“FORWARD CASTING” Important Dates - See you there!

April 1 (Sat) Oconee River TU Chapter Banquet – Athens; for more details: http://www.orctu.org/

April 8 (Sat) Trout Day – Reeves Hardware, Dillard; Rabun TU Membership Drive; demonstrations 10 am to 3 pm, we need our members to come out and help.

April 18 (Tues) Chapter Meeting, 6:30 pm, Clayton Presbyterian Church

Program: Roy Lovell, County Marshall – Erosion Control & Sedimentation Laws and Enforcement

April 20 – 22 (Thurs – Sat) Camping, Fishing & In-Stream Work Day (Sat Morn) with USFS leading work on Heddon Creek and camping at Double Bit. Come join in the fun and give something back – contact Charlie Breithaupt, he plans the menu and buys the grub: Ph 706 782 6954 E-mail knc615@direcway.com

April 22 (Sat) High Country Boil - Blue Ridge Mountain TU Chap fundraiser; for more details E-mail John Pool jpool1@pickensprogress.com

April 25 (Tues) Board of Directors meeting, Location TBD.

April 28 – 30 (Fri - Sun) 5th Annual Regional Rally, Abington, VA contact Charlie Breithaupt for details E-mail knc615@direcway.com

May 6 (Sat) Betty Creek In-Stream Clean-up: preparing for GA Trout Camp

May 16 (Tues) Family Cookout 6 PM at Indian Lake;

Fishing Mentoring of Clayton Boy Scout Troop (our guests)

May 17-21 (Wed - Sun) Fishing & Camping Chattooga Backcountry with Camping at Cherry Hill C.G. (with hot shower, flush toilets & tables) Nice place, great fishing & fellowship.

May 23 (Tues) Board of Directors meeting, Location on a stream for the Green Drake Hatch

REMEMBER - GEORGIA TROUT CAMP! June 11-16th! We need you to mentor our campers – put it on your calendar!

FLY OF THE MONTH

by Terry Rivers

PARACHUTE ADAMS

A great fly to have in your box at all times. The reason for the parachute is the brown and grizzly hackles are hard to detect in the water. I have fished this fly since I started and have had good results. It’s also a great strike indicator when trailing a nymph. If you are lucky, you might even have a double hookup.

HOOK: Dry fly, size 12- 20

TAIL: Grizzly and brown mixed

BODY: Dark gray

PARACHUTE: Calf tail or synthetic antron

WING: Grizzly and brown hackle to match hook size

“There can be no hard and fast rule covering the flies used in trout fishing.

One can only experiment and then apply the results of such experiences to his fishing.”

From “Just Fishing “ by Ray Bergman (1943)

April Hatches

The Bugs Time of Month Time of Day Suggested Flies .

Quill Gordon Mayfly Early L am to M pm 12-14 Quill Gordon

12-14 Quill Gordon Nymph

Blue Quill Mayfly Early L am to M pm 16-18 Blue Quill, BWO, or Blue Dun

16-18 Prince or Pheasant Tail

Small Dun Caddis All Month L am to M pm 16-18 Gray Elk Hair or Deer Hair Caddis

(Important) L pm to dark 16-18 Gray Caddis Pupa

March Brown Mayfly All Month L am to M pm 12-14 March Brown or Adams Parachute

(Important) 10-14 March Brown Nymph, Dark Hare's Ear, or Pheasant Tail

Cream Caddis All Month M day to L pm 12-14 Elk Hair Caddis

(Very important) 12-14 Dark Cream Caddis Pupa

Yellow Stonefly Late E to L am 14-16 Yellow Stimulator or Elk Hair Caddis (Yellow)

L pm to dark 14-16 Yellow Stone Nymph

Light Cahill Mayfly Late E to L pm 12-14 Light Cahill

(Important) 12-14 Light Cahill Nymph

Speckled Gray Caddis Late M to L pm 12-14 Dark Elk Hair or Deer Hair Caddis

12-14 Dun & Yel/Brn Caddis Pupa

Midges All Month All Day 18-22 Griffith's Gnat

18-22 Midge Pupa

Director's Page by Buzz Williams

By now, most people are aware of the reanalysis of recreational use on the upper section of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River, that currently is being conducted by the Forest Service. This reanalysis concerns an earlier decision by the Forest Service to continue the existing ban on whitewater boating above the Highway 28 bridge in the latest Sumter National Forest Land Management Plan (revision dated January 2004), and was the result of an appeal by American Whitewater Association (AWA). AWA argued that the Forest Service had not adequately considered their preference that boating above Highway 28 should not be banned, and that boating in the area would be compatible with management guidelines set forth in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The Washington Office of the Forest Service agreed with AWA that the lower decision had not been adequately studied, and in April 2005 directed the Supervisor’s Office in Atlanta to revisit the question of boating above Highway 28. This direction for reanalysis did not make a judgment on whether the ban was justified, but only that it needed additional analysis. The outcome of this decision will be a very important milestone in the management of not only the Chattooga, but for all wild and scenic rivers under federal jurisdiction.

