Dukes and Ami today

[Gillseeker]

Is it just me or is Dukes getting overfished and in need of being restocked on the lower sections? Got up at 5 AM and headed up to Dukes. Fished until Lucnh with not so much as a strike. Got pissed off and went to the Ami DH at Hwy 53 bridge. There must have been 100 people up there so went to Steele Bridge. Not too crowded and Levi wanted to work on his casting so I left him up by the Big Pool and went downstream about half a mile past the slow water and found the most beautiful spot to fish. missed a couple and landed one. went back to the big pool with Levi and landed a few and missed a few while talking and teaching Levi. Not as easy as it has been but overall it was a great day fishing. When they restock we're gonna go camping up there. Saw a few tents and I guess it's ok to camp up there.

Dan

[BrandonT]

Why bother to drive out and pick up food when the buffet will come to you? ;)

[spinboy]

can't really be overfished I don't think. It's just that the fish there have seen so many people, flies, etc. (plastic worms). Maybe when some of this years hatchlings grow up some more there will be more fish to catch. I'm not sure about the overall scheme of the aging fish in there but I know that after a while they learn just like a dog what the should and should not do especially when it comes to their food selection and begin to get a little snooty.

Dad,

Everyone has been telling me that the fish are all hanging in section one so far this winter though. I had trouble catching many downstream myself and went upstream to find many more fish and the amateur that I am, I was able to land a few on the fly rod (with an actual fly on not a plastic worm).

[spinboy]

I will tell you where I put the best fish in the AMI for some $$$ ;) when we do the stocking...assuming of course they put some nice ones in my bucket!

[Labrador]

I was up at the Ami downstream from the Steel Bridge from 1pm until about 4ish. I went without a bite until about 3pm, and then managed 8 (six to hand) on a Wooly Bugger with a dropper. It was about half bugger and half on the dropper for what they were hitting, but the strikes were very "light" and not easy to detect. It was a good day to be out with great weather.

Side note: The stockers are getting smarter...Y2K was shut out! I love/hate that fly. I love it because it works, but hate it because it is so lame.

I did notice the official NGTO truck parked there and it looks great. DO7 I'm guessing you were the guy with the small guy by the big big pool.... I noticed some old wadders outside the truck? Did they spring a leak.....brrrrrrrrrr?

[Gillseeker]

Yeah..that was me trying to teach Levi that you don't have to make 30 false casts before you land your fly. I was also there with a brother-in-law that invited himself on the trip. What a fiasco that was. First, he is supposed to be at my house last night at 7...shows up drunk at 11. Then he complains because I won't let him make coffee at 5 AM. I have a coffee machine that grinds the beans so it's rather loud in the morning. Then we leave 20 min late and he whines because I won't stop before I am certain that we have time to stop for coffee because I don't want to miss the shuttle. Then his fat butt springs a leak in my backup waders. I've had them for 12 years with no leaks now they are garbage. Needless to say I had a bad trip.

wlodarb...you should ave introduced yourself. I love meeting NGTO'ers. Best group of guys I have ever met. If the new hats were in.... ;) .

I used a Y2K to catch the ones I got...corn colored!! :D What were you using as a dropper? I tried one of the new Berry Flies from Fishhawk but no luck with those. I had no luck with the bugger, either.

Dan

[spinboy]

That's why I avoid guiding, for lack of a better way to put it, my relatives. I avoid them like the plague. Two of my uncles and my old man are very good partners but I have lots of others, cousins, other uncles, etc. who are not and can really have that effect on a trip. I feel bad sometimes but what fun is fishing when that happens. I once went as far as pretended to have school work to do when one of the "germs" knocked on the door. I was actually doing the old school read a John Gierach book stuck inside a bigger important looking book trick when I invited him in. This particular relative has a handicap and always wants to stay on the bank stuck in waders that don't fit and are not appropriate for the time of year anyway and dunk corn or whatever else he can beg from me. We once (the good partners and I), were slaying fish in NC on a long trip (not fishing related) in which this was our only chance to fish because the weather moved in and a perfect sized rain was rippling the river....He proceeded to get up and go to sleep in the truck because he was getting wet.....duh....you are trout fishing.....wading = wet, handling fish = wet, etc. He was acting like a jerk because a couple of the other guys near him wouldn't yell at the rest of us to leave. We had caught about 30 fish (none of which were under 12-13 including many brookies) in 15 minutes between 5 of us when we decided it better to leave rather than have a major you know what on our hands for the rest of the trip because we didn't. Yadda Yadda...I feel your pain. I guess that's why Gierach says 4 people is the maximum number of members for a full blown fishing trip....more than that and the percentage of winding up with a butthole is too high.

