Local resource for fly fishing in Atlanta. Includes detailed information on local businesses that provide access to fly fishing gear and apparel, fly fishing stores, bait and tackle shops, fly fishing guides and fly fishing lessons, as well as advice and content on fly fishing services and resources.
Choosing a fly rod length is a relatively easy decision and quite dependent on where you will be fishing. If you will be fishing a small mountain stream or spring creek with a lot of cover, then a smaller rod will be necessary. On the flip side, if you’ll be fishing medium to large streams and rivers, then a longer fly rod will be in order because it will allow for longer casts and greatly improved line mending. For trout fishing on medium sized rivers or larger, a 9’ or longer rod is generally used. For the largest rivers, a 10’ rod is generally used. On very small rivers or spring creeks, small fly rods in the 7’ to 7.5’ range are generally the most effective and most used.
I only fish for trout so my focus here will be limited to trout but even if you’re going for something other than trout, this is still an important consideration. If you’re going to be fly fishing in the ocean or a lake, you won’t want to buy a rod designed for trout as the performance of that rod will be horrible. Even if your focus is only trout, like mine, you’ll still need to consider what type of trout you’re after. If you’re fishing for native trout in a small mountain stream, that will be quite a bit different than fishing for Steelhead on one of the tributaries off Lake Erie. Keep this in mind as we continue to step through the selection process.
Info: Location:Tallulah Gorge State Park State: Georgia Length: 5.5 miles Difficulty: moderate Trail type:Out and back
Description: Over thousands of years, the Tallulah River has cut a gorge 1,000 ft deep in places and over 2 miles long. Access to the trails leading into the gorge is via the easy North and South Rim Trails, which have ten numbered overlooks offering good vantage points over each side of the gorge. Don’t expect pristine surroundings at the rim. There are lovely views into the gorge, but all around are man made intrusions: a very busy main road, a dam and power lines. It is just a short walk from the back of the Interpretive Center to the North Rim Trail. Turn left for the 0.25 mile walk along an easy, wide track through the trees to the first overlook. This is considered the best southern view into the gorge. Retrace your steps, passing the turn-off to the Interpretive Center, and continue on to overlooks 2 and 3, with views of two more waterfalls, L’Eau d’Or and Tempesta. From here it is a gentle climb towards the dam. Continue along the trail to overlooks 6 and 7, with views of Hawthorne Pool and Tempesta Falls, and pass the stepped Hurricane Falls Trail, your route out of the canyon. Just after this, the South Rim Trail forks left to overlooks 8, 9 and 10; forking right is the service road, heading under power lines, that you need to take to access the Sliding Rock Trail. It is worth going to the end of South Rim Trail (it is not far) to take in the final three overlook, with views of 96-foot Hurricane Falls (the highest in the gorge) and rock bluffs. Continue to the end of the service road and through a private parking area to Sliding Rock Trail (sometimes called South Wallenda Trail). From the edge of the gorge, this steep, 45-degree angled trail descends to the bottom of the gorge. Cross the Tallulah River above Bridal Veil Falls and boulder-hop your way back along the gorge floor with the river to your left, a distance of about 1 mile but time-consuming as there is no trail. You will need to re-cross the river to ascend out of the gorge, but do not do this by Oceana Falls. Instead, cross just below Hurricane Falls, where there is a six-foot jump between the boulders. If you don’t think you can make it, take your shoes off to wade through the water – the quartzite rocks are extremely slippery to negotiate if your boots are wet. Ascend the gorge via the 600 steps of Hurricane Falls Trail. It is now simply a case of re-tracing your steps along the South and North Rim Trails back to the Interpretive Center.
