Fly of the Month

This month's fly tying demonstration will feature Eddie Wyatt's Sculpin Minnow.  Eddie, a contract tier for Umpqua Feather Merchants, has been featured in the magazine Fly Fish America.

Wyatt's Sculpin:

Hook:  Tiemco 2302 size 6
Thread:  6/0 White
Eyes:  Plated Lead Dumb-bell
Body:  Pearl Crystal Chenille
Overbody/ Tail: Tan Rabbit Strip
Pectoral Fins: Hungarian Partridge
Head:  Champagne Egg Yarn

Mount the dumbbell eyes about 1/4" back from the hook eye and carry tying thread slightly past the start of the bend.  Mount the Crystal Chenille and wrap to the dumbbell.  Trim top and bottom.  Cut rabbit fur strip 1/8" wide and 1 1/8" long.  Invert hook in vise and push point through rabbit strip from
the hide side (remember, this design will fish hook up).  Tie off strip behind the eyes.  Mount partridge on either side of shank just behind dumbbell with stems curving away from the shank.  Spin egg yarn to cover remaining shank and dumbbell top and bottom.  Tie off thread and trim yarn to shape.

 
Serious Decline in Redds on S. Holston

        According to Jack West a recent survey of known spawning areas by Tennessee Tech biologists has shown a 65% decrease in the number of redds since last year.  Such a significant drop will impact the numbers of wild brown trout in Holston tailwater.

        Two major factors could account for the decline.  The limited amount of suitable substrate for the construction of redds concentrates fish in limited areas where fishermen can have a significant impact on their numbers.  Just as serious is the damage done by wading. Most of the suitable gravel beds are located in shallow water where the presence of wading fishermen is heavy.

     According to a letter to Jack from Frank Fiss, head of TWRA'S Fisheries Management Division, regulations that will protect the river's population of large spawners are under active consideration by TWRA and will be presented to the Commission in the fall of this year.
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        Twelve U. S. Forest Service officers, including our own Marcia Carter, had high praise for the Overmountain Chapter's work with the Forest Service and other area organizations on conservation projects.

        During a recent field review, the Forest Service folks and some Chapter members toured the Embrace-A-Stream projects at Limestone Cove and Hampton Creek.
        While they were impressed with actual work that was done on both projects, they were even more impressed with spirit of cooperation fostered by the Chapter and others who have worked on the project.
        "The level of cooperation Trout Unlimited has achieved is what we're trying to accomplish everywhere," said Regional Forest Manager Anne Zimmerman.  Zimmerman, whose headquarters is in Cleveland, encouraged Overmountain Chapter members, as well as other interested groups, to keep up the good work.

        So, to all who had a hand in these projects, (and I won't try to name them for fear of leaving someone out) thanks, and "keep up the good work."

  The Resource Management Committee presented the Board of Directors with a report on the possible impact of Mountain City's plans to draw water from Doe Creek to meet increasing demands for the city's public water supply.  First reports of the plans indicated that there might be a serious impact on Doe Creek in Johnson County.

        Bob Sherrill and Resource Committee Chairman Bill Beazell pursued the matter with phone calls and interviews.  As the situation developed Mountain City's plan to take the water directly from Doe Creek changed to an arrangement with a landowner to take the water from a large spring on his property that feeds Doe Creek.  It was felt that the plan to divert 400,000 gallons per day from
this tributary might still have a serious effect on the flow in the main channel.  A phone call to the USGS Hydrology Office in Knoxville revealed that this volume of water would be only a small fraction of the spring's daily output.

        With this information in hand, the board voted to withhold any objection to Mountain City's plans.  The Resource Committee will continue to monitor the situation, however.

        If anyone enjoys fly fishing more than Linda Good, you're gonna have to show them to me. Case in point: Linda's presentation at the Overmountain Chapter's December '98 meeting.
        Good, a fly fishing guide and teacher from Knoxville (although she has strong ties to Northeast Tennessee and we hope to get her back someday) brought along her smile, her great laugh, and her slides. And before she was finished, everyone was laughing and enjoying her
presentation tremendously.

        Linda has fished everywhere and she had the pictures to prove it. Her smiling face, and the faces of many of those she admires and respects in the sport, were prominent in the presentation--all the way from the British Isles to the Caney Fork and Clinch.
        It's impossible to do justice to the presentation with mere words. You have to see it to enjoy it. However, we did get to see some beautiful fish she caught and released. And she even mentioned briefly some of the ones that got away.

        Vickie Adams won the Grand Prize for 1998.  The flies tied at each month's meeting are boxed up and offered as the December meeting door prize.  This year's winner has a really good reason to smile since she just recently took up fly fishing.  Vickie and her husband Mike, a professional guide, are active members of the Overmountain Chapter.  Congratulations Vickie!  Some of them are "secret weapons" so you shouldn't have any trouble out-fishing Mike.

        It's a tradition. David Lane the manager for TWRA'S Erwin Hatchery and Jack Jones head of the Erwin National Fish Hatchery will be our guest speakers at the January meeting.  These gentlemen will provide you with some very interesting insights into the challenges facing hatchery managers as they enter the New Year.

        Far more than just statistics, the reports that these hatchery managers give provide some valuable insights into the changing role of hatcheries at the national and state level.  Make plans to attend this month's meeting.

Making plans for 1999?  Be sure to include our Chapter's activities.  The Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited is a growing force in cold water conservation issues in Northeast Tennessee.  We have received numerous awards and recognition at the state and national levels.  We have had an impact on the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency policies and regulations.  We've done a
great deal of good.  But that's all past tense. What really counts is the future.  It's full of challenges: keeping the Watauga River Cleanup going strong without the support of North American Fibers; making sure the Holston River Cleanup continues to grow; working for support of regulations that will promote the management of our tailwater fisheries wild trout populations.  This issue of Newscaster contains a sheet with important dates and the names and phone numbers of Chapter officers.
Look it over.  Keep it handy.  Pitch in.

        Cold weather fishing can be exciting and rewarding.  It can also be dangerous if you don't take the possibility of hypothermia into account.  Hypothermia is possible in all seasons but the cold air and water temperatures of winter make it much more likely and put a premium on prevention.

        This life-threatening condition occurs when the body looses heat faster than its metabolism can generate it. Moderate activity will assure that you stay warm enough if you have dressed properly.
 Layered clothing is the key to safety.  The garment closest to your skin should be designed to wick moisture away and the outer layer should allow it to pass through in dry air conditions.  Precipitation and wind can destroy the insulating qualities of your clothing so make sure that you have a shell
garment that can provide protection if you need it.

Wool and synthetic fabrics keep part of their insulating qualities even when wet.  Cotton clothing soaks up moisture and chills you quickly if it becomes damp.  That can be fatal when the air temperature is below fifty.  Dress for the worst.  Stay alert to changing conditions.