FlygURL
03-27-00, 02:33 PM
NEG V Announcement- Posted by FlygURL for SteveD:
Hey Y'all!
NEG Clave IV is just over three months away. I'll probably repost this announcement in a month of so but if you're planning to make NEG or even just thinking about it, save this post - its got a lot of handy information in it.
Here goes:
The Date
This year NEG will be held in June (June 23-25 to be exact) instead of later in the summer. Why? Most who have been at previous editions of NEG know why. In late summer, Georgia trout water conditions are conditions are pretty much in the worst condition they'll be in all year. Temperatures (both water and air) are up, oxygen levels are low, and the fishing just don't cut it. Hopefully this year the weather will cooperate a bit better than last.
The Location
Like NEG IV, NEG V will be held at Unicoi State Park near Helen, Georgia. Yep, for the second year in a row, this Clavemeister takes no crap from certain listers, Mikee Ray, about being "geographically challenged"!!. As those who were there last year, Unicoi SP is a prime location. It's in the heart of the North Georgia Mountains and is in very close proximity to a lot of good trout water. Heck, there is even a trout stream that runs through the park itself.
Unicoi is one of the jewels of Georgia's state park system. The park features 84 tent/trailer/RV sites (all reservable - I will be contacting the folks at the park to see what we can do about reserving spaces adjacent to, or in close proximity to one another), 30 cabins, and a very nice 100-room lodge (read "hotel"), a 53-acre lake, row-boat rental, a trout stream (Smiths Creek), tennis courts (who would want to play tennis when there is so much more around to do?), very good buffet-style restaurant, a craft/gift shop and a campground store. There are playgrounds for the kids and there's a beach for swimming (definitely has its possibilities in summer!). Water is available at every campsite.
I would suggest that folks make reservations at least 2 to 3 (or more is possible) weeks in advance - June/July are peak usage months at Unicoi. I'll post information regarding camping/lodging rates at Unicoi a little closer to time.
The Waters
As I mentioned earlier, Smiths Creek runs through the park. The headwaters of Smiths Creek are above Anna Ruby Falls, a beautiful set of falls just a few minutes from the campground. Smiths is fishable downstream from the Anna Ruby Visitor's Center to Unicoi Lake and again downstream of the dam at Unicoi Lake. The section of Smiths downstream of the dam to its confluence with the Chattahoochee River has been designated a "Delayed Harvest" stream by the GA DNR. Its C&R only from October through March. Fish caught during clave-time may harvested but, as always, C&R is encouraged. Note, to fish Smiths Creek, anglers must sign in at the Lodge and there is a $2 "parking" fee.
The Chattahoochee River has its origins a few miles north of Unicoi SP. By the time the "Hooch" reaches Helen, its a sizeable waterway, comparable in width (but not gradient) to the Chattooga. The Hooch is stocked but there are generally a good number of holdover fish from previous years and there are wild fish up near the headwaters. Other streams in the immediate area (within about 5 miles) include Sautee Creek, Spoilcane Creek, Low Gap Creek and Dukes Creek.
Dukes Creek may be of particular interest to some folks. Dukes runs through the Smithgall Woods Conservation Area and is intensively managed by the GA DNR Wildlife Resources Division. This stream is C&R only and may be fished by reservation only [(706) 878-3087] on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. During the summer reservations may be made for ½ day sessions with 15-20 angler slots open per session. You must have a valid GA fishing license (resident or non-resident) and there is a $2.00 "parking" fee.
Other trout streams somewhat further away include Little Tesnatee Creek, Turner Creek, Dicks Creek, Dodd Creek, Frogtown Creek, Boggs Creek, Nottley River, Town Creek, Soapstone Creek, Hiwassee River, Swallows Creek, Corbin Creek, Wildcat Creek and Sautee Creek. For those who would like a map of Georgia's trout streams, you can request a copy by calling the DNR and giving them your name and address (BTW - the map has been updated and is much nicer now - better print quality and more color coded info). I'll try to have a few copies at the clave with me as well.
For those interested in pay-to-play fishing for big trout, Nacoochee Bend is located on the Chattahoochee just south of Helen and there are two or three similar operations located on the Soque River a few miles away between Clarksville and Batesville. I can provide information regarding these areas if anyone wants it (usual disclaimers apply - no affiliation).
