My wife and I are camping out of burrels ford campground in October or November, we’re hiking in and hiking all around the area. I have never fished in the upstate and have no clue what to expect beside brown trout. I will be using a conventional spinning rod. Any suggestions on rigs, technique or location would be an immense help.
We’re planning on catching our dinner so ANY edible fish is fair game to us.
Thank you
Many more rainbows than browns. Not that hard of a walk to the campground from parking area, but BRING A DOLLY!! And bring lots of cold weather clothes. We were there in spring break in april and a frost advisory for the first couple nights. I woild get some bootffoot waders for sure. Sportsmans wearhouse in cola has some frogg toggs for about $60 that worked great for me. Now for the fishing, you can pick up hooks and terminal tackle at sportsmans wearhouse in cola. But for sure go to fraziers general store in walhalla, that’s the tackle shop there. I caught all my rainbows on berekely power honey worms, salmon eggs, and cut red worms. Hike the foothills trail either way behind the campsite. I woulldnt wast my time fishin behind campsite. Go down big bend rd and hike that tto get down to some good trout. Where big bend gets to the river its fast, dind the shallow area and cross the river and walk down, there’s a beautiful deep pool around the bend that has some nice ones I saw a 20+ inch trout in there. Park at the bridge and walk upriver on the trail then fish back. Take your wife to the hatchery you’ll both appriciate it! Eat at varsity and this other place. Ill get back to you with the name. GREASTEST FRIED CHIKEN IN THE WORLD.
SEAFOX 185DC MERC 125
[MRS KAREN]
14’TARPON 100 paddlepower
[SALTY FLY]
Some bigger fish in the river but, more numbers in smaller creeks. The East Fork creek below the hatchery is good. We used ultra lite spinners with small mepps and panther martin spinners. Do ok with Spin Flies too. I found dry fly fishing tough there. A nymph a better choice. Bead head or prince. In river we do the salmon egg with piece of worm and bottom fish.
Last time we camped at Burrells I took a hand truck down the hill. Cooler and pile of firewood on it. About 1/4 mile to campsite. Left it in the tent until way out.
J Ford
Scratch Burrells Ford drive down to the Grape Vine and pull right up to your campsite.
Fishing is good in the Chatooga…stellar in some spots but over fished around the bridge and campground unless you see them stocking the hatchery fish in. The Chauga is better in my opinion. If you’re like me though my wife is more about camping and hiking than fishing so here are a couple of other high lights in the immediate area.If you camp at Burrell’s Ford check out the trail head map at the front of the parking lot…walk upriver from the bridge. First good creek you cross over notice the “SPN AUGER FALLS” sign on your right. No chance to fish up there but a great view of a beautiful waterfall all the way at the top. October would be insane with the leaves. The trail head map will also show you “King Falls” that one is DEFINATELY worth the walk in. That is one of the most spectacular falls in SC IMO. There are several others on the trail head map as well. If you don’t mind a 10 minute drive from Burrells Ford “Isaqueena Falls” is another great fall and it is right next to “Stump House Tunnel”. At Isaqueena take the “trail” down off of the main viewing platform to the bottom of the falls. Take your camera in to all of the falls. Hope this helps with “wife friendly” activities.
If you’re both into ■■■■■■■■■■■■■ up on these little “spinner flys” they sell at the first gas station on the left after you leave Burrells Ford headed towards Walhalla (probably about a mile after the entrance to Oconnee State Park.)They are simply a fly tied on a straight wire shaft with a spinner in front and a single hook on the back. They work like magic.
I’m not slurring my words…I’m simply speaking in cursive.
quote:
Originally posted by StrikerScratch Burrells Ford drive down to the Grape Vine and pull right up to your campsite.
Tell me more about this “Grape Vine” area.
Grapevine is on the Chauga river, and has excellent fishing. The campground is primitive but has designanted sites with some on the river. You can drive all the way to your campsite. It also has a outhouse style bathroom. Its not the best but is better than the woods. If you do a search on the National Forest website for campgrounds you will find it. We really enjoy it because it is a bout five miles off the main road down a gravel road to the campground. It is more secluded and not a long drive to fish near by areas.
