The November Prizewinners Eddie Hutchison and his son receive the door prize donated by Jack West.

Their number came up for one of the most beautiful prizes of the year, a stained glass window ornament in the form of a trout fly handmade and donated by Jack West. He assured us that this will be the most effective fly Eddie and his son will ever own. Hung in a sunny window it will always
"catch" the light.

Thanks to Jack West for his donation. If you’d like to contribute a prize be sure to let Ken Chase or Lynn Smith know.

Don’t miss the December 10th meeting. Your lucky number could win a prize that members and guests have been working on all year, a box full of flies. All the flies tied during the demonstrations during the year have been carefully kept in a brand new Wheatly box. You’ll have to be present to win.

Linda Good will present the December Program.

A talented successful woman gives up a career for love. Is that the plot of a Barbara Cartland romance? No, it’s just another fish story.

Linda found herself in love with fly-fishing and decided to leave the office far behind. She now "works" as a fly fishing guide and instructor in Knoxville, TN. She’s also one of the founders of Tennessee Brookies, an organization for fly fishing women that promotes their wider participation in the sport and actively supports the restoration of native brook trout in Tennessee waters.

It’s a darn good fish story. Be sure you hear her tell it Thursday, December 10th.

Holiday Greetings from the President

This has been another excellent year for the Chapter. We continue to make a difference in the local area with our education programs, river/stream cleanups and superb speakers for the monthly meetings.

Attendance at Chapter meetings continues to increase. We set a record attendance of 39 at our October meeting when Farrow Allen spoke about his fishing travels in the Amazon. If we grow much more we’ll be looking for another meeting place!

My thanks to all members who supported our many efforts throughout the year and to those who serve as officers and board members. Make sure to join us in 1999 as we continue to offer more opportunities to accomplish TU’s mission of conserving, protecting and restoring trout fisheries and their watersheds.

On behalf of the Overmountain Chapter officers and board members, we wish you the happiest and safest holiday season.

Sincerely,

Ken Chase, President

Mike Adams concentrates on getting it right as he ties the demonstration fly Yallerhammer at our November meeting.

The Yallerhammers Mike tied up, wet and dry, will be included in the box of flies we’ll give away this Thursday.

By the way, the Big Cheese, Ken Chase himself, will be the featured tier this time. He’ll be demonstrating a classic attractor pattern, the House and Lot Variant.

The Fly of the Month:

House and Lot Variant
Hook: Standard Dry, 10-16
Thread: 8/0 Gray or Black
Body: Stripped Peacock Quill for the Abdomen,
Full Quill For the Thorax
Wing: Calf Tail or Calf Body Hair
Tailing Material: Calf, same as Wing
Hackle: Brown (2) at least twice the Gape

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Wrap the first half of the shank with thread. Tie in the wing (do not stand it up yet).

2. Wrap the thread to the bend and tie in the tail. Do not cut the tail. Wrap over the butts to build body taper.

3. Tie in stripped quill and wrap for ½ the body length. Tie off stripped quill.

4. Tie in fully herled quill and wrap thread forward to a point about 1/16th inch back from base of wing.

5. Wrap the herl forward for the thorax and tie down and cut off.

6. Stand up wing using figure "8" wraps to post it.

7. Dub in front of wing to make shank equal to body diameter.

8. Carry thread behind wing. Tie in hackle. Carry thread forward to eye. Wrap three turns of hackle behind and two turns in front of wing.

9. Tie off hackle and whip finish head.

Because the H & L Variant was President Eisenhower’s favorite fly it should be fished conservatively.

Landis Lauds Johns

America, the greatest nation on earth, can take pride in the Space Program, a vibrant economy, and the quality of latrines that it provides in the Boundary Waters area on the Canadian border. That’s the opinion of Tim Landis of The Holston Angler. Tim’s program on his experiences in this wilderness area of lakes, rivers, and woods on our northern border included a critique of the "facilities" available at American and Canadian campsites. American latrines won hands down.

According to Tim a trip to this area is one of the last great bargains in vacations for fishermen. A twelve-day excursion can cost as little as $600 if you drive there and back. Tim’s presentation generated a great deal of interest at the November meeting owing in large part to his enthusiasm and
humor.

TU Looses Southern Leader

Raymond K. Mortensen Jr. of Salem, S.C. passed away on October 23, 1998 at the age of 71.

Ray served as secretary of TU’s National Resource Board. A member of the Chatooga River Chapter. Ray had served as Southeast Regional Vice President and NRB Secretary.

"Ray was the model of the citizen volunteer conservationist," according to Steve Born, NRB Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees.