FOOTNOTES

Newsletter of the Georgia Foothills Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Volume 5, No. 2
July 1996

JULY CHAPTER MEETING

Tuesday, July 2nd at the Cornelia Public Library at 7:00 pm. Don't miss it!!

The President's Column

I've been doing a great deal of fly tying lately, some of it because I couldn't go fishing. And no I'm not one of those people that gets as much enjoyment from tying as I do fishing. But it is more pleasant than yardwork. The pattern I'm concentrating on right now is the grasshopper. One reason for that is my upcoming trip to Yellowstone. Lee Hiers, and I are going in late August and the conventional wisdom says hoppers for late summer. Even the way hoppers are fished - splashy cast, drag not 100% critical - seem to be tailor made for my casting abilities. But like a lot of conventional wisdom this may turn out to be a bust. This may be the year in Yellowstone when all the hoppers get some cyclical fungus and die in infancy. And I'll show up with fly boxes stuffed with hoppers when what I really need is a double handful of cinnamon ants.

Tying these hoppers is kind of neat. We're all familiar with grasshoppers, we've been seeing them all our lives and as a result you can take the finished product from the vise and success or lack of it is readily apparent. I do a lot of tying at work during my lunch hour and one of the ways I check my representative flies for accuracy is to show them to my non-fly-fishing co-workers. If they say "Hey, that looks just like a cricket" or whatever then I think I'm on the right track. The first deer hair mouse I tied passed the co- worker test with flying colors, but it was some time before our switchboard operator would speak to me in a civil tone. How did I know she was scared of mice? And she can jump an impressive distance from a sitting position for someone her age too.

But hopefully the trout in Yellowstone will recognize my hoppers and eat them. If not I'll have some killer bream flies and several bare pieces of elk leather on hand.

See you on the stream.....Dale

P.S. - Please try to attend our July meeting so we can discuss scheduling some much needed work at the Outdoor Classroom. Also, for those of us who are not spending the holiday week fishing, bring your fly rods and we'll hold an informal casting clinic. It's the next best thing to being there!

PAVLOV'S TROUT

by Wesley Yamaguchi

I received a fascinating book entitled "Pavlov's Trout - The incompleat psychology of everyday fishing". The author is Paul Quinnett who is a psychologist and addicted fisherman. The chapters titled "The First Fisherman", "Stress and Fishing" sound innocent enough. Then there are the chapters "How to Turn A Perfectly Normal Child into a Fisherman", "Notes on Sex, Marriage, and Tournament Fishing" and "The Neuropsychology of Fly Selection".

In the chapter "Fishaholism", Quinnetts states that America is addicted to addiction. As examples he lists Overeaters Anon., Gamblers Anon., Narcotics Anon., and one he didn't include of which my talkative wife is a member: On and On Anon.

But he says fishing is a positive addiction, so don't feel bad out there. Quinnett goes on to say that Buddha said 'life is suffering'. My guess is Buddha had to fish the dry fly upstream to feeding fish only. But according to Quinnett, "Addiction is what people do instead of suffering." It's good to know that when I have been out casting my 9 weight for stripers until my arm was ready to fall off, or standing waist deep in near frozen water for 3 days waiting for a steelhead to grab I wasn't suffering. I'm just addicted!

JIMMY HARRIS - NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER

I have been somewhat negligent in noting Jimmy's continuing efforts with the newsletter. When I took over editing the newsletter last fall, Jimmy graciously offered to continue the actual printing and mailing chores. Since I don't have access to a copier, I jumped on that deal!

Hopefully, you also noticed the format of last month's newsletter was a bit different. Jimmy stepped in and edited the June issue while I was off fishing in Pennsylvania. Thanks, again, Jimmy!

New Members, Old Members

I didn't get the membership change printout from national before putting the newsletter to bed, so I can't list new members or renewals this month.

If you're a new member, welcome! If you're up for renewal, don't forget to get your dues into national.

Hope to get caught up on the new members in next month's issue.

Also, don't forget your voluntary local dues when renewing - see Dave Burton for more information.

UNCLE SAM FINGERS FLYFISHING

by Ray Bondorew

Fly fishing is one of the few pleasures in life which the federal government hasn't meddled with. While out on Martha's Vineyard this past weekend I found out that this is about to change.

An article in the Vineyard Times newspaper stated that the Occupational Heath and Safety Agency (OSHA) is about to require fly line manufacturers to place warning labels on their products. Numerous accidents caused by unattended or slack fly lines have been reported, but the icing on the cake was the death of a tarpon fisherman last week.

William Wilson, 49, of Clover Creek, Wisconsin was involved in a fatal accident while fly fishing for giant tarpon at Watchee Springs, FL. The angler was fishing with a veteran guide at the time when he hooked a tarpon estimated to be about 200 lbs. Right after he set the hook the fish shot out and made a jump. The excess fly line shot up in the air and out through the guides. In the process some of the line found its way around the angler's neck and he was pulled over the side of the boat and into the water. By the time the guide got him back into the boat to free the fly line's strangle hold, he was a goner. Ironically the tarpon was still on and was later boated.

The angler's wife plans to have the fish mounted and hung in her den because, "William would have wanted it that way."

EDITOR'S NOTE:

I cannot attest to the veracity of the preceding article, but it certainly sounds possible! It was presented on the Internet fly-fishing discussion group by Mr. Bondorew, who is the author of "Stripers and Streamers".

Why is this Space Empty?

