Assistance Please

[2Frogs]

My wife and I are residence of GA for 3 years now and as transplants from CA are not familiar with much of the water available to us here in GA. We have not fished more than 3 times in the 3 years we have lived here. We are members of TU Blue Ridge Chapter but have received little assistance in locating fishing waters or companions willing to share some information with us.
Is there anyone out there who is willing to consider fishing with an old guy in cold rainy weather? Seems that the only way to get to go fishing is to have a buddy that is ready to go and therefore push personal (around the house and greenhouse) obligations aside. When it is just the wife and I, we tend to work rather than relax.
Anyone interested in pursuing a fisning companion that is starved for good places to fish and someone to tell lies with, please contact us via e-mail or another thread.

Regards,
2Frogs

[Chuckwalla]

2Frog, check your Private Messages.

[JOHNKIES]

You didn't mention where you live, but since you joined Blue Ridge TU I will "assume" (always risky business) that you are in that general area.

First, go by the Unicoi Outfitter fly shop in downtown Blue Ridge. You have no doubt heard of them around this board before. They are a first class shop and can point you to many streams in that area. Another great source, and I forget his name for the moment, is the gentleman who runs a business on highway 5 north toward McCaysville. The sign out front says something about "cracks in mirrors and old boyfriends removed". It's a framing and art business, but the fellow who runs it is retired fisheries manager for the state in that area and is still very active on his own in stream maintenance. For example, he single-handedly got the resources to rebuild the Toccoa banks in Horseshoe Bend Park.

Speaking of Horseshoe Bend Park, it is on the Toccoa about two miles outside of McCaysville, there are two park areas immediately below Blue Ridge Lake dam, and, there is access in the Curtis Switch Road bridge area.

There are numerous other streams very close in to Blue Ridge, and if you stretch your drive time to 60 minutes you include not only most of North Georgia, but areas in Tennessee (Hiwassee tail water) as well. Stop by Unicoi with a good map and get good directions and suggestions for these and other locations. ---JCK---

[2Frogs]

Johnkies,
Thanks for your response. I will take your advice and see what I can drum up.
Regards,
2Frogs

[Rusty Fowler]

2Frogs,

You are welcome to join me if you'd like. I run a guide business but I'm in kind of a limbo at the moment so I have plenty of free time. I guide on the Toccoa, Clinch, Holston, South Holston, and Watauga. We can also fish the Hiwassee. Take note that I'm not asking for a guide fee, I'm inviting you. To truly enjoy the trout water in the South I recommend you purchase a North Carolina and Tennessee fishing license. I rarely fish in Georgia anymore, however, Noontootla creek (in the Southern end of Fannin Co.) and the Toccoa river (below Blue Ridge dam) are two very good choices that are close to you.

Keep in touch and we'll do some fishing! rustyfowler@earthlink.net

[dwood]

Hey Rusty,
2Frogs has hired me as his official porter and trout releaser....so I'll just be along for the ride. :)

Ignore that long pole thingy in my hand, and excuse the constant badgering with questions about "What fly are you using?" and "Where do you think they are?" I'll only be there to do my job for Mr. and Mrs. Frogs, and any interest I show in the fishing will be purely scientific or anecdotal :)

[Rick Padgett]

Welcome aboard 2Frogs. I think you'll find lots of help around, as we have an abundance of really nice folks on this board. North GA also has an abundance of good trout streams, (depending on what you're looking for).

That was great advice that Rusty gave you. Unicoi Outfitters has always been extremely helpful to me. I called them once for info/advice over the phone. They were more than helpful, they were downright friendly. I had never even been there, much less bought anything from them. I can assure you that that has changed now!

Rick

[Rusty Fowler]

dwood,

I have no problem with you joining me as well. In fact, it would be great to have your company on the river. I don't mind sharing the boat/fishing with someone that truly appreciates it! It's really a great opportunity for someone to learn how to handle a driftboat as I'll want to fish as well. If you guys don't mind rowing a little then give me a few days notice and I'm there. I'm usually open besides Sunday's.

[dwood]

Rusty,
I would absolutely love it! I'd been emailing with 2frogs about taking him to a couple of rivers close to his place, and found out he has a 2 man pontoon. I know nothing about floating, but do know how to row and grew up and live on Lake Martin in Bama, so I'm no stranger to skulling, rowing, whatever it takes to get a boat (sort of) where you want it to go.

