Get away from it all
Hazel Creek offers a unique experience for anglers looking to get off the grid.
But you’ll need a little help to get there. The process takes a drive to Fontana Lake, then a boat ride across the lake.
That gets you to the Hazel Creek Trailhead, where great hiking, fishing and a glimpse back in time all await you.
Native Americans once roamed here, but you’ll be hard pressed to find any trace of that. But you will find the remnants of a once-thriving North Carolina town known as Proctor.
Despite the numerous signs you’ll see of the now-defunt civilization which once thrived here, you’re on your own. So bring enough food, something to cook it with, a good water filter to get you through your time here, and enough fishing flies too.
Be careful not to give in to the urge to fish before making camp. Gather firewood and get everything set up. Tree tents or hammock tents are ideal here. Once night falls, you’re in for a dark one, so make sure you’ve got a flashlight or headlamp handy.
Once morning comes, you need to really fuel up. It’s going to be a long day of fishing, which involves plenty of hard-nosed hiking. A small camp stove like a JetBoil Flash will come in handy here. Dehydrated or freeze-dried foods will carry you a long way here, and for breakfast, I’m partial to Mountain House’s Granola with Milk and Blueberries, their Biscuits and Gravy with Pork Sausage, or their Breakfast Skillet, which is made up of eggs with potatoes, pork sausage, onions and peppers to get me ready for a long morning.
The complexity of getting here, along with February’s cold weather, keeps most folks away this time of year, so it’s likely you won’t see another person on your journey.
The trout here are wild. And while numerous anglers have caught trophy-sized fish here over the years, the majority of fish you catch won’t be in that class. But you’ll appreciate these wild, native fish no matter what size they are.
Even more than that, you’ll appreciate this off-the-grid experience for many reasons other than the fishing. Finding old homesteads along the way, plus historical markers and plaques that help you piece together the story of this place, will leave you with a sense of nostalgia.
As far as off-the-grid trips go, Hazel Creek isn’t truly that far off the grid, but you won’t know it while you’re here. It’s an enjoyable trip that will put your camping and hiking skills, as well as your fishing skills, to the test.
To watch a great three-part video series on fishing Hazel Creek with the folks at Wild Fly Productions, click here. ■
Be the first to comment