TUCKASEIGEE RIVER CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED May 2013

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1 Tuck Tales TUCKASEIGEE RIVER CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED May 2013 T Annual Tuckaseigee River CleanUp is a Big Success! he Annual Tuckaseigee River CleanUp was a! successful event! As in past years the Tuckaseigee chapter cleaned both shoulders of South River Road between the old Jack-The-Dipper ice cream store and the Webster bridge. Also we cleaned along Old Settlement Road and our designated stretch on Dillard Road. In the photo below are Jerry Deweese and his two daughters along with TCTU President Dick Sellers standing just above Webster bridge. Jerryʼs wife, Katherine, went to WCU to pick up t- shirts that were provided by Base Camp Cullowhee to everyone who participated in the cleanup. l

2 Donʼt Forget! Tuckaseigee Chapter will not be holding its regular scheduled meeting at United Community Bank in May. We will have our Annual Picnic at East Laport Park instead. Click here to go directly to Google Maps for more detail. May 2013 Page 2

3 T Sylva, Webster, Dillsboro Join Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program! hree Jackson County towns Sylva, Webster and Dillsboro recently joined the N.C. Wildlife! Resources Commissionʼs Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program. Nearly 9 miles of trout streams in Sylva, Webster and Dillsboro are now classified as Mountain Heritage Trout Waters, where anglers can fish with a $5 Mountain Heritage Trout Waters license. This special license is valid for three consecutive days and only for the portions of streams designated as Mountain Heritage Trout Waters, which are clearly marked with green and black signs. Anglers who currently hold a valid resident or non-resident North Carolina fishing license can fish Mountain Heritage Trout Waters without purchasing the special license. In Sylva, the 3.25-mile section of Scott Creek from Hospital Rd. (S.R. 1437) to Hometown Place Rd. (S.R. 1381) is classified as a Mountain Heritage Trout Water and is a Hatchery-Supported Trout Water. In Webster, a 3.4-mile section of the Tuckasegee River from the N.C. 107 bridge to Savannah Creek is classified as a Mountain Heritage Trout Water and is a Delayed-Harvest Trout Water. The three Mountain Heritage Trout Waters in Dillsboro are: A.65-mile section of Scott Creek from Hometown Place Road (S.R. 1381) to the Tuckasegee River, which is a Hatchery-Supported Trout Water; A.15-mile section of the Tuckasegee River from the falls upstream of the U.S (marked with sign at the falls) to Scott Creek, which is a Hatchery-Supported Trout Water; and A 1.9-mile section of the Tuckasegee River from Savannah Creek to the falls upstream of the U.S bridge, which is a Delayed-Harvest Trout Water. The Mountain Heritage Trout Waters program, established in July 2008, promotes trout fishing as a North Carolina Heritage Tourism activity. In addition to Dillsboro, Sylva and Webster, eight other cities are in the program Spruce Pine, Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Bakersville, Burnsville, Newland, Hot Springs and Old Fort. For visitors who do not have fishing equipment, loaner rods and reels are available free of charge on a firstcome, first-serve basis through the Commissionʼs Fishing Tackle Loaner Program, which offers rods and reels, including spincast, ultra-light and flyrods, for the day. After returning the loaner rod and reel, first-time participants under 16 receive a free mini-tackle box containing tackle, such as flies and spinners. Tackle loaner program registrants can use their identification cards at any participating tackle loaner site across the state, including nine tackle loaner sites associated with the Mountain Heritage Trout Waters program: Spruce Pine, Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Bakersville, Burnsville, Old Fort, Sylva, Dillsboro and Webster. Rods and reels must be returned to the original loaner site. The Mountain Heritage Trout Waters license is available only from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission by calling or visiting the License page. For more information on the program or to download Mountain Heritage Trout Waters maps, visit the trout fishing page. TCTU member and N. C. State Representative Joe Sam Queen was originator of this program in the N.C. legislature. l May 2013!!!!!!!!!!! Page 3

