Economic Impact of Wildlife-Associated Recreation

This is important information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service...specifically, they quantify the financial impact of fishing and other wildlife-associated activities in the Southeast, and on a state-by-state basis.  It's good information that our politicians should be aware of when they propose such short-sighted measures as closing down Federal fish hatcheries.  Failing to consider the full impact of the activities supported by these facilities does us all an injustice:

Economic Impact of Wildlife-Associated Recreation in Georgia: 2011 Wildlife-related recreation generates billions of dollars for our nation's economy every year. In an effort to highlight the contributions of southeastern hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers, we are featuring findings from the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation report.This report is the result of interviews conducted by the Census Bureau with U.S. residents about their fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching. It focuses on 2011 participation and expenditures of persons 16 years of age and older. Wildlife-related recreation is fishing, hunting, and wildlife-watching activities. These categories are not mutually exclusive because many individuals participated in more than one activity. Wildlife-related recreation is reported in two major categories: (1) fishing and hunting, and (2) wildlife watching, which includes observing, photographing, and feeding fish or wildlife. According to the report, in 2011 3.1 million people participated in wildlife-related recreation in the state of Georgia, generating $4.6 billion for our economy. Read Georgia's News Release Georgia Department of Natural Resources Graphs and charts on this page are from the original report. The full report is available here!    2011 Georgia Quick Financials $4.6 billion total spent on wildlife-related recreation in Georgia $873 million spent in Georgia from fishing-related activities $965 million spent in Georgia on hunting-related activities $1.8 billion spent in Georgia on wildlife-watching activities Fishing in Georgia: $873 Million Who fishes in Georgia, and how much do they spend? 829,000 people 16 years and older spent a combined total of 8.7 million days fishing in the state of Georgia in 2011 92% of anglers were state residents (764,000 people) 8% of anglers were from out-of-state (65,000 people) In total, residents and nonresidents combined spent an estimated total of $873 millionon fishing in the state in 2011 Trip-related expenditures (food, lodging, transportation): $402 million Equipment: $430 million Other items (magazines, membership dues, licenses, etc.): $41 million - 5% of all fishing expenditures People spend almost three times as much per day on saltwater fishing as freshwater fishing ($114/day saltwater vs. $39/day freshwater) 45% of the freshwater fish caught were black bass Hunting in Georgia: $965 Million Who hunts in Georgia, and how much do they spend? 309,000 people 16 years and older spent a combined total of 8.0 million days hunting in the state of Georgia in 2011 75% of hunters were state residents (293,000 people) 25% of hunters were out-of-state (98,000 people) In total, residents and nonresidents combined spent an estimated total of $965 millionon hunting in the state in 2011 Trip-related expenditures (food, lodging, transportation): $487 million Equipment: $329 million Other items (magazines, membership dues, licenses, etc.): $149 million - 15% of all hunting expenditures Hunters on average spent almost the same per day hunting big game as small game($44 big game vs. $40 small game), but the sample size of hunters hunting migratory birds and other animals was too small to report reliably However, each individual hunter spent more than 1 1/2 times overall on their big game trips ($1,046 per trip) than on their small game trips ($674 per trip) Wildlife-Watching in Georgia: $1.8 Billion Who watches wildlife in Georgia, and how much do they spend? Two wildlife-watching activities are reported: (1) away-from-home activities and (2) around-the-home activities. Because some people participated in more than one type of wildlife watching, the sum of participants in each type will be greater than the total number of wildlife watchers. Only those engaged in activities whose primary purposewas wildlife watching are included in the survey. Secondary wildlife watching, such as incidentally observing wildlife while pleasure driving, is not included. 2.4 million people 16 years and older watched wildlife in Georgia in 2011 86% of all wildlife watchers did so close to their home (2.1 million people) 47% of all wildlife watchers traveled at least one mile from home to observe wildlife (1.1 million people) (258,000 people) of away-from-home wildlife watchers were from out-of-state In total, residents and nonresidents combined spent an estimated total of $1.8 billion on wildlife-watching in the state Trip-related expenditures (food, lodging, transportation): $839 million Equipment: $890 million Other items (magazines, membership dues, plantings, etc.): $74 million - 4% of all wildlife-watching expenditures The most popular around-the-home wildlife-watching activity is feeding wildlife (1.7 million people) Georgians spent nearly 34.3 million days engaged in away-from-home wildlife-watching activities in their state More people photographed wildlife while near their homes than while away from their homes (697,000 people at home, 657,000 away-from-home) 753,000 people reported visiting parks and natural areas to observe wildlife

Wild Turkeys in Georgia. Photo: Ernie Seckinger

Update on Plan to Close Federal Hatcheries

We want to thank "The Outdoor Wire" for this newest update today (9/12/13)

FEATURE

Can Political Pressure Derail Feds' Effort To Cull Hatcheries?

There have been several new developments since we reported on Tuesday, September 3 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's plans -- being kept well away from public and media scrutiny for fear of political backlash -- to shutter most if not all of the agency's mitigation hatcheries.

