Southern Trout Issue 5 Feb Mar 2013

RON GADDY: Winter Fishing

JEFF KIRK: 2013 Fly Fishing Show in Winston-Salem

SHAWN MADISON:Fishing Midges - Not The Traditional Way!

IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOUTHERNTROUT.COM

Southern TroutISSUE #5 FEB/MARCH 2013

http://www.southerntrout.com

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DENVER, CO JANUARY 4, 5, 6

MARLBOROUGH, MA JANUARY 18, 19, 20

SOMERSET, NJ JANUARY 25, 26, 27

WINSTON-SALEM, NC FEBRUARY 9, 10

LYNNWOOD, WA FEBRUARY 16, 17

PLEASANTON, CA FEBRUARY 22, 23, 24

LANCASTER, PA MARCH 2, 3

New Location!

New Show!

2013

flyfishingshow.com

Fly Fishing is NOT part of the show

IT IS THE SHOW!

Southern Trout FF SHOW FP.indd 1 12/3/12 9:19 AM

2 | Southern Trout | February 2013 | www.southerntrout.com

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DENVER, CO JANUARY 4, 5, 6

MARLBOROUGH, MA JANUARY 18, 19, 20

SOMERSET, NJ JANUARY 25, 26, 27

WINSTON-SALEM, NC FEBRUARY 9, 10

LYNNWOOD, WA FEBRUARY 16, 17

PLEASANTON, CA FEBRUARY 22, 23, 24

LANCASTER, PA MARCH 2, 3

New Location!

New Show!

2013

flyfishingshow.com

Fly Fishing is NOT part of the show

IT IS THE SHOW!

Southern Trout FF SHOW FP.indd 1 12/3/12 9:19 AM

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Southern TroutPublisherDon KirK

editorJeff KirK Webmaster & digital designLesLie KirK

Webmaster’s assistantMegan aLLbert

managing editor & advertisingLeah KirK

social media managerLoryn KirK

communicationsaDaM KirK

THIS ISSUE

departments features

Mountain Musings Trout in the Big South Fork???........-Maybe!Owl’s Perch Naked Bootleg

Performance PrimerFive Helpful Tips For Better Success With A Nymph

Gear ReviewTowee Boats River Master 16

Fly of the MonthAdams Parachute

He’s Just A Guy Who Followed His Heart

Winter Fly-Fishing Gatlinburg Trout

Fishing Midges - Not The Traditional WayGarrison’s Old Taper and a Big Brown

56

58

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52

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30

8-48

10

14

24

16

2013 FLY FISHING SHOW IN WINSTON-SALEM

10

30

114

Field staFF Craig haney, eDitor-at-Large

greg WarD, tennessee eDitor

JiMMy JaCobs, georgia eDitor

beau beasLey, Virginia eDitor

Larry rea, arKansas eDitor

Dr. toDD Larson, CoLuMnist

bob borgWat, CoLuMnist

Jeff “oWL” Jones, CoLuMnist

contributors

Featured Fly ShopCumberland Transit

32

Wanderings of the Creek FreakTrout Adventure Trail: Hike, Learn and Earn

42

New Fly GuyGetting To The Stream

48

The Otter Limits62

Pigeon Forge Sevierville: World-Class Bronzeback Trout

Winter Fishing

67

73

Stoneflies In The Great Smoky Mountain Streams

76

Bronzeback Trout In The Ozarks - Small Creeks And Feisty Fish

80

Gypsy Camping in Arkansas85

contributors

52-88

on the cover

Photo by ron gaDDy

Generally SpeakingMountain Glory

8

History of Southern Trout FishingThe Man Behind the Nymph

18

Book ReviewMaryland Trout Fishing

27

Guide ProfileMike Adams, Adams Fly Fishing Outfitters

28

Fly Fishing The Duck And Elk Rivers94

126-131

biLL bernharDt

John berry

DaViD Cannon

bo Cash

soC CLay

DaVe ezeLL

ron gaDDy

DanieL brent goLDen

george grant

KeVin hoWeLL

roger LoWe

oaK Meyers

steVe Moore

harry Murray

MarC Payne

bob shanKs

sCott sPenCer

W.h. biLL stuart, Jr.benJaMin VanDeVenDer

114-1162013 Fly Fishing Show In Winston-Salem

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news

Featured ResortRose River Farm

36

For The SportThe Competitive Edge

36

Cleaning And Disinfecting For Aquatic Nuisance Species

100

A Novel Approach To Fly Selection104

Fishing From A Tube110

Fly Lines and Wine: A Look at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival

120

www.southerntrout.com | February 2013 | Southern Trout | 3

http://flyfishingshow.com


Although I am the publisher of Southern Trout Magazine and over the years I have been the editor of a number of different sporting publications, I refer to myself as an aspiring writer. This in itself is even odd to me, as I do not look, act or smell like a writer. A few years back when I encountered my seventh grade English teacher at a wedding, she admitted shock that I was published writer, adding, “When you were one of my students, I was not sure that you knew how to read…” Thank you Miss Templin.

Writing gets in your blood, as I recently told Owl Jones whom I regard as the brightest up and coming scribe currently running

around with the wrong crowd. As a collective, we fishing writers would rather be fishing than writing, but when we are fishing, we are thinking about how to share the experience on paper. It’s a rather disturbing disorder if you give it much consideration

Last year we launched Southern Trout Magazine right on the heels of the release of my book, Ultimate Fly Fishing Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains in 2011. Last year also saw me write three new books and go under contract for one more to be completed this year. The first was a book for Wilderness Adventure Press out of Belgrade, Montana. It is a guide book to fly fishing for all game fish in all waters in Tennessee. The title is FlyFisher’s Guide to Tennessee and it is now out on Kindle. The second book was for Stackpole Books of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It covers fly hatches and fly patterns of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. All told, over 100 fly patterns are covered and almost as many modern and passed along fly tyers. It is as much a book on the history of fly fishing in the region as it

is an information guide on flies and fly patterns.

The third book, titled There I was… is an autobiographical effort published by Whitefish Press of Cincinnati, Ohio. I don’t know how it came up in conversation with Dr. Todd Larson, but one day he asked me to write “my story.” I am here to tell you right now that to be asked to write such a book caught me by surprise, and I presumed it would never happen again. So, as one might guess, I was just vain enough to accept his offer to publish such an obscure footnote to fishing. To make a long story short (sic…) I did the book on me. Much of it is based in truth.

Anywho, I have one book to complete this year for Wilderness Adventure Press that is a guide book to the trout streams and waters of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. I am pondering writing a book about my father’s experiences in World War II. He was drafted off of a farm in Greene County, Tennessee at age 17, ended up in the infantry where he was lucky enough to

Publisher’s Message

newsVanity Motivates

news


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Harper Creek Fly Fishing Company is a professional fly fishing guide service specializing in back-country, walk/wade, fly fishing trips for experienced anglers and guided fly fishing instructional trips for nov-ices. We also offer summertime fly fishing or light spin-tackle kayak fishing trips for Smallmouth Bass on the New River.

news

land at Omaha Beach on D-Day, then fought through hedge rows of Normandy, fought at St. Viths, endured the Battle of the Bulge, and was at the Remagen Bridge when it was crossed and then fell into the Rhine River. Dad ended the war with seven bronze stars and a silver star. For years all he would say about the war was that he did not care much for the French. I really would like to get the story onto paper before I join him in the Hereafter.

