Fly Fishing Trip articles 

NANTAHALA CAMP OUT
by John Henderson

Nantahala, the “place of the noon day sun,” the seven mile stretch of many trout (and easy access), the gorge of awesome beauty and the land of cold nights and crisp mornings was the site of the AFFC Spring Break March 11-14, 1998.

We had a great time last year. The fishing, camping and socializing were great. Joel Manning and Ed Chamberlain arrived early and set up headquarters at the Brookside Camp Ground. The rest of us arrived later and pitched tents in the large reserved area for our group. In the huge fire pit at HQ, Joel cooked and served cornbread, chili, black forest/cherry cake, spaghetti with meat balls, mountain man omelets, pasta casseroles, pancakes and more. We were well fed during this superb fishing outing. The fire pit was the gathering point for breakfast, the evening meal and many lengthy late night bull sessions.

Everyone caught plenty of trout. Richard Mansker caught an 18 inch rainbow; most of the trout were 8-11 inches. Saturday night around the campfire, David Winarski presented the “Nantahala Two Squaws and a Mule” trophy to the most valuable player of the trip, Joel Manning. You would have had to be there to understand.

COHUTTA WILDERNESS ADVENTURE

The AFFC trip to the Conasauga River in the great Cohuttas was held April 16 -19, 1998. Milton Sams and John Henderson backpacked three miles Thursday morning to the previously designated campsite. Carrying almost 50 pound each, the hiking flyfishers forded a few small streams as well as the swollen Conasauga River before reaching the campsite.

The scenic hike into the wilderness and the camping in an extremely remote area was worth the tough trek with the backpack. Thursday and Friday were beautiful with good fishing and partly sunny conditions. Thursday night however was given to heavy rains and lightning storms. Friday night was equally bad with rain from 9 pm to 9 on Saturday morning. Other club members were planning to make the trip on Friday and Saturday but the rainy conditions convinced them to stay at home. Look for this trip in the future. If you go, pack light and train just a little before you go.

A First Class Trip
by John Henderson

David Winarski spent over 600 hours converting the plans, drawings and sketches for a McKenzie River Drift Boat into a fully functioning work of art: the fly fishermen's boat of choice. It is beautiful and it fishes like a dream. Now, I know first hand what a first class trip on a first rate river is all about.

Richard Mansker and I fished with David in his 15 foot McKenzie drift boat on January 4, 1999, an unseasonable and beautiful 60 degree day. We fished the Chattahoochee River from Abbotts Bridge to Medlock Bridge from 10 am to 3 PM Catching over fifty fish (mostly on dry flies) and sharing the rowing experience (using well balanced, nine foot oars), we had an extremely enjoyable trip.

The boat was David's second successful boat building experience. The first one, a 13 foot, two-man McKenzie River Drift Boat completed in 1995 fueled his interest in a 15 foot version to be scaled up from the same plans. No pre-cut ribs, seats, bow post, stern or such for this accomplished boat builder; he ordered all his materials from Home Depot.

The fifteen foot version weighs about 250 pounds and is extremely stable yet nimble through fast moving rapids or swirling back waters. The draft, fully loaded, was only seven inches. We could turn, pause or stop anywhere at anytime on the river. Potential fish holding sites were easily investigated and productive areas were given plenty time using a few easy oar strokes or employing the quick release stern anchor.

All along the river, fishermen would look longingly at the beautiful lines and the gleaming black hull of the meticulously built McKenzie. It was indeed a first class fishing experience.