Rise - March, 2019 by coldwaterpress

MARCH 2019 Volume 1 • Number 1

LAND O’ SKY TROUT UNLIMITED — Serving Members Across Buncombe, Madison and Yancey Counties In Western North Carolina

CONTENTS 4 6 10 12 14 2

MARCH 2019 Volume 1 • Number 1

Cliff’s Notes Conservation Outlook Chapter Stocking Program Youth / Education Programs 2019 Fly Fishing Film Tour

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16 18 20 22 26

Chapter Meetings From The Editor Membership Update Mopping Up On the Calendar

t Ticke fit e ffl e Ra o Beny t s e l Sa nd O’ Sk La limited n U t u Tro

Join us at Highland Brewing Company for an unforgettable evening! Friday, March 22, 2019 • 7 PM – 10 PM • Doors Open at 6 PM Admission: $15 MARCH 2019 Tickets: https://www.hunterbanks.com/fly-fishing-film-tour-tickets

Cliff’sNotes The Fishing In Print I

’m a voracious reader and an avid fly fisher so it should come as no surprise that a lot of what I read is fly fishing related, heavy on history and non-technical books and not much on the howto except fly tying. In fact, the idea (and the title) of this month’s article comes from a book by Arnold Gingrich. Among other accomplishments, Gingrich is the founder (in 1933) of “Esquire” magazine and the creator of the 20/20 Club (a 20’ or larger trout or salmon on a size 20 or smaller hook). His book was subtitled “A Guided Tour through Five Centuries of Angling Literature“ and I will mention some of the works he reviewed. First and foremost among fly fishing books is “Trout”, by Ray Bergman. First published in 1938 and revised a couple of times, it is still available making it probably the second-longest published fishing book behind Izaak Walton’s “The Compleat Angler” (about which more later). Although it was written that long ago, much of it is pertinent to today’s fishing. Ray Bergman was the “Outdoor Life” fishing editor for years. And I have a personal connection. The last TU chapter I belonged to was the Ray Bergman Chapter in New York and one of our members was Bergman’s grandnephew. Another book of historical interest is “The Complete Fly Fisherman: The Notes and Letters of Theodore Gordon”, by John McDonald, who was an editor at “Fortune” magazine. Theodore Gordon, as you probably know is generally credited with bringing dry fly fishing to the United States through his correspondence with Frederick M. Halford, G.E.M. Skues, and others, and is the creator of the Quill Gordon dry fly. 4

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Now to Izaak Walton and his “The Compleat Angler first published in 1653 and it’s not the oldest book o any discussion of fly fishing. It wasn’t until the1676 ed fly fishing and fly tying. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting includes instructions on fishing for Chub, Grayling, Sa Gudgeon, Roach, Dace, and Loach in addition to trou

In addition to angling and other pastimes, there’s also the next or any future meeting.). “The Compleat Ang Bible in the number of printed editions. One final no 17th century language as well as transcriptions into c

So if you’re wondering what IS the oldest fly fishing p Of Seynt Albans” (The Book Of St. Albans) by Dame her as the prioress of Sopwell Abbey near St. Albans Book of Hawking, Hunting, and Blasing of Arms {hera section titled “Treatyse of Fysshnge with an Angle”. In “To Color Your Lines”, “How Many Hairs You Shall An strands of horse tail), and directions for tying “the tw and grayling”.

Dame Juliana also comments on the three field spor says, “is laborious and right troublesome. And of Fow

r: Or, the Contemplative Man’s Recreation”. It was on fly fishing. In fact its first editions didn’t include dition when Charles Cotton added instructions on g read of pastoral life in Merrie Olde England and almon, Pike, Carp, Bream, Tench, Perch, Eel, Barbel, ut.

o “The Milkmaid’s Song” (I promise not to sing it at gler” has the distinction of being second only to The ote, editions are currently available in the original current English.

publication, the answer is a chapter in “The Boke e Juliana Berners. References of the times refer to s, Herfordshire, England. It is also known as “The aldry}”. But of most interest to us is an additional n it, she describes “How You Must Make Your Rod”, ngle for Every Fish” (‘Hairs” refer to the number of welve flies with which you must angle for the trout

summer season the fowler has no luck. And in the hardest and coldest weather he is sorely vexed … because of the cold”. As for fishing, “he will have his wholesome and merry walk at his own ease, that will make him right hungry and put his body in good condition”. Now who can argue with that?

rts: Hawking, Fowling, and Fishing. Hawking she wling she tells us is “to me “poorest of all, for in the MARCH 2019

CONSERVATIO OUTLOOK Jay Hawthorne, Program Chair

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s members of Trout Unlimited, we are familiar with the organization’s mission to conserve, protect, and restore North American coldwater fisheries and watersheds. Clearly, conservation is at the very core of that mission. Our Land O’ Sky chapter provides activities and opportunities for volunteers to engage with that ‘core’ in many ways. Personally, conservation is the main reason I joined TU. In this Conservation Outlook article, I want to summarize my view of the LOS TU conservation agenda by outlining the programs we offer today and plan to offer in the near future.

