ROUTE 66 Road Trip By John Spaulding The Lure

Alabama’s sprawling Weiss Lake offers of The Lake world-class crappie fishing and so much more

In northeastern Alabama, fishing is a religion, and Weiss Lake is the sprawling sanctuary where anglers flock to cast their prayers upon the water. But there’s more to this lush corner of Cherokee County than a lake famous for world-class crappie. From rock climbing to an explosion of spring rhododendrons and sparkling waterfalls at every turn, Alabama’s Cherokee County is full of unexpected surprises. We sent a rabid fisherman to take it in, looking at life around the lake … and beyond. Photo courtesy of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel, Steve Uzzell ,photographer Uzzell Steve Travel, & Tourism of Bureau Alabama the of courtesy Photo

24 Scenic Route Vol. 2 / No. 2 ROUTE 66 Road Trip

of The Lake

n northeastern Alabama, 10 water, electric and sewer pull- Plunging 1,250 feet along (Large photo) Little River Canyon there’s no denying the through sites ($20 a night) and its journey from atop Lookout is perfect for hiking, rappelling, lure of Weiss Lake. For good, hot showers. Mountain, Little River cuts one kayaking or just enjoying the view. anglers, it’s among the Start your day with a cool morn- of the deepest gorges in the east, (Above, from left to right) Cornwall I state’s top attractions; ing walk along 8 miles of hik- slicing a scenic swath through Furnace once provided iron to the more out-of-state fishing licenses ing trails. Head straight for the sandstone canyons along its trip Confederacy. Little River Falls is a popular scenic stop. An overlook on are issued here than at any other site Rhododendron Trails located along down to Weiss Lake. The preserve Little River Canyon provides in Alabama. the west fork of the Little River, is also a popular kayaking destina- great views of kayakers. Desoto Falls But if the fish aren’t biting and you’ll be treated to spectacular tion when the river is running fast feeds a spectacular series of falls (which doesn’t happen often) and views of the park’s many waterfalls. with spring rains further downstream. Cherokee Rock you’re ready for a change of scen- In April and May, rhododendron Stay on Alabama 176 and steer Village sits atop Shinebone Ridge. High vantage points throughout ery, Cherokee County is happy to and mountain laurel bloom against clear of the road to Canyon Mouth Cherokee County lend a great oblige. From rhododendrons to a backdrop of bird songs. Park. You’ll hop on Alabama 89 to overview of the region. waterfalls, a rock climber’s play- Work up an appetite? Consider Dogtown to take in one of those “If ground to quaint historic commu- heading to a historic setting for I wouldn’t have seen it myself, I’d nities, a day spent driving around lunch. Alabama Highway 89 will never believe it” Americana road- Weiss Lake offers variety by the lead you on a lazy winding drive boatload. While fishing may catch atop Lookout Mountain; turn left Curley’s Cove Campground most of the attention, the natural on Alabama 117 and you’ll find and historic beauty of the sur- yourself in the heart of Mentone rounding area make this destina- (population 450). tion a keeper. The Mentone Springs Hotel pro- And with plenty of public and vides southern charm and civility private campgrounds, it’s easy to at the end of the trail. The hotel take your RV straight into the thick was built in 1884 and is Alabama’s of things, setting up a base camp for oldest operating inn. Enjoy a regional exploration. breakfast brunch (Saturdays and To be close to the fishing action, Sundays only) among a collection there’s a nice selection of the pri- of antiques, soft piano music and vate campgrounds on or near Weiss delicious aromas. Lake. Most combine semiperma- Continue your driving tour by Where To Stay: nent resident RV sites and nightly heading back toward DeSoto State • DeSoto State Park, Fort Payne, (256) 845-5075 hookups. However, accommoda- Park and make a worthwhile detour • Driftwood Campground, Cedar Bluff, tions vary dramatically; a little to see DeSoto Falls on Alabama (256) 526-8069 research before making reservations 613. The emerald-green pool offers • Curley’s Cove Campground, Cedar Bluff, (256) 779-4240 is advised. a relaxing retreat on a hot summer • J.R.’s Marina, Cedar Bluff, (256) 779-4864 But for those interested in life day and feeds a spectacular series • Big Oak Campground, Cedar Bluff, (256) 526-8723 beyond the lake, consider this itin- of falls downstream. Think of it as • John’s at the Crossroads, Centre, (256) 475-3234 erary: Plan on pulling into DeSoto a warm-up act for your trip along • Pruett’s Fish Camp and Cabins, Centre, State Park, a 3,500-acre park that Little River Canyon — a scenic (256) 475-3950 offers 58 well-spaced water and river drive along Canyon Rim Drive electric campsites ($16 a night), (Alabama 176). 25 Scenic Route Vol. 2 / No. 2 don’t forget

