids. Refreshments will be provided and prizes will be given out. For directions, go to www.gofishgeorgia.com and check the calender of events for April 30. Looking forward to a big turn out of Foothills TU volunteers for this event.
On Sat., May 7, Center Baptist Church will sponsor the "Fishers of Men" TroutTournament.This event is open to everyone and it's a great place to take kids and have fun. It will be in Helen at the "Cool River Tubing" location. It starts at 7 AM and ends at 11 Am--lunch will be provided and trophies and great door prizes will be awarded including a fishing trip with Unicoi Outfitters. For info, contact Mark Pourbaix at 706-754-6663 or the church at www.centerbaptist.com. The church always does a great job with this event. Take a kid fishing--you will enjoy it as much as they do.
We had to share with you our Unicoi Guide Duane Miller's new ride on the water. Duane has to have one of the sweetest rides ever to float on the Toccoa River. We are fortunate to have Duane guiding for us. He is native of the Blue Ridge area and has logged many hours on the Toccoa River as well other streams in the Southern Appalachians. Duane shares his passion for fly fishing with his son Tristen. Duane is not only an exceptional guide but he is very active in the conservation of the Toccoa River. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Toccoa River Watershed Coalition.
Thanks Jimmy for the blog, I really enjoy what I do. And I probably am already paying Unicoi for guiding if you count all the "stuff" I have purchased at the shops.
As a guide or fisherman, I just don't think you can beat spring and especially the month of April for the best fishing of all the year. The water temp is just right, the rivers and streams have plenty of water, and the fish are aggressive and crazy--you can actually catch them on a fly larger than a size #20 midge.
I fished with Bo & Wendy Perry from Macon on Friday at NCF and had a great time. Neither had ever caught a trout on a fly rod--but that quickly changed when we started fishing. Bo hooked a nice fish on his 1st cast and landed several fish before we left the 1st hole. Wendy worked on her casting and presentation and before long she was hooking fish also.
She was very happy when she finally landed this nice rainbow, as you can see from the big smile on her face. We landed several fish and hooked many more. The fish were really acrobatic, just making jump after jump after jump.
I couldn't ask for a day to be much better--we had hook-ups on the very 1st cast and the last cast 0f the day--with many in between.
Thanks to Wendy & Bo for allowing me to fish with them--I believe they enjoyed it almost as much as me.
So leave work early, or do whatever necessary to get on the water, because this is a great time of the year to fish.
Thanks,
Ron
Oh yea, almost forgot--Pat's rubber leg stonefly!!
Ron Thomas loves being a flyfishing guide. I think if we worked this thing just right, he would pay us to take clients out fishing. His mission in life, since he retired from the U.S. Postal Service, is to put as many smiles on anglers' faces as possible. And in that quest, he has created a lot of new friends and turned a lot of them on to trout fishing with the fly. This week he had a trip with Kerry Teel from Canton. Kerry is one of Ron's repeat clients (one of Ron's adopted family members now) who has now fished River North on the Soque and Nacoochee Bend with plans to hit Frog Hollow with Ron later in the month.
These fish were caught at Nacoochee Bend on Monday. We think the Bend the best trophy stream in north Georgia right now. We're having more success hooking big fish and more numbers of fish here than any other stream we guide on. I think you can tell from the look on Kerry's face that he's satisfied with the results. According to Ron, they "caught a bunch of fish on a lot of different flies" but these two fatties both took a big Zonker.
Ron also leads a monthly fly tying class on the first Tuesday evening of each month at our Helen shop. It's picked up the name of "Tie One On" but we assure you the only thing folks there are high on is life and laughter. It's open to anyone, even if you don't own any tying gear. We'll provide it for you.
I just wanted to remind everyone that we will meet Tues., April 5th at Unicoi Outfitters in Helen for our monthly fly tying session. The time is 6:00 PM and anyone interested in learning to tie their own flies or tie better flies is welcome--we tie basic flies that catch fish and we have a good time doing it. This is a good group and if you attend I believe you will enjoy it.