Other Stuff To Do
For those that come but aren't fishing, or for those that care to do something different for a little while, there's a lot see and do in the area. There are hiking trails (including sections of the Appalachian Trail), waterfalls to see (Anna Ruby Falls, High Shoals Falls, Helton Creek Falls, just to name a few), and places where you can rent and/or ride mountain bikes. You can go tubing through Helen on the Hooch (commonly known as the summer donut hatch - casting for tubers with big wooly buggers and 8 wts can be interesting)). There is the lake and beach at Unicoi SP for swimming and fishing and there are also usually nature or crafts programs at the park. Mini-golf can be found just south of Helen and there are a couple of "real" golf courses nearby as well.
Want to stand on the top of Georgia?
Brasstown Bald Mountain (Elev. 4784 ft.) is just a short drive from Helen and you'll cross or drive parallel to a number of fishable streams along the way.
For those more interested in the touristy stuff and/or shopping, Helen offers quite a bit. Many years ago Helen was a sleepy little mountain town. Like any number of small towns in the late 60s and early 70s, younger folks were moving away and the town was in danger of dying out. However, thanks to a few folks with a visions and dreams, Helen was transformed into a alpine village reminiscent of Barvarian Germany. In the mid to late 1800s, long before Helen's transformation, the town was a gold mining town. There is at least one gold mine in the Helen area that offers tours of the old works. Also, be sure to stop by Nora Mill on Hwy 75 just south of Helen and pick up some great stone ground cornmeal or grits.
Helen itself is filled with shops and restaurants. Some of the shops carry the typical tourist clutter but there are many treasures to be found if one looks hard enough. For those interested in shopping but who don't care much for the touristy stuff, Helen also has an outlet mall with many of the popular stores (funny thing is they're built just up the hill from a couple of prime sections of the Hooch!) For those interested in antiques, there are shops in Helen and in nearby towns such as Cornelia, Batesville, Clarksville, Hiawassee, Dahlonega, and Cleveland.
Eats and Drinks
For the most part, eats and drinks will pretty much be a BYO affair. As usual Donald Yelton will be cooking his now-famous jambalaya and cannolis. We ask that each person that partakes ante up $3 to $4 to reimburse Donald for the fixins. A word of advice about Donald's cannolis that I feel compelled to give every year - whatever you do, *do not* get between L.J. or Wayne Clodfelter and the cannoli plate - especially if its down to just one or two. Those of you who were at NEG I may remember that we thought were going to have to take someone to get stitches after we got down to the last cannoli. It wasn't a pretty.
Alcohol. Unicoi, like all state parks in Georgia has a no alcohol policy. Please use your own judgment here.
Raffle
Unless something changes we're only going to have one raffle this year and it'll be the customary bring-a-prize/win-a-prize clave raffle. Doc Shaffer will again take care of the raffle. As usual we will also be talking with local flyshops and manufacturers to see if we can come up with some extra prizes to spice things up a bit.
Licenses, Flies, and Such
Now that the clave is totally in Georgia, the license questions should pretty much go away. Georgia offers a 7-day non-resident fishing licenses. You'll also need a trout stamp which is good until March 31, 2001. Total cost for license plus a trout stamp for the 7-day license plus trout stamp is $20. Licenses can now be purchased by phone or on-line here in Georgia at the phone number and/or URL listed below. If you're more comfortable having paper-in-hand you can obtain a license at Unicoi Outfitters, located on the banks of the Hooch just south of Helen on Hwy 75 (again, no affiliation, usual disclaimers apply), or at one of a number of nearby convenience stores.
What flies do I need? Those of you that frequent the small streams of the southern Appalachians know that hatches on these streams are few and far between. There are almost always some bugs coming off but very few actual "hatches". Based on my experience in the area I'd suggest attractor drys such as Wulff patterns and Adams, EHCs, and typical nymphs/subsurface patterns like PTs, GRHEs, and buggers. Don't forget to bring your terrestrials boxes - terrestrial patterns can be deadly in the area around clave time. In fact, a year or two ago I had one of my best days in the N. Georgia mountains throwing only a Steve's UFO.
If you want up-to-date information about what's productive locally, give Unicoi Outfitters (UO) (706) 878-3083 in Helen or the Fish Hawk (TFH) (404) 237-3473 in Atlanta a call. BTW, I've mentioned Unicoi Outfitters and the Fish Hawk a couple of times now. UO and TFH are both full-service flyshops. UO just happens to be located just south of downtown Helen. TFH is located in Atlanta. Both shops are staffed by friendly folks that are glad to help (note, both shops have provided lots of support for NEG Clave in the past, otherwise, I have no financial interest, just good friends that work at each of the shops).