• Fishing tackle, 6-pound line, a few jigs • Good hiking shoes • Camera to catch spring blossoms, fall color • Birding guide • Kayak/Bass boat Route 66 Regional ROUTE 66 RV Network Dealers: Dandy RV Sales 7834 1st Ave. N. When spring waters rise, kayakers are drawn to the rapids in Little River Canyon. Birmingham, AL 35206 (205) 833-1469 square feet of wall-to-wall furni- 9 as if you’re heading for Rome, back to DeSoto State Park. You’ve Dandy RV Center ture. Marketed as the lowest prices Ga. A left on Alabama 92 and right covered a lot of ground for one 980 Dandy Lane in the Southeast, Akins furniture on Alabama 251 will bring you to day but located many places to Clanton, AL 35045 draws huge crowds of visitors from the historic site. visit again whenever the lake gets (205) 755-2623 all around the region. The stone furnace was commis- choppy, the weather turns bad or Leaving Dogtown on Alabama sioned in 1863 and provided iron you just can’t face another crappie. 176, head south on 68 toward Sand for the first cannon made in Rome. Rock and Leesburg. This is a pic- After surviving two attempts by For more information you can contact: Good Eats, turesque drive through gentle roll- Sherman to destroy it, Cornwall www.Outdooralabama.com Great Sites: ing hills dotted with farms and Furnace was added to the national www.cherokee-chamber.org hardwood and pine forests. Go historic registry in 1972. www.nps.gov/liri • Brunch at the Mentone Springs right on Alabama 36 and left on From here, it’s a straight shot www.mentonealabama.com [ Hotel, Mentone Alabama 70. At the end of the • Hiking at DeSoto road you’ll be treated to an unsur- State Park passed view of Cherokee County, • Little River Canyon Weiss Lake and all the recreational Scenic Rim Drive • Derby Pie at opportunities this northeastern tip Cragsmere Manna of Alabama has to offer. Restaurant, Mentone The 200-acre Cherokee Rock • Rock climbing, pic- Village County Park is located pre- nics and great views cariously on the top of Shinebone at Cherokee Rock Village County Park Ridge. Sandstone and quartz for- • Kayaking along mations rising 150 feet into the air Little River create a playground for rock climb- • Akins Furniture ers from around the country. It’s a Store, Dogtown great spot for a picnic on the rocks. • Historic Cornwall Furnace, Rome You can get lost in the panoramic views or watch climbers dangle by their fingertips as they try to negoti- side wonders — Akins Furniture, ate their next move. located in a tangle of metal build- Head down the mountain for one ings anchored by the original gen- last historic stop before returning eral store purchased by W.A. Akins to DeSoto State Park. Resting on in the early 1920s. After World the banks of Weiss Lake between War II, the Akins family began sell- Cedar Bluff and Gaylesville is one ing furniture from their house next of three Cherokee County furnac- door. A small furniture room in the es that once supplied iron to the original store grew over the years Confederacy. You’ll take Alabama and now accounts for 150,000 68 across Weiss Lake to Alabama (Top, bottom) Little River Canyon is said to be one of the most extensive canyon and gorge systems in the eastern United States and one of the South’s clearest, wildest waterways. Curley's Cove Campground is one of 26 a number of private and public camping facilities in the Weiss Lake area that are popular with RVers. Scenic Route Vol. 2 / No. 2 27 Driftwood Campground brings fishing enthusiasts to the shores of Weiss Lake.