4 TU Awarded USFS-BLM Conservation Leadership Award T! rout Unlimited joined some elite company Wednesday night when it was awarded the prestigious U.S.! Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management Conservation Leadership Award at an event in the nation's capitol. According to the USFS and the BLM, the award is given annually to a conservation organization for its "outstanding leadership in the development and implementation of conservation programs and activities that have directly benefited fish, wildlife, and/or native plants on public lands or their use, enjoyment, and appreciation." TU received the award because of its strong on-the-ground habitat partnerships between agency staff and TU staff, and volunteers on national forests and BLM lands across the nation, from Alaska to New England. The agencies especially highlighted the value of the accomplishments of TU's Science Team, which has worked in partnership with the BLM and the Forest Service for years to both inventory the country's native trout populations and work to restore their watersheds and secure trout populations. Past recipients include the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Mule Deer Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Foundation, among others. Using TU's unique Conservation Success Index, TU Senior Scientist Jack Williams and his team of biologists, GIS experts and on-the-ground technicians have identified existing populations of native trout all over the country and used the data to help both the BLM and USFS prioritize vital restoration projects that resulted in healthier habitat, stronger, more robust native trout populations and, in some cases, restored populations. By using TU data provided by the Science Team, both the BLM and the Forest Service have partnered with other TU programs, like the Watersheds Program and the Western Water Project to get the work done on the ground. The projects include things like removing dams, screening diversions and working with landowners to use water more efficiently, leaving more water in rivers and streams to benefit fish. Some of the more important projects in recent years include the removal of a dam on Spread Creek in western Wyoming, that now enables native Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout to move throughout the system; and the use of the Conservation Success Index to focus on the recovery and reintroduction of native trout in the Southwest. Apache trout, Gila trout, and Rio Grande cutthroat trout are direct beneficiaries of this work. The agencies also cited the tremendous importance of working with TU volunteers in local chapters and state councils around the country. The volunteers have provided valuable matching contributions to leverage federal dollars, as well as enthusiastic helpers to assist in completing restoration projects and conducting youth activities. "We are honored to receive this award, and we're grateful for the recognition from the BLM and the Forest Service," said TU President and CEO Chris Wood. "This award is a testament to how we work to restore our fisheries, both through the incorporation of sound science that transcends politics, and through common-sense collaboration that achieves the needed buy-in from all concerned. We also have the best people in the business on our staff and among our volunteer network, people who love the work they do, and who are passionate about trout and trout fishing." TU was founded in 1959 in Michigan, and is today working from coast to coast and in every region of the country to protect, reconnect and restore trout and salmon fisheries. It works with a host of local, state and federal agencies and enlists its enthusiastic volunteer corps to help accomplish important work on the ground where results can be measured both scientifically and through better angling. l May 2013!!!!!!!!!!! Page 4

5 Group Size: 16 Campers Rivercourse Schedule Announced for 2013 Date: June 16-21, 2013 (Sunday - Friday) Age Group: Tuition: $595 per camper. Early registration is encouraged to reserve a space. Additional information will be sent upon acceptance to camp. Tuition is not due until the applicant is notified that he/she has been accepted. Some financial assistance is available if needed. classroom. (To ensure privacy, boys and girls are housed in separate cabins with same-gender counselors.) A typical Day at Camp: Wake-up! Fishing / Fly Tying Breakfast Fishing / Fly Tying Guest Speaker Swimming Lunch Guest Speaker, Crafts, Fly Tying, Knots, Casting Dinner Fishing Fly Tying Cottage Time Lights Out Rivercourse Business Partners: About Rivercourse: The goal of Rivercourse is to introduce the campers to coldwater conservation and fly fishing. Campers will receive on-stream fly fishing instruction mornings and evenings. Campers will participate in a field trip to the nearby Davidson River to learn about the importance of riparian buffers. Their planting of some native species will reinforce the lesson. Also included are fish dissection and a tour of the fish hatchery. Classroom instruction is both outdoors and indoors. Swimming is an optional activity under adult supervision with certified lifeguards. Subjects are taught by volunteers from Trout Unlimited, the NC Wildlife Resource Commission, the US Forest Service, the US Park Service, and other organizations. TU chapters and members throughout the state support the camp with time, money, and materials. A Rivercourse Fund has been established to produce annual income for sponsorships and operational expenses. Campers are lodged in multiple room cottages. Each bedroom has a set of twin beds and a private bathroom. All linens and towels are provided. Meals are served in a modern dining hall, part of which is set up as a permanent Curtis Wright Outfitters Davidson River Outfitters Diamond Brand Outfitters Headwaters Outfitters Hunter Banks Rise Fishing Company Rivers Edge Outfitters Jim Hefley Fine Art Tuckaseigee Chapter has provided tuition for a camper at the Rivercourse TU Summer Camp at Lake Logan in Haywood County each year for the past several years. l May 2013!!!!!!!!!!! Page 5

6 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: T Craig Forrest craigforrest@sleepyhollowstudio.com Backcast! uckaseigee Chapter held its April meeting at United! Community Bank of Sylva on Tuesday April 2nd. We had a business meeting to take care of some things we needed to do for TU National and the N. C. State Council. The grub was provided by Tom Massie, Larry Tucker, and Craig Forrest. l 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 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. May 2013 Page 6

7 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: May 7 th, Annual Chapter Family Picnic, East Laport Park Rivercourse TU Summer Camp, June 16-21, 2013 Annual Meeting, Sept , 2013; Madison, Wis. The Spring issue of Trout Magazine is now available on-line at: May 2013 Page 7