For those of you who are interested, the Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer for Georgia has been updated. Most stores carry them sell them for $16.95. For anyone interested in obtaining the USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps, the following quadrangle maps will cover Unicoi State Park and the surrounding area: Helen - GA, Tray Mountain - GA, Jacks Gap - GA, and Cow Rock - GA. The quadrangle maps can be obtained at the Wildwood Shop in Helen, and at the Wa La Si Yi Center at Neel's Gap as well as at a few other locations further from the clave area.
Phone Numbers and URLs
The following is a list of phone numbers and web addresses that you might find useful and/or informative:
Phone Numbers:
Unicoi State Park - 706-878-3982 (park), 706-878-2201 (lodge)
Unicoi Outfitters - 706-878-3083
GA-DNR (Free Trout Stream Map) - 770-918-6418
GA Fishing Licenses - 888-748-6887
Dukes Creek (Reservations) - 706-878-3087
Web Addresses
Unicoi State Park (http://www.ganet.org/dnr/parks/ppage2.cgi?linkval=unicoi)
Unicoi Outfitters (Helen) (http://www.unicoioutfitters.com)
The Fish Hawk (Atlanta) (http://www.thefishhawk.com)
White County Chamber of Commerce (http://www.whitecounty.com/chamber)
Helen Convention and Visitor's Bureau (http://www.helengeorgia.net)
North Georgia Trout On-Line (http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ngto/frame.html)
Hatch Chart from L.J.'s Flyfishing Page (http://web.utk.edu/~ldecuir/hatch.htm)
GA Fishing Licenses (http://www.georgia/org/dnr/wild)
BTW - Scott Cunnungham will be adding some info to the NEG V web page soon at http://wnctrout.com/negclave.htm
OK folks, this was a mighty long post. Thanks for bearing with me on this one. As usual I'll be posting brief (I promise) updates as we get closer to clave time.
Steve D.
Clavemeister - NEG V
June 23-25, 2000
sdavenpo@lawco.com
404-817-0170
[This message has been edited by FlygURL (edited 03-27-2000).]
Hey Y'all!
NEG Clave IV is just over three months away. I'll probably repost this announcement in a month of so but if you're planning to make NEG or even just thinking about it, save this post - its got a lot of handy information in it.
Here goes:
The Date
This year NEG will be held in June (June 23-25 to be exact) instead of later in the summer. Why? Most who have been at previous editions of NEG know why. In late summer, Georgia trout water conditions are conditions are pretty much in the worst condition they'll be in all year. Temperatures (both water and air) are up, oxygen levels are low, and the fishing just don't cut it. Hopefully this year the weather will cooperate a bit better than last.
The Location
Like NEG IV, NEG V will be held at Unicoi State Park near Helen, Georgia. Yep, for the second year in a row, this Clavemeister takes no crap from certain listers, Mikee Ray, about being "geographically challenged"!!. As those who were there last year, Unicoi SP is a prime location. It's in the heart of the North Georgia Mountains and is in very close proximity to a lot of good trout water. Heck, there is even a trout stream that runs through the park itself.
Unicoi is one of the jewels of Georgia's state park system. The park features 84 tent/trailer/RV sites (all reservable - I will be contacting the folks at the park to see what we can do about reserving spaces adjacent to, or in close proximity to one another), 30 cabins, and a very nice 100-room lodge (read "hotel"), a 53-acre lake, row-boat rental, a trout stream (Smiths Creek), tennis courts (who would want to play tennis when there is so much more around to do?), very good buffet-style restaurant, a craft/gift shop and a campground store. There are playgrounds for the kids and there's a beach for swimming (definitely has its possibilities in summer!). Water is available at every campsite.
I would suggest that folks make reservations at least 2 to 3 (or more is possible) weeks in advance - June/July are peak usage months at Unicoi. I'll post information regarding camping/lodging rates at Unicoi a little closer to time.