The ban on boating in this section has been in place since the Chattooga River was added to the National Wild and Scenic River System in 1974. In making this decision, the Forest Service had reasoned that the upper reaches of the Chattooga River should be reserved for those recreational uses most compatible with the specific “outstandingly remarkable values” (ORV) of those sections of the Chattooga River above Highway 28. The outstandingly remarkable values found in the Chattooga River corridor as defined by the Forest Service in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the revised Land and Resource Plan for the Sumter National Forest (2005) are water quality, biological/wildlife, ecological, botanical, fisheries, scenery and recreational (obvious omission here is geological). The specific ORVs found in the sections of river above Highway 28 are spectacular scenery, extremely rare plants, unique fisheries, and recreational opportunities for a “wilderness experience.”

Case law regarding agency decisions about management of activities within a wild and scenic river has often hinged on ORV provisions in section 1281(a) of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, which gives direction that managers should limit only those uses that “substantially interfere” with the enjoyment and use of those ORVs established for that particular section of designated river in question. In one case in Oregon, a court even defended a decision by the Bureau of Land Management to totally eliminate grazing from the Owyhee River based on direction in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to “protect and enhance” the ORVs of the river. According to recent court decisions, the authority to limit, or in some cases to entirely eliminate, a particular use of a designated river in order to protect its ORVs is ultimately the management agency’s role.

In remanding the decision to ban boating above Highway 28 on the Chattooga, the Forest Service has made an internal decision to reanalyze the question based on pressure by one powerful special interest group, the American Whitewater Association. AWA does not believe that boating in the headwaters of the Chattooga will substantially interfere with the outstandingly remarkable values of the headwaters of the Chattooga River. Undoubtedly, additional use will degrade vegetation along the river especially on portage trails around rapids. Some of the rarest plants in North America inhabit the sunny cliffs and dark, moist grottos near the river around Chattooga Cliffs. Damage to these areas are of great concern. Scenic values are really not a factor. Boating would inconvenience fishing in some cases but not substantially. However, the one outstandingly remarkable value of the headwaters of the Chattooga River is the opportunity to have a wilderness experience and the chance to seek solitude in a natural setting. Even though most of the Chattooga River is classified as “wild” where management direction amplifies the mandate to enhance and protect outstandingly remarkable values, the overcrowding, excessive infrastructure development, and commercialization of the lower Chattooga have long eroded the opportunity for a wilderness experience below Highway 28 bridge. In fact, the upper Chattooga remains one of the only places in the whole of the Southern Appalachians where one can still experience a vestige of primitive America.

Information already gathered by the Forest Service predicts that boating potential on the upper Chattooga could be as many as 81 days per year. The significant increase in private boating in the last 10 years, especially on small headwater streams, is due in part to better boat designs and higher skill levels. One could only expect this trend to produce a dramatic increase in numbers of people using the headwaters of the Chattooga with the lifting of the boater ban. The result would certainly and substantially interfere with the wilderness experience potential of the headwaters of the Chattooga River.

If the Forest Service should be so wise as to conclude its reanalysis with a decision to continue the ban on boating above Highway 28 in order to protect the outstandingly remarkable values of a place where one can have a true wilderness experience, we at the Chattooga Conservancy would wholeheartedly support and applaud that decision. This would be a loss for paddlers, but a victory for the concept of conservation of wild places. After all, conservation is not about what you gain from a resource but what you are willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

x x x

“Trout fisherman at one time or another dream of that perfect trout stream. The place, type of water and even type of trout may vary, but in general it must offer hungry trout, beautiful scenery, a test of skills and, above all, few other fishermen. In recent years it is this idea that has led me away from many popular rivers and into the backcountry.”

Daniel J. Reid (1981)

Visitor Use Capacity Analysis, Upper Chattooga River (continued):

Editor’s notes: Brian Sutphin (a.k.a. carolina yaker) is a boater from Winston Salem. He wrote a "Letter to the Editor" that was published in the Feb issue of the Rabun TU newsletter, TIGHT LINES. He also sent an E-mail to Steve Moyer, National TU Vice President for Government Affairs & Volunteer Operations. http://www.tu.org/site/pp.asp?c=7dJEKTNuFmG&b=277834#Moyer Here is Steve's reply reprinted with his permission:

Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 1:36 PM

Subject: your questions about the Chattooga

Brian, I am sorry to be slow getting back to you regarding your question about where we stand on the boating ban on the Chattooga River above the Route 28 bridge, and the Forest Service’s new study on the ban. I know that you had looked at the TU Rabun Chapter’s website, and originally you had asked the following questions:

“I would think that the two different groups that are involved with this. Both being strong enviromentalist, that we would be working together rather than portraying the negative image of a certain group as this article does.

