Unicoi Outfitters Recognized as Gold Level Business Member

We know, we know.  This IS The Liars Club.  But this is real and it's a very big deal for us.  It just goes to show that any and all of us can make a difference if it's important enough.  Thank you to Trout Unlimited and to all our customers who have made our support of cold water conservation a possibility.

By Walt Gasson

One of the great things about conservation is that while on the surface it’s about fish and fish habitat, at a deeper level it’s about people. It’s about people who care. And in conservation, as in life, you soon learn that there are people who will never let you down. These are the reliable supporters, the people that always have your back financially and politically. They come from all over the country and from all walks of life. These “go to” guys and gals – the “A Team” - will be there to support the work that Trout Unlimited does year in and year out. So it is with Jimmy Harris and David Dockery and their staff at Unicoi Outfitters in Helen, GA - our newest TU Gold Level Business member.

Consider these words from Alan Folger, TU Veterans Services Partnership Director: “Few individuals have done more to provide healing and rehabilitation to our nation’s veterans.  Whether through their personal and business generosity - or their very important fundraising efforts, Jimmy  and David have always been there for TU and our veterans. Or this testimonial...click here to read the entire article.

Tie-Athlon Benefitting Smithgall Woods

Flashback PTs from Michael McFarland

Ron Thomas and his "Tie 1 On" fly tying group, the Georgia Foothills Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and Unicoi Outfitters are teaming up to help raise funds for Smithgall Woods, home of one of our favorite trout streams: Dukes Creek.

It's a simple concept:  Gather teams of fly tyers together who have gone out in their communities and secured sponsors who pledge to donate an amount per fly to Smithgall Woods.  At the end of the event, a winning team is selected, and Smithgall Woods receives donations based on the pledges received.

The Tie-Athlon will be held on March 24, 2012 at Unicoi Outfitters in Helen from 10am through 3pm.

It's important now to register your team because there are a limited number of openings available, and also, once registered, you'll be able to go out and solicit pledges for Smithgall.  The more people you can get to pledge, and the more per fly, the greater the benefit to Smithgall Woods.

Here are the links to the forms needed:

1)  Tie-Athlon Application and Information
2)  Tie-Athlon Pledge Form

So, get those applications in!  If you have any questions, contact Ron Thomas at rbtgofish@yahoo.com.

Congratulations Alan Folger

Great news over at 52 Trout, our friend Alan Folger's blog.  Alan just announced that he has accepted a new position with Trout Unlimited.  Alan will be the Veterans Service Partnership Coordinator beginning January 3rd.  Read more in this post on Alan's blog.

Congratulations Alan!

And if you haven't visited Alan's blog, take this opportunity to do so - you won't find any nicer fishing art anywhere - not to mention some great writing.

Trout Unlimited Hosts Panel on Toccoa Tailwater

The Toccoa River Tailwater (below Blue Ridge Dam) is a premier trout fishery with enormous importance to the economic, social, and recreational well-being of Fannin County. *Trout fishing and the quality of water in the Toccoa is at risk of collapse as a result of a drawdown of Lake Blue Ridge so the TVA can make essential repairs to the dam and penstock. *Water temperatures and clarity are suffering, and the weather thus far is not cooperating. *The reason the river is in extremis is the timing of the protracted drawdown, which coincided with an unusually hot and dry summer and start to the fall season. * The full extent of damage to the fishery, if any, has yet to be determined. *However, it is not too soon to develop a plan for recovery of the river post-drawdown in order to minimize damage or improve the fishery.*​

No one doubts that the dam repairs were needed, and that the TVA carefully considered many factors in timing the drawdown, including weather patterns, safety, environmental impact, and the like, with input from the public and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. * The question is, however, where do we go from here if trout die and the fishery collapses? *This question and more will be answered in a public forum hosted by Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited at the Fannin Chamber of Commerce, 9 am, October 9, 2010. *Representatives of the TVA, DNR, Trout Unlimited, and the Chamber of Commerce will comprise a panel to discuss the immediate future of the Toccoa Tailwater and to answer questions from the audience. The purpose of this discussion is not to probe how, why, or when the drawdown was done or to criticize anyone in the process. *This meeting focuses on what can be done from this point forward to protect and restore the fishery.*​

Trout Unlimited is an organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and protection of coldwater (trout) fisheries like the Toccoa.

Fly Fishing 101

If you or someone you know has expressed an interest in learning how to fly fish, Unicoi Outfitters is teaming up with Orvis and Trout Unlimited to offer free introductory lessons every Saturday in July from 9 AM until 12 noon.  We'll have casting lessons as well as sessions on how to properly rig your fly rod all morning long with qualified teachers from the Unicoi professional staff as well as local Trout Unlimited members.  Participants will not only get an introduction to fly fishing but will also receive a $15.00 gift certificate good toward the purchase of any Orvis products plus they'll receive a one year trial membership (new members only) in Trout Unlimited, the country's foremost cold water conservation organization.  We encourage you to please call ahead and sign up for these sessions if possible.  The number in Helen is 706-878-3083 and the number in Blue Ridge is 706-632-1880.  We look forward to having you join us.

