Southern Trout April May 2018

issue 36

april/may 2018

Southern Trout

www.southerntrout.com

www.southerntrout.com

Cherokee County North Carolina ANDREWS | MURPHY | BRASSTOWN

Open For All Seasons

ARTS | RECREATION | HISTORY | FESTIVALS WE HAVE IT ALL!

www.visitcherokeecountync.com info@visitcherokeecountync.com 828-557-0602

Publisher's message

S

ix months ago I really did not believe it would be my job to be writing a publisher’s letter again.

I knew that I would be the publisher, but that the job of the editor had been handed off to a gentleman named Bob Borgwat who had recently become the editor of Southern Trout. If you’re betting that there is a story behind this, you are correct.

Borgwat held the reins on STM the previous two issues. For the record, he did a splendid job for which I am grateful. Unfortunately, the move was premature. The financial cost of the move was greater than existing

resources could handle. By the end of January, I was several thousand dollars behind in paying everything.

Changes then included cutting Bob and curtailing ST “Ozark Edition” from bimonthly to quarterly. Frankly, had it not been for Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing doing so well, it would have been an even bigger train wreck.

Things are back on a sustainable scale now, and Bob Borgwat remains a close friend, fully understanding my miscalculation. Plans are for him to return to the helm of STM on a few issues. Personally, I am extremely grateful that it has all played out as well as it has.

This past month has also marked the first time ever we got out all four magazines in a single 30 day period.

That’s a heavy load for our four-man team. I’m adjusting the schedule for the rest of the year to avoid this happening again, with the return of North America Bear Hunter in June is not going to be easy. Additionally, during this whole time, I have struggled with health issues. They are under control but bear watching.

Well, that is the story. We anticipate 2018 will be a break out one for the company. In May we’ll be at Smoky Mountain Angler to celebrate their 30th year. Hope to see ya’ll there.

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 3

Southern Trout Publisher Editor Managing Editor Special Projects Dir. Photographer/Writer Editorial Consultant

Don Kirk Bob Borgwat Leah Kirk Loryn Lathem Adam Patterson Olive K. Nynne

Contributors Harry Murray FIELD STAFF

Ron Gaddy Columnist Craig Haney Columnist Jimmy Jacobs, Georgia Editor Roger Lowe Columnist Rocky Cox Columnist Steve Moore Columnist Columnist Polly Dean Columnist Jake Howard

Southern Trout is a publication of Southern Unlimited, LLC. Copyright 2018 Southern Unlimited LLC. All rights reserved.

4 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l

UNI PRODUCTS J.G. Cote Inc. 1004 Principale Ste-Melanie, QC. Canada JOK 3AO Tel: 450-889-8054 Toll-Free: 1-877-889-8054 Fax: 450-889-5887 Email: info@uniproducts.com

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Look to UNI for the best in spooled fly-tying materials!

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Yep, it’s just that easy with Western North Carolina’s premier fly shop and guide service. Kevin Howell and his experienced staff have been fishing the surrounding 500 miles of prime trout waters so long, they know all the fish on first name basis. And they’ll be more than happy to make a few introductions.

PISGAH FOREST, NC

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 5

GUIDE SERVICES | ONLINE & RETAIL STORE | LESSONS

Anderson Creek Retreat Anderson Creek Retreat is your basecamp for a healthy outdoor lifestyle on 1,200 acres next to the National Forest, less than ninety minutes from Atlanta near the historic mountain towns of Ellijay and Blue Ridge.

We’re in outdoor recreation country known for trout fishing, hiking, whitewater rivers, horseback riding, mountain biking and cycling.

Amicalola Falls State Park and the Appalachian Trail are just over the ridge. The 4,000-foot ridges of Rich Mountain Wilderness are across the Cartecay River Valley.

Home sites average more than four acres and offer backdoor access to twelve miles of trails through a landscape of springs, trout streams, high mountain ridges, hardwood forests, pastures, meadows and the 19th century homestead ruins. Conservation easements with the Georgia Land Trust protect a mile of Anderson Creek and Anderson Lake for catch and release fly fishing for rainbow and brown trout.

Check us out on the web at www.andersoncreekretreat.com.

Call 706-635-5124 or email land@andersoncreekretreat.com.

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soncreekretreat.com

THIS ISSUE Publisher's Message

3

Getting Ready for the Season

12

Smoky Mountain Angler

30th Anniversary

20

Georgia's Smallest

Trout River

28

Chattahoochee Trout

40

Rex Wilson

Master of the Fly SUNBURST TROUT Smoky Mountain Trout

with Ramp Fritters

48

58 32 26 12 58

58

48

New Fly Guy 62

What's in Your Fly Vest?

Gearhead 72

Great Glasses from Down Under Blackwind Olive Chronicles 82 Irriplaceable?

Anderson Creek Retreat

One of a Kind

20

96

96

8 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

THIS ISSUE patagonia 102

Packable Waders Fishing Shriimp and 108

Cress Bugs for Trout Modern Day Bluelining 120

148 134

Catching Large Trout

on Small Flies

134

Yester Year 148

Memories of Fontana Featured Rod Maker

Mark Prewitt

158

ATLANTA Fly Fishing School

166

120 40 168 170

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experience counts for everything Meet Brian Lynch, one of the most innovative anglers and best guides in the business. Professionals like Brian are our first call when we need boots on the ground (and in the water), and our go-to team when it comes to understanding what truly makes a great rod. Their knowledge, their expertise, their understanding is passed on to our craftsmen who strive for perfection and uncompromising performance in every rod we make. To us, Brian and his fellow professionals are our unsung heros. We salute you.

Brian calls Western Massachusetts home and can be found working the Deerfield river virtually all year round.

introducing the new avantt and exocett series from t&t. remarkably light. extraordinarily strong.

est

19 6 9

T H E R O D YO U W I L L E V E N T UA L LY OW N

www.thomasandthomas.com HANDMADE IN AMERICA

d a e R g n i t t e G e h t for

n o s a Se Kevin Howell

W

hether you are a mountain biker, hiker, fly fisherman or any other type of outdoor enthusiast, you rely on your gear to provide a quality experience and keep you safe. As we approach the start of a new season in the great outdoors, it is time to inspect all of our gear and perform routine maintenance to keep things functional for the year to come. Also, by inspecting your gear early you can avoid being number 135 in line to get your reel or rod serviced. Not waiting until the last minute will keep you from fighting the hordes of people wanting the same thing done at the same time. Here are the top things to examine when getting your gear ready for the season.

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Check all of the guides on your rod for nicks and burrs. These small nicks will cut fly lines or leaders and tippets and may cost you the fish of a life time, or force you to buy a new line or leader more frequently. To check for burrs, take a small piece of nylon pantyhose and pull it back and forth through your guides. If it tears or hangs, you have a burr or nick and that guide needs to be replaced. You can have guides easily replaced at your local tackle shop or outfitter. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 13

Check all of your ferrules. Look for cracks in epoxy or graphite that may signal some type of fracture in the ferrule. Worn or cracked ferrules will need to be returned to the manufacturer for repair. Lubricate all of your ferrules with the appropriate wax.

Check your fly line. If it is cracked then replace it. The cracks in the line allow water to infiltrate the core and make the line sink. Dirt will also build up in the cracks costing you distance on your cast and making the line sink below the surface, making mending and fly manipulation very difficult. Also, take the time to redo nail knots or loop knots that are over 1 year old to prevent a failure while on the stream. Clean your entire line with mild soap and water and reapply your favorite line dressing. You will be amazed at how much this helps your old line.

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Check your reel. Does the line strike have a groove in it that may cut or damage fly lines? If so, it can be filed or sanded out or sent back to the manufacturer for repair. Does it need to be oiled and lubricated (check manufacturers recommendation for your reel) for the season? If it does need to be lubricated then use an appropriate lube like Whale's Spit or Reel Lube.

Are all of the screws securely fastened? A small drop of clear fingernail polish behind a screw will help it hold tight for the season. Is it catching or binding anywhere? If so, then either your spindle is bent or you have dented the reel by dropping it on a rock or a similar hard surface. Either way you will do better to have your reel professionally serviced at a local fly shop or return it to the manufacturer.

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Check and replace your leaders and tippet. Most monofilament tippet and leaders will breakdown in about 6 months after being exposed to UV (sun) light.

If you are like me and have dropped your tippet in the water, then it is going to be weak and definitely needs to be replaced. When testing tippet, be sure to test the knot strength as this is the first place that tippet tends to show weakness. Nothing is more frustrating than loosing fish due to bad tippet. Leaders will dry rot and should always be tested prior to fishing.

Check your waders. Look for any leaks or dry rot that may have occurred over the winter or since the last time you fished. Turn them inside out and fill them with water or get in a dark closet and shine a light down in them and look for leaks or pin holes. You can either patch the leaks you find or take your waders to your local shop and have them patch them. Keep in mind that leaks due to pin holes are easily repaired while leaks due to material decay cannot be repaired and will ultimately have to be replaced. Also, examine your wading boots. Is the felt usable and in good working order? If it is coming unglued or is worn thin this can cause you to fall or not have traction in the water.

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Check your flies. Remove flies with rusty hooks that you may have fished or dropped in the water. That rusty hook is a sure indication that the hook will break with a little pressure from the hook set. There is no worse feeling in the world than missing three fish in a row, only to examine your fly and realize that the hook broke off on the first fish.

In addition to your gear, give yourself a tune up. If you have not fished since last spring, a quick casting lesson at the local fly shop or in the back yard may be just what you need to get the year off to a great start. We here at Davidson River  Wade Trips Outfitters are always  Float Trips willing to help.

One thing  Trout is for sure, while Punxsutawney Phil  Smallmouth may have seen his shadow and predicted  Fly Shop 6 more weeks of winter weather, spring is just around the corner and with it comes some of the best fishing of the year. Make sure you and your gear are ready for it.

• And Falconry Great Guides and Great Customer Service!

www.curtiswrightoutfitters.com 828-645-8700 www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 17

Is Swain County NC a Fisherman’s Paradi Hundreds of miles of native mountain trout streams flow

through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park above Bryson City and Cherokee — freestone creeks with native rainbow, brook and brown trout. Most streams offer all three species.

Trout are also common in our four rivers – the Oconaluftee,

Great Smoky M National

Little Tennessee, the Eagle Nol Chambers Twentymile Hazel Creek Forney Cre Creek Creek Creek Tuckasegee and the Creek Fontana Dam Fontana Nantahala, one of Fontana Cheoah Lake Lake Lake Lewellyn Trout Unlimited’s top Fontana Branch Fontana 129 Lake Boat Village Alark 100 rivers. And now, a 2.2 Cable Ramp Marina Boat D Cove 28N Boat mile section of the Tuck Ramp Almo Lemmons Boat P Branch through Bryson City has Boat Ramp Stecoah 143 been designated delayed 19 Wesser 74 Needmore harvest waters, and Road For more information, Nantahala River promises to have one of contact the Bryson City / the highest trout counts Swain County Chamber of Wayah Road (NC 1310) of any stream in the Commerce 800-867-9246.

Upper Nantahala southeast.

River Public Access

Public Access

estern oing on at W g is g in th e “Three “Som e that may k a L rivers j a n ta n o ’s F a ust ou n li ro a C p h o tside A pular n Nort th u o S e th in merica ationa g in h s fi t u o tr l ’s most park a trout, s to a just send e id d r o e u o g i t a t e e e eming d for b t might b oth wa angler with into orbit ...I n o s ry s B d , in i a n y n ta g s d and flo surrou place to best sc ating nded b book you a in p e e le n s y e to e r s v y o a h m i n Sout e of th don’t hern A e City so you ” r. e b I f m p e y v palach ou hav No in re e th k i c e a n’t fish . your tru produ ed the ctive r q uaint a ivers o nd Carolin f W e stern N a, you orth don’t k missin now w g.” hat yo u’re

Public Access

ise?

Upper Raven Fork

Straight Fork

441 Clingmans Dome

Mountains Park

Deep Creek

Indian Creek

Raven Fork Trophy Section

Lakeview Drive

19 Tuckasegee River

Public Access

ka Dock Alarka Creek ond Park Alarka Road

28S Little Tennessee River

Bryson City

Whittier Whittier Boat Ramp

EBCI Hatchery Big Cove Road

19

441 Tuckasegee River

Public Access

Conleys Creek

Heintooga Ridge Road

Blue Ridge Parkway Cherokee Indian Reservation Cherokee

land eek

Old 288 Boat Ramp

Raven Fork

Oconaluftee River

You be the Judge.

Straight Fork Road

Bradley Chasteen Kephart Fork Creek Prong

74 Conleys Creek Road

Dillsboro

441

Visit GreatSmokiesFishing.com for profiles of all 26 Swain County fishing locations on this map. All are just minutes from Bryson City, NC.

Two mountain lakes The 30 miles of trout offer trout fishing streams on the The 29-mile long, Cherokee Indian 11,700 acre Fontana Reservation are the Lake and its smaller downstream neighbor Cheoah Lake both have strong populations of trout, particularly near the mouths of streams flowing out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cheoah is regularly stocked by the State of North Carolina.

longest privately-owned and stocked fishing waters east of the Mississippi. The 2.2mile Raven Fork Trophy section is home to the biggest trout in the Smokies. This specially regulated section is fly fishing only and catch and release.

Smoky Mountain Angler

30th Anniversary Celebration 20 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

T

his May is the 30th anniversary of the opening of Smoky Mountain Angler, a fly shop in Gatlinburg that most readers of the publication are intimately familiar with. Its story is pretty much the story of how fly fishing for trout has undergone the radical changes in the last three decades to the point that it has become a major tourist draw in the region. Hats off to Harold and Nancy, Chad, and the rest of the crew at the Smoky Mountain Angler. Flying by the seat of their pants, they carved out a business in a tough environment where failure means you just have to go away. Frankly, the team has done a tremendous job.

May 26, 2018, is the date for the big celebration at Smoky Mountain Anglers.

They were one of the first to advertise in Southern Trout Magazine. We will be there in force to join in the festivities along with major vendors and a lot of toetapping music. Food will be served up by John Reinhardt, president of the Smoky Mountain Trout Unlimited Chapter. Weather permitting, it will be a grand time.

“We have been astonished by so many of our valued patrons who have expressed a desire to take part in the anniversary celebration,” says Chad Fouches, who skippers the-day to-day operations of Smoky Mountain Anglers. “Growth of the business over the years indicated that many people like us and the Smoky Mountain Angler a lot, but nothing gave us a clue of just how much. It is indeed a humbling thing. Smoky Mountain trout fishing is more of a religion than just going fishing.”

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I recall all too well thirty or thirty-five years ago there was nothing like Smoky Mountain Angler in or around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you wanted to buy flies you went to the local hardware stores that had a selection of locally created patterns tied by folks such as Eddie George at the old Knoxville Athletic House on Gay Street.