Land O’ Sky Conservation Programs Supporting currently active and significant on-stream projects (such as Cantrell Creek Trail Relocation with the Pisgah TU chapter and Citizen Science Initiative for WNC with Andy Brown). Future activities may include another Embrace-a-Stream project in 2020 where we can make a difference. Engaging with key partners with volunteering opportunities within TU and other local conservationminded groups on a year around basis; both on weekdays and weekends. • Aquatic macroinvertebrate monitoring currently done with Environmental Quality Institute (EQI) in fall and spring and sedimentation, temperature monitoring,

and fish passage barrier assessment training to be done with Andy Brown (TU Citizen Science Initiative) on-going this spring, • Live staking through Paddle-and-Plant float trips with Mountain True in winter (right now!), • Brook trout restoration and population tracking with U.S Park Service Fishery folks in Great Smoky Mountain National Park in summertime, • River clean-ups with partners Ivy River Partners, Mountain True, Pisgah TU chapter and during our stocking days on North Mills and Spring Creek • One-off projects (such as line container installations, river cleanups etc.) with other TU chapters (particularly with Pisgah TU) Hosting local conservation speakers to enlighten us at chapter meetings (such as Andy Brown, Stream Restoration Manager who leads the Southern Appalachian Region for National TU, Matt Kulp and Caleb Abramson, Fishery Biologists in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Jake Rash, Coldwater Research Coordinator at NC Wildlife Resources Commission). Working with the chapter fundraising team to create revenue for TU conservation projects at major events like the WNC Fly Fishing Show “Yard Sale” and the Fly Fishing Film Tour raffles. We receive significant support for these events from local fly shops like Hunter Banks, Davidson River Outfitters, and CurtisWright Outfitters and outdoor retailers like Orvis and REI. There are more activities where I am engaged on MARCH 2019

behalf of TU with other local conservation organizations (RiverLink, US Forest Service, etc.) and as opportunities present themselves, I will make all of you, our members and friends, aware of them.

Volunteer Partner Programs One exciting volunteer program I’d like to tell you more about is the Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE) from EQI. This program has been described as “the most robust volunteer benthic

macroinvertebrate monitoring pro 15th year of collecting data from si

For those interested in helping with attending the volunteer training to Volunteers participate in a six-hour benthic macroinvertebrate identific every fall and spring the volunteers streams in WNC for aquatic insect

Conservation Partner Programs and Inform Environmental Quality Institute (EQI)

Mountain True

Ivy River Partners

EQI was founded in 1988 at UNC Asheville. For two decades, EQI researched lead, arsenic, mercury, and other environmental exposures to the public. In 2010, EQI adopted the Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE), which is a volunteer biological monitoring project.

MountainTrue is the home of the French Broad Riverkeeper, the primary protector and defender of the French Broad River watershed, and the Green Riverkeeper (Gray Jernigan) — the key protector and watchdog of the Green River Basin in Western North Carolina.

The role and larg in Madison County, it is used for fishin Ivy River Partners takes on a variety o building sustainable, practical solutions important stream.

For more information or to get involved, visit http://www.eqilab.org or email Gracia O’Neill, Assistant Director.

MountainTrue is also the home of the Broad River Alliance, a collection of concerned citizens and organizations advocating for cleaner water, awareness and education, improved access and broadened recreational opportunities within the Broad River Basin. To learn more about Mountain True, visit https://mountaintrue.org or contact Anna Alsobrook, Watershed Outreach Coordinator.

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For more information, visit http://ivyr Whitney Mitchell, Cleanup Coordin

ogram in NC.“ It is going into its ites throughout WNC!

h data collection, consider be held on Saturday, April 6th. r training session to learn stream cation and sampling methods. Then s go out in small groups to sample ts. For more information about the program, visit the website. To learn more about the upcoming training, visit the event page on Facebook. Another is “Paddle-nPlant”, a program of Mountain True. The French Broad Riverkeeper and MountainTrue are combating sediment erosion in our local waterways. Sediment is

mation

e Ivy River Watershed serves a vital e for communities in both Madison d Buncombe Counties. One of the gest tributaries of the French Broad ng, swimming, agriculture, and drinking. of wide-ranging projects aimed at s to improve water quality in this

riverpartners.org or contact nator.

a major polluter in our river basin, clogging fish and aquatic habitats, increasing water temperatures, and transporting toxic substances. Paddle-n-Plant helps reduce the amount of sediment that flows into our rivers by planting live-stakes along eroding riverbanks. These stakes will grow into trees that will stabilize the sides of the rivers and creeks where we plant them and will reduce the overall amount of sediment getting into the river. So, come hop in a boat and help us reduce erosion along our local rivers! You can sign up to help out online by visiting this link. If you’re interested in more information or want to join us in these activities, please contact Jay at johnjhawthorne@gmail.com or connect with one of our conservation partners directly. And if you know of another partner program that would be a good fit for Land O’ Sky members, we’re always eager to listen.

Pisgah TU Our sister chapter homed in Brevard develops projects and manages workdays that benefit the Davidson River and many of its tributaries. Some of these include habitat restoration and enhancement, access improvements, partnering with LOS and others on the Cantrell Creek Project and miscellaneous maintenance projects to keep the Big D beautiful.