I can't wait to meet you guys at the Expo. I hope you will all be there. I need more reliable fishing partners!

Thanks to NGTO for the guys I already do know. :)

[River Rambler]

Hey Dad of 7,
Any chance you've ever read "A Walk in the Woods" by Bryson? Great book on a witty Brits experience travelling the AT (starting at our own Amicalola) with an estranged, clumsy, twinkie packing, hate him but gotta love him buddy. Sounds a lot like your day.
-Clayton

[Labrador]

DO7, I was in the Silver Xterra, with Green Waders and a blue hat and shirt. I wanted to say hello, but I wasn't sure who was who, anyway maybe next time. Also, the wader story is hilarious. I saw them out there and thought "that must've been cold!" Oh well, at least they were your back-ups. To answer the question, I was using a olive BH bugger with some krystal flash in the tail. Got about half on that, and half on the dropper which was 18 Barr's Emerger. Nothing really got going until I made the switch over to small emerger. Then it was about every other cast until I hooked up and lost one and that sent my fly's into the streamside brush. IThey broke off, and that was it. That was the only 18 I had (my fault). I tried a 16 but no takers. I think I could've hooked up more, but the strikes were so "light" that they were really hard to detect. When in doubt, set the freaking hook seemed to be working yesterday! I guess with all those midges coming off they were looking for something really small. I wish I had a 20!!!

Bryan

[Labrador]

That was a good question DO7. Does anybody know the rules on this up there?

[Gillseeker]

I called the DNR and they didn't know and sent me to Fish and Wildlife. They didn't know and sent me to Forestry. They didn't know and sent me to the Lodge at Amicalola Ste Park. They didn't know but a girl heard it from a friend who knew a warden that said it was illegal. So there ya go....STILL no answer. I think it would be fun to go up there and camp but I want it to be near the stream.

Dan

[trout4life]

DO7,
Here is something I found.
http://georgiamagazine.com/chamber/fannin/outrec.htm
I thought if the land is National forest and unless otherwise posted primitive camping is allowed.

[Gillseeker]

I'm just not sure that those same rules apply to the forest by the Ami. I may just have to camp and If I don't get a ticket, I'm ok...lol
\

[Flyintheye]

D07, I've stayed downstream from the Steel Bridge on two occasions. I parked on the right just before the bridge and hiked about 1/2 mile downstream, just far enough to get away from the parking lot. The only problem I had was a group of high school kids came up and had a bonfire in the parking lot. Fortunately my car made it through unscathed. They were loud until about 1:00 am though. If you are worried about getting in trouble, have someone drop you off and pick you up. No one sees the car and no one knows you are there. If you go that route, take a cell phone in case you get in trouble. The Jacks River is also a good place to camp and fish. Good luck.

[spinboy]

Primitive camping has been prohibited or at least highly discouraged at Jacks because of the excess of black bears. :yikes: I would love to go up there sometime but have been hesitant for that reason.

[Path_Less_Traveled]

I could be mistaken, but isnt the Dawson Forest (where the Ami is located) on state land (leased from the Atlanta Airport) rather than USFS land?... that may be why nobody Do7 called seems to know the answer.

The Dawson Forest is not on my Chattahoochee Forest map.

[Gillseeker]

I spenta good 2 hours on the phone yesterday with no luck at all. I have been wondering about this for a few weeks and was hoping to ask a Ranger but I have never seen one up there. I saw a few tents up there on the side of the stream on Sunday but I have an aversion to being arrested or fined and I want to be positive about the legality. I have had a few folks say that it is ok but I am a follower of the late, great Ronald Reagan and he said it best.."Trust but verify."