Early on there was Gary Merriman’s Fish Hawk fly shop in Atlanta and the Creel fly shop in Knoxville. Today Merriman is in an impressive, new location and Knoxville doesn’t even have a fly shop. The Southern Appalachia though has many, many fly shops and several times more professional guide services. We at STM estimated that from Maryland southward to North Georgia there are a couple of thousand people making a living from trout guiding alone.

Where there were none three decades ago, there are now thousands. And the number and demand continue to grow.

Today there are trout fishing festivals in all southern states that are eagerly attended.

Six years ago in Townsend, Tennessee on a lark, we launched Southern Trout Magazine.

It was at Troutfest an event sponsored by Little River Outfitters and Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited. The year before I returned from the dead to write an update on my fly fishing guide to the Smokies. Sensing how much I missed it all, I did a couple more fishing books and launched this digital magazine title.

Knowing what I know now, I am not sure I’d do it again, but it has become modestly profitable and people say that they like it and is sister publications. That means a lot and being in 22 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

Gatlinburg in May will mean a lot to the family at Smoky Mountain Anglers.

Fly shops are all families and familyrun businesses. Harold, Nancy, and Chad have had their moments too. Who can forget the great Gatlinburg fire of 2016?

It spared the shop for the most part, but totally destroyed Chad’s home. When you are in business for yourself, you learn to roll with the good as well as the bad. He spent much time repaying the efforts of the first responders to the tragic fire.

I want to personally invite everyone reading this to come to Gatlinburg, not just to help Smoky Mountain Angler celebrate their 30th birthday. Come here for us all to rejoice in southern trout fishing h a v i n g matured to the point that it is an economic factor that is no longer treated like American fly fishing culture’s redheaded stepchild.

It’s a deal.

big

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 23

“Forged in Rugged Spectacular Country; Built to be Fished Anywhere.”

TM

Proven-High Performance

Duane Redford: “Fear No Water” 8 Rivers Fly Fishing Pro Staff Lead Senior Fishing Guide Colorado 3 Time Best Selling Author

www.8Riversflyrods.com

SweetWater Brewing Company • Georgia • SweetWaterBrew.com

Georgia’s Smallest T

Colorful rainbow trout dominate the lower portion of the river.

28 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

Trout River T Jimmy Jacobs

he old adage about some of the greatest gifts coming in small packages would be appropriate when describing the Peach State’s Coleman River. Besides providing some very good wild trout water, the stream is the smallest trout stream bearing the name “river’ in Georgia.

Our state is not home WR PLJKW\ ÀRZV OLNH WKH Colorado, Mississippi or Ohio rivers. For the most part Peach State rivers are modest in size, but the Coleman carries that trend to the extreme. From its headwaters down to its mouth on the Tallulah River WKH ÀRZ UDUHO\ VSDQV PRUH than 30 feet, and often is 10 feet wide or less. But, despite that diminutive size, it has a back story DQG SURYLGHV ¿VKLQJ WKDW make it worth discussing.

The Coleman rises on the south slope of Timber Ridge in southern Clay County, North Carolina, along the Appalachian Trail.

From there it quickly crosses the state border into Rabun County, Georgia. This upper section is within the Southern Nanatahala Wilderness Area, insuring that the stream ÀRZV FOHDU DQG SULVWLQH

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As for the back story, several features set this trout stream apart. To begin with, most folks don’t realize that part of the Southern Nantahala Wilderness is even in Georgia.

Yet the Peach State expanse is slightly larger than the portion found in North Carolina.

Established by a 1984 act of Congress, Georgia’s part of the area covers 11,732 acres of mountainous, roadless forest.

Another facet of the land management along the river is the tale of the Coleman River Wildlife Management Area. For a number of years the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division managed the property, but during a budget crunch back around the millennium, the WRD gave up that lease. Today the land is still public, but managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

:LWK UHJDUG WR ¿VKLQJ there also are a couple of interesting facts about this ÀRZ 7KH &ROHPDQ KDV RQH of nine sections of water in the state that are managed as DUWL¿FLDO OXUH RQO\ ZDWHUV )URP its mouth upstream to the Coleman River Road (Forest Service 54) bridge, no natural baits are allow to be used on WKH ULYHU 7KLV VHFWLRQ ÀRZV through the Coleman River Scenic Area, with a hiking path paralleling much of it.

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Also, the headwaters section of WKH ULYHU ZDV RQH RI WKH ¿UVW VL[ VWUHDPV in Georgia that were renovated to restore wild, native brook trout. That work took place back in 1969. A log barrier falls was added to the river in WKH SRUWLRQ WKDW QRZ ÀRZV WKURXJK WKH wilderness area. Rotenone was then XVHG WR UHPRYH DOO ¿VK XSVWUHDP RI that structure and native brookies were transplanted to the river.

The portion of the Coleman in Georgia is composed of 4.1 miles of stream on public land, split between the scenic area within the Chattahoochee National Forest and the Southern Nantahala Wilderness.

From the vicinity of the FS 54 bridge and upstream there is about 1.3 miles of the river on private lands that separate the two public sections.

Surveying the Fishing A couple of parking spots are available alongside the bridge over the river via the Tallulah River Road at the mouth of the Coleman. The bridge is just a few feet upstream of the junction of the two rivers. Additionally, at this site is a sign denoting the Coleman River Scenic Area and dedicating it to the memory of Ranger Roscoe Nicholson. Known as Ranger Nick, Nicholson was a contemporary of the Barefoot Ranger Arthur Woody.

Though lesser known than his unshod fellow ranger, Nicholson generally is equally credited with Woody as the two driving forces of the establishment and early success of the Chattahoochee National Forest.

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 33

34 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

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From the FS 54 bridge up to the man-made barrier, the river has wild rainbows and browns, with some native brookies showing up just downstream of the barrier. Throughout this stretch the river has a heavy canopy of rhododendron and is quite small, making fishing difficult.

From the barrier upstream to the state border the river contains only wild brook trout. For the most part the streams course is rather level through here, but like the area below the barrier, it is overgrown and hard to fish.

Summing it Up

If you are interested in catching some wild, colorful fish in a setting that sees quite limited angling pressure, then the Coleman River will fit your need. Don’t expect to catch much in the way of bragging-sized trout, but the quality of the scenery, pristine water and native fish provide trophies of a different type.

Guided Fishing on Trophy Streams 706-455-5640

info@flyfishblueridge.com Blue Ridge, Georgia

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 37

Others have streams,

we have a trail.

Jackson County is home of the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, which maps out 15 prime spots to catch brown, rainbow and brook trout in the crystal-clear streams of the Great Smoky Mountains. With more than 4,600 miles of wide-open rivers and secluded mountain streams, we have the state’s longest contiguous stretch of Mountain Heritage Trout Waters.

Discover the epic waters of North Carolina’s Trout Capital today.

CASHIERS CHEROKEE DILLSBORO SYLVA

DiscoverJacksonNC.com

CHATTAHOO

The definitive guide to Chattahooc B

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CHEE TROUT

chee trout fishing

By Steve Hudson

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www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 41

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42 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

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“A new book by award-winning author Steve Hudson takes a detailed look at one of the south’s all-time great trout fisheries...”

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&KDWWDKRRFKHH 7URXW LV SDFNHG ZLWK WKH NLQG RI SUDFWLFDO H[SHULHQFH EDVHG LQIR WKDW ZLOO KHOS \RX JHW WKH PRVW IURP \RXU WLPH RQ WKH ULYHU %XW WKLV ERRN JLYHV \RX PRUH WKDQ MXVW LQIRUPDWLRQ 7KH DXWKRU LQFOXGHV TXLWH D IHZ SHUVRQDO VWRULHV IURP KLV H[SORUDWLRQV RI WKH ULYHU DQG LWV ¿VKLQJ DQG WKH\ PDNH DQ DOUHDG\ PHPRUDEOH YROXPH HYHQ PRUH HQMR\DEOH WR UHDG 7KURXJK WKRVH VWRULHV \RX¶OO EH ULJKW WKHUH ZLWK WKH DXWKRU DV KH VHDUFKHV IRU WKH SODFH ZKHUH WKH ULYHU EHJLQV DV KH KHOSV VWRFN WKH ULYHU DQG DV KH H[SORUHV DQG ¿VKHV LWV UHPRWH UHDFKHV 44 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

<RX¶OO VKDUH EHDU HQFRXQWHUV DQG GLVFRYHU D ORQJ ORVW JKRVW WUHVWOH RYHU WKH ULYHU DQG \RX¶OO H[SHULHQFH ZDGH DQG Ã&#x20AC;RDW WULSV DV WKH DXWKRU ¿VKHV WKH ULYHU ZLWK H[SHULHQFHG &KDWWDKRRFKHH 5LYHU JXLGHV ,W DOO SDLQWV D YLYLG DQG ULFKO\ WH[WXUHG SLFWXUH RI ZKDW LW¶V OLNH WR ¿VK IRU WURXW RQ WKH IDPHG &KDWWDKRRFKHH 5LYHU DQG ± HYHQ RQ WKH SULQWHG SDJH ± LW¶V DQ DGYHQWXUH WKDW \RX¶OO QRW VRRQ IRUJHW

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www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 45

Rex Wilson Master of the Fly Ron Gaddy

48 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

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onsidered by his peers and many other WDOHQWHG Ã&#x20AC;\ W\HUV 5H[ Wilson is one of the most ZHOO NQRZQ ZHOO OLNHG DQG OHJHQGDU\ Ã&#x20AC;\ W\HUV LQ WKH Smoky Mountain region.

He is highly sought after for KLV Ã&#x20AC;\V DV ZHOO DV Ã&#x20AC;\ W\LQJ demonstrations all over the VRXWKHDVW DQG LV UHQRZQHG for tying the old Smoky 0RXQWDLQ )O\ 3DWWHUQV 5H[ is also famous for his realistic VWRQHÃ&#x20AC;\ SDWWHUQ WKDW ORRNV like it just crawled out of the FUHHN , ¿UVW PHW 5H[ DW WKH Western North Carolina Fly 6KRZ LQ $VKHYLOOH 1& RQ 'HFHPEHU :H ZHUH both invited by Don Kirk to do Ã&#x20AC;\ W\LQJ GHPRQVWUDWLRQV DW the Southern Trout booth. As WKH UHSXWDWLRQ RI 5H[ :LOVRQ KDG SUHFHGHG KLP , ZDV obviously a little intimidated about getting anywhere near D YLVH ZLWK 5H[ :LOVRQ W\LQJ so I decided that I would work as the greeter and as they VD\ ZRUN WKH FURZG $V VRRQ as the doors opened folks lined up at the Southern Trout ERRWK WR VHH 5H[ WLH RU WR EX\ VRPH RI KLV Ã&#x20AC;\V , ZDV DPD]HG DW DOPRVW DQ\ Ã&#x20AC;\ UHTXHVWHG RU QDPHG ZRXOG Há&#x201A;&#x2021;RUWOHVVO\ Ã&#x20AC;\ Rá&#x201A;&#x2021; KLV YLVH DW ZDUS VSHHG

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 49

5H[ VWDUWHG ÂżVKLQJ WKH VWUHDPV LQ :HVWHUQ 1RUWK &DUROLQD LQ DURXQG WKH DJH RI ZLWK KLV IDWKHU in law and was instantly hooked RQ IRROLQJ WURXW ZLWK D GU\ Ă&#x20AC;\ $W the time there was no place in the DUHD WR EX\ ÂżVKLQJ Ă&#x20AC;\V H[FHSW IURP KDUGZDUH VWRUHV RU D IHZ Ă&#x20AC;\ tyers in the area. After a few years RI GHYHORSLQJ LQWR D VHDVRQHG Ă&#x20AC;\ ÂżVKHUPDQ 5H[ GHYHORSHG D NHHQ LQWHUHVW LQ Ă&#x20AC;\ W\LQJ 5H[ VD\V Âł$W the time there were no books or videos available in the area to help RQH JHW VWDUWHG LQ Ă&#x20AC;\ W\LQJ DQG the few that knew how to tie would QRW Rá&#x201A;&#x2021;HU DQ\ KHOS DW DOO )O\ W\LQJ DQG KDUYHVWLQJ DQG FXULQJ Ă&#x20AC;\ W\LQJ materials or even where to by tools and materials was a closely guarded VHFUHW 8QGHUVWDQGDEOH VLQFH WKHUH ZDV QRW PXFK PRQH\ Ă&#x20AC;RDWLQJ around the Southern Appalachians.

7KH IHZ Ă&#x20AC;\ W\HUV LQ WKH DUHD WLHG Ă&#x20AC;\V to make their money or supplement their income and of course sharing their secrets and knowledge could mean they could lose that incomeâ&#x20AC;?.

