TUCKASEIGEE RIVER CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED July 2012

Transcription

1 Tuck Tales TUCKASEIGEE RIVER CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED July 2012 Trout Unlimited Praises Senate Reauthorization of Farm Bill, Urges Swift House Passage Conservation Programs a Proven Investment in Nation's Outdoor Heritage and RuralCommunities T! rout Unlimited today commended the U.S. Senate! for voting to reauthorize the Farm Bill and ensure that its highly successful conservation programs continue to enhance the nationʼs fish and wildlife habitat while sustaining sporting opportunity and the economies of rural communities. "The Farm Bill is one of the most effective conservation programs in our nationʼs history," said Russ Schnitzer, agriculture policy advisor for Trout Unlimited. "For decades, the conservation title programs have helped farmers and ranchers improve millions of acres of fish and wildlife habitat while boosting their operational efficiency and bottom lines. These programs work for agricultural producers, for rural communities, for anglers and hunters, for all Americans who care about reviving our economy and keeping our lakes, wetlands, and rivers and streams healthy." TU praised Senate leaders who overcame budgetary and political pressures to pass the bill. "Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R- KS) showed great leadership in forging a bipartisan consensus on the Farm Bill, as did Senate Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell," said Steve Moyer, vice president for government affairs for TU. "They understand how important these programs are in rural America." Acknowledging the reality of budget constraints, Senate lawmakers approved significant reductions to the conservation title, but the cuts were reasonable and not crippling, said Moyer. "We appreciate that they used a scalpel, not a chainsaw." He also praised new features that make the conservation title more efficient and userfriendly. TU urged House lawmakers to follow the Senateʼs lead and pass its version of the Farm Bill this year. We have conservation challenges that canʼt wait, noted Schnitzer. In the West, an epidemic of aging irrigation infrastructure is a drag on the agriculture economy, and on water resources that fish, wildlife and sportsmen depend on. In the Midwest and East, farmers and ranchers need tools to control nutrient-loading and sedimentation of rivers and streams and ensure water quality in downstream lakes, rivers and bays. The Farm Bill includes many effective programs to address these problems, such as EQIP, which provides funds to help farmers and ranchers manage the impacts of grazing by providing funding for fences to protect streams and by promoting irrigation efficiency to save water for fish and fishermen. Other programs include one that provides grant money to encourage farmers and ranchers to make their lands accessible to hunting and angling, and another that allows the Forest Service to reinvest accrued money in culvert replacement and other fish passage improvements. "Farm Bill conservation programs encourage partnerships and collaboration among farmers, agencies, and conservation groups such as Trout Unlimited," said Schnitzer. "The results speak for themselves cleaner water, healthy soil, more abundant wildlife and fish populations, more viable farms and ranches, and stronger rural communities." "Unless Congress acts, we are in danger of losing the hard-won gains we've made over decades," said Schnitzer. "Our rivers and streams can't wait. Our farms, ranches, and rural communities can't wait. We need these programs working for America."!

2 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 June meeting at United! Community Bank of Sylva on Tuesday June 5th. We were treated to an excellent program by Matt Kulp, fisheries biologist with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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 Above photo, Matt Kulp with stream shocking gear during a work outing in the park. 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. July 2012 Page 2

3 Delayed-Harvest Trout Waters The Tuck DH section, 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-andwhite signs. UPCOMING EVENTS Sept. TU Annual Meeting Asheville, NC th Smoky Mountains On The Fly Guide Service & Instruction William R. Cope II Fly Fishing the Smokies July 2012 Page 3

4 Tuck Tales 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 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 rod at each meeting! This fine 4-piece, 4-5 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. Members can purchase chances at $1 each 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 a new rod! There will not be a meal served at the July meeting. July 2012 Page 4

5 Editor s Cast T! he June meeting was special. We were once! again treated to a great program by Matt Kulp, fisheries biologist with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. efforts on regarding not just water sampling but every area of scientific concern to the park. Those streams are Hazel Creek, Deep Creek and Cataloochee Creek. Matt will be getting in touch with our chapter in the near future regarding the parkʼs need for volunteers and we will be ing the membership with details and specifics. It sounds like a great opportunity for Tuckaseigee Chapter to do some important work to help support the cold water resources of the Smokies. It was decided at the June meeting by motion and vote that the chapter will pay the registration fee of one member (TBD) to represent us at the Annual TU Meeting in Asheville this September. Of course any members wishing to attend may do so by simply going to the TU website and completing the application process. The July meeting will be a business meeting with no meal being served. It was decided earlier in the year that Tuckaseigee Chapter would begin meeting during the summer months and that we might possibly have some meetings without meals. Summer evenings often find some families dining at later hours. Matt brought us all up to speed on recent developments with the fisheries program as well as plans for some upcoming opportunities for our chapter to be involved with some hands-on volunteer work regarding water sampling on the North Carolina side of the park. Matt (below with President Sellers on the right) said that the park Please try and make an effort to attend the July meeting and be prepared to be regaled with stories of the fishing exploits of some fellow members at the meeting. President Sellers is always good for a story about his experience fishing some obscure stream that none of us has ever heard of and would probably pass on in error if given an opportunity to fish it. Heʼs fished a lot of small streams in the Smokies and is in the process of cataloging them regarding location and fish caught. Forward Cast Tuck Chapterʼs July 3 rd meeting will be a business meeting with Spring fishing reports from chapter members. personnel had identified three NC streams to concentrate July 2012 Page 5

