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smashmouth5

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Aug 25, 2001
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Couple questions...

Was in Bryson City and did some hiking up around the road to nowhere. What is a locals story about this spot?

Also ate at a BBQ place and I swear the sign out in front of it is the same one that used to be at All-Da BBQ in Shelby that was located in front of Shelby High School back in the old days. Would anybody know if it may be it?
 
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smashmouth5

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GSO-Triple5 said:
Where was the ending point of the road to nowhere or did it go in a circle ?
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From the way it sounds, it was where the fed gov came in and took peoples land for a lake back in the 30's. They promised a new road that would go through but got to a long tunnel and left. Never finished it. Was wondering if the locals could expand on how it all went down. Was a pretty neat place.
 
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Vik-Val 86

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This is one place that I always wanted to visit. But just haven’t got around doing it. This is one of those bucket list trips on my things to do. I read that the tunnel is around 1200 feet long where the road stops at. As a life long trout fisherman I always wanted to go to the nearby streams and fish. The streams are Noland Creek, Forney Creek and the famous Hazel creek which feeds into Fontana lake. I could just see the beautiful leaves during fall time of the year.
 
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BlueVols

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Jun 27, 2003
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The US Government took land to create Fontana Lake. In return they were supposed to build a road so displaced families could visit family gravesites. Congress drug their feet with funding and after many years, while Heath Shuler was representing WNC, a settlement was negotiated for cash.

That's the short version.
 
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Swain97

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Nov 24, 2006
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Vik-Val 86 said:
This is one place that I always wanted to visit. But just haven’t got around doing it. This is one of those bucket list trips on my things to do. I read that the tunnel is around 1200 feet long where the road stops at. As a life long trout fisherman I always wanted to go to the nearby streams and fish. The streams are Noland Creek, Forney Creek and the famous Hazel creek which feeds into Fontana lake. I could just see the beautiful leaves during fall time of the year.
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Hike 5-6 miles back on Forney Creek and spend a couple days fishing there. Also, Wendy has done a ton of research on the park and I try to let as many people know as I can because it truly is a great way to pass time learning about the area and the history of those who called the park home.
 
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Vik-Val 86

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Swain97 said:
Hike 5-6 miles back on Forney Creek and spend a couple days fishing there. Also, Wendy has done a ton of research on the park and I try to let as many people know as I can because it truly is a great way to pass time learning about the area and the history of those who called the park home.
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Thanks for the info. I always love to study about the mountains and it’s heritage.
 
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KW2346

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Feb 9, 2011
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Wasn't accusing you of hating...trust me as a redskins fan I cussed Shuler many times when he played pro he was garbage on the skins. I just am always looking for any reason to type HTTR. Lol
 
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KevinFromSwain

Senior
May 30, 2001
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To be blunt, the Feds own 52% of Swain Count. And if you've seen how high the lake reaches, it begs the question, why did they take so much land for! To give to the Park? Well, at least it wasn't as bad as the Cherokee got it around 80 yrs earlier.
 
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WhoaMule

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Nov 29, 2002
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Vik-Val 86 said:
This is one place that I always wanted to visit. But just haven’t got around doing it. This is one of those bucket list trips on my things to do. I read that the tunnel is around 1200 feet long where the road stops at. As a life long trout fisherman I always wanted to go to the nearby streams and fish. The streams are Noland Creek, Forney Creek and the famous Hazel creek which feeds into Fontana lake. I could just see the beautiful leaves during fall time of the year.
Click to expand...
The road comes to a dead end right at the end of the tunnel at Noland creek if I remember. I DO remember the fishing in Noland not being worth the effort to get there, (as with most GSMNP streams) several trips up that creek I think I caught 1 undersized fish in a mile and a half of fishing.(+ or -)
 
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FarWestNorthCarolinaSports

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KevinFromSwain said:
To be blunt, the Feds own 52% of Swain Count. And if you've seen how high the lake reaches, it begs the question, are did they take so much land for! To give to the Park? Well, at least it wasn't as bad as the Cherokee got it around 80 yrs earlier.
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Graham County is about 66% and I'm glad it is.
 
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Vik-Val 86

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WhoaMule said:
The road comes to a dead end right at the end of the tunnel at Noland creek if I remember. I DO remember the fishing in Noland not being worth the effort to get there, (as with most GSMNP streams) several trips up that creek I think I caught 1 undersized fish in a mile and a half of fishing.(+ or -)
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Thanks for the info. No it wouldn’t be worth the effort. I guess maybe just to go up and site see and visit.
 