For more than a dozen years and under multiple administrations, agency hierarchy has pointed to budget constraints as the reason to shed the Congressionally mandated responsibility for mitigating the loss of native fisheries caused by the federal dams built in the past century.

Although FWS officials would not confirm these plans, insiders apparently contacted some media outlets in South Dakota as they began reporting that the historic D.C. Booth Hatchery, built in 1896 and home to the largest collection of freshwater aquatic research in the U.S., had received orders to close by Oct. 1.

The response to questions from The Outdoor Wire directed to several agency officials, like Laury Parramore, FWS Office of Communications, included statements like: "Leadership within the Service conducted an extensive review of propagation hatcheries within the NFHS to ensure we are best positioned to address the agency's highest priority aquatic resource needs now and into the future. Outcomes from the review are now guiding a decision-making process toward more strategic, priority-driven investments and operating our hatcheries within available funds."

FUNDING QUESTIONS

Questions began surfacing about the agency's reasons for planning to close these facilities, considering the FWS's "FY 2014 Budget Request and Justification," included in President Obama's FY 2014 budget submitted to Congress on February 12, 2013. In this document the agency requested funding these facilities at the same level as in recent years, and no cuts were mentioned.

"The 2014 budget request for the National Fish Hatchery System Operations is $46,528,000 and 355 FTE, a net program change of -$172,000 and -3FTE from the 2012 Enacted," said Rick Nehrling, a 38-year veteran of the FWS, with 19 years overseeing southeastern U.S. hatcheries, "This statement informs us that all hatcheries - including the mitigation hatcheries - are fully funded."

Seems someone in FWS has some explaining to do, and if some members of Congress have anything to say about it, it won't be long.

THE HEAT IS ON

The current climate in Washington D.C. is heated, as both sides of the aisle clash over cutting spending to try to stem the runaway deficits. Both sides agree wasteful spending must be curtailed, but neither will agree throwing out the baby with the bathwater is a prudent idea.

The 70 federal hatcheries support at least 3,500 jobs and have an annual economic impact of more than $325 million. These facilities lead to major economic advantages for the communities that house them, and are a beacon of sound government management. Besides the economic advantages, these provide the means to fulfill President Barak H. Obama's "2012 Great Outdoors Initiative," designed to increase and enhance outdoor recreation.

Yesterday (Sept. 11), Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Mark Pryor (D-AR), John Boozman (R-AR) - along with House members Rick Crawford, Doug Collins, Tom Cotton, Tim Griffin, Phil Roe and Steve Womack - sent a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell requesting for a 60-day delay in the implementation of any recommendations for closure of any national fish hatcheries or other plans, so the public could review them. (Editor's Note: You can read the letter here)

"It is our understanding that this study is soon to be released, along with decisions about hatchery closures," Alexander and his colleagues stated in the letter. "We are gravely concerned that Congress has not been consulted on the matter."

In another development, Sen. Tim Johnson, (D-SD), on Sept. 4 in a letter to Secretary Jewell requesting that the FWS "maintain funding for the D.C. Booth National Fish Hatchery," and that he be apprised of the any decisions made about the status of the facility. Johnson, like Sen. Alexander, is a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

It appears the FWS's plans to quietly eliminate these hatcheries from its overall responsibilities have surfaced - catching the attention of some mighty big fish in Congress, those with the ability to get to the bottom of what's really on the line.

As always, we'll keep you posted.

- Etta Pettijohn

Landon on the Nantahala

I fished the upper Nantahala (DH section) Saturday afternoon. Fishing was pretty good as they had stocked fish in the river for the holiday weekend but also caught plenty of holdovers and small wild rainbows and browns.  I fished the DH section on my Greys 11 ft. 3 wt. rod and boy was it fun!  Little fish bend that rod really well so long as they have a little room to run from the initial hookset.  It really made high-sticking the boulder fields just that much easier and more fun.  I fished a size 14 Hares ear soft hackle tied on a jig hook and a 16 "Frenchie" nymph with an orange hotspot.  The water came up, even on the DH section, as they were apparently releasing for a whitewater canoe championship down by the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC).  

Sunday morning we fished the lower Nantahala down by the NOC and, man, was I surprised by the number and the size of the fish down there.  There were pods of fish everywhere that you could see and they are spooky as heck.  Those who do well with sight fishing would love this area.  It was a hands and knees or hiding behind the boulder affair for much of the time.  I could usually get 1-2 fish out of a pod before they shut down, excluding some of the deeper pockets.  I caught a handful of chunky 12-14- inch long rainbows as well as quite a few smaller wild fish.  Once the water comes up from the recreation release, you get out!  You can keep fishing but often it's from the bank or just a few steps to fish the many pockets near the bank that fish will hold in.  Also the side channels of the islands are very likely places to find fish.  