5H[ ÂżQDOO\ PHW )UDQN &Rá&#x201A;&#x2021;HH ZKR ZDV RQH RI WKH ORFDO Ă&#x20AC;\ W\LQJ OHJHQGV IURP :D\QHVYLOOH North Carolina. He supplied the ZHOO NQRZQ 6PRN\ 0RXQWDLQ Ă&#x20AC;\ patterns to various stores in the UHJLRQ WKDW VROG ÂżVKLQJ HTXLSPHQW )UDQN DJUHHG WR WHDFK 5H[ WKH VSHFLÂżFV RQ KRZ WR GUHVV KLV EHVW VHOOLQJ Ă&#x20AC;\V LI KH ZRXOG KHOS )UDQN ÂżOO KLV PDQ\ RUGHUV IRU ÂżVKLQJ Ă&#x20AC;\V 50 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

5H[ ZRXOG EH ZRUNLQJ DV an apprentice under the famous )UDQN &Rá&#x201A;&#x2021;HH 5H[ DGPLWV WKDW KH ZDV D OLWWOH QHUYRXV DERXW WKDW ¿UVW RUGHU IRU 0U &Rá&#x201A;&#x2021;HH 5H[ VD\V DIWHU KH ORRNHG RYHU HDFK Ã&#x20AC;\ ZLWK D magnifying glass with a few hums DQG JUXQWV )UDQN ¿QDOO\ FRQFOXGHG ³, UHFNRQ , FDQ XVH WKHVH´ 5H[ ZHQW on to learn how to tie all the great 6PRN\ 0RXQWDLQ Ã&#x20AC;\ SDWWHUQV DQG TXLWH D IHZ FXVWRP Ã&#x20AC;\V IRU )UDQN¶V FXVWRPHUV 5H[ VWLOO WLHV WKH ³&Rá&#x201A;&#x2021;HH 6WRQHÃ&#x20AC;\´ DW Ã&#x20AC;\ W\LQJ GHPRQVWUDWLRQV DOVR NQRZQ DV WKH ³'D\FR 1\PSK´ VLQFH WKH Ã&#x20AC;\ RULJLQDWHG IURP D plastic material used at the Dayco SODQW WR ZUDS KRVHV 7KH &Rá&#x201A;&#x2021;HH 6WRQHÃ&#x20AC;\ LV VWLOO LQ KLJK GHPDQG WRGD\

$IWHU 0U &Rá&#x201A;&#x2021;HH EHJDQ WR VXá&#x201A;&#x2021;HU IURP KHDOWK LVVXHV DQG UHWLUHG IURP WKH LQGXVWU\ 5H[ NHSW WKH EDOO UROOLQJ +H SLFNHG XS D ORW RI &Rá&#x201A;&#x2021;HH¶V customers and tied hundreds of GR]HQV RI Ã&#x20AC;\V IRU :\QQ¶V 6SRUWV World in Pigeon Forge along with VRPH ORFDO Ã&#x20AC;\ VKRSV WKDW EHJDQ WR VSULQJ XS ,Q WKH HDUO\ ¶V 5H[ became a member of the Federation RI )O\ )LVKHU¶V DQG EHJDQ GRLQJ Ã&#x20AC;\ tying demonstrations all over the Southeast. At a National Federation RI )O\ )LVKHUV &RQFODYH HYHQW 5H[ WLHG WKH IDPRXV &Rá&#x201A;&#x2021;HH 6WRQHÃ&#x20AC;\ DQG it was published in the Federation RI )O\ )LVKHU¶V ERRN ³3DWWHUQV RI WKH 0DVWHUV´ %\ WKH \HDU 5H[ ZDV SURYLGLQJ KLV FXVWRPHUV DQG Ã&#x20AC;\ VKRSV ZLWK VL[ WR VHYHQ KXQGUHG GR]HQ Ã&#x20AC;\V SHU \HDU ZKLOH ZRUNLQJ D IXOO WLPH MRE

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 51

After years of turning out KXQGUHGV RI GR]HQV RI Ã&#x20AC;\V PRVW RI WKH Ã&#x20AC;\ VKRSV DQG VSRUWV VKRSV VWDUWHG LPSRUWLQJ ¿VKLQJ Ã&#x20AC;\V IURP third world countries for three RU IRXU GROODUV D GR]HQ $ERXW WKH VDPH WLPH 5H[ ZDV JHWWLQJ close to retirement and instead of competing with third world sweat VKRSV WR VHOO Ã&#x20AC;\V GHFLGHG WR VSHQG his retirement years teaching others how to tie the traditional 6PRN\ 0RXQWDLQ Ã&#x20AC;\ SDWWHUQV DQG getting the younger generation LQWHUHVWHG LQ Ã&#x20AC;\ ¿VKLQJ 5H[ :LOVRQ has spent many volunteer hours WHDFKLQJ Ã&#x20AC;\ ¿VKLQJ DQG Ã&#x20AC;\ W\LQJ DW the Pisgah Center for Wildlife. He is currently active in Trout Unlimited DQG YROXQWHHUV IRU Ã&#x20AC;\ ¿VKLQJ DQG Ã&#x20AC;\ W\LQJ HYHQWV DW WKH )O\ Fishing Museum of the Southern $SSDODFKLDQV 5H[ DOVR WHDFKHV Ã&#x20AC;\ W\LQJ IRU 5LYHUFRXUVH ORFDWHG DW WKH /DNH /RJDQ &RQIHUHQFH &HQWHU ZKLFK LV D ZHHNORQJ Ã&#x20AC;\ ¿VKLQJ DQG coldwater conservation camp for boys and girls between the ages RI WR 7KLV HYHQW KDSSHQV \HDUO\ VWDUWLQJ RQ )DWKHU¶V GD\ DQG is sponsored by the North Carolina State Council of Trout Unlimited. $W WKH \RXQJ DJH RI 5H[ :LOVRQ VWLOO ORYHV WR Ã&#x20AC;\ ¿VK DQG WKH ODVW IHZ \HDUV 5H[ DQG , KDYH VSHQW TXLWH D few days thrashing good trout water all over Western North Carolina.

)LVKLQJ ZLWK 5H[ LV DOZD\V D JRRG WLPH ZKHWKHU WKH FDWFKLQJ LV good or not. A couple of years ago 52 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

ZH KHDGHG XS WR WKH 3LJHRQ 5LYHU IRU D GD\ RQ WKH ZDWHU LQ ODWH VSULQJ JRW rigged up and hit the river. We were just HDVLQJ DORQJ Ã&#x20AC;RJJLQJ WKH ZDWHU SUHWW\ hard and catching one just every now DQG WKHQ , ZDV ¿VKLQJ P\ EHVW Q\PSK SDWWHUQV DQG , GRQ¶W UHPHPEHU H[DFWO\ EXW , ZRXOG EHW WKDW 5H[ ZDV ¿VKLQJ KLV GU\ Ã&#x20AC;\V , ZDV ¿VKLQJ D ZD\V XS LQ IURQW RI 5H[ DQG DERXW DQ KRXU LQWR WKH ¿VK , URXQGHG D FXUYH LQ WKH ULYHU DQG on the far side of a big slow moving KROH WKHUH ZDV D KXJH SRG RI WR inch rainbows actively feeding on top.

They were doing the porpoise roll with almost their whole body coming out RI WKH ZDWHU , TXLFNO\ FKDQJHG XS IRU WZR GU\ Ã&#x20AC;\V WKDW ZRXOG QRUPDOO\ ZRUN DW WKDW WLPH RI \HDU EXW WKH ¿QLFN\ WURXW ZDVQ¶W LPSUHVVHG , TXLFNO\ FKDQJHG WR WZR RWKHU GU\ Ã&#x20AC;\V DQG DIWHU D IHZ casts and total rejection I gave it up. $ERXW WKDW WLPH 5H[ ZDONHG XS DQG , SRLQWHG WR WKH SRG DQG VDLG ³5H[ ORRN DW WKDW SRG ´ , FRXOG VHH WKH H[FLWHPHQW LQ KLV H\HV DV WKH\ ZHUH glued on that far side of the river. As I OHIW 5H[ WR EUHDN WKH FRGH , FKDQJHG EDFN WR Q\PSKV DQG ¿VKHG RQ XS WKH ULYHU $ERXW DQ KRXU ODWHU DV , ¿VKHG EDFN GRZQ DQG IURP D GLVWDQFH , FRXOG VHH 5H[ KRRNLQJ XS ZLWK D QLFH rainbow about every other cast. I had to giggle since I already knew that 5H[ ZRXOG QRW JLYH XS XQWLO KH ¿JXUHG out what those trout were eating.

$V , HDVHG EDFN GRZQ WKH ULYHU watching and shaking my head in DPD]HPHQW 5H[ ZDV LQ WKH SURFHVV RI UHOHDVLQJ D JRRG LQFK UDLQERZ

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 53

$V , ZDONHG XS 5H[ KHOG RXW D YHU\ VPDOO GU\ Ã&#x20AC;\ DQG VDLG ³WKDW¶V ZKDW WKH\ DUH ELWLQJ ´ +H GULHG KLV Ã&#x20AC;\ Rá&#x201A;&#x2021; DQG WRRN D IHZ VWHSV DV WR reach the far side of the river and VDLG ³ZDWFK WKLV´ $V KH PDGH D ORQJ overhand cast to reach right above WKH SRG D JRRG VROLG LQFKHU WRRN KLV Ã&#x20AC;\ GRZQ ZLWK D YHQJHDQFH DQG ZKHQ 5H[ VHW WKH KRRN WKH OLQH went slack. The trout was just too heavy for the hook set. We sat on WKH EDQN DV 5H[ VLIWHG WKURXJK KLV PDQ\ Ã&#x20AC;\ ER[HV LQ VHDUFK RI DQRWKHU OLNH RU FORVH SDWWHUQ EXW RI FRXUVH DV Ã&#x20AC;\ ¿VKLQJ JRHV WKHUH ZDVQ¶W RQH WR EH IRXQG 5H[ ZDVQ¶W RQH WR JLYH up so he decided to try a few more patterns while I sat on a rock and SXá&#x201A;&#x2021;HG RQ P\ VWRJ\ $V 5H[ ZDV casting away I saw a water snake DERXW ¿YH IHHW ORQJ FRPLQJ IURP the far side of the river swimming VWUDLJKW WRZDUG 5H[ OLNH KH ZDV RQ D PLVVLRQ , \HOOHG ³5H[ /RRN RXW IRU WKDW VQDNH ´ :KHQ WKH VQDNH JRW ZLWKLQ D IHZ IHHW 5H[ OLIWHG WKH VQDNH ZLWK KLV Ã&#x20AC;\ URG DQG VOXQJ LW EDFN LQ WKH ZRRGV 5H[ WXUQHG DQG VDLG ³WKDW WKLQJ ZRXOG KDYH ZHQW ULJKW EHWZHHQ P\ OHJV LI , KDGQ¶W FDXJKW LW ´ $V ZH VDW RQ WKH EDQN laughing we knew this day was going to be one for the record books. )LVK 5HVSRQVLEO\

54 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 55

ÂŽ

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go home empty handed! www.sunbursttrout.com

Sunburst Trout Farms Is located below the Shining Rock National Wilderness in the Pisgah National Forest.

Since 1948 they have been growing rainbow trout, and the farm is now run by third generation brothers Wes and Ben Eason.

Sunburst has a long standing commitment to quality. Their fish are hormone and antibiotic free, and the feed is made especially for them containing no mammalian by-products.

All trout are cut to order in small bathces, mostly by hand, thus ensuring all products are of the highest standard.

In addition to Sunburst’s flagship fillets you can also find their award winning caviar, as well as trout jerky, hickory smoked trout, cold smoked trout, smoked trout dip, trout sausage, and even some non trout products, pimento goat cheese and smoked tomato jam.

Be sure to stock up on their Original Jennings Jerky! It’s shelf stable and perfect for those long days fly fishing.

To order go online to www.sunbursttrout.com

314 Industrial Park Drive Waynesville, NC 28786 828-648-3010 • 800-673-3051

Fried Smoky M FRITTERS

with Ram

INGREDIENTS 2 beaten large eggs 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 cups fresh corn kernels 1 thinly sliced scallion 1/2 finely chopped seeded jalapeño 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Salt PREPARATION Pulse 2 beaten large eggs, 1/4 cup allpurpose flour, 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt in a food processor to combine.

Add 2 cups fresh corn kernels, 1 thinly sliced scallion, and 1/2 finely chopped seeded jalapeño; pulse 2–3 times.

Working in batches, cook heaping tablespoonfuls of batter until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side; season fritters with salt. Serve with sour cream 58 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

Mountain Trout mp Fritters FISH

INGREDIENTS Sunburst Trout Filets Ramps Flour Oil (for cooking) Keeping the theme, stuff trout filets with a few ramps. Next, lightly dust with flour before frying.

When great fresh ingredients are available, I like to keep things simple.

Focus on the fish and ramps and you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go wrong. After a few minutes cooking in the pan per side, finish the fish in a 400 degree oven.

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 59

new fly guy

What's in Y Steve Moore

...Fly vest?

.

With almost 3 million

websites selling hundreds of different brands of fly fishing accessories, it’s not surprising new fly fishers may be a bit confused; as if buying the rod, reel and fly line weren’t bad enough!

Let’s cut to the chase – here’s what you really need… and what you don’t.

62 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

Your...

new fly guy

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 63

new fly guy

Before getting into what you should carry in or on the vest, be sure to pick the right features. For guidance on the seven criteria to evaluate a good vest, read the New Fly Guy column in the 2016 December/January issue.

Even if you cannot optimize all seven characteristics, do not pick the wrong color. I recommend taking a cue from the millions of years of evolution that made the blue heron such an exceptional predator.

Big Blue can consume plenty of trout per day with a USDA-APHIS fact sheet documenting a consumption rate of 2.2 trout per hour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a catch rate better than most anglers on small water!

An adult blue heron is around four feet tall, slatecolored with white head feathers; causing it to poke well above surrounding vegetation. Blue herons must be blue for a reason!

Mimic the bird by selecting a vest in approximately the same shade of slate grey.

64 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

new fly guy

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 65

new fly guy

66 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

new fly guy Accessories you need (links included so you can see examples): Stream Thermometer: Trout are sensitive to water temperature with their feeding range being between 50 and 68°F (10 to 20°C) for most species. Match it and find active fish. While not waterproof, I like using the small infrared thermometers that cost around $12 from Harbor Freight or even less from Aliexpress even though their accuracy varies. Another critical use is to determine when the water is too warm to fish. Stop fishing when the water exceeds 70°F to avoid stressing the fish.

Brooki es are even more sensitive than other species.

Nipper: Use a small nipper to trim tippet. It is much easier to use than a pocket knife for a smooth cut.

Most nippers come with a pin on the opposite side to clear thread from the eye of the hook. Instead of using the included pin since it is usually too thick, I advocate taking a thin sewing pin (with the beaded top) to do the same thing. Quick tip – always cut tippet on an angle to make it easier to thread through the eye. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 67

new fly guy

Fly Patch: If your vest does not have a fly patch to hold frequently used flies, buy one. Based on what is active, I’ll put different sizes of that fly on the patch to avoid digging in the fly box.

Forceps: This tool is used to remove hooks, squish split-shot and tie knots. Check out the New Fly Guy column in the 2016 February/March issue or this YouTube playlist for the knot tying process.

Hook Size Chart: One of the most confusing things to a new fly fisher is figuring out hook sizes. Your buddy tells you to use a size 16 prince nymph, and all you can do is stare vacantly at the hundred flies in your box wondering which is the right size. Print out this free hook size chart from TMC Fly Hooks and use it to compare the size of the hook to the recommendation. You do not need to carry the entire document on the stream. Instead, print it at 100% (turn off the “fit to paper” option in the printer dialog) and cut out the TMC100SP-BL or TMC100 section for the most common sizes. Laminate it!

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new fly guy

Floatant Holder: Use a floatant holder to hang a small bottle of dry fly floatant as well as Xink (fly sink dressing for nymphs and wet flies) from your vest. For a discussion of the pros and cons of different floatant types, refer to the New Fly Guy column in the 2017 August/September issue.

Samadou Fly Dryer: Once a dry fly gets soaked, it must be dried off before reapplying floatant. Be sure to have a drying patch as part of your kit.

Zingers: Rather than digging through pockets, reduce frustration by hanging the most commonly used accessories from a zinger. Zingers can be expensive, and it is worth having a high-quality one for bulky items like forceps. However, everything else can usually be supported by the lightweight zingers, three in a pack, from the Dollar Store.