So, regarding the book titles I have out so far this year, I sincerely thank everyone who parted with hard-earned money to purchase these publications. I hope your expectations are met when reading my drivel. So many of you have been so very kind to me to comment positively on them that I am truly humbled by the entire experience. My goal with those books and Southern Trout Magazine is greater than to make a few bucks, which believe

me is pretty damned paltry at best. I want to share fishing with others and in the process make people smile and chuckle a bit. Life is just too damned serious to take it seriously all of the time.

- Don Kirk



Starting a magazine from scratch is tough, especially if you have never undertaken such as task. Keeping a new magazine alive and growing is an even bigger job. Last May at Troutfest in Townsend, Tennessee, we premiered Southern Trout. Since then we have published five issues, each being a gradual improvement over its predecessor. Hardly a day goes by that we do not receive a complimentary email from someone asking where they get a subscription to a printed version of the magazine.

As for now, and frankly into the foreseeable future, there are no plans to take Southern Trout into print. We are committed to the current, online, digital format which we feel is the future of publishing. Digital publishing is not only becoming increasing prevalent, but it does away with costs of paper, printing, mailing and distribution. Digital will never totally replace print, but I do believe that in many areas it will supersede it.

As you know, Southern Trout is provided to readers at no charge. You can subscribe to our twice a month newsletter which we email to those who sign up for it. However, if you prefer, you can occasionally visit our web site (www.southerntrout.com) to see Southern Trout Magazine, the news letter content, and our blog entries without ever subscribing. However, with a consumer-style print magazine, considerable effort must be expended to sell subscriptions

and generate newsstand sales, our task at hand is to generate traffic to www.southerntrout.com where subsequent visitors will find it interesting enough to open Southern Trout Magazine.

Traffic to the website and page views of Southern Trout Magazine enables us to pitch potential advertisers on the virtues of their investment in our publication. At this point in our growth, the rates are low since we are not burdened with printing, production, and other costs associated with a print magazine. Believe me, when you are printing a 120 full color magazine, you can go a million dollars in the hole faster than it takes to read this sentence. This is why magazines suffer a 90 percent mortality rate with their first 24 months of publication. It’s a tough world for sprouts to make it, and once you get your roots down, it does not get much easier.

This issue of Southern Trout Magazine will be followed with the May/June issue. Rumors are circulating that the publisher wants to go monthly with a publication in July. It is possible, but at every turn so far in this venture, the learning curve has been steeper than anticipated and has required more work and time than expected. Going monthly would be a big step for us all. Believe me when I tell you that it would make a significant dent in the time we were free to go fishing, which is why we launched Southern Trout in the first place.

Will it happen? Yes, sooner or later. The emails we receive complimenting our efforts motivate us a lot. There’s a very good chance that Southern Trout will be monthly by the end of 2013. However, it is not likely to ever be a printed publication, neither have we any plans to charge for Southern Trout. We are more than content to put it out for you to read at your leisure whenever you chose at no cost. It’s not as inspiring as gathering around the campfire on Hazel Creek, but with the addition of a message board and few other bells and whistles, Southern Trout will certainly become a gathering place for all who love fishing for trout in the South.

- Jeff Kirk

Editor’s Letter Moving Forward in 2013news







Nestled in the Blue Ridge, Balsam and Smoky mountains, Jackson Country, NC

is a scenic haven for fly fishing. Catch brook, brown and rainbow trout along the

beautiful Tuckasegee River. Enjoy mountain resorts, historic inns, B&Bs,

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popular map with directions to 19 waterfalls, 20 hiking trails, rafting,

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Fly Fishing Trail Map. The Fly Fishing Trail Map features 15

of the best trout waters in the Great Smoky Mountains.

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Great Fly FishinGThe only Fly Fishing Trail in the United States

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generally speaking

D iamond bright reflections and deep shadows are locked in a ceaseless minuet on the ripples widening out from the fall of water at the head of

the pool. Your approach to this place has been careful. Keeping low and on the fringe of the stream you sent casts to probe for sentinels in a couple of pockets in the riffle below the tailout. Small trout, displaced by better fish, often hold there. If they’re overlooked, a careless step will send them racing to carry panic into the pool.

Your first casts are short and placed to probe the edges of the water spilling from the pool into the riffle. Sometimes hungry fish hold there nervously, and a line cast over them will mean it’s time to move on. Nothing’s there. It’s safe to move closer and reach farther.

The reel’s drag barks short, metallic protests as you strip line and begin a series of casts probing more of the pool. As the last cast straightens and begins to fall you flip the rod tip to the left and drop the line on slow water, safe from the pull of the water quickening over the lip of the pool. For an instant your fly holds on the counter current at the head of the pool, balanced on its hackle tips, white wings catching the light. Then it begins to ride the main current along the edge of the bubbles.

Just where the bubbles end, a shadow on the bottom becomes substance and arcs upward. Ambushed, the fly swirls under, and you lift the rod tip driving the hook home. The fish, panicked by the sudden, stinging tug, races for the far edge of the pool. Brought up short of the roots that would shelter him he circles splashing until your cradling hand lifts him belly up, and you take the barbless hook from the corner of his mouth.

Once in hand there is an almost irresistible temptation to hold him too long. He is cool, soft, smooth and so brilliantly colored that he seems to be a swatch of rare, Oriental silk brought to life. The dark brown of his back is

marked with intricate wriggles of olive green. Over his flanks jewel-like dots of red, yellow and blue glow surreally. The fins on his belly are blood red with leading edges of black and white.

Released to the stream, he hangs in the slack water behind a small rock rapidly working his gills like a sprinter gasping after breasting the tape. When you rise to move on, he’ll dart for the deepest darkness in the pool, becoming a shadow once again. If he’s your first brook trout he won’t be your last and nothing about him will diminish the glory of your next.

He’s small, only about six inches. Yet he seems to be in scale with the place where he was found. A stride, two at the most, would carry you across his tumbling stream. Nearly half a mile down the mountain it joins a larger creek that holds a mix of brown and rainbow trout. They’re interlopers. He is a native. His ancestors were left behind as the last great ice sheet retreated northward 12,000 years ago. Isolated in the cool refuge of our mountains, he has adapted so precisely to his

GEORGE GRANTMOUNTAIN GLORY

generally speaking



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generally speaking

environment that he now has enough genetic variation from his relatives north of the New River watershed in Virginia to be considered a separate race of brook trout.

Unlike the rainbow and brown trout that were brought to our streams to replace him as we degraded his environment, there are no hatcheries in Northeast Tennessee to bolster his numbers. His hold on the last, the highest streams is tenuous. But he’s still there. After you encounter him you’ll be looking for another “there,” another high up, another small and swift, another place where sunlight and shadow dance to the voice of falling water.

Copyright George Grant

generally speaking


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TROUT IN THE BIG SOUTH FORK???…….-MAYBE!

mountain musings

SOC CLAY

“I tell you, son, they ain’t nothin’ back in yan-der but wild stuff, Hell I’m even afraid to run my dogs in that country!”