I would like to know if this is the stance of the National Charter. Knowing that the two groups involved have worked together before, why is that same attention not shown here. Where TU and the AWA work towards improving the entire area and help protect it from the real dangers to this incredible enviroment. Development and water pollution from said development and runoff from numerous areas.
Thank you and look forward to your response. Brian”

My response: As the Rabun chapter website says, the Rabun chapter, the Georgia Council of TU, and National TU are all in the same place on this issue in support of continuing the ban. I have visited the Route 28 bridge site once, and have discussed the issue extensively with our members in the area and with the Forest Service personnel on the ground. As you may know, the area is very well protected now, and we would like to keep it that way. My conclusion is that, if there were a substantial increase in the numbers of new users (boaters) of the resource in the area, that the Forest Service would have a very hard, if not impossible, time managing the potential resource impacts (greater erosion from increased trail and path use; potential new roads) and the potential user conflicts. Thus, I think there is substantial risk from the proposal to lift the ban, to the existing ecological and recreation values of the area.

TU members have been deeply involved in all phases of the study and will look carefully at any new options that the Forest Service might develop. Until we see an option that clearly improves on the current resource and recreational values that our members hold dear on the Chattooga, our position will remain.

We do work well with AWA and other boating groups around the country in most cases. We value those relationships. Rarely, but occasionally, our positions are at cross purposes. It has happened at other places and on other issues around the nation. We try to minimize the discord and maximize the accord for the good of the resource. But we will not arbitrarily alter what we think is best for the river solely to reach agreement with our usual allies.

If you haven’t already, I urge you to discuss this with the TU folks in the Rabun chapter who know this issue the best. Likewise, feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss it further.

Regards, Steve

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Excerpt from the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act “The W&SRA directs the Agency (in this case the USFS) to protect and enhance the values (Outstanding Resource Values) which caused the stream to be included and the primary emphasis shall be given to protecting its aesthetic, scenic, historic, archaeologic, and scientific features.“

Since May 2001, the leadership for American Whitewater (a boaters organization) has been demanding unlimited access to the Upper Chattooga (any time, any water level, any number of boaters, and no compromising). The traditional backcountry visitors such as anglers, hikers, swimmers, backpackers, bird watchers, hunters, and nature lovers want to preserve and protect the unique Upper Chattooga Outstanding Resource Values of remoteness and solitude, avoiding the overuse and user conflicts that have plagued the Lower Chattooga for decades. We are very concerned by the growth rate of "creeking" in the last 15 years. We want to maintain the zoning because that is what is best for the long-term future of the Upper Chattooga.

Take a few minutes, tell the Forest Service what the Upper Chattooga means to you by sending your comments to: Project Coordinator - John Cleeves, E-mail jcleeves@fs.fed.us USDA Forest Service, 4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212

For info on the User Analysis, click on: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms/forest/projects/chatt.shtml

“Fly fishing is a magic way to recapture the rapture of solitude without the pangs of loneliness. “

Robert Traver

It was in April thirty-plus years ago. Spring flowers were blooming and the caddis flies and mayflies were once again hatching on the Chattooga. Jim and I decided to take a day or two of vacation from the carpet plant (a place where we worked - - ahhhh, I mean a place where we were EMPLOYED between trout fishing forays). We needed to go survey THE RIVER.

It was early on a beautiful Sunday afternoon when we pulled out of Rabun Gap and headed up the Highlands Road. Our plan was to cross-over the divide at Scaly and go down the Hale Ridge Road and then the Overflow Road with a brief stop at Bailey Branch to gather some crispy critters for supper later that evening at camp on Reed Creek.

After a successful foray at Bailey, we headed out on the Overflow Road towards John Teague Gap. About halfway between the Billingsley Creek Road turnoff and the Gap on a sharp right turn, the rear end of the ’67 Chevy pick-up lurched to the left and came to a wheel-dragging stop. I was downhearted when I saw all of the lug bolts holding the left rear wheel had snapped off. But good fortune arrived just a couple of minutes later. A car pulled up and it was Woodrow Blalock out showing the countryside to a couple of folks. What a stroke of good luck!

He gave Jim a ride into Clayton. I went off down the side of the mountain to Holcomb Creek to harvest a few more trout, - - which I did! What a stroke of good luck!

When Jim got to Clayton, he went to a pay phone and called Carlton Junior (on his unlisted phone number I had written down on a scrap of paper). Carlton was home. He agreed to meet Jim and open up Jones Auto Parts. He gave Jim a set of lug bolts and nuts. What a stroke of good luck!

From there Jim called Frank of Darnell Mechanical at home. Frank’s brother Yank happened to be visiting there. Jim told Frank what had happened and that it “broke all 5 lug bolts” and would he please come with tools and help get the truck repaired. Frank said “Doesn’t Doug’s truck have 6 lug bolts?” Jim said “Ahhh - - Yea, that’s right – all 6.” Yank said, “Frank, I wouldn’t go if I was you – them boys is up to something.” But Frank ignored his brother’s advice. What a stroke of good luck!

Frank picked Jim up in town, drove out to Holcomb Creek and replaced all 6 lug bolts. Jim and I were on the road again and arrived at our chosen Reed Creek campsite after dark. What a stroke of good luck!

