Volume 4        " What  The Trout Don’t Suspect They’ll Take"                                                     Issue 5       May 1999
 

Fly of the Month
A. K. Best Sulfur Quill Parachute by Charles Martin

A. K. Best Quill bodied flies tied in both dun and parachute versions are extremely effective in local tailwaters.  The dun is more effective on broken water and is typically fished from a boat during generation or in a riffle that remains after rundown.  The parachute is quite effective on broken water but is significantly more effective on flat water created by substantial rundown.  The parachute version is not as laborious or difficult to tie as the dun and many folks believe the A. K. Best Sulfur Quill Parachute is the most effective of any sulfur pattern after substantial rundown has occurred.
ü Hook:  Tiemco 101
ü Thread:  Uni-Thread 8/0 Light Cahill
ü Body:  Pale Yellow or Orange Hackle Quills thoroughly soaked in water
ü Tail:  Barred Ginger Hackle
ü Wing Post:  WhiteTurkey Flats
ü Hackle:  Barred Ginger Hackle

Wrap thread back to 0% point and make 1 additional turn over the last turn.  Install spade hackle fibers so that the length of the tail is between 2 and 3 hook eye diameters longer than the entire length of the hook.
Prepare a post with the tips precisely aligned from a dense, turkey feather with a clean sharp edge.  Install post so that the length is equal to the entire length of the hook and the center of the post is located at the
center of the second hook eye diameter back from the eye.  Position post perpendicular using tight wraps in front of the post.  Set post with circular wrap around base.  Place wraps up the post and wind back down.
Soak quills in water for at least 30 minutes.  Select 2 quills for sizes 14 and 16; use 1 quill for sizes 18 and 20.  Cut off the quill(s) where the width of the quill(s) is about 2/3 the diameter of the thread wrap and tie in
quill(s) and spiral wrap thread back to the 0% point.  Install thread sub-body of 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 quill(s) and clip off butts.  Complete forward body by winding thread from end of quill wrap forward to create a conical section that reduces to 1 thread wrap 1/2 hook eye diameter the eye.  Select a hackle that is one size larger than normal.  Tie in hackle with the shinny, convex side up.  Wind hackle so that the plane of the hackle will be parallel to the water and does not tilt forward.  Wind hackle by making the first wrap high and making 4 additional wraps with each wrap below the preceding wrap.  Gather hackle upward and tie off with several half hitches.  Break off barb of hook.

South Holston Cleanup                                                                 by Paul Anderson

A lot of paper was picked up by the 54 people at the  recent South Holston River Cleanup, but Roger Cox picked up the only one that was worth keeping. Cox, owner of Cox Disposal, was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Overmountain chapter for his help over the years in picking up the tons of waste taken from the streams and taking care of the final disposal.  Help from organizations like Cox Disposal, and other contributors to the stream cleanups, make the projects possible. Bill Beazell, Resource Management Committee Chair, said we picked up 3 1/2 tons of litter including a pickup truck load of metal and 25 tires.
  The contributors of prizes and other support included: Mahoney's  donation of a Redstart Fishing outfit by Redington, The Northwestern Chapter of TU, Mountain Sports Limited, Rivers and Streams Fly Fishers Outfitters, The Cottage, Virginia Creeper Fly Fishing, Sagebrush Steakhouse and Saloon, and members of the Hickory Tree community.
Thanks to everyone for your help.

Still To Come

 Don't forget the Watauga Cleanup scheduled for May 22nd from 9am to 12 noon.  Volunteers will assemble at the Covered Bridge in Elizabethton.  The cleanup will include the Watauga River and several of its tributaries.  This years cleanup will be the 11th since the project was initiated by our Chapter and NAR.  Please make plans to participate.

April Meeting Highlights                                               by Paul Anderson
TWRA folks did a drop-hook presentation at the Overmountain chapter's April meeting, and both lures got our attention.
Fisheries biologist Bart Carter had a slide presentation that updated members on the Hampton Creek brook trout restoration project, and everything is right on schedule.  One more sweep to remove rainbows will be conducted during July or August  (which means we'll be calling for volunteers to help, so be alert!). The earlier sweeps of the 1.3 miles of stream yielded nearly 2,000 trout. Most of the rainbows were placed below the barrier and others were placed in Doe Creek to help replace fish lost during the big flood. Southern Appalachian strain brook trout will be retrieved from local streams to stock the special habitat area some time during the Fall. This project, on approximately 700 acres of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy land managed by TWRA, is unique because it is the first of its kind done on non-federal land.
The second hook: TWRA Region 4 Assistant Manager Bob Nichols celebrated the agency's 50th anniversary with bumper stickers, a new "Trout fish'n Tennessee" brochure that has maps of the stocked streams, reservoirs, and tailwaters, and a very special video produced for the anniversary year. Every member needs to pick up a copy of this brochure beautifully done in color with maps showing access. The 50th anniversary video was shown to someone outside an agency meeting for the first time. Old photographs from the early days were interspersed with commentary from some of the men who were working for TWRA when it was born in 1949. It was informative, heart-warming and humorous.
In other developments at TWRA, Nichols said fishing licenses also would be sold by computer beginning in 2000 to make it more convenient for anglers to obtain them. Also about 3,000 lifetime licenses have been sold throughout Tennessee. This is especially helpful because it increases matching money from the federal government for Tennessee wildlife projects and programs.
In other meeting news, Bob Sherrill said the chapter would begin meeting at the House of Ribs in July. Meeting rooms available at the House of Ribs are more spacious and the restaurant also makes available some audio-visual equipment for chapter use.

"Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory"

 The other day Bob King brought his latest rod by the store.  A few more coats of  finish  and the inscription of the lucky owner’s name were all that remained to be done.  The lovely straw colored cane was beginning to gleam in the light.  The two tips were "book matched" and could only be told apart by the numbers inscribed above the ferrules.  Each of the guide’s silk wraps were transparent under the layers of varnish and tipped with a fine wrap of contrasting color.  The graceful cork grip exhibited a  refined line that begged to held and the reel seat was a model of functional simplicity.  If Bob  was selling this rod it would be priced at $895.
 Bob is giving it away.  Your name could be the one inscribed just above the grip.  Be sure that you’re at the May meeting.  It will be you first chance to get your tickets for this exceptional prize.
 May’s meeting will also feature Jim Habera’s presentation on Wild Trout.  His research is an important part of TWRA’s management strategy and might help you plan a fishing trip or two.
 There’s two good reasons to enjoy the next Overmountain Chapter meeting.  I hope I’ll see you there.

Chase Named Water Conservationist of the Year

 Overmountain Chapter President Ken Chase has been named Water Conservationist of the Year for 1998 by the Tennessee Conservation League. He was nominated for his work with Trout Unlimited, the Boone Watershed Partnership and the Adopt-A-Watershed program
  The award reads:
"For outstanding achievement in pollution control, conservation and protection of wetlands, and wild or natural rivers, prevention of water quality degradation through effective planning and management or other activity aimed at maintaining or improving water standards."
 Chase will be presented the award in Nashville on May 15.
 Congratulations, Ken!

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.

Finding the Fishing                                          by George Grant

 Working in a fly shop means spending most of your day answering questions.  One of the most frequently asked ones is "Where's a good place to go fishing around here?" The answer to that one would take almost an hour if I listed all the streams and rivers with trout.  I usually just hit the high spots, Watauga and South Holston River, Beaverdam, Laurel Fork, Rocky Fork, Doe River, etc.  If you haven't been to these places, finding them can be an adventure.  If you're looking for directions or for water to explore there are three maps and two publications that can give you the information you need.
 The first item is something that every fisherman should have the 1999 Fishing Regulations. Inside are two listings of trout streams; a table of Special Regulation Streams where there are restrictions on method, creel, and size; and a Stocking Schedule.  Personally, I'd rather watch All in the Family reruns than pursue stocked trout, but streams that are stockable often have good populations of wild or holdover fish a short walk upstream of where the stocking truck turns around.  The streams with Special Regulations are waters that have an established population of wild fish.  The restrictions are in place to protect them from excess fishing pressure.  They are much more interesting.
A second "freebie" from TWRA is new this year; a map entitled Trout Fish'n Tennessee, a Map of Stocked Streams and Tailwaters.  The map shows all the streams in Tennessee that are stocked. A few copies have been given to License Agents to distribute. If you can't find one locally, write to: Information Office TWRA, P. O. Box 40747, Nashville, TN 37204.  Major roads and highways are shown but it's not a road map.  If I were seeking the details on getting to the listed waters, I'd use it in conjunction with a current edition of The Tennessee Atlas & Gazetteer by DeLORME Publications.  At $16.95 the Atlas isn't cheap, but it combines topographical data with roads and trails in an easy to use indexed format.
Two other maps are useful to fly fishermen in our area. Lynn Smith, a longtime angler on the Watauga River, has published a map of that tailwater. Printed on waterproof paper and folding handily to shirt pocket size, the map sells for $3.95.  The other map deals with South Holston tailwater and is published in totally inadequate quantities by TVA.  Budget cutbacks have a great deal to do with the limited number of these maps and the situation isn't likely to improve in the near future.  The good news is that Eddie and I have copies made and we hand them out at Mahoney's free of charge.
So, if you're new to the area or bored with the same old places there is a solution. All told, an investment of just over $21.00 and a few polite requests can equip you with an wealth of information about where to look for trout and how to get there.

TUTV Goes into RR’s

By popular demand, Trout Unlimited Television is back for a limited run on ESPN2 this spring. Now through June 29*, tune in Tuesday mornings at 6:00AM (ET) for your favorite episodes of TUTV on ESPN2. In episodes from TUTV's groundbreaking 1998 season, Tim Linehan joins TU's "conservation all-stars" for angling action on the BEAVERKILL RIVER, YELLOWSTONE RIVER and YELLOWSTONE LAKE, Wyoming's SNAKE RIVER, and Montana's legendary BLACKFOOT.  Tim catches big Lahontan cutthroat trout in California and Nevada, floats Montana's CLARK FORK RIVER, braves the "night program" on New York's DELAWARE RIVER, chases wild steelhead on Oregon's ROGUE RIVER, and stalks wily browns on the KICKAPOO RIVER, one of Wisconsin's best-kept secrets.

* Subject to change; check your local listing.
Don’t Forget! Beginning In July Our Monthly Meetings Will Be Held At The House of Ribs.
‘Til Then, See You At The Firehouse.

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.