Pocket Knife: Have a small pocket knife for any use beyond the scope of the nipper. I like using the authentic Victorinox/Wenger Swiss Army knives and buy them used on eBay. The ones confiscated at TSA airport checkpoints end up there for a few bucks each. Avoid the little keychain models. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 69

new fly guy

Accessories that are a waste of money:

Fly Threader: Most fly threaders are awkward to use, and if you learn the simple trick of sliding the tippet adjacent to the eye of the hook until it pops in, you don’t need one. Check out this YouTube video for the process.

Stomach Pump: I know many hard-core fly anglers use stomach pumps to see what a fish has been eating, but I just think it’s over the top and hard on the fish.

Besides… you have to catch a fish first to use the pump, and it ate the fly used to catch it. That’s a hint at what’s right.

Knot Tying Tools: Learn how to tie knots with forceps to avoid buying and carrying these accessories.

Soooooo…. What about a net? Unless you are fishing for fish larger than 16”, you do not need one banging around and getting hung up on pretty much everything as you work your way to the stream. If you get a net, use models with rubber netting.

I like the versions with the magnetic holder that clips to the back of the vest.

There you go! Conserve cash and only get the accessories you need. Obviously, stash a fly box, tippet, spare leaders, indicators and split shot in the vest as well.

Check out Steve’s YouTube channel at KayakHacksFishing for more on this topic.

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new fly guy

Make a loop of tippet and hold it between the thumb and forefinger.

Insert a forceps into the loop

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GEARHEA

GREAT GLASSES FROM DOW

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WN UNDER

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gearhead

first came across Tonic Polarized Eyewear as an indirect result of writing an installment of my Gearhead column in Southern Trout called “Best in Class, it’s Still Glass.” The article talked about high-end polarized glass lens sunglasses and featured products from most major United States manufacturers.

Soon after the piece came out I was contacted by some folks from down south, south of the Equator that is, who offered a line of high-end fishing sunglasses out of Australia. While they had yet to establish a presence in the United States they offered to send me a few pair of glasses to try out.

With no expectations on either of our parts I accepted, and I was glad I did.

While my common pedigree doesn’t justify it, I am admittedly a sunglass snob. For years I have worn nothing but high-end glass lens products from the big dogs in the industry such as Costa Del Mar, Hobie, Maui Jim and Smith Optics.

My relationship with glasses I could barely afford, but always felt I needed, goes back to Specialized Optics who was bought by Action Optics who was in turn bought by Smith Optics.

While neighboring New Zealand is a world-renowned mecca for trout fishing, Australia is not a place that comes to mind when I think of fly fishing – or even fishing, or fish. In fact, when I think of Australia I think of kangaroos, koala’s, dingo’s, wombat’s, Crocodile Dundee and Nicole Kidman. So, to say my expectations were somewhat low would be fair.

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gearhead Upon receiving

my care package from Down Under, I couldn’t help but notice the quality of the packaging. While I have seen some great products that were poorly packaged, and a few poor products that had great packaging, as a rule good packaging means good product, so I took this as a good sign. As I sifted through the box I found that the cases were equally impressive and arguably the best made I have seen.

I also noticed that while “designed” in Australia, Tonic’s products are made in Japan.

While it was not always the case, Japan is now known for quality workmanship and materials.

Unlike many other countries that manufacture consumer products, Japan is not a country that puts out sub-par products. In fact, their products are often on a par with US made items.

Made from TR90 optical grade plastic, Tonic’s frames are rugged and light. The arms and are strong, and the glasses lack the pads that many products have which can fall off and get lost. Hinges are located on the inside and components are made of nickel or stainless steel to prevent rusting.

Most frames provide great coverage and protection from indirect light, blowing sand and errant flies. And while more “function” than “fashion”, the frames also look good.

What stands out most on Tonic’s glasses is the lenses. I was immediately taken by the clarity, color, contrast, and glare-cutting ability of the glasses I sampled.

My go-to for most applications, their photochromic copper lenses are as good as any I have ever worn with a great lightpenetration rate in the 14-19% range. And their copper neon is by far the finest lowlight lens I have ever used, and the glasses I reach for in all but the brightest conditions.

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gearhead

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gearhead Tonic is clearly a “lens first” glass-maker.

Unlike most manufacturers who lead with their frames, Tonic leads with their lenses.

They make both glass and polycarbonate lenses. Their glass lenses are made from Crystalite Glass, the clearest glass available.

Their Gen2 glasses use SLICELENS, which at just 1.7mm are thinner and lighter than most glass lenses on the market today.

Tonic uses technical terms like “decentered”, or “decentred” as they say in Australian, referring to how they are able to achieve maximum depth-perception and distance trueness. Their four-color polarizing filter is sandwiched between glass for maximum effectiveness, and they apply an antireflective coating to the back of their lenses to reduce glare and bounce-back. Tonic’s lenses are also highly scratch-resistant.

In addition to the lenses mentioned above, Tonic offers photochromic grey; and blue, green, red and silver mirror glass lenses.

Polycarbonate Lenses come in copper and grey, and while I am admittedly a glass guy they are as good as anyone else’s non-glass lenses. And of course, all lenses are polarized.

There are eleven frames to choose from.

Frames come in matte black, gloss black and tortoise, with most models coming in multiple colors. My personal favorites are the Rise, Shimmer, Trakker and YouRanium.

And if you want to look like a rock star, try the Bono, named after the lead singer of Irish rockers U-2. While I am not sure if the pun was intended, there are the Mo and Jo as well, the latter of which is a pilot style glass which helps keep them fog free. Most frames also come in various lens options, with over forty combinations in total.

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gearhead

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gearhead

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gearhead Glass lens models run from $269 to $289 while polycarbonates cost $189. These prices are in line with United States high-end sunglass manufacturers and when you consider the performance and packaging, a fair price for what you get. You can learn more about Tonic sunglasses at www. toniceyewear.com.au . Or contact them at usa@toniceyewear.com.au or 800-245-6752. Tonic sunglasses are also available online from Cabelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at www.cabelas.com.

As a guy who has written several articles about fly fishing eyewear and sold numerous brands of sunglasses during the fifteen years I had my shop, I pride myself on being somewhat of an expert on the subject.

While the United States sunglass market will not be an easy nut to crack due to what is a very crowded playing field, Tonic absolutely has the products and technology to do it.

BOB MALLARD has fly fished for over 40 years. He is a former fly shop owner, Registered Maine Guide, blogger, writer, author, fly designer and native fish advocate.

Look for his books 50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northeast and 25 Best Towns Fly Fishing for Trout (Stonefly Press). He can be reached at www.bobmallard.com, info@ bobmallard.com or 207-399-6270. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 79

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A NANO BREWERY IN BLUE RIDGE, GA We were founded in October of 2012, and our first legal brew was shipped in July of 2013. We are a couple of old retired guys who were home brewing in an outdoor shower and graduated to this. We are still having fun which is why we are still open.

Our corporate mission is simple: If we don’t like it, we don’t drink it.

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[770-331-8870/404-966-2665] info@grumpyoldmenbrewing.com

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THE NEW LIGHT WEIGHT JAPANESE POLARISED GLASS LENS BY TONIC EYEWEAR ARE TECHNICALLY ADVANCED, GROUND DECENTERED GLASS PHOTOCHROMIC POLARISED LENSES, PROVIDING YOU WITH A TRUE DEPTH DISTANCE, CLARITY AND TOTALLY DISTORTION FREE.

Tonic Glass Photochromic Polarised lens adjusts from dark tint to light tint to adapt with changing weather conditions.

New Phase Inc 149 S. Emerson, Shelley ID 83274 P 208-523-2565 E dan@newphaseinc.com www.newphaseinc.com

Irreplaceable!

R

ecent conversation around the compound has focused on the need to find a replacement for me. While I admit that I am getting a little long of tooth in recent years, and I have slowed down some, I do not see why it is so essential to have a standing replacement in the result of my ultimate demise. Think about it for a minute in simply to understand bipod terms. Ole Daddyboy is a broke

olive K. nynne

wreck, a prime example of nearly 70 years of constant abuse and carefree living, something he would certainly do again in a New York minute if given the opportunity.

Trust me, there is not a regretful bone in his body, save for not having gone fishing enough, which would not have helped his kidneys.

Do you hear any talk of finding a suitable, more robust replacement for

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black wing olive chronicles the old fart? Hell no, there isn’t. The last I heard, there was an advisory in the family newsletter that set members on alert to guard against scam tactics designed to defraud them of their kidneys. I’d like to see his face if a new Daddy Boy arrived here all bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to take on his duties and functions.

Yeah, he wouldn’t think quite the same about replacements.

I fail to grasp the human need for us canines to seek the companionship of other members of our species in our golden years. All I have to is go into heat, and as if I’d waved a magic wand, instantly the front yard would fill with suitors eager to know me better. Heck, toss in but a single success copulation, and two months later I would have more companions that you can say grace over. I mean hell, do I look lonely? Why can’t a mature dog just have an expression of happiness and joyous containment? Gimme a break.

The last time this subject saw light was two years ago on my thirteenth birthday.

Always thinking ahead, Mommygirl decided that I needed help. Mommygirl showed up here with Babs, a small framed blonde Labrador retriever. The pup turned out to be dumber than a box of hammers.

Unable to tell the difference in sic ‘me and Shinola, she had the terrible drug habitat of chasing passing cars. Getting closer to the tailpipe exhaust to breathe in the vapor for a cheap high. I warned Babs of the perils of brain damage, but she never heeded.

It was not until the back tire of a Buick crusher her skull did she comprehend her Follie. Talk about major brain damage…

The can just imagine the look on ole Daddyboy’s face the day the Mommygirl lets a younger him into the fold. Of course it would be to lighten the load on him, that’s how the move would be framed. The vigor of the faithful assistant’s mind will “lighten the load.” Now what is this “load” being referenced? The “load” is something that no one has seen moved since last Passover. Imagine, a new assistant, let’s call him “Bill,” showing up with twice the muscle mass and less than half of the fat mass, plus possibly the ability for abstract thought, an ability abandoned long ago by Daddyboy. Toss in a heaping helping of good old fashion get up and going….well I’m sure you can see it all now. Sooner than flies are drawn to stink, ole Daddyboy is history.

Well idle day dreaming here at the compound is something of an institutionally activity here. Daddyboy is doddering around either talking to himself or one of his imaginary friends. I’ve got a deadline nearing and no inspiration whatsoever.

You’d think that as dysfunctional as this place is, the nimble mind of a welleducated canine such as I certainly am, would have a cornucopia of Blackwing Olive Chronicles columns ideas hanging pregnant on the vine begging to be plucked.

The truth is hardily the case, especially when Daddyboy is out of decent cigars.

I’ll have to retreat to beneath the Coke box or another inspiration point (as I refer to it) and come up with yet another gripping tale of surviving life at the compound.

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Anderson Cre

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here do you want live in the future? Do you want to live on a postage stamp sized lot in Suburbia or in a protected mountain environment where you can walk to a trout stream in your own private park with twelve miles of trails through a diverse landscape in the Appalachian Mountains?

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m betting on the latter.

Earlier this year, I was contacted by Doug David with Anderson Creek Retreat, a private mountain community next to the Chattahoochee National Forest near the historic towns of Ellijay, Blue Ridge and Dahlonega, Georgia and just over the ridge from the Appalachian Trail and Amicalola Falls State Park. Remarkably, it is located an hour north of Atlanta. However, the metro jitters are a world away at the Retreat. He invited me over to look at the place, which I did. I loved it.

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eek Retreat:

One of a Kind www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 87

Since leaving the Great Smoky Mountains in the early 1990s, I missed being near the high country and its many streams and rivulets. Living in a central Alabama in a small town known as the “Dung Beetle Capital of Dixie” has never really made sense to me.

Getting me to the Georgia mountains did, and it was love at first sight. No, I didn’t buy a lot, but I may.

You see, this slice of Northern Georgia is surrounded by trout streams, pleasant vistas, and has a pace of life that has increasingly greater appeal to me since I crossed over into my 65th year.

Anderson Creek Retreat is a base camp for a healthy outdoor lifestyle. Home sites of three acres or more offer backdoor access to more than twelve miles of trails over 1,200 acres with diverse natural settings.

Did I mention that the property has a first-class trout stream, plus spring creeks, a lake, and more? To ensure the Retreat retains its rural, greenspace feel, more than 130 acres are set aside as community greenspace protected by conservation easements deeded to the Georgia Land Trust.

“The ability to find and secure large tracts of land like Anderson Creek Retreat is becoming harder and harder. We were fortunate to know the landowners whose ancestors settled on Anderson Creek in the mid-1800’s. They wanted a conservation community to be their legacy,” says Doug David as we patrolled the property.

Anderson Creek Retreat has just about everything for those looking for a home in the mountains. Blue Ridge, Ellijay and Dahlonega just a short drive from the Retreat. In recent years, these communities have become major tourist attractions with outstanding restaurants, breweries, vineyards, apple orchards and apple houses. Families still play bluegrass music together. It’s all part of a culture that is unique to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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“The Retreat joins the Chattahoochee National Forest just over the ridge from the Appalachian Trail and overlooks the Cartecay River valley and Rich Mountain Wilderness with 4,000-foot high ridges.

Several waterfalls are in the National Forest and, of course, Amicalola Falls, the highest waterfall in the southeast, is in Amicalola Falls State Park. We’re surrounded by white water rivers and trout streamsthe Cartecay, Toccoa, Noontootla, Jacks, and Conasauga rivers and Coopers Creek. Just west of us is the 40,000-acre Cohutta Wilderness, the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi. Just down the road is Apple Alley, Georgia’s most productive apple orchards and apple houses”, adds David.

Personally, I love going to the town of Blue Ridge, which is the semi-official, Peach State HQ for Southern Trout Magazine. In fact, we will be there twice in April, including going to the amazing Blue Ridge Fly Fishing Festival. The fact is, you can’t swing a dead cat in the part of the world where Anderson Creek Retreat is without it splashing down in a trout stream. Some are roadside flows like the Toccoa River, while others require the investment of time and sweat to reach. The choices are superb and for diehard gadabouts, seeming endless.

Another selling point of Anderson Creek Retreat is rather personal for me. The developers have gone out of their way to preserve the region’s Scottish heritage. The only poem I ever cared enough to memorize was Robert Burns’ famous verses” John Anderson My Jo John.” Being mostly of Scottish lineage, I am proud of my countrymen’s impact upon and cultural contribution to the Southern Highlands.

David showed many of the ruins of that bygone era at Anderson Creek Retreat. When you visit the place, I hope that you find the preservation of old homesteads as much a part of the Retreat as did I. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 91

A Community in a Private Park

The preservation of the Retreat’s natural beauty, traditional architecture and pioneer history are the hallmarks of Anderson Creek Retreat. In the 1800’s, the Scotch-Irish pioneer families of Anderson, McClure, Mulkey and Weaver settled in the spring-fed hollows and rich bottomlands.