We made our usual pre-camp walk around with flashlights. Just checking the lay of the land, where to place the truck, where to string the tarp, where to set the stove and table, and so forth. While we were doing this we began to discover our camp was almost already set. There was a table made between 2 trees, a stove stand, a lantern hanger, a pile of firewood, a stack of lighter wood, and a double bit axe! What a stroke of good luck!

I said “Jim, with all this good luck we are having today, just keep looking.” Jim asked “Why?” I replied, “Because I know there must be a bunch of money laying around here someplace!”

We didn’t find the money, but we did make wonderful memories. And we named the campsite “Double Bit”.

Back to the Tallulah - - again (3/8/06): “I just had to go back to the Tallulah on Monday afternoon and fish again. The fish were there and the fishermen were not. Didn't see too many fishing. My buddy Carl and I found a BIG'UN and really hoped to do some good with it. Carl tried first with a honey worm and a piece of night crawler. The trout took and we shook. It had Carl's reel screaming and I was amazed at the strength of a good old big trout. After about 5 minutes of playing this thing and at one point I thought Carl had him whooped, the hook bent and the Rainbow swam on down stream to fight another day. I estimated the length to be, and I am being conservative, around 25 inches. That was a real nice day on the water. I talked to Carl yesterday and he was going back and fish again. Maybe he will catch the BIG’UN today.” Rabunite Mike Fuller

Copperheads and Buzzworms are out (3/13/06): “I fished Deep Creek over the weekend. I have never seen as many Copperheads and Buzzworms (rattle snakes) on the crawl. The warm weather had those deadly pizzen boys on the move. We had to be very careful where we put a foot or hand down.

Remembering a fishing friend who completely lost his hand from snake poison (or maybe is was from a Black Widow bite...Deep Creek is known for those bitches, also) last year - made the extra caution very easy to tolerate. At any rate, to beat all, the fishing was awful. Please advise all our TU brothers to NOT waste their time coming up to Deep Creek. If they do decide to try it, be sure to wear SNAKE PROOF KEVLAR CHAPS...” Rabunite John (Banjer) Duncan

2005 Trout Camp Trip to Nacoochee Bend donated by Unicoi Outfitters (Jimmy Harris) and awarded to Camper Morgan Marks for his winning performance in the casting competition:

Morgan, his trophy rainbow trout, and his Excellency, the Grand Exalted Fishing Guide Larry “Boones Farm” Vigil - - - priceless!!

Photo provided by Duane Stalnaker

Every Day is Different on THE RIVER

THE RIVER on 3/9: “Fished the DH today from 3 PM till 5 PM. Saw no bugs and no rises. Caught 6 rainbows (9-10")...5 on a Prince and one on a wet fly I found in my box. Caught all in the Honey Hole; then tried the next two places upstream. Even tried a booger. No luck. Had 4 pieces of lead on. Saw 2 other anglers but no action. Water is warming up..48 degrees. If I'd had a bar of Ivory soap I could have bathed, but it wasn't Saturday nite.” Rabunite Charlie Breithaupt

THE RIVER on 3/10: “Great day on THE RIVER last Friday. You know how nice the weather was that day. Lots of bugs hatching on the upper end when we arrived about 11:30 - BWO's, dark gray caddis or stoneflies (couldn't tell which) and some "blue duns" about size 14 (Quill Gordons?). Then about 4:00, some tan and dark gray caddis but no March Browns. My partner and I did real well on nymphs throughout the afternoon - size 18 bead head pheasant tail for the olive nymphs fished as a dropper behind a tung bead prince or hares ear was the best producer - both dead drift and on the swing. Switched to a tan deer hair caddis emerger with a soft hackle dropper about 3:30, then to a dark gray caddis emerger w/o a dropper as the hatch progressed. Lots of 10-12" rainbows on the dries and dropper but missed one about 18 - 20" that rolled on the dry emerger and may have nudged the leader to the dropper because I never put steel on him. Couldn't bring him back unfortunately. Did get two other nice rainbows of about 16" on nymphs earlier in the day. My partner got a nice brookie about 16" out of the first pool he fished.” Rabunite Doug (Banker) Hickman

THE RIVER on 3/11: “Fished the Chattooga just above 28 bridge Saturday. Good BWO hatch and a lot of risers. Also some big Quill Gordons. Couldn't catch anything on dries. Managed to get 4 on nymphs. My purpose here is to find out what you fish to the BWO hatch. I tried parachute Adams, BWO emergers. Didn't have any duns. What is he magic fly for this hatch?” Gold Rush Chapter’s Pat Pattillo

GA - Land Conservation Tax Credit bill passes: The bill is designed to encourage farmers, timber owners, and other property owners to protect their land from development by providing them a tax break on their income tax. The landowner can donate a conservation easement and keep the land. A farmer could continue to work the land while prohibiting development and would be allowed to claim a tax credit of up to 25% of the land’s value. This is an initiative to preserve “green space” for future generations. http://www.gaconservancy.org/News/News_GEC_2006_updates.asp

