New Ride

I finally decided to upgrade my watercraft fleet this summer. A 2009 ClackaCraft 16 LP.

This model is Sage/Charcoal/Blue and also has the MegaBox option adding a double size storage box up front. This extra large gear box allows 2 seats up front on sliding tracks.

What can I say about this boat. It is awesome. Very comfortable and very stable.

A couple of initial upgrades were adding a kicker motor, a trailerable cover and altering the anchor system.


An '09 Mercury 6hp Longshaft motor. You can expect about 7.5 mph max out this motor.
Very effective for moving back up river or short runs on lakes and bays.


The cover is great for travel and fits very nice. Also works well for outdoor storage.


By adding the moveable pulley and doubling the rope, you gain additional leverage.
This makes hauling the anchor up a bit easier. The only downside is that you double the length of rope needed to drop anchor.

Check back later for news posts covering some of the features of the drifter.

3-10-07 Toccoa River. Blue Ridge, GA - Delayed Harvest Section

What a terrific day to be on the water. I was worried for a bit when the forecast was calling for showers. But after missing the previous weekends trip I was not about to turn back.. As the light rain fell during the ride to Blue Ridge we kept telling ourselves that fishing was better in the rain. Yeah, that’s it. It’s better. Actually I do find this to be true but that is a another article.

What started as light rain turned to overcast and then the sun finally started to poke through. The water temp was a cool 52 degrees and nearly clear. Time to fish. We unloaded our pontoons, rigged our gear and discussed the news we got at fly shop. (Unicoi Outfitters) Pink San Juan Worms and small black dropper flies was the prescription and we all decided to follow it. I chose a Prince Nymph to tie off the back of the San Juan added a couple of split shot above the lead fly and then tied on a small Elk Hair Caddis on my back-up rod. Finally we were ready to start our float down the DH section of the river.

.As we hit the first likely looking run I informed my buddies that South Carolina had given Georgia Department of Natural Resources a couple thousand Brooke Trout for them to stock into the North Georgia DH streams. Their smile grew just a bit bigger and sure enough not long after our first few fish each of us had landed one or two of these beauties.

I cannot stress enough the importance of listening to the locals especially the local fly shop when it comes to which flies are most productive. As advised earlier in the morning, the Pink San Juan Worm was a killer. Both of the ones I used were so beat up by the end of the day, they have been scavenged to be retied at a later date. Not only this but also as told, tiny dark droppers also did the trick. The price I chose is exactly that. Small, dark and imitates a lot of different nymphs living on the stream bed. Now for the numbers……..

…………..Between the three of us 60+ fish. Most all 12 inches or better. Some into the high teens. Brookies, Browns and Rainbows. Two reaching 20 inches. Lots and lots of missed strikes, lost fish and a few break offs. Man I love this stuff.

A trip to any one of the Delayed Harvest Streams in GA will be a treat. The Toccoa DH is fairly new but is excellent. Once the DH regulations end the river still offers some excellent fishing.

Tight Lines.
Jason

Some of my favorite fishing pictures.

Chattahoochee River - Atl, GA - Cochran Shoals

Working near the "Delayed Harvest" section of the Chattahoochee River allows me to slip out of work and hit the stream either at the end of my day or even during lunch. The nearest section is "Cochran Shoals". This is a rather large section of the river and most of it is very easy to wade at low water levels. While most of the fish taken will be stockers and in the 9"-10" range, larger fish are not uncommon. Ask my friend Charlotte. For her very first fly fishing adenture I decided to take her to the DH on the Chattahoochee. Her first ever fish on fly gear was a nice 14"Rainbow trout.

On today's outing, I left the office after work and managed to put in a good hour and a half high-sticking a Y2K and a GRB hare's ear dropper through some shallow runs around downed logs and under some undercut banks. 15 fish to hand, a few missed fish and 1 monster that managed to break my line was excellent therapy for a stressful day. If only I had my camera with me!!!

If you get the chance, check out the DH sections that run through Atlanta. You may still be able to hear the highway but after a few strikes, it is sure to fade. Remember. Wade slow, be patient and don't be afraid to try every fly in your box till you find the one that works.

