BigBendFishing.Net

We are thinking about going to Helen on our vacation in July. Do y'all have any thoughts on the area? Good or bad idea?

If ya like to look at motorcycles and drink beer......its great......Personally, Gatlinburg and pigeon forge is as nice , plus there is all sorts of things to do in the area....great eats, cades cove , roaring forks and all th other attractions to boot

A friend and I spent a few days in East Ellijay (just south of Helen) last year in May. It was wonderful. Beautiful, quiet, peaceful, serene. We drove through Helen and on up the mountain to the Appalachian Trail. We only walked about 1-2 miles, but it was awe inspiring. We also stopped at a couple of rivers near Helen and walked the banks and took lots of pictures.
The cabin was rented from Blue Sky Rentals. Here is a link to the cabin we stayed in. http://www.blueskycabinrentals.com/simple_life.html
If you just want to get away from the world and relax, this is the place to do it. The rental folks are great and easy to get along with.
There are also some great Trout streams. I did not take any tackle and kicked myself for it, as I saw a couple of Trout that could have easily gone 20"
I hope this was some help,
FF

Used to go there a bunch in the '70's as a kid. My grandparents would drive us up there in the camper and we would spend a few days. Always loved Helen...however like everything else it has become very commercialized. That being said I would not miss out on the opportunity to go if you have never been. Do your best to get off the beaten path

I plan to pretty much do whatever the girls want to do "but will be takeing a rod with me", I don't have a trout stamp though.

Wife: gold and gem mining; waterfall/hiking; good restaurants?

Daughter: water rafting, tree climbing Mabey: rock climbing or it would be cool to zip line, water park or local swimming hole w/ a rope swing

I figured I would let everone see what we are looking to do
And if there are other areas thaat may would work better for us, we are open to all sugestions

A vote for Dahlonega and anywhere in Jasper County, plus I second the comments about Pigeons Forge and Cades Cove.

It was on the side of a road down from Cades Cove that I saw Col. Tom stare down a Momma Black Bear and her three cubs.
Fortunately the cubs left quickly and Momma followed them, Old Col.Tom was a teetotaller, but I believe he was sorely tempted that day.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... orgia.html

http://www.gastateparks.org/Vogel


http://www.gastateparks.org/Unicoi

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?rlz=1 ... 9770904899

Pauls Steak House, downtown Helen on the river. The best prime rib.

I have to agree with slayer on Cades Cove. Its a treat! Generally a fair amount going on around Dahlonega in the summer. The square in pretty nice and most weekends there are folks picking and grinning. Helen is ok but after about a day I'm ready to move on. I'll be thinking on this some more...

Take a light spinning rod and some rooster tails with you..Chattahoochee runs right through town. I've fished it and Smiths creek several times in the past couple years with fly equipment but you can catch em on spin tackle. You will need a trout stamp. Stop at Unicoi outfitters going into town and you can pick one up there as well as some advice. Plus lots of other blueline streams in the area.

Take your family tubing on the Hooch.. like sundown said, it runs right through town. http://www.coolrivertubing.com/

If your a meat fisherman- and I know you are , bring your ultraight spinning gear, weighted bobber, a #6 bream hook and some red wigglers.
Put the worm about 12" below the bobber with one split shot to keep it down. Cast it up stream and watch it float by. You will have your limit in no time

If you want to find some other places to fish check out - North Georgia Trout On Line...its like the BBF for trout fishing in Georgia. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ngto/

I guess, growing up about 20 miles from helen and working in the area many years. I just never saw anything special about Helen. It you wanted to use it for a base and explore each day, that would be OK, but I get bored with Helen in about an hour.

Things to do in the area:

Anna Ruby Falls (Unicoi SP) and three or four more in the area (DeSoto is one), they are all well worth the effort. One is at the headwaters of the hooch next to a small campground.

Go up on Mount Yonah, great views and see where the ranger's train, great place to rappel and rock climb.

Brasstown Bald (highest point in Ga) has a good visitor center.

Dahlonega is great for a day trip, visit a gold mine, museum, North GA College and go over to Amicalola Falls and start of Appalachian trail.

Do some short hikes on the Appalachian trail, and visit the old store at the top of the divide, trail goes through the shop.

Toccoa Falls and Tallualh Gorge would be a good day trip.

Dockery lake, Lake Andrews Cove and Lake Winfield Scott are a pretty.

Vogel and Moccasin Creek State Parks, trout hatchery and Lake Burton at Moc.

Drive the back roads and see the area and hit as many as the State Parks as you can,

As stated befoer gett off the beaten path,

If you have any specific questions just ask

Stay away from Helen on weekends. Two lanes of traffic hell.

We will be driving up on Saturday "probably staying in a cottage in Blue Ridge" and coming back on Tuesday or Wendsday. So you can figure that Saturday will be a drive and get situated day

Pauls On The River use to be a good place to eat and I guess still is but its been awhile since I've been over there. Tubing through town and fishing early can be a fun time. You will need both a fishing license and trout stamp for fishing. An out of state 3 day is something like $28.00 I believe. There are several hiking trails in the area too. The Gold Mine in Dahlonega is pretty good as well as the town square. Sometimes just taking it easy laying in the river and grilling burgers and dogs can be the most fun. No plans or trying to find parking is always good.