FOOTNOTES
Newsletter of the Georgia Foothills Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Volume 5, No. 9
February 1997
FEBRUARY CHAPTER MEETING
Tuesday, February 4th at the Cornelia Public Library at 7:00 pm. Don't miss it!!
WELL, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN
Ok folks, the Hoot on the Hooch is less than six weeks from our next meeting
date, so we'll be spending a lot of time at the meeting planning and making
decisions for the big banquet. Please be sure to come and help out with the
planning. If you've got some ideas on ways to improve the banquet, now's the
time to discuss them! Also, be thinking of something you can donate for one of
the raffles. As always, these will be quite popular and will likely be a big money-
maker for us.
This banquet doesn't get done by itself...it takes "Members Like You" (as they
say on PBS) to get in there and make the Hoot a success. We've done pretty
well with the past banquets, and need to continue our winning streak, so please
make the next meeting and help out!
Appalachain Scenic Corridor Public Meeting
The Georgia Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting at the White County High
School on February 13 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. The proposed highway across North Georgia will
be discussed. If you can attend it will be a good opportunity to make your opinion known about
this project which threatens watersheds across the entire northern part of our state, from west to
east.
Update on the Wild and Scenic Rivers Evaluation
The following 22 rivers/streams were determined by the Wild and Scenic River Team to have values that
potentially would be characterized as outstandingly remarkable. The next step in the eligibility process is
to determine regional or national significance by making comparative evaluations based upon the on-the-
ground investigations, photographs, and videos of the river corridors. The result would be determination of
eligibility, which then would allow those streams to move on to the classification phase sometime this
summer. Streams are broken down by Ranger District as follows:
BRASSTOWN RD - Cooper Creek, Corbin Creek, High Shoals Creek
CHATTOOGA RD - Chattahoochee River, Davidson Creek, Dodd Creek, Dukes Creek, Goshen Creek,
Panther Creek, Smith Creek
COHUTTA RD - Conasauga River, Jacks River
OCONEE RD - Cedar/Big Cedar Creek, Falling Creek (Ocmulgee), Little River, Murder Creek, Ocmulgee
River, Oconee River
TALLULAH RD - Coleman River, Overflow Creek, Tallulah River
TOCCOA RD - Cochrans Creek
This information is from the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Planning newsletter.
A Letter From the Rabun County Chapter
January 15, 1997
Dear Trout Unlimited Members,
Rabun County Trout Unlimited would like to encourage your comments on
two issues which have been brought to our attention.
Issue #1 - Concerns the proposal to change the designation of the Rocky
Gorge area of the Chattooga River into a wilderness designated area.
Rabun County Trout Unlimited is opposed to this for the following
reasons.
1. The wild river classification is more than adequate to
protect and to provide a wilderness experience.
2. When a wilderness designation is placed upon an area, it
often becomes a magnet for increased visitation and increased
pressure is indeed put upon the area. The Ellicott Rock area is
an example. When that was designated, it became the most
visited wilderness area per acre per year in the entire
U.S.F.S.
3. The wilderness designation results in increased funding
needs and the need for a separate management plan with
increased trails, parking lots, etc.
4. The wilderness designation precludes stocking of any kind,
including helicopter stocking, so put-and-grow fisheries
would be put to an end.
Issue #2 - Includes actually part of the same area, that is the
Chattooga River opening up from Bullpen through Burrell's Bridge to
Highway 28 for the use of white water canoeists and kayakers. Trout
Unlimited, at least the Rabun County Chapter, feels the status quo
should be maintained. The white water kayakers already have use of
large segments of the river and we would like to have the status quo
maintained.
In summary, Rabun County Trout Unlimited would like to have the status
quo maintained and feel the proposed changes would in fact be
detrimental. We would encourage you to make comments and the addresses
are included on separate sheets of paper. (see below)
Respectfully submitted,
Rabun County Trout Unlimited
You need to be heard!!!! And your comments are needed in regard to planning, wilderness designations,
whitewater canoeing (in particular on those sections of the Chattooga River that are currently closed for
boating activity), and any other issue(s) that you believe will affect the health of cold water fisheries in our
area. The time to voice your opinion is now. Various groups are letting their wishes be known (loudly and
frequently). You need to direct your comments to:
Forest Supervisor
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
1755 Cleveland Hwy.
Gainesville, GA 30501
Forest Supervisor
Francis Marion & Sumter National Forest
PO Box 2227
Columbia, SC 29210
Remember: Fish can't write, but you can!
TAILWATER CHAPTER
7th ANNUAL BANQUET & AUCTION
March 6th, 1997, Sawnee Center, Cumming GA - 6:30 pm - 'til?
$10.00 single $15.00 couples
Smoked Rainbow Trout and all the fixin's
BYOB, Complimentary Set Ups
Buy Tickets by February 28 to be Eligible for Early Bird Raffle!
For Tickets or Information:
Phone 770-889-1665
SLIP SLIDIN' AWAY
by C. K. Nyms
It's sometimes uncanny how lyrics from our past pop into our head as we experience the unusual
happenings in our lives. Just the right song will begin playing itself over and over in our minds,
providing background music for what otherwise might be a very somber situation. Paul Simon,
in all his worldly wit and wisdom, has a take on certain aspects of my life that even I don't
recognize until something pushes the "play" button deep inside my gray matter. Most recently,
as I tried out a new pair of wading boots, Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away" resonated over and over
and over...