The same flies were working for me from the day before.  However, fish on the lower Nantahala act completely different than one would expect. When the flow increases from the recreation release, the majority of the fish suspend in the water column and are looking for food.  Dredging in the traditional sense is not nearly as effective as high-sticking with a fairly short leader with a light 6x tippet.  Many times it seems you almost have to drag the flies slightly faster than the current to keep them in the right zone and not under the holding depth of the trout.  Hits are usually very noticeable but also very quick.  Even with a quick reaction time, it still seems like you miss quite a few. It's a fun place to fish, except for a raft going by you every 2 minutes with some flatlander saying something along the lines of, "Catching anything?"

Your flatlander who wants to be a hillbilly

Landon 

Federal Fish Hatcheries On The Cutting Block Again

Well, here we go again.  The following email was received over the weekend.  Rick Nehrling is a retired USFWS Hatchery Coordinator for the Southeast Region (I'm sure I've bungled his actual title).  This will take a few minutes to scan through but well worth your time if you're an angler.

Hey Folks,

For awhile now I have heard rumblings about the Fish and Wildlife Service's Director Dan Ashe disobeying Congress again - and silently moving forward to close hatcheries with as little notice as possible to hatchery employees, State partners, Congress etc.  During this same time I have not heard anything from anybody in the Service about any proposed closures. 

Yesterday I heard from a retiree that  D.C. Booth Hatchery - Spearfish, South Dakota was one of several national fish hatcheries slated for closure effective Oct. 1, 2013.  The Service has owned and operated the DC Booth hatchery since 1896.  The hatchery provides numerous youth and public outreach programs, receives almost 160,000 visitors per year and 14,000 volunteer hours per year, and houses the only Fish and Wildlife Service fisheries archive comprised of approximately 175,000 objects related to American fish culture & management.

http://www.bhpioneer.com/local_news/article_9f342c1e-0a8e-11e3-b490-0019bb2963f4.html

In checking out the internet I found the following August 29, 2013 article from the Fishing Wire: 

Officials of the D.C. Booth National Fish Hatchery in Spearfish, South Dakota may have spilled the beans on a plan by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to close many, if not all, of the nation's fish hatcheries on October 1, the beginning of the new federal fiscal year. USFWS officials have refused comment, saying they're "in the middle of a review process". April Gregory, Director of the Booth Society, the nonprofit fisheries friends group of the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archive sent The Outdoor Wire an email late yesterday afternoon saying that word from "reliable contacts in Washington, D.C." say the Booth Hatchery is one of "several" national fish hatcheries set for October 1, 2013 closure." According to Gregory, The Booth Society has "committed itself" to saving the hatchery which has been open since 1896. Our reliable sources tell The Outdoor Wire other hatcheries on the chopping block are "primarily located in the south." We will keep you posted. 

The comment that "other hatcheries on the chopping block are primarily located in the south" really piqued my interest and had me looking on the internet to see what other hatcheries are being proposed for closure on October 1, 2013.  I found the following August 28, 2013 press release from "The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council":

"Is USFWS closing National Fish Hatcheries October 1st?

Federal budget cuts are threatening to close the 117-year-old D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery in Spearfish, a non-profit group that supports the hatchery said last week.

The hatchery is one of multiple fish hatcheries across the country targeted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which is prioritizing other programs over the National Fisheries Program, according to the Booth Society Inc. The USFWS has not confirmed that a decision to close the hatchery has been made.

Even so, some officials say the USFWS plans to close many, if not all, of the nation's fish hatcheries on October 1, the beginning of the new federal fiscal year.

The federal government is planning to eliminate funding to nine Federal fish hatcheries in GA, TN, KY, UT, MO, ND, and AR, which will result in their closure. The closure of these hatcheries will have a lasting impact on local, State, and federal economies. These facilities also provide enormous ecological and social contributions to local and state communities. Nearly 7 million fish are stocked in waters across the country from only six of these hatcheries.

Planned hatchery closings

KENTUCKY- Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery
TENNESSEE- Dale Hollow and Erwin National Fish hatcheries
GEORGIA- Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery
ARKANSAS- Norfork and Greers Ferry National Fish Hatcheries
MISSOURI-Neosho National Fish Hatchery
NORTH DAKOTA-Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery
UTAH- Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery

The economic impact is tremendous - over 3,000 jobs created and a total economic output of nearly $300 million dollars is generated by privately owned businesses selling food, lodging and supplies to trout fishermen. For every dollar spent on these fishery programs a return of $67 dollars is generated in the private sector, and for each tax dollar spent producing trout, $2.34 is returned to Washington in federal tax dollars generated from private business.