Trout Unlimited Southeast Regional Conservation Manager Andy Brown is very active in projects all through the area and has an exciting new volunteer opportunity for sedimentation surveys, temperature monitoring, and aquatic organism passage training. Contact Andy via email to learn more or get involved

Lean More at https://pisgahTU.org or contact project coordinator Tim Schubmehl at Pisgah TU for more details.

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CHAPTER STOCKING PROGRAM Rick Miale, Program Chair

pring is here and for many anglers that means Delayed Harvest stock corner. Volunteers from the Land O’ S from the North Carolina Wildlife Res trout in the Delayed Harvest (DH) se (Henderson County) and Spring Cree

The stocking process is straightforwar and fun. After meeting in the designat area to get organized and chow down donuts, stocking volunteers carry 5-ga buckets full of fish from the stocking truck to designated points along the river, where the truck distribution syst cannot reach. Because of this work, th distribution of fish is more even and widespread than would otherwise be possible.

The only equipment required is wadin gloves because a 5-gallon bucket full o handful and you may get a little soggy

Stocking events are some of our most attract a good turnout including many and come out to help out of curiosity. simply noticed the truck and our team

Hatchery Supp

Season: From August 1, 2018 to February 28, 201

• No fishing allowed from March 1, 2019 to • Reopen from 7:00 a.m. April 6, 2019 to July Lure Restrictions: None Daily Limit: 7 trout per day creel limit

Download the Full HS St

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in western North Carolina king days are just around the Sky chapter work with personnel sources Commission to stock ections of the North Mills River ek (Madison County).

rd ted n on allon

tem he

ng boots, waders, sunglasses, and of healthy fish can be quite a y in the process.

t popular of the year, and usually who learn about the event online Several times, volunteers have m working and stepped in to help.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to let people get to know Trout Unlimited and tell them more about our mission, chapter, conservation work and other programs like Trout in the Classroom. It’s always a blast when kids tag along to help out, too (under 18 need a parent or guardian present to participate). If you want to get to know others in the chapter, participating in a work program like trout stocking or trash pickup is one of the best ways to make friends and fishing buddies, particularly for our new members or those who haven’t been around in a while. And of course, there’s the benefit of knowing where the big ones are for your next trip back to the water in a few days or so after they’ve all had a chance to settle into their new digs and work up a powerful appetite. For those who’d like to join us but aren’t interested in or physically able to help with stocking, we can always use a hand picking up trash along the river as we work (the chapter supplies the bags). If you have questions, feel free to contact me (Rick Miale) via email at rickmiale@outlook.com or give me a call at (828) 280-1357. We look forward to seeing you there!

egulations Summary and Stocking Schedules

ported Waters

April 5, 2019 y 31, 2019

tocking Schedule Here

Spring 2019 Stocking Dates and Instructions Spring Creek Instructions (11 a.m. ) We meet in the lot behind Spring Creek Tavern. Turn R (Andrews Ave) as you cross the tracks, there will be a gravel parking lot on the left. If you look on google maps, this lot is directly behind Creekside Court.

North Mills Instructions (10 a.m.) We meet at the first parking lot as you enter N. Mills. You will need a pass to park here, we have those to issue. We stock in two sections, the lower section from the lot to the bridge, then from Trace Ridge up to the dam. To stock Trace Ridge we ride on the back of the truck, which can only hold a few people.

March 2019 S

TROUT WATER

NO LURE RESTRICTIONS

HATCHERY SUPPORTED MINIMUM SIZE - NONE DAILY LIMIT - 7 FISH SEASON - FIRST SATURDAY IN APRIL TO LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY

Season: From October 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019 • N o fishing allowed at all between 1/2 hour after sunset on May 31, 2019 and 6:00 a.m. on June 1, 2019 • At 6:00 a.m. on June 1, 2019 these waters open to fishing for youths under 18 years old under Hatchery Supported Trout Waters regulations • At 12:00 p.m. on June 1, 2019 these waters open for all anglers under Hatchery Supported Trout Waters regulations Lure Restrictions: Only artificial flies with one single hook may be used Daily Limit: No trout may be harvested or possessed Download the Full DH Stocking Schedule Here

March 1

March 4

11 a.m. • Spring Creek

10 a.m. • North Mills

April 2019 S

April 4

April 1

11 a.m. • Spring Creek

10 a.m. • North Mills

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters NCWRC PUBLIC MOUNTAIN

May 2019 S

S 4

May 1

11 a.m. • Spring Creek

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May 3

10 a.m. • North Mills

YOUTH / EDUCATION PROGRAMS Trout in the Classroom

rout in the Classroom (TIC) offers students of all ages a chance to raise Salmonids in a classroom setting and then release them into a nearby stream or river. Caring for the fish fosters a conservation ethic in the students, and the act of walking to a streambank and directly releasing the fingerlings into the water makes a concrete connection between caring for the fish and caring for the water. The schools and facilities currently participating in the program as offered by Land O’ Sky include: North Buncombe High School, Owen 12