Fishing Weiss Lake: A Primer …The Crappie Capital of the World …

I needed to know about catching crappie on The most successful fishing on Weiss Lake Weiss Lake. is done from a boat trolling at very controlled Here it goes: You need a fishing pole, spinning speeds. Jerry recommends taking advantage of reel with 6-pound line and a few jigs (feather or the three fishing poles per fisherman limit to cast plastic). Or you and a friend can hire a guide for a wide trolling swath. $225 and he’ll bring all the tackle and a boat. The key here is speed and depth. In the spring, According to Jerry, you just need to bring the fish can be found in 20 feet of water suspended at things you want to eat, drink, chew or smoke. the 8- to 10-foot depth. All kidding aside, Jerry is a wealth of knowl- As the weather heats up, crappie look for edge about the lake and the fishery. Weiss Lake shade, and the hundreds of docks that extend Gary Clover is owned by the Alabama Power Company and from the shore provide a welcome sanctuary. If fed by the Coos, Chattooga and Little rivers. The you can master bait flipping techniques to get The Crappie Capital of the World. It’s hard to flooded river basin boasts a topography of shallow your jig up under the docks, you won’t have a imagine that being a compliment, but on Lake flats, underwater drop-offs, deep channels and problem filling your limit of 10-inch (or larger) Weiss it’s that and more — crappie fishing is a coves — a habitat ideal fish. The lake record is 4 way of life. Around campfires in this county it to the migratory and pounds 8 ounces. doesn’t take long for talk to turn to fishing. The nesting habits of crap- The lake is becoming bait, the bite, the batter — that’s the holy trinity of pie. Its ragged coastline, popular for largemouth crappie fishing that makes an avid angler weak all 447 miles of it, is bass. Known as one of in the knees. mostly privately held the better bass fisheries The fisherperson in your life will change while and offers little access in Alabama, Weiss Lake on Weiss Lake, a sprawling, 30,200-acre lake for bank fishing. has a stable popula- that is hugely popular for its crappie fishing. And However, if you’re tion of 15 to18 inchers. RVing is a great way to get there and take it in. bringing your boat, you You can run into striped In Alabama, the fishing culture runs as thick won’t find it difficult to bass on your visit, too. and deep as the smooth Southern accents. launch. Four free public Stripers are consistently And around Weiss Lake, the call to fish is posi- access areas and 37 weighing in at 3 to 7 tively primordial. privately run marinas pounds and a bruiser in Learning to fish any big body of water produc- service the lake. the 25-pound class is tively — meaning you catch something you can The average lake not unusual. eat — takes time and usually lots of money (boat, depth is about 7 feet propellers, tackle, sonar, guides, depth charges). and it can get rough To cut to the chase, we turn to a guy who’s on windy days; muddy The best fishing on been fishing and working on the lake at least 20 water and whitecaps Weiss Lake is done years, Jerry Tucker, who owns and operates J.R.’s can send even the most from a boat trolling Marina in Cedar Bluff, Ala. seasoned fisherman at controlled speeds. Now I’m not a neophyte who’s never been packing. J.R.’s Marina is one of a around gills, guts and gaffs. I’ve been fishing for Good fishing is all number of 37 privately over 35 years. Rainbows in Idaho. Steelhead in about timing. March run marinas on the lake. Oregon. Walleye in Wisconsin. Crappie, blue- through May, September Jerry Tucker, who owns gill, perch and bass in lakes from Virginia to through November are and operates J.R.’s California. If it swims, has scales, and smells like the most productive Marina, says Weiss Lake fish, I’ve probably tried to catch it. crappie months on is also becoming popular Jerry didn’t waste any time telling me what Weiss Lake. for its largemouth bass.

28 Scenic Route Vol. 2 / No. 2 CARRY IT.

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