What's all the fuss about creek.... report:

[Kelboski]

After reading about, what has to be the most sensitive flowing bit of H2O on this planet, my curiosity was peaked. I made my way up to the gorgeous little secret flow today and wet my line for a couple of hours. First of all, if any of you believe the average interested fly fisherman (let alone a corn chucker) is going to go through all of the trouble to get to such a place....forget it. I'm obsessed with our sport, and it took an act of God for me to find the darn place, but I'm sure glad I did. No wonder the pressure on that place is light. You CAN'T find it.

Anywho...

I really enjoyed the 10 mile dirt trek in my Jeep, and I was fortunate enough to catch one brown out of one of the many great holes. I just dropped my little 2 wt over that big boulder, and dead drifted that little fly and then BAM!! I acted as if I was in live combat when I was making my way through the rhododendrons down to each spot. I missed another one, but I mostly just scouted around today so I can tell all of my friends where to go. (JUST KIDDING)

I see why alot of you guys don't want anyone to ever crowd that beautiful place, but if it had'nt been for all of the fuss you all made, I would have gone to the Chattooga again today. I see both sides of the arguement, but just like you all who have quietly visited it for years, I was told by someone before me, it was a sacred place to experience. I'm looking forward to the roads up there getting surprisingly snowy ( I read that book too) again next winter. My Jeep will get me up there when all of the rest of you are stuck at the bottom.... ;)

I took a picture of the my Jeep next to the "58" sign just for laughter's sake, but I'll leave that one in my camera. I think I'll try the Toccoa DH next.






Kelbo

[Reel'em In]

Maybe I'll see you in there, I've got a Jeep too.

:cheers:

[Fletch_W]

I'll be there waiting on you in my oldsmobile Alero, 3.4 liter V6 fwd.

[stardaddy]

What the fuss is about is not the naming of a common stream. I have fished the Noontoola for twenty five years on and mostly off. Although like any other stream you can have a good day, but mostly it is rather marginal which, with the number of corn and bait containers, and other assorted trash left on its banks, I think is heavily poached by locals. But because you can occasionally snag a 14+ inch trout from its lower waters, and a few three inch brook trout from its upper regions it has become a big “wild trout” secret among a small group.

And that is what the fuss is made over. It is not the naming of a well known stream, but the telling of a secret. As male members of the human population nothing we enjoy more than a secret. To believe we are privy to knowledge we fancy is not known by many fills us males with unspeakable joy, and makes us all warm and fuzzy inside.

From our “no girls allowed” boyhood tree houses, to our adult social and civic organizations, church brotherhoods, fraternities, and clubs we men just relish in the camaraderie of our secret handshakes, high signs, passwords, symbolic shields, Imperial decrees, pageantries, initiation rites, and then the regalia of rings, aprons, hats, jewelry, and ceremonial arms and symbols.

Then we relish in our personal secrets. Our BBQ sauces, chili recipes, how we cook this or that, our secret little shops where the proprietor keeps the good stuff in the back room or under the counter “just for us”. Then there is where the best place is for fishing, hunting, to find this or that, to eat, to drink, to play something, and where the best prices are for things are located. Ever notice no matter how little you paid for something someone else always bought it cheaper.

Then as much as we enjoy a secret - Oh how we revel at the telling of the secret - to bring someone into our confidence - to trust someone - to initiate one into our way of thinking and behaving which, is always, the best way. Of course this has to be done in the proper fashion with the recipient of the secret rightly humble, meek, and properly appreciative. Or having to participate in some sort of ritual to prove themselves worthy. Man, do we love this done in the correct way and situation to trust enough to share in our secret knowledge. I mean what fun is a secret if no one else knows you have a secret.