The grizzled old mountaineer gazed into the distance as he leaned on the railing of the Rt. 92 Bridge that crosses the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River near Stearns, Kentucky. “Nobody ever went back in there. They wasn’t any need to unless you were hunting wild cats,” he said.

Truth is that outdoor adventurers have been traveling inside the wilds of what is now the Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area (BSFNRRA) for more than 200 years, but it was only until about 40 or so years ago that the general public became aware of this remote, rugged and highly picturesque region. That’s when some far-sighted folks realized the area ought to be preserved for future generations and mustered enough support in Congress to create one of only two national river parks in eastern America.

Today, this remote and mostly unsettled region that forms the canyon country along the border of northeastern Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky offers pack-in fly fishers an excellent opportunity to sample fishing and back country adventures in an area that has changed little during the past century.

The north end of the wilds first became known to some anglers during the 1950’s era when some of the biggest walleye in the world were caught from the Yamacraw Shoal located just west of Stearns, KY. Fish in the 20 pound class were taken with fair regularity during late winter. One old timer I talked with 20 years ago remembered the fishing was so good at Yamacraw that few anglers ventured farther into the wilds of the Big South Fork Gorge. Indeed, other than a few energetic locals who make long hikes and steep climbs down the face of the gorge to find fishing spots and some adventuresome whitewater canoeist who chartered the class three and four rapids

mountain musings



mountain musings mountain musingsin the stream, the area that now comprises the BSFNRRA was just too difficult to reach.

Today, anglers planning a pack-in will find two major hubs from which to begin their adventure. The main park headquarters is located at Brandy Creek on Tennessee Rt. 2451 (the only auto road inside the park) that connects with Oneida, Tennessee to the east and Jamestown, Tennessee to the west. Whitewater rafting and float fishing in the Big South Fork are two of the most popular activities. The real adventure here is taking to the trails in search of remote fishing holes that few anglers have ever sampled.

Howard Duncan, an interpretive ranger for the park, recommends two prime hike-in areas where excellent fishing for smallmouth and rock bass (and some rainbow and brown trout) awaits the wading angler. Station Camp Creek and its Laurel Fork are considered two of the most productive and picturesque fishing streams. Duncan said the two most difficult streams to reach, thus making them attractive to hiking anglers who truly wish to get away for a few days, are Troublesome and Difficulty creeks located some 20 miles farther north.

An excellent camping site is located in a wide meadow at the junction of Station Camp Creek with the Laurel Fork that enters the stream on the south side. From this camp, anglers can fish downstream about 1/2 mile to the Big South Fork or work up the Laurel Fork approximately a mile to where a beautiful waterfall presents another choice camp and fish location. From the waterfall it is about three miles upstream to where a horse trail crosses the Laurel Fork, leading back to the trailhead and parking area at Charit Creek. Both streams offer deep pothole conditions where smallmouth up to three pounds (and possibly some wild rainbow and brown trout

in the 16-20 inch size) live.

An overnight stay at the Charit Creek Lodge is an ideal way to complete a back country bivouac. A former wild boar hunting camp, Charit Creek offers streamside cabins or a bed in the main lodge along with supper and breakfast for a reasonable fee.

Wild brook trout have been “reportedly caught” in Troublesome and Difficulty creeks. These streams were stocked with brook trout a number of years ago and it is believed the



mountain musingsfish are now reproducing. These streams average about 10-15 feet in width and are comprised of low waterfalls and plunge pools where the best brook trout fishing occurs.

Now, let me tell you about the trout situation in the park. Personally, I have never caught one, but then I haven’t fished Difficulty or Troublesome creeks. I have talked with locals who told me they caught rainbows and brown trout in these two creeks that went to three and four pounds. Others said they have caught brookies from the headwaters of these streams.

Park officials told me the three species of

salmonoids were stocked many years ago, but little or no management for trout has occurred since, as far as I know. It is also reported that at least one species of salmon were placed in the streams of the Big South Fork as early as the late 1800s. I’ve never heard of one being caught.

But it’s the trout that were stocked there many years ago that are the true challenge for fly fishermen exploring the wilds of the Big South Fork today. If large trout have continued to survive and reproduce in at least the two streams mentioned, what a prize catching one would be.

PARK AND OUTFITTING INFORMATION

Big South Fork National River & Recreation AreaRT 3. Box 401Oneida, TN 37841Ph. (615) 879-3625Complete Park information, free map of park and river.

Charit Creek Lodge250 Apple Valley Rd.Sevierville, TN 37862Ph. (423) 429-5704Over-night accommodations, food

Sheltowee Trace Outfitters P.O. Box 1060Whitley City, KY 42653Ph. (800) 541-RAFTGuided fishing tripsCanoe rentals, ferrying service



mountain musings



T hree seconds on the clock–the game on the line. The coach sends in the play that everyone knows is coming–the players on both sides of the ball,

the sportscasters, the fans, even the team mascots.

“Sneak right on 1. Ready? Break!”

Sometimes in my early years of trout fishing, I felt like the offensive coordinator in a game like that on a play like that. Even now, the trout seem to know what’s coming and no matter how much planning has gone into the execution of the “right play,” it’s stopped every single time. You know they’ll be in the pocket water today, but they aren’t there. You feel like if they’re not in the pocket water, they’ll absolutely be in the deep runs–but again, nothing.

My equipment is ready. My head’s in the game. My casting is great...but I can’t buy a bite. It’s times like that where you have to go ahead and go out on the proverbial and piscatorial limb and, as Nike once said, “Just do it!” You suck it up, gather up your courage, and... What? NO, you don’t drop back and punt! I wasn’t going to say that! You run the play no one expects! One short yard from glory, you choose to do it the hard way and run the “naked bootleg.”

You know it’s a gamble. You know it makes things more difficult on a technical level. You know it might not work, even. But what else can you do? When you’ve thrown every spinner in your bag and you’re out of patience with trying to keep crickets alive all weekend long, when you’ve watched nice fish come up and take a look at your powerbait and laugh in your face, when you’ve seen other coaches

NAKED BOOTLEGowl’s perch

OWL JONES

owl’s perch



owl’s perch

call up plays you only dream of calling–a nymph, sunk under a few small shot that brought up that leviathan on the Little River last year–for the other guy. Well, what else can you do?

If you think about it, fly fishing may very well be the fishing world’s equivalent of the naked bootleg play. It’s always a gamble and you have to know you’re opponent and know your own limits. You have to know how the defense–in this case the trout–will react. It’s all on your shoulders to obtain the game film and study your opponent. You’ll need to know what he’s eating, when he’s eating it, and why. You need to know Mr. Trout’s tendencies and habits, his weaknesses and his faults and his best attributes.

A good fly fisher, unlike a good bait or lure fisherman, has to know and understand the most minute details of the playing field. Is that #48 going to stack up with everyone else, or will he be wise to the trick and play a little “off” even with so much on the line? Will #37 blitz from the outside, just waiting for you to make your move after the fake? Is that big brown under the log going to feed at 5:48 in the morning, or 9:10 at night–and will he take a big stonefly nymph or has he seen too many of those this year already?

Is fly fishing better than other types of trout fishing? I suppose that depends on your definition o “better” now doesn’t it? For me and many of my fellow fly anglers, it certainly seems more challenging. I think it takes more patience, more skill in the presentation, and more cunning in the methods. It may not be better, but for many of us who have been married to the long rod for a few decades, it makes trout fishing more exciting and more rewarding. Kind of like running the play that no one is expecting and winning the game.