Oh Yea! It's on like Donkey Kong! In between the rains when the water levels drop and warm up a little, the fish are showing their appreciation! David Chamers took just a half day trip to hook twenty to twenty five nice fish (and missed several takes) at Frog Hollow! Applying the Roland Martin techniques for hook setting and fish fighting, he said, "my landing ratio was left to be desired just a little bit". He did improve through out the morning and we put fish in the net! In an email that David sent thanking me for the great trip he said, "I heard all of your advice about how to cast, mend, hook set, and fight these fish, but sometimes with me it sinks in a little slow!"
Come see me at Unicoi Outfitters and I'll help you get into fish by improving your fishing techniques and your understanding of what, where when and how!
--
Rex Gudgel
Federation Of Fly Fishers Master Certified Casting Instructor
While we're not totally convinced this is the best way to tackle the problem of waterway contamination from critters like Didymo or"rock snot" as it is affectionately called, zebra mussels, whirling disease etc. (it's still going to take an aggressive act on behalf of all anglers to keep the spores out of the nooks and crannies of all our wading gear like gravel guards & shoe laces), more states are looking at a total ban on felt soles. Vermont and Maryland recently enacted legislation which, for all intents and purposes, makes it illegal to wear any wading shoes which are not soled with Vibram or some other proprietary rubber compound when fishing their streams.
Unicoi Outfitters stocks a full line of Simms wading shoes with Vibram soles and we can ship them to you if you live in or fish a state where felt has been banned. There is no sales tax on boots shipped out of the state of Georgia plus we'll pay for the shipping. Most shipments will go out within 24 hours of placing the order.
If you're concerned that you may be a potential carrier of these vile organisms, we still think the best way to control the spread is a routine practice of maintenance. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has a very good procedure we should all be following that I've included here:
CHECK -- Before you leave a river, stream, or lake, check items and leave debris at site. If you find any later, treat and put in trash. Do not wash down drains.
CLEAN -- There are several ways to kill didymo. Choose the most practical treatment for your situation which will not adversely affect your gear.
Stop aquatic hitchhikersNon-absorbent items
* Detergent -- soak or spray all surfaces for at least one minute in 5% dishwashing detergent or (2 cups (16 oz.) or 500mls with water added to make 2.5 gal. or 10 litres); OR * Bleach -- soak or spray all surfaces for at least one minute in 2% household bleach (1 cup (8 oz.) or 200mls with water added to make 3 gal. or 10 litres); OR * Hot water -- soak for at least one minute in very hot water kept above 140° F (60° C) (hotter than most tap water) or for at least 20 minutes in hot water kept above 113° F (45° C) (uncomfortable to touch).
Absorbent items -- require longer soaking times to allow thorough saturation. For example, felt-soled waders require:
* Hot water -- soak for at least 40 minutes in hot water kept above 113° F (45° C) ; OR * Hot water plus detergent -- soak for 30 minutes in hot water kept above 113° F (45° C) containing 5% dishwashing detergent; OR * Freezing any item until solid will also kill didymo.
DRY -- Drying will kill didymo, but slightly moist didymo can survive for months. To ensure didymo cells are dead by drying, the item must be completely dry to the touch, inside and out, then left dry for at least another 48 hours before use. If cleaning or drying is not practical, restrict equipment to a single waterway.
NOTE: The thicker and denser the material, the better it will be at holding moisture (and live cells), the slower it will be to dry out and the more difficult it will be to soak completely with cleaning solutions.
