Kid's Fishing Day Has 530 Participants at Two Locations

In cooperation with TWRA and the National Forest Service the Overmountain Chapter once again participated in Kids Fishing Day.  The annual events gives children 12 and under the opportunity to fish for trout with all the odds in their favor while learning about some of the issues and concepts that are important to preserving coldwater resources. This year the event coincided with Free Fishing Day so the adults who accompanied the children could, after the event ended at 2pm, join in the fun without needing a license or trout stamp.
Bill Beazell, Resource Committee Chairman, reports that the Limestone Cove location had 180 kids registered.  A larger turnout, 350 registrants, participated at the Elizabethton location.
In preparation for the event 1500 "catchable sized" trout and 120 larger brood fish from the National Hatchery in Erwin were stocked by the TWRA.  Each entrant was allowed to keep two fish.  In addition to the fish, children were offered prizes for collecting streamside litter.  Photos of the successful anglers with their catch were also provided.
Before the start of the event entrants were required to attend lectures and demonstrations on environmental and ethical topics.  Chapter member George Grant gave a fly fishing demonstration and a presentation on catch and release at the Limestone Cove event.
 

July Meeting At New Location

 July’s meeting will be held in our new location, The House of Ribs restaurant on the Kingsport Highway.  More room, an new menu and very pleasant surroundings  are good reasons to be there.  There are two others as well, Bob Sherrill and Dave Jennings.
 Bob Sherrill, recently retired from TEC, has apparently been preparing for a new career as a Biblical  Prophet.  Although he hasn’t announced any such plans, folks who have been watching him closely (and it is recommended that you watch him closely) have observed that he spends an  inordinate amount of time wandering in the wilderness.  Is it mere coincidence that all the old-time prophets did the same.  Many don’t think so.  One of the principle job requirements for official, licensed prophets is extensive wilderness wandering.
 It should be noted that some folks don’t think that this is what Bob has in mind.  They point out the fact that fearless truthfulness was another hallmark of the profession and contend that being a fisherman is almost an automatic disqualification.
 In any case Bob will be the featured speaker at the July meeting.  His topic:  Wilderness Fishing in the Pisgah National Forest.
 Dave Jennings will demonstrate the Japanese Beetle, the Fly of the Month prior to the meeting and program.  Dave, formerly of  The Holston Angler flyshop is an accomplished tyer so you won’t want to miss this chance to learn the secrets of an effective summer terrestrial pattern .
 As an added bonus we’ll receive a visit from Linda Goode who’ll be presenting a check for $1500 to our chapeter for a Brook Trout restoration project on a Sullivan County stream.  Linda is president of Tennessee Brookies, an organization for fly fishing women that has as one of its goals the preservation and restoration of Brook Trout habitat in Tennessee.
 Don’t wander in the wilderness yourself.  Remember the meeting is in a new location, The House of Ribs.
 
 
 

Mentoring Program Rescheduled
 

 What we do today to preserve, protect, and restore coldwater resources we do for future generations.  It's easy to make the assumption that they will care about the things we value.  But that may not be the case if we fail to pass on the sport we value.  With that in mind Vickie and Mike Adams have developed a Mentoring program to teach effective techniques for involving young people in fly-fishing.
 Initially offered in June the program has been rescheduled for July 24th.  Topics to be covered include, introducing children to the art of fly fishing, the importance of conservation, ethical behavior on and off stream, the mentor's responsibility, teachable moments, planning field trips, the aquatic environment, and working with community programs.
The course will be given at Mike and Vickie's residence on Rockhold Rd. in Bluff City from 10am to 12noon July 24th.  Pre-registration is required.  Call Vickie Adams at (423) 538-0121 to sign up or request more information.

Fly of the Month
 

Summertime means that terrestrials are important items on the menu at your favorite trout stream.  Gardeners and flower lovers hate Japanese Beetles for good reason.  But they do have a prominent place in any fly box.  Dave Jennings has used a Japanese Beetle pattern successfully for years on mountain streams and rivers in the area and shares it with us as July's Fly of the Month. Dave doesn't claim the fly as an original.  He just can't remember whose design it is.
¨ Thread:  Black 6/0
¨ Hook: Standard dry fly size 12-14
¨ Underbody:  Closed cell foam
¨ Body:  Peacock herl
¨ Legs:  (Optional) Peacock in strands
¨ Overbody:  Rust colored deer hair

Mount thread just behind the eye and wrap to the bend.  Tie in closed cell foam and carry thread back to the eye and back to the bend being careful not to crush the foam.  Tie in four strands of peacock herl and then a small clump of rust colored deer hair by the tips.  Twist the peacock herl into a rope and wrap it forward to the eye.  For he most realistic beetle tie in three short strands of peacock herl at right angles to the shank separated by turns of twisted herl as you near the eye.  Tie of and trim the herl rope.  Bring the deer hair over the top of the body and tie off just behind the eye.  Trim the butts of the hair to create a short nub for the beetle's head.
     Dave will demonstrate this fly at the July meeting.  Remember that the meeting will be held at a new location, The House of Ribs on the Kingsport Highway in Johnson City.

21st Century Stuff
If you would like to receive your monthly Newscaster online, please send an email to Ken Chase at:  chasekr@xtn.net.   This will save reproduction costs and mailing expenses.  You can view past issues of the Newscaster by logging on to the Chapter's homepage at:www.xtn.net/~chasekr.

1999 Rod Giveaway

 This year the Overmountain Chapter is proud to offer an outstanding example of the rodmakers craft, a bamboo rod by Bob King.  Bob works from culm to finished rod with a dedication to the highest standards of craftsmanship that is reflected by the beautiful appearance and superb performance of his rods.
 The rod we are giving away is 6’ 9" in length and rated for a DT4 line.  It is a two piece, two tip rod of straw colored cane with bronze guides and silk wraps.  Bob will inscribe the winner’s name on the rod.
 The drawing is limited to 100 entries.  The drawing will occur when all entries are sold.  Each entry costs $10.00 and gives you three chances to win.  Please fill out all of your entry forms completely.  You may enter as often as you like until all 100 entries are sold.

Name _____________________________________
Address ___________________________________
Phone Number _____________________

Name ____________________________________
Address __________________________________
Phone Number _____________________

Name ____________________________________
Address __________________________________
Phone Number _____________________

Enter Rod Giveaway by Mail
 At last month’s meeting we began to sell entries in our major fundraising event for 1999.  Right off the bat fifteen people have bought entries.  Once we’ve sold 100 entries the contest will end and we’ll hold a drawing to determine the winner.  If you missed last month’s meeting, you can enter by mail. Simply print out the entry form above; fill out all the spaces for name , address, and phone number (each entry gives you three chances to win) and mail the form with a check for $10 to:
   Lynn Smith
   304 Paty Place
   Elizabethton, TN 37643
 You can enter as many times as you’d like. Just remember that the entries are limited to 100 and at last count 15% of them were gone.  Don’t miss out.