And the crowd goes wild...

owl’s perch



TOWEE BOATS RIVER MASTER 16 JEFF KIRK

gear review

While at the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Expo last November in Asheville, we were treated to an opportunity to take

a close look at Towee Boat’s River Master 16 skiff. We were impressed and are currently taking in laundry around where we live to earn a small cache of cash to acquire one—for strictly business purposes.

If you’ve been searching for the perfect technical river skiff for years, before loading your credit card be sure to make a point to check out the River Master 16. This skiff that was tough enough to handle shallow rocky rivers, yet runs shallower than do most bonefish skiffs. Designed to handle big water, this no nonsense skiff is lightweight, stable and performs equally well under power, oars, or push pole.

The River Master 16 provides the serious Southern Trout fishermen with a powerful tool to fish the most ornery tailwaters and their pesky gravel bars. With a dry weight as little as 195 lbs, it’s easy to tow, easy to launch, and light enough to drag down a rocky bank where river access is limited, yet it only drafts 3 1/2-4” fully loaded. Hulls are hand laminated from the finest ”Made in the USA” resins and substrates available which make it extremely durable and lightweight. All composite transoms borrow heavily from high-end ski boat designs that are ultra efficient and plane easily with minimal power.

Rated for a 20 HP outboard, it delivers great performance from outboards as small as 9.9 HP. The River Master is also an outstanding hull for jet power. Add oars and The River Master becomes an efficient rowing craft ready to drift for trout.

The River Master’s reverse chinned hull offers maximum stability and stealth. Wide fore and

aft bench seats make a comfortable, stable platform for casting or poling. Three large anglers standing are no problem and there is no anxiety over where your friends or clients are standing or walking in the boat. Everyone appreciates the ample storage trays along each of the gunnels which can accommodate several 9 1/2‘ rods. They also make a great storage area for all gear the needs to be out of the way but quickly accessed. The open floor plan provides ample room for coolers, batteries and other gear.

The custom shop at Towee Boats can tweak your River Master to your specs. Options include an SRO rowing frame, let outboard, poling platform, storage compartments with



gear review

hatch access in fore and aft bench seats, raised fore or aft casting decks, navigational lights, and built in battery box. The River Master is available in sage or white, however custom mixed gelcoat colors (like orange for Tennessee trouters) are available if you choose.

RIVER MASTER SPECS

Length: 16’ 1”

Beam: 51”

Transom: 15” or 17.5”

Draft: 3 1/2 - 4” Fully Loaded

Dry Weight: 200 - 225 lbs Depending on Options

Power: 20 hp Outboard

Price: $2995

gear review



20

When I moved to Knoxville, from South Florida in 2006, I revived an interest in fly fishing that had remained dormant for 35 years. I google-searched every fly shop within an hour's ride, focused on Little River Outfitters, and stopped there one afternoon on my way to Cades Cove. “So this is what it feels like to be a 54-year old man in a candy store,” I said to the young man offering to help me find what I was looking for. I launched into a barrage of questions barely giving him time to answer each. "Where...what... when…how…why…tippet...weight...l icense... morning…afternoon…evening…” and, event-ually, “flies?”

This was late summer and he told me the trout were responding well to terrestrials. Then he said something that was as alien to me as waders and 4 wt. tackle, “…and I would use a dropper with that.” There were no such things as “droppers” back in the days when I was chasing bream with cork poppers using an 8 wt. He explained the mechanics of dropping a nymph from a dry and added, “…use a number 12 George Nymph and you WILL catch trout.”

I'm not going to relate all that happened after that to prove that it is a small world, but less than a year later I was extremely fortunate to be introduced to Mona George, wife of Eddy George, the man who invented the George Nymph. She has told me many stories about Eddy and I've heard many more from others who

knew or knew of him. His life definitely was one of those should-be-a-Hollywood-movie stories.

Scene One: In the Beginning

Camera opens on Claude Edwin “Eddy” George born November 12, 1922 in Knoxville Tennessee. He developed his love and appreciation for the outdoors at an early age. This was demonstrated by the fact that while most school children were donating pennies to help buy land for the new national park, Eddy donated a dollar of his carefully savedmoney - an extraordinary amount during those years, especially

for someone so young.

He continued being an active proponent for the park and East Tennessee natural en- vironments throughout his life. He was a founding member of both the Little River and Great Smoky Mountain chapters of Trout Unlimited. LRCTU commemorates him each year with the Eddy George Award, a custom-built fly rod Ken Hender- son makes, presented to the person who volunteers the most number of hours in the Great Smoky Mountains National park.

Eddy enrolled in the University of Tennessee after graduating high school in 1940. His studies were put on hold when he was drafted into the army. He returned to UT

to complete his bachelor degree in forestry when WWII ended. Eddy worked at Woodruff's Hardware in Knoxville during the late forties. It was during this time that he met Mona Grace Lynch – she worked in the appliance department while he was in sporting goods. Eddy courted her for about a year when he asked her one day, “Will you let me go fishing?” He didn't have to use the customary words - Mona knew that Eddy had just proposed to her - and they were married September 9, 1950.

A month before they wed, while standing in his mother's living room, Eddy handed Mona a blank sheet of paper and asked her to sign it. It wasn't until after they were married that Mona learned what Eddy had written on that paper: “I give Eddy George permission to go fishing, day or night, any length of time that he deems necessary.” I don't know if the term pre-nuptial agreement was around back then, but Eddy enjoyed every opportunity to

bring it out and show off his contractual agreement with Mona. He kept that piece of paper safe and well-hidden in their house where it remains undiscovered to this day.

One should not make the mistake that Eddy loved fishing more than Mona. The more than 60 years hasn't diminished what you can still see in her eyes, and hear in her voice – the great love the two of them shared. She can't help but laugh before telling the honeymoon story.

“We spent our honey moon in Tapoco, North Carolina. I woke up the second morning and Eddy was already gone, he was fishing on the Cheowa. I didn't even know he had brought his fishing rod.”

Ever the Humorist and Practical Joker

Eddy George's sense of humor is legendary and everyonewho knew him has their favorite “Eddy story.” Sam Venable,

Columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel, mentionsEddy George in his book “Rock Elephant” (University of

Tennessee Press). In this heart-warming book, Venable tellsabout his relationship with his good friend Herb and remarks

on his ability to craft fishing lures. At one point he momentarily turns the attention away from Herb and relates a tale about

Eddy. I include it here with Mr. Venable's permission.

“Apparently this gift runs in all inventive anglers.A little over one year after Herb died, anotherlegendary Tennessee fisherman and tackle in-

novator, Eddy George, passed away. At thememorial service, fisheries biologist David

Bishop told the congregation about oncewatching Eddy carve a lure from a sweet potato

and then use it to catch a bass. What a humblingtestimony to the multi-billion-dollar fishing tackle

industry!”

Another story from Mr. Venable's “George mentalfile” concerns a duffle bag full of goose decoys.