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Middle School, SOAR Academy, and the Nature Center. Eggs are delivered to the classroom systems, and from then on are cared for by the teacher and students. Many of these systems are customized by the classes as a project, from things like “peek-a-boo” insulating wraps, which allow students to spy on hatching trout, to multitank systems which recycle and purify water by introducing plants and other natural biologic filters. In one case here in NC, the secondary tank is a sort of hydroponic garden, which grows herbs students can snip and take home, while purifying the water for the young trout. When the fish are ready for release, the participating students make a field trip to an area stream to do the honors. Due to state

regulations against unauthorized release of fish into NC waters, this process is managed, approved and permitted yearly by the NCWRC. Owen Middle School and the Nature Center are releasing in the Swannanoa, North Buncombe High School is releasing in Big ivy, and SOAR is releasing in Richland creek. Release dates haven’t been set for this year, but all schools have relatively good yields of healthy rainbow trout. Thanks to the schools, teachers, students and parents who participated to make this year’s program a success! We look forward to working with you again next year. If you know of a school that would be a good fit for a Trout In the Classroom system, please visit https://www.tu.org/TIC, or contact chapter Trout in the Classroom coordinator Andrew Kabel to learn more about this amazing, hands on science program.

Rivercourse

pplications are still being accepted for NCTU’s Rivercourse Coldwater Conservation & Fly Fishing Youth Camp. The camp is sponsored by the North Carolina State Council of Trout Unlimited and emphasizes Trout Unlimited’s Mission — the conservation, restoration and preservation of coldwater fisheries and their watersheds — while teaching campers the basics of fly fishing, a sport for a lifetime. Rivercourse is a high quality experience for boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 15 and takes place in the heart of the Appalachian mountains at the Lake Logan Event Center near Canton, N.C.

During the week, sessions on a variety of topics are mixed into the day. Geology, fish and insect sampling, scientific and natural encounters; all things related to the things in the natural world around us and cultivating a better understanding of them and how precious they are. Chapter member Reba Brinkman is administrative director and David Vigue is the camp director, and Land O’ Sky regularly helps underwrite the camp with a generous contribution to its yearly operating fund. To learn more about the program, or to learn about applying for Rivercourse, volunteer opportunities or to give a gift in support of the program please visit the Rivercourse website or contact Reba Brinkman or David Vigue for more information. The deadline for applications is April 15, 2019. MARCH 2019

2019 FLY FISHING FILM TOUR

ark your calendars for Friday, March 22 and Asheville’s annual showing of the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3t), brought to by the Land O’ Sky Chapter of Trout Unlimited and our friends at Hunter Banks and Highland Brewing Company. The original and preeminent exhibition of fly fishing cinema, The F3T is a one of a kind experience. In its 13th lap around the globe, the Fly Fishing Film Tour is packed with remarkable films, topnotch stories and imagery that will fuel your dreams for months to come! With an emphasis on the people, places and fisheries that help make up the vast world of fly fishing, the 2019 F3T will take you from Alaska to Florida, South Dakota to French Polynesia, British Columbia to the coast of

Australia and more! This remarkable evenin of outdoor cinema is in itself an adventure won’t soon forget. Grab your fishiest friend and we’ll see you at the show!

This event sells out every year, and this yea have only ONE showing instead of TWO. S get your tickets while they’re still available. a great evening featuring most of our favor vices when we’re away from our vises: drin lyin’, movie watchin’ and gamblin’. Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya? Then bring a Fistful of Dollars, because Land O’ Sky is putting on a raffle that’s gonna make your

Chapter volunteers will be roaming the bre selling raffle tickets for some VERY choice go and merchandise from companies like Simm

FRIDAY, MARCH

7 PM – 10 PM • Doors Open at 6 HIGHLAND BREWING COMPA

Admission: $15 (limited supply available) Tickets: https://www.hunterbanks.com/fly-fishing-film-tour 14

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Costa, and Yeti.Tickets are cash-only and are sold 1 for $5, 3 for $10 and 7 for $20. All the raffle money raised goes to support your favorite TU chapter — Land O’ Sky, of course — so raid the couch cushions and bust the plastic pig because you’ve gotta enter to win. The event is being held in the newly updated and renovated Event Center at Highland Brewing Company, which boasts a downstairs bar and stage, with a mezzanine for overlooking the stage. The whole shindig is family-friendly, and food trucks will be on hand at the brewery to make sure you don’t go hungry. And of course, there will be plenty of delicious craft beer available, plus other selections for those who don’t want to get sudsy.

6 PM ANY

r-tickets MARCH 2019

CHAPTER MEETINGS March Meeting Scheduled

ur next regular chapter meeting is set for Tuesday, March 12. As usual, we’ll be meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the REI conference room, upstairs, at REI in the Biltmore Park center. Our speaker for the evening is Caleb Abramson, fishery biologist from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Caleb will be speaking to us about brook trout restoration and conservation in the park, and some of the science and methods they employ to help ensure the survival of this native, millions-years-old species while balancing the public pressures on the streams and other park resources. It’s sure to be a dynamite presentation, and a meeting you won’t want to miss!