When cleaning equipment, we recommend that you
* soak porous materials for longer than the specified times to ensure saturation with cleaning solution * choose a decontamination solution that will not adversely affect your equipment * follow manufacturer’s safety instructions when using products * dispose of cleaning waste well away from waterways
Here's an eye-opening video out of New Zealand that can help you recognize Didymo:
Ironically, I have had brief but notable acquaintances with both the Bogdan family and the reporter Monte Burke. The first year as an owner of Unicoi Outfitters, a friend of ours stopped by the shop in Helen and with him was Stan Bogdan's son Stephen. I felt as if I were in the presence of royalty but Stephen was a very quiet and unassuming man with a pleasant personality whom I enjoyed visiting with. Monte Burke and I met on the Willowemoc River in New York one afternoon as I was rescuing a fishing partner from being swept into a stringer. A nerve wracking experience for me for sure. About a year ago I received an email from Monte telling me that the incident had been indelibly etched on his mind also as he had walked up on us while we were fighting the strong current. He has written a very good article on Stan Bogdan which I thought you would enjoy.
From Monte Burke on the Forbes blog:
Stanley Bogdan–perhaps the finest reelmaker the world of fly-fishing has ever known–passed away last night at the age of 92. I wrote about Stan and his reels in the 4/13/09 issue of Forbes, as part of a cover package about consumer items that would always be recession-proof. His reels were true functional art.
GA TU and our partners in the Georgia Water Coalition (GWC) were successful in stoppingHB 131 from passing the House before Crossover Day. This bill was intended to give the Georgia Department of Transportation and its private contractors an exemption for stream buffer requirements and fines, but with your help, we were able to defeat this bill. Thank you! We understand, however, that the special interests groups supporting of this rollback measure are now planning to amend another bill already in the Senate with the provisions from HB 131. Please contact the members of the Senate Transportation Committee as soon as possible to urge them to oppose this harmful policy.
A copy of GA TU’s email to the Senate Transportation Committee is enclosed.
Chairman Mullis and members of the Senate Transportation Committee:
Georgia Trout Unlimited has received an indication that advocates for HB 131 have an interest in amending its language to HB 137 in your committee.
We strongly oppose HB 131 and ask that you vote NO on action amend HB 131’s language to any bill.
·HB 131 was not voted on by the House before crossover day. The bill had been amended numerous times before passing out of committee, being recommitted back to Transportation by Rules and amended again before a favorable committee report. It is a troubled bill whose original intent was to exempt the Department of Transportation, the Georgia Highway Authority and the State Road and Tollway Authority from stream buffer requirements and fines.
·As amended, it creates a separate enforcement process for the citizens of Georgia and state agencies – a double standard. State agencies would be exempt from penalties for 30 days while private citizens and business subject immediately. State agencies and their subcontractors would be subject to a special, reduced fine of only $5,000 per day while private citizens and business would be subject to a $50,000 per day fine for the same violations.
·It impinges on GA EPD’s enforcement capabilities opening the door for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take over enforcement of the Clean Water Act in Georgia. If GA EPD loses its authorization to enforce the Clean Water Act, all permittees – both public and private, would be regulated by EPA and any fines would be paid to the U.S. Treasury instead of Georgia.
·HB 131 is opposed by EPD Director Allen Barnes.
We agree, however, with GA EPD Director’s support for Section 2 of the HB 131 concerning mediation by the Erosion and Sediment Control Overview Council and request that a conservation member specifically be named to the council.
Georgia’s stream buffer laws and fines are a deterrent against sedimentation. Sedimentation is the number one cause of water pollution in Georgia and the number one complaint GA EPD receives from citizens. It costs tax dollars to filter for drinking water, clean out of sewers and off streets, and to dredge out of lakes and ponds. Flooding is exacerbated by sedimentation. Downstream properties are aesthetically damaged and property values are reduced by sedimentation. Pesticides, oil, grease and other pollutants are carried by sediment. Sediment degrades aquatic habitat by covering spawning beds and increases water temperatures by making steams shallower and acting as a heat sink. Georgia’s waters must be kept free of siltation from road construction and other state agency projects.
A copy of this email is sent to Georgia Trout Unlimited’s Executive Committee and the Presidents of Georgia’s thirteen Trout Unlimited Chapters comprising over three thousand eight hundred members. Our mission is to conserve, protect and restore Georgia’s cold water fisheries and their watersheds.