"TIE 1 ON" with the kids

My son and I were fortunate this week to spend a day with the kids at trout camp in Rabun County--what a great experience. The kids were "gung ho" about everything they did, from building stream structures, shocking fish, learning about bugs, tying flies, and of course to catching fish on flies. Where was this stuff when I was young--a long time ago.

This is the first time I have helped, and you know there's just something about fishing with kids.

A lot of credit has to be given to the TU's (especially Rabun), Ga DNR, US Forest Service, and all the sponsors of the camp, plus the instructors, interns, and mentors that stay and work (or have fun) with the kids.

This is a good thing and I'm looking forward to being more involved in the future.

Thanks,

Ron

"Back the Brookie" Recognized in Trout Magazine

Georgia’s Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV)/GA TU Back-the-Brookie was recognized in Trout Unlimited's Winter 2010 TROUT Magazine Actionline!

More Money,

More Restoration

G e o r g i a

For brook trout in Georgia waters, more habitat improvements are on the way, thanks to $25,000 in recent funding through the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture. Georgia TU, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service are planning restoration work on 10 stream miles, including stretches on Big Net Creek, Upper Chattahoochee River, North and South Fork Moccasin Creek, Flat Branch, Tate Branch and Walnut Fork Creek. In past work, volunteers and partners conducted genetic sampling, removed non-native trout, tested water quality, mapped, “drought-proofed” streams by creating deeper pools, and constructed barriers to keep native brook trout populations sequestered from invasive fish. The new efforts will expand on previous work—which has been funded by Embrace-A-Stream and Georgia Power Foundation grants—to restore brook trout populations in the southernmost part of their native range.

Team Unicoi Wins 1st Annual Gold Rush Cup

Well, while the jury may still be out on the acceptance of competition in fly fishing, I must say that the folks at Gold Rush TU put on a great event Saturday to help raise funds for their cold water conservation projects. The 1st Annual Gold Rush Cup went off as smooth as silk with great weather, great food and great friendly competitors. And they couldn't have picked a more perfect host venue, Frog Hollow on the Chestatee River. Over 100 people attended the event and anxiously paced the river banks trying to keep up with who was catching what. The two-angler teams had an hour to fish each of 5 beats on the river and could record two fish for each member during that time. From observation, the pressure of competition appeared to result in trying to force some fish into the net as quickly as possible and, for those of you who have fished at Frog Hollow can attest, you don't force those fish anywhere. Even Team Unicoi, Hamp Cross and Chuck Head, were observed long distance releasing a few fish. All in all, it was a fun way to raise money for Trout Unlimited and Chuck and Hamp walked away with a nice cash prize and two custom-built fly rods donated by Garland Stewart. We're very proud of Hamp and Chuck. As always, their professionalism and angling skills were obvious.

We also appreciate these other four teams:

Team Frog Frog Hollow: Jackie Gooch & James Peterson



Team Cannon Falls Lodge: Corey Roberts & Andrew Koester



Team Alpharetta Outfitters: Brian & Randy Schiltz



Team Etowah Anglers: Ben Gann & Steven Hartman

Thanks to Kenny Simmons for the photos.

Toccoa Tailwater meeting Saturday November 14th

An Important Message From Our Friend Ralph Artigliere, Blue Ridge Mtn TU:


The future of our Toccoa Tailwater has been a hot topic among Georgia trout fishermen recently. Blue Ridge Mtn TU is dedicating its meeting on Saturday to information on the present and future of the Tailwater. GA DNR Biologist have been earnestly studying the Toccoa tailwater for two years, headed by Biologist John Damer. John is an expert in tailwater fisheries and hired and assigned this project in light of his background. He is also a good guy and excellent trout fisherman. Last fall John spoke on his interim assessment of his Toccoa River study to our Blue Ridge Mtn TU chapter, and that presentation was one of the most informative and popular programs we had last year. Last year we heard some history of the river, saw lots of neat fish pictures, and learned a ton about the fishery. John is coming back to speak to us on Saturday, November 14th, 9am at the Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center off Hwy 515 across from Ingles (above CVS). Guest are welcome. You do not want to miss this, as John has another full year of study under his belt. Other than "where did you shock up that ten pound brown?" John is generous about answering questions. John presentation and Q and A will be followed by an open forum on where we go from here in protecting the river moderated by BRMTU President Mike Holloway. If you care about the future of the Toccoa be there Saturday, November 14th.

Ralph Artigliere
blueridgetu.com

We look forward to seeing ya'll there.