“In addition to fishing, Eddy was an avid hunter.Especially doves, ducks and geese - back when geesewere exceedingly rare around here, long before the

days of resident flocks. He was also one hell of apractical joker. Once a friend asked to borrow

By Neil Smith

history of southern trout fishing

THE MAN BEHIND THE NYMPHNEIL SMITH



212011 Troutfest Journal

some goose decoys. Eddy said sure. He packed them in an old Army duffle bag and left them outside for the guy to pick up early the next morning. Whoever it was, Breck or Dave, I remember him telling me, “That %$#@ bag must have weighed 75 pounds! I lugged it all the way across a mud flat, one sloppy step at a time, way before daylight. Finally got to where I was going to hunt, opened the bag, dumped out the decoys - and at the bottom of the bag was a giant boat anchor. On it was a note from Eddy: “This is my favorite anchor. Please don't lose it.”

Around these parts, it's accepted fishing lore that when the redbuds start blooming, the bass start feeding on the top. It must be true because as I am writing this the fishing reports say the bass are biting and, looking out the window, I see the redbuds blooming. Eddy knew this too and he knew his co-workers knew it as well. Remember that degree in forestry? Eddy also knew he could bring a redbud branch indoors and force it to bloom early. He brought it into work, set it on his desk, and said nothing about it. Those who took it to be a sign to go fishing came home empty handed. The following week Eddy came to work telling about all the bass he had caught now that they were really biting.

One funny story that made it all the way to the August 22, 1955 issue of Sports Illustrated, was not born from an intended practical joke. One day Chambliss Pierce, a writer for the News Sentinel, called Eddy at the Athletic House Sporting Goods store (where he was working at the time) and asked him to take General Mark Clark fishing on the Clinch below Norris Dam. General Clark, a veteran of three wars, wasa highly respected hero who won the Distinguished Service Award for extreme bravery, another Hollywood movie. Anyway, back then you couldn't call the TVA's recorded generation schedule, nor could you pull up on the internet www.tva.gov/lakes and see what the average hourly discharge was, only TVA'a printed schedule existed. Eddy told Pierce that the timing was bad to take General Clark fishing because TVA would be generating at Norris Dam.

Pierce assured Eddy that the generators would be shut off at 2 O'clock allowing them a few hours of fishing. Sure enough, at the appointed time, the generators were silenced. The two fishermen were there along with the reporter and a photographer to record the events of that trip. Eddy handed Clark the box of new waders he had taken off the shelf at the store that morning (he had been informed of the General's shoe size). It turned out that the box contained hip-waders for two left feet. Interrupting the scheduled flow from the dam

was an accomplishment in itself. Stopping it again to allow a return trip to Knoxville and replace the waders was out of the question.

Having experienced the trials and tribulations of three wars, the General took the mismatched pairin stride (pun intended) and used them.

There's not much recorded or remembered about everything that happened during their time spent fishing. In fact, there is no visual record because a misstep by the photographer sent the photographic equipment and film into the waters of the Clinch. What was reported, and recounted many times since, is Eddy's comment to General Clark as they were preparing to return to Knoxville, “Well general, now you know how I felt the entire time I was in the Army.

There are so many more stories and, unfortunately, not enough space here to tell them.

The George Nymph

No one could tell me when Eddy George started tying flies, but Mona said that he had figured out how it was done by tying goose feathers from his mattress around a match stick. By his own written words, it was in the early thirties when he originated the George Nymph…

“… trout fisherman lived in another world. There were no tail waters, no mainstream dams, no nylon. All lines and leaders were made of silk and it was unheard of to release a trout. Most trout flies at that time were standard English patterns and not very effective on our rainbows. All the best fishermen tied their own flies or had them tied by a friend. These anglers carried the basic materials - herl, hackle, wool, thread, and hooks in a pocket and would either make repairs or tie a new fly on the stream (without a vise) when needed. “On the Little River, where I fished nearly everyday all summer, basic dark brown flies with peacock herl bodies were consistently effective. I cut lead strips and weighted the fly before tying and found this to be more effective than the split shot on my leader. The white hump made the fly more visible and the folded turkey quill back gave the fly a buggy, stonefly look.”

Getting back to tying flies without a vise, and a testament to Eddy's willingness to take on a challenge - be it an environmental cause, a stubborn trout ignoring his fly, or... – he once won a bet tying a #20 fly (pattern unkown) without a vise. Today, collections of flies he tied are on display at Little River Outfitters, the Heritage Center in Townsend, and Bass Pro Shop in Sevierville, TN.

The George Nymph wasn't Eddy's only (Continued on page 22)

Reprinted from




22 2011 Troutfest Journal

copying the memories in Mona's collection, I turned the pages one last time to assure myself everything was back in its rightful place. Sure, I looked enviously at all those magnificent trout Eddy seemingly caught so easy, but now I found my self paying more attention to his unique smile. Some might see it as a wry grin - Eddy planning another practical joke, or maybe thinking about that contract with Mona. Yes, there must be some of that there, but I also see the smile of a man who surely found the meaning of life and shared it freely - any time, any day, even today.

innovation. In 1955 he sold the rights to manufacture and sell the Little Sam Top Water Bass Lure to Webber Lifelike Fly Company. The first royalty check was sent on April 5, 1956 in the amount of $311.50 which represented two cents for each Little Sam lure sold. This first check paid the royalties on 15,575 lures sold from August 1, 1955 to March 31, 1956. More checks followed.

The Last Laugh?

Earlier I wrote that Eddy George's life would make a good movie and the best movies usually end with a little irony and mystery.

Eddy fought emphysema the last years of his life but it didn't keep him from going fishing - an oxygen bottle was added to his fishing gear. He passed away May 3, 2000. At his memorial service, Dave Bishop had this to say as he began his eulogy:

“Eddy was a person who loved to laugh and to make people laugh and in that regard any light moments during my remarks should not be construed as disrespectful.”

In his May 12, 2000 column, Sam Venable wrote about how the microphone went on the blitz during Bishop's eulogy - how it screeched and howled. At the following reception he said to Mr. Bishop, “You know Eddy was up there in heaven, laughing at your predicament while that mike squawked, don't you?” “I don't know how he did it,” Bishop replied with a sigh, “but I'll guarantee you, Eddy George planned the entire thing.”

Did Eddy also plan what happened a month later when Mona, family and friends went up to Calderwood lake to place a wreath on one of Eddy's favorite fishing waters? Three things that afternoon that defy reason and explanation. First, when laid upon the water, the wreath floated upstream instead of following the current down river. The next event involved Eddy's favorite rod and reel which was brought along for George Dyer (Eddy's best friend) to use to catch a trout. Dyer would be the first to admit that he wasn't the fisherman Eddy was and he had to work at it harder. Everyone in the boat thought it would take a while so it took all by great surprise when he hooked and landed a trout with his first and only cast.

Then there's the third incident in this scene just before the camera fades to black and the credits roll. Someone suggested they go over and take a close look at Calderwood dam. Mona told them that Eddy would never do that while she was in the boat because it was too dangerous. As the boat turned toward the dam the engine quit. All

attempts to restart it failed and the boat had to be towed back to shore. By the way, that was Eddy's boat they were in. Roll credits...

Mona entrusted me with her scrap-book of photos, memorabilia and articles about Eddy. It was the source for much of the information and photos in this article and it contains enough for a book and a Hollywood script. After I finished scanning and

Tying the George Nymph as explained and illustrated by Eddy...

