LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

To all Chapter Members,

 I’ve got some big shoes to fill.  For quite some time now Lynn Smith has edited our Chapter Newsletter, keeping us informed and updated about meetings, issues, and events.  Lynn received a great deal of support from his employer, North American Fibers, in the form of time, facilities, and finances.

Things change, however, and new challenges are facing North American Fibers.  At the present time circumstances at NAF have added new responsibilities to Lynn’s duties and reduced the company’s ability to offer the level of support we enjoyed in the past.  I’m speaking for the entire chapter when I thank Lynn for the great job he’s done and express our gratitude to North American for their support.

It is curious that Lynn’s new found freedom coincides with the opening of grouse season.  That has to be just dumb luck, doesn’t it?

So I’m off and running (perhaps only stumbling) as the new editor.  Forgive my shortcomings please.  If you can, pitch in.  Let me know about events, ideas, and issues that are important to you.  You can get in touch with me at home by calling 926-2063, and, at work, by calling Mahoney’s 282-5413.  I can be reached with e-mail: sylfontain@bnoc.net

Sincerely, George Grant
 
 

KID’S FISHING DAY

Marcia Carter of the National Forest Service reported that KID"S FISHING DAY at Limestone Cove on was a success.  Attendance included 170 kids and 125 adults.  During the event two environmental presentations were made and fifteen prizes, including several from the Cherokee Chapter, were distributed. Bill Beazell, Marjorie Straaton, and John McKee worked on cleaning up the area in preparation for the day’s festivities. Gary Barrigar and his grandson attended the event.  None of the 500 summer holdover rainbows and fifty brood stock in attendance could be reached for comment. Anonymous sources report many of them made arrangements to have dinner with the kids and their families.
 

Farrow Allen to be October Speaker

Folks, you don't want to miss the October meeting of the Overmountain Chapter Thursday evening! And be sure to bring a friend with you.
You'll have the usual opportunity to enjoy Firehouse food if you wish and also observe the usual fly-tying demonstration. Now comes the unusual.
Nationally-known author and fishing expert, Farrow Allen will present a program on South American Fishing. Allen moved from New York City to Vermont where he operated a flyfishing shop in the Burlington area for 12 years. During this time, he co-authored "Vermont Trout Streams".
A long-time fly tier, Allen has fished extensively for Atlantic Salmon in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec's Gaspe and north shore regions.
Among the other books Allen has co-authored are: "Flies for Steelhead"; "Flies for Bass & Panfish"; "Flies for Saltwater"; and "Flies for Trout".
Allen is the Southeast editor for American Angler magazine, and now lives in Asheville, NC.
Oh, by the way, the raffle prize for Thursday night will be an autographed copy of one of Allen's books.

Cheers!     Paul Anderson

RANDOM NOTES

Bill Beazell reports that TWRA staff has proposed regulations for the South Holston Tailwaters that will make all snagging illegal.  Snagging has never been a legal means of harvest for game fish in Tennessee, of course, but in the past poachers have used the excuse of snagging rough fish such as carp to cover their illegal attempts to snag spawning trout in the Holston.   Evidence that as much as 35% of the trout population in S. Holston are naturally spawned fish has been gathered in recent research by a Tennessee Tech team headed by Mark Nemuth.  TWRA’S realization that protection for spawning fish is an important component for successful management of the tailwater has resulted in the proposal for new regulations.  Efforts by Bill and his Resource Committee have been instrumental in bringing about this change.  It should be noted that Jack West, operator of a guide service on the river, was also very active in lobbying for the proposed new regulation.

 On of the most frequent criticisms of TWRA has to do with enforcement of the regulations.  Field officers are not plentiful (blame that on the budget) and their efforts are often directed to enforcement issues that conflict with monitoring area tailwaters and streams.  But catching violators is only half the battle.  What happens to poachers in court is important as well.  With that in mind the Tennessee Conservation League conducted a seminar for General Sessions Judges last month in Knoxville. A full understanding the damage that poachers can do to even the best management plans is important for the men and women who will pronounce sentence on these criminals.  Let’s hope that the judges in attendance came away with a fuller understanding of their role in protecting Tennessee’s wildlife resources.

 The Forest Service is considering a $100,000 project on Clark’s Creek. ATV’s have done a great deal of damage in the watershed.  The work to correct his could be supported in part by an Embrace-A-Stream project jointly conducted by the Overmountain and Cherokee Chapters.

 Later this month Ken Chase and Bill Beazell will attend the October 29th meeting of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission.  Please feel free to share your thoughts and concerns with them.

 After a long, hot, dry summer, October usually means a quickening pace to area fishing.  The lower overnight temperatures seem to refresh the fish as much as the fishermen.  If we get some normal rainfall this month you should be able to find some great angling in the area’s mountain streams.  Get out and enjoy the change of pace.