Tight Lines,

David and Becky Hulsey

Potential Record Brown Trout in Toccoa River Tailwater

John Damer, Fisheries Biologist with the Georgia DNR just posted this on NGTO:

This beast is out there just waiting to be caught...





This fish was captured using boat mounted electrofishing gear as part of an ongoing study of trout population dynamics on the lower Toccoa River. It was measured at 28.3" in length and weighed 14 lbs, and then it was released (Where, you ask??? Gee, I don't remember ). If caught by an angler it would be the new record brown trout for the Toccoa River.

As an added bonus, any angler who catches this monster will find that it has one of our small green tags attached just below its dorsal fin, as you can see here:



To date we have tagged and released nearly 4,000 hatchery and resident trout in the lower Toccoa River. We ask that anglers help with the study by reporting any tagged fish they catch to 706-624-1161. For anyone who has not seen it, here is a link to our press release that explains the study:

http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/foru...ad.php?t=72424

As explained in the link above, one lucky Georgia angler who returns a tag to us will win a Lifetime Sportsmans License courtesy of the Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of TU.

Just one more reason, to go fishing... Tight lines!

-John

Gold Rush Cup Fly Fishing Challenge at Frog Hollow

The Dahlonega, Georgia based Gold Rush Chapter of Trout Unlimited is holding its first "Gold Rush Cup" Fly Fishing Challenge on Saturday November 21. This is a promising fund-raiser for the chapter that could be a fund-raiser for the participant! It is a team tournament based on up to 10 2-man teams, so it pays to register early before the field fills up. For more info check out the Gold Rush website.

Tagged Fish on the Toccoa River Tailwater

This just in from Ralph Artigliere, the president of the Blue Ridge Mountain chapter of Trout Unlimited:

WE NEED YOUR HELP for an important fish study in progress by Georgia Department of Natural Resources. There is a drawing for a Georgia Lifetime Sportsman’s License for one lucky person who participates in the study, but the real benefit for all of us is important scientific information about the fish and the fishery.

DNR has been studying trout in the Toccoa River tailwater, and Region I Fisheries Biologist John Damer needs to upgrade the detail of data by tagging stocked fish to get more specific information about individual fish. To accomplish this tagging study, fishermen who catch a tagged fish should report their catch by telephone and mail in the tag. Just doing those two things makes the fisherman eligible for the drawing AND enhances the data and Mr. Damer’s ability to understand and improve the fishery. Just follow these easy steps if you catch a rainbow trout with a GREEN tag.

1. Remove the tag by cutting it with a knife, nippers, etc., as close as possible to the fish's body (do not pull the tag out of the fish if you plan to release it, as this will likely injure the fish severely). You can then keep or release the fish as you would do normally.
2. Call the Calhoun Fisheries office at 706-624-1161 to report the tag. Make sure you have the tag number ready when you call.
3. The person you talk to over the phone will ask you a few questions about when, where, and how you caught the fish and then they will provide you with an address where you should mail the tag. Please make sure to mail the tag in, because only tags that we physically receive back will be entered into the drawing for a Lifetime Sportsman's License. Even if you do not wish to be entered into the drawing, please still mail the tag back as it is important in calculating estimates of non-reporting (how many anglers catch tagged fish but do not report them).

MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

-Tags are green, about 1.5" long, and implanted on the fish's left side just below the dorsal fin.
-Roughly 600 tagged rainbows will be stocked each month from March through August. (Tagged fish are already in the river as of this announcement on March 25).
-The drawing for the lifetime license will be held sometime in Spring 2010, and only ONE license will be awarded.

JOHN DAMER ASKED US TO PASS ON THE FOLLOWING: “Please send my thanks to anyone who returns a tag, as it means a lot to the State of Georgia AND to me personally. Hopefully the information gathered through these tag returns will help us to better understand the trout fishery on the Toccoa River, and to make good, sound decisions about how it will be managed in the future.”

Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited is supporting this study by furnishing the Lifetime Sportsman’s License and by encouraging fishermen to report tagged fish. This is an important study for Georgia and for those who love to fish for trout, so please take the time to report tagged fish and to mail in the tag.

Blue Ridge TU

Unicoi Outfitters is proud to host the monthly meetings of the Blue Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited. We recently remodeled the basement to accomodate the group and it looks as if we already need to tear out the new wall and expand. This past Saturday (Feb. 14th), their guest speaker was Jim Kidd, recently retired from the USFS who was speaking on the importance of getting the local citizens involved in pushing for Land and Water Conservation Funds to be allocated for Georgia. With over 50 people in attendance and a group lunch afterwards at the Mexican restaurant next door, it was a great meeting and good to see so much local support for what the folks in the Blue Ridge chapter are doing.

Free Trout Fishing Seminar

On Saturday, Feb. 28th, I will be presenting a seminar on trout fishing in Georgia for the Kanooka Chapter of Trout Unlimited at the Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville. These seminars are open to the public so we hope you will come see it.