Thanks for the info Striker. We already have plans firmed to camp at Burrells next week but we will be checking out Grape Vine for the next trip.
Its a short ride over to check it out.
Will do Striker. Again, thanks for the tip. Talked to a buddy who’s fished the Chauga and loves it.
Talked with Carl today at Chattooga River Fly Shop to get a feel for conditions. He says the river (Chattooga) is as good as it’s been in years, with water temps staying cool. He said to throw primarily wet flies, as the hatch is minimal and not too many fish are rising. He said the bite’s good down below and suggested tossing pheasant tails, hares ears, purple lightening bugs and the usual ants.
4 days and nights on the river with the girl, the dogs, and some bourbon…I might just never come home to the Lowcountry…
I’m jealous
Weirdfish - just returned from camping at Burrells Ford campground, so I have a few tips.
First off - all the above posts have excellent info (thanks guys!). I’m going to just add my 2-cents on top of theirs.
We had the campground to ourselves during the week. Once Friday and Saturday arrived so did the crowds. Stick to the weekdays if you can.
Take a dolly or cart for the quarter mile trek from the parking area to the campground unless you’re packing light. We like to drink, eat, and have fire so we dollied it in and it wasn’t too big a deal. Couple trips, maybe three. We got lucky and caught a ride with DNR on the last run. They were stocking. See more on this later.
Bring firewood if you want a fire. Too many a-holios cutting down green trees that won’t burn.
Fishing. Since you’re spin fishing, stock up on rooster tails of all colors and panther martins. Get those with single hooks, not trebles. You want to fish them on the bottom, dragging them along the rocks slowly and bumping them all the way back. All the trout I caught on spinners picked them up off the bottom as I bumped them or hit them after the cast as it drifted naturally with the current before settling to the bottom. The single hook helps with not snagging the bottom as often. If you can, take a fly rod and some nymphs. I’m not the best tosser, and get frustrated sometimes (ok, alot) but the reward is worth it. I managed to land a few oft and might leave the spinners at home next time. But maybe not…
Screw fishing the campground area unless you like recently stocked fingerlings and crowds. Hike 20-30 minutes south towards Big Bend falls on the Chattooga River Trail. I never saw another person in 4 days. I caught rainbows and red breasted sunfish. No browns. I caught the majority of my fish first thing in the morning. I’d get up at 6 and headlamp hike for 30 minutes or so. Once there was enough light to tie a knot I’d start fishing. 50% of my fish were caught before 9am.
If you want unstocked waters, hike back north from th
When I camp there i drive to the bridge and then hike up the trail on the right before the bridge. this is wilderness area and has great camping spots on the river. the farther you go the fewer people you will see.
I go there once a year…although i stopped camping at Burrels Ford and stay at Oconnee County State Park or Devils Fork State Park. If you want to catch a bunch of trout…corn is the answer…bigger trout but fewer …rooster tail spinner…My father always uses crickets and thats probably the best bait there is. I did see a mans stringer last spring with 3 20" plus rainbows and he was fishing the deep hole in front of Burrels Ford Campground. He was using small minnows with a heavy weight in the deep water. I usually hike about 3 miles past the campground to the south. Last fall my father and his buddy went down river and saw 3 bears on the edge of the river on Georgia side. They were 200 yards away. Please carry a firearm or pepper spray for bear protection…Game warden told me they frequent the campground in late fall to dig through trash that people dont store properly. If you go to Burrels Ford you must check out Kings Creek Falls…bout a 3/4 mile hike up Kings Creek…70 foot vertical drop. Its breath taking !
Key West 1720 115 HP Johnson Saltwater.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g49oxpzEwos
Kings Creek Falls !
Key West 1720 115 HP Johnson Saltwater.
I was there last weekend. I only fished spinning gear and the trout seemed to prefer darker colors with gold flashers. It was a little overcast so if its sunny you may want to try brighter colors.
Make sure to check out the new trout regulations from DNR. They are quite a few also with a reduction in limit from 10 to 5.