Rabun Co – GA EPD Requires Contractor to Clean Silt from Trout Streams: (see “What’s New” Nov ’05 & the 3 letters in Dec ’05 issue of TIGHT LINES) Complaints about Highway 76 reconstruction causing siltation of trout streams and Lake Burton got results. A consent order was issued by GA EPD requiring the contractor (Wright Brothers) to maintain soil erosion control on fill areas located outside of the state right-of-way until all sites are permanently stabilized. The contractor must also restore stream buffers and restore two trout streams by removing sediment (3,000 cu yds from Jones Branch and up to 1,500 cu yds from Acorn Creek). The contractor is also required to remove sediment from Lake Burton. The clean up is underway under the watchful eyes of the Rabun County Marshall’s Office. (Editor’s note: We can thank County Marshall Roy Lovell in person when he presents the program at the April 18^th Chapter meeting!)

GA - Senate Bill 510, threatening stream buffers and water quality in Georgia, passed on the Senate floor. Thanks to your involvement the bill has been neutered from its original version. However it is still a rollback on stream buffers, thereby threatening the quality of drinking water for Georgians. SB 510 has recently passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee to the House floor. More details: http://www.protectgeorgia.net/default.asp Please contact your Representative: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/house/

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/sb510.htm

GA – House Bill 1211, naming the southern brook trout as the official Georgia coldwater fish has passed in the House and the Senate. House disagrees with Senate amendment. http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2005_06/search/hb1211.htm

NPS - Smokies Opens Park Streams to Brook Trout Fishing: (3/21/06) For the first time in over 30 years anglers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be allowed to catch and keep brook trout under new experimental Park fishing regulations that take affect April 15. After over 25 years of monitoring trout and non-game populations in fished vs. closed streams, Park biologists had observed that natural occurrences such as floods and droughts were the major force behind changes in fish populations in both open and closed streams. In 2002 Park biologists tested allowing angling for brook trout by experimentally opening eight streams (4 in TN, 4 in NC) to fishing and harvest for 3 years under the normal GRSM fishing regulations (i.e. 5 fish per day limit, 7-inch minimum size, and single hook artificial lures only). Each stream that was open had a nearby control stream which remained closed. Biologists analyzed population data within each stream (both open and closed) for three years prior to and three years after brook trout fishing was opened. The study found there were no significant differences in brook trout density or the number of legal brook trout brook trout in any stream opened to brook trout fishing during the study period. Variation which did occur was attributed to natural variation and was not related to open vs. closed. (Editor’s note: The Banker sez, “They obviously didn't take into account the ‘Kelly Factor’.“) http://www.nps.gov/grsm/

GA TU Council – Dream Trip Raffle Winner is Charlie McCrory of Duluth, GA. Rabunite Steve Raeber said, “I know this guy--"Doc" McCrory--Nice guy, very friendly, great family. His stick of preference is a golf club rather than a fly rod.” Rabunite and GA TU Council Chairman Charlie Breithaupt said, “He bought one ticket at the Atlanta Fly-Fishing Show. He fishes but not fly-fishing; he's very excited about learning and going to Wyoming. Charlie is a dentist. He learned about his good fortune March 12th, on his 67th birthday (a good age). His son Roddy (age 42) will accompany him on the trip. He's ready to go!!! Thanks to all...Duane, Mack, Chapters, Kathy...that made this raffle so successful.” http://64.30.174.56/gatu/

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) Purchases 36.5 Acres and Donates to USFS: The tract lays along the west bank of the Upper Chattahoochee River above Helen from the Spoilcane Creek confluence downstream to below the confluence of Rice Cabin Creek (a.k.a. The Abernathy Tract). Jim Kidd with the USFS said, “Getting federal LWCF appropriations and other federal funding is always a very high priority and usually the preferred way to go. But in this instance we had to explore private avenues to leverage available conservation monies so we can add this land to the national forest. We’re really pleased that TPL and the Georgia Land Trust Service Center (GLTSC) stepped in to help.” The Forest Service will now provide for the permanent protection of the property and the public now has access to this section of the river. (Editor’s note: Our thanks to TPL http://www.tpl.org/tier2_rl.cfm?folder_id=249 and GLTSC http://www.gepinstitute.com/ )

USFS - District Consolidations (3/13/06) Forest Supervisor Kathleen Atkinson announced last week her decision to recommend consolidation of four Ranger Districts on the Chattahoochee National Forest into two units. The Tallulah Ranger District, located in Clayton, and the Chattooga Ranger District, located in Clarkesville, will be combined into one unit. The Toccoa Ranger District, located in Blue Ridge, and the Brasstown Ranger District, located in Blairsville will be combined into one unit. http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/press/index.htm