It is ironic that the USFWS is celebrating the 140th year of their fisheries program; the oldest program in the agency. They are celebrating this historic event by cutting the entire fisheries program by 12.4 million dollars. They are getting a 47.9 million dollar increase in their overall budget, but have chosen to spend that money on other programs and new programs, and scrap a program that brings revenue into the federal budget at a 2.3 to 1 ratio and supports over 3,000 jobs in the private sector!!!"
If these press clippings and press releases are true then folks within the Service need to stand up NOW and fight for your program.  You need to try and stop Dan Ashe from continuing to disobey Congress and the American public - and stop his efforts to dismantle the National Fish Hatchery System.
Folks need to advocate for each hatchery proposed for closure by writing, visiting and calling your US Senators and Representatives ASAP!  Also send a letter to Director Ashe and to The Secretary of the Interior.  Remember you do not have to be a resident of a particular State to write to that State's Senator or Representative.  It is very important for everybody to get involved and fight for the hatcheries - and the National Fish Hatchery System.  It is also very important for folks within the Service to stand up and fight for your program!

Rick Nehrling

Carp 101

Henry Cowen, carp guide extraordinaire

Unicoi Outfitters is pleased to announce that we will be hosting "Carp 101 - How To Find 'em & How To Feed 'em".  You will be taught by one of the masters:  Henry Cowen.

John Cross is fond of referring to carp as "the fish of the new millenium" due to their unique ability to survive just about any environmental conditions including a nuclear holocaust.  Global warming, politicians gutting the Clean Water Act, increased angling pressure on our trout streams, whatever your viewpoint, there's no denying the growing popularity of chasing carp with a fly.

We do guarantee you'll fall in love with the sport of fly fishing for carp.  Consider the following:

• There isn't a more wary species swimming the face of the earth.  John says they know when you step into the river, regardless of how careful you may be.  
• They're actually very picky eaters, unlike their reputation for being lowly bottom feeders.  Small crustaceans and aquatic nymphs as well as seasonal fresh berries constitute the bulk of their diet.
• Pinpoint casts are required at just the right time else you'll either spook them or they'll never see your fly.
• Most situations require you to watch closely enough to actually see the fish suck in your fly; a true adrenalin moment.
• The hook set must be a strip set akin to redfishing or bonefishing; and most of us trout anglers can't seem to remember this in the moment.  Expect your hookup percentage to look like a batting average most days.
• If you love the sound of a good fly reel singing as line is smoking it across the water, look no further; you've found your fish.
• These are not wimpy fish.  Use a 7 or 8 wt. rod and expect tired muscles once a fish is landed.
• During the Dog Days of summer, you can find them almost anywhere across north Georgia in lakes and rivers near your home.
• On your first trip, you may consider fishing with a bag over your head but after that first fish, landed or not, you'll be bragging as you sip your Dos Equis in the neighborhood bar about the challenges you've faced going up against carp; some you've won, some you've lost.  Friends and strangers alike will gather round you, mouths agape in wonder at the tales you have to tell.  A carp tattoo may even be considered.

So, make plans to join us at our shop in Helen on August 31, 2013 at 10 am (if you're planning on attending, please let the guys at the shop know so they'll know how many chairs to put out, just give them a call at 706-878-3083).  It will probably change your fly-fishing life!

And if that isn't enough, all attendees at Carp 101 will receive a coupon worth 10% off non-sale merchandise at Unicoi Outfitters!

Free Orvis CFO Fly Reel!

Lefty's Story

Experiencing Bernard "Lefty" Kreh

Unicoi Outfitters thought our readers would enjoy this great article on Lefty Kreh, the grand old man of flyfishing.  We borrowed this from Etta Pettijohn on "The Outdoor Wire".

Bernard "Lefty" Kreh speaks with Etta Pettijohn during ICAST. J.R. Absher photo.

Many Outdoor Wire readers know Bernard "Lefty" Kreh as the legendary man who changed the fly fishing world with his casting techniques, and as the man who taught countless anglers to fish for saltwater species on TV and through his newspaper and magazine articles and books.

He invented a saltwater fly called "Lefty's Deceiver," which is so famous that no saltwater fly box is without one, and the U.S. Postal Service has featured it on a stamp. He has been inducted into three fishing halls of fame.

Millions have developed a love of fly fishing reading his work and watching him, and when his book "Fly Fishing in Saltwater" appeared in 1974, he became a worldwide phenomenon. At least two books have been written about him, and he penned an autobiography, "My Life Was This Big: And Other True Fishing Tales."

Kreh has fished with the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Fidel Castro, baseball great Ted Williams, singer Huey Lewis, broadcaster Tom Brokaw, several presidents and many dignitaries, to name a few.

He is largely responsible for the development of modern light-tackle, big game fly fishing, and his name is revered among fly anglers across the globe. He has spent an impressive number of decades as a journalist for the St. Petersburg Times, Baltimore Sun, and other publications.

But there is much more to this unpretentious man with a perpetual smile and quick joke.

Humble Beginnings 
The 88 year-old Kreh was born in Frederick, Md., during the Great Depression. His father died in 1932, leaving his mother with four children, him being the oldest at age six. Back then, said Kreh, there was no actual money involved, but "They (government) put us in public housing in the ghetto."

"My mother was a proud woman," said Kreh. "But she had no choice." He said some childhood friends in the ghetto nicknamed him "Lefty" because he played sports left-handed.