His work history includes initial, seasonal work in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park beginning in 2010 and full time beginning in 2015. He was recently promoted to Fishery Biologist for the Park; one of only two such positions in the Park.

Caleb is a native Tennessean born in Newport and raised there and in Huntsville Alabama. He holds a BS from University of Tennessee at Martin and MS in Wildlife and Fishery Science from Penn State University.

Caleb’s hobbies include fly fishing and whitewater kayaking (“the water is never too high or too low to have fun”), and his favorite river outings include fishing on Little River in the Park and Spring Creek in Pennsylvania, and

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paddling the Little River in Park (at high water) and Gauley River in West Virginia.

If you haven’t seen this spectacular video featuring Caleb’s colleague Matt Kulp, we urge

you foot See

February Meeting Recap

hanks very much to the bunch of you who turned out to hear Justin Hunt of River’s Edge Outfitters speak on fishing the Cherokee Reservation and surrounding waters. We were treated to an enjoyable, informative and entertaining presentation on this fishery, and nearly everyone in the room left itching to go up there and give what Justin taught us a try. We had 43 people in attendance — a fine turnout for a February evening — and enjoyed pre-meeting cookies and coffee courtesy of chapter president Cliff Albertson. Nice to see several new faces among the many familiar friends in the crowd, and we hope you all felt welcome and enjoyed the meeting; we’re glad you came!

to take a few moments and enjoy it. The tage and message are spectacular.

Lots of folks were taking pictures of key slides with their smartphones. Our goal is to get speakers to share their slide presentations with us so we can share them with you, leaving you free to listen, and Justin was kind enough to oblige. If you’d like to download a copy of the slides to review at home, a copy is available here: https://www.landoskytu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/flyfishCherokee.pdf

you on the 12th! MARCH 2019

FROM THE EDITOR

Charles Crolley, Program Chair

his edition marks the beginning of a new type of Land O’ Sky newsletter. It’s published in an online, flip-magazine format, which enables you to flip through the pages one-at-a-time on your desktop computer or handheld device, making for a more natural and enjoyable reading experience than scrolling through a long, downloaded .pdf file or email. I hope you enjoy it. From concept to layout to delivery, “Rise” is created by a team of volunteers using donated services, talent and time. It doesn’t cost our chapter one red cent because It relies heavily on contributions of content from individual chapter members and leaders and is designed and edited by volunteers. I’m thrilled to to share their work with you in this edition. Your input is essential to the newsletter’s continued success. “Rise” is our own newsletter and exists to tell our own stories, share a killer fly recipe or favorite memory of fishing with a friend or family member, or brag about a recent trip you took to a secret spot where the trout were eager and the hatch was on. When you get out on the water this spring and summer, remember to take your camera along and snap plenty of pictures. They don’t cost much to develop these days. Jot down a few lines or a couple of pages of reflections, maybe even some poetry. Summon a favorite memory back to mind. And please share them with your family here at Land O’ Sky TU. I hope you enjoy this issue in the spaces between the times you spend outdoors this spring, making really great memories and experiencing the “a-ha!” moments while enjoying languid solitude or the company of friends, listening to the sounds of running water and songs of the birds in some peaceful mountain valley tucked into a quiet corner of this amazing part of the world. We are all of us truly lucky — and truly blessed to be at home in western North Carolina.

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Logo

Webs

The chapter logo was modified to include some original elements. The classic “jumping trout” and “swoop” were maintained, as were the type elements. However, we added a set of small ridges and the approximation of a sunrise — all to make the logo an original representation of the area we serve. This separates and distinguishes the Land O’ Sky logo from other TU chapters while still staying true to, and leveraging, the tremendous strength of the TU brand.

A very was a re website better c and mo website will be We wa to beco referen visitors

site

important step in our update edesign of the chapter’s e to make it more dynamic and convey what the chapter does, ore about its mission. Like all es, it’s a work in progress and for as long as websites exist. ant the Land O’ Sky website ome a regular destination and nce source for members and alike.

“Rise” Newsletter

Social Media

You’re reading it! We’re working to make our monthly newsletter something of interest and value to all of our members and then some. We could use your help with story ideas, trip reports, gear reviews, original photography, fly tying recipes, casting tips and all kinds of stuff our community would be interested in.

Email is the single most effective and best way we have to communicate directly with you, and saves the chapter quite a bit of money.

Land O’ Sky TU is getting more active on social media these days, particularly Facebook and Instagram. If you don’t already, please “Follow” or “Like” us and share our posts and page with your friends.

Please drop me a line if you’d be willing to help us out from time to time. If you always wanted to write, knock together an article — no politics, religion or criticism please — and send it along. Everything from opinion to technical articles to poetry is welcome and will be treated respectfully and fairly.

In general, you’ll receive at least one email a month, containing a link to this newsletter and possibly a few other announcements. The day of or shortly before a chapter event (F3T Tour, Meeting, Program Outing) you’ll receive a reminder.

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ landoskytu Instagram: https://instagram.com/ landoskytu

Since you’re reading this, you’re probably on our mailing list. If not, please visit https://landoskytu.org/ news and sign up. You don’t have to be a member, and we don’t share or sell your information with anyone else.

