Fly of the Month
by Charles Martin
A. K. Best Sulfur Quill Dun
Quill bodied flies by A. K. Best represent both the best and worst in fly tying. These patterns are both difficult and laborious, however they are remarkably effective in local tailwaters both as a casting pattern and a skating pattern. The A. K. Best Sulfur Quill Dun is a pattern for the experienced tier who is willing to take extra time to create a very effective fly.
Ø Hook: Tiemco 101
Ø Thread: Uni-Thread 8/0 Light Cahill
Ø Body: Pale Yellow or Orange Hackle Quills thoroughly
soaked in water
Ø Tail: Barred Ginger Hackle
Ø Wings: Pale Smoky Dun Hen Hackle
Ø Hackle: Barred Ginger Hackle
Select 2 quills for sizes 14 and 16, use 1quill for sizes 18 and
20. Soak quills in water for at least 30 minutes. Wrap thread
back to a point above the barb cut and make 2 additional turns over the
last turn. Install spade hackle fibers so that the length of the
tail is 1 hook eye diameter longer than the entire length of the hook.
Cut off the quill(s) where the width of the quill(s) is about 2/3 the diameter
of the thread wrap; tie in quill(s) and spiral wrap thread back to the
tail. Build thread underbody to appropriate size and shape.
Wrap quill(s) forward and on the last rotation wrap the quill(s) on the
bottom as far forward on the sub-body as possible. Tie off and clip.
Complete forward body using thread wraps. Select hen hackle feathers
which will have a width of about 1.25 times the gap of the hook after the
tip of the feather has been cut elliptically. Trim the tips of the
feathers so that they are elliptical and approach a circle. The wing
length should be precisely 1 hook eye diameter longer than the entire length
of the hook. Tie in wings in planes, which are parallel to the shank
of the hook and intersect slightly below the body. Set wings vertically.
Set wings at proper angle. For casting version, install one hackle
of normal size. For skating version, install 2 hackles of normal
size. Break off barb of hook
Tennessee’s Newest Trout Fishery, Cherokee Tailwater
The states newest trout fishery was born just a little prematurely
in February. Working in cooperation with TVA, The Tennessee Wildlife
Resources Agency had planned to introduce trout into the tailwater below
Cherokee Dam this fall. Due to an unexpected surplus of 8 to 9 inch
trout at the nearby Buffalo Springs Hatchery TWRA introduced 20,000 rainbow
trout into the river in mid-February. The trout were distributed over a
12-mile stretch of the Holston River from Cherokee Dam to Indian Cave downstream.
Rick Bivens, trout Biologist for TWRA Region IV, said plans for
the establishment of a trout fishery below Cherokee Dam had been in the
works for about two years. Current expectations are that the fishery
will be put-and-take because of summer water temperature. "There are a
few deep pools and places where some trout can find shelter", Rick said,
"But by and large the river is too warm in summer months." Even though
the fishery will not be as productive as some other Tennessee tailwaters
it will provide good fishing opportunities in the cooler months and is
expected to take some pressure off other waters in the area.
Frank Fiss head of Coldwater Fisheries for TWRA commented that
even though expectations for a holdover fishery were not high "In the final
analysis the fish will decide that."
Man-made Trout Waters
There is a great deal of irony in the fact that sometimes dams
create trout fisheries instead of destroying them. Two of the finest
fisheries in the Southeast, the Holston and Watauga Rivers are in our area.
Without the dams that impound deep reservoirs along their courses they
would be marginal trout waters. Perhaps you’ve wondered how the process
works. Here’s a brief explanation.
Water varies in density inversely to its temperature. Warm
water is lighter than cold water and in deep lakes will "float" on top
of the coldest water. Usually surface temperature is close to air
temperature and temperature at the bottom is around forty degrees.
Water at the surface will often get too warm to carry enough dissolved
oxygen to support trout but water at the bottom of the lake is an ideal
temperature to carry the nine parts per million of oxygen that trout require.
Dams that release water for generation from this lower layer change the
temperature of the river. In most cases they keep the water cold
for many miles downstream.
Temperature is only half of the equation, though. Trout
water must have dissolved oxygen. The water from the depths has almost
none. The oxygen in it is consumed by decaying organic material and without
atmospheric contact it cannot dissolve more. Streams such as the
Watauga have a gradient and streambed that quickly aerates the release
by means of riffles and rapids. The Holston requires the help of
the finger weir to raise the oxygen level of the water released in generation.
Other characteristics of tailwaters add to their productivity
as trout fisheries. While the flow varies depending on the amount
of water released in generation, no destructive flooding normally occurs
and flow is maintained even in the most severe drought conditions.
Because the streams do not have to kept cool by overstory vegetation sunlight
can promote the growth of plants that host a large invertebrate population
of mayflies, caddis, scuds, and stoneflies, prime forage for trout.
Are tailwaters better than natural environments? That’s
a question that will always have a subjective answer. With proper
management they provide remarkable recreational opportunities for fishermen.
Net Fishing Part III by Mike Widener
Easter weekend, I fished the Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a friend, Jeff, I met two years ago. Jeff is a great person and a wealth of fly-fishing knowledge. Jeff has fished New Zealand, Flaming Gorge, the Green River, and many other places that most of us only dream about. Last night, I talked to Leon Chandler, of Cortland, and discussed fly lines for about an hour. I also have personal conversations with Wayne Cattenagh about bamboo rods. I could list some more, but you would probably begin to doubt me. I meet and talk to all these friends using my home computer.
The computer has opened doors that will assist any angler.
Fly-fishing has more than its share of specialty sites to explore.
The primary mediums used include chat rooms, bulletin boards, and news
groups
for personal contacts, and they offer a variety of tools for anyone wanting
to broaden their knowledge or just to have fun. Fly swaps, fly tying
recipes, getting a first hand stream report, making friends, and just engaging
in some fun fly-fishing conversation are just as close as your modem.
Chat rooms are great for first hand information exchanges. Yep,
there are dangers about meeting an axe murderer in an Internet chat room.
However, if one uses some common sense and because of the type of people
fly-fishing, the dangers are reduced. My Internet family will bump
you (kick you off) if even one word of profanity is used. Most chat
rooms require only a nickname or handle. That's all there is too
it! However, most good fly-fishing chat rooms require Java script
to operate and your PC will generally need to meet the following requirements:
Pentium Class Computer,
16MB of RAM,
30MB of hard drive space available,
256K color with a 640x480 display (most optimize at 800x600),
And a 14.4KBPS modem or faster that meet v.34 protocol.
The use of fly-fishing chat rooms is growing. I recommend
you find one and stick with it. Most tend to localize to an area or a specific
group of people. The only problem with chat rooms is not becoming
an addict to the fun.
Bulletin boards are just that, note boards. Fly-fishers
use bulletin boards to post stream conditions, brag or lie about their
catches, or sell their existing equipment so they can buy more. I
have successfully sold equipment using bulletin boards so I could buy more
fly-fishing stuff. Never throw anything away that is fly-fishing
related because someone in the world is looking for it. A bulletin
board will identify that someone. I do recommend a confirming phone
call to make sure the deal is sincere. Bulletin boards are
also good fun to explore for regional topics and fly-fishing opportunities.
News groups are a hoot and use e-mail as the medium. I
joined a fly tying news group through Yahoo and immediately received recipes
and requests for patterns from all over the world. Fly swaps are
big in the news groups. I have received e-mail from fly-fishers in
South Africa, Australia, Norway, and many more. News groups do have
one drawback, they will build up your e-mail queue considerably, and these
folks are serious about fly-fishing (especially the British).
Chat rooms, bulletin boards, and news groups are the primary
mediums for the fly-fishing computer user. I have accelerated my
fly-fishing learning curve and my degree of fun in this sport by using
the Internet mediums available. Not to mention the good and famous
friends I have made over the past three years. Take a breath, get
on your browser, and try these sites to start with:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/
The best I've found with the good and famous; chat room and bulletin
board
http://www.flyshop.com/Centers/index.cfm?category=sou
Fly Fisherman Magazine's chat room and bulletin board for the Southern
US Region
http://www.fbn-flyfish.com/Chat
Fly Fishing Network Chat; an old style chat room service; fun to watch
http://ink.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=fly-fishing+chat&hc=0&hs=2
A Yahoo search of many chat, bulletin board, and news group providers
I do hope you will try the brave new world. If you have questions about using chat rooms, bulletin boards, or news groups, please write me at mwide22@bnoc.net or join me, the Ridge Runner, online very Tuesday night at 09:00 PM at http://www.flyanglersonline.com.
Tight lines everyone ……………………….<;(((((((()))))))))<
Ian Rutter Shares the Smokies
Our March program featured Ian Rutter, a fly shop
manager and guide for the Great Smoky Mountains. Ian works for Little
River Outfitters in Townsend , Tennessee and plays in waters large and
small in the Park. He shared his knowledge of and love for the fly
fishing there with us at our last meeting.
Ian regularly explores backcountry waters and roadside streams
searching for Rainbows, Browns, and Brookies. He pointed out that
many of the best opportunities are easily accessed from the Park’s roads
and trails. He also shared his experiences in the back country.
Thanks Ian.
Don’t miss the April meeting. Bob Ripley and Bart Carter
from TWRA will be the feaured speakers. You’ll get a chance to learn
the latest from TWRA. Bart will have information on Brook Trout and
Bob, Director of Region Four, will give you insight into what’s happening
in Northeast Tennessee.
Charles Martin will demonstrate one of the most effective tailwater
flies, A. K. Best’s Sulphur Quill Dun. It’s an intricate tie so don’t
miss the demonstration.
South Holston Cleanup
The 4th Annual South Holston Cleanup is set for Saturday, April
17th. All Chapter members are urged to participate in one of the
Overmountain Chapter’s most important projects.
Volunteers will assemble at the Weir Picnic Area at 9:00am Saturday
for cleanup assignments. TVA will provide bags and gloves.
Sponsors have offered prizes for the participants to be given away in a
drawing after the cleanup. Organizations and Agencies will have exhibits
at the picnic area.
Please make every effort to participate. The cleanup is
gaining support from businesses and area residents and a good turnout from
our chapter will keep the ball rolling
For more information call Bill Beazell at (423) 239-6991 or Dave
Lawrence at (423) 349-7336.
The Newscaster is the monthly newsletter of The Overmountain Chapter
of Trout Unlimited, George Grant, Editor. The mailing address
is:
The Newscaster
1204 Iris Ave.
Johnson City, TN 37601
Phone (423) 926-2063
E-mail: sylfontain@aol.com
Your comments, contributions, suggestions, support (financial and editorial),
and forgiveness are earnestly solicited.