Kreh Winner in Orvis Fund Raiser
Don Kreh, Kingsport, Tennessee, was the winner of the Orvis One
Ounce Fly Rod Ouftit. Don is an active chapter member and regularly
participates in chapter activities, including stream cleanups and Embrace-A-Stream
projects.
Don was one of 56 individuals entered in the Fund Raiser which
netted $300. The drawing was held during the July 9, chapter meeting.
Chapter President Ken Chase expressed his thanks to all those
who participated. “ We are pleased with the level of participation
in the Fund raiser,” he said. “The funds raised will be put to good use.”
“ We have tried to provide activities for all chapter members.
This fund raiser is just one of many programs,” Chase continued.
Chapter activities include regular chapter meetings with special guest
speakers, the Fly of the Month fly tying demonstrations, stream cleanups
and Embrace-A-Stream projects.
Chapter members can also win fly rods in the Take A Kid Fishing
contest (details are in the flyer with the Newscaster.)
Income from the fund raiser is slated for chapter conservation
and stream habitat improvement projects.
Fly of the Month
Letort Cricket
Ed Shenk, who helped popularize fishing with terrestrials in
the mid- 1980's, rated the cricket as his first choice of terrestrial patterns.
Writing in the September 1986 issue of Fly Fisherman Magazine,
Shenk said the Letort Cricket was his “top choice” among terrestrials
and told of catching a huge brown trout on the Letort Cricket. After being
caught, the 26 inch, 6 1/2 pound brown disgorged two trout - one
8 inch brown and a smaller trout!
Shenk, in the article, said the Letort Cricket had proven to
be a universal pattern, taking fish in New Zealand, India, Africa, and
the British Isles, as well as the United States.
Fishing Crickets
Larger terrestrials usually hit the water with a splash.
So, cast your cricket so that it “splats”. Fish
crickets near overhanging grass, undercut banks, and under overhanging
trees and shrubs.
Strikes can be hard and sudden. A 9- to 12-foot leader
tapered to 4X or 5X will work well with smaller flies. A 3X
tippet prevents break-offs during the strike with larger, size 10 &
12, crickets.
Shenk’s Letort Cricket
Hook: Size 10 -18
Thread: 6/0 Black
Body: Black fur dubbing
Wing: Black dyed goose quill
Head: Spun black deer hair
Tying Crickets:
Prepare the wing. Trim the goose quill in a broad V and
coat with Fleximent. Wrap the first half of the hook with thread.
Dub the fur body and attach the wing. Spin deer hair to form the
head. Whip finish and shape the head. Secure the thread with
cement.
* * * * * *
And Another Winner...
Marjorie Straton, Elizabethton, received a pleasant surprise
in May when a new LL Bean fly rod was delivered to her home. Marjorie
was at a loss to explain the rod until she noticed the return address:
Trout Unlimited.
Turns out Marjorie was a winner in TU’s membership renewal contest
last year. Marjorie’s prize is a LL Bean Double L, nine foot, six
weight fly rod.
Moral of this story? Send in those TU membership renewals!
* * * * *
TVA Web Site
TVA has a new Internet web site to provide lake level and stream
flow information. The site provides the same information as the telephone
information line (1-800-238-2264) and users can make suggestions and comments
to TVA. The new web site is www.lakeinfo.tva.gov.
Stream Cleanup to be Dedicated to Todd Burleson
The Annual Roan Mountain Stream Cleanup will be dedicated to Todd Burleson
on August 15. Chapter members and other participants will meet at the Burbank
Free Will Baptist Church in Roan Mountain at 9:00 a.m. The dedication
will take place at the Church pavilion after the stream cleanup.
After the cleanup, a bring-your-own picnic lunch will be held
at the pavilion at 12:00 Noon. (Soft drinks and watermelon will be
provided.) The dedication ceremony will take place at the church pavilion
after lunch.
All Chapter members are encouraged to attend this service honoring
Todd. For more information call Bill Beazell (423) 239-6991.
Nominations, Please:
Elections for Chapter Officers and the Board of Directors will
be held in September. Anyone wishing to serve or nominate someone
for any of the positions, should call Bill Beazell, Chairman of the Nominating
Committee, at 239-6991.
Offices include Chapter President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, and Board of Directors.
* * * * *
Thanks, TWRA!
Our thanks to Bob Ripley, Manager of TWRA’s Region IV, for an
excellent program about TWRA during our July chapter meeting.
Accompanying Bob were Glen Johnson, Supervisor of Law Enforcement for our
area, and Doug Lynch. Doug conducts the creel surveys on the
Watauga and South Holston tailwaters.