"When I became a teenager my mother told me I could go to high school if I could find a way to make money for clothes and shoes," said Kreh.

He found a way - fishing a nearby river, limb-lining for catfish.
"At night I'd push myself along the bushes on a makeshift pole boat, using a coal oil lantern for light. I sold catfish at the local market for 10 cents a pound, and I was a 'fat cat,'" he laughed.

Kreh speaks proudly about his brothers and sister, who all went on to achieve remarkable success in their lives and careers.

Military Service
When WWII was underway he volunteered to serve at 17 years of age. He ended up as a forward observer in the Battle of the Bulge and was at the Elbe River in Germany where the Russian and Americans first joined together to drive back the Nazis. Along the way his unit, the U.S. Army's 69th Artillery Division, earned the distinction of being tough, as he and his comrades liberated a concentration camp, fighting battles pivotal to the allied victory.

After returning to the U.S. he, in his own words, marked his greatest achievement, by marrying Evelyn, his wife and best friend for more than 60 years. They had two children together and Kreh said above all they were best friends. She passed away in 2011.

In 1948 Kreh worked at Fort Detrick, where the military kept biological weapons like Anthrax. When his biohazard suit leaked and he was hospitalized, Kreh spent a month in isolation for exposure to the deadly virus, and today there is a strain named for him, called BVK-1. In 2011, after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing about 3,000 people in one day, someone mailed the Anthrax virus to a newspaper publisher in Florida and others, proving fatal. At that time the New York Times wrote an article mentioning Kreh as the only person to have survived such exposure.

Kreh talks about how World War II drastically changed the U.S. culture.

"Millions of men came home with a guarantee of home ownership, and more money to spend on leisure activities, where before most people rented, and the disparity between rich and poor, and those with or without property, was greater. More people were fishing, hunting and traveling and reading about these."

Hooked
He liked to fish, and secured a job as an outdoor columnist for his local newspaper, and a few years later was syndicated in almost a dozen newspapers. His marksmanship abilities led to a Remington Arms Company contract as a shooting showman, when he would routinely shoot an aspirin out of the air at events and promotions.

In 1947, Joe Brooks, the fishing editor for Outdoor Life, brought his fly rod to fish for bass with Kreh in a nearby fishery. Brooks pulled in as many bass as Kreh, who was using a plug-casting outfit, turning Lefty to fly fishing for good.

"I was hooked," he admits.

The next decade he began experimenting with flies for striped bass in saltwater, and thus invented Lefty's Deceiver, a big heavy lure for long casts. In addition, his reporting in magazine and newspapers, about saltwater fly fishing was turning millions of people onto the relatively new sport that was traditionally achieved with baitcasting equipment.

"I am always learning," he said. "Adversity makes you think harder about what you are doing, and I love to solve problems. I try to share my knowledge of fishing and am deeply concerned whether or not I am making my advice clear and understandable."

Indeed, his instructional writing and casting lessons are what have led many thousands to pick up their first fly rod, as he makes it less mysterious to the novice.

He's been doing it for decades, but every minute of one-on-one instruction from Kreh makes you a better fisherman- and person. J.R. Absher photo.

In 1950, five days after the U.S. sanctioned Cuban government fell to revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro, Lefty said he went fishing with the Cuban leader.

"Ev (wife Evelyn) almost had a cardiac arrest," he said. "(Cuban president) Batista left with all the money in the treasury," said Kreh. "So Castro paid Joe (Brooks) to send outdoor writers to Cuba to advertise the good fishing there."

Kreh, while fishing with Hemingway, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature and author of The Old Man and the Sea, once asked him, "What is good writing?"

"Good writing cannot be edited," Hemingway answered.

Kreh continues to travel, giving casting seminars and promoting water and fish species conservation. He represents many tackle companies and has equipment named after him.

Despite his advanced age, Kreh is always willing to stop and show someone at a trade show his casting technique, or share his life story with an admirer. And there always seems to be a long line of such admirers wherever you find Lefty. One can't spend time with Kreh without laughing, listening and admiring the man.

Indeed his life looms large, like title of his autobiography, and if kindness, brilliance, attitude and achievement count, his life is tantamount to a world record.

- Etta Pettijohn

Hardy & Greys Ltd. Sold to Pure Fishing

From "The Fishing Wire"

Pure Fishing Acquires Hardy & Greys Limited

          | July 8, 2013

Columbia, South Carolina - Pure Fishing, Inc., a leading global provider of fishing tackle, today announced that it has acquired Hardy & Greys Limited, the well-known UK-based provider of fishing tackle for fly, carp, sea and coarse segments around the world, marketed under the Hardy Bros.®, Hardy®, Greys® and Chub® brands. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hardy Advanced Composites Limited, Hardy & Greys also specializes in the design and manufacture of tubular components from advanced composite materials.

