upper Hazel creek

[Jay]

Has anybody fished upper Hazel creek since it has been opened to fishing? I have fished lower Hazel a couple of times this year. I went on a solo trip intending to fish upper Hazel back in June. I started at Clingmans Dome and intended on taking the AT to Hazel creek via Welch Ridge trail, fishing Hazel and hiking back up to Silers Bald shelter, spending the night and hiking back out the next morning. This ended up being a very ambitious attempt to try to come in this way and fish and be back out the next day. I made it to Welch Ridge, and I was pretty busted already as I had not had a pack on since Oct.. I got out the topo and saw that I would have to drop allmost 1200 ft to reach Hazel creek. Then because there is no designated campsite on upper Hazel creek I would have to come back up 1200ft to the AT and then climb 800 more to reach the shelter at Silers Bald. I decided that was more than I felt comfortable doing especially after fishing for several hours once I got down there and being by myself in a very remote area. I decided to just head on up to Silers Bald and enjoy an evening at camp and hike out the next morning. I will definately make it up there one day when I have a better plan. I'll bet that this is going to be some of the best brookie water anywhere because of its remoteness and because after all it is Hazel Creek!!

[Jay]

I'm back to 1 post since I could not log onto the site today for some reason. I had to register again.

[Flyman]

Jay,
I fished there in late Sept. We came in from the lake and stayed at #82(Calhoun) above Bone Valley. The upper end is very steep and there isn't any easy way to get into or out of the watershed. I think it's much easier to come in from the lake and go to the highest camp site and fish day trips out of there. It's only about 7 miles and a much easier hike.