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NAT GREENE CALENDAR
MEETINGS & EVENTS
NAT GREENE CALENDAR
Tuesday October 12 - Monthly Meeting: Jeff Wilkins of the Fly Line,
“Fall Saltwater Flyfishing Opportunities,” Lewis Recreation Center, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday November 9 - Monthly Meeting: Buddy Owens, "Building Graphite
Flyrods", Lewis Recreation
Center, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday December 14 - Annual Holiday Party, Lewis Recreation Center,
7:00 p.m.
Tuesday January 11, 2005 - Monthly Meeting: Joe Craig, "Fishing the
Other Streams in England", Lewis Recreation
Center, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday February 8 - Monthly Meeting: Topic TBA, Lewis Recreation
Center, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday March 8 - Monthly Meeting: Topic TBA, Lewis Recreation
Center, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday March 26, 2005 - Annual Flyfishing Seminar and Spring
Banquet with Special Guest Speaker A.K. Best, Fly Tying Specialist, Author,
World Famous Fly Fisherman, 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m, Cardinal Golf and Country
Club, 5700 Cardinal Way, Greensboro NC
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Nice to meet you, North Carolina Trout Unlimited
Anything that offered the opportunity for conversations with North Carolina
notables who know more about trout than I do seemed like a great way to spend a
Sunday afternoon. So I traveled to Hickory to attend my first North Carolina
Trout Unlimited Council meeting. I had the presence of mind to first inquire if
the meeting was open to individual Trout Unlimited members – it was. Then I
asked our Chapter President, Greg Peters if I needed to provide any update to
the Council on anything that we had been doing in support of NCTU. I had no real
idea of how they supported us or how we supported them. I was really on the
ball. Can’t you tell?
Actually, I went to test the waters to see if volunteering as the Nat Greene
Fly Fishers’ TU Council Representative would be something I could handle. I
walked into the meeting knowing only one solid thing about North Carolina Trout
Unlimited – they were the sponsoring organization for Rivercourse. Sure, I knew
they were the state governing body for TU affiliated clubs, that they advocated
conservation, and that – was about it.
Well, my perceptions and preconceived ideas about NCTU were on the money.
They do indeed advocate conservation – and how. They are the state governing
body for all NC Trout Unlimited affiliate chapters – and how. They are the
sponsoring organization for the Rivercourse program – and how.
In this and upcoming newsletters, I will be exploring NC TU and what it has
done in the state and what it is poised to do on behalf of and in partnership
with the Nat Greene Fly Fishers. You may or may not be interested, or you may
already be in the know about these things and don’t care to revisit old history.
Well, I’m new to this and I don’t mind asking questions, especially the ones
most people wouldn’t ask lest they be considered dumb. And I especially don’t
mind sharing them with you. If I get something wrong, I will expect you to set
me straight. Better yet, write your own version. So, here I go.
NC Trout Unlimited Conservation Projects
North Carolina Trout Unlimited (NCTU) and Nat Greene Fly Fishers, through its
support with contributions of money and/or manpower, are actively engaged in a
number of conservation projects across the Old North State. At present, the NCTU
website lists three projects underway. The argument could be made that there are
four projects because of the impact the Muddy Creek project will have on the
Catawba River. The other two projects, in addition to the Muddy Creek
Restoration Initiative, are the Steel’s Creek Watershed Restoration Project and
the Mills River Watershed Restoration Project.
Muddy Creek, according to the NCTU website, is indeed a muddy creek and was
identified as a major contributor of sediment in the Catawba River. It has been
dumping an estimated 30,000 tons of sediment annually into the Catawba River.
YIKES! No self-respecting trout would live in such conditions. Enter. The Muddy
Creek Restoration Initiative began as a partnership among some pretty heavy
hitters including Duke Power, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and the
Table Rock Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Simply stated the objective of this varied group was to significantly reduce
the sediment load going into the river, which would improve fish habitat and
water quality. Who else was involved? Good question. This group knew completion
of such a project was doomed to failure without involving key players in the
community ‘served’ by Muddy Creek and the Catawba River. So partnerships were
forged with local landowners, citizen education groups, and existing stream
habitat and restoration project teams to hopefully achieve their stated
objective. How would this impact the Catawba River? It is possible, with full
implementation of the project and continuous monitoring and maintenance of
improvements, for the Catawba River to become a blue-ribbon tailrace fishery.
That’s what the future of the Catawba River could be if, through this project,
the estimated 30,000 tons of silts currently being deposited annually from Muddy
Creek could be stopped or minimized.
What was the project deadline date? Has this project succeeded? I don’t know;
but I’ll find out and share the results of Muddy Creek Restoration Initiative
with all readers in the next newsletter.
Coming up. What’s been happening with Steels Creek and with the Mills River
Watershed Projects? Stay tuned for updates and more questions. Until next time –
be mindful of your actions, are they motivated by need or greed. Mohandas
‘Mahatma’ Gandhi said, “ . . . the Earth [can] provide for every man’s need, but
not for every man’s greed.”
