TUCKASEIGEE RIVER CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED March 2013

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Tuck Tales TUCKASEIGEE RIVER CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED March 2013 Coldwater Land Conservancy Fund M! uch of America's best remaining trout and!

If this land were paved over, clearcut for timber, or exploited for energy development, the consequences for fish and the places people fish could be dire.

1 Tuck Tales TUCKASEIGEE RIVER CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED March 2013 Coldwater Land Conservancy Fund M! uch of America's best remaining trout and! salmon habitat isn't on public lands it's in rivers and streams on private lands. Approximately 80 percent of remaining Eastern brook trout habitat, for instance, is privately held. If this land were paved over, clearcut for timber, or exploited for energy development, the consequences for fish and the places people fish could be dire. That's why TU launched the Coldwater Land Conservancy Fund (CLCF), a grant program that empowers land trusts and public agencies to protect trout and salmon habitat through land and conservation easement acquisition. TU is pleased to announce the availability of a second round of CLCF funding for land protection projects on track to close by December 31, Projects must benefit Eastern brook trout in the Mid- Atlantic or Southeastern Appalachian Mountain Regions. Support for the CLCF comes from TU, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. CLCF grants will generally not exceed $8,000 and must be matched. Matching funds may consist of grants, cash gifts, in-kind donations, and/or landowner donation of easement or land value. Proposals for this second round of funding will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until July 31, Grants may be awarded prior to that date depending on need.! The CLCF provides matching grants for land and easement transaction costs expenses like boundary surveys, appraisals, and legal fees. These expenses can be difficult to fund and can keep good projects especially donations of land and conservation easements from happening. The CLCF is designed to remove the barriers posed by transaction costs. In its inaugural year, the CLCF helped put nearly 1,500 acres and 6 miles of trout streams under permanent protection throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 10 grants to the region's top land conservation organizations leveraged over $2 million in state funding and donations of land value. Blue ribbon trout streams such as Virginia's Jackson and Conway Rivers and Maryland's Savage River were among the CLCF's beneficiaries in Funding for 2013 Projects Now Available!! At it s February 2013 meeting Tuckaseigee Chapter voted to issue a check to Trout Unlimited in the amount of $500 for the Regional Coldwater Conservancy Fund.

2 Bear Creek Lake Boating Access Area Renovations Complete TUCKASEGEE, N.C. (Feb. 12) T! he N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission! has completed renovations to the Bear Creek Boating Access Area and it is now open to the public. The refurbished site, on Bear Creek Lake in Jackson County, features two 14-foot wide, 90-foot long ramps. The bottom elevation of the ramps is 88 feet, so boaters can launch when the lake levels are low in the winter. A normal full level in the summer for Bear Creek Lake is 100 feet, but in winter it can drop to 91 feet. A new floating dock with handicapped-accessible handrails was also installed. This is the busiest spot on the Nantahala chain of lakes, and the only public access on Bear Creek Lake, said Jeff Ferguson, an engineer with the Commission. The lake is quite deep, and offers anglers bass, bluegill, trout and other species. The Commission manages the lake as hatcherysupported trout waters, and stocks it with catchable-size rainbow trout. Hatchery staff will stock 6,000 rainbows in Bear Creek Lake this year 1,000 per month in March, April, May, June, October and November. Duke Energy and the Commission jointly own the access area, and the Commission maintains it. The renovation was funded using Sportfish Restoration Federal Grant Funds and vessel registration receipts. Duke Energy plans to pave the parking area, install a toilet and build an accessible fishing pier. Visit the Commissionʼs boating web page for more information on boating in North Carolina, including an interactive map of more than 200 public access areas across the state. Bear Creek Lake March 2013!!!!!!!!!! Page 2

3 DONʼT FORGET! HATCHERY SUPPORTED TROUT WATERS There is no fishing allowed on all hatchery supported waters not listed below From March 1, 2013 through April 5, WILD TROUT/ WILD TROUT NATURAL BAIT WATERS No closed season DELAYED-HARVEST TROUT WATERS Special regulations apply - see regulations for details CATCH-AND-RELEASE ARTIFICIAL LURES ONLY TROUT WATERS No closed season CATCH-AND-RELEASE ARTIFICIAL FLIES ONLY TROUT WATERS No closed season SPECIAL REGULATION TROUT WATERS No closed season UNDESIGNATED TROUT WATERS special regulations apply - see regulations for details You can download a pdf of the REGULATIONS FOR MOUNTAIN TROUT at the NCWRC website. March 2013!!!!!!!!!! Page 3

4 Sportsman s Advertisement to NC General Assembly, January 30, 2013 Raleigh News and Observer March 2013!!!!!!!!!! Page 4

SHARE WITH YOUR CHAPTER be an active member Do you have something youʼd like to share with the chapter? An announcement, news, or topic that you feel would be of interest to fellow members?

