By David Hulsey
February is a great time to lace up the old hiking boots and hit the trail in search of new trout water here in the mountains. There’s not too much of a chance of overheating or sweating while pulling up the steep parts of the trails. No big timber rattlers or sneaky copperheads to deal with or run from. I don’t like running but will if necessary, and I really can jump if needed. Snakes aren’t on my top 10. The leaves are off the trees and getting a look at the creek from the trail without actually having to slide down the mountainside to get a closer look is great! Carrying a small set of binoculars will aid in this and also taking a look at the unusual stray bird or for deer antler sheds. Getting a good topographic map of the area is required along with proper clothing and the skills necessary to possibly spend a very cold winter night in the woods if you get hurt or lost. Take a buddy with you.
Finding likely looking streams on the map isn’t that difficult. One of my high school buddies and I spent about 5 years trying to fly fish every piece of wild trout water in Georgia so many years ago that I just don’t want to think about it. We caught and released thousands of trout and logged a few thousand miles, but had a ball doing it. Winter was our favorite time to trout scout as we called it. Combining looking for deer and bear sign for next fall and turkey sign for the spring with fly fishing isn’t a bad way to burn up a few days of one’s life.
Of course, truck scouting is fun too. Riding around in a pickup truck on the National Forest roads glassing the streams along side the old logging rail lines that ran up almost every stream is good stuff too. It’s an easier way to stay warm too. Take notes as you go. A big beautiful plunge pool below a waterfall is a great place to fish along with dark under cut banks or slots between the boulders that you know will hold fish should go on your to-do list. If you find some good stretches of water, keep them under your hat. Telling folks about a little creek teeming with fish is a sure way to inflict harm to the fishery. Please practice catch and release and use artificial lures or flies. These little guys have a hard enough time as it is.
For a cold weather guided romp through the river give me a call David Hulsey at Southern Highroads Outfitters fly shop at 706-781-1414 in beautiful Blairsville, Ga.