8 Editor s Cast!! T he Tuckaseigee Chapter of Trout! Unlimited met on Tuesday, April 2nd for a business meeting. There was no program. Due to changes at TU National Tuck chapter has been informed that we will need to pass new by-laws to maintain out charter with TU. President Sellers has obtained a copy of the recommended revised by-laws and the chapter is in the process of reviewing them for passage soon. Additionally we discussed concerns regarding chapter raffles that have been raised by NC Council due to certain interpretations of current NC law. It was determined that there is no cause for concern as our current raffle procedures should be OK. The chapter will be purchasing a banner to be used at chapter functions such as Greening Up the Mountains and our Annual Chapter Picnic. This will be a sturdy vinyl banner with eyelets for rope to use to tie it to supports and will provide our chapter with much needed identity and public notice. Chapter member Jim Mills has donated a rod he built for the chapterʼs upcoming raffle at GUTM. Larry Tucker and your editor have donated a framed photograph and fine art print respectively. Other prizes are still being finalized and will be reported on later. "Fishing provides that connection with the whole living world. It gives you the opportunity of being totally immersed, turning back into yourself in a good way. A form of meditation, some form of communion with levels of yourself that are deeper than the ordinary self." -Roderick Haig Brown Forward Cast Tuck Chapterʼs May 7 th meeting will be our annual chapter picnic at East Laport Park on the banks of the beautiful Tuckaseigee River at 6:30 PM. Donʼt forget to bring a dish to the chapterʼs picnic next month. TCTU will furnish hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, ice and beverages. Weʼll be needing chips, potato salad, baked beans, etc. as have been brought in past years. See you at the picnic! l May 2013 Page 8

9 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! May 2013 Page 9

10 Examples of apparel with the Tuckaseigee Chapter embroidery May 2013 Page 10

11 May 2013 Page 11

12 Happening at WATR Cherokee Fish Harvest at the Webster Fish Weir!Partner with Cherokee Youth CouncilThree events -- WATR volunteers welcome - need help/chaperones Tuesday, 5/7, 6:00 PM at Extension Office on Aquoni Road -- Help plan events! Monday, 6/10, about 9:00 at Webster Weir (Jim Allman's Place) -- FISH HARVEST. Help and enjoy youth! Opportunity to get in the river! Rain date is 6/17. Friday, 6/14, about 10:00. Canoe the Little Tennessee River below Franklin. View remnants of old weirs. Help and enjoy youth! Opportunity to get in the river! Mostly WATR volunteersfly Fishing Federation -- this is a big deal.wcu campus, Friday and Saturday, 5/ Help at Demonstration Table. Objective: Engaging the fishing guides who use the Tuckasegee River to commit to protection of our beloved river. Come with your winning WATR smile May 2013 Page 12

13 Quick Look Hungry Trout Fly Shop I! f youʼre planning a trip to fish the Ausable River in the Adirondacks youʼll want to be sure and pay a visit! to the Hungry Trout Fly Shop on Route 86 near Wilmington, N.Y. to sample some of their offerings of equipment and guided trips. This full-service fly shop on the banks of the Ausable River may be diminutive in size but it more than makes up for it with with a first class array of everything fly fishing. Licensed guide service, half & full day trips on rivers, ponds and lakes for trout, brookies and bass. Classic canoe trips to their private brook trout preserve, fly fishing school offering classes, group lessons & private instruction. Youth program with lessons and activities for kids Check out their Facebook page: 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. May 2013 Page 13

14 ! Jack Cabe Dry Fly Fly of The Month Tied By Danny Fisher F! ellow chapter member Danny Fisher is providing the Fly of The Month for us this month. Itʼs the Jack! Cabe Dry Fly, otherwise also known as the Jack Cabe Hopper. Some of you may have known Jack Cabe. He was a fly fisherman from Highlands who has become a legend in these parts due to his fly fishing prowess and knowledge along with his famous pattern, the Jack Cabe Hopper. Photo - Three Rivers Fly Fishing Tournament - Highlands, NC Tying the Jack Cabe Dry Fly Hook: Mustad Dry, Size 12 Thread: Black 6/0 Tail: Red calf tail or deer hair Body: Mahogany dubbing Wing: Tan calf tail Hackle: Mixed brown and grizzly See next page for photos and procedures May 2013 Page 14

15 Jack Cabe Dry Fly Fly of The Month Tied By Danny Fisher continued 1. Tie in short tail of red deer hair or calf tail. 2.Dub body with mahogany super-fine dry fly dubbing (⅔ point of hook). 3. Tie in wing of tan calf (kip) tail. Wing should extend to the end of the tail. 4. Tie in full hackle with mixed brown and grizzly hackle appropriately sized. May 2013 Page 15