"With a heritage that spans over 140 years, the Hardy Bros., Hardy, Greys and Chub brands represent iconic fishing brands renowned for fly fishing as well as other specialized fishing segments," commented John Doerr, President and CEO of Pure Fishing. "Hardy and Greys' award winning products, now partnering with Pure Fishing's existing brand portfolio through an expanded global distribution network, share a common passion for innovation and create unparalleled opportunities for our loyal and valued customers and anglers around the world. We place the highest importance on acting as stewards for our legacy of brands. We are pleased to welcome the Hardy & Greys team to Pure Fishing."

Richard Maudslay, Hardy & Greys' Deputy Chairman stated, "We are excited to be joining the Pure Fishing team. Our owner was deliberate and very selective when he chose to create value for the future of our brands by placing our company on the market for the first time in 45 years. We are proud of the Royal Warrant of Appointment from HRH The Prince of Wales and of having held ten royal warrants during the last century. This honour is a testament to the extraordinary quality products designed and manufactured by our talented and dedicated team for our Hardy Bros., Hardy, Greys and Chub fishing brands. We look forward to being able to grow our business as part of the Pure Fishing family, with its portfolio of brands that will collectively continue to create benefit for our customers and fishing memories for our anglers."

About Pure Fishing, Inc.
Pure Fishing, Inc. is a leading global provider of fishing tackle, lures, rods and reels with a portfolio of brands that includes Abu Garcia®, All Star®, Berkley®, Fenwick®, Hodgman®, Johnson®, JRC®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Pflueger®, SevenStrand®, Shakespeare®, SpiderWire® and Stren®.With operations in 24 countries and a dedicated workforce conversant in 28 languages, Pure Fishing, Inc. is part of Jarden Outdoor Solutions, a leader in outdoor and recreational lifestyle products and a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation. Additional information can be found at www.purefishing.com.

About Hardy & Greys Limited
Hardy has been based in Alnwick since its formation in 1872. It was acquired by the Harris & Sheldon Group Limited from the Hardy family in 1967. It became Hardy & Greys Ltd in 2004 - the change of name reflecting its acquisition of fellow fishing tackle brand Greys, later followed by the acquisition of Chub - and set up subsidiaries in Germany and the USA which are now key markets. Across its brands, it covers all branches of recreational fishing.

The company has been at the forefront of the fishing tackle market since being awarded its first patent in 1880. It developed the first carbon fibre fishing rods and, thanks to work with researchers at Cambridge University and 3M, recently created rods made from the new SINTRIX™ carbon fibre material that have won a string of awards and are recognised as the finest fly rods in the world.

- See more at: http://www.thefishingwire.com/story/292546#sthash.nROaOfy1.dpuf

River Boating Dangers

We thought this was worth passing along.  Never underestimate the power of moving water!  Although the article is about an anchored drift boat, the same danger is there whether you're in a jon boat, canoe or kayak.  Thanks to "Field & Stream" for this article.

Bighorn River Boating Accident: A Reminder to Be Vigilant on the Water

By Ben Romans

The barely visible boat as Brad and Joe Caton tow it to a gravel bar. Photo from Billings Gazette.

It's summer and it's easy to get lost in the fun of fishing, but here's a reminder to always be vigilant on the water, and to always carry a knife. A snagged anchor line and a swift current recently proved to be a dangerous combination for three anglers in a drift boat on Montana’s Bighorn River this week.
 
Herm Elenbaas launched his boat with friends Jim and Ruth Houseman to float and fish one of Elenbaas’ favorite stretches of river on June 23.
 
The fishing proved to be slower than usual, so the group elected to drop anchor and concentrate efforts on a particular run. Unfortunately, the water flow was running higher than normal, the anchor dislodged, and the boat moved into the swift current. Hoping to reach calmer waters, Elenbass tried to lift the anchor. That's when trouble washed over the gunwale.
 
“When Herm pulled on the anchor rope, we got water over the back,” Jim said. “Once she got one gulp, she took on water fast. It was just like the Titanic” 

With the anchor lodged under a rock or submerged tree, and no knife to cut the anchor rope and water rushing over the side, things went from bad to worse in a hurry.
 
“We watched the stuff pop up out of the boat and float down the river,” Jim said. “If the water would have been warmer, I would have swam after it.”

 Fortunately, some nearby landowners saw the incident and came to the aid of the swimming anglers. Not long after, a father and son in a jet boat motored upstream, cut the anchor of the sunken drift boat, and towed the rig topside. Elenbaas and Jim emptied the water, and even finished their planned float. Ruth elected to remain on dry land.
 
Though all three anglers, luckily, walked away without injury, their situation serves as another reminder of a river’s power as we head into the heart of summer.

And Now a Word From Our Roving Angler...He's In the Smokies

We received this report from Landon Williams, the fishingest 21 year old we know.

