June 2013 – Atlanta Fly Fishing Club

Club Fly Fishing Day at Gregg’s bass pond

Good day, everyone. I would like to take a moment to say that I appreciate your coming out to to fly fish and ride kayaks. The weather was good and the fish were biting! Rob Stroupe was giving fly casting clinics (Meredith had a great time). Tom caught 5 bass on one of Michael Orr’s flies.

I caught two more (a bluegill and a bass) after ya’ll left. One other person showed up after lunch. She got several bites but lost them on the reel-in. Bummer.

Feel free to fish the pond any time you wish. I need not be present for you to come. In the rare possibility someone confronts you about fishing there, simply tell them you are “Gregg’s guest.” They know who I am.

In the meantime, be safe and tight lines!!

Take care,

Gregg

2013 Flows on the Chattahoochee

Spring fishing season is upon us with hints of honey suckle in the air and mountain laurel along with trout lillies in full bloom. As one of our clients exclaimed, “Chris, the fish are just the the gravy, it’s beautiful out here!” We are excited about the new spring season with a better prevelence of stone, may and caddis flies throughout the tailwater despite the recent high flows from Buford Dam for the May recharge of Lake Eufalia or better know as Walter F. George . As water tables normalize downstream in Alabama and Florida the Army Corps will appease peak power demand when every household airconditioner kicks on mid day with the advent of warmer weather. Lake Lanier elevation is 1.48feet above summer pool and surface temps at Lake Lanier are at 50F with a uniform water temp of 49F gushing from the depths at the Buford Dam penstocks making for copious amounts of “winter-stored water” perfect for trout for nearly 40 miles of river. Since Lanier hit full pool by mid April we are optimistic that many trout will thrive even into the Delayed Harvest area near 285 at CRNRA mile marker 300 well into Atlanta City limits. June will be quite productive even during the week days once the lake reaches the normal summer “rule curve” of 1071 feet above sea level. We have had frequent sitings of birds of prey most notably the “fish hawk” or osprey.

Wild browns have been targeted matching the subsurface hatch imitating large stone and crane fly nymph patterns. We always keep one or even two dry fly rods loaded in case of a may or caddis fly hatch usually short lived but fleeting sparse hatches means less selective fish. Dead drifting nymphs is the rule but if anglers are willing to strip crawfish or baby trout streamer patterns can score big on trophy fish. We are excited about our new web site with different fishing packages targeting larger and less pressured fish off the beaten path. For some folks who want to see lots of scenic river mileage common on South American and Western US rivers these remote areas even in Gwinnett county or Dunwoody GA yeild bragging sized trout.

It is time to plan ahead now to schedule a trophy striper and shoal bass trip in June below Morgan Falls Dam when warmer water temps bring new migrant Linesides and local Shoallies to the “big net”. The violent strikes and breathtaking runs of these fish can get your heart pumping for sure! Even if your not equipped for salt water species we can provide quality rods and reels with ample backing. Book a half day before or after work during low light conditions or drift a remote reach of the river for a full day from Morgan Falls to Standing Peachtree Creek.

Another true adventure is our guided carp angling trips on acres and acres mud flats above Morgan Falls Dam where these skittish leviathans cruize all summer and early fall. We use boats equipped with poling platforms with clients alternating shifts on the casting deck. This trip resembles the intensity of a guided saltwater trip similar to redfish or even bonefish angling. This is a great way to get yourself prepared to site fish before you travel to the tidal salt water flats. Our guides are homesick salt water guys who get their “salt-fix” right here on the Chattahoochee.

On-stream monthly group classes or private classes? Yes we offer the ONLY on-stream classes for wade anglers on the CRNRA with veteran guides as your instructors. Learn to target trout, shoal and striped bass. Also learn fly selection, presentation, line/fly manipulation, reading water, fish habitat,river safety. Check out our new web site for class schedules and pricing.

chris scalley
River Through Atlanta
770-650-8630
Please visit our new web site at www.riverthroughalanta.com

Fishing Report on the Tuck

June 1st, 2013

This past Wednesday and Thursday Eric Davis and I went up to the ‘Tuck with NASCAR. The generation schedule was supposed to be favorable and the DH is drawing to a close. On Wednesday we were greeted with pretty high water, which kept the dry fly action down (although we heard that around dust it was great).

Eric got 4 on a dry (Eric calls it 3 and 1/2 because one was a chub). Nascar did pretty good with 20 something. I worked hard to get a dozen. The lightning bug, small black stonefly, and soft hackle hare’s ear were the flies to have. The next day we were disappointed to find the generation schedule had changed and we were fighting high water all day. Slow fishing but I did manage 9-10. Both Eric and Nascar caught fish, and again the soft hackle hare’s ear, lightning bug and small black stone fly were the flies to have.