The funniest story is as a young man a few friends of mine were former Masons, and after a few drinks on several different occasions they rather freely ran their mouths. Another friend, a older, stately white hair man, was Mr. Big Time Mason unquestionably. A Grand Poobah, Imperial Wizard, and Worshipful Master indeed. He was a past Mayor and Councilman of the town, on every civic and church board there was, and upstandingly a distinguished voice of moderation anytime tempers flared and words became short. One day he was talking to me about the Masons and joining. I told him I respected the organization, but knew all about it and it was not for me. He chucked and asked what I knew. So I told him. The more I talked the redder his face got, and finally this man of moderation, a most respected elder of the community threw the biggest cussing, flopping around duck fits I ever saw a adult human throw. He demanded I tell him who told me all of this and the full weight of the Masons will come down upon them etc. etc. And when I refused his anger was so great he was turning circles spitting words of vengeance this way and that. I in those several minutes lost all respect I ever had for him and told him so.

And that is the fuss. A secret was told. It makes no difference how many know it, but to those that believe it is special information that deems protecting the violation leaves them peeved - empty and hollow - violated if you wish. To think that now this sacred knowledge is blabbed to the unwashed public, the fact that any corn chukker, poacher, or egg sucker now knows “the secret” is an aggravation of cosmic proportions. That’s the fuss.

[mb90535im]

Great post.

[flyfisher8]

agree 100%.

[northgeorgiasportsman]

Stardaddy can fish with me anytime.

[GonetoSeed]

Nice going stardaddy. Now you've done it. You let out the secret about secrets :) A lot of wader's will be in a wad now that everyone knows their secret obsession for secrets is actually pretty common.

[TroutManJoe]

The funny thing here, as a Fannin County resident, is that 58 is in great shape, compared to the many other miles of forest service roads in this county. The USFS just did a SUPER job repairing that road. Those repairs included excellent BMPs, which provided the absolute best silt protection as possible. Obviously, by putting money into such a project, they expect, want and hope ALL of the public can enjoy it. Not to mention, the Chattahoochee National Fish Hatchery issued a recent press release saying they stocked that stream during the week that trout season opened. Seems the Feds don't agree it's a secret.

[mb90535im]

Has the landslide been repaired?

[conner j]

Seriously? The posting of sensitive stream names and details is one of the most contentious subjects with trout fishermen. We ask that you please be wary of and refrain from posting sensitive stream names and information on the message board It may not be a secret stream but it definately falls under the small stream etiquette sticky posted at the top of the small streams forum. Maybe its me but this concept doesn't seem that hard to grasp.

[cucarachafly]

As male members of the human population nothing we enjoy more than a secret. To believe we are privy to knowledge we fancy is not known by many fills us males with unspeakable joy, and makes us all warm and fuzzy inside.

we relish in our personal secrets. Our BBQ sauces, chili recipes, how we cook this or that, our secret little shops where the proprietor keeps the good stuff in the back room or under the counter “just for us”.

Then there is where the best place is for fishing, hunting, to find this or that, to eat, to drink, to play something,

Then as much as we enjoy a secret - Oh how we revel at the telling of the secret - to bring someone into our confidence - to trust someone - to initiate one into our way of thinking and behaving which, is always, the best way. Of course this has to be done in the proper fashion with the recipient of the secret rightly humble, meek, and properly appreciative.

Forty-five years ago my grandfather rowed me in his little wooden boat to a little spot on Lake Allatoona where he guaranteed me I would catch my very first fish. I was just 5 years old at the time. The spot was a little cove not far from Little River. My first fish was a bream that was larger than his aging hands and bent my little fiberglass rod like like a wet noodle. We sat in that cove for what seemed like all day catching fish the entire time. I'll never forget that day. One more thing I'll never forget about that day is when he told me to never tell anyone about this little cove. I can still show you that cove today, but I won't! I know he is watching me. He showed me other fishing and hunting spots in later years that were his secrets, too.

What I'm saying here is that if secrets were good enough for my grandfather, well, they are good enough for me, too. I really don't think I "relish" in my personal secrets. Nor do I "revel" at the telling of secrets. Do I share secrets from time to time? Of course I do. But not for self satisfaction of knowing a secret.