T uckaseigee Chapter held its February meeting at! United Community Bank of Sylva on Tuesday February 5 th.

TCTU has a number of committees that need members like you to participate. Please consider contacting a committee chairperson to volunteer to serve on the committee that most interests you.

5 SHARE WITH YOUR CHAPTER be an active member Do you have something youʼd like to share with the chapter? An announcement, news, or topic that you feel would be of interest to fellow members? We are always seeking submissions to Tuck Tales for our future editions. Please let your editor know by sending your information to: Craig Forrest Backcast! T uckaseigee Chapter held its February meeting at! United Community Bank of Sylva on Tuesday February 5 th. We were provided a very interesting program by Brian Burke and Peter Baas of the Coweeta Long Term Ecological Research program in Macon County. TCTU has a number of committees that need members like you to participate. Please consider contacting a committee chairperson to volunteer to serve on the committee that most interests you. Send your requests to President Dick Sellers at dick.sellers@frontier.com to let him know which committee you are interested in, and he will forward your name to the chairperson. Help TCTU by getting involved with one of the committees listed below. Communications Fund raising membership programs publicity fishing trips Brian Burke and Peter Bass of Coweeta Long Term Ecological Research Think about supporting TU with a Back The Brookie TU license plate! Tuckaseigee Chapter of Trout Unlimited serves Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties. We meet the first Tuesday of every month in the Community Room at the rear of the United Community Bank of Highway 107 South in Sylva at 6:30 PM. A meal is provided by the Grub Committee at a cost of $5 per person. Guests are invited to join us at no charge. March 2013 Page 5

6 FLY OF THE MONTH Do you have a pattern that you'd like to submit for our Tuck Tales Fly Of The Month article? If you can take a few digital photos of your fly tying effort, please do so and provide a short description of how to tie your pattern. Most point-and-shoot digital cameras have a flash and macro photography capability. Come on. Give it a try. Share that secret pattern with your fellow members! We'll include your fly in an up-coming issue of Tuck Tales! Please send an to Craig Forrest craigforrest@sleepyhollowstudio.com UPCOMING EVENTS Next TCTU Meeting: March, February 5 th United Community Bank, Sylva, NC WCU Annual Tuckaseigee River Clean Up, April 20 th Greening Up the Mountains - TCTU Booth, April 27 th Rivercourse TU Summer Camp, June 16-21, 2013 TU Southeast Regional Meeting, March 23, Glade Springs, W.V. Annual Meeting, Sept , 2013; Madison, Wis. March 2013 Page 6

Editor s Cast! T! he February meeting offered a! presentation to Tuck chapter by Brain Burke and Peter Baas of the Coweeta Long Term Ecological Research Program over in Macon County.

This was a very good program and provided the opportunity for a lot of interesting discussion both during and after the presentation.

7 Editor s Cast! T! he February meeting offered a! presentation to Tuck chapter by Brain Burke and Peter Baas of the Coweeta Long Term Ecological Research Program over in Macon County. Hey folks, these guys know their stuff! Tuck members acquitted themselves rather well too. This was a very good program and provided the opportunity for a lot of interesting discussion both during and after the presentation. The Coweeta Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program is based on a collaborative agreement between the University of Georgia Research Foundation in Athens, Georgia, and the USDA Forest Service Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in Macon County. In 1968, the longterm emphasis on hydrology at the laboratory was expanded to include factors regulating the composition, organic matter production and turnover, and biogeochemistry of forest and stream ecosystems. (And you thought your editor didnʼt know much actually, I got that off of their website.) These folks are very interested in a dialogue with the local community and letʼs just say I donʼt think we disappointed them. There was a great deal of discussion about factors affecting trout streams and trout populations, water quality, climate change and soil chemistry changes and challenges to the ecosystem. No, we didnʼt solve all of our problems, but we did go a little way toward identifying possible troubling trends and potential areas of concern that will need further study and data collection to more fully understand and possibly remedy. Itʼs good to know that we have such a great collection of scientists right in our own backyard, hard at work trying to better understand our ecosystem. They are truly interested in working with the folks in this area to collect the information and data needed to achieve their goal of gaining as much knowledge as possible. Thanks to them we were treated to a great program and everyone went away from the meeting with a little more information about our coldwater resources here in western North Carolina. Oh yeah! Nobody won the rod. Someone forgot to purchase a new deck of cards for the rod drawing so we didnʼt have a drawing. President Sellers is hard at work trying to track down that slack chapter member who forgot to bring a new deck. (Dick - give me a call - I think I know who it was.) We will have a new deck of cards at the March meeting so be sure to bring enough money to buy tickets for the drawing. That is one beautiful rod! Jim Mills and Carl Bowers provided us with a wonderful meal at the February meeting as usual. President Sellers will handle Grub for the March meeting. Forward Cast The March 5 th meeting will offer a program by Mark Cantrell, fish and wildlife biologist with the Asheville field office of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Photo Credit: USFWS March 2013 Page 7