National TU Awards 2006 Embrace-A-Stream (EAS) Grant to Georgia TU Council for Brook Trout Restoration Efforts: WASHINGTON, D.C (3/8/06). – Trout Unlimited awarded a $9,840 EAS grant to its GA Council. The grant will support an ongoing effort to improve conditions for the Southern Appalachian brook trout throughout the state’s mountainous regions. The EAS grant will support monitoring and research as well as restoration and education efforts as part of TU’s regional “Back the Brookie” (BtB) campaign. The grant will support these goals in partnership with the USFS, GA DNR, University of GA, North GA Technical College, Southern Co and others. “This Embrace-A-Stream grant will provide a huge boost to our restoration work in the state,” said Alex Watson, Conservation Coordinator for the GA Council’s BtB campaign. “Our membership is already rallying around the brookie, and this grant gives us the support to energize and expand our efforts.” This is in addition to the Southern Co grant of $5,000 per year for 3 years GA TU BtB was awarded last fall. (Editor’s note: Our congratulations and thanks to Alex for his work preparing this grant application.) http://www.brookie.org/

“BACKCASTING”

Mar 4 (Sat) GA TU Council Meeting: Location - Atlanta Fly Fishing School. Attended by Rabunites Charlie & Kathy Breithaupt, Terry Rivers, Ray Gentry, Doug Adams and Rabunite Wannabee – Larry (B.F.) Vigil. The "old" business discussions included: Chattooga River Boating Ban update (see below), Chattahoochee River NRA update, BtB Embrace-a-Stream Grant, BtB water sampling, Chapter Effectiveness Index, 2006 GA Trout Camp, and Dream Trip raffle ticket turn-in. The "new" business discussions included: Nantahala River concerns, Strategic Plan Part II, Political Concerns - Senate Bill 510 concerning stream buffers & House Bill 1211 the Brookie bill, Proposed sale of USFS land (see below), SE Region Rally April 28-30 in VA, GA Environthon, Upcoming projects & events, Toccoa River DH proposal, Earth Share of GA, and Report encounters with boaters (see below).

Chattooga River Boating Ban update: There will be 2 types of boater trials. One trial will be structured and regimented with expert panels consisting of researchers, boaters, and anglers. The other will be restricted, supervised, and monitored public boating trials at specific times to collect specific information. In addition there will be a thorough review of existing related information and studies, focus groups, and user surveys. When all the details are worked out there will be another public meeting with questions and feedback. The user surveys on the Upper Chattooga are likely to be conducted at the river for 12 months. If you are there and see a person in uniform with a clipboard, please take the time to share your views. The Forest Service anticipates a decision by early 2008. For more information and public comments already received: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms/forest/projects/chatt.shtml

Proposed sale of USFS land: The FY 2007 President's Budget proposes to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program for another five years. The Administration recommends selling over 300,000 acres of National Forest System lands in 34 states around the nation, including 30 tracts in the Chattahoochee National Forest totaling 3973 acres. How do you feel about it? "A terrible precedent, selling our public lands to offset a budget shortfall." "Short sighted, only a 5-year solution." "This proposes selling all the lands the Forest Service has available for exchanges for critical in-holdings. Without LWCF moneys, land exchanges was the last tool in the Forest Service toolbox." What are some alternatives? “Pay from General Funds.” "Sell the timber and keep the land." "Let the rural counties raise their school taxes." Garland Stewart will get the official National TU position on this entire issue. Garland proposed sending a letter to GA Senators and ALL of the GA Congressmen expressing the GA TU Council's opposition to the sale of FS lands for the 3 reasons stated above. Motion passed. The dead line for public comments to the Forest Service was March 30^th. For more info & details: http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/press/200603-srslsi/index.htm

Need your reports of encounters with boaters while fishing: When you or anyone you know is out trout fishing on GA steams and experience an encounter with boaters, please send Rabun TU an E-mail describing the encounter and how it affected you. We have received reports from Alex Watson of his encounters on Holcomb and Moccasin Creeks. Garland Stewart reported his encounter on the Upper Chattahoochee near Horse Trough Falls. Lee Hiers reported a recent encounter on the Chestatee River in private waters below Turners Corner. The USFS and DNR needs this information to give guidance in future management strategies for avoiding user conflicts. Rabun TU will accumulate the reports and pass them on to the agencies. Send to: edadams1@alltel.net

Mar 7 (Tues) Fly Tying, (3^rd session). It was a great session with 14 attendees. Fur, feathers, and chicken hair were flying (no, no, - - not chicken hair - - that’s another story) as The Banker (a.k.a. Doug Hickman) instructed us in a new and improved method of attaching the elk hair (or deer hair) on a caddis fly imitation. Three young men were there learning to tie their first flies and looking forward to catching trout on the flies they tied themselves. They left with membership applications for joining Rabun TU. It was a fun evening as Cuz Nugget kept us entertained with some Kellyisms. Thanks Terry for hosting these events.

Mar 11 (Sat) Hoot on the Hooch was attended by 18 Rabunites. Jimmy Harris said, “Thanks so much to everyone who attended the Hoot On The Hooch - - and to those who contributed raffle and silent auction items. I counted 120 people in the house at one point. - - Great group on hand and so good to see support from NGTO'ers as well as TU'ers.” Tom Landreth said, “It was a good night and a lot of us think the Foothills Chapter just may have found a permanent site for the Hoot. Great job all around.”