16 Website of The Month The Annual Three River Fly Fishing Tournament will be held May 16-18, Funds raised through the tournament benefit the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for Highlands High School graduates. Rules and Regulations: Catch and release only tournament Artificial flies used only All team members must have valid fishing licenses and trout stamps for streams being fished in each state Team must be checked out anytime after 7:30 a.m. Team must be checked back in by 6 p.m. Team members must adhere to honor code on quantity and length of fish caught All teams are encouraged to digitally photograph catches Photos will be collected at the end of each day Teams must fish within the designated tournament boundary Photos - Three River Fishing Tournament May 2013 Page 16

17 Please visit ncwildlife.org/fishing/trout for more information about trout regulations, stockings, and angling opportunities. Cherokee Graham Clay Swain Macon Haywood Jackson Brook, brown and rainbow trout require cold, clean water and are therefore generally restricted to mountain streams and lakes. Those mountain waters that support trout and are open to public fishing are designated as Public Mountain Trout Waters by the Wildlife Resources Commission and are man aged for public trout fishing. A significant amount of trout fishing oppor tunities in western North Carolina are located on private property. These landowners have generously allowed for public access for fish ing. Please respect their prop - erty. Your cooperation is needed to protect fishing opportunities for future generations. The Com mis sion conspicuously marks Public Mountain Trout Waters with regulation signs that indicate locations for public access. When anglers encounter posted against trespass signs along these designated sections on pri - vate lands, they should respect the property owner s rights and choose another location along that stream to fish. Maps of trout waters and their classifi ca tions may be viewed at ncwildlife.org/fishingmap. Madison Transylvania Buncombe Henderson Yancey Mitchell McDowell Avery Rutherford Polk Watauga Burke Ashe Caldwell Cleveland MOUNTAIN TROUT MAP Alleghany Wilkes legend Surry Hatchery Supported Delayed Harvest Wild Stokes Catch and Release, Single Hook Artificial Lure Catch and Release/Single Hook Artificial Fly Red and White: Special Regulations Wild/Natural Bait 2013 DELAYED HARVEST STOCKING DATES COUNTY STREAM MARCH APRIL MAY OCTOBER NOVEMBER Alleghany Little River Ashe Helton Creek Trout Lake Big Horse Creek Burke Jacob Fork Caldwell Wilson Creek Clay Fires Creek 7 7 Graham Big Snowbird 8 7 Haywood West Fork Pigeon River Henderson North Fork Mills River Jackson Tuckasegee River , 3 5, 6 Macon Nantahala Madison Big Laurel Creek Shelton Laurel Creek Spring Creek McDowell Curtis Creek Mill Creek Catawba River Mitchell Cane Creek North Toe River Polk Green River Surry Ararat River Mitchell River Transylvania East Fork French Broad River Little River Watauga Watauga River Coffee Lake Wilkes East Prong Roaring River Stone Mountain Creek Reddies River Elk Creek Dates listed are subject to change due to unexpected events, such as snow. Changes will be announced through press releases, Twitter, Facebook and on ncwildlife.org. ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID WILLIAMS winc 2013 spring fishing & boating guide 31 May 2013 Page 17

18 Regulation Reminders W! ild Trout: Natural Bait trout waters and their tributaries, " except as noted, 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. These streams are marked with brown-and-gold signs. D! elayed-harvest Trout Waters trout waters, excluding " tributaries except as noted, may be fished only with artificial lures with one single hook. No natural bait may be possessed, and no trout may be harvested or possessed while fishing these waters between Oct. 1, 2011 and 30 minutes after sunset on June 1, These waters are closed to fishing between 30 minutes after sunset on June 1 and 6 a.m. on June 2. At 6 a.m. on June 2, 2012, these waters open to fishing for youths under 16 years old under Hatchery-Supported regulations no bait restriction, no minimum length limit and seven-trout- per-day creel limit. At 12 p.m. on June 2, 2012, these waters open for all anglers under Hatchery-Supported regulations. These waters are marked with black-and-white signs. Please read the detailed fishing regulations for more information May 2013 Page 18

19 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 May Hatches INSECT EMERGENCE PATTERN Light Cahill Strenonema Afternoon - Evenings Light Cahills Green Drake Ephemera Guttulata Yellow Midge Diptera Hendrickson Ephemerella Subvaria Giant Stone Fly Pteronarcys Late may - Around Memorial Day weekend in the evenings Early May All day; Female Spinner has yellow egg sac Early May Early Morning 18 Blue Quill Wet or Dry, 18 Adams Sulphurs Light Cahills 14 Light Hendrickson Dry, 14 Red Quill, 14 Female Adams 4-8 Stone Fly Nymph May 2013 Page 19