Step back into a time gone by

By Chris Erwin

I told you I would share my trip to Dale Hollow with you. It was a lot more than just another fishing trip; it was a look back, back to a time that has been lost in big money and fast living.

Gunnels Fish Camp is the very place that all the old timers talk about. It’s a place where no one is in a hurry, and everyone wants to sit and talk. The lake looms in the background like a scene on an old post card. The road into the camp is one lane with plenty of room to let a neighbor pass you if you just want to stop and chat.

As I topped the hill on Gunnels Camp Road and could see the fish camp below, it was a flash back to my youth. We all would wait to see that first glimpse of the lake as we drove down the road to Wolf River Dock.

When we pulled into the camp, I could see my old friend Soc Clay sitting on the porch rocking and talking. Shelia Lowhorn one of the owners, slung open the door to the old general store and threw up her hand and said I see you made it! They must have been five or six people sitting on the porch, one by one. They jumped up and grab my hand and said; hey Chris, glad you made it. While I had never met any of these people in person I felt like I knew them. Many of them have written me, telling me they read the magazine, and they listen to Tom Clay’s outdoor radio program.

Gunnels Camp is hidden in the upper most area of Wolf River, Vic and Sheila are warm inviting people that go out of their way to assist the people who come there to get away and enjoy the peaceful setting with some of the best fishing right at your fingertips. There is no need to run way down the lake to start fishing, all you need to do is get in the boat and start casting, the fish are in any direction.

I will talk more about the fishing in coming articles; however, the charm and relaxed feeling I felt the whole time I was there is hard not to talk about.

The Lowhorns have two one-room cabins. They have two double beds, bathroom and kitchen all packed into and nice package with satellite TV. Dishes, blankets it was all there for $60 a day, tell me that’s not fair. It cost $40 for a camp’s site in most campgrounds today. They also have a big trailer four bed rooms big living room two baths and two decks all for $125 a day. Stay a week, and you get one day free.

The Fish camp has a boat ramp and free camping in a USACE campground which is right on the water’s edge. There is one other thing that I just have to share with you, Sheila’s cooking. The little general store has a few tables and chairs; they stay full much of the time for a good reason. Sheila is cooking up some of the best grub you could ask for. She starts cooking long before the sun comes up, you might have a tough day on the water but five minutes into some of her cooking, and the day will start to look a lot better.

I also wanted to let you know the Lowhorns sell lots just up the hill from the camp they have plenty to choose from; I included a shot from one of the lots so you could see what they looked like. They do their own financing. You play 10% down, and they carry the rest in monthly payments. You can contact them for all the details.

If you are looking for a guide to put you on the fish; the camp has that as well. Barry and Tammy Lowhorn’s run a guide service out of Gunnel’s camp. His knowledge of the lake is impressive, if you’re looking for bass or crappie, he’s your man, give them a call and make a booking, this area of Dale Hollow you can use either Kentucky or Tennessee fishing License so there is no need to buy out of state license to fish this area.

The fishing is just getting started, call and make a booking now; Vic or Shelia Lowhorn by phone at (931) 864-7277 or email at: gunnelscamp@twlakes.net

Notice: My good friend Sam Piatt will have a book signing (Men of Valor) Saturday April 20, 2-4pm at the Ashland Library, stop in and get one of his books and get him to sign it for you. Chris Erwin is the founder and publisher of Kentucky Angling News an on-line magazine available at www.kentuckyangling.com/magazine Chris can be reached by email chris@ashlandbeacon.com