February 2012

Newsletter of the Cohutta Chapter of

I hope that you all can make it to the February Lines from the Leader meeting. Mark Scarborough from Southeastern Hello, Anglers will be doing the presentation and we will be raffling off a Full Day float trip for two with them. It was good to see all of you who made out to the January (Dane Law and Southeastern Anglers donated a ½ meeting and the Stream of the Month. We now have the day and the chapter is kicking in to make it full day.) full 2012 calendar of events and Steam of the Months. Be You do not need to be present to win – but you do to sure to check them out on our updated Web site and buy raffle tickets. ;-) update your calendars. Thanks, and I hope to see you all on the 23rd! Tony Tony Rackie [email protected] http://tucohutta.org

http://tucohutta.org/calendar-of-events/ What’s Inside

Once again I want to thank Jeff and Nam for the efforts to Lines from the Leader P. 1 update our Web site. Nam has been watching the traffic Calendar of Events P. 2 on it and we are getting a lot more hits and hopefully you Rabun Awards Gavin Carson P. 2 will find it a useful tool and resource – along with BTB Intern Program P. 2 increasing our visibility to those looking to get involved with Membership P. 3 GWFF Annual Fund Raiser P. 4 our chapter and to join TU. South Eastern FF Festival P. 4 Trout in the Classroom P. 5 At the last meeting we had a good number of folks sign up for our workdays and to give everyone a little more Remedy for Cabin Fever P. 5 encouragement to help out I announced our Special 2012 BTB Article P. 6 Raffle of a bamboo rod and reel. Chattooga USFS issues their "Final Decision" P. 7 GMO fish and other food P. 7 Raffle tickets will be $5 each, but for each of the chapter SPECIAL REPORT P. 7 workdays and other events that you work you will be given symposium P. 8 one raffle ticket. The raffle will be held during the Smoker Georgia FF for Vets Flier P. 9 in November so we hope that everyone will get a lot of chances to win.

1 Calendar of Events rd Cohutta Chapter Meeting Feb 23 Cohutta Chapter #242 Officers Cohutta SOTM Toccoa DH Feb 25th th President Hoot on the Hooch March 10 Tony Rackie Phone 770-712-7231 nd Cohutta Chapter Meeting March 22 E-mail [email protected] rd Cohutta SOTM Nanny & Tuck March 23 Vice President Jeff Wilson Phone 770-693-0168 Meetings are held at the Delkwood Grill Email [email protected] 1 mile east of I75 on Delk Road in Marietta, the Treasure fourth Thursday of the month. Ken Dye Phone 770-973-0751 E-mail [email protected] Secretary Carolyn Wilder Phone 770-710-1166 Email [email protected]’ Rabun Chapter Awards Gavin Carson Stream of the Month Carl Kologinczak Phone 770 924-0001 The first SOTM for 2012 will be the Cohutta E-mail [email protected] Rob Hilkin Phone 770-778-2252 Chapter member Gavin Carson received the E-mail [email protected] Young of the Year Award at this year’s Rabun Development Committee Rendezvous. The Chapter sponsored Gavin at the Jeff Wilson Phone 770-693-0168 second GA Trout Camp. Gavin became a regular E-mail [email protected] Special Projects and Conservation at our Chapter meetings and attended Chapter Diane Minick Phone 770-855-6128 outings, work projects and educational events. For E-mail [email protected] 3 years in a row, Gavin volunteered his services at Membership Committee Tony Rackie Phone 770-712-7231 GA Trout Camp as a young mentor. Email [email protected] Web site Gavin is in his second year at LSU on a Rugby Nam Bui Email [email protected] Scholarship. Every chance he gets he spends Newsletter Publisher and Editor & Fundraising Thom Underwood 404-414-1012 wetting a line. The last 2 years, Gavin spent a E-mail [email protected] week out west doing the thing he loves best Back the Brookie Program and Earth Share of Georgia catching trout. Bob Anderson E-mail [email protected] Program Committee

Joe Richards Email [email protected] Congratulations Gavin! Special Projects Committee

Ken Dye Email [email protected]

Georgia TU 2012 Back-the-Brookie Don’t forget to visit our Web Site at Intern Program www.tucohutta.org

GA TU Back-the-Brookie is accepting applications for our summer intern program. Applications are due Mar 19th for employment from mid-May to early-August. Assist GA DNR and USFS fisheries biologists and technicians with constructing trout habitat structures, sampling trout populations using backpack electrofishing, and measuring trout habitat. Other duties may include accurately recording location (GPS), assisting in the collection of DNA samples from brook trout populations, gathering water samples, writing work summaries, maintaining and repairing field equipment, and dealing with the public and co- workers in a professional manner.

2 Membership: You can also check out the info available from TU related to youth, and you may want to consider If you run into anyone interested in seeing what TU and giving a subscription to the TU Stream Explorers our chapter is all about get them a copy of our as a gift to a friend or family member. newsletter, point them to our web page, or have them http://www.tu.org/about-us/youth-education-and- contact me. outreach

If you are not sure if you are correctly assigned to our A “Welcome” to the new folks to our chapter or if your membership is current please review chapter since the last newsletter. We your profile at http://www.tu.org/user or contact me for hope to meet you at one of our assistance. upcoming chapter functions. Please Tony feel free to contact one of the leaders of the chapter if you have any questions. Chapter Membership and information: [email protected] Name and City Andrew Bar - Smyrna Jake Candler - Atlanta Sign up for TU or Renew Your TU Membership. Richard Davis - Atlanta https://www.tumembership.org/member/intro Keith Denton - Dallas Please enter chapter 242 to be sure you are assigned Brandon Dillard - Acworth to our chapter George Fallon - Atlanta Curtis Hope - Kennesaw Current Membership Info: Jason Hough - Atlanta (as of 02/15/12) Michael Kish - Hiram Thomas Mew - Atlanta Active Members = 522 Prior Month = Gerald Miller - Acworth 517 Larry Myers - Atlanta New Members = 16 David Penticuff - Marietta Renewed/Contributed = 34 Jonathan Sharpe - Marietta Soon to Expire (This Month) Brian Vann - Villa Rica = 48 Reynolds Wolf - Powder Springs Expired (Last Month) = 11 Transferred In (30 days prior) = Source: Chapter 242 Roster with join date > Jan 1 17, 2012 Transferred Out (30 days prior) = 4 From My TU Address Changes (30 days prior) = 0 Source: http://www.tu.org/member- Steam Explorers (children) = services/welcome-to-my-tu 11 Source: What's New in VolOps http://leadersonly.tumembership.org/reports/chapt Online Trainings er_membership * The 4 transfer outs were from PA. Join us for our upcoming conservation and volunteer training sessions and tap into the Some items to check: expertise of our staff and volunteers. All web Has your membership expired or will it soon? conference trainings are held at 8 p.m. EST unless Are you correctly assigned to our chapter? otherwise noted. Contact Rob Keith to register. (Cohutta 242) February 22 - Training: The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act March 13 - TU's New Online Community March 15 - Leaders Only Tools http://www.streamexplorers.org/ April 10 - Training: Chapter and Council Fundraising 3 May 8 - Training: Aquatic Invasive Species 2012 GWFF ANNUAL FUNDRAISER June 5 - Training: How to Help Disable Anglers June 25 - Training: "Give TU A Voice" - Effective & ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY Grassroots Advocacy July 10 - Training: "The Fine Print" - Learn TU's You are invited to Georgia Women Fly fishers' Policies and Practices annual fundraiser!

Regional Meetings Fly-fishing auctions, raffles and fun. Beer tours Whether you are new to TU or have been with us for and tastings. Wine and Food. years, TU's regional meetings are unique opportunities for volunteer leaders to experience the wide range of Tickets $25 in advance; $30 at the door. Pre-event everything TU does. With four regional meetings in the tickets may be purchased from GWFF members, works for 2012, each including fishing opportunities, at GWFF meetings or by mailing a check for a educational seminars, business meetings, and fun- ticket(s) made out to GWFF (for Annual filled evenings - there will be something for everyone! Fundraiser tickets) to Circe Tsui at 3762 Midvale We invite all members of TU to join us in the southeast Rd., Tucker, GA 30084. Requests must be post- in April, in the west in June, and in the northeast in marked no later than March 5th. Include an July. For more information on each event, please visit e0mail address for receipt verification. Tickets will tu.org/events or contact your volunteer operations staff. be held at the door the night of the event. No refunds. Other TU Important Dates South Eastern Fly-fishing Festival in April 21, 2012 - Stream Clean-Up Day Helen, Georgia April 27-29, 2012 June 23, 2012 - Stream Clean-Up Day September 2012 - Annual Meeting in NC Dear South Eastern Council FFF members and friends,

From Harlin Smith addressed to TU Cohutta If you’ve been holding off sending in your Chapter: Registration Form for the upcoming South Eastern Fly-fishing Festival in Helen GA April 27-29, 2012 ... now is the time to make your reservations for the great classes and seminars by our cast of fly-fishing greats.

Go to our website at http://www.fffsec.org/z_festival12.html and read about all the great programs going on ... then Register Online by clicking on the “Click HERE to proceed.” on the right hand side of the screen. Follow the directions and you’ll be finished with your Registration in a few moments.

We’re looking forward to see you there!

Michael J Arnold, VP-Communications Southeastern Flyfishing Festival Chair FFF, South Eastern Council

4 Trout in the Classroom at Herschel Jones Middle School By Rodney Tumlin

As of mid-February, Trout in the Classroom is still up and running at Herschel Jones Middle School in Dallas Ga. Currently, we have 6 healthy, active swimming in our mini-hatchery. Their average size is over four inches. Students are maintaining “Trout Journals” and making periodic entries based on classroom observations. Students also conduct and document daily water quality checks, feed the trout, change water, and clean and maintain the tank and equipment. We have a tentative date set for our “Trout Remedy for Cabin Fever!

Release”. As of now, it is scheduled for Tuesday the Finally the remedy for cabin fever is upon us! Early 27th of March. Park Permits, transportation, parent spring on the Chattahoochee can be very permission, etc. have been applied for. Once again, the productive both for dry fly and nymph enthusiasts. call is going out for volunteers to help with the release. The much anticipated caddis hatch tends to really In the past, members have manned rotating stations get going on the lower river from Paces Mill to where they demonstrate and instruct in various skills Morgan Falls Dam with swarms of Black Caddis such as , knot tying, entomology, fly , and Tan Sedges early to late March. Then the types and use of equipment, orienteering, and other Caddis emergence tends to gradually make its skills related to trout and trout fishing. In addition, we way upstream to Island Ford by mid to late March, will also need volunteers to help with preparing and then Jones Bridge in late March to mid -April and serving lunch. There will be about 75-80 students and makes its way upstream to Buford Dam by mid to chaperones attending the Trout Release. If you can, late April. Chattahoochee trout will continue to please mark this date on your calendar. Thanks in feed on the surface in all these areas typically advance! through May depending on river and weather

conditions. If you do not see any surface activity at these locations please remember there is a great subsurface hatch to match! All of these critters that hatch during the “Spring Abundance” are all in larval stages during this pre-hatch period and you should keep the nymph box handy to imitate this subsurface activity. Most notably is the Eastern Giant Stonefly or Family Pteronarcyidae; Genus Pteronarcys or to most anglers the Fly. These large invertebrates occur in the Chattahoochee from Buford dam and become more numerous as you make your way down- stream to Atlanta city limits. Fishing large (#4through#8) and dark colored nymph patterns like the rubber legged Kauffmann’s Stonefly Nymph in deep swift runs dropped under a large Thing-a-ma-bobber can yield great catches of trophy trout. Carl Richards and Doug Swisher call this the “Pounds of Meat Theory” in which larger specimen trout key in to this opportunity to consume a substantial protein package when given a choice among other smaller food sources. It is a good idea to tie a dropper off the Stonefly nymph that would imitate a caddis fly or may fly larvae that are also present in the river. There is a 5 famous adage called the Harvard Law of Animal Back the Brookie (BTB) Behavior, which goes: “Under sufficiently well By Rodney Tumlin controlled conditions an animal chooses to do as it damn well pleases.” Use this as solace when all else On Saturday, January the 28th, before fails. sunrise, Bob Anderson and I met in the parking lot The Delayed Harvest section of the river from Sope of a motel off of Holcomb Bridge Road. We were Creek to Paces Mill has seen excellent dry fly action to gather water samples from four North Georgia with blanket hatches of BWO’s, some larger Light Brook Trout streams. Cahill’s and Little Winter Stones mixed in drawing fish It was cold, damp and dark as we headed to the surface all of February. These fish are tuned into North in Bob’s AWD Subaru. During the drive, Bob the surface zone and we anticipate some really good and I discussed the details about the BTB program Black Caddis and Tan Sedge hatches causing a and the history of the work that TU has undertaken fevered feeding frenzy on top! Don’t forget that many of in an effort to reintroduce specs to their native the trout stocked in this “DH” section (50,000) will begin range and habitat. Water samples must be taken to spread out and tend to gravitate upstream out of the within 48 hours of a good rain so volunteers have “DH” section making the 3.5mile stretch of river from to be ready to work on short notice. A sample from Sope Creek to Morgan Falls dam another option for every stream is taken during each of the four anglers who want to get off the beaten path. Morgan seasons. The water is analyzed and data is Falls Dam is operated and managed by the Georgia documented and reviewed to determine the health Power Company with excellent access and a boat of each body of water. ramp near the dam but please be warned their Despite the rain of the previous evening, the automated gate closes at 6:00PM. Another good sun was shining bright when we arrived at our first access/boat ramp area is the Johnson Ferry Park destination. Bob and I put on our hip boots and managed by the NPS. From Island Ford upstream to followed a steam-side path that ended at the base Buford dam has also seen some good dry fly action of a large picturesque waterfall. The sample was this winter with many Little Winter Stones, BWO’s and taken in a sizeable pool at the bottom of the falls Midges so here too the dry fly transition to caddis in and we were off to our next destination, Dukes spring will be part of the feeding sequence in March as Creek which was almost across the road. No, we the caddis flies emerge. Although it has been a mild were not fishing, just wishing. After a quick visit to winter we have seen some significantly cold artic blasts Georgia’s premier trophy stream, we journeyed to that will cause some bait kill in Lake Lanier and it would our second destination. be worth trying white streamers or jigs in March to The winding dirt road was open but the imitate herring and shad flushing from the bowels of campground where we park was closed and the lake out of Buford dam. locked. Once again, we dressed in our and Please visit www.chattahoocheefoodwebs.org for a prepared for a long hike. I made mental notes as hatch chart with respective suggested fly patterns. we passed several likely pools of water that possibly held Georgia’s only native trout. In my Tight lines, Chris mind I was planning my next trip here. I knew when I came back; I would be armed with a fly rod instead of a plastic bottle and a thermometer. Our third destination was blocked by a locked Forest Service gate. It did not require a great mathematical mind to determine that we would not have enough time to retrieve a sample on foot from this stream and still be able to collect samples from the remaining stream. With two samples gathered, we made tracks for the final creek. TU work was evident here in the form of a man-made water fall designed to restrict the upstream migration of Rainbow’s and Brown’s, leaving the head waters as the domain of the Native Brook Trout. After gathering our final sample, we decided to tour “Tate City” population 32 (more or less). After driving through this mountain metropolis, we continued on up the 6 scenic dirt road looking for possible wild trout and brookie streams. We passed into North Carolina and You have all read about the genetic modified drove until the dusty road ended at a trail head leading salmon in Alaska and the concern the TU National into the Southern Nantahala Wilderness. I kicked has had with that work. That information has been myself for the 20th time that day because I had left my published in many articles appearing in Trout and camera by the door at home. Lines to Leaders, etc. However, you have not As Bob turned the car south, I called some our TU heard anything from TU National about the work members to see how the chapters first “Stream of the on rainbow trout. Several inquiries have been Month” for 2012 went. made to TU National both in writing and directly in The containers of creek water were dropped off in meetings and there has been little response about the Habersham County Seat of Clarksville. Our trip this research. In fact after 10 years of research began before daylight and ended after sunset. We had work on trout several TU employees here in traveled through well over four hundred miles of some Atlanta recently admitted they knew nothing about of the most scenic terrain in the state. I was able to this work. enjoy good company, good conversation, and fantastic views. A day well spent! I am concerned about this as a longtime member of Trout Unlimited and further for the health of Chattooga North Fork Boating Zoning - future generations that may consume GMO fish or other foods. I have enclosed several links that USFS issues their "Final Decision" describe the latest work on both genetically

modified salmon and rainbow trout for your Update Jan. 31, 2012: Final Decisions (documents will information. Most important is the link that be posted throughout the day) discusses the health issues with any GMO food. If • Cover Letter and Decision Notice (Sumter National you are not up to date on this matter please take Forest, Jan. 31, 2012) the time to read this material and listen to the • Environmental Assessment (January 2012) interview with Dr. Don Huber. This will take some • Press Release Announcing Final Decisions (Jan. time, but you owe it to yourself and family to be 31, 2012) knowledgeable about this matter. • Biological Assessment (Jan. 2012)

• Biological Evaluation (Jan. 2012) Links: This Final Decision is another new Alternative, Alt 13A. Alternative 13A allows boating for 5 months (December http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Gene thru April) from Green Creek (NC) to Lick Log Creek -Modified-Salmon-Nears-Approval- (SC) any day the flow just reaches or exceeds 350 cfs 103288229.html - Salmon research. at Burrell's Ford (from 1/2 hour before sunrise to dark http://www.uri.edu/news/releases/?id=5243 - 30). This flow is equivalent to 2.0 feet at the US 76 Rainbow trout gauge. No boating will be permitted from Lick Log http://mysteriesunsolvedstory.blogspot.com/201 Creek to Highway 28 Bridge. 0/05/fish-weird-modified-genetic.html Rainbow trout Enforcement? Not addressed. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive /2012/01/31/monsanto-worst-company-of- GMO fish and other food 2011.aspx?e_cid=20120131_DNL_art_1 - GMO food & health You may recall a couple of years ago I sent you some http://foodintegritynow.org/2010/10/11/despite- information about genetically modified rainbow trout problems-with-superweeds-obama-and-usda- that were being developed by a researcher at the University of Rhode Island. His name is Terry Bradley firmly-support-gmos/ -- USDA & Obama and his research is continuing and the work has developed trout that are growing 15 to 20% more SPECIAL REPORT - Once In a Blue muscle than normal fish. A year ago graduate students Moon - Southeastern Style: had already injected over 20,000 trout with various DNA with hopes of producing fish that grow fast and From Southeastern Anglers: may of course be GMO food one day. The issues here We just received word that TVA will be making are significant for such trout making into our cold water repairs on one turbine on the Hiwassee River, now fisheries and even more important the effects on through the end of May. This means we will have humans that consume the "Frankenfish". 7 a near one turbine constant flow for the period. This is Henry Cowen Cowen's Quality Flies and the perfect flow rate for late winter and spring fishing Guide Service on the Hiwassee. This makes the upper river and the [email protected] home seldom fished middle section fishable at optimal levels. 678-513-1934 cell 678-677-5382 This also means that we will be using the drift boats on these sections to catch all of the major hatches Tic Smith Southeastern Anglers including Stoneflies, Hendrickson’s, and the Sulfur’s. 866-55TROUT The last time this occurrence happened was-in the www.southeasternanglers.com early 2000's and it was some of the best fishing of the [email protected] decade! Bill Oyster Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods Kayak fishing symposium 706-372-4239

Kayak fishing symposium at the Go Fish Education www.oysterbamboo.com Center in Perry, GA scheduled for Feb 25th. If you’re Mack Martin Atlanta School interested the below URL should get you there. 404-550-6890 http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/2877 www.atlantaflyfishingschool.com

Dina Miller Serenity Ridge, Gatlinburg Cabin Cohutta TU Chapter Supporters 706-372-4239 www.cabin-in-gatlinburg-tn.com. Thank these folks for supporting the Cohutta TU Chapter throughout the year. Steve Lamb Georgia Fly Guide 678-986-0703 Gary Merriman the Fish Hawk 404- www.georgiaflyguide.com 237-3473 www.thefishhawk.com Chattooga River Fly Shop 864-638-2806 Willie Perry Fly Box Outfitters www.crflyshop.com 678-594-7330 www.flyboxoutfitters.com , Andy Bowen Cohutta Fishing Company 770-606-1100 Jimmy Harris Unicoi Outfitters www.cohuttafishingco.com 706-878-3083 www.unicoioutfitters.com Mike CutThroat Leader Company 208-559-4788 David Perry Southeastern Fly Guide Service http://www.cutthroatleader.com/ 615-796-5143 www.southeasternfly.com Janice Caney Fork Outdoors Cabins 931-858-0967 Chris Scalley River through Atlanta www.caneyforkriverrunners.com 770-650-8630 www.riverthroughatlanta.com

Shannon Ward Orvis – Atlanta 404-841-0093 www.orvis.com

Abbey Jackson Blackhawk Trout Stream 706-947-3474 www.blackhawkfishing.com

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