I spent my birthday up in the Smokies and had a big time with a couple of buddies up there. We stayed at Cades Cove Sunday night and it was a blast. We fished the North Prong of Little River that afternoon and fishing was good. River was up from recent rain from the passing tropical storm but fished decent with dredge rigs of leeches and pheasant tails. Mostly rainbows but got more browns as it got darker and the rain started again. It poured most of Sunday night and the rivers up in the park were running high and chocolate milk colored. We salvaged the day by packing up and spending the rest of the day on the lower Nantahala below the powerhouse. Fishing was good for holdover and  even wild rainbows down there fishing bank side pockets and seams. They were not hunkered down in that recreational release flow and fed in the top half of the water column, perhaps for emerging BWO's that were coming off. We were catching them on small Frenchies and a few on a Zelon Caddis emerger. It's interesting  you can catch them even with rafts and kayaks constantly going over them. Dark thirty never really happened like I was hoping but I dredged with a golden stone nymph and hooked several in the last hour, including a large brown who got in heavy current and eventually got off. It was a fun way to spend my 21st birthday here on planet Earth!

Landon

The Porch Hatch

If you're wondering what bugs are hatching right now in north Georgia, you need look no further than the front porch of Unicoi Outfitters.  These photographs are from early this morning (6/13).  You may want to consider flies that will resemble these bugs on your next outing.

Hexegenia Limbata	Hexegenia Limbata (Filet Mignon)
Giant Golden Stone (top)	Giant Golden Stone (bottom)
Cranefly	Cranefly

Small Stream Wonders

My friend Mark and I decided to do a little hiking and hit some wild trout waters on Saturday and we both agreed to go to our favorite.  So, for about 4 hours that afternoon, we leap-frogged each other up the mountain, stopping now and again to compare notes and rib each other about our slow reflexes.  When you're targeting little wild rainbows, you'll miss many more than you catch.  At least at our age you do.  They'll appear from nowhere in the blink of an eye, sample your fly, spit it out and disappear before my aging brain even registers "Fish!"  It's just one of the reasons I get such a kick out of it.  When I do fool one and gently bring it to hand, it's like tickling a baby; I just can't help but chuckle.

On this particular trip, both Mark and I were hoping we would each have another rendezvous with what we consider a true trophy fish for this stream.  On previous trips, he and I have both done the dance with a good 12 or 13 inch rainbow.  Mark's dance was successful.  Mine was simply a glance over the shoulder that I replay in slow motion when I close my eyes.

Most of the afternoon I was fishing an Adams Trude (easy to see that white wing!) and Mark fished a size 16 Tan Caddis the entire time.


But today it was all fish in the 4" to 8" range.  We aren't complaining at all.  These fish are why we do this.  The trophies are simply something to talk about for years to come.  We didn't even take a picture of a fish on this day but I think you can tell from these photos what the attraction is.  What a wonderful place!

Howdy All,

Spent Saturday afternoon over on Rock Creek Lake floating around in the float tube.  The water was still pretty cold there and I regretted wet wading once the clouds came in later in the afternoon.  Fishing was pretty good all things considered.  I used a dry dropper rig with a big stimulator and two tungsten bead nymphs, a pheasant tail variant "The Frenchie" and a pink version of a hares ear called a "Surveyor."  Best way to fish it was casting in areas of risers and then slowly strip it back to me. The Dry would sometimes dive when a fish took a nymph dropper but many times all that would signal a strike would be the dry turning in a different direction or a small blip.  Fish actually hit the dry too stripped across the surface, usually just as it was starting to move.  I had many doubles hooked and a few landed and even managed to hook and land a triple!  As cool as that was, the highlight of the day was seeing a small banded water snake swimming across a small cove on the lake and a nice brook trout came up and nailed him!  Now that is something you don't see everyday!  Enjoy the pictures and flying bream...

Landon Williams

Specialty License Plate Fees Drive Off Drivers

We picked up this story from the Macon Telegraph and wanted to share it with our readers.  Somehow the net effects of changing the price of specialty tags was obvious to everyone but the State bean counters.

Long-term effect could be harsh for wildlife programs

By S. HEATHER DUNCAN — hduncan@macon.com

The state division that protects and improves the state’s wildlife is watching its source of income disappear into the rear view mirror, along with the specialty license plates that once supported it.

Three years ago, Georgia hiked the costs of all its specialty plates and added an annual renewal fee. At the same time, it began diverting the majority of the proceeds from specialty tag sales to the state’s general fund instead of the programs championed by the tags.

Since then, Georgians have turned away in droves from the plates that were intended to benefit causes from wildlife protection to cancer screenings.

Middle Georgia state Rep. Willie Talton, R-Warner Robins, sponsored a bill during this year’s legislative session that would reverse the way license plate revenue is split, giving the lion’s share back to the sponsoring agency.

“My purpose was to get that money going toward the charitable organization they bought (the tag) for,” said Talton, who years before helped establish the Joanna McAfee Foundation license plate to support childhood cancer research. “It’s just fair.”

Talton said he hopes to hold hearings this summer on the proposal, which remains alive under the Motor Vehicle Committee. He said state Sen. Ross Tolleson, R-Perry, has said he would carry the bill in the Senate.

