Private water on the Toccoa???

scooby · 09-28-06, 10:46 AM

Hey guys, there is a private stretch of the Toccoa between Rock Creek Road and where Rock Creek dumps into the river that the guy who owns it was letting people float through but not fish a couple of years ago. He had a sign chained up across the river the last time I was there. I'm heading up there in a few weeks and want to float this stretch. Is he still letting people float through or has he fenced up his stretch? The last thing I want to do is get down there and have to hike 3 miles back to the road with a belly boat...

rickster · 09-28-06, 10:55 AM

I haven't floated it in a while, but as far as I know you can still "float thru" his property.

It was all part of the new state sponsored canoe trail.

Maybe someone else could pipe in. Unicoi outfitters in Blue Ridge may know.

rickster

Troutchaser · 09-28-06, 11:57 AM

OK guy's i'm not trying to start up arguement but some people on this site seem to think all of the river can be fished.I disagreed with them that if it was privately owned then if the owner didn't want us to fish it we couldn't but, they said I was wrong.

So with that being said then why can this guy not let you pass threw or fish??? if it's all TVA river.

The Ole Man · 09-28-06, 12:06 PM

That's Joe & Debbie Lawrence and Tooni Cove Farm (private fishing venue). Their house is right there on the river. You can float thru their 3000' (of 14 miles of Canoe Trail) but can't fish (the fine is pretty stiff). That was their agreement with Ga DNR and the USFS to keep the Canoe Trail open. I haven't talked with Joe since last Spring---but I'm thinking he may have lost a lot of fish in the drought. Jimmy Harris told me Sat that Nachoochee Bend lost about 80%--which was typical at many of the private venues.

Btw, don't slap that sign over the river with an oar (which some folks do to show their displeasure). On the back side of the sign, there was a big hornets nest (last Spring). Ouch....

Google Toccoa River Canoe Trail for the full story --legalities, maps, etc.

The Ole Man · 09-28-06, 12:12 PM

TChaser---it's only TVA river BELOW the TVA Dam (Blueridge Dam) ---the Tail Water (and I've never seen that it's a TVA easement in an official document--that's just what some people have claimed to know). This thread is talking about the river above the lake.

Troutchaser · 09-28-06, 12:23 PM

I havn't fished the upper part much guess that's why I didn't relize that the thread was about the upper part thanks for the info

mb90535im · 09-28-06, 12:28 PM

And again (someone please correct me if I'm wrong here) according to GA's current laws, if a landowner owns property on both sides of a waterway, and it doesn't meet GA's narrow definition of "naviagable", then the landowner can restrict both float through rights and fishing rights if they so desire.

Again, in my opinion, that is why GA's laws need to be brought up to date asap before someone decides to do just that and we loose access to water that we have taken for granted for decades, like the Toccoa from the dam to McCaysville.

Troutchaser · 09-28-06, 01:08 PM

So the golf course that is being built is it going to be on the upper or lower?

If it is on the lower are they going to keep us from fishing the river as we please?

mediaven · 09-28-06, 01:14 PM

...I don't think the issue is "floating", it's putting your feet down.

My understanding is that the land owners may own the land, but not the water.

Am I warm here, or all wet???

TroutManJoe · 09-28-06, 01:28 PM

This issue of WHO owns the Toccoa continues to resurface here, both the upper and the lower ends of the river. Someone from the Ga DNR, USFS, or Fannin County Sheriff oughta be able to fill us all in, correctly, and once and for all. One of these three agencies are the ones who'd be writing the tickets if you're fishing illegally so certainly one of them must know the legalitys. As it stands right now a person could become so confused by all the different heresay on this board that none of it makes sense. CAN WE JUST GET 1 STRAIGHT ANSWER PLEASE>>>>>>

09-28-06, 10:46 AM	#1
scooby Native Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cumming, GA Posts: 557	Private water on the Toccoa??? Hey guys, there is a private stretch of the Toccoa between Rock Creek Road and where Rock Creek dumps into the river that the guy who owns it was letting people float through but not fish a couple of years ago. He had a sign chained up across the river the last time I was there. I'm heading up there in a few weeks and want to float this stretch. Is he still letting people float through or has he fenced up his stretch? The last thing I want to do is get down there and have to hike 3 miles back to the road with a belly boat...

