Trout Fest at Blue Ridge continues today
The first Trout Fest in Blue Ridge Georgia began Friday evening and will continue all day today. This is a joint effort of the Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the city of Blue Ridge.
Today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., local outfitters and fishing guides, fishing gear and tackle reps, kayak liveries, hiking clubs, whitewater outfitters and an impressive list of local experts in all things outdoor will gather at the Park in downtown Blue Ridge. There will be music, food trucks and a Beer Garden with Sweetwater Brewery choices, Wine and even hard cider available.
Fannin County is known as the trout capi- tal of Georgia and for good reason, there are more trout streams in the area than anywhere else in Georgia. The Blue Ridge Mountain chapter has arraigned for a huge variety of trout fishing experts and manufacturers to be on hand to answer questions or sell you anything that is needed to catch trout. There will be expert fly casters giving instructions and guides that will book you on some trips to secret waters that are home to huge trout.
The trip to Blue Ridge takes about two hours or less so don’t miss this chance to meet the trout folks in Blue Ridge. For more info go to blueridgetroutfest.com.
The following is from long time Coosa Valley TU member and past president James Payne. For a link to the Coosa Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited website, visit RN-T.com.
John’s Creek
I made a little trip to the “Pocket” this morning. It was a pretty spring day, even though it was supposed to rain that afternoon. I really had nothing else to do, and it had been a while since I had seen the area so I put my fly rod together, threw a bunch of stuff in the back of the car and headed to John’s Creek.
I have fished John’s Creek most of my life. Usually there is a crowd, but today I had it to myself. I parked the Subaru, put on my waders and vest and hiked down to the creek.
I began working my way (carefully) upstream. I saw some holdover trout dart here and there. I caught a pumpkinseed sunfish and a darter of some description.
I found myself in a familiar spot on the stream. It is where the stream makes a ninetydegree turn after dashing itself on a rock facing. There is a deep hole at the base of the rock. I wondered how many millennia the water had been throwing itself against this stubborn rock and how many millennia more before the water finally would win and change the stream course.
Time is a funny thing. I have an old black and white photo of me fly fishing at this very spot about 50 years ago. It was taken by my late father, who was in his forties at the time.
He cared little for fishing but cared enough to take me to this place to watch me and take some photographs.
A few years later he and Alton Owens would save my life for a while by pulling me out of this hole after I slipped down the rock facing in the dark with my waders on.
As I looked around the scene today it seemed unchanged from 50 years ago. But, I know it has. The water is ever so slowly winning the battle.
The trees and plants have grown or have died.
I have changed dramatically. Fifty years is nothing to a rock or water, but it is something to the human body and soul.
I can look back but I can’t look forward. I can only imagine the future. However, I do know I won’t be part of the scene 50 years hence.
The water and the rock will still be battling. Perhaps some 12year-old will enter the scene with his father hoping to catch his first trout.
It was a good day at the “Pocket.”