Georgia TU Trout Camp 2009 a Success!!

By Joe DiPietro

A group of 24 kids got the chance of a lifetime last month when the Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited sponsored its 6^th  Annual Trout Camp in Rabun Gap, Ga. With some of the biggest names and best guides from around the region working to mentor the campers, along with the countless decades of experience brought by the many TU Volunteers, there's no doubt all 24 kids left the week-long camp with the information and skills they needed to be ethical trout anglers, fly-tiers and staunch conservationists.

The Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter sponsored its pair of campers, Ryan Corrigan and Austin Summers. I was fortunate enough to work with both boys, not only on fly-casting and tying, but also on the water doing things like seining for macro-invertebrates and fly-fishing.

Ryan gets some fly-casting help from TU National Chief Operations Officer Chris Wood

With Austin, one of the best moments was on the second day of camp when he hooked his first trout in a small stream. He had spent the previous day and a half learning all about trout and just like all the other campers, by the time they got to Betty Creek, they were dieing to put all they'd learned to work. 

Austin, another camper named Jacob, and I all fished together that first night on the creek. We had about three hours to fish before the sun went down. Despite the fact that several of us mentors had snuck off earlier in the day to stock the creek with the help of the DNR's Buford Hatchery staff, it was tough fishing. We threw every fly we could think of and missed a few hits, caught plenty of trees, but had yet to bring a trout to hand.

Austin and I turned around to head back downstream as the time to bag it for the evening drew closer. It was one of those “one last cast” scenarios. I tied on an olive woolly bugger and gave a little hint as to a good run to feed the fly down through.

Austin began to strip the fly back toward himself and it happened, his rod doubled over. Just as he'd been taught, Austin took his time and worked the fish back upstream to a point where we could net it, get a quick photo and release it.

It was truly hard to tell who was more excited, the campers or me.

Austin with his first trout from a small stream.

The next evening I found myself on the Tallulah River with Ryan Corrigan and another camper named John. All the campers had spent the day at Smithgall Woods learning about and seining for “trout prey” with Smithgall Interpretive Specialist Sheila Humphrey. Then they headed to the Buford Hatchery to look around, help load a truck full of browns and then onto the Tallulah where the campers helped stock the fish into the river.

                Ryan with his first Brown Trout caught on the Tallulah River.

After a good BBQ dinner along the Tallulah, we hit the water. Within the first half-hour, Ryan had caught and released his first-ever brown trout. After that, it was all smiles as  Ryan, and all the other campers, proceeded to catch and release browns hand-over-fist.

As the week went on, all the campers improved their skills and continued learning more. They participated in brook trout stream surveys, shocking and habitat work on Ramey Creek with the help USFS and DNR officials and interns. They fished Betty Creek every night after the Tallulah and, not surprisingly, catch (and release) rates went up and confidence was gained.

Austin said he “really liked fishing Betty Creek. I learned some new casting techniques for small streams. I think I'm going to go home and put a lot of this to use.”
    “The fly-tying was hard and a little frustrating, but I learned a lot!,” Austin said.

Both Ryan and Austin named the night of catchin' (not fishin') on the Tallulah as the highlight of the camp. But both also said they enjoyed every other aspect of the event, from toting logs for the work on Ramey Creek to the casting contest and cook-out that was held on the last evening of the camp on Indian Lake.

“I've learned all the fundamentals of fly-fishing and fishing etiquette,” Ryan said. “I've had a ton of fun. I'm definitely coming back in two years to be a 'young mentor'.”

 “We've had an exceptionally good group of campers this year,” said Camp Coordinator and Georgia TU Council Chairman Charlie Breithaupt. “Everybody caught fish and everyone learned a lot.”

By the last day of camp, the campers had one more shot on Betty Creek and they were much more successful and able fly-fishermen than they were on the first night. As a mentor, seeing the transformation was priceless. After the morning of fishing, the campers made it back to the dorms to meet with their parents and hold a graduation ceremony.

Unicoi Outfitters Guide Dave Humphrey helps Austin land a trout on Betty Creek.

 The camp was made possible by a slew of donors, donations, other non-profit organizations and volunteers. Thanks to those who gave, the campers all left decked in all the gear they  needed to go on and catch fish on their own, from fly-rods and reels to vests, hats, polarized sunglasses, flies and much, much more.

“(Georgia TU) is very grateful for everyone who has helped us pull this off, from the mentors to the donors, it's just amazing the support we've received,” Breithaupt said.

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Blue Ridge TU Sends an Eager Pair of young anglers to Trout Camp

By Joe DiPietro

 As is tradition, our chapter of TU is sending a pair of teens to the Georgia TU Trout Camp this month. Running from June 7-13, the camp will teach all of the kids involved just about everything they'd ever need to know about fly-fishing and how to catch trout. From entomology to fly-casting to reading the water, all the campers should leave ready and able to catch and release trout on their own.

The first camper that our chapter is sponsoring is 14-year-old Austin Summers. He and his father, Jeff, are both members of our chapter and got started fly-fishing after taking a fly-casting class at Unicoi Outfitters this year.

“We're both very 'beginner' fly-fishermen, with an extreme yearning to learn,” Jeff said. “After we took the class, we started learning together and eventually from each other. It's just been great.”

Austin could barely contain his excitement about heading off to camp. “I can't wait. I've got it marked on my calendar,” he said. “I'm so excited. I want to learn so much.”

“I'm hoping to learn to read the water better and I'm hoping to become a better caster,” Austin said. “I'm pretty new to this, but I know it'll be a lot of fun!”

Austin with one of the first trout he caught fly-fishing.

The second trout camper that the Blue Ridge chapter is sponsoring is Ryan Corrigan. Ryan recently experienced the thrill of trout fishing while spending some time at Carl Rigg's place at Toccoa Bend. Any angler who has ever wet a line there knows it is sure to make a quick fly-fisher out of anyone. After catching a handful of fish on the fly, Ryan is prepared and excited for the week-long trip to Trout Camp, said his Dad Craig Corrigan.

“I've been an avid fly-fisherman for the last two years and I'm really hoping Ryan will learn to get the same enjoyment out of it as I do,” Craig said. “That way, we can spend as much time together as possible. And, certainly, I'm hoping he learns to tie his own knots a little better, so I can spend a little more time fishing, too.”

Most of all, Craig said he is hoping that Ryan will “learn the joy of preserving trout.”

                                                      

  2009 Trout Camper Ryan Corrigan lands 
   a good Toccoa 'Bow with the help 
   of BRMTU VP Carl Riggs.