09-28-06, 10:55 AM	#2
rickster Native Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Blue Ridge Area Posts: 652	I haven't floated it in a while, but as far as I know you can still "float thru" his property. It was all part of the new state sponsored canoe trail. Maybe someone else could pipe in. Unicoi outfitters in Blue Ridge may know. rickster __________________ Every notable advance in the saving work of God among men will, if examined, be found to have two factors present: several converging lines of providential circumstances and a person.

09-28-06, 11:57 AM	#3
Troutchaser Native Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Gwinnett Posts: 131	Private OK guy's i'm not trying to start up arguement but some people on this site seem to think all of the river can be fished.I disagreed with them that if it was privately owned then if the owner didn't want us to fish it we couldn't but, they said I was wrong. So with that being said then why can this guy not let you pass threw or fish??? if it's all TVA river.

09-28-06, 12:06 PM	#4
The Ole Man Chief Financial Officer, Past Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: NW Georgia Posts: 7,997	That's Joe & Debbie Lawrence and Tooni Cove Farm (private fishing venue). Their house is right there on the river. You can float thru their 3000' (of 14 miles of Canoe Trail) but can't fish (the fine is pretty stiff). That was their agreement with Ga DNR and the USFS to keep the Canoe Trail open. I haven't talked with Joe since last Spring---but I'm thinking he may have lost a lot of fish in the drought. Jimmy Harris told me Sat that Nachoochee Bend lost about 80%--which was typical at many of the private venues. Btw, don't slap that sign over the river with an oar (which some folks do to show their displeasure). On the back side of the sign, there was a big hornets nest (last Spring). Ouch.... Google Toccoa River Canoe Trail for the full story --legalities, maps, etc. __________________ "You get what you settle for". --Anon

09-28-06, 12:12 PM	#5
The Ole Man Chief Financial Officer, Past Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: NW Georgia Posts: 7,997	TChaser---it's only TVA river BELOW the TVA Dam (Blueridge Dam) ---the Tail Water (and I've never seen that it's a TVA easement in an official document--that's just what some people have claimed to know). This thread is talking about the river above the lake. __________________ "You get what you settle for". --Anon

09-28-06, 12:23 PM	#6
Troutchaser Native Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Gwinnett Posts: 131	Toccoa I havn't fished the upper part much guess that's why I didn't relize that the thread was about the upper part thanks for the info

09-28-06, 12:28 PM	#7
mb90535im Native Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dalton, GA USA Posts: 1,208	And again (someone please correct me if I'm wrong here) according to GA's current laws, if a landowner owns property on both sides of a waterway, and it doesn't meet GA's narrow definition of "naviagable", then the landowner can restrict both float through rights and fishing rights if they so desire. Again, in my opinion, that is why GA's laws need to be brought up to date asap before someone decides to do just that and we loose access to water that we have taken for granted for decades, like the Toccoa from the dam to McCaysville.

09-28-06, 01:08 PM	#8
Troutchaser Native Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Gwinnett Posts: 131	Toccoa So the golf course that is being built is it going to be on the upper or lower? If it is on the lower are they going to keep us from fishing the river as we please?

09-28-06, 01:14 PM	#9
mediaven Native Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dawsonville Posts: 211	Correct me if I'm wrong... ...I don't think the issue is "floating", it's putting your feet down. My understanding is that the land owners may own the land, but not the water. Am I warm here, or all wet??? __________________ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Good judgement comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgement.

09-28-06, 01:28 PM	#10
TroutManJoe Native Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mineral Bluff Posts: 405	This issue of WHO owns the Toccoa continues to resurface here, both the upper and the lower ends of the river. Someone from the Ga DNR, USFS, or Fannin County Sheriff oughta be able to fill us all in, correctly, and once and for all. One of these three agencies are the ones who'd be writing the tickets if you're fishing illegally so certainly one of them must know the legalitys. As it stands right now a person could become so confused by all the different heresay on this board that none of it makes sense. CAN WE JUST GET 1 STRAIGHT ANSWER PLEASE>>>>>>

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