“Anderson Creek Retreat is setting a new standard for mountain development to ensure the protection of wildlife habitat, open space, and water quality,” explains David. “With our planners, Reece Hoopes and Fincher, we created a community in a private park to preserve the look and feel of the southern Appalachians, botanically rich environments, springs, hardwood ridges, pastures, nineteenth century homestead ruins and the habitat of songbirds, owls, hawks, the wild turkey and the pileated woodpecker. A network of biking, hiking and equestrian trails connects these diverse settings for the enjoyment of families and friends.”

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Home sites are available in two settlements: Spring Camp and The Ridge. The lay of the land determines home sites of three acres or more with backdoor access to miles of trails through the diverse landscape. The Ridge offers twenty-six home sites on a two-hundred acre mountain next to the Anderson Creek Preserve, a mile-long, seventy-five acre community greenspace with the original homestead ruins of the Anderson and Mulkey families.

Trails follow along Anderson Creek, Anderson Lake, and a two mile trail loops around The Ridge through laurel and rhododendron thickets beside spring creeks.

Development is understated.

Owners enjoy several park settings that include a stone pavilion and fireplace, a stone bathhouse, primitive camp sites, sites for creekside hiking cabins, outdoor fire pits, Adirondack chairs and picnic tables by Anderson Creek. This private trout stream offers catchand-release fly-fishing for stream bred, wild rainbow, and brown trout.

Bass and bream are also plentiful in Anderson Lake.

Perhaps a dream, but one worth pursing, Anderson Creek Retreat is a most special place with a lot going for it. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 95

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Monte Seehorn, Stream Carpenter

Anderson Creek is like many mid-elevation streams found in North Georgia. It is cold enough to hold rainbow and brown trout, pristine enough for them to reproduce and big enough for them to increase in size.

Monte Seehorn, a retired US Forest Service fisheries biologist, spent his career restoring trout streams ravaged by logging and later became an independent stream consultant for private landowners eager to improve their stream habitat. Since the 1990’s, Seehorn has evaluated and improved various trout streams including Dukes Creek at Smithgall Woods near Helen, Georgia and several miles of Anderson Creek upstream from Anderson Creek Retreat. Using natural materials, Seehorn constructs dams and other current altering structures to improve habitat.

“I recommended six or seven stream modifications for Anderson Creek Retreat, says Seehorn. “It is truly a dandy stream on its own but these improvements will greatly improve its capacity as a trout stream,” says Seehorn. “It is rare indeed when so many adjoining property owners see such tremendous potential for protecting and improving a watershed like Anderson Creek. Anderson Creek Retreat is a concept of land management and care that is way ahead of its time.”

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Music Washes the Ridge

The solid Scotch-Irish heritage of Anderson Creek Retreat includes a healthy slice of traditional music that is as much a part of its heritage as breathtaking vistas and moonshine whiskey.

Bluegrass music dates back to the first settlers who gathered together for pickinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sessions. Mountain ballads and songs of lost loved ones are commonplace today.

Make your plans now to visit Anderson Creek Retreat, a very special place. andersoncreekretreat.com

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best kept secret

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Check it out at thebluegillpond.com Presently available in soft cover. $24.95 soft cover Kindle $13.99 on Amazon

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ready for action 102 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

ddle fork ckable waders

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t was love a first sight.

Unboxing the package containing Patagonia Middle Fork Waders I knew they were different and very special. The western-based company has emerged as a leader in trout worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in a streamlined design, and their newly-released Middle Fork Waders are a difficult to top benchmark for design and workmanship. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 103

I was immediately drawn to the claim that these waders were conceived and built to be ultra-light.

Not known for overstating, I knew they were perfect for trips up to Fish Camp Prong on the headwaters of Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. My first examination of the Middle Fork Waders revealed much more than I had anticipated from the experience.

The Middle Fork waders proved to be the lightest, most packable and most technically advanced waders Patagonia has ever made. They feature incredible, new seamless bootie technology that will leave gasping The Middle Fork waders are constructed from lightweight yet durable waterproof/breathable fabric and fold into a compact 8" x 13" stuff sack and weigh in at just 26 ounces (740 g or 1 lb 10.1 oz) for go-anywhere portability. If blue lining is your passion, welcome to the future of wader design and comfort.

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The design objective appears to be cut a new trail with the Middle Fork waders. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apparent throughout the entire concept governing wade construction that was rethought, from opting for the lightest materials available to reducing many things to the bare essentials. The upper body is built from 3-layer, H2No high-performance fabric with a waterproof/ breathable barrier and a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. The seat and legs of the Middle Fork Waders are constructed from 4-layer, 4.5-oz 100% polyester and this includes heavy scuff guards. Adjustable, stretchy suspenders and wading belt compliment a revolutionary singleseam construction is used for durability and gusseted crotch for freedom of movement and comfort.

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The seamless booties are the single most impressive feature of these waders. The focus is on lowbulk, seamless synthetic rubber makes them easy to compact into a day pack for easy transport.

Seat and legs offer a great fit via articulated flex points. Waders generally constitute large, heavy gear that you want to remove the moment your fishing day ends.

Conversely, when wearing the Middle Fork waders there are moments you just about forget you are wearing waders at all. When hiking and air travel, size and weight

matter, Middle Fork waders even assist when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not worn. They can be compacted into a crusheddown package that is lightweight and does not require a log of volume.

Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had an opportunity to seriously examine and perhaps even try the Middle Fork waders, their pricing is perfectly matched to their value and performance. The Middle Fork waders may very well be the best wader values currently available for the money.

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Fishing Shrimp & Cress Bugs for Trout 108 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

W

hen the late Vince Marinaro did his evaluation of the aquatic insects which were available to the trout in the Letort Spring Run in Pennsylvania he found over two thousand pounds of insects per acre of stream bottom. Vince told me, as we sat beside the stream, that the great majority of this food was in the form of cress bugs (sow bugs) and shrimp (scuds).

Many rich spring creeks, freestone streams and tailwaters have excellent populations of these crustaceans and by using a Kaufmannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Olive Scud and Shenkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cress Bug in sizes 12 down to 18 and the appropriate WDFWLFV \RX FDQ JHW RXWVWDQGLQJ ¿VKLQJ Most anglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to use three and four ZHLJKW URGV IRU WKLV ¿VKLQJ EHFDXVH RI WKH delicacy required in the presentation. Reels that have a light starting drag are very KHOSIXO LQ SURWHFWLQJ ¿QH OHDGHUV RQ WKH SRZHUIXO ¿UVW UXQ RI these large trout. Nine foot leaders tapered to 5X and 6X are ideal.

-H௺ 0XUUD\ DXWKRU¶V VRQ ¿JKWV D ODUJH WURXW RQ D VPDOO VSULQJ FUHHN +H KDV SXW WKH WURXW ³RQ WKH UHHO´ WR SURWHFW KLV ¿QH WLSSHW ZKHQ WKH WURXW UXQV www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 109

The most productive tactics vary from one type of stream to the next. In RUGHU IRU \RX WR DSSO\ WKLV WR \RXU SHUVRQDO ¿VKLQJ OHW XV ¿UVW H[DPLQH WKH VSULQJ FUHHNV DQG WKHQ ZH ZLOO ORRN DW IUHHVWRQH VWUHDPV DQG ¿QDOO\ WKH WDLOZDWHUV

7KH ULFK VSULQJ FUHHNV ZKLFK DUH WRR VPDOO WR ZDGH SURYLGH JUHDW ¿VKLQJ in low light levels at dawn, dusk and in slightly discolored water. This is RQH RQ RQH ¿VKLQJ ZKHUH \RX VSRW WKH WURXW IHHGLQJ LQ ZDWHU D IRRW or two deep along the banks and below the aquatic grass beds.

You may locate these trout by the disturbance they make as they root the bugs from the stream bottomâ&#x20AC;¦ often showing WKHLU VZLVKLQJ WDLOV OLNH D WDLOLQJ ERQH¿VK 6RPHWLPHV \RX ZLOO VSRW GLVFRORUHG ZDWHU Ã&#x20AC;RZLQJ GRZQVWUHDP IURP WKLV URRWLQJ However you locate these trout, crawl into a comfortable secure casting position downstream of them. Watch closely and you will see a trout swim upstream several feet to root the bugs out then drop back to his feeding station to feed on them as the current pushes them to him. When he goes upstream the next time wait until he drops back to his feeding station then present your bug several feet upstream of him, timing your presentation so it will drift to him just ahead of the naturals. Set the hook when \RX VHH KLP WXUQ WR WDNH \RXU Ã&#x20AC;\ RU ³ZKLWH LW´ revealing the white interior of his mouth as he sucks it in. Some trout will feed in this manner every twenty seconds while other may feed every WZR WR WKUHH PLQXWHV , KDYH VHHQ D VSHFL¿F WURXW feed in this way for hours if the light level is low.

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-H௺ 0XUUD\ WKH DXWKRU¶V VRQ DGPLUHV D UDLQERZ KH FDXJKW E\ UXQQLQJ WKH EDQN ZLWK D 6KULPS RQ D WDLOZDWHU VWUHDP ZLWK KLV NLFN ERDW www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 111

Spring creeks which are large enough to wade can also SURYLGH JUHDW ¿VKLQJ VLQFH WKH\ DOVR KDYH ODUJH SRSXODWLRQV RI shrimp (more in the West) and cress bugs (more in the East).

The one on one tactic used on the small spring creeks mentioned earlier works well here when you see these trout feeding in the shallows.

However, another technique which the late Charlie Brooks taught me is YHU\ SURGXFWLYH RQ WKH ODUJH VSULQJ FUHHNV :DGH XSVWUHDP DQG ¿VK D 6KULPS or Cress Bug upstream dead drift through the deep cuts and beside the aquatic grass beds. Many trout hold on feeding stations under the edges of these grass beds and quickly grab every natural bug that drifts by. Depending upon the stream depth and speed of the current you may need to place a small lead-free split VKRW VL[ LQFKHV DERYH WKH À\ 6WULNH GHWHFWLRQ LV HDV\ E\ SODFLQJ D VPDOO LQGLFDWRU IURP WKUHH WR ¿YH IHHW DERYH WKH À\ GHSHQGLQJ XSRQ WKH GHSWK RI WKH ZDWHU

112 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

)LJKWLQJ DQG ODQGLQJ ODUJH WURXW ZLWK ¿QH OHDGHUV RQ JUDVV ¿OOHG VWUHDPV FDQ EH D OLWWOH WULFN\ EXW KHUH LV D YHU\ Há&#x201A;&#x2021;HFWLYH PHWKRG $OZD\V WU\ WR JHW GRZQVWUHDP RI WKH WURXW DQG JHW KLP RQ WKH UHHO E\ TXLFNO\ FUDQNLQJ LQ WKH VODFN OLQH $V WKH WURXW runs upstream apply a light rod pressure to the side with the rod twenty degrees DERYH WKH VWUHDP« ,I \RX WU\ ¿JKWLQJ KLP ZLWK WKH Ã&#x20AC;\ URG KHOG KLJK LQ WKH DLU KH usually dives deep in the stream and frequently runs upstream into a grass-tunnel.

If this happens he can usually be coaxed out by a gently low rod pressure from directly below where he went into the grass. Once you feel you have him ready to land, lead him over to water two feet deep with the rod at a high angle to cushion a n y possible last minute run. Position your landing net in the stream and gently OHDG \RXU WURXW LQWR LW (YHQ YHU\ ODUJH WURXW FDQ EH Há&#x201A;&#x2021;HFWLYHO\ ODQGHG LQ this way, assuring you they will survive when returned to the stream.

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/DUJH IUHHVWRQH VWUHDPV RIWHQ KDYH ODUJH VSULQJV ÀRZLQJ LQWR WKHP 0DQ\ large trout feed heavily below where these springs because during the summer they SURYLGH FRROHU ZDWHU WKHQ WKH PDLQ ÀRZ DQG GXULQJ WKH ZLQWHU ZKHQ WKHVH VSULQJV DUH UXQQLQJ IURP WKH XSSHU IRUWLHV WR WKH PLG ¿IWLHV WKH\ DUH PXFK ZDUPHU WKDQ WKH VWUHDPV 7KH DONDOLQLW\ WKHVH VSULQJV DႇRUG LV LGHDO IRU JRRG VKULPS DQG FUHVV EXJ JURZWK If you spot trout feeding on the naturals in the shallows along the banks go one on one with them. If you do not see feeders wade to within forty feet of the spring DQG WHQ IHHW DERYH LW )LVK \RXU À\ GRZQ DQG DFURVV VWUHDP DW D WZHQW\ GHJUHH DQJOH ZLWK D VORZ WZR LQFK WZLWFKLQJ DFWLRQ HYHU\ ¿YH VHFRQGV 6WDUW ULJKW where the spring enters and cover the whole area thoroughly. Depending upon the volume of the spring and the speed of the current in the river, this area can be very productive from thirty to one hundred feet below the spring. Many streams in rich limestone valleys have great number of these springs throughout their length, easily spotted by the rich green grass growth along the banks and in the streams below the springs.

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Tailwater streams often hold great shrimp populations and these large trout feet heavily upon them all day.

:KHQ \RX Ã&#x20AC;RDW WKHVH ULYHUV LQ D GULIW ERDW RU kick boat, drift forty feet out in the river from the banks or aquatic grass beds. Fish your Shrimp on a 5X or 6X leader ZLWK DQ LQGLFDWRU RU GU\ Ã&#x20AC;\ IURP WKHH WR ¿YH IHHW DERYH LW WKLV GLVWDQFH depending upon the depth of the water and the speed of the current. You may HYHQ QHHG WR SODFH D WLQ\ OHDG IUHH VSOLW VKRW VL[ LQFKHV DERYH WKH Ã&#x20AC;\ VR LW GULIWV GHHSO\ &DVW IRUW\ WR ¿IW\ IHHW GRZQVWUHDP DW D WZHQW\ GHJUHH DQJOH GURSSLQJ \RXU Ã&#x20AC;\ WHQ IHHW Rá&#x201A;&#x2021; WKH EDQN :LWK JHQWO\ PHQGLQJ \RX FDQ usually get a natural drift for thirty to forty feet before the boat catches XS WR WKH Ã&#x20AC;\ $W WKLV SRLQW SLFN LW XS DQG FDVW EDFN GRZQVWUHDP 7KLV PHWKRG LV Há&#x201A;&#x2021;HFWLYH DOO GD\ EXW DW GXVN \RX KDYH DQRWKHU RSWLRQ When the sun drops below the horizon many large trout move into the water which is two to three feet deep DORQJ WKH EDQNV <RX PD\ VHH WDLOLQJ ¿VK RU VZLUOV DV WKH\ turn to feed on the natural shrimp. Beach your boat and wade in below these feedersâ&#x20AC;¦. It is not unusual to spot over a dozen feeding in twenty to thirty foot pockets of large shrimp populations.