Two guys I have met here on NGTO shared some secrets with me not to long ago. I can assure you I had to earn their respect for them to do so. They most definitely did not "revel" in sharing their secret. But I believe they knew I would respect it. What's all the fuss about? I don't believe it's the "knowing of a secret" but rather the little jewels shown on the following video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9bMkOoaH64

[dink]

Forty-five years ago my grandfather rowed me in his little wooden boat to a little spot on Lake Allatoona where he guaranteed me I would catch my very first fish. I was just 5 years old at the time. The spot was a little cove not far from Little River. My first fish was a bream that was larger than his aging hands and bent my little fiberglass rod like like a wet noodle. We sat in that cove for what seemed like all day catching fish the entire time. I'll never forget that day. One more thing I'll never forget about that day is when he told me to never tell anyone about this little cove. I can still show you that cove today, but I won't! I know he is watching me. He showed me other fishing and hunting spots in later years that were his secrets, too.

What I'm saying here is that if secrets were good enough for my grandfather, well, they are good enough for me, too. I really don't think I "relish" in my personal secrets. Nor do I "revel" at the telling of secrets. Do I share secrets from time to time? Of course I do. But not for self satisfaction of knowing a secret.

Two guys I have met here on NGTO shared some secrets with me not to long ago. I can assure you I had to earn their respect for them to do so. They most definitely did not "revel" in sharing their secret. But I believe they knew I would respect it. What's all the fuss about? I don't believe it's the "knowing of a secret" but rather the little jewels shown on the following video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9bMkOoaH64Well put Jeff,thats what fishing friends are about.
thanks,dink

[northgeorgiasportsman]

One more thing I'll never forget about that day is when he told me to never tell anyone about this little cove. I can still show you that cove today, but I won't! I know he is watching me. He showed me other fishing and hunting spots in later years that were his secrets, too.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9bMkOoaH64

Great story and an awesome memory of your grandfather. I have lots of similar memories. And I'm fortunate enough to still have him around.

But, as much as your grandfather thought of that little cove on Allatoona as "his secret" I'm sure there were hundreds of other fishermen who had "discovered" it too. I mean, it's a PUBLIC lake. It's not like you can accidentally stumble onto a hidden section of it. Same as these "secret" streams. But alas, I'm beating a horse that's long since deceased.

[cucarachafly]

But, as much as your grandfather thought of that little cove on Allatoona as "his secret" I'm sure there were hundreds of other fishermen who had "discovered" it too.

So true, so true. But just think of the thousands that will never know about it by not broadcasting it to the world.

I'm not so ignorant as to believe that me and my grandfather are the only ones that know about that spot no matter how much I wish that were true. But the fact it was a special place to us was reason enough not to tell the world. I just meant that I don't relish in the knowledge of the spot nor revel at the thought of the sharing of it with others. I just want to think it is a "big secret" if nothing more than for sentimental reasons. Same goes for what has been entrusted to me in a few little wild trout streams. That's just nothing more than a matter of being trustworthy. Which, in my opinion, is one of the most important attributes a man can have. :cheers:

[Uncle Bert]

Cucarachafly,
Great post and video. Loved the music in the background, who was it?

ub

[cucarachafly]

Can't tell you. It's a SECRET! :D Just kidding, of course. The name of the musician is Michael Orlando. I just stumbled across him one day on Itunes. Thanks for the compliment.

[leadoverdistance]

I think your post was interesting and well written. I appreciate your weaving of a perspective of male society.

I do not like the fact that once again, this stream is in the limelight. Get over it guys. As the resource dwindles, why publicize those areas that cannot maintain a high threshold of anglers ? It doesn't make sense. We had a thread a week or so ago............... highly controversial with good guys from both sides thrown under the bus................... Exasperated is how I feel about some attitudes on the board regarding these smaller streams.

Labs at my feet, Wlodarb, and others posted great stream reports, pictures, blue lines, with out ever compromising the location. Take a leaf out of their books........... improve you reports with pics and good script, and protect the resource.

When people run all over the place mentioned, and have a physical impact on the environment, it is more than a BBQ sauce recipe secret.... it leaves a mark. Glibness has no place when dealing with sensitive ecosystems.

Paul Helmbold