SEND IN A FISHING REPORT! Tuck Tales would like to feature your fishing report. This could be from a recent or past fishing trip. We donʼt care where you went or what you fished for.

8 SEND IN A FISHING REPORT! Tuck Tales would like to feature your fishing report. This could be from a recent or past fishing trip. We donʼt care where you went or what you fished for. Maybe you fished the Tuck, or some other water outof-state or maybe another country! Just send in your report including who went, where, when, what water was fished, the tackle used, photos if you have them, and what were the results. Send to: Craig Forrest craigforrest@sleepyhollowstudio.com Tuck Tales is published 12 times per year by Tuckaseigee Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a non-profit organization, for its members and supporters. Edited by Craig Forrest. Please address comments to: Tuck Tales P.O. Box 3196 Cullowhee, NC craigforrest@sleepyhollwstudio.com The Tuckaseigee Chapter has a web presence at: Don t Miss Your Chance! Tuckaseigee Chapter is offering a chance to win a new fly rod at each meeting! This fine 4-piece, 7.5 foot, IM-12, 3-4 weight rod was built by fellow chapter member Jim Mills and would make a great addition to your collection. The quality of the rod is very impressive. The rod will come with an aluminum case. Jim has been offering hand-crafted, high quality graphite and bamboo rods through his Raven Fork Rods company for over 40 years. Members can purchase chances at $1 each ($5 gets you 6 tickets) to be selected to then draw a card from a standard deck. If you draw the special card youʼll win the rod. Thatʼs quite a good reason to attend the next meeting. You could go home with this beautiful rod! March 2013 Page 8

9 Examples of apparel with the Tuckaseigee Chapter embroidery March 2013 Page 9

10 March 2013 Page 10

Threat to Trout Streams From Proposed Timber Sale A proposed timber sale in the viewshed of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville threatens 472 acres of sensitive forest, a popular recreation

11 Threat to Trout Streams From Proposed Timber Sale A proposed timber sale in the viewshed of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville threatens 472 acres of sensitive forest, a popular recreation destination, trout streams, and local tourism. L ocated below Devil s Courthouse in western North Carolina s Pisgah National Forest, the Courthouse Creek area is a scenic and ecological gem flanked by steep slopes and high-elevation forests that harbor a host of rare species. These cold, clear-running streams form the headwaters of the French Broad and are a popular destination for trout fishermen and outfitters. Waterfalls, tucked in steep terrain, are abundant, especially the popular and calendar-worthy Courthouse Falls. Unfortunately, the sensitive streams and scenic surroundings of Courthouse Creek are being targeted by the Forest Service for a 500-acre timber sale. Nearly 200 acres of logging would occur in a state-designated Natural Heritage Area, identified by biologists as one of the most important rare species habitats in the state. The heritage area supports a host of rare animal and plant species, including pink-shell azalea that attract hikers with awe-inspiring blooms in late spring. Logging would be visible from Devil s Courthouse, a sacred Cherokee site and a popular overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Courthouse Creek. Timber operations would also be visible to hikers on the popular Art Loeb and Mountains-to-Sea trails. Logging on the area's steep, landslide-prone slopes will inevitably generate runoff loaded with sediment, threatening 17 miles of high-quality streams, wild trout, and other sensitive aquatic species. The Forest Service is now reviewing public comments and will decide how to proceed in the spring or early summer of SELC and our partners, the Western North Carolina Alliance, The Courthouse Creek Viewshed by Larry Tucker Wilderness Society, and Wild South, are strongly urging the Forest Service to rethink the scope of the project, scale it back significantly, or ideally find a more suitable location that avoids harming this sensitive ecosystem and scenic recreation area that draws thousands of visitors each year. (Above from the Southern Environmental Law Center web site) March 2013 Page 11

Happening at WATR Scott Creek Monthly Cleanup: Now On The Winter Schedule Need directions? Click here.

com/ WATR Double Green Party When: Sat. Mar. 16 th 6:00 PM Where: Nantahala Brewery, Bryson City Green Drinks When: Wed.