To tie the fly, you'll need a Mustad 94840 or equivalent dry fly hook, lead wire, peacock herl, mottled turkey quill, white rabbit fur, brown hackle, and black thread.1) Weight the hook with lead wire, leaving room near the eye to wrap the hackle.2) Start the black, pre-waxed thread and tie in stripped hackle fibers for the tail at an angle of 8 or 9 degrees down from the horizontal (hook shank) plane.3) Take a 1/4 inch segment of mottled turkey tail and tie it on top of the hook bend for the back of the fly.4) Take two strands of peacock herl and tie in just in front of the turkey quill.5) Wet the exposed lead with head cement before winding herl 3/4 the way up the hook shank.6) Tie off the herl and fold the turkey quill over the herl forming the back. Tie the quill off and clip it close.7) Tie in white rabbit fur for the hump.8) Tie in hackle and make 3 or 4 turns before tying it off. Clip the hackle feather on the top of the hook.9) Fold the white rabbit fur over the clipped hackle and tie it off.10) Clip the rabbit fur close and whip finish.

Reprinted from







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FIVE HELPFUL TIPS FOR BETTER SUCCESS WITH A NYMPHperformance primer

I often hear people say that they do not like to nymph fish, and that they prefer to dry fly fish. I agree that it is AWESOME to catch a lot of fish on dries; however, 85% or more of a trout’s diet is what it finds under the surface of the water. It is understandable that most people do not like to nymph fish because they have not found success with it. Yet, there are things you can do to improve your success and therefore, your enjoyment. Here are five tips to help you become a better nymph fisherman.

1. Add a lot more weight. Most anglers think that a small shot or a bead head is often enough weight. This will rarely sink more than a few inches in the turbulent current found in most rivers. For instance, last week on a trip we were fishing a number 4 split shot sinker above two tungsten bead nymphs and a number 6 shot in between the nymphs just so we could get our flies down into the feeding lanes.

2. Add weight between your flies. If you fish two nymphs and the lead fly is not weighted, be sure to add weight in front of it and between the flies. If you do not add any weight, the lighter fly will often times get washed ahead of the weighted fly and a fish can eat it without ever stopping the drift. With weight in front of the second fly, it seldom gets washed ahead of the first fly, and you will miss fewer strikes.

3. Watch for the strike. If you try and fish without an indicator, you will feel only about 1 out of every one-hundred fish that strike your fly. You need to have a way to visualize your strike. Most commonly used are strike indicators. However, the really good fishermen have learned to watch their line or the knots on a knotted leader just as if it were an indicator for a strike.

4. Set the hook. When I am guiding, I am amazed by the number of fishermen that tell me it their fly scrubbing along the bottom when their indicator bobbles and lets them know they have had a strike. Sure, sometimes it is, but I see countless times on a trip that I know it was a fish. Often, I yell, “Set!” and the client says, “No, it was the bottom.” Usually when you hook the bottom it does not turn loose until you force it to do so.

5. Wait on your cast. The other factor a lot of people do not like is that they tangle up a lot more with nymphs. This is due to the weight of the flies that you are throwing. You have to make your self slow down and wait on your back cast.



FIVE HELPFUL TIPS FOR BETTER SUCCESS WITH A NYMPHperformance primer

KEVIN HOWELL

I often hear people say that they do not like to nymph fish, and that they prefer to dry fly fish. I agree that it is AWESOME to catch a lot of fish on dries; however, 85% or more of a trout’s diet is what it finds under the surface of the water. It is understandable that most people do not like to nymph fish because they have not found success with it. Yet, there are things you can do to improve your success and therefore, your enjoyment. Here are five tips to help you become a better nymph fisherman.

performance primer

1. Add a lot more weight. Most anglers think that a small shot or a bead head is often enough weight. This will rarely sink more than a few inches in the turbulent current found in most rivers. For instance, last week on a trip we were fishing a number 4 split shot sinker above two tungsten bead nymphs and a number 6 shot in between the nymphs just so we could get our flies down into the feeding lanes.

2. Add weight between your flies. If you fish two nymphs and the lead fly is not weighted, be sure to add weight in front of it and between the flies. If you do not add any weight, the lighter fly will often times get washed ahead of the weighted fly and a fish can eat it without ever stopping the drift. With weight in front of the second fly, it seldom gets washed ahead of the first fly, and you will miss fewer strikes.

3. Watch for the strike. If you try and fish without an indicator, you will feel only about 1 out of every one-hundred fish that strike your fly. You need to have a way to visualize your strike. Most commonly used are strike indicators. However, the really good fishermen have learned to watch their line or the knots on a knotted leader just as if it were an indicator for a strike.

4. Set the hook. When I am guiding, I am amazed by the number of fishermen that tell me it their fly scrubbing along the bottom when their indicator bobbles and lets them know they have had a strike. Sure, sometimes it is, but I see countless times on a trip that I know it was a fish. Often, I yell, “Set!” and the client says, “No, it was the bottom.” Usually when you hook the bottom it does not turn loose until you force it to do so.

5. Wait on your cast. The other factor a lot of people do not like is that they tangle up a lot more with nymphs. This is due to the weight of the flies that you are throwing. You have to make your self slow down and wait on your back cast.



book review


http://www.riverthroughatlanta.com

http://www.troutlegend.com


S teve Moore is a talented, enterprising writer who has written a number of books in a collection he dubbed “The

Catch Guide Series.” The largest of these editions is Maryland Trout Fishing. It was published by Moore in 2011. This 10” X 12” paperback covers 278 pages, has hundreds of pictures and maps, and provides detailed information on fishing 100 percent of the trout waters in the state of Maryland.

Bordered on the north by the Mason-Dixon Line, Maryland is therefore a southern state, which had its legislature not been taken into custody by the Union army, would have pitched in with the Confederacy. Maryland has a startling array of trout fishing opportunities ranging from some surprising locations on the Eastern Shore all the way to the wild and roiling rivers of Garrett County in the western mountains. This book covers all of the stocked trout waters in Maryland along with the better known wild trout streams. For each stream, Steve provides a description, directions, and an itemized list of access points. Knowing anglers judge waters by “how it looks,” so he illustrated the book with over 550 pictures.

Given the availability of GPS technology on devices ranging from cell phones to vehicle navigation systems, Steve

included over 900 GPS coordinates to describe the stream boundaries as well as every known access point. These can be plugged into your navigation system for custom directions.

Autographed copies of Maryland Trout Fishing retails for $19.95, and is available at Amazon where according to Steve, it is often offered at a discount. For more information, you can contact Steve Moore at [email protected]

MARYLAND TROUT FISHINGbook review


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1892469200?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=1892469200&linkCode=shr&tag=lesslitsoa-20

mailto:steve.moore%40catchguide.com?subject=Contact%20from%20Southern%20Trout%20Magazine

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guide profileMIKE ADAMS, ADAMS FLY FISHING OUTFITTERSJOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE

Southern Appalachian is blessed to have some of the finest trout fishing guides

in the country. Last year at Troutfest in Townsend, Tennessee, we met Mike Adams, owner of Adams Fly Fishing Outfitters in Johnson City, Tennessee. We knew immediately that he was a member of our tribe who shared a deep passion for fishing for trout in the South.