MARCH 2019 Volume 1 • Number 1

LAND O’ SKY TROUT UNLIMITED — Serving Members Across Buncombe, Madison and Yancey Counties In Western North Carolina

MARCH 2019

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE Welcome, New Land O’ Sky Members!

e’re always glad to have new folks join our family, and we hope you feel right at home. The best way to get started with TU is to dive right in; chapter meetings and a program like fish stocking, a highway cleanup, one of our many events or helping out with Trout in the Classroom are good places to start. Your membership in Land O’ Sky is included with your TU membership. There are no additional dues or fees, we don’t pass the plate at meetings, and about the worst thing we do is ask you to say hello and introduce yourself, but only if you want to. As a member of TU, you’re also represented by our state council, NCTU. If you see something that the state council or North Carolina Council of Trout Unlimited is doing, that includes Land O’ Sky so it includes you. If you have questions about your membership in our chapter or in TU, please contact membership chair Roger Parkin. Roger will be happy to answer any questions you might have about volunteer opportunities, leadership roles and other things you can do to help our chapter fulfill its mission. Again, welcome! We’re glad to have you.

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New members and transfers in since January 1, 2019 New Members Name

City

Michael Ahern

Asheville

Jack Barker

Arden

Irby Brinson

Arden

Bruce Hammond

Black Mountain

Samuel Jarrett

Arden

Jack West

Asheville

Transfers In Charles Crolley

Brevard

Lloyd Lambert

Lake Lure

Jimmy Lewis

Asheville

Kenneth Parish

Black Mountain

Thomas Riegelman

Arden

Bill & Frances Smyth

Asheville

Paul Stoughton

Asheville

Land O’ Sky Membership Statistics TU doesn’t track the number of people included in a “Family” or “Family Life” membership, so an absolutely accurate count is impossible. However, we estimate that there are an average (3) people per family membership. Actually, it’s kind of an informed wild guess.

545 Total Memberships 666 Members (including family member estimate)

Membership Distribution By Type • 2 Outfitter/Guide/Business • 2 Conservator • 58 Family • 5 Family Life • 95 Life • 324 Individual • 8 Sponsor • 21 Senior • 30 Trial

Chapter Leaders, Program Chairs and Contacts Cliff Albertson, President Reba Brinkman, Vice President Patrick Brady, Secretary Curt Campbell, Treasurer Jay Hawthorne, Board Member & Conservation Chair Brown Hobson, Board Member & Programs Chair Neal Labrie, Board Member & Fundraising Chair Trent McDevitt, Board Member David Vigue, Board Member John Miko, Past President Rick Miale, Stocking Program Chair Charles Crolley, Communications Chair Andrew Kabel, Trout in the Classroom Coordinator

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MOPPING

UP by Charles Crolley

ecently, a buddy of mine and I arranged to fish the DH water on the East Fork of the French Broad. Like most everybody who fishes there, we met up at the information kiosk. It was the first really nice day we’d had in a while and the water levels were finally back to normal after the longest winter in memory and enough rain that Lowe’s ran out of cubit rulers and gopher wood, so we were surprised only two vehicles there ahead of us. I’m not using my buddy’s name out of respect for his privacy and concern for his reputation. WHO he fished with is damaging enough. WHAT he fished with is far worse; but more on that in a paragraph or two. We’re both moving along the timeline so it takes a little longer to put on the boots, waders and all of the various anatomic braces and support gear we persons of a certain age need to get around on the water without collapsing. Lots of huffing, puffing, groaning and stopping to rest later, we were all rigged up and ready to go out. One guy was fishing downstream at the big hole below the falls. The other guy had wandered off upstream several hundred yards so we hopped in between them, in the nice series of runs after the big bend. On these DH waters you’re going to wind up low-holing somebody, so you try to find an angler who looks like they won’t slash your tires and jump in there. “What are you going to use?” my buddy asked. He’d stocked the river but never fished it. I’d fished the river but never stocked it. So I figured this would be a give-and-take deal. I studied the water hard, biting my lip and trying to look pensive, like I was formulating a plan beyond the usual junk I throw at the stockers and drawing

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deep on my knowledge of seasonal hatch charts, aquatic bugs and trout behaviors. “Oh, I think I’ll prospect it with a mop fly,” I replied as I tied one on. I’d introduced this same friend to the mop fly a while back after we stocked the Green. He hadn’t heard of the mop fly, so I gave him a couple to try. He looked at them like I’d handed him a couple of fresh cat turds, then politely put them in a box populated with eggs and squirmies which was labeled, as I recall, “Use Only In Case of Extreme Emergency.” He started out that day fishing some beautifully tied imitators under a dry. His casting and drifts were exquisite, but produced no fish. I, on the other hand, chunked the mighty mop out under a big indicator, did a sloppy mend and cleaned ‘em up. He became a convert that day. So he followed my lead on the East Fork. I managed to stick a couple of fish in that upstream run and he had a couple of hits. The real action came when we saw the guy that had been in the big hole downstream from the falls get back in his vehicle. We walked down and engaged him in some polite chit-chat, partly to make sure we weren’t jumping in on top of him but mainly to gauge whether or not he was a tire slasher. Turns out that guy wasn’t having a real good day. He’d fished for 3 hours and caught one 10” stocker brookie, which didn’t seem to bother him so much as the fact that he’d lost his phone. That, and when he came back to the truck he had thrown a small temper tantrum during which he broke his fly rod. After commiserating about the rod and a temper that can get you into trouble, I suggested I give