The fishing was so slow on the ‘Tuck that Seahunt and I hit Buford Dam on Saturday. It started out as slow as the ‘Tuck but really picked up in the afternoon. I know we had numbers in the high 20’s and the flies to have were again the soft-hackled hare’s ear and the copperhead soft hackle. I fished dry-dropper all day and even got a couple on the Stimi Caddis Hopper. There were enough risers that I think if you had targeted them with a dry, you would have gotten some action.
JD

THE SOQUE COMES TO THE CHATTOOGA (BUT NOT NASCAR)

Bob “NASCAR” Chambliss called Ed Chamberlain and I and asked us to go fishing this past Friday (3/23). The phone conversation with NASCAR went about the same with both Ed and I.

NASCAR (excited)-Hello, lets go fishing on Friday.
ED-That sounds good, how about we go to the Chattooga? I have heard that the dry fly action has been picking up on the
Chattooga!
NASCAR (a bit petulant)-Chattooga? But that is so far away.
Ed-NASCAR, it is not that far.
NASCAR (a bit whiny)-But the Soque has bigger fish.
Ed-Yes, but you can get wild fish on the Chattooga.
NASCAR (a bit whiny)-But the Soque has bigger fish.
Ed-But NASCAR, I hear the March Browns and Quill Gordons are coming off on the Chattooga.
NASCAR (a bit whiny)-But the Soque has bigger fish.

Needless to say, the conversation continued the same way and it resulted with Ed Chamberlain, Mike “Copperhead” Williams, Phil “Seahunt” Seheuk, and I traveling to the Chattooga while NASCAR went to the Soque-I think.

Mike Williams Brown Trout on the Chatooga River

We walked into the Chattooga hoping for a warming, nice day to encourage dry fly activity but no-it felt pretty raw and cold and even had some rain. I was discouraged especially since I was focused on dry fly fishing. My interest peaked when I saw Copperhead fishing the Railroad Hole and I saw him hook what looked like a big one. As I watched it really was a big one and I stopped to see him fight and land it. I was not disappointed (nor was Copperhead) when he landed a 20 inch bow big boy on a Sawyer PT. It was an impressive fish and was worth Ed taking several pictures of it.

I headed up to the Camping Hole and found Seahunt fishing it. He was having a good day with 10 or more fish on including a 15-16 inch fish. He was having most of his success on a y2k. I was struggling at this time due to the fact I was being stubborn and fishing dries, even though I was freezing-it is Spring doggone it!

I headed up the the Bank and all of a sudden, they started hitting the dry and it was sweet. Got some nice fish in the 14 to 15 inch range. It had me laughing to myself. After having a great day catching fish on a dry (I guess 22-24 fish) I headed back downstream and met Ed and Copperhead and got some more big fish stories.

Ed was fishing this hole (you will understand why I will not name it) when a huge rainbow hit his Sawyer PT. Ed estimated it as around 25 inches and he knew the size of the fish because it jumped. But due to the size of the fish, 6x tippet, not bowing when it jumped, or it broke the tippet on rock, Ed lost the fish. But it was a wonderful experience and the biggest trout Ed has ever hooked. Ed’s feeling were not too hurt by the big fish because he had a good day with several fish in the 14-16 inch range. And the big fish stories do not end there. Copperhead was fishing above Ed when he hooked a brown that was the equal or bigger to the 20 inch bow he landed. Unfortunately the big boy got away. But Copperhead was walking upstream he saw a true monster making a wake in the water. If you have ever seen a big brown chasing a fish to eat it, you will not forget it, and this is what Copperhead saw.

All in all, it was a magical day, the kind of day you remember and chuckle about for no particular reason other that it was one of those “one of the best days ever”. Maybe not as big a fish on the Soque, but pretty close!

Fly recommendation-As for nymphs, the y2k and Sawyer PT were great. As Ed put it-I got the smaller stockers on the y2k and the bigger wild or hold-over fish on the Sawyer PT. As for dries-the March Brown was great and I also would try a Quill Gordon and tan caddis. I must mention a new fly that I am extremely impressed with-the low rider nymph. This is a Jason Borger fly that is fished like a dry. Have you seen rises but no matter what you put on, you can’t get a hit? The low rider is an imitation of a nymph, but a nymph that is on surface about to transform. This fly has become a go-to fly for me, especially when I want to use dries to fish.

You guys REALLY know how to hurt a guy! Glad you had a great trip. I have been promising for two years I would take this guy in my church to the Soque and when he called to say he was free Friday I couldn’t say no. I really owed him as he was the one who, as a former Delta guy, contacted a Delta VP who finally (it took a week!) got my luggage to me in Nova Scotia last year. Before JD’s report I was thinking I am getting too old for a one day trip to the Chattooga. I am definitely rethinking that!!!! Attached is a brief video of Cody on the Soque. I’M READY FOR THE CHATTOOGA!!!!!
NASCAR

A Most Excellent Fisherman

1st sequence he catches half a dozen fish in one strike.

2nd sequence he plunges talons into deep water right to the bottom to
grab his prey.

3rd sequence he captures a big old fat fish that looks as if it weighs
more than he does!

This is incredible to watch (best viewed in full screen mode)…enjoy!
A most excellent fisherman