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Swain97

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Anyone who fishes the stretches of Noland starting down below the parking is going to have a bad time. Go 4 miles up to where it intersects with Springhouse Branch trail or even further up. The creek's headwaters reaches almost all the way up to Clingman's Dome. Same thing goes for Forney Creek. Gotta put some miles in to get to the good waters.
 
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Vik-Val 86

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About Hazel Creek. I heard the best way to get in is taking a ferry. Any other options. Probably long hike to get to the stream? Any thoughts about going to that steam.
 
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KevinFromSwain

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May 30, 2001
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Great fishing and fair sized stream. Just rent a john boat with a motor. But we do a ferries a few times a year. Park Service ferries only.
 
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WhoaMule

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Vik-Val 86 said:
About Hazel Creek. I heard the best way to get in is taking a ferry. Any other options. Probably long hike to get to the stream? Any thoughts about going to that steam.
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YOur best bet for success on ANY GSMNP stream is Straight Fork just off the reservation at the end of Big Cove Rd out of Cherokee. You can DRIVE to the creek, it gets little exposure and even less pressure, because it is relatively unknown. You dont need to expend miracle efforts. Better yet just go to the Nantahala river past Bryson City, and fish there. Lots of fish wild and stocked, big river. You wont be alone but you dont need to be due to the size of the river.
 
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Vik-Val 86

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WhoaMule said:
YOur best bet for success on ANY GSMNP stream is Straight Fork just off the reservation at the end of Big Cove Rd out of Cherokee. You can DRIVE to the creek, it gets little exposure and even less pressure, because it is relatively unknown. You dont need to expend miracle efforts. Better yet just go to the Nantahala river past Bryson City, and fish there. Lots of fish wild and stocked, big river. You wont be alone but you dont need to be due to the size of the river.
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Thanks for the info. I have fished up in Cherokee but never have fished Straight fork. Which would be another stream on my list. And also never fished the Nantahala. That would be another good river to fish on my list.
 
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KevinFromSwain

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May 30, 2001
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Well just stop by in the town of Bryson. They stock the river from Island Pack to Mountain Ford. The Natty has much rubber hatch during the day, early morn and late in the day for the lower part.
 
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Vik-Val 86

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KevinFromSwain said:
Well just stop by in the town of Bryson. They stock the river from Island Pack to Mountain Ford. The Natty has much rubber hatch during the day, early morn and late in the day for the lower part.
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Thanks for the info. I definitely will need to make the trip. Being trout fishing all my life. But I never adventure over in that area.
 
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WhoaMule

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Gentle Knight said:
Fontana Marina runs a daily ferry(pontoon) to Hazel Creek.
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Yes this is true. But despite the poetic descriptions of HC you have no doubt heard....My advice....Dont over expect your prospects. Fish for the first several miles will be few, and smallish. Lots of youtube videos of people fishing that creek (and Eagle creek) with limited success. Same can be said for Deep creek just outside Bryson City.
 
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Swain97

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WhoaMule said:
YOur best bet for success on ANY GSMNP stream is Straight Fork just off the reservation at the end of Big Cove Rd out of Cherokee. You can DRIVE to the creek, it gets little exposure and even less pressure, because it is relatively unknown. You dont need to expend miracle efforts. Better yet just go to the Nantahala river past Bryson City, and fish there. Lots of fish wild and stocked, big river. You wont be alone but you dont need to be due to the size of the river.
Click to expand...
And Enloe Creek. We like to keep it hush hush!
 
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WickedStix9

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Nov 15, 2018
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Don’t know if I’ve seen Big Snowbird on here yet. Great stream to fish. I have had a lot of success up there recently, catching 3 Brown Trout around the 20-21 inch mark. Big and broad and man did they fight. The 3 biggest fish I’ve ever caught and all in the past year and a half.
 
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Vik-Val 86

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As far west in N.C. that I fished. Streams in Cherokee, Jonathon Creek, Davidson River, Reems Cr, Big Laurel And I think one of the prongs of Pigeon River in Gatlinburg TN.
 
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Vik-Val 86

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Good chances I want make it up to these places like Hazel and some of these other streams.. But it was always on my wish list. Plus I’m getting up in the age anyway. I seen some beautiful places in my time.
 
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