Dan

[THE EG]

a couple years ago at the DH banning camping along the entire Amicalola DH. they may have been torn down or the ban may have been temporary. Email Bill Couch or Ted Hendrix (both DNR employees on this board) or wait until the stocking next week. There are usually a couple of law enforcemnt types that stop by to help out.

If the bans are still in force, I haven't a clue if that includes above and below the DH area.

[chuckwagon]

Dawson Forest is a state owned Wildlife Mgt Area.

Camping is allowed in designated areas only.

I do not know where those areas are but if you go to the check in station it should be on a map board.

Trey

[Path_Less_Traveled]

Dont know whether or not camping is allowed on the Ami (or any) DH... but i think if they allowed camping along DH's, it would increase poaching.

[Bill Couch]

Hello All,

I would like to think that the "DNR" is easy to get in touch with and always provides great information, obviously that isn't always what happens. We try, but the organization is large and complex and one wrong turn can easily lead a caller to a dead end and frustration.

Please let me make a few recommendations that will make getting in touch with the right DNR/WRD office easier. To reach someone in DNR's Law Enforcement, Game Management or Fisheries Sections, check the Georgia Sport Fishing and Hunting regulations for phone numbers. Game Management numbers will be in the Hunting regulations and Fisheries numbers will be in the Fishing regulations. Law Enforcement phone numbers are in both. Fishing and Hunting regulations are available via:

http://www.gofishgeorgia.com/

There are maps with county outlines and the associated regions and phone numbers. If your question is about a place, you should be able to get to the right WRD associate fairly quickly.

I hope those of you who have unanswered concerns will try contacting specific WRD offices by phone as a first option.

A few of the numbers that will be most used by NGTO members are:

Region I (Northwest Georgia)
Law Enforcement Section, Calhoun, Ga: 706 624 1367 or 770 769 9680,
Game Management Section, Armuchee, Ga: 706 295 6041,
Fisheries Section, Gainesville, Ga: 706 624 1161, or

Region II (Northeast Georgia)
Law Enforcement Section: 770 535 5499
Game Management Section: 770 535 5700,
Fisheries Section: 770 535 5498, or

Region III (East Central Region)
Law Enforcement Section: 770 918 6414 or706 557 3034
Game Management Section: 770 918 6416,
Fisheries Section: 770 918 6418.


Other DNR (including Coastal Resources Division and Environmental Protection Division) phone numbers can be accessed via:

http://dnrnet.dnr.state.ga.us/pdf/prssonel/directory.pdf

If yoour phone calls don't work, you may try a post to the ASK DNR forum in this message board. Post are check by me frequently, and answered selectively. Sometimes via e-mail or through replies to the forum. If the above don't work, my e-mail address and phone number are below. I hope this helps.

Bill Couch
770 781 6888
bill_couch@dnr.state.ga.us

[Bill Couch]

Hello All,

The following is the message I e-mailed Dad of 7 a couple of days ago. It refers to the DH section of the Amicalola River within the Dawson Forest Wildlife Managment Area.

"You are allowed to camp in WMAs and Dawson Forest is a WMA, but camping is not allowed at the Ga Hwy 53 site or at Steele Bridge. At Steele Bridge vandalism is a problem, so parking there and walking downstream (to camp) isn't allowed either. When I spoke with area manager William Thacker, he made it clear that there really wasn't camping along the DH section. He pointed me to the the two sites in my earlier e-mail."

That e-mail referred DO7 to 1) Six Mile Access off Amicalola Church Rd, and the 2) camping area just north Pleasant Union Church on the Steve Tate Hwy. Both are streamside, though not on the DH section.

"In theory, you could park on Amicalola Church Rd., where vandalism would still be a problem, and walk 1.5 or 2 miles into the DH section of the river and camp, but I got the idea that wasn't the type of camping experience you were looking for. For more information, call Game Management and ask to speak with William Thacker, or leave a message for William to call you back. That number is 404 535 5700."

Good Luck,
Bill
770 781 6888

[MossyOak]

I'll be getting in the Cartecay sunday afternoon, wanna come join me?
Monday is day off, 3 guesses where I will be........and the 1st 2 guesses dont count ;)