20 th WATR will clean up a tributary - candidate is Scotts Creek behind the Coffee Shop in Sylva.

12 Happening at WATR Scott Creek Monthly Cleanup: Now On The Winter Schedule Need directions? Click here. Monteith Farmstead Park Info. For the latest WATR news check out the WATR website at: WATR Double Green Party When: Sat. Mar. 16 th 6:00 PM Where: Nantahala Brewery, Bryson City Green Drinks When: Wed. Mar. 20 th 6-7:30 Where: Lulus on Main Street, Sylva WCU Tuckaseigee River Clean Up When: Sat. Apr. 20 th WATR will clean up a tributary - candidate is Scotts Creek behind the Coffee Shop in Sylva. We will have a simultaneous clean up in Swain? ***Earth Day*** Apr. 22 nd Greening Up the Mountains When: Sat. Apr. 27 th Help at the WATR booth or stop by and say Hi! Where: Main Street, Sylva March 2013 Page 12

13 Quick Look Flywater: Fly-Fishing Rivers of the West Grant McClintock, Author, Tom Brokaw, Foreword (2010) 4.5 out of 5 Stars From Amazon.com: The magic and majesty of Americaʼs greatest western fly-fishing rivers. Flywater brings us to the iconic creeks, springs, freestone rivers, and tailwaters that make the American West the worldʼs premier destination for fly fishing. Grant McClintockʼs first book struck a chord with fishermen, and fifteen years later he takes the reader back to these fabulous places from the storied Henryʼs Fork to the Yellowstone to the Thompson River in British Columbia. With extraordinary new photography and wisdom, McClintock revisits these home waters and discovers countless others as well. Flywater is a gallery of moments and places. From Idaho and Montana to Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, McClintockʼs rich photography of trout and steelhead waters surrounded by beautiful Western landscapes creates a compelling journey that the reader, whether fisherman or non-fisherman, will thoroughly enjoy. For the serious fly fisherman, this is an album of shared experiences. For the uninitiated, it is an artfully crafted guidebook to an exotic new world that really does exist on the streams and rivers of the American West. Send Us Your Quick Look Submit your Quick Looks to your Tuck Tales editor to be included in future editions of the newsletter. Your Quick Look can be about a book, dvd/video, fishing/tying gear or anything else that you consider is worthy of a Quick Look and sharing with your fellow chapter members. Trout Unlimited CEO lauds pick of REI s Jewell FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Trout Unlimited CEO lauds pick of REI's Jewell Press statement from Chris Wood, president and CEO, Trout Unlimited: "Sally Jewell would make a great Secretary of Interior. Her background suggests that she would bring needed balance to energy development on public lands. Her stewardship of REI demonstrates that she understands the interests of anglers and hunters and would serve as an aggressive advocate within the White House for protecting fish and game habitat and hunting and angling opportunity. She is a practical, no-nonsense leader who would bring a sense of purpose to implementing the oil and gas reforms that have remained largely on the shelf. She is a strong pick." March 2013 Page 13

NPS Photo Landslide Work Progressing W! ork is progressing to repair the landslide which has closed a section of Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441)! within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

14 NPS Photo Landslide Work Progressing W! ork is progressing to repair the landslide which has closed a section of Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441)! within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Two key steps are already underway to initiate the reconstruction of the road. A contract has been awarded for the first phase of work to APAC -Atlantic, Harrison Division to develop an access road to the slide area, remove debris, and stabilize the slope above the work area. This phase is estimated to cost around $200,000 and will prepare the site for the second phase of work which will involve a complete reconstruction of the roadway. This first phase began on January 28, and is expected to be completed in a few weeks. The contracting piece for the second phase, involving the actual road reconstruction, was initiated on Friday January 25, when Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) posted a pre-solicitation for qualified contractors with interest in repairing the landslide. The contract for this phase of work is estimated to cost between $3,000,000 and $7,000,000, and is expected to be awarded by mid-february. Final construction work will begin soon after. The schedule of the road reconstruction will be determined by the information received in the solicitation package, but is anticipated to be complete by mid-may to early June. Newfound Gap Road will remain closed to thru traffic during the construction, but visitors are still able to access the park to Newfound Gap from the Tennessee side and to Smokemont Campground from the Cherokee entrance. March 2013 Page 14