The Waters
As I mentioned earlier, Smiths Creek runs through the park. The headwaters of Smiths Creek are above Anna Ruby Falls, a beautiful set of falls just a few minutes from the campground. Smiths is fishable downstream from the Anna Ruby Visitor's Center to Unicoi Lake and again downstream of the dam at Unicoi Lake. The section of Smiths downstream of the dam to its confluence with the Chattahoochee River has been designated a "Delayed Harvest" stream by the GA DNR. Its C&R only from October through March. Fish caught during clave-time may harvested but, as always, C&R is encouraged. Note, to fish Smiths Creek, anglers must sign in at the Lodge and there is a $2 "parking" fee.
The Chattahoochee River has its origins a few miles north of Unicoi SP. By the time the "Hooch" reaches Helen, its a sizeable waterway, comparable in width (but not gradient) to the Chattooga. The Hooch is stocked but there are generally a good number of holdover fish from previous years and there are wild fish up near the headwaters. Other streams in the immediate area (within about 5 miles) include Sautee Creek, Spoilcane Creek, Low Gap Creek and Dukes Creek.
Dukes Creek may be of particular interest to some folks. Dukes runs through the Smithgall Woods Conservation Area and is intensively managed by the GA DNR Wildlife Resources Division. This stream is C&R only and may be fished by reservation only [(706) 878-3087] on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. During the summer reservations may be made for ½ day sessions with 15-20 angler slots open per session. You must have a valid GA fishing license (resident or non-resident) and there is a $2.00 "parking" fee.
Other trout streams somewhat further away include Little Tesnatee Creek, Turner Creek, Dicks Creek, Dodd Creek, Frogtown Creek, Boggs Creek, Nottley River, Town Creek, Soapstone Creek, Hiwassee River, Swallows Creek, Corbin Creek, Wildcat Creek and Sautee Creek. For those who would like a map of Georgia's trout streams, you can request a copy by calling the DNR and giving them your name and address (BTW - the map has been updated and is much nicer now - better print quality and more color coded info). I'll try to have a few copies at the clave with me as well.
For those interested in pay-to-play fishing for big trout, Nacoochee Bend is located on the Chattahoochee just south of Helen and there are two or three similar operations located on the Soque River a few miles away between Clarksville and Batesville. I can provide information regarding these areas if anyone wants it (usual disclaimers apply - no affiliation).
Other Stuff To Do
For those that come but aren't fishing, or for those that care to do something different for a little while, there's a lot see and do in the area. There are hiking trails (including sections of the Appalachian Trail), waterfalls to see (Anna Ruby Falls, High Shoals Falls, Helton Creek Falls, just to name a few), and places where you can rent and/or ride mountain bikes. You can go tubing through Helen on the Hooch (commonly known as the summer donut hatch - casting for tubers with big wooly buggers and 8 wts can be interesting)). There is the lake and beach at Unicoi SP for swimming and fishing and there are also usually nature or crafts programs at the park. Mini-golf can be found just south of Helen and there are a couple of "real" golf courses nearby as well.
Want to stand on the top of Georgia?
Brasstown Bald Mountain (Elev. 4784 ft.) is just a short drive from Helen and you'll cross or drive parallel to a number of fishable streams along the way.
For those more interested in the touristy stuff and/or shopping, Helen offers quite a bit. Many years ago Helen was a sleepy little mountain town. Like any number of small towns in the late 60s and early 70s, younger folks were moving away and the town was in danger of dying out. However, thanks to a few folks with a visions and dreams, Helen was transformed into a alpine village reminiscent of Barvarian Germany. In the mid to late 1800s, long before Helen's transformation, the town was a gold mining town. There is at least one gold mine in the Helen area that offers tours of the old works. Also, be sure to stop by Nora Mill on Hwy 75 just south of Helen and pick up some great stone ground cornmeal or grits.
Helen itself is filled with shops and restaurants. Some of the shops carry the typical tourist clutter but there are many treasures to be found if one looks hard enough. For those interested in shopping but who don't care much for the touristy stuff, Helen also has an outlet mall with many of the popular stores (funny thing is they're built just up the hill from a couple of prime sections of the Hooch!) For those interested in antiques, there are shops in Helen and in nearby towns such as Cornelia, Batesville, Clarksville, Hiawassee, Dahlonega, and Cleveland.
Eats and Drinks
For the most part, eats and drinks will pretty much be a BYO affair. As usual Donald Yelton will be cooking his now-famous jambalaya and cannolis. We ask that each person that partakes ante up $3 to $4 to reimburse Donald for the fixins. A word of advice about Donald's cannolis that I feel compelled to give every year - whatever you do, *do not* get between L.J. or Wayne Clodfelter and the cannoli plate - especially if its down to just one or two. Those of you who were at NEG I may remember that we thought were going to have to take someone to get stitches after we got down to the last cannoli. It wasn't a pretty.