Of course, I'm WAY out of shape....but we're going downstream, right? :)

Work out something with 2frogs first, he needs to get familiar with his favorite new holes. I'll stay in touch with him and hopefully I can tag along and row one day (or several :) I am going to be that way a good bit (Jasper) between now and March.

Thanks for the offer, and don't be surprised if I take you up on it in the next few months :)

[Rusty Fowler]

dwood,

You're welcome! Just give a holler when you're ready. rustyfowler@earthlink.net

[2Frogs]

Rick,
Thanks for your response to my plea for assistance. YES, you are absolutely right about the people on this Board :) . They are extremely helpful and responsive and my wife and I do appreciate all of the responses we have received.
Maybe we can get some decent fishing in in the very near future.

I would like to personally take my hat off to all of the people who have responded to our plea for assistance. You have far surpassed my expectations. I belonged to a very large Fly Fishing club (San Diego Fly Fishers :( ) and now BR chapter of TU :( and have never had as many invitations to join people on the water to find out about good places to fish.

This is a GREAT group of people and need to be recognized for their generosity.

THANKS :)

2Frogs

[2Frogs]

David,
Maybe we should call you Otter. I send out a plea for help, catch a good fish and wham, the Otter steals my fish.
Just Kidding around with you.
We'll hold you to the porter and fish releaser.
2Frogs
Please do not take this serious. The more the merrier and we can all have a good time.

[2Frogs]

Rusty,
Sure glad DWOOD volunteered to row after he volunteered to use my pontoon boat for the fishing trips. Darn generous guy.

David, again, just kidding around with you so don't take me serious. I like to joke around a lot as it helps me with my inferiority complex.

I'm so darn glad to have the opportunity to have someone show me the water in this area that I do not know how to thank everyone.

Just hear it is supposed to snow on Sunday. Anyone available after worship services on Sunday?

[dwood]

Hmmm...

Why I'm just a humble old porter who wants to better his position in life to that of fish releaser...I assure you, there is no ulterior motive involved.

As far as you know :)

I'm not going to horn in just yet. You get the first dance with Rusty, but after that, I reserve the right to cut in at any time :)

And as for borrowing the pontoon...well....I'll just check out its seaworthiness while you and Rusty are floating on his yacht :)

[2Frogs]

DWOODS,
Sure glad you took my jabs in the right way. I got a little concerned you might think I was serious.
See the e-mail I sent to Rusty and coppied you on. Hopefully we can get together during the week after Christmas.
If I can't hook up with Flytyingfisherman on this Sunday, I'm going to lonesome it to the Ami. Promise not to steal your water but where is the best bet in your oppinion?
2Frogs

[dwood]

2Frogs,
I'd head for Devil's Elbow at the steel bridge. You can get in there and wade down the center of the river for about 1/2 to 3/4 mile. When you reach a big, slow, deeper pool (shoulder depth, but there is a rock at the head you can stand on...sort of the last stand, you know?), wade back across to the West (towards the direction of the bridge, and Atlanta), and you can pick up the trail about 15 yards from the bank and either walk on down to another very fishable section or go back up towards Devil's Elbow and work your way down again.

I think I included pretty detailed info in one of the emails I sent, but if not, email me again and I'll send it to you.

As for the area at 53, I'd say you might want to stop there as well. But as we've said, be VERY careful wading there. If you wanted to get in there, by yourself, I'd say work VERY slowly upstream. The bottom is very tricky there, and everyone who has fished there has taken at least one tumble. Not something I'd wish on anyone when they are alone, even though the river isn't too deep, and usually not too fast there.

There is a nice little pool right in front and upstream of the handocap access, which is marked and has *some* parking. It gets a LOT of pressure there, but there are some decent fish in that pool if you can get them to hit.

Let me know how it goes, and what you think of it, and GOOD LUCK!!

[2Frogs]

DWOOD,
Thanks for the additional information. I will let you know what comes of the venture. I will be fishing alone as Nita does not like the cold weather. May have her go along and just sit in the truck and read.
Regards,
2Frogs