him a call — perhaps the ringing would help him locate the missing phone. After looking around for the 100th time where he’d just gotten out, he shrugged and agreed. I dialed his number and we heard a phone ring. It had fallen out of his pocket and down into his waders. Finding the phone didn’t improve his mood as much as you’d think. He encouraged us to fish the hole he’d just vacated and we obliged, trusty mop flies at the ready. We got in and I showed my buddy the super-secret technique for fishing this piece of water — something some so simultaneously effective and obvious that I’ll let you figure it out for yourself — and we promptly caught fish after fish after fish after fish without moving more than about ten feet in any direction. At one point we let out synchronized warwhoops as we doubled up on a pair of browns in the 17” zip code…all as the guy sat on the tailgate of his vehicle watching us, broken fly rod in hand. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore and asked: “what are you using?“ “Streamers,” I told him. A half-truth, but there was no point in giving away the company store after

I’d helped the guy find his phone. “It’s not so much the fly, but in the positioning and technique,” I outright lied. Those are the kinds of things you’ll stoop to when fishing something you’re ashamed of. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a purist in any sense of the word, but my gut tells me there’s something fundamentally wrong with fishing this thing. I know there are a lot of people who love the mop and proudly defend it, and more power to them. But for the most part, fishing with a mop fly subjects one to derision. The mop is to flies what Kenny Chesney is to country music: you may enjoy it, but you hope nobody you know finds out about it. We hide them when people come around. We lie when somebody asks us about them. “What’s that in your box? Oh my God! Are those mop flies?” “I don’t actually fish with them. I use them to hide my meth.” I was fishing with my friend Jay Hawthorne on the Davidson recently, and we were getting skunked. The Davidson has a way of doing that. We worked through our boxes, tried zebra midges, soft hackles, tiny bugs of all kinds. Jay watched me fish MARCH 2019

Nobody knows what the heck they’re supposed to imitate. Crane fly larvae, bagworms, caterpillars? The best minds have tried to pin it down but nobody’s nailed it yet. On a visit to Clemson University I asked Dr. John Morse, pretty much one of the smartest people on the planet when it comes to aquatic insects. Even he was stumped as to what insect qualities trout might see in them. He looked at the pictures, smiled, shook his head and shrugged in that kindly, professorial way they learn in the doctoral programs to indulge idiotic questions about things in their field of studied expertise. “Maybe it’s just so unusual and ridiculous that the trout eat it out of pure curiosity,” he offered. I told him some of my other friends suggested “crane fly larvae” as a possible match — he put up his hands as if to signal “I give up” and wandered off to talk to somebody — make that anybody — else. and pointed out the bad habits I’ve picked up from too much junk-chucking. When he wasn’t looking I tied on a mop. It caught the only fish of the day. “What are you using?” he asked. When I told him, he wandered quite a distance upstream to fish by himself. When I sat down to write this article I had no idea who invented the mop fly. It‘s such a stupefyingly simple fly made out of ridiculous ingredients that it seems like it could have come from anywhere. Turns out it‘s a guy from right here in North Carolina, and he‘s being inducted into the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. Acccording to the press 24

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release, “Orvis, Umpqua and many other fly pattern suppliers have all developed versions of the mop fly.” “Developed”? Seriously? How many different ways can you cook one of these things up? I hope I get to talk to the guy someday to ask him how this stroke of genius came about. Maybe he was sitting on the throne, taking care of business while perusing an article on articulated streamers in “Fly Tyer” magazine until his legs fell asleep. Then he looked down because he couldn’t feel his feet, whereupon he caught an eyeful of the oversized nappy things on the crapper carpet, glanced back at the article and voila — a fly was born.

We didn’t speak much after that. I guess he wasn’t impressed by the mop fly either. When a guy who professes love for the simplicity and elegance of Tenkara reluctantly admits “well, I use it because it catches a lot of fish” in front of a room full of us snooty TU folks who sneer at the mere mention of mops and their equally-derided kin, the squirmy worm and egg pattern, you know the thing’s here to stay. Perhaps as it rises in popularity, the humble mop will rise in respectability. If the fly tying supply industry is any indicator, this could be happening today. I was in a local outfitters just last week and saw a brand new product on the shelf: mop fly chenille, in a variety of colors, diameters and pre-cut lengths $4 for 20. Never mind that you

can make a zillion of the things from a car wash mitt you can buy from Amazon for three bucks. I suppose this is progress and that it was inevitable. If we lived in the 60’s, maybe we could find a fluffy pink or orange bathroom mat but probably not colors like “Light Dun”, “Light Olive” and “Medium Dun.” And it was only

a matter of time until the non-anglers in the house rebelled against the scourge of balding bath mats and denuded car wash mitts.

