Smith: Get hooked on fall fishing

HELEN - Jimmy Harris, the genial proprietor of Unicoi Outfitters, which sits hard by the picturesque waters of the Chattahoochee, had called to arm twist a busy friend about fall fly fishing.

"You can get here in time to get in a couple of hours of fishing before dark," he said, "and you can enjoy the leaves and fall color just before they are gone." All the time he was talking, I was seeing the scene in my mind's eye. When I got there, it was even more emotionally appealing than I had imagined.

Jimmy, a pleasant and affable fisherman, could lay claim to being the best fly fishing guide in North Georgia, but he won't. Modesty prevails, but he defers accolades to one of the 20 or so guides who work full time for Unicoi. That is one reason he only guides for selected friends. He doesn't want to take a trip away from one of his guys.

As we waded out into the cool waters of the Chattahoochee, with a sun poised to begin its late-afternoon descent over the horizon, Jimmy said, "I hope your arm is in good shape."

He was forecasting a workout that would result from the lead weights required to take the flies down deep to where the fish would be congregating this time of the year. "In addition, you are going to have to contend with the leaves," Jimmy laughed. "Fishing when there is fall color is very stimulating, but you do catch a lot of leaves, which makes you work harder." All the time, I was preoccupied with thoughts of a three-pound trout making a strike and taking a leap out of the cool waters and stirring my emotions.

Jimmy coached and I caught fish. Not as much as a seasoned angler because I let several g

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