SA System X Fly Boxes - Review

I have tried a few different fly boxes but Scientific Anglers System X Fly Boxes have become one of my favorites. Waterproof so your flies are safe. Clear covers so you can easily see the flies in your box and roomy. There are several different models to choose from and the color indicates the type of flies suggested. All of the inserts are interchangeable and there is even a suitcase to hold up to 4 inserts. I like the nymph box. It has a small compartment for indicators and another for split shot. Don't worry about the split shot rollling around, the compartment has an inner lid for them. The clear cases are slightly textured and have slots for lanyards which are nice features. I am buying the suitcase next. I can use it with 4 inserts on my pontoon for river floats or pull two inserts, slap them in a case and I am ready for a wading trip.

Some flyshops have started carrying them and finding them on the web is very easy.

One of the best prices I have found is Cabelas. Although, if you can find them in a local shop you can skip the shipping.

Tight Lines,

Jason

Toccoa Fishing Report - 12/27/06

Location: - Toccoa River -*Delayed Harvest Section*- Blue Ridge, GA
Date - 12/27/06 - 08:30am - 4:20pm
Conditions: Partly cloudy to sunny. Air: 34-52 degrees Water: 42. slightly stained.


Excellent day on the new DH section of the Toccoa. A cold weather float last Wednesday was a much needed break from the holiday rush. While on vacation from the office, we decided to get away and scout out the new dealyed harvest waters just southeast of Blue Ridge. The morning started out very cold and the aluminum frames of our pontoons were like hanlding ice as we unloaded them from the trailer but soon the chore of gearing up and walking the boats to the river had warmed us. Starting just upstream of the Sandy Bottom canoe launch we rowed upstream and prepared for the day.

This water is excellent. With much of the water being in the range of medium to difficult wading, a pontoon is the way to go. There is just so much water to cover, wading would limit you to only a handful of the many fish holding pockets and runs. Fishing deep with size 16-18 bead head nymphs and dropping a size 20-22 bead head off the back seemed enough to get the fly down. Adding a split shot or 2 would helpo in the fast currents. This proved effective for bringing to hand many fish in the 10-14 inch range and a few 14 and up going as big as 18. The bite was varied from soft and subtle to the big boy and his cousin, who escaped with 2 flies I might add, with slashing crashing stikes. Patients and a sharp eye will pay off on the deeper holes. What you think is a rock will often turn out to be a fish. I have read this tip many times from those more experienced than I and it has paid off in practice. Fish the FOAM!!!! See those little foam bubbles floating in little foam ribbons down the river? Look closley the next time you approach a likely run. Watch for these foam lines. The foam carries lots of little goodies for the fish and often times drifting your fly along these seems will pay off. This tip applies to any river you fish.

The river is heavily stocked and although the fishing pressure will increase greatly as the weather warms do not let that turn you off a look at this stream. For more infomation on this area including maps and directions, check out Unicoi Outfitters http://www.unicoioutfitters.com

Tight lines and good luck !!

Jason

Nice fiesty wild rainbow trout from deep in the North Georgia mountains.

The north Georgia mountains hold many wild and stocked trout. Browns, Rainbows and brookies. Fly fishing for these beauties is a great hobby, sport and adventure. For more information on Trout Fishing in Georgia, please visit the Norht Georgia Trout Online Message Board here: N.G.T.O

My buddy Mark with a nice fat rainbow trout.

Fishing the Clinch river in 2003 brought on an appreciation for fishing by drift boat. A 6 hour float with a terrific guide and a good friend, it doesn't get much better. Then Mark landed this nice fish. A FAT 14 incher!!
The day was filled with fish after fish and was well worth the trip. We caught a good break from the water releases at Norris dam and had low water for all but the last hour of the float. Rocky, our guide, was great. Always there with good tip or a fast net. He brought along a great selection of hand tied flies that really did the trick. Rusty, the owner of the guide service, had invited me up and I still do not know how I can repay him. If you are looking for a guide in Tennessee or North Georgia, give these guys a shout. FlyDrifters.com *** Please take note the FlyDrifters is no longer operating. Please contact me and I will be happy to list other wonderful guides for you. Or, just keep checking back.

Fishing on the Clinch river in TN. 

Hook, Line and Sinker - Taken in by the addicition.

I have an addiction. It started when I was very young and has continued to affect my life. I.....am a fisherman. Along with that comes a great love for the outdoors. I will share with you some stories of my outings, pictures of my passion and weigh in on some the products and info available out here in outdoor land. I am constantly learning new things about my hobby and these lessons I am happy to share.

Tight lines.

Jason