Because you haven't sent us an article! Write up your tall tails, fishing reports, hot tips, edtiorial opinions, etc. and send to the newsletter editor.

Trust me we'd all like to see your article in FOOTNOTES!

Southern Appalachian Insect Hatches for July:

The heat of summer is upon us. Remember, in addition to fewer hatches, the heat affects the trout in a negative way. Be especially careful not to over-stress any fish you may be releasing. Land them quickly and release them carefully.

Isonychia Bicolor       Sporadically - All Day          12 Adams
  
Green & Yellow          July - Late                     16 Light Green & Yellow  
Stone Fly               Afternoons                      Fluttering Stone  
  
Golden Stone Fly        Early Morning and               6-8 Stone Fly Nymph  
Acroneuria              at Dusk
  
Light Cahill            Sporadically - Late             16-18 Light Cahill  
Stenonema Ithaca        Afternoon & Evening
  
Terrestrials - All Summer - Inchworms, Black Ants, Beetles, Crickets

HIGH AND DIRTY - The Best Time to Fish Dukes Creek

by Mitchel Barrett

If you want to catch big fish at Dukes Creek the very best time is when the water is discolored and a little high. I have had the good fortune to fish this area for the past thirty years, and have found this true in the past and present.

The following fly patterns have worked for me over the years. These patterns are what I call high and dirty patterns:

1) Worm Imitations
2) Woolly Buggers with rubber legs
3) Large Nymphs - Halfbacks

EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm not one who enjoys fishing the conditions Mitchel is talking about, but just a few weeks ago I arrived at Dukes Creek to find high, dirty water. Instead of coming home, I decided to give it a try. After about a half dozen casts with a bead-head woolly bugger, I hooked (and, surprisingly, landed!) a fat 18-inch rainbow. Not the biggest trout at Dukes, but a fine specimen. Mitchel definitely knows what he's talking about!

NOTES FROM GEORGIA COUNCIL MEETING HELD JUNE 1, 1996

The Council agreed to help with the fall stocking of the Chattooga River the Rabun Chapter is working on with 25% funding.

TU was recognized by the Georgia Wildlife Federation as the Conservation Group of the Year.

The 1997 National Convention will be held in August in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Coosa Valley Chapter will sponsor a fund-raising Chili Cookoff on October 12th in Rome as an alternative to holding a banquet. Perhaps this is something we should consider.

CALENDAR

July 13 - Jones Creek Work Project; Chattahoochee, Upper Chattahoochee, & Cohuttas Chapters

Aug. 24 - Dover Creek & Winkley Branch Work Project; Foothills, Alcovy River, & Tailwater Chapters

Sep. 14 - Moccasin Creek Work Project; Rabun, Oconee, & Kanooka Chapters

The work projects listed above were scheduled at the December meeting of the Georgia council. The chapters listed are the ones designated to work on the specific projects, but if you can help some of the other chapters as well as ours, I know it would be appreciated. I'm sure Doug Watson will brief us on the Dover Creek / Winkley Branch Project, but if you have any questions on the others, contact Art Hasselman (Council Projects Coordinator) at 770-887-3740.

If you know of any events that need to be listed on the calendar, just notify the editor.

DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO'S NOT A MEMBER OF TU THAT SHOULD BE?

Sure you do! Don't forget, if you need an application to give a friend, they are available at the meetings, just ask Dale Waters or Dave Burton....Dave will also cheerfully accept your local dues as well!

Fly Pattern of the Month

YELLOW SALLY

Courtesy of Kyle Burrell, a/k/a "The Vacuum", this month's fly pattern imitates the yellow stone fly that hatches sporadically all summer on our local streams. It is just a modification of an Elk Hair Caddis; it has a bright yellow body. Fish this fly as you would an Elk Hair Caddis.

Hook: #14 Dry Fly Hook
Wing: Light Elk Hair
Body: Bright Yellow Fly Rite Dubbing
Hackle: Light Ginger or Cream

A big "Thank You" to Kyle for the outstanding program he gave on his brown trout project last month. If you missed it, you really missed an excellent presentation. Kyle, we hope you'll come back and keep us posted as your monitoring progress.

CALL 1-800-ASK-FISH TO PURCHASE HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES BY PHONE

Tired of running all over town the night before a hunting or fishing trip in search of a license or stamp? Hunting and fishing licenses are now just a phone call away. Hunters and anglers can purchase hunting and fishing licenses and stamps by phone using MasterCard or Visa by calling 1-800-ASK-FISH.

Purchasing licenses and stamps by phone is easy. Dial the 1-800 number from any touch tone phone. Select onption one, "Sportfishing or Clean Vessel Information from This State". At the next menu, select option four, "Licensing Information". Then, follow the directions given by the automated telephone answering system to select the hunting and fishing license to be purchased.

When the transaction is completed, the hunter or angler will be given a personal identification number. Hunters and anglers must carry this identification number like a license until they receive the license purchased by phone in the mail, usually five to seven days after the call. Conservation rangers can verify the purchase of licenses by phone using the identificaiton number and a picture identification, such as a driver's lieense.

Hunters and anglers can purchase up to six licenses or stamps at one time by calling 1-800-ASK FISH. A $4 service charge will be added to the total cost of the licenses. All hunting and fishing licenses, except for the Federal Duck Stamp, can be purchased using 1-800-ASK-FISH.

1-800-ASK-FISH also provides up-to-date fishing information on a variety of topics. Anglers can find information such as fishing locations, regulation information, boat access, fishing locations near camp sites and handicapped accessible fishing locations.