The Red and Black

Issue date: 9/30/97 Section: Undefined Section

What did you do last weekend? There was no football game to occu- py some of your time. Were you bored? If the answer is yes, I have your cure. Explore the wilderness of Georgia. I can guarantee it will be anything but boring. Our state is full of mountains, rivers, forests, swamps and all other kinds of terrain. Access to these areas is relatively simple. All you need is the ability to read a map and an adventurous heart. Roads can take you to trails, which lead you to the tops of mountains or the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Georgia has dozens of Wildlife Management Areas. These areas have been in place since the 1930s and were designed for the protec- tion and enhancement of the Georgia wilderness. Georgia's WMAs have not only achieved this goal, but also have established a plethora of recreational opportuni- ties. Many Georgians enjoy fishing, camping, hunting, climbing, kayak- ing, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird watching, hiking and probably any other outdoor activity that one can think of in this state's WMAs. You can buy WMA maps from the Game and Fish Department of Natural Resources, or from outdoor stores. One of the easiest areas to get to from Athens is the Lake Russell WMA. It encompasses 17,000 acres of land in Banks, Stephens and Habersham counties and lies with- in the Chattahoochee National Forest, generally classified as the Appalachian foothills. Outdoor opportunities are end- less at Lake Russell. Nancytown Lake holds stocked rainbow and brown trout with some bream and largemouth bas mixed in. Most anglers have success with bait and spinning lures, but a well placed fly can take fish. If you plan on fishing, I would advise using spin equip- ment with Mepps spinners or Roostertails. Fly rodders should tie on any darker colored Woolly Buggers around a size six and retrieve at a very slow pace. Lake Russell itself will hold fish, but a boat will increase your chances of landing multiple fish. The middle fork of the Broad River holds many fish, as does one of its tributaries, Dicks Creek. Once again spinners will work well, as will standard nymph and dry patterns for you fly rodders. The middle fork of the Broad also provides great fun for kayak- ers and canoeists. I generally put in below Reservoir 44 in Banks County. Technically this is not part of the WMA, but it is really close. This section of the river is great for novice paddlers like myself. You can get technical if you want, or you can stick to the slower water and hone your skills. There is plenty of camping. I like camping on the area's east side, near the Big Leatherwood River. Getting to Lake Russell from Athens is easy. Take route 15 north of the Athens Perimeter Loop. Within an hour you will hit Baldwin, Cornelia and Mt. Airy; all border the west side of the WMA. The easiest access is to take U.S. 123 north out of Mt. Airy. Red Root Road will be a few miles down the road on the right. This will take you to Nancytown Lake, where most of the Forest Service roads begin. These well-marked roads can take you anywhere in the WMA. A map is posted at the lake. Sturdy shoes and some rain gear is all that is needed for day trips, while overnight excursions require at least a sleeping bag. Any rep- utable outdoor store can tell you what's essential and what's not. The enjoyment I get out of the wilderness of our state is part of who I am. I have seen coyotes, deer, black bear, bald eagles, red tailed hawks, wild turkeys, skunks and hundreds of other animals. I love the smell of the mountain laurel, the rhododendron, the wild azalea or any other of Georgia's many flora. Sunsets on top of Rich Mountain and sunrises at the Okeefenokee Swamp pervade my memory. Georgia is truly blessed by its abounding natural resources. So this weekend, what are you going to do? You can stay in Athens, but why not strap on some walking shoes and explore our great state? That's what I'll be doing.

 

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