Although the addition of an annual renewal fee initially boosted income from specialty tags, agencies like the non-game division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are concerned that these gains will soon be offset by the drop in public participation in the tag program.

Wildlife benefits

The non-game division is a rare state program that receives no money from the state budget. Traditionally, 60 percent of its entire operating budget comes from the license plates featuring a bald eagle or a hummingbird. The remainder comes from donations, investments and the annual Weekend for Wildlife fundraiser.

The agency uses that income to leverage thousands more in federal grants to help restore habitat, conduct research on threatened species like the gopher tortoise, and sometimes even purchase land such as the Fall Line Sand Hills Natural Area in Taylor County.

Mike Harris, chief of the DNR non-game conservation section, said the license plate changes haven’t caused cuts to the wildlife program yet, partly because it had a reserve that totalled about $7 million at the end of fiscal 2012. But the rate of decline in plate purchases doesn’t bode well for the future, Harris said.

DNR programs that support trout fishing and bobwhite quail habitat also have plates that have seen the same steady drops. The Bobwhite Quail Initiative has seen a 53 percent drop in the number of its license plates in service since the price change, DNR documents show. Just three people bought a new Trout Unlimited license plate in February.

“The bottom line is the number of new plates being issued is down by about 90 percent from before the fee change, which was a low point in the cycle,” because no new plate designs had been issued, Harris said. “And 60 percent of the people who had the plates have turned them in.”

That includes many who still support the work of the non-game wildlife program.

Pierre Howard, executive director of the Conservancy, gave up his non-game tag.

“When the state government got under budget pressure, they started taking money they expressly said would be used for other purposes and using it for the general fund, and I think that greatly undermined public confidence in the process,” he said. “It’s not right and it’s not fair, and it needs to be corrected.”

Changes made after audit

The change was made in 2010, partly in response to recommendations made that year by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts. Its performance audit of the specialty license plates suggested that charging three fees for every new plate, plus an annual renewal fee, could earn the state an additional $24 million a year. Even if participation dropped by half, revenue would increase $11.7 million, auditors predicted.

The audit also recommended that the state more aggressively market its specialty plates.

The Legislature followed the audit’s chief recommendations by standardizing and increasing the cost of specialty plates. The price tag was set at $60 (up from $25, in many cases) with a new $35 annual fee.

Just $10 of the revenue each year now goes to the cause supported by the plate, such as children’s health care, highway beautification, or spaying and neutering pets. Almost all the rest goes to the state’s general fund. No additional funding was provided to market the plates.

A follow-up review by state auditors in September 2012 found that participation had dropped by more than expected. The number of plates newly issued and renewed decreased by 60 percent and 35 percent respectively.

Among the 14 plates that supported state agencies, 76 percent fewer were issued, and less than half were renewed.

Two of six state agencies with specialty plates saw a decrease in revenue along with a drop in new purchases and renewals.

But others got a bump in revenue. The pet sterilization program received enough additional funding that the Georgia Department of Agriculture was able to increase the number of state-funded sterilization procedures that veterinarians can perform per month and even develop block grants to provide local animal shelters.

The DNR, too, saw revenue gains because of the renewal fee. In 2010, the non-game program earned $885,236 from the tags, according to data provided by Harris.

In 2011, after the price increase, revenue climbed to $1.9 million. As fewer drivers participated, revenue dropped to $1.5 million in 2012. That drop is projected to continue at a rate of 26 percent by the end of fiscal 2013 this summer.

Although these numbers are still higher than just before the fee changes, they aren’t necessarily an improvement on overall past performance. Between 2003 and 2009 the mean annual revenue for the non-game plates was $2 million, DNR documents show. That was during the period when the DNR earned $19 to $22 per new license plate.

General fund the winner

Harris said the department hopes to boost license plate sales when it unveils new designs in June for its eagle, quail and trout license plates.

Harris said the DNR would like the annual renewal fee to remain, but DNR officials are hearing the cost of a new tag is too much.

“And we’d like as much as we can get in revenue sharing for the program,” Harris said.

From the time of the price change through the first half of fiscal 2013, license plate revenue for the wildlife resources division has totaled $6.2 million, while the general fund has earned $16.2 million from the same plates, DNR documents show.

Talton’s bill would reverse the current split by providing the general fund $10 and the sponsoring agency $25 of the license plate costs. The bill also would add many new specialty license plates, some of which would not be subject to a split at all.

Houston County outdoor writer John Trussell said he supports Talton’s proposal, although he thinks the annual fee will remain a deterrent.

“I had six wildlife tags at one time, and now I have none, because it’s just too expensive,” he said.

Howard expressed confidence that state leaders will correct the problem, adding that his organization and others need to make a better case that the non-game wildlife program is important and should be funded in the state budget.

“I was involved in working on a lot of state budgets for a long time, and I can tell you there’s a lot of stuff in there that ain’t near as important as this,” said Howard, a past lieutenant governor of Georgia.