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Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited
Chapter #696
Blue Ridge, GA
Trout Capital of Georgia The effect of this designation can be a great advertising tool for our cabin rental companies, lodges, guide services, hotel, motels and tourist related business. People for years have come to Fannin County for the beauty and peace of the mountains and now knowing that the trout fishing is world class will only add to the desire to visit. Just think when, the Northeast, Midwest and Mountain regions of our country are frozen in fishermen will know that they can travel to North Georgia to fish for trophy rainbow and brown trout as well as hitting any of our 535 primary miles of trout streams for a native brook trout. It is now a greater duty of Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter to make sure our streams are clean, structures maintained and people educated about the importance of cold water resources. Presidents please forward this message to your membership on behalf of the Georgia Fishing for Vets Day program and the soldiers of the Wounded Transition Battalion (WTB) on Fort Benning. Much appreciated. Normally I would have forwarded a thank you to our volunteers and sponsors right after our Georgia Fishing for Vets Day event. I was asked however to wait until I received the enclosed thank you from the WTB soldiers and their families. Last week I was invited to Fort Benning to accept the attached Certificate of Appreciation, and picture from the WTB on behalf of all our volunteers and sponsors. There were over 125 volunteers, 88 veterans signed up, 44 members of the WTB plus their family members, 13 guests from the Atlanta VA hospital, and numerous others who missed the signup sheets. There were members from every fly fishing organization in North Georgia; AFFC, GWFF, NGTO, and TU. A special thanks to our fly fishing guides, each provided trips for our silent auction; Blue Ridge Fly Fishing Guides, Flies and Fletching, Henry Cowen, River Through Atlanta, and Unicoi. Also on hand were Orvis, the National Park Service, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Somehow we all went through 800+ brats graciously supplied by Johnsonville Sausage, and 50 pounds of BBQ supplied by Goldstar BBQ. With the help of John McLaughlin and Carl Black automotive we had drinks for the entire day. We also received help from the Army Corps of Engineers, and Georgia Power that ensured a safe day on the water for everyone. There are way too many people to mention in this e-mail that made the Second Annual Georgia Fishing for Vets Day the success that it was. I hope that you will be able to open the attached items from the WTB. I know that they would have loved to have given everyone that participated on April 10 a certificate to hang on their wall. You made it an unbelievable day for so many.
During a monthly chapter meeting back in early March a comment was made that to help improve the economic situation in Fannin County that Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited should get the ball rolling towards have the county designated the “Trout Capital of Georgia”. That simple statement came to full fruition today when Speaker of the House David Ralston joined Blue Ridge Mtn. members, county and city officials and friends of our cold water resources to present HR 1773 to Commissioner Bill Simmons and the Mayor of Blue Ridge.
Thanks to all of those who stepped forward to make this resolution come true and now all of us can feel pride every time we see a sign or hear the words "Trout Capital of Georgia".
Fly Fishing for Vets . . .(pictures)
GFFVD and the Wounded Transition Battalion Thank You
2010 Spring Trip . . . South Holston
Twenty six Blue Ridge Mountain members and friends spent the last weekend of April fishing the waters of the South Holston and Watauga Rivers. It was one of the largest groups we have ever put together and fortunately the adjoining property owner to Holston Castaway is now renting a nice home on the river, that’s right we had four full houses.
The fishing was really good and everyone was able to land trout and a few even hooked and landed the carp which were moving up stream from Lake Boone. Many brown and rainbow trout in the 12 to 16 inch range were caught each day.
The long cold winter has slowed the hatch process down so the sulpher had not started yet but daily there was a nice hatch of midges and BWO’s who were willing to take your size 20 fly each afternoon. Most fish were caught on size 20-28 zebra midges and pheasant tails. Everitt had his own secret flies he tied each day before leaving for the river.
We created a new tradition for the event; Member Dean LaGrange donated a walking stick he had made to the chapter and each year the person on the trip who catches the largest trout will be awarded the staff to use for a year. This years winner was Duane Miller, who landed a 25” brown trout, you would have thought he had just won the Heisman Trophy. Just ask him if you have a couple of hours and he will give you all the details.
The food and social hours were exceptional this year and a special thanks to Kermit and Nita Littleton for preparing the wonderful Italian sausage and pasta dish, and to David Oliver and Bob Folsom for preparing the pork loin, mashed potatoes, corn, and bean dinner. Don’t you wish you had gone this year? I think we all put on at least ten pounds.
A good time was had by all and those who had been before were missed. I have already reserved the three houses at Holston Castaway for the last weekend in April for next year so put it on your calendar and plan on joining all the fun. It was good to have our five members from Alabama (the Weasels) and two guest members from the Cohutta Chapter and our member Tom Spaulding from Ashville join us.