15 This month's Website-Of-The-Month is: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Conserving the Nature of America The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is the oldest federal conservation agency, tracing its lineage back to Over its 141 year history, the Service has adapted to the Nation s changing needs to become a leader in protecting and enhancing America s biological natural resources. In the face of escalating challenges such as land-use, population growth, invasive species, water scarcity, and a range of other complex issues, all of which are amplified by accelerated climate change, the Service is meeting today s pressing conservation challenges with a strategic approach. The Service is only agency in the Federal Government whose primary responsibility is management of biological resources for the American public. The Service also helps ensure a healthy environment for people by providing opportunities for Americans to enjoy the outdoors and our shared natural heritage. The Service is responsible for implementing and enforcing some of our Nation s most important environmental laws, such as the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, as well as international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The Service s Organization The Service headquarters is in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Virginia; with eight regional offices and over 700 field stations. These include 556 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System; 6 National Monuments; 80 Ecological Services Field Stations; 71 National Fish Hatcheries; 1 historical National Fish Hatchery (D.C. Booth in South Dakota); 65 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices; 9 Fish Health Centers; 7 Fish Technology Centers; and waterfowl production areas in 206 counties managed within 38 Wetland Management Districts and 50 Coordination Areas, all encompassing more than 150 million acres of land and waters. The Service works with diverse partners, including other federal agencies, state and local governments, Tribes, international organizations, and private organizations and individuals. The Director reports to the Department of the Interior s Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and has direct line authority over headquarters and eight Regional Directors. Headquarter-based Assistant Directors provide policy, program management, and administrative support to the Director. The Regional Directors guide policy and program implementation, supervising the field structures and coordinating activities with partners. February 2013 Page 15

Regulation Reminders W " ild Trout: Natural Bait Waters These streams, except as!

Lures and natural baits are restricted to one single hook. The minimum length limit is seven inches, and the daily creel limit is four trout.

16 Regulation Reminders W " ild Trout: Natural Bait Waters These streams, except as! noted in the detailed regulations, may be fished with artificial lures or natural bait, except live fish. Lures and natural baits are restricted to one single hook. The minimum length limit is seven inches, and the daily creel limit is four trout. Steams are marked with brown-and-gold signs as shown at right. No closed season. S! pecial Regulation Trout Waters These streams are! marked with white-and-red signs. Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Some Public Mountain Trout Waters running through or adjacent to certain cities or towns may be further classified as Mountain Heritage Trout Waters. See detailed regulations for further information regarding Special Trout Regulation Waters. No closed season. Please read the detailed fishing regulations for more information March 2013 Page 16

Chapter Officers TUCKASEIGEE CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED Dick Sellers - President!!!!! 586-2887 e-mail: dick.sellers@frontier.com Richard Echelman - V. Pres.!!!! 586-2735 e-mail: richardalan1@frontier.

!!!! 293-7039 e-mail: EMsipler@frontier.com Delos Monteith - Director!!!! 586-8527 e-mail: delos@southwesterncc.edu Willie Cope - Webmaster!!!! 586-4787 e-mail: Smonthefly@aol.

17 Chapter Officers TUCKASEIGEE CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED Dick Sellers - President!!!!! dick.sellers@frontier.com Richard Echelman - V. Pres.!!!! richardalan1@frontier.com Dickie Woodard - Past President!!! dwoodard@wcproperties.com Craig Green - Treasurer!!!!! cngreen@bellsouth.net - Open - Secretary!!!! Ernie Sipler - Director!!!!! EMsipler@frontier.com Delos Monteith - Director!!!! delos@southwesterncc.edu Willie Cope - Webmaster!!!! Smonthefly@aol.com Craig Forrest - Newsletter Editor!!! craigforrest@sleepyhollowstudio.com Manufactured by clouds. Aged in ice. Brought to you by gravity. Quantities are limited. TU.org February~March Hatches INSECT EMERGENCE PATTERN EARLY DARK STONEFLIES ALL DAY 18 PHEASANT TAIL 18 EARLY BROWN STONEFLY BLUE QUILL PARALEPTOPHLEBIA ADOPTIVA BWO BAETIS QUILL GORDAN EPEORUS PLEURALIS LATE MARCH MORNING TO EARLY AFTERNOON FEBRUARY - MARCH EARLY AFTERNOONS WARM DAYS LATE MARCH EARLY AFTERNOON 18 BLUE QUILL WET & DRY 18 ADAMS 18 BWO PARACHUTE 18 ADAMS QUILL GORDAN DRY GOLD-RIBBED HAREʼS EAR March 2013 Page 17

TUCKASEIGEE RIVER CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED May 2014

Tuck Tales TUCKASEIGEE RIVER CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED May 2014 T Greening Up the Mountains! U had a presence at! Greening Up the Mountains festival this year in Sylva held on Saturday, April 26th.