Who else here likes trout fishing?
I'm from Athens so my go to spot has been the Hiwassee, but I've fished on the Holston a couple times and the fishing has been way better there.
Wondering if anybody else knew of some good spots to try out that are within 2 hours of Athens.
:hi:
I trout fish often here in upstate SC. Light tackle - rooster tails, 2lb test. Fish the North, Middle and South Saluda Rivers, Eastatoe River, Chattooga River and the East Fork of the Chattooga. Sometimes I'll take a short drive up to NC.
That's the South Saluda (near the peanut stand/waterfall...I think it's Wildcat Falls). I was fishing there once when the stocking truck pulled up. I thought it was someone dumping stuff in the river. They were...fish. Needless to say, I made it rain.
The Walhalla Hatchery is attached to the East Fork of the Chattooga River. Fished there many times. Beautiful stream.
I can be at the North Saluda (Dividing Water Rd) from my house in about 20 minutes. That's a nice little stream. It's small, and it doesn't get as much love as the Middle and South, but it also isn't fished nearly as much (at least, I don't THINK it is).
Fly fishing is my biggest vice. When I'm in east TN, I spend time on the Clinch and in the streams around Robbinsville NC. I need to spend more time at the Hiwassee.
We go to Montana/Wyoming every summer for a couple of weeks of fishing. Love it up there.
Learning to fly fish is my New Years resolution. I've never been, only tried casting a fly rod maybe a couple times so complete newbie.
Any advice on getting started?
I thought all that was middle Saluda. From where you turn at the little post office at the end of 11, go past the store on the left, at that first bridge. Then on up the road a mile or two where you have the long stretch until the highway veers.
Turn right at the Cleveland Post Office. The gas station on the left on 11/276 is Echo Valley. That first bridge is the Middle Saluda. Keep going, and the Middle Saluda follows 11/276 on the right maybe a mile to the F-Mart, where it veers right and follows River Falls Rd into the River Falls/Jones Gap area. Keep going past the F-Mart on 11/276 a mile or 2 and the South Saluda appears on the left, up to where 11/276 split, and it follows 276 a little beyond the split.
These areas are all heavily fished as they are easy to access.
Learning to fly fish is my New Years resolution. I've never been, only tried casting a fly rod maybe a couple times so complete newbie.
Any advice on getting started?
Find a local fly shop. They'll help you get equipped and often have clinics and such. Once you've got your gear and an idea of what to do, hiring a guide and learning a few things from him is beneficial too.
Whereabout do you live?
I'm not far from Athens, habersham county. Its trout heaven around here. Chattahoochee, Sequoia, panther creek, wildcat creek. I have a friend at church who catches monsters in Helen ga in the river.
Ok gotcha. So if you turn left going towards keowee there's a river up that way and a pull off known as sliding rock, I'm sure you're familiar with it. What river is that?
Sumner County.
I figure there must be a club or something around here.
I believe you are referring to Long Shoals, which is the Little Eastatoe Creek (which they do stock). If that's the case, near there is Roy F Jones Rd (on the right side of 11). That road leads to good access of the Eastatoe River. I'd recommend it if you've never been there. It seems wider than the Saludas, but not as wide as the Chattooga.
I believe you are referring to Long Shoals, which is the Little Eastatoe Creek (which they do stock). If that's the case, near there is Roy F Jones Rd (on the right side of 11). That road leads to good access of the Eastatoe River. I'd recommend it if you've never been there. It seems wider than the Saludas, but not as wide as the Chattooga.