From the age of 12, Mike Adams knew the thing he wanted to do the most was to get people in the great outdoors. The best way he could think to do it was to help them learn to catch fish. Following a 38 year career, which kept him working outside a great deal but not on water, he finally got to see his dream come true. During the years, he had to wait for his dream to come true though, he was fortunate to live, work and fish in some of the most beautiful parts of the lower 48 states and Alaska. He also made several trips to Mexico and has fished the sea of Cortez where he was exposed to some incredible salt-water fly fishing.

Near the end of 1997, his wife Vicky and he made the move from Phoenix, Arizona to the Johnson City, Tennessee area to start a guide service. According to Mike, the Lord has blessed this decision through great clients and pristine rivers. He has sent people to fish with Mike from all around the world and almost every state in the US. Mike has been able to guide them on the water, guide them in life and have even been privileged

to speak at an occasional funeral service for some of them, who are now being guided on the calmer waters that flow after life.

“I have been blessed with 15 years of guide time,” says Mike. As we all know too well, our guide days are numbered, but I love what I do and am not ready to let it go just yet. I now have “seven grandchildren to pass my love for the outdoors and my love for the God of the Bible down to.”

If you are interested in a day outdoors, on water like none other, and want to feel that tug on the line that reminds you how great and awesome our world and Lord is, you can count on Mike Adams doing this best to make this happen for you. He loves to spend time fishing the South Holston near his home in Johnson City, but also offers trips on the Caney Fork River below the Center Hill Dam which is located between Cookeville and Nashville. Both are excellent rivers loaded with lots of



guide profile

big trout where this guide has learned their favorite hang holes.”

When you book a trip with him, he furnishes all of your needs for the day, including tackle. If you are a new drift boat owner, he also provides rowing instructions. Beside being a knowledgeable guide, Mike Adams also offers one-on-one fly fishing instructions for the new angler. “I am on the water Wednesday thru Friday. If you would like to book a trip on one of those days, give me a call or send me an email,” says Mike. “I would love to be a part of your fly fishing experience.

Mike Adams can be reached at:423-741-4789or by email at [email protected]

You can reach him by snail mail at:

Mike Adams Fly Fishing Outfitters 2914 Watauga Rd. #304, Johnson City Tennessee, 37601

Made In the USA

Specializing in traditional flies used in the Appalachians, Ozarks and Tennessee Tail Waters

www.tennesseetraditionalflies.com

Traditional Flies

Custom Flies

Tying Materials

Tying Tools

Fly Fishing Accesso-ries

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http://www.tennesseetraditionalflies.com


One of my favorite dry fly patterns in the late winter and early springs months is the Adams Parachute, tied most

commonly in sizes #14 thru #20. It matches a lot of what is hatching on our streams and is a high riding, easily seen fly.

When tying these, use mixed brown and grizzly hackle and white calf tail wing post to make them more visible on the water. When choosing body colors, some are darker or lighter in color than others. I prefer the darker muskrat fur.

ADAMS PARACHUTEfly of the month

ROGER LOWE

Roger’s book, Roger Lowe’s Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains is a fly-tying and identification guide. He also has a tying video, Smoky Mountain Fly Patterns. It shows how to tie a lot of the Smoky Mountain patterns. He also has a hatch book, Smoky Mountain Fly Patterns. It tells you which patterns to use each month. Contact him at [email protected] for autographed copies or to inquire about booking a guide fishing trip.

Recipe

Hook: Standard dry fly sizes 14-20 Thread: Black 8/0Body: Muskrat fur dubbing Tail: Dark grizzly and brown hackle fibers mixedHackle: Grizzle and brown, tied parachute styleWing Post: White calf tail


mailto:loweguideservice%40charter.net?subject=


fly of the month


Spring River Flies and GuidesDrift boat Guide trips and Full Service Fly Shop

Located 2 miles south on Hwy 63 inMammoth Spring, AR

Your local fly fishing experts!

For more information:

www.springriverfliesandguides.com

email: [email protected]

or call: 417-280-0927


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Fly fishermen like neat places. Cumberland Transit in Nashville, Tennessee is a neat place we visited before Christmas for the first time.

Located alongside the campus of Vanderbilt University, Cumberland Transit is more than just a fly shop. It is an outdoor adventure hub where you can get anything from a mountain bike or a kayak, to a fly rod and climbing gear. It’s a large enough place to have just about anything you might be looking for in a big box store, but yet, it is cozy and friendly. While we were there, it seemed like everyone who came into it to shop knew everyone working there by first name.

C u m b e r l a n d Transit has been in business now for 40 years and it originally opened as a hiking and b a c k p a c k i n g store. Over the years, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, apparel, cycling, and fly-fishing equipment were added. One of the owners is a fly-fisherman, so the shop started with just a few flies, rods and reels that were given very little floor space. However, over the years, the fly-fishing spaces grew a little bigger as Nashville and the surrounding areas grew along with it. Distinctively, Cumberland Transit was the first fly shop in Nashville.

Cumberland Transit is now one of the leading providers of fly-fishing equipment in Middle Tennessee. On their website (http://cumberlandtransit.com/flyfishing/ ) one will find a brief list of the type of products and the brand names they stock as well as a few links to great fishing resources. The staff is very knowledgeable with the products they offer, not because of their employee training

program, but because they fly fish and use these products themselves.

According to Ronnie Howard who runs the fly shop portion of Cumberland Transit, “If you don’t see what you’re looking for at the store, chances are it was accidentally left off the list or the item may be currently out of stock.”

He says that there is never a problem with making special orders for fly-fishing equipment from anywhere in the world, and they will have it to you in the shortest amount of time possible--so you can get to the important things in life.

“Customers, Lord knows we just can’t afford to have it as our own private playground,” says Howard. “We have developed relationships with many of the fly fishermen in Middle Tennessee. We love to help them and it shows in the customer loyalty.”

Howard notes that business has increased as interest in fly fishing has grown significantly over the years from trout fishing the Caney Fork and Elk Rivers for local tailwater trout to searching for every warm water species that is available in nearby lakes, streams, ponds. Folks traveling from all over the world come to Middle Tennessee to chase their dream fish.

Cumberland Transit is also actively involved with the local TU Chapter, Middle Tennessee

CUMBERLAND TRANSITfeatured fly shop featured fly shop



featured fly shop featured fly shopNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Fly Fishers, Hendersonville Fly Fishers and the Music City Fly Girls. “With Nashville being a big job market draw, the metro area has a very diverse group here,” says Howard. “Besides warm water and trout fisher folks that are attracted from all over, there is saltwater, too. They all like to go back to their roots where they started fishing, and we like to be able to gear them up for all of their endeavors. We have several folks that travel around the globe to fish, too. We have outfitted people on their way to Belize, the Bahamas, and New Zealand.

“We’re constantly seeing new faces with the job market here and with three nearby universities,” says Howard. “We offer classes for beginning fly fishing, knot tying, fly tying and casting, and I run guide trips on the Caney Fork. We also work with a number of other guides that offer warm water trips as well as providing trips for corporate events. Most every Saturday morning, you can find our employees with several local fly fishermen discussing the fishing on area waters. We encourage this as it brings a wider body of knowledge to new fly fishermen--and to each other.