The weather, the blooming trees and plants, and just flat out getting away from the winter fits of cabin fever! I also enjoy the fact that families are getting out and doing things together...like fly fishing. Some of my favorite times on the water are with "Spring Break Families" looking to do something different, or start a tradition. This past week I got to fish with Jim and Taylor Dockery, a father-son combo from Alabama. Fishing at both Nacoochee Bend and Frog Hollow, conditions were tough with high water from big spring rains, but they fished hard and caught some beautiful fish...of course the "big one" got away! Taylor says he's coming back to catch THAT fish!! Anytime Taylor...and if you want to, go ahead and bring your dad!! -- Rex Gudgel
Butch Martin sent in this report from his float trip on the Tuck this past week:
There's a lot of high water around this past week. Most of the larger streams are way too high for wading and, if not, they're too muddy to fish. When conditions like this are present, floating the river in a drift boat is often the only safe way to get a trip in. On Friday, I took Trudy Johnson and Linda Bennett to the Tuckaseegee DH in North Carolina. Even there the river is too high to wade. Duke Power is running water in the Tuck almost 24-7.
This nice brookie was caught by Trudy on her second cast of the day. There were three more fish in this size category caught on this trip. We had a 30 fish day even in the wind, rain and cold. The river had been stocked a few days before out trip so the fishing was very good.
When you float the Tuckaseegee, you'll notice two things right off. First, the fish don't turn off during generation like they do on the Toccoa. Second, you have very little competition from other anglers. The Tuck is a big wide river and a drift boat is the best way to fish it during these times
Yesterday we shipped a package of Whiting 1/4 Saddles to a lady in Oregon to be used as hair extensions. It's the latest thing since that guy on American Idol started wearing them. Rumor is that the hairdressing industry is buying up all the hackle they can get their hands on, which, of course, is causing the value of these prized feathers to skyrocket. The wholesale price of some hackles is now at the level we sell them retail. I didn't realize the extent of this fad until today. A little surfing the net found this ad (and these are "wholesale" prices): "Featherheads"
On the bright side, if you are the owner of some fine hackle, you may be wealthy beyond your imagination right now. I wonder how many of these folks realize the feathers weren't just borrowed from the rooster. To tie or to cash in; it's a moral decision only you can make for yourself.
Jake Darling (aka Spanky) has fallen in love...with the new Winston GVX fly rod. It takes a lot to impress Spank so I figured what he has to say is worth listening to.
"The new Winston GVX has a really soft touch for working in tight quarters but enough reserve power to blast it out to those hard to reach places. This may seem like blasphemy but, in my opinion, the GVX is a better rod than it's famous predecesor the BIIx at a fraction of the cost. Winston has dropped the boron from the GVX series so it's an all graphite composite rod. In their world, Winston classifies this as a fast action rod but they list it in their "Classic" series alongside the famous WT Trout series.
"Bottom line is that it is an extremely smooth action with enough power in the butt section to truly launch a line. They're less than a half ounce more than the new BIIIx and that could probably be eliminated if they offered a graphite composite reel seat rather than the beautiful traditional maple insert. It's a great rod, made right there in Twin Bridges, MT and offered at a reasonable price for such a well engineered rod."
Send in your fishing reports, with or without photos...or your fishing photos with or without reports and we'll see about publishing 'em here on the Angler Management blog or our other social media...just send to flyfish@unicoioutfitters.com
It's always interesting to have well-known fly anglers fish with us. We are either looking to see their surprise when they discover how much fun it is or to see how well their personal technique performs on "our" water. Yesterday we were privileged to have author Allen McGee of soft hackle fly fame fishing at Nacoochee Bend. Those of you who follow my own writings know that I think the soft hackle is the perfect fly and I love to fish them. Having an accomplished soft hackle expert validate my thoughts just makes me want to get on the water right now and swing a few. By the way, Allen is one of the presenters at the upcoming Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival at Unicoi State Park on June 2nd, 3rd & 4th. Some of his presentations will be on-stream at Nacoochee Bend. Here is what Allen had to say about his trip:
