September 2016
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September 2016 Newsletter of the Cohutta Cha pter of Trout Unlimited Lines from the Leader Calendar of Events Future Leadership Cohutta Meeting September 22 I attended a TU Leadership workshop at the Unicoi Outdoor Adventure Days September 24 annual South Eastern Regional meeting a few years Cohutta SOTM Rattler Ford October 14-16 ago in Dillard Georgia. They told us the most Cohutta Meeting October 27 important thing that we can do as chapter leaders is Cohutta SOTM Dukes/Smith/Hooch November 19 find our replacement! At first, I found that shocking. You are just getting started and the first thing you Meetings are held at the need to do is find someone that will be willing to take Hudson Grille in Kennesaw. your place in two years! However, if you think about 2500 Cobb Place Ln NW Kennesaw, GA 30144 it, it makes sense. For a chapter to grow, it needs the fourth Thursday of the month. change and someone needs to be in line for that change, planning what they want to accomplish when it comes their time. I had my replacement lined up before I took office, but who will come after him? We have elections coming up this month. It is the time that we renew some of our current officers and The Guide's Angle elect new ones. I would like for each of our active members to reflect on their various skill sets and Oktoberfest! consider the possible leadership roles they might Everyone is enjoying the cooler weather and Fall take. We welcome change every year! Tight Lines! foliage but let's not forget the trout like it too. October is the beginning of the brown trout spawning run. Rodney, The Prezz Anglers will begin seeing Browns in uncommon areas like shallow gravel bars where they will attempt to deposit and fertilize their eggs. As the days get shorter you will see Browns active even What’s Inside during the middle of the day with the occasional Lines from the Leader P. 1 belly-flop splash as these brooding fish leap entirely The Guides Angle P. 1 out of the water which is a breeding ritual of some This Month’s Speaker….. Brad Befus P.2 kind. River water clarity will become murky almost an SOTM Reports P.2-3 opaque green hue caused by the Lanier reservoir SOTM Schedule P. 3 stratifying. Don't let this murky water stop you just Rattler Ford Info P.3-4 use larger flies with a higher profile so the fish can Unicoi Outdoor Adventure Days! P.5-6 see your offering. Late afternoons be ready for pods M ust Have Attractor Flies for Trout Fishing P. 7-9 of rising trout likely either Blue-winged-olive mayflies Facts about New Leader Material Claims P.10-14 or October-caddis will be hatching. M embership Info P.15-17 Our Sponsors P. 17 1 Speaker of the Month August Stream of the Month Due to the continuing hot and dry weather pattern Brad Befus, sales manager for Scientific Anglers. the August SOTM was cancelled. A trio of members did venture to the Chatooga for some warm water bassin’. Putting in at Earl’s Ford and hiking upstream they reported Shoal and Redeye Bass eagerly taking poppers off the surface. The fish seemed to be holding by any structure and the deeper pools. The fish count for each angler was 10+ with the largest nearly 14”. Brad’s Bio from www.flytierspage.com Brad Befus has been flyfishing and fly tying for more than 30 years. He is an accomplished freshwater and saltwater angler who holds several I.G.F.A. flyrod world records and has fished many destinations worldwide. Brad is an innovative fly tier with many of his patterns being produced and sold by Umpqua Feather Merchants through their “Fly Designer Program”. His flies have appeared in books and articles, as well as the University of Idaho Prichards Art Gallery and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Brad co-authored with Barry Reynolds and John Berryman “Carp on the Fly” a flyrodders guide to carp! He has recently completed his second book “Basic Techniques for Successful Fly Tying” and has also released three fly tying videos. (“Flies For Carp”, “Techniques for Micro Patterns” and “Basic Techniques for Successful Fly Tying”). He frequently contributes articles and photography to many of the flyfishing periodicals. Brad currently resides in Montrose, Colorado with his Stream Of The Month Schedule wife Lisa and their four children. October 14-16 Fri-Sat-Sun Rattlers Ford Campout Snowbird November 19 Saturday Dukes/Smith/Hooch The last two of the year. See you on the water, Jimbo 2 September Stream of the Month Report 2016 Rattler Ford October SOTM The Hooch trip turned into a nice day on the water Join us October 14-16 for traditionally one of the best with casting practice. A few folks had follows from campouts of the year. We have sites 1 & 2 reserved some less than aggressive fish but due to Lake this year near Santeetlah Creek in the Rattler Ford turnover the Hooch flowed high and green. Such is Campground of the Joyce Kilmer National Forest. It floating the river as you can't always predict the is a 2-1/2 hour drive from Marietta. Motor through conditions. The slightly overcast sky and cooler Robbinsville, NC into one of the largest stands of old temps on the water made a great day but the water growth trees in the Appalachian mountains. There and fish were against us. are plenty of tent sites this year, but limited vehicle I predict that the cooler temps of fall will make the parking so please try to carpool. Showers and Snowbird and RattlerFord all much more delicious. indoor plumbing are nearby. Tight lines, Jimbo Friday and Saturday night dinners, Saturday and Sunday breakfast, will be provided by our veteran camp side cooks... and anyone else who wants to pitch in to help. We will plan a late dinner Friday to allow for late arrivals. Granola bars and bottled water will be available for snacks on the river Saturday. If you want something more substantial, bring it. Saturday fishing will be a mixed bag depending on water levels and temps. Expect good on the Delayed Harvest section on the upper Snowbird IF we get some rain between now and the day they stock the week before. Plan to bring typical nymphs, dries, midges, streamers, and of course, junk flies. For those that want a full day, hike past the lower falls of the Snowbird where the wild brookie action can be excellent. A small rod and dry flies are all you need. Those who make the 4 mile hike in are often well rewarded. There are other hike-in streams nearby to consider. Bring any firewood you can spare from home or buy a bundle on the way. Cost averages around $30 per person for the food and is collected at the campsite. Bring your favorite beverage, and a camp chair. The final dollar amount will be determined when all of the food is purchased. Things to remember: NC fishing license with trout stamp required and must be purchased before arrival. There is no fly shop or place to get a license in the area. Buy on-line or at the Wal-Mart in Murphy, NC. Graham is a dry county and that includes grocery stores. 3 E-mail Jim McKean [email protected] by Monday, October 11, if you are coming. It is Cohutta Chapter #242 Officers important to know in advance for food planning and President purchasing to keep the cost per camper to a Rodney Tumlin Phone 770-974-8726 minimum. There will be a sign-up sheet at the at the Email [email protected] September meeting. Vice President Steve Westmoreland Phone 770-403-0609 Directions to the Rattler Ford Group Campground Email [email protected] can be found on your GPS phone or on the Internet Treasure at this link : Kenn Walker Phone 770-377-5474 http://www.recreation.gov/unifSearchResults.do?top E-mail [email protected] TabIndex=Search Secretary Jeff Walters Phone 404-557-0551 Email [email protected] Stream of the Month James McKean Phone 404-819-3941 E-mail [email protected] Newsletter Publisher and Editor/Fundraising Thom Underwood 404-414-1012 E-mail [email protected] Fisheries Development Committee Jeff Walters Phone 404-557-0551 E-mail [email protected] Special Projects and Conservation Diane Minick Phone 770-876-1241 E-mail [email protected] Membership Committee Tony Rackie Phone 770-712-7231 Email [email protected] Web site Tony Rackie Email [email protected] TIC & Education John Dykes E-mail [email protected] Don’t forget to visit our Web Site at www.tucohutta.org 4 Elections will be held during the September 15th Annual Outdoor Adventure Day at Unicoi Meeting (Thursday the 22nd). Here’s your State Park! chance to get involved! By Ken Riddleberger, Northeast Georgia Game Management Supervisor Once again we will be electing officers and we need to make sure have enough in attendance to meet quorum. You must be in good standing with TU Looking for a fun-filled day of outdoor national to cast a vote. activities for the whole family? We have just the President: Steve Westmoreland will be taking over ticket! The Georgia Department of Natural from Rodney Tumlin who deserves a huge thank you Resources (DNR) is hosting Outdoor Adventure Day for two great years of moving the chapter forward.