June 10th-12th, 17 members of UGA’s 5 Rivers Club camped out with the Current GATU Chairman, Rodney Tumlin’s farm in Cave Spring Ga. The student’s targeted species was the “Coosa Redeye Bass.” The students arrived from Athens on Friday night and set up their tents and hammocks. We had a large fire roaring in the fire pit and the young anglers and I discussed tactics, reading water, and fly’s they would need to catch the aggressive Coosa Redeye’s. Saturday morning, the young scholars toasted bread and bagels over the campfire for breakfast and made sandwiches for lunch on Big Cedar Creek. Many of the students brought their on kayaks and canoes. Those that did not have a watercraft, rented one from Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center which is located just east Cave Spring Ga. The outdoor center employees loaded the canoes and Kayaks onto trailers and shuttled the students to a private launch area just downstream of Lyon’s Bridge. It is 5.5 river miles back to the takeout area. All of the students fished until early evening with many not getting off of the water until after sunset.
When they arrived back to camp at Tumlin Farms, the young fly fishers had warm, homemade venison chili and all the fixings waiting to satisfy their voracious appetites gained from a long day on the water. During dinner, fish stories from the day were told and countless pictures of their quarry were shared. Every single student caught fish, and many caught double digits and multiple species. After dinner, we played “Trout Unlimited Trivia” which was followed by a drawing for prizes.
This was a Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited sponsored event. Members of GATU leadership are firm believers in education, support, and engagement of young adults which we believe are the future of Trout Unlimited, cold-water conservation and fly fishing.