Rabunites and Friends at “Hoot on the Hooch” in the Black Bear Dinner Theater

Shelia buck dances while the Shoal Creek Bluegrass Band plays – Sandy and Ralph are winners…. ALWAYS!

“BACKCASTING” (continued)

Mar 14 (Tues) Fly Tying (4^th session). It was another good session with 12 attendees. Terry taught the March Fly-of-the-Month, the black stonefly nymph. We had four young men there learning the basics of fly tying and they also joined the chapter (see the Membership Update section). They are ordering their own fly tying kits. Also in attendance was a reporter from the Clayton Tribune working on an article about trout fishing and Rabun TU.

Mar 21 (Tues) Chapter Meeting was attended by 24 Rabunites and friends. Duane Stalnaker, President of the Tailwater Chapter, gave an excellent PowerPoint presentation on Stealth Tactics and Reading Trout Waters. Duane gave his 10 rules for fishing for wild trout starting with wearing dull-colored clothing to blend in with the background vegetation and he ending with planning your approach to every pool, run, riffle, undercut, and pocket. He had a beautiful set of slides showing many different fishing situations and with a laser pointer he showed how he would plan and approach each. Duane also shared some examples of what he tried that didn’t work (where the trout won). All pictures were made on streams near the Green River Guest Ranch in Cora, WY http://www.grguestranch.com/ Thanks Duane, it was an informative and entertaining presentation.

We elected Jimmy Whiten as Chapter Vice President replacing Ralph Morgan (Ralph moved away and Jimmy was not present at the meeting tonight), and we elected Lea Richmond & Larry Walker as Chapter Directors. Thanks for serving, guys.

Rabunite Pat Hopton introduced us to the new wildlife biologist for the USFS Tallulah District, Mike Brod. Welcome Mike!!!

Past Prez Ray brought the $765 Thomas & Thomas fly rod Nation TU sent to Rabun TU for our $1000 donation to the Embrace-A-Stream program. The beautiful Vector 9ft 5wt 6-piece pack rod will be on silent auction at the 2007 Rabun Rendezvous.

And Travis explained the “ins and outs” of wooden bowl making.

Raffle & Auction: We had 11 items in the raffle, including 3 fly selections (but unfortunately no hurricane lamps). Bill Kelly was auctioneer for a George Foreman 8-in-1 grill ($100 retail value) donated by Veep Jimmy and repaired by Prez Terry. Rabunites Ray & Patsy got a great deal. We raised $181 tonight. Waaaah Whooo! A special ‘thank you’ goes to all that contributed items.

Mar 25 (Sat) Opening Day for Seasonal Trout Streams – WAAAaaaaaaah WHOOooooooo!

Mar 28 (Tues) Board of Directors meeting. The Chapter is sending letters in opposition to the proposed USFS land sale and GA SB510. Other items discussed included the details for the Mack Martin fly rod raffle, inviting the Boy Scout Troop to the family cookout, Trout Day at Reeves Hardware – Dillard, Oconee River Chapter banquet, next meeting program by County Marshal, Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter High Country Boil, the Chapter campout + fishing + workday (April 20 – 22). The BOD meeting was followed by Fly Tying (5^th and final 2006 session). Prez Terry taught the Parachute Adams to the 11 Rabunites in attendance.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

A Big Rabunite welcome to 8 new members this month: Will Pendrey, 426 Coy Lane, Clayton, GA 30525;

Adam Wilkerson, 216 Walnut Grove Lane, Tiger, GA 30576; Dwayne Hunnicutt, 272 Holbrook Lane, Clayton, GA 30525; Dylan Bradley, PO Box 129, Clayton, GA 30525; John Patrick, 202 Dixon Lane, Clayton, GA 30525; George Custer (transfer), 2965 Tate City Road, Clayton, GA 30525; Jake Cannon, 3602 Warwoman Road, Clayton, GA 30525; and Reid Cannon, 3602 Warwoman Road, Clayton, GA 30525.

Thanks for re-upping: Rachael Davis, Maria Rodeghiero, Larry Walker, Chuck Breithaupt, Bill Coon, Allan Ramsay, Walt Landreth, Philip Koch, Gary Breece, Gary Deal, and Tom Shirley.

It is time to renew your membership: M. Pierce and Hal Northrop.

Gates Celebrate Their 50^th – Congratulations to Rabunites Max and Winona Gates on their 50^th wedding anniversary. They were married March 30, 1956 in Greenville, FL.

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s 2006 STAR Student is Danny Burken, son of Rabunites Dr. Russ “Doc” Burken and Dr. Margaret Kopchick. Danny plans to attend GA Tech and study aeronautical engineering. Congratulations Danny!

"Cannon's Creel" by Rabunite David Cannon will be on pages 148-149 in the April issue GON. http://www.gon.com/

"Stalking along from log to log, or plunging their long legs in the oozy swamp, two large herons paid no attention to my presence, but occupied themselves with their own fishing arrangements, as if the wilderness were their own."