Alcohol. Unicoi, like all state parks in Georgia has a no alcohol policy. Please use your own judgment here.
Raffle
Unless something changes we're only going to have one raffle this year and it'll be the customary bring-a-prize/win-a-prize clave raffle. Doc Shaffer will again take care of the raffle. As usual we will also be talking with local flyshops and manufacturers to see if we can come up with some extra prizes to spice things up a bit.
Licenses, Flies, and Such
Now that the clave is totally in Georgia, the license questions should pretty much go away. Georgia offers a 7-day non-resident fishing licenses. You'll also need a trout stamp which is good until March 31, 2001. Total cost for license plus a trout stamp for the 7-day license plus trout stamp is $20. Licenses can now be purchased by phone or on-line here in Georgia at the phone number and/or URL listed below. If you're more comfortable having paper-in-hand you can obtain a license at Unicoi Outfitters, located on the banks of the Hooch just south of Helen on Hwy 75 (again, no affiliation, usual disclaimers apply), or at one of a number of nearby convenience stores.
What flies do I need? Those of you that frequent the small streams of the southern Appalachians know that hatches on these streams are few and far between. There are almost always some bugs coming off but very few actual "hatches". Based on my experience in the area I'd suggest attractor drys such as Wulff patterns and Adams, EHCs, and typical nymphs/subsurface patterns like PTs, GRHEs, and buggers. Don't forget to bring your terrestrials boxes - terrestrial patterns can be deadly in the area around clave time. In fact, a year or two ago I had one of my best days in the N. Georgia mountains throwing only a Steve's UFO.
If you want up-to-date information about what's productive locally, give Unicoi Outfitters (UO) (706) 878-3083 in Helen or the Fish Hawk (TFH) (404) 237-3473 in Atlanta a call. BTW, I've mentioned Unicoi Outfitters and the Fish Hawk a couple of times now. UO and TFH are both full-service flyshops. UO just happens to be located just south of downtown Helen. TFH is located in Atlanta. Both shops are staffed by friendly folks that are glad to help (note, both shops have provided lots of support for NEG Clave in the past, otherwise, I have no financial interest, just good friends that work at each of the shops).
For those of you who are interested, the Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer for Georgia has been updated. Most stores carry them sell them for $16.95. For anyone interested in obtaining the USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps, the following quadrangle maps will cover Unicoi State Park and the surrounding area: Helen - GA, Tray Mountain - GA, Jacks Gap - GA, and Cow Rock - GA. The quadrangle maps can be obtained at the Wildwood Shop in Helen, and at the Wa La Si Yi Center at Neel's Gap as well as at a few other locations further from the clave area.
Phone Numbers and URLs
The following is a list of phone numbers and web addresses that you might find useful and/or informative:
Phone Numbers:
Unicoi State Park - 706-878-3982 (park), 706-878-2201 (lodge)
Unicoi Outfitters - 706-878-3083
GA-DNR (Free Trout Stream Map) - 770-918-6418
GA Fishing Licenses - 888-748-6887
Dukes Creek (Reservations) - 706-878-3087
Web Addresses
Unicoi State Park (http://www.ganet.org/dnr/parks/ppage2.cgi?linkval=unicoi)
Unicoi Outfitters (Helen) (http://www.unicoioutfitters.com)
The Fish Hawk (Atlanta) (http://www.thefishhawk.com)
White County Chamber of Commerce (http://www.whitecounty.com/chamber)
Helen Convention and Visitor's Bureau (http://www.helengeorgia.net)
North Georgia Trout On-Line (http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ngto/frame.html)
Hatch Chart from L.J.'s Flyfishing Page (http://web.utk.edu/~ldecuir/hatch.htm)
GA Fishing Licenses (http://www.georgia/org/dnr/wild)
BTW - Scott Cunnungham will be adding some info to the NEG V web page soon at http://wnctrout.com/negclave.htm
OK folks, this was a mighty long post. Thanks for bearing with me on this one. As usual I'll be posting brief (I promise) updates as we get closer to clave time.
Steve D.
Clavemeister - NEG V
June 23-25, 2000
sdavenpo@lawco.com
404-817-0170
[This message has been edited by FlygURL (edited 03-27-2000).]