Place your indicator three feet DERYH WKH Ã&#x20AC;\ DQG JR RQH RQ RQH ZLWK WKHVH ¿VK ZKHQ SRVVLEOH ,I you have trouble pinning down VSHFL¿F IHHGLQJ VWDWLRQV MXVW IDQ our casts over the whole area and watch your indictor for the strikes.

,I \RX OLNH FKDOOHQJLQJ WURXW ¿VKLQJ which is very gratifying I strongly recommend going after them with Shrimp and Cress Bugs.

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N

ick Carter, author of Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia (Wilderness Adventures Press, 2017), once wrote in his blog “(blue-lining) is the Southeast’s version of fishing high-elevation Rocky Mountain beaver ponds for native cutthroats,” adding “the adventure involved in finding specks is as much fun as catching them.” As for rivulet reconnaissance, he offered, “Get out a good topo map of a mountainous area with water temperatures capable of supporting trout populations. Look for those thin blue lines that indicate small streams falling from high elevations into known trout waters.”

Snip from a 1935 USGS 7.5 Minute Quadrangle Topographic Map. Lines are still blue after all these years.

Fred Turner

Modern Day 120 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

While at Townsend, Tennessee’s 2011 TroutFest, I got to meet Tom Rosenbauer, author of The Orvis Guide to Small Stream Fly Fishing (Universe Publishing, 2011). At his seminar on this topic, Tom referenced in writing: “Once you’ve identified a rough location close to your home, or summer place, or vacation destination (after all the appeal of small-stream fishing is that you don’t have to travel hundreds of miles to a famous trout stream to get your fix), it’s time to take out the maps and put fresh batteries in the GPS. The best place to start is an oldfashioned, plain paper map from the USGS site (store.usgs.gov), or download one and use it on your computer, or print a section yourself.”

Today numerous useful topo mapping viewing applications and programs are available for all our technical gear, but all suitable ones are based on the same USGS data.

y Bluelining

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The headwaters of Ravens Fork is one of the most rugged and hazardous places in the Smokies. My friends James and Mac once ventured into these impressive waters as depicted in the photos.

For such remote treks take a good map, GPS device and by all means a compass, but before leaving know how to use both all three. Modern GPS devices and GPSenabled phones and

tablets are very robust technologically speaking.

However, satellite signals in the region’s gorges and horseshoe bends are hit and miss at best. In spite of this on-occasion limitation modern day handheld GPS devices and GPS-enabled phone apps permit you to record your own accurate bushwhacked manways and fishing spots transferring to a friend’s (a really good friend’s) GPS or save to your computer.

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Then in combination with mapping software you can render the information more useful.

Finally, while in the backcountry do not rely on your cell phone for other than possibly getting you out of the tent on time and confirming the fact that you are miserably cold… if not getting rained on.

The fact of the matter is that cell towers in these parts are as scarce as Lumpsucker’s teeth.

Speaking of fish, when it comes to netting a brilliantly adorned native speck or a nice up high rainbow, size rarely matters. The same applies to topo. In some instances, the larger fold up or extra hefty digital maps can be a detriment.

With topos scale matters most. Even if you’re

panning through a six foot square, virtually speaking, PDF on a smart phone from a prior decade – like mine, if the map’s scale is great enough, if it has a proper contour interval and if in high resolution, you’re often good to go.

So, what is a good creek chasing topo map?

The area chosen for comparing USGS-based topo maps includes North Carolina’s wild mountain trout-designated waters bounded by 35° 16' 30" and 35° 15' 30" North and 83° 59' 30" and 83° 58' 00" West. (Search Google Maps, etc., using 35.268, -83.980 to locate the center.)

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Map scales of from 1:24,000 to no less than 1:40,000 are required and the contour interval should be no greater than 50 feet. Figs. 1 and 2 are comparisons of this criteria in two printed map

alternatives.

Fig. 1 is a full size snip of a portion of the Santeetlah Creek (NC) Quadrangle first published in1940. The mapâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scale is 1:24,000 as are all USGS 7.5 Minute Series maps.

The contour interval is 50 feet. A print is available at store.usgs.gov for $15. A PDF can be downloaded

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for free.

Fig. 2 is a snip of the same printed size as that in Fig. 1, but as can be seen, it shows considerably more coverage, over 264 percent more to be exact. The mapâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scale is 1:63,360. However, the contour interval is

50 feet. The snip is of National Geographicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trails Illustrated Map 781. This and all Trails Illustrated maps of the region provide unmatched detail of the areas including activity guides for the different areas so you can select a location to explore accord-

ing to your area of interest. The maps also deliver unparalleled trail information including trail guides listing many hundreds of miles of trails along with their mileage, level of difficulty and designated use. However, their relatively small scales make

reading stream and trail gradients and evaluating crossings difficult and are therefore less than ideal for anglers. Map 781 can be purchased at some fly shops and outfitters or online for around $12.

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Fig. 1 is repeated on the left. Fig. 3 is of a PDF of the same coverage and with the same scale and contour interval as the other. Note the finer details and attention to the streams. The old scanned raster image

has been replaced by one that was scanned and converted to a vector format reducing that part of the fileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s size drastically.

The major downside of this fixer upper is that the resulting contours and streams themselves were overly simplified

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in the process making it inferior to the original.

Equally troubling, the programming by design omitted many vestiges of the mountainsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wondrous past. Fortunately, the masterful delineations of the 1940s and 1950s are still around.

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Fig. 4 illustrates a significant enhancement over the flat version in Fig. 1. Mike Cammarano of Stanford University wrote, “Shaded relief maps provide an appealing visualization of landforms and hilly

terrain…with impressively high information density, while still making their rich content readily accessible to an observer with no special training.” Map cobblers like me are able –with a lot of help from the web – to impart the effect using free shareware and

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a PC.

Fig. 5 is an example of other fishing-friendly enhancements that can be made with vectored overlays of the topo. For additional information on this particular process or product-related matters email me at fredturner@

saintclairmapping.com.

One final thing: It is blueliningâ&#x20AC;Śnot black and blue landings or, heaven forbid, flat lining. Go with a buddy and be careful out there.

130 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

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Catching L on Sma M

any serious trout anglers believe the greatest challenges and thus the ultimate gratifications are derived by catching large trout that are selectively feeding on tiny natural insects.

In order for you to take advantage of this exciting action letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s examine some of the insects which spark this type of feeding and the tactics and fly patterns which are effective.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll explore the successful methods of how to safely hook the large trout on light leaders, the tactics of fighting the trout, and how to safely land and return them to the stream.

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Large Trout all Flies Harry Murray

The trico is one of the most popular tiny mayflies which prompt heavy feeding by large trout. For example, one warm summer morning my best efforts to catch a steadily feeding brown trout failed. Vince Marinaro was sitting under an old apple tree watching my efforts so I eased back away from the stream and sat down beside him where we debated why this big brown was so difficult to fool. My arm came to rest on my knee where my wristwatch happened to fall in line with the feeding brown. In one minute he took sixty-seven tricos. Vince speculated that I may have been getting drag which although it was imperceptible to us the brown could easily discern it and refuse my fly. He suggested I move back down to the stream and crawl into a different casting position which would enable me to handle the currents better. It worked and the big brown took my fly on the first drift.

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Here are a few tactics that can help you catch large trout during the trico hatch:

From the emergence of the first duns until the final spinner fall usually takes two to three hours. (In the mid Atlantic area I fish, this starts at 7am in June and gets a little later daily as the season progresses). Try to be on the stream each day when the hatch begins and stay until the end of the spinner fall because the trout are often easier to catch when the flies are sparse.

A 7X leader will permit your size 24 tricos to drift more naturally on the stream than a large leader. And I find that I often get my best results with 8X tippets.

My favorite two trico flies are the Trico Dun and Trico Spinner both in size 24.

The Beatis vagans is a wonderful little mayfly that excites both trout and anglers all across the county. This delicate little olive mayfly can frustrate the most serious angler.

For example, one morning I parked at our regular spot on a stream that had normally given us good beatis fishing. My partner, Willie, said he’d walk downstream a mile and fish back up to the car while I could fish upstream. That evening when we met he simply glowed. “That was the best beatis hatch and most rising trout I’ve ever seen,” he exclaimed. I was very excited for him, but I was puzzled. I had seen very few flies and only three feeding trout. The astonishing aspect to both of us as we later walked the stream to explain this dilemma was the two sections of the stream were identical in cover, stream bottom, and aquatic weed growth…. We never did figure out why the stretches fished so differently.

The most consistent natural feature that produces good beatis hatches is a low light level, cloudy days, misty days, even snows can produce very heavy beatis hatches and many feeding trout. Conversely, a bright sunny day can kill the hatch.

There are some great streams in the Rocky Mountains that we simply skip on bluebird days because thirty years of fishing these streams has convinced us that we will do better on streams that are not dependent on beatis to bring the trout up.

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My main goal when fishing the beatis hatch is to get a drag free drift with my flies. This may mean I’ll need to cast upstream or downstream or across stream and mix in some slack line casts… I just want the trout to see my fly acting like the real thing.

On heavily weeded spring creeks often large browns will locate below the edges of the weeds along under cut banks. If he’s on your bank you could cast upstream to him but this would cause your leader to drift over him ahead of the fly and you would spook him. A better ploy is to circle around him on the bank and on your hands and knees get thirty feet upstream of him then throw a slack line cast that will let your fly drift naturally to him.

My favorite two flies on the beatis hatch are the Beatis Parachute and Standard Blue Wing Olive Dry both size 18.

The pseudocloeon, which some anglers call the tiny olive because it is an honest size 24, is one of my favorite hatches.

Somewhat like the beatis the heaviest hatches may come on overcast days but I’ve hit exceptionally thick hatches on sunny days on rivers such as The Lower Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Missouri. The duns may hatch throughout a river, but the heaviest concentration of emergers and resting duns tend to be in slower sections of the streams and in the back eddies. The first time I saw this flotilla of duns in a back eddy it was the largest concentration of mayflies I have ever seen. To give myself a rough count of these flies I held my hand out over them and by counting in tens I estimated that under the span of my hand were two hundred pseudocloeon mayflies.

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Obviously hatches this heavy bring up many large trout. Your chances are best by fishing one on one to rising trout. This can be a little tricky because some of the large trout hold on the a specific feeding station and take the duns as they drift to them, while other trout cruise just below the surface taking the naturals as they come to them. You will find the largest trout feeding by the first method when the current is fast enough to bring him all of the flies he wants, whereas the cruiser will usually be in slow currents or back eddies.

My favorite fly on this hatch is a CDC Blue Wing Olive size 24 which I usually fish on a 6X tippet.

The true midges in the Chironomidae family are an important food source for trout. Even though many of the midges are only an honest size 24 I’ve seen pods of more than two dozen large trout feeding on them in back waters in western spring creeks. Where there is a moderate current these trout will hold on specific feeding stations to take the midges that drift to them but where there is a very slow current the trout cruise to take their midges.

What further complicates this game is that some of the trout feed on the emerging pupa coming from the stream bottom while others go for pupa struggling in the surface film and others actually take the adults on the surface. When you are fishing for these trout you’ll catch most of the large fellows by fishing the style flies which mimic what they are actually feeding upon.

For example, if you spot a delicate dimple on the surface of the stream that trout is probably sucking an adult from the surface. Show this trout a Mr. Rapidan Midge size 22 or a Griffith Gant size 22.

If you spot the swirl of a trout on the surface this fellow is probably taking a midge pupa struggling to transform into an adult. Drift a Birchell’s Hatching Midge size 22 or a Mr. Rapidan Crippled Midge size 20 to this trout.

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The trout you see splashing are most likely feeding on the emerging pupa swimming in a whip-like motion as they head to the surface. A very effective technique to catch these trout was developed by Jim Leisenring over fifty years ago to use on caddis pupa and other insects. The “Leisenring lift” works well here by casting a Brassie size 20 several feet upstream of where you spot your feeding trout. As it approached him lift your fly rod slowly in inch-long spurts to mimic the undulating action of the natural pupa. Sometimes you will feel this strike, but sometime you’ll see the swirl.

Before we leave the small flies that fool large trout here is my ace in the hole.… The tiny black ant. There is just something about these that large trout can’t pass up. It could be that they have seen so many in their lifetime that they feel comfortable eating them or it could be as the late master angler Ed Hewitt speculated… “They just taste good to eat.”

For whatever reason, small Black Ants have often saved the day for me. Once in the heavy water on the Madison River below the Raynolds Pass Bridge I had a large rainbow trout swing out from below a boulder to look at my Brooks Stonefly Nymph only to refuse it. I tried him with a Hare’s Ear Nymph, A Prince Nymph, and even an Adams and although he came out to look at all of them he would not take any of them.

Finally, in desperation I drifted a size 20 Black Ant over him and he took it solidly.

There are times when trout are accustomed to feeding on small ants so a matching pattern is a logical choice. One area I fish often I’ve named “the jungle”.

This stretch is only about two hundred feet long and twenty feet wide but the low overhanging maze of oak limbs and scrub brush justifies the name “jungle”. The abundance of tree limbs function as a constant reservoir for natural ants and in over a hundred times of fishing this area I’ve never been there when the trout were not willing to take my small Black Ant.

My favorite two small black ants are the Mr. Rapidan Ant and Black Fur Ant both in size 18 and 20.

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Setting the hook on a large trout with a size 18 to 24 dry fly on 6X, 7X, and 8X leaders can easily be achieved with a little practice. Basically I use 2 weight and 3 weight rods which help. However, to set the hook I use what I call a slip strike in which I hold the line lightly between my thumb and forefinger of my line hand. The instant I get a strike I lift the rod in the normal fashion but the moment I feel the resistance in my thumb and forefinger of my line I quickly release all of the pressure on the line. This assures a very high percentage of solidly hooked trout and very few broken tippets.

Fighting and landing a large trout on a fine tippet requires more brains than brawn. There is one thing for sureâ&#x20AC;Ś you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t horse him. Assume you hook a very large brown trout on a Beatis Dry Fly on 7X in a spring creek loaded with aquatic grassbeds. Right away he takes off downstream so you must run very fast to get below him. Now he must fight both the pressure of your rod as well as the current.

Right away he dives into a grass tunnel so to combat this you apply a very gentle rod pressure with your rod low to the side directly below where he entered the grass tunnel. Almost without the trout being aware of it this low steady pressure will subdue him and you can ease him back downstream where you can easily net him.