Cindy Spicer
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So You Think You Caught a Big One
Ever wonder how some of your fish match up against what others call “big?”
Well, North Carolina has an angler recognition program that lists minimum length
or weight criteria for a variety of sport fish to qualify as “trophy” fish. If
your catch meets either requirement, you can receive a “Trophy fish” certificate
attesting to your skill as an angler.
The North Carolina Angler Recognition Program (NCARP) is run by the Division
of Inland Fisheries. The program lists requirements for about 35 fish. A
fisherman merely fills out a form and mails it in along with $5. The program
encourages release of larger fish because the actual fish does not have to be to
taken to a certified scale. A photo doesn’t even have to accompany the
application but as everyone knows, fishermen always tell the truth, even if ever
so slightly enhanced.
I checked out some of the categories and found I already have caught American
shad, hickory shad, bluegill, and brook trout (from a non-stocked stream) that
exceeded the requirements. These fish are all lightweights compared to the 20 lb
carp or musky needed. Those guys aren’t in much danger from my six-weight
outfit.
If you send in six forms, the state sends you a “Master Angler” certificate
and patch. I think that means ‘you proved your point’ or something like that.
Anyway, check out NCARP at
http://www.wildlife.state.nc.us/fs_index_03_fishing.htm. Be the first
on your block to collect all 35 certificates! If you do, I want to see a picture
of the 10 lb. longnose gar.
Jim Brady
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FFF Conclave 2004
The Federation of Fly Fishers annual Fly Fishing Show and Conclave returned
to West Yellowstone, Montana after 15 years absence during the third week of
August. Boy has the town changed. There were five or six new large motels, a
convention center and believe it or not all the streets are paved and there are
sidewalks.
Arriving on Sunday for business meetings, Monday and Tuesday, Tony Brauner
and I reacquainted ourselves with the town. We started seeing old friends soon
after our arrival. When you go to the Conclave you make friendships that last
for years. Sometimes this is the only time you see these people for a year.
Monday evening was the dinner for the “Legends Gone By”, a salute to fly
fishing legends that have passed on. Leon Chandler’s son gave a moving
presentation about his father’s life in and out of fishing. After the audience
played a game where slides were shown and you had to yell out the name of the
individual. Our team, the Brookies, won with over 25 correct answers, granted we
did have some people on the team that have been around for the 39 years of the
FFF. Each member of the team got a t-shirt.
Tuesday was spent in the annual meeting where the Board of Directors voted to
restructure the board from 45 members down to 24, an action that will help
streamline the operations of the FFF. Tuesday evening, Bob Jacklin put on a
presentation on the history of the fly shops in West Yellowstone. Going back to
the late 1800’s through modern day with historical photos. It was very
interesting to see the transformation of the businesses.
Wednesday was fairly quiet with the only event being the President’s Banquet.
For the first time, the FFF awards were presented at the banquet. It was nice
since there were over 250 people in attendance. As Awards Chair for the last
four years, it was my last duty at the national level of the FFF. Having awards
presented in this arena brought attention to the awards that they truly deserve.
John and Vera Edwards of Grants Pass received the Oregon Council Award of
Excellence. Bill Bakke of Portland, executive director of the Native Fish
Society and former conservation director for the old Oregon Sub-Council,
received the Lew Jewett Memorial Life Award. For the first time since 2000 the
“Order of the Lapis Lazuli”, the FFF highest honor, was presented to L.D. “Buck”
Goodrich of Shelley, ID. Buck has chaired more conclaves than anyone else in the
Federation and is truly deserving of this award.
Thursday through Saturday was spent watching over 100 tyers and viewing the
commercial exhibits along with attending some of the many programs and
workshops. Friday evening was the Auction. This year the event grossed over
$44,000.00, the largest amount ever in this event. There were some beautiful fly
plates and other art work, a great selection of trips and a nice selection of
fishing equipment.
All in all it rates up there with some of the best conclaves. It was nice to
see old friends and to make some new friendships. It was also nice to see fellow
Santiam Flycasters Allison Smith and his wife, Rich and Kathy Youngers and
Hillary Votaw at the event. If you can make it to Livingston, Montana next year
for the 40th Anniversary of the Federation, I would highly recommend it.
Keith Burkhart, Santiam Flycasters
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2003-2004 NAT GREENE FLYFISHERS CLUB OFFICERS
Jack Patterson, Board of Directors
674-9700
664-7776
jwpatterson@worldnet.att.net
Linke Combs, Board of Directors
282-7040
632-7572
lccombs@earthlink.net
Neal Mitchell, Treasurer
643-5001
cell 706-1123
nealmitjr@msn.com
Greg Peters, President
656-7379
632-2366
greg.peters@syngenta.com
Al Spicer, Board of Directors
855-1325
373-7087
alspicer@yahoo.com
Lorraine Rothrock, Trip Coordinator
288-9976
272-3962
cell 707-3761
lbrothrock@mindspring.com
Cindy Spicer, Banquest Chair (and a darn good one at that)
855-1325
703-5632
cell 406-6171
cspicer@BBandT.com