Upcoming Events
August 14 Montly Meeting
Tom Carroll speaker
9am -11am
August 28 Waters Creek Workday
NGTO.com
9am-1pm
September 11 Georgia TU Council meeting
152 Orvin Lance Connector
Chamber of Commerce
Blue Ridge, Ga
9am-12pm
September 18 Monthly meeting
Chamber of Commerce
9am - 11am
Speaker TBA
Additional information visit NEW Calendar of Events page.
A Week to Remember Sometimes events align because you plan it that way and other times they occur fortuitously. In the matter of the first week of May, 2010, we originally had one planned event: the May 8 Cub Scout Fishing Rodeo at the Chattahoochee National Fish Hatchery in Suches. Then fate struck when the weather caused delay of the Trout in the Classroom release, which was moved from April to May 7 because snow days delayed required testing at Fannin Middle School. Then we learned that Speaker Ralston was available May 5 to present House Resolution 1773 proclaiming Fannin County the Trout Capital of Georgia to local officials. Finally, the Hatchery needed our help with the Special Needs Fishing event at the Hatchery on May 6 because our neighboring TU chapter from Blairsville had a conflicting event. Carl Riggs sent out the call for volunteers to help that day. BRMTU had participation each of the four days in a row, making this perhaps the busiest week we’ve ever had. But each event went off without a hitch. On a Bluebird day Wednesday morning at Tammen Park, House Speaker David Ralston presented the original Trout Capital Resolution to Commission Chair Bill Simonds and Blue Ridge Mayor Donna Whitener. In the background: a truck from the USFWS Hatchery with rainbow trout being stocked into the Toccoa and a couple lucky fly fishermen having success in the river. Speaker Ralston had some kind and encouraging words for the chapter and the work we do here and an informed and positive assessment of the value of the cold watersheds here and in surrounding areas. Shown here is the Speaker (holding proclamation) presenting the resolution to Chairman Simonds and Mayor Whitener. But there was to be no rest for the weary. Our volunteers mustered for the Trout in the Classroom Release Friday, and the event capped off another successful TIC year thanks to chair Carl Riggs and our terrific teaching duo of Jeff Weaver and Tony Tichler. Whew. It had been a long week, but our work was not done. Thirty six cub scouts and their parents and leaders descended on the USFWS Hatchery. Deb Burger set us up with a stocked stream, USFWS personnel Terry and Zack, and another beautiful day in a beautiful place for our first ever Cub Scout Fishing Rodeo.
for Blue Ridge Mountain TU
(pictures forthcoming)
It did not take long for our volunteers to roll up their sleeves, as the special needs fishing event at the Hatchery took place Thursday on another beautiful day. The Blairsville chapter had a great showing, and the Friends of the Hatchery were out in force, and our volunteers chipped in what we could to make the day special for 150 kids and adults with special needs from surrounding counties.
There were smiles all around, and, as usual, the volunteers got much more out of seeing the looks of discovery, amazement, and pure joy when everyone was successful pulling fish from the raceways. If you have not done this before, we heartily recommend it because it’s the right thing to do and it can bring a unique form of joy into your heart. Thanks to all who showed up and a special thanks to the Chattahoochee-Nantahahla Chapter (Blairsville), whose support of the Hatchery programs is unmatched and truly magnificent and the teachers and parents who take such good care of these kids. There is a place in heaven for them for sure. A feel good day? You bet!
The kids were well-behaved and appreciative. Hundreds of fish made it safely to the Toccoa. Nita and Kermit Littleton again did a great job with the food, David Hulsey headed up the casting, Everett demonstrated fly tying, and Crystal and Deb brought their putt-putt golf game from the Hatchery. All of these efforts were supported by chapter volunteers. Jay Campbell gave us a fly rod/reel outfit as a giveaway to a lucky student. We heard the school choir, listened to Mike Holloway’s sage words, and generally celebrated one of the most successful programs around. Thanks to the BRMTU leaders and members who started this program and kept it going strong. Each year we send off another class with a better understanding and appreciation for the needs of trout. Pictured: Carl Riggs gets wet to get a picture of the release. Jeff Weaver is in the foreground.
The cubs earned patches and belt loops while learning about safety, conservation, and techniques for fishing. Plus they did some catching along the way. A big thanks to the cub scout leaders and parents who did the lion’s share of supervision and Carl Riggs who lined up the event and Ralph Artigliere who organized the educational and award component. Was it a good day? Just count the smiles and see!