Fishing Technique First, make sure nobody’s looking before you tie on. Fish it right on the bottom. This has two

benefits: 1) you’ll catch more fish; and 2) somebody’s less likely to see it there. Throw on a split shot (#1 or so) in front of it and hang it under an AirLock indicator, because Thingamabobbers should be outlawed. But that’s a topic for another day.

Tying Instructions

 Pick a hook — no need to overthink it. Pretty much anything short of

a treble hook will work. I’ve been using jig hooks, but I’ve used scud/egg hooks, standard short nymph hooks. Great way to use up those things you keep buying because you left your list at home instead of what you actually went to the fly shop to get. Mash the barb and put on an appropriately sized bead. No need to use tungsten (like putting lipstick on a pig, and remember this material is made to absorb water so it gets real heavy real fast). Plus, any fish that would eat it probably won’t be put off by a glob of split shot riding on the tippet.

 Check to make sure the cut end isn’t too

frayed, otherwise the thing will unravel on you. If it is, trim it up. Tie the cut end on right behind the bead. Run the thread back and forth over the end to bind it down. This is the only part of the operation where things can possibly go awry.

 Mount the hook in the vise and

start your thread behind the bead. I use 6/0, and spin it counter clockwise to flatten it out some. Don’t know if that’s necessary, but it’’s the way I did it once and it makes the whole operation feel more legit.

 There are two schools of thought on finishing

up. Some folks will throw in a 5 or 6 turn whip finish and call it good, some will dub. Dubbing creates a buggier fly. I’ve tried ice dub, rabbit, etc… and don’t really know that it makes a difference, but it creates a nicer more “official” looking fly. If you don’t dub, I recommend a dollop of cement on the thread to help lock things in place.

 Select a “strand” of mop chenille

from your donor car wash mitt, mop head, or dusting slippers. Cut it off right where it joins the backing. I normally cut a couple of dozen in advance, because it’s not like this is fine art.

 Last, I burn the very end of mine with a lighter. It gives the “tail” a little dark, tapered section and helps it hold up. Be sure to let the thing cool, because if your doctor is a fly fishing purist she’ll refuse to treat a burn caused by tying a mop fly and you’ll wind up with gangrene.

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ON THE CALENDAR March 2019 S

Mills River DH Stocking We will meet at the North Mills Campground parking lot at 10 a.m. (for donuts!) and the truck usually arrives shortly after that. Be sure to bring your waders and gloves as those buckets with 3-5 lbs of fish can be heavy, and you may need to get in the water. For more information, contact program chair Rick Miale.

7 Paddle-n-Plant/Live Staking Workdays hosted by MountainTrue To learn more, visit: https://www.facebook. com/pg/MountainTrue/events

Paddle-n-Plant/Live Staking Workdays hosted by MountainTrue To learn more, visit: https://www.facebook. com/pg/MountainTrue/events March Chapter Meeting If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested in conservation, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or brook trout, DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T MISS our March 12 chapter meeting at REI Asheville, 7 p.m. For more information, visit: https://www. facebook.com/events/2123061134651066

Hwy 276 Cleanup Help ou litter alo fishing need is Visit htt events/2

Paddle-n-Plant/Live Staking Workdays hosted by MountainTrue To learn more, visit: https://www.facebook. com/pg/MountainTrue/events

TU Fish Part of T Science catalog passage Center (S visit our with Trou

Paddle-n-Plant/Live Staking Workdays hosted by MountainTrue To learn more, visit: https://www.facebook. com/pg/MountainTrue/events

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Spring Creek DH Stocking We meet in the town of Hot Springs in the ‘downtown’ parking lot behind Spring Creek Tavern at 11 a.m. and the truck usually arrives just before or at that time. For more information, contact program chair Rick Miale.

April 2019 S

6 (Davidson River) Roadside p ur sister chapter, Pisgah TU, pick up ong the Davidson River and scout spots as a bonus. Everything you provided, including breakfast! tps://www.facebook.com/ 2228414917399004

May 2019 S

Passage Barrier Survey Training TU’s Southern Appalachia Citizen Project, learn to identify and barriers to aquatic organism e. Held at Pisgah Wildlife Education Setzer Hatchery). To learn more, r website or contact Andy Brown ut Unlimited.

TU Fish Passage Barrier Survey Training To learn more, visit our website or contact Andy Brown with Trout Unlimited.

Fly Fishing Film Tour Back and bigger than ever! The Fly Fishing Film Tour, brought to you by Hunter Banks Fly Fishing will return to Asheville, NC on Friday, March 22 at Highland Brewing Company. For more information, see the article in this newsletter.

TU Southeast Regional Meeting If you’re a volunteer leader for Land O’ Sky or are interested in learning more about TU leadership opportunities, please consider attending this incredible event in Dillard GA (about a 2 hour drive). Details are in the March edition of the NCTU “Mend.”

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Land O’ Sky Trout Unlimited https://landoskytu.org Land O’ Sky Trout Unlimited P.O. Box 117 Asheville, NC 28802