The Georgia Outdoor Writers Association holds its "Excellence in Craft" competition for members each year. This article won 2ndplace in the Conference Site category for 1999.
GEORGIA'S GREAT OUTDOORS
Rome offers scenic get-away with great fishing
Ronnie Garrison
December 26, 1999
Park your camper or pitch your tent near the deep green smoothly flowing waters of the river. You are only yards from where the water changes to a rushing, churning torrent flowing over a small dam. The low rumbling sounds of the water will lull you to sleep, if you can sleep for thinking about the hard fighting stripers and other fish waiting for you just steps away.
If you need a get-away after the hectic rush of Christmas, this week would be a great time to head to Rome and unwind by the Coosa River. Stay at Lock and Dam park and you can enjoy the relaxing river sounds as well as the fishing there. There are many other attractions nearby that will provide interesting diversions if the weather turns too cold or if the fish stop biting.
The old dam blocks some of the river flow here, creating deeper water above it and rapids and stronger current just below it. Stripers, white and yellow bass, spotted bass, largemouth, crappie, catfish and other species can be caught both above and below the dam. They pull good and you may plan on keeping some for dinner, although there is an advisory on eating fish from the river.
The massive concrete lock now provides a fishing platform but the old doors and mechanical levers that opened and closed them help you see how they worked. You can imagine the boats heading up and down the river pulling in and waiting as the water either lifts them for their voyage upstream, or lowers them as they head downstream toward Alabama.
A boat ramp just downstream of the old lock gives you a place to launch your boat and you can fish from the old dam downstream all the way to Lake Weiss. Fishing is generally good, and river fish tend to bite better during the winter than do their lazy flat-water counterparts.
If you prefer fishing lakes and ponds, Rocky Mountain Recreation and Public Fishing Area is just north of Rome. It too provides camping sites for tents and RV's, and you can choose from two lakes with 559 acres of water to fish. Bass, bream and catfish are plentiful in those managed waters. You can also hunt on most of this 5000 acre area. Hiking trails are available when hunting season is closed.
The Chieftains Museum is a good place to visit for a historical perspective. You can see how past residents lived in the log cabin, planters house and businessman's house located here. Also included is a diorama of a 16th century Indian village, Cherokee artifacts, a paddle wheel boat and other exhibits.
If you like to use clubs to take out your frustrations on little white balls, Stonebridge Golf Club is located near Rome. It was voted the top new public golf course in Georgia in 1995 by Georgia Golf News and is a 18 hole, par 72 course. Special rates are available for seniors, women and juniors.
Berry College is one of the most beautiful campuses you will see anywhere, and it is well worth the time to drive through it. Spring is the best time to visit with the blooming flowers creating a colorful panorama, but the campus is very pretty all times of the year. Martha Berry Museum is on the campus and has a good art collection and memorabilia.
Rome's rich history is highlighted in a pamphlet "Between the Rivers District" and you can take a self guided tour of houses, businesses and even an old cotton gin. The wide variety of architecture dating back to the early 1800's is very interesting, and shows the variety of houses built in the south during the past 200 years.
Rome and all its attractions are about two hours from Griffin, so it is great for a weekend trip. Call the Visitor's Bureau at 1-800-444-1834 for information and pamphlets if you would like to visit.
Till next time, Gone Fishin'!