From "I Go A-Fishing" by W.C. Prime (1873)

Rabun TU Officers & Directors

President - Terry Rivers, PO Box 371, Clayton, GA 30525 Ph 706 782 7419 E-mail tlr1121@alltel.net

Vice President - Jimmy Whiten Ph 706 886 6546 E-mail jimmywhiten@alltel.net

Treasurer (w/Newsletter & Meeting Raffles) - Doug Adams Ph 706 746 2158 E-mail edadams1@alltel.net

Secretary - Tom Matthews Ph 706 782 0369 E-mail tmatt@hemc.net

Past President (w/Membership) - Ray Kearns Ph 706 782 9913 E-mail raykearns@alltel.net

Director (w/Programs) - Bill Kelly Ph 706 746 2104 E-mail bkjk1@alltel.net

Director (w/Website) - Kathy Breithaupt Ph 706 782 6954 E-mail knc615@direcway.com

Director (w/Campouts & USFS Work-outings) - Charlie Breithaupt Ph 706 782 6954 E-mail knc615@direcway.com

Director (w/Publicity, Letters, & Hospitality) - Tom Landreth Ph 706 746 2295 E-mail landreth@alltel.net

Director – Larry Walker Ph 706 244 4345 E-mail amosndixie@alltel.net

Director – Lea Richmond Ph 706 782 6898 E-mail learichmond@alltel.net

News from the President...... Terry Rivers

Hi All,

Well, it’s time for you folks that have had to work to get your gear ready because spring is just around the corner. The Delayed Harvest streams have fished well all winter and that will end shortly.

The Chapter has had an increase in membership, lately. One reason is the result of us having the fly tying sessions. We signed up four new members under 25 years of age. This is what we are looking for.

Also, I want to remind everybody that we are going to have a membership drive at Reeves Hardware in Dillard on Saturday, April 8^th, from 10 am till 3 pm. I would love to see a great turnout of members for this. All help is welcomed. We will be tying flies, showing fishing videos, and casting tips for those who need help. Lewis said he will advertise in the Tribune and will probably have door prizes.

Our first in-stream project and campout is this month. I hope we have a good turnout, especially our new members. I’m looking forward to all the activities we have planned for this year. I want to encourage everybody to participate. This is a good way you can enjoy fellowship and make new friends.

Hope to see y’all on THE RIVER.

Terry

Have a great day - Hope you catch a lot of fish!

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For more pictures, info, and back issues of TIGHT LINES, visit the Rabun TU website: http://www.rabuntu.com/ Georgia TU Council website: http://georgiatu.org/ & National TU Website: http://www.tu.org/index.asp We would love getting your “Letters to the Editor”, suggestions, stories, articles, and questions for our panel of experts in the Q & A section, or your comments about our Website and Newsletter.

Send them to: edadams1@alltel.net Or to: Rabun TU, PO Box 65, Rabun Gap, GA 30568

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Please tell us if you have E-mail, it will save the chapter $1.09 per newsletter mailed: E-Mail edadams1@alltel.net

RABUN CHAPTER of TROUT UNLIMITED PO BOX 371 CLAYTON, GA 30525

Clayton Presbyterian Church (Located behind the Post Office) - Clayton, GA 3^rd Tuesday of the Month 6:30 pm – Social & Yarn Spinning 7:00 pm – Program & Meeting (you don’t have to believe the yarns - - if you don’t want to)

At every regular chapter meeting there will be a raffle for fishing or camping items to help pay the cost of mailing the newsletter to members without E-mail. Bring an item to donate and a dollar or two for raffle tickets - you might win something.

PARACHUTE ADAMS

Visitor Use Capacity Analysis, Upper Chattooga River

Director's Page by Buzz Williams

Fishing Reports

“BACKCASTING”

"Stalking along from log to log, or plunging their long legs in the oozy swamp, two large herons paid no attention to my presence, but occupied themselves with their own fishing arrangements, as if the wilderness were their own."

From "I Go A-Fishing" by W.C. Prime (1873)

Terry

Clayton Presbyterian Church (Located behind the Post Office) - Clayton, GA 3rd Tuesday of the Month 6:30 pm – Social & Yarn Spinning 7:00 pm – Program & Meeting (you don’t have to believe the yarns - - if you don’t want to)

At every regular chapter meeting there will be a raffle for fishing or camping items to help pay the cost of mailing the newsletter to members without E-mail. Bring an item to donate and a dollar or two for raffle tickets - you might win something.

PARACHUTE ADAMS

Visitor Use Capacity Analysis, Upper Chattooga River

Director's Page by Buzz Williams

Fishing Reports

“BACKCASTING”

"Stalking along from log to log, or plunging their long legs in the oozy swamp, two large herons paid no attention to my presence, but occupied themselves with their own fishing arrangements, as if the wilderness were their own."

From "I Go A-Fishing" by W.C. Prime (1873)

Terry

Clayton Presbyterian Church (Located behind the Post Office) - Clayton, GA 3^rd Tuesday of the Month 6:30 pm – Social & Yarn Spinning 7:00 pm – Program & Meeting (you don’t have to believe the yarns - - if you don’t want to)