In order to return large trout to the stream where you are sure they will survive all of your moves should be slow and gentle. Here is how I do it. In knee deep water with just a moderate current face the trout into the current. I place my left hand under his chin to keep him stable. I place my right hand around his body in front of his tail in order to keep him perpendicular and hold this grip until the trout has recovered enough to hold himself upright and steady. Then I remove my right hand and slide my left hand out from under his jaw. This trout will survive.

If you enjoy challenging angling for large trout which offers exciting gratifications try matching your skill against them when they are feeding on tiny flies.

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T

he drizzle he drizzle that that had had soaked soakedthrough through the light cotton jacket I was wearing, the light cotton jacket I was wearing, suddenly turned turnedtotoa slanting, a slanting, fullsuddenly full-scale scale rainas event as like I stood like aon beggar on rain event I stood a beggar the corner theacorner of a Columbus, Ohio intersection. of Columbus, Ohio intersection.

Before daylight,

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Lake Resort a trip on to the historic Fontanaedge Lake Resort located south-eastern of the Great locatedMountain on the south-eastern edge theto Smoky National Park He toldofme Great Smoky Mountain Park He me I was to meet a bus National on this corner.

The told me to me wasfishing to meet busand on know this driver would seeI my rod acase GULYHU ZRXOG VHH P\ ¿VKLQJ IFRUQHU was part7KH of the group.

I was of the group. rod case The and rainknow turned intopart a downpour and The rain turned into a downpour and I was beginning to wonder if Bob had been I was beginning to wonderwhen if Boban hadold been correct in his instructions blue correct in his instructions when an old blue colored bus turned off High Street and came FRORUHG EXV WXUQHG Rႇ +LJK 6WUHHW DQG FDPH to a halt in front of me. The sign of the ancient to a in front of me.

The sign of the ancient bus halt marquee read “Fontana Village.” read “Fontana bus Imarquee was 30 years old and had beenVillage.” writing an I was 30 years old and had been writing outdoor column for the Portsmouth (OH) Times an about outdoor columnthatforwas the Portsmouth for six months ingloriously titled (OH) Times for about six months that was “Field & Stream.” Heading I would learn later, ingloriously “Field & Stream.” was the onlytitled outdoor reference the Heading managing Ieditor would learn later, was the only outdoor knew. the was managing editor knew. reference With water still dripping off my thin :LWK ZDWHU ZDV VWLOO GULSSLQJ Rႇ P\ coat, I found a seat on the three-quarter filled thin beside coat, I an found threebus oldera seat man on whothe introduced TXDUWHU ¿OOHG EXV EHVLGH DQ ROGHU PDQ ZKR himself as Hank Andrews, the outdoor editor introduced himself as Hank Andrews, the for the Cleveland Press newspaper.

Everyone outdoorI would editor learn for the Press aboard was Cleveland part of Ohio’s great newspaper.

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year

RIES OF FONTANA GE RESORT Soc Clay

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The trip trip was uncomfortable on the old The was uncomfortable on busthe andold uneventful until we probeduntil eastern bus and uneventful we Tennessee via theTennessee winding, twisting, narrow probed eastern via the winding, twisting, narrow the US called Rtdidnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t 129.. road the US calledroad Route 129.

If we we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t run over in thethe mountain in the runIf over the mountain old wreck old would wreck the track would carry track eventually carryeventually us to Fontana us to Resort, Fontanaour Lake Village Resort, our Village host for the coming host The for the coming week..

The 300-mile highlight week.. highlight of the grueling of theoccurred grueling 300 journey whenmile thejourney old busoccurred creeped when the old bus creeped alongside the alongside the Little Tennessee River. Here.

Little Tennesseee River. Here. The water The water cause was wide and shallow. couse was wide and shallow. There There were two or three anglers working the were two or three anglers working the deeper pools deeper poolsand andeddies eddiesbehind behind boulders boulders with flyrods.

It was too far to see if they were ZLWK Ă&#x20AC;\URGV ,W ZDV WRR IDU WR VHH LI WKH\ working fly patterns or if they were fishing ZHUH ZRUNLQJ Ă&#x20AC;\ SDWWHUQV RU LI WKH\ ZHUH hellgrammites or tiny crawfish. ÂżVKLQJ KHOOJUDPPLWHV RU WLQ\ FUDZÂżVK â&#x20AC;&#x153;Son, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Son, looking at one the youyou are are looking at one of theofbest best trout fishingZDWHUV watersLQ in HDVWHUQ eastern America, WURXW ÂżVKLQJ $PHULFD Hank noted as soon we soon out Hank noted as we passedpassed out of site RI sun-speckled WKH ULá&#x201A;&#x2030;LQJ VXQ VSHFNHOHG of RI theVLWH riffling, waters. He waters. more He explained aboutLittle the explained about themore legendary legendaryas we Little Tennessee we Tennessee climbed the gradeasto the climbed the grade to the nearby resort. nearby resort. â&#x20AC;&#x153;TVA is trying to another build another

â&#x20AC;&#x153;TVA is trying to build dam on dam on the river that will destroy the the river that will destroy the trout fishery WURXW ÂżVKHU\ WKDWÂśV KHUH WRGD\ ´ KH VDLG thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s here today,â&#x20AC;? he said. The old scribe 7KH ROG VFULEH H[SODLQHG WKDW ÂżVKHU\ explained that fishery scientist from around scientist from around the country were thecurrently country examining were currently the examining water for the an water for an inch-long native minnow called inch-long native minnow called snail snail darter.

They believe, he added, the darter.

They believe, he added, the Little Little Tennessee River is only the only Tennessee River is the placeplace they they live.

TheOLWWOH littleÂżVK fishDQG andD aELOO bill WKHQ then being OLYH 7KH EHLQJ considered consideredbybyCongress Congresscalled called the the The Endangered Species might be only the Endangered Species Act,Act, might be the onlythat thing that would savehigh-level this high-level thing would save this trout WURXW inÂżVKHU\ LQ WKH /LWWOH 7HQQHVVHH KH fishery the Little Tennessee, he. reported. reported. Unfortunately he was Unfortunately he was wrong, and wrong, Tellico andwould Tellico would be completed.

Lake be Lake completed.

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 151

The plan on this first visit to the famed 7KH SODQ RQ WKLV ÂżUVW YLVLW WR WKH IDPHG resort wasconstructed constructedto to house resort that that was house and and feed buildingtowering towering Fontana feed workers building Fontana Damduring duringthe theearly early1940s 1940s(the (thedam damwas Dam was completed in 1944).

Thisrefreshing refreshing old completed in 1944).

This old mountain is a back step to back the of mountain resortresort is a step theto middle middle of Two World War Two era.main Mostbuilding of World War era.

Most of the the main building were stillvisited there in when were still there when I first the Ilater ÂżUVW YLVLWHG LQ WKH ODWHU SDUW RI WKH V part of the 1960s.

After touring the highlights of the

After touring the highlights of the resort, UHVRUW RXU JXLGHV VFKHGXOHG ÂżVKLQJ our guides scheduled fishing contest on the contest on the main lake. The prize of a main lake. The prize of a small outboard motor small outboard motor went to the angler went the angler who caught the5DQNLQ most fish.

ZKR toFDXJKW WKH PRVW ÂżVK %RE Bob Rankin who was claimed to be a major ZKR ZDV FODLPHG WR EH D PDMRU Ă&#x20AC;LP Ă&#x20AC;DP flim-flam the outdoor communications artist inartist the inoutdoor communications world, surehehereserved reserved biggest world, made made sure thethe biggest outlaw on the thelakelake-prior prior to our outlawguide guide on to our visit.visit.

Bob several white bass.

Bobwon wonthe theevent eventwith with several white bass. he Later, he confessed Later, confessed the guidethehadguide literally had literally strong-armed locals of he strong-armed locals out of their fishout when WKHLU ÂżVK ZKHQ KH VLJKWHG D VWULQJHU sighted a stringer hanging over the side of hanging over the side of their boat. their boat.

2Q my P\ ÂżUVW MXQNHW WR WKH UHVRUW

On first junket to the resort, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t , GLGQÂśW FDUH WR ÂżVK LQ )RQWDQD /DNH care to fish in Fontana Lake proper. The proper. The times I have been there the times I have been there the lake was crystal lake was crystal clear. A local showed me clear. A local showed me how he looked into KRZ KH ORRNHG LQWR WKH ERWWRP IRU ÂżVK the bottom for fish, junk or whatever was junk or whatever was down there. Using down there.

Using astove black, eight-inch stove a black, eight-inch pipe about two pipe twohung feet over long,the he side hungofover feet about long, he the the side the stuck boat and about six inches boatofand aboutstuck six inches of the ofpipe the below pipe below the surface.

By calming the surface.

By calming the the surface water blocking surface water andand blocking sunsun raysrays. we we could onRQ the bottom 20 feet orRU more FRXOG see VHH fish ÂżVK WKH ERWWRP IHHW PRUH .Trouble GRZQ 7URXEOH ZDV fish WKH could ÂżVK FRXOG down was, the see us see us we as well wesee could see them andcouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we as well could them and we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t catchbigger a thing bigger than a bluegill. sixcatch a thing than a six-inch bluegill. asked where the famousbass I inch asked whereI the famous smallmouth smallmouth bass and walleye were hiding. and walleye were hiding.

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For Forsome somereason reasonininthose thosedays daysthe theguides who were of the ofresort and knew guides whoemployees were employees the resort DQG little NQHZ YHU\ sport OLWWOH fishing DERXW VSRUW ÂżVKLQJ the very about .and believed .and believed the Ohio outdoor outdoor writers from onlywriters fished from lakes and 2KLR RQO\ ÂżVKHG ODNHV DQG WKXV ZHUH PRUH thus were more interested in catching fish any LQWHUHVWHG LQ FDWFKLQJ ÂżVK DQ\ boat ZD\ was WKH\ way they could.

Therefore every loaded could.

Therefore every boat was loaded down with live nightcrawlers and minnows. with a liveday nightcrawlers andfishing minnows. downAfter of fruitless I started $IWHU D GD\ RI IUXLWOHVV ÂżVKLQJ , VWDUWHG ORRNLQJ looking at the material the resort had bundled at the material the resort had bundled up for up for us. One was a map of lake and I quickly us. One was a map of lake and I quickly picked thebays baysleading leading to Hazel the Hazel picked out out the to the and and Eagle tributaries. The following Eagle creeks creeks tributaries.The following day day after contest and andthe the new afterRankin Rankin had had won won the the contest outboard, I askI ask himhim to accompany new outboard, to accompanyme meto to check out theout two Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d brought three-piece check thecreeks. two creeks. broughtaa threecane rigrod that I had purchased piecerod cane rig that I had purchasedfrom from Sears and Roebuck along with reel, fly line, leader and 6HDUV DQG 5RHEXFN DORQJ ZLWK UHHO Ă&#x20AC;\ OLQH a OHDGHU DQG D KDQG IXOO RI Ă&#x20AC;LHV ,ÂśG FROOHFWHG hand-full of flies Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d collected wherever I was ZKHUHYHU , ZDV ÂżVKLQJ LQ WURXW ZDWHUV %RE fishing in trout waters. Bob had a spinning rod KDG with D VSLQQLQJ URG reel ÂżWWHG and ZLWK DQWLTXH fitted an antique a DQ half-pint jar filled UHHO crawlers.

DQG D KDOI SLQW MDU ÂżOOHG ZLWK FUDZOHUV with The boatman up the

The boatman ferried ferriedus us up long, the long, narrow inlet to where Hazel Creek becomes narrow inlet to where Hazel Creek becomes a a stream and put us on the bank. Bob had stream and put us on the bank. Bob had come come far enough. He insisted the mouth far enough. He insisted the mouth of the stream RI WKH VWUHDP ZRXOG KROG PRUH ÂżVK WKDQ would hold more fish than tumbling the tumbling waters of thethecreek couldwaters ofever the creek could ever support.

Heon found support.

He found a dry rock the a dry rock onÂżQLVKHG the bank, finished rigging his rod EDQN ULJJLQJ KLV URG DQG KXQJ D and hung a wine cork float to the line three feet above ZLQH FRUN Ă&#x20AC;RDW WR WKH OLQH WKUHH IHHW DERYH the seesee him any thecrawler-loaded crawler-loadedhook. hook.I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t more supperuntil at the lodge. him until any more supper at the lodge.

0\ ÂżUVW LQWURGXFWLRQ WR +D]HO &UHHN ZDV WR My first introduction to Hazel Creek was, terms, awesome!

Extremely toput putit in it modern in modern terms, awesome!

Extremely clear, its its pools, pools, runs and clear, and plunges plungeswhere where the the powerful gouged out a perfect powerful waterwater gouged out a perfect environment environment for a hefty rainbow, resting for a hefty rainbow, resting from the current. It from the current.

It was cause enough was cause enough to start a stream anglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WR VWDUW D VWUHDP DQJOHUÂśV KHDUW WR Ă&#x20AC;XWWHU heart to flutter.

www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 153

I don’tthe havepatience the patience or then

I don’t have nownow or then to stay in to stay one with placetrout very are longinactive. with troutA series one place veryinlong inactive. series of wooly cast with a light then a of cast are with a lightA colored bugger, colored wooly then aastrike. weighted weighted nymph failedbugger, to produce It was time nymph failed to produce a strike.

It was to put my hiking shoes and head upstream. I always timegoing to putbeyond my hiking shoes andfishermen head found that where most call upstream.

I always found that going it quits is a good way to find undisturbed trout. The EH\RQG ZKHUH PRVW ¿VKHUPHQ FDOO LW TXLWV water temperature was hoovering around 60 and LV D JRRG ZD\ WR ¿QG XQGLVWXUEHG WURXW 7KH early hatches were emerging. water temperature was hoovering around

Attaching a pink-colored strike indicator to DQG HDUO\ KDWFKHV ZHUH HPHUJLQJ the leader, two foot above the fly paid off Attaching a pink-colored strikwith the nymph.indicator I had been like foot strikes, to the getting leader, two abovebut was missingWKH theÀ\ biter with Barbless SDLG Rႇ the ZLWK hook-set.

WKH Q\PSK , KDG hooks were not in vogue days but a rule of been gettingin those like strikes, butthey was good sport fishing myself. tiny fly patterns missing the for biter with The the hook-set.

Barbless hooksfrom werethe nottrout in vogue were easily removed I was incatching those release days butmost they awithout rule of good sportthe fish and I could touching with my¿VKLQJ hands.IRU P\VHOI 7KH WLQ\ À\ SDWWHUQV weretrip easily removed fromhooked the trout

I first to Hazel Creek me.I I have was there catching andtimes.