I had honestly hoped to give everyone a glowing report on my new shoes. Supposedly the
greatest thing to come along since the strike indicator, L. L. Bean's Stealth Wading Shoe was the
ultimate in new technology for trout fishing. I had debated for months (mostly with myself), read
critical reviews in magazines and over the internet; finally deciding this would be my Christmas
present to me. After all, Mr. Bean guaranteed satisfaction! If I didn't like them, send the
suckers back.
(An aside concerning Bean's satisfaction guaranteed policy: You really can't complain about his
company. I had only recently returned a pair of Bean Double L Neoprene waders. They come
with a lifetime guarantee; mine lasted about 15 months. Now, I'll admit that I've done an
extraordinary amount of fishing within the past 15 months, maybe more than some people will do
in a lifetime. However, there were no qualifications as to the length of a person's life, so I
returned them for a new pair. No hassle, no questions, just a happy customer service person on
the phone trying hard to satisfy me. I know of a fellow who kept one of Mr. Bean's bass flyfishing
outfits for about two years before deciding he wasn't satisfied and returned it. That could be
viewed as taking advantage of the man, but who am I to judge someone's integrity? In my, er
his, defense, the rig was only used 3 or 4 times during that two-year period and never performed
well.) [EDITOR'S NOTE: I don't think the policy includes a fish-catching guarantee!]
But, back to the Stealth Boots. I wore them on two successive fishing trips; one to the Nantahala
River and one to Dukes Creek. Let me describe it this way: I haven't spent so much time sitting
in the water since playing with my rubber duckie in the tub; and that's been at least 4 or 5 years.
It was a most unusual experience. In some instances, they held like I was glued to the rock. The
next step could have been like walking on marbles. I was never able to determine what rock
characteristics provided better footing than others and my fishing style doesn't lend itself to
spending more time watching my feet than my fly.
Traction, unfortunately, wasn't my only concern. I wear a size 10 wading shoe; these 10's felt too
big, but I'm sure a size 9 would have been too small. Also, the sole was overly stiff, just not
comfortable to walk in, and possibly contributing to the lack of surefootedness I experienced. I
gave the boots back, Mr. Bean gave me my money back. I'll stick (literally) with felt soles. What
really puzzles me is that at least 90% of the comments I had read about this boot were
favorable. Have I suddenly lost the ability to safely wade in moving water? Maybe everyone
else just flat doesn't know what they're talking about! I think maybe that's it.
"Coo, coo, ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson..."
On a lake fishing trip, I noticed my matches were wet. Upon asking all who were on the trip with me for a light, no
one produced any flame. One compadre came up with the solution. It seems when you throw a cigarette overboard,
it makes the boat a cigarette lighter.
Secret Fishin' Holes
by Kriston Klee' Hall
Have you ever noticed what a fellow angler will say when you ask him if he knows where a good fishing spot is located? You
usually get one of two answers, "If I tell you where my good spot is then you will just go there and catch all my fish." or "Sure,
there's many great places to fish in....". What he doesn't tell you is that when you get there you won't catch much at all. I'm
sure that you have heard them before. I sure have.
Just recently I went up to Cherokee, NC on a fishing trip on New Years day and I only caught one 13 inch native rainbow. It
was my understanding that Cherokee was an excellent place to fish; boy was that far from the truth. I even bought a book by a
well known fisherman named Don Kirk on what rivers were least crowded but had good fishing. While we were on the
reservation we were limited to fish in certain rivers and streams, gee I wonder why? Would that be because most of the good
fishing is on those closed to the public streams? By the way, it looked like all of Cherokee had been fished out completely
since the end of the fall season. Not that I like catching stocked trout, but they do offer a little fun when the natives are on the
picky side when it comes to feeding.
So take it from me, don't make the mistake and waste of money of fishing Cherokee during the winter season, there ain't no
fish in them, there waters.
P.S. If any of you fellow members have been to Alaska, it would be fabulous if my father and I could talk with you about your
trip so that we may appropriately plan ours for some excellent fishing!
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Klee', I know of a few excellent spots in Alaska, but if I told you about 'em, I'd have to kill you! Just
kidding...sounds like a nice trip...we'll look forward to reading a report after you return!]
Fly Pattern of the Month
THE AMERICAN EXPRESS
You ever wonder about the origins of the names for some flies? Well, this month's pattern
should be pretty obvious. It's a creation of Wayne Clodfelter, the editor of TROUT, NC. He
named it the American Express because he never leaves home without it. It's not a particularly
unique fly, but is one in which Wayne has a great deal of confidence...as a result, he fishes it a
lot, which, in turn, means he catches a lot of fish on it. There are other examples of flies like
this...just ask Butch Martin about the California!
Hook: Standard Dry Fly
Thread: 6/0 or 8/0 tan or brown
Wing: tan polypropylene for parachute
Tail: split brown hackle fibers
Body: medium tan dubbing (not too light, not too dark)
Hackle: brown wrapped in parachute style
Notes: Tie in wing at 25% position on the shank behind the eye, not right on the nose of the fly
like some folks do it. Vary the fly from lean for slow water to mean (heavily tied, ie. larger
hackle, more turns, fuller body, etc. for more visability and floatation) for heavy water.
According to Wayne: The above is quite concise and accurate. It is a simple tie! I would only
add that I dearly love the Tiemco 5230 hook (3x-fine wire), and Uni-Thread. As a point of
clarification, the split tail refers to the method of tying; I don't split each fiber! Lastly, don't
hesitate to change colors of body parts to better match colors of naturals seen on the water.
Poly yarn is a pretty standard tying material and is carried by most fly shops.
Hey, why not send your favorite fly pattern to the editor for inclusion as Pattern of the Month?
You'll likely become famous and be thought of as a hero among your fellow Georgia Foothills
Chapter members!