6 Examples of apparel with the Tuckaseigee Chapter embroidery July 2012 Page 6

7 Wildlife Commission Seeks Information about Wrongful Elk Deaths Media Contact: Geoff Cantrell WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (June 20, 2012) The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking information from the public to assist in an investigation about the deaths of three elk, found outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Mount Sterling area of Haywood County. All three elk are believed to have died as the result of gunshot wounds inflicted sometime around May 18. Forensic tests show a bull elk was mortally wounded by a.22 caliber firearm; a cow elk was shot in the neck with birdshot from a shotgun; while an undetermined gunshot led to the death of a pregnant cow elk. Anyone with any information is asked to call toll-free , available 24 hours a day. Callers may remain anonymous. Great Smoky Mountains National Park began an experimental reintroduction of elk in February 2001 and there are now nearly 150 animals. Originally found throughout the southern Appalachians, elk had disappeared from North Carolina by the early 1800s. Elk are listed as a species of special concern in North Carolina. July 2012 Page 7

8 ACTION ALERT ~ Ask Your Legislators to Support Protection of NC's Rivers Last year, North Carolina Trout Unlimited members stepped up to keep the Clean Water Management Trust Fund alive - but we still took a disproportionally large cut. North Carolina budgets are currently being crafted in Raleigh - now is the time for sportsmen and women to voice their support for our most important source of funding for coldwater stream and watershed protection. Last year over 900 of you voiced your support and it made a difference. Please take just a few minutes to help protect more places like Wilson Creek, East Fork French Broad Headwaters, Pond Mountain Game Lands, and many other familiar places to hunt and fish - all open for your use today because of this fund and others like it. There is much more work to do. Earlier this spring over 100 North Carolina sportsmen and women's groups signed a letter supporting this fund. This unprecedented show of support included the North Carolina Council and many chapters but your individual voices needs to be heard to make this happen. Happening at WATR For the latest WATR news check out the WATR website at: July 2012 Page 8

9 Quick Look Sam Lacina tries to create fly fishing nets in variety of shapes and designs to celebrate the individuality of both the fish and the angler. Whether it is a simple catch and release trout net or a presentation showpiece with carvings, scrimshaw, and a deer antler handle each net receives the same care and attention, becoming a unique fishing collectible. Each is a Net That Honors the Fish. These custom fly fishing landing nets are made for the discerning sportsman to honor the beauty of the fish and the streams. Combining form and function, they provide a beautiful frame as you land your fish and a piece of art to decorate your home or office when you can't be out fishing. Each of these handcrafted wooden landing nets is signed and numbered as a unique fishing collectible that makes a distinctive gift for that hard to buy for person, collector, fly fisherman or woman, boss, retiree, graduate, husband, father, grandfather, and that special woman or man. A great Christmas gift for the fisherman. Starting with American hardwoods each trout net is handcrafted to its individual shape, hand contoured, detailed and sanded. They are coated with a deep epoxy finish to create a lustrous glow. Fly fishing nets may be customized to your personal taste, creating a collectible piece of outdoor art. 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 Annual Meeting Please join us Sept , 2012, for TU's Annual Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. Don't forget to nominate a deserving volunteer(s) for the 2012 National Awards. Nominations are due by Aug. 6, General Registration Fee of $300 includes all standard meals and event Thursday through Saturday night. (Early Bird Discount, registration before July 1, for only $275) Additional events include a hosted fishing trip ($50/each) with local members and an incredible conservation tour ($25/each). Please register for these events in addition to your general registration. There will be a chance to win a fabulous door prize during the conservation tour. For those who will be attending the BBQ and/or banquet only, please use the BBQ/banquet only registration form. BBQ tickets are $45 per person. Banquet tickets are $90 per person. Register for the 2012 Annual Meeting All meetings will be at the DoubleTree hotel. Don't forget to make your hotel reservations! DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville-Biltmore Participants planning to take advantage of entire conference activities and meals must pay full registration fees. This year we will also have a spouse's registration full of activities for $225. July 2012 Page 9

10 This month's Website-Of-The-Month is: Tightline Productions, L.L.C. is a video production company located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Since their start in 1997, they have produced video programs for broadcast, DVD and the web, over a wide range of topics. The above-referenced URL provides a link to a video that offers tying instructions for the Isonychia Emerger or Slate Drake which is a very important fly here on our eastern streams and featured this month on our July Hatch Chart. Tightline Productions features a number of excellent Fly tying videos on their Vimeo site. Be sure to check out these videos in your spare time. Youʼll be sure to learn a thing or two! 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 July 2012 Page 10

11 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 July 2012 Page 11

12 Chapter Officers TUCKASEIGEE CHAPTER # 373 OF TROUT UNLIMITED Dick Sellers - President!!!!! dick.sellers@frontier.com Open - V. Pres.!!! Dickie Woodard - Past President!!! dwoodard@wcproperties.com Craig Green - Treasurer!!!!! cngreen@bellsouth.net Richard Echelman - Secretary!!!! richardalan1@frontier.com 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 Trout Unlimited: On the Rise is airing exclusively on the Sportsman Channel four times a week: Saturdays at 2 p.m., Fridays at 4:30 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 a.m. and Tuesdays at 3 a.m. The 5 th show in the series was from Asheville, NC and one of the last strongholds of a subspecies of imperiled brook trout that TU is hard at work to recover. July Hatches INSECT EMERGENCE PATTERN Light Cahill Strenonema Ithaca Late Afternoon and Evening Light Cahills Light Cahill Parachute Terrestrials All summer - All the time Inchworms, ants, beetles. Letort Crickets Isonychia Bicolor All day 12 Zug Bug 12 Slate Drake Emerger 12 Dun Variant Golden Stone Fly Acroneuria Green and Yellow Stone Fly Pteronarcys Early Morning and at Dusk Late afternoons 6-8 Kaufmanʼs Gold. Stn. Fly Nymph 6-8 Kaufmanʼs Orange Stimulator 6-8 Downwing Hornberg 16 Little Green Stone Fly Dry 16 Yellow Sally July 2012 Page 12