I could release gone back three Today, themost marina has ZLWKRXW WRXFKLQJ WKH ¿VK ZLWK P\ KDQGV shuttle services to the major north shore creeks, ¿UVW WULS WR +D]HO &UHHN backcountry KRRNHG PH sites , as well, as shuttles to further on have gone back there three times. On Pilkey Creek, etc. Fontana Lake Resort is the perfect one occasion I ran into Don Kirk the basecamp to spend several days exploring the many publisher of this title. He was a young areas available. one occasion I ran into Don Kirk writer fromOnthe Knoxville area and you the publisher of this He was a young writer from WHOO WURXW DQG title. À\ ¿VKLQJ ZDV LPEHGGHG the Knoxville andHe youand tell Itrout fly fishing in his area psychic. haveand been was imbedded in his psychic.

He and I have been dear friends since that earliest meeting. dear friends At since 82, that it isearliest unlikelymeeting.

I will make

Atanother 82, it is I willbut make trip tripunlikely to Fontana, if I another do it will be in mid when the be redbuds to Fontana Lake, butApril if I do it will in mid-April areredbuds in full bloom dogwoods when the are in and full bloom and are dogwoods sprinklingtheir theircolor color all over are sprinkling overthe thebanks banks and andThe contours. morels mushrooms contours. morelsThe mushrooms will be at in the will be at in the old homestead remains old homestead remains up on Hazel Creek. And up on Hazel Creek.

And maybe, maybe, just maybe the next time I will just fish Eagle PD\EH WKH QH[W WLPH , ZLOO ¿VK (DJOH Creek. I have never made it there yet.

Creek. I have never made it there yet.

154 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

Fontana Resort Writer Junkets Beginning in the 1950 shortly after the site of Fontana Village Resort had been converted from a construction station to a resort, weeklong annual outdoor writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s junkets were held there. Outdoor writers from all over the South were invited guest of the resort. The junkets continued annually into the 1980s. The Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA) was organized there.

The freewheeling group of scribes and photographers numbered into the dozens. The junkets were always memorable events. Unfortunately with the demise of the local outdoor column with most newspapers, Fontana Village Resort discontinue the junkets. Older readers may recall them though, and those of us invited cherish the memories of them. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 155

Get Hooked on Adventure

Offering shuttles services to Hazel Creek and Eagle Creek on North carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pristine Lake Fontana, Fontana Village Resort is your destination for outdoor adventure and sport.

FontanaVillage.com 828.498.2211

southernao.com

506 W. Main St., Pickens, SC 864-507-2195

Full & half day guided fly-fishing trips

Carrying Redington, Umpqua, Simms, RIO, Rep Your Water and more!

Come fish the Blue Wall with us!

Full Service Outfitter Fly Fishing Trips Rentals Clinics & Classes Apparel Sage . Winston Rod Co. Orvis . Redington Yeti . Rio

79 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 . 678-762-0027 AlpharettaOutfitters.com . Alpharettaoutfitters@yahoo.com

FEATURED ROD MAKER

MARK PREWITT O A

t the age of 13, Mark Prewitt began wood carving and recognized that working with his hands was very satisfying. When his best friend received his doctorate in 2006, Mark decided to build matching fly rods to commemorate the achievement. Then his brother asked him to build one for his use as well. As Mark said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It went crazy after that, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never caught

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OF RDP FLYRODS

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Requests for more fly rods resulted in the founding of RDP Flyrods named in honor of his father Richard Dean Prewitt and his brother Roger Dean Prewitt whom he lost in a tragic accident at the age of 18. Mark now averages “around a hundred or more” rods every year, and in addition RDP rods sells about 150 blanks each year as well. The blanks are custom made exclusively for Prewitt to embody the feel and action he desired and are the result of talking with “everyone I could find” about what they wanted in a fly rod. Fortunately, after being armed with that information, he met an engineer that had helped start a major rod company and described the precise action he wanted in a fly rod blank. The engineer recommended a specific type of graphite to use for the blanks. When Prewitt tested the prototype, he knew that “he hit it right on the head! The feel and action, I think, are outstanding.” Mark is proud of the fact that he has received calls from customers complaining that they were upset with him because they had a bunch of thousand-dollar rods now left in the closet collecting dust because they always fish their RDP rod. That brings a smile to Mark’s face as he says, “I can take that kind of mad.”

According to Prewitt one of the best parts of his business is the people he meets. As a “people person” Mark enjoys the relationships he has with people from all over the world including those in the United Kingdom to Ukraine and Brazil to Tasmania. RDP also sells many of its custom rod blanks in Japan. “The hardest part for me,” Mark says, “is keeping track of everything from who ordered what, to where to ship it, to how they want their custom rod built.” That becomes easy to understand when you realize that even at this point Mark Prewitt’s RDP Fly Rod business is just an avocation. He still works a full-time job and has three daughters that keep him “pretty busy” as well. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l May 2018 l 161

Mark Prewitt prefers graphite rods over rods built from other materials because they are lighter in weight, he likes the feel of the blanks, and they are more affordable.

“I always wanted a nice rod, but the cost was always out of my price range.” RDP rods are “steered more to the average person” who prefers to fish with a nice custom rod with great feel and action but is affordable. These are rods that are personalized with your name or whatever you’d like written on it and yet is a rod you’d be proud to pass on to your grandchildren.

RDP rods is “ultralight heaven.” Mark is proud to be one of only four people in the world currently making 0-weight rods and smiles as he states, “Building rods can be hazardous to your health. You have all these ideas you want to try, but your family might want to hurt you because you are always out building.”

For more information about RDP Rods go to www.

RDPflyrods.com or visit with Mark via email at mark@ rdprods.com 162 l April 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com

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Davy Wot World Class

www.davywotton.com

tton Fly Fishing American International Schools of Fly Fishing Outfitter and Guide Services for the White River region Custom Flies and Fly Fishing DVDs

Office: 870-453-2195 Cell: 870-404-5223

davyfly@ozarkmountains.com

T

he Atlanta Fly Fishing School is a bit of a legend in Georgia trout fishing circles. Many of the guides, casting instructors, and experienced anglers were trained there, and most everyone has heard of their work. When an opportunity opened up to go participate in the five hour class, I jumped on it. Unfortunately, Scott Swartz was out of town (probably off chasing trophy fish somewhere), but it was a great pleasure to meet Mack Martin, Eric Cook, Brian Richterkessing, and Bob Foster. I’m a rather experienced angler, but I still learned a great deal from the trip.

Like many that take up fly fishing, I learned the sport largely by trial and error. It took three years of catching blue gill, tying a few crude flies, and flogging streams to catch my first trout on a fly rod. There’s something special about that first fish, but it really shouldn’t have taken three years to finally catch him.

Often, I would fish for an hour or so and run back to the truck to grab a spinning rod and salvage my trip. I didn’t have the confidence in my abilities to stick with the fly rod. Within a week of catching that first fish, I was fishing exclusively with a fly rod and having excellent days on the water. Why was that first fish so difficult?

FLY FI

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Atlanta

ISHING SCHOOL

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In all honesty, fly fishing is not an incredibly difficult sport, but the initial learning curve can be tough. Before you can catch the first fish, you must master at least 2-3 different knots, match your rod length to the fishing situation, pick an appropriate line weight for your quarry, select the length and diameter of your leader, determine what insect the fish are eating, become mildly proficient at casting, and understand how to achieve a drag free drift. Throw in complexities like double taper, weight forward, and sinking tip fly lines, wet vs dry flies, indicators, split-shot, tippet, and things can get downright intimidating for a new angler. Having someone to guide you through the initial sensory overload will shorten the learning curve greatly, and make your early trips much more successful. Unfortunately, we don’t all have fly fishing mentors. After sitting in for a class at the Atlanta Fly Fishing School, I’m confident they can prepare you for success.

I must admit, anytime I drive towards Atlanta for something fishing related, it feels a little odd. I’m admittedly a country boy, but if you have more than one Walmart in your county, that qualifies as an Atlanta suburb to me. As I pulled into the property the morning of the class, I realized it was not going to be what I expected. When we crossed over the dam of a small pond--probably 3-4 acres—my mindset changed entirely. It was like a fly fisherman’s

oasis, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Overlooking the pond was a quaint little cabin, with a field out front large enough for casting lessons. There was a building covered in industry logos off to the side. It turned out to be the classroom. I caught myself staring off at the pond debating with my inner angler—that voice that tells you it’s a good idea to fish in the aquariums at Walmart when nobody is looking—about whether there was enough time to rig up a rod before the class started. I can’t remember if my better judgement won or if one of the instructors poked his head outside to see what I was up to. Either way, I wandered over to the classroom to introduce myself.

I was the first student to arrive, and it gave me an opportunity to chat with Mack and the other instructors. I settled in at the back of the room and watched as other folks began trickling in. There were anglers of various skill levels, from experienced to complete newbies. Mack started by ensuring everyone had a copy of the class notes—a three ring binder with an outline and detailed printouts. On the inside leaf was sheet diagraming the six essentials of fly casting and diagnosing common mistakes. I ignored the urge to jump ahead and thumb through the notes.

Mack started with the history of the sport, going back thousands of years. I used to collect old cane rods, so I have a pretty solid understanding of the history

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of fly fishing, but I still picked up quite a bit of new information. After the history, we moved on to the most interesting part, the fish, and I’m not just talking about the difference between browns and rainbows. We covered everything from trout to tropical fish, their vision, hearing, sense of smell, and even how to approach a pool or run. I began to realize the depth of this course.

The classroom portion lasted for the better part of the morning, with a significant part of the day spent on gear.

More so than most types of angling, having the right gear is incredibly important for even a beginning fly fisherman. Mack and Brian covered accessories, fly boxes, rods, backing, reels, leaders, and fly lines. For most instructors, the typical advice on gear is to buy a 9’ 5-weight, a matching WF5F line, and don’t worry about what the numbers and letter mean. It’s safe, it’s easy, it really is the lazy man’s way to get a rod in someone’s hand. That’s not the Atlanta Fly Fishing approach. As part of this course, Mack even discusses rod action and line tapers, complete with detailed charts. It really exemplifies their dedication to ensuring you have all of the information you need.

Without a doubt, my favorite part of the classroom portion of the course was the knots. Mack and the team take a very scientific approach to knots, testing the breaking strength of various knots in a research lab with calibrated tensile

strength testing equipment to determine the best and strongest knots and materials for each situation. Students practice each knot with supervision from the instructors. I must admit, I learned a few news knots, and cleaned up one of my knots that’s always been a bit sloppy. For a new angler, knots can be incredibly intimidating. There are usually five knots between the reel and fly, and if you get one of them wrong, it can cost you the fish of a lifetime. This course provides an excellent foundation of knots for anglers to use on the water.

We finished with an in-depth entomology course and a discussion from Bob Foster about the proper fly patterns to match the various stages of insect life. Next, we took a brief break, and then we started rigging up the fly rods. After a brief lecture about the basic mechanics of a fly cast, we took off to the pond. Some of the students picked up casting quickly and were laying out 30-40 feet of line right off the bat. The gentleman to my left was a particularly skilled caster, despite being relatively new to the sport. We chatted between false casts, and I found out he had taken a private lesson with casting instructor Eric Cook. Eric is one of several instructors that can be booked for casting lessons outside of the traditional class format, and it was abundantly clear from this gentleman’s casting stroke that the private lessons were a success.

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After a half hour or so, even the most inexperienced students were making decent casts. When the instructors finished with everyone else, Eric came over, watched me make a few casts, and remarked “I think you’ve probably done this before.” I’m a competent caster, but I do get an occasional pesky tail that pops up when I haven’t picked up a rod in a few months. Usually, I just practice for a half hour or so, and it goes away. Eric spotted my problem instantly, offered about 30 seconds of advice, and bam… beautiful loops. All it took was a slight tweak in my grip, which I still use today.

For a beginner, this course is invaluable. It will give you the tools you need to be successful and cut down on the initial learning curve. Even as an experienced angler, I was able to clear up an issue with my cast, learn a few knots, and broaden my understanding of insect lifecycles.

Best of all, it’s all available in the notebook for you to review later. In addition the school offers a casting only class, an advanced class, FFI casting instructor class and private lessons. All of the instructors at the school are Fly Fishing International (FFI) certified or master certified casting instructors. No matter your experience level, I strongly recommend you take a good look at Atlanta Fly Fishing School.

“Over the years we have heard from many students who feared fly fishing was too difficult and complex to learn, but we make it our business to provide instruction that is fun and overcomes those fears. Our students go home with all the tools they need to become successful fly fishing anglers.” ~ Mack Martin

atlantaflyfishingschool.com

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A Museum for the Southern Fly Fisherman

The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians — originally

located in Cherokee, NC — has a new home in neighboring Bryson City where it shares a building with the Bryson City / Swain County Chamber of Commerce.

It’s centrally located on the town square across the street from the visitor center.

The Museum is open Monday thru Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm and admission is free.

The scope of the museum covers an

area with more than 14,700 miles of accessible trout streams — the nine Southern Appalachian States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama; the Qualla Boundary, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Bryson City, NC

PHOTO BY JIM HEAFNER

Through exhibits and videos you’ll

learn about legendary “Stream Blazers,” the evolution of rods and reels, basic knots, fly-tying, types of gear, types of gamefish, regional fishing waters, and the history of fly fishing in the Southeast.

Whether you are a long-time fly fisherman, or have only attempted or never tried fly fishing, you will find something to enjoy and to learn from in the museum.

FLY FISHING MUSEUM

OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians 210 Main Street Bryson City, NC 28713 800-867-9241

FlyFishingMuseum.org

What’s So Special About Bryson City?

Hundreds of miles of native mountain trout streams Trout are also flow through the Great common in our Smoky Mountains four rivers – National Park above Bryson City and Cherokee — freestone creeks with native rainbow, brook and brown trout. Most streams offer all three species.

Bryson City is the home of the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians Learn all about it at FlyFishingMuseum.com.

The Oconaluftee, Little Tennessee, the Tuckasegee and the Nantahala, one of Trout Unlimited’s top 100 rivers. And now, a 2.2 mile section of the Tuck through Bryson City is designated delayed harvest waters, with one of the highest trout counts of any stream in the southeast.

The 30 miles of trout streams on Two mountain lakes the Cherokee offer trout fishing Indian Reservation The 29-mile long, 11,700 acre Fontana Lake and its smaller downstream neighbor Cheoah Lake both have strong populations of trout, particularly near the mouths of streams flowing out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cheoah is regularly stocked by the State of North Carolina.

Visit GreatSmokiesFishing.com for a map and profiles of 26 great fishing locations near Bryson City, North Carolina.

Photo by Justin Anderson Fly Fishing & Guide

are the longest privately owned and stocked fishing waters east of the Mississippi.

The 2.2-mile Raven Fork Trophy section is home to the biggest trout in the Smokies. This specially regulated section is fly fishing only and catch and release.