“I always encourage our customers to ask questions, “ says Howard. “You’ll never know if you don’t ask. It’s great watching someone entering this sport, going through their trials/tribulations often brings back memories of my experiences, reminding me to help them learn to improve their skills. Even us veterans need some re-tooling now and again.”

Cumberland Transit is Nashville’s oldest Orvis dealer and the store carries a wide range of their fishing products. They also carry

Dan Bailey and Orvis waders, and Chota and Korker boots have been very good for business, as well as TFO rods. The store started carrying Wolf Moon net’s a few years back that are made here in the USA. They also carry Costa Del Mar sunglasses and Orvis and Galvan reels. Wapsi and Hareline have been very good at filling the fly tying needs of their

customers.

“We listen to our customers,” says Howard. “Listening helps us see where their interest lie. Listening helps us best fill the customers’ needs. Hopefully by listening, paying attention and properly filling their needs, we gain their trust--keeping them coming back. As mentioned earlier, as an Outdoor Retailer, we hope we can assist you whether your needs are in clothing, fly fishing, biking, climbing or paddling gear. One thing that I have always enjoyed about being here, we have

folks in each of these departments that live what they are doing; we can better serve someone by having that knowledge.”

Cumberland Transit is located at: 2807 West End Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

You can explore their web site at: www.cumberlandtransit.com


http://www.cumberlandtransit.com




http://www.randrflyfishing.com



http://www.randrflyfishing.com

If all of the world of southern trout fishing were as splendid as it is at Rose River Farm, we are pretty sure that interest in college sports and NASCAR would

evaporate into forgotten memories. Nestled away near the Virginia piedmont town of Syria, Rose River Farms is a working cattle operation that has transformed into Dixie’s premier fly fishing destination for catching trout. Here you find dry fly and nymph fishing at its finest–on their private water on the Rose River, a cold, crystal clear, spring fed freestone stream. Strictly catch-and-release fishing, the Rose is rich in natural trout food that produces trophy rainbow, brown and brook trout. There is a low limit on the number of rods per day to assure uncrowded water.

Wild Rose rainbows, wild brookies, wild browns, and stocked jumbo rainbows are found in

the private waters of Rose River. The jumbo rainbow trout are the most prevalent species. All of the trout here are beautiful and provide excellent dry fly and nymph fishing. Light action 4 or 5 weight rods with 5X tippets and 7 to 9 foot leaders are recommended for the fly fishing the Rose. Dry flies are productive much of the year. In the fall, hoppers, crickets and ants are effective patterns, as well as orange or yellow stimulator patterns in sizes 12-to-16 are typical. During the winter, black stone fly and trico patterns in sizes 16-to-22 are strong producers. In the spring, stimulators and caddis are good bets along with the same terrestrials we use in the fall (usually in small sizes). Nymphs can be very effective all year long, especially when offered dry dropper rig style. Because big trout live in the Rose, of course streamer patterns can catch some big fish, too. Recommended streamer

ROSE RIVER FARMfeatured resort featured resort



SYRIA, VIRGINIAofferings include woolly buggers in black, olive, peach and white. Many fly-fishing guests spending a few nights at Rose River Farms like to spend at least one day fishing the beautiful native trout waters of the Rapidan, the Upper Rose, the Robinson and many others are within a few minutes of the cabins. Full- and half-day guide services are available for these streams.

The concept of Rose River Farm was conceived by Douglas Dear who has been an avid fly fisherman, bird hunter and outdoorsman most of his life. He, his wife Jennifer, and their two boys purchased the land nearly ten years ago and transformed it into what it is today. Douglas, a former real estate investment banking executive, who is now a private investor and outdoor writer, saw the need for a fly-fishing getaway that was close

to Washington, DC, but offered an uncrowded fly fishing experience that was similar to the fishing he traveled to Colorado and Montana to enjoy. A fly-fishing trip to Patagonia prompted the addition of rental cabins to the Farm. The first class luxury cabins, in the style of

modern day Mongolian Yurts, were completed in 2011.

Rose River Farm is rated as the top trophy trout fly fishing in Virginia where it is set amidst the unparalleled mountain scenery. The majesty Rose River Valley is bounded by Old Rag Mountain, Double Top Mountain and the National Forest. Here you will fish for trout in the waters where President Hoover did 80 years ago. When not on the water, anglers stay a one of three luxury rental cabins, sip peach wine, and eat Angus beef produced

featured resort



on the Farm. The cabins are located “catty corner” to the main farm on a private 20 acre parcel that has beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Rose River Valley.

The cabins that are modern day interpretations of classic Mongolian Yurts. Constructed of cedar, glass and steel, the cabins are over 1,100 square feet each and feature two bedrooms with two full baths. Each bedroom has two double beds. The living room features a domed 17 ft. ceiling, leather club furniture and a jumbo flat screen TV with satellite, DVD player and even an iPod docking station. There is also a full kitchen (stove, oven, microwave, full size fridge and freezer with ice maker) and a nice round dining/gaming table for eating or a little evening cards. There is even a fly-tying table with a Regal vise. The cabins feature a wall of windows and a big porch to capture the spectacular views of Old Rag Mountain, the Rose River Valley, and a stocked pond (bass, bluegill and trout) that is catch and release, single barbless hook only, strictly for cabin guests.

From the beginning, an important aspect of the Farm has been sharing it. The Farm is regularly donated for use by groups such as Project Healing Waters, Casting For Recovery, Trout Unlimited’s Youth Conservation Camp, The Boys and Girls Club and the Boy Scouts of America. They also support charitable groups such as Costal Conservation Association, Trout Unlimited, Federation of Fly Fishers, Wild Turkey Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Young Life and many others. In 2011 The Farm was named the National Home Waters of Project Healing Waters to commemorate

the 5th Annual 2-Fly Tournament held at the Farm. Also in 2011 Douglas was recognized as a national LL Bean Outdoor Hero for his work as Chairman of the Board of Project Healing Waters.

Rose River Farm is a working Black Angus cattle operation with extensive peach orchards, hay fields and wildlife habitat. Farming operations are conducted in environmentally sensitive ways so as to keep the land pristine for generations to come. This stretch of the river is some of the purest water in the State of Virginia. It is regularly tested for both water quality and aquatic insect populations. The natural fish food is abundant and the fish grow fast! With strict catch and gentle release fishing this trout population stays strong year round.

At Rose River Farm you can obtain any level of instruction or guiding needed and they can even arrange to have a fly fishing celebrity fish with your group or give a fly tying demonstration or lecture. For more information contact:

Rose River Farm3099 Old Blue Ridge Turnpike (State Route 670)Syria, Virginia 22743 email: [email protected] or [email protected]

telephone: 703-209-2832

or visit www.roseriverfarm.com

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Often people believe there is a certain fly or a certain technique that allows a competitive angler to catch quantities of fish during a

competition. The fact is, this is not so. While the right fly, and the right technique helps, there is one factor that truly separates a good angler from a great angler. A competitor must have confidence. To fish a technique, a fly, and unfamiliar water knowing that he or she will catch fish requires a lot of confidence. Confidence is a factor that keeps the angler focused, effective, and placing high in competitions. Many competitors already have talent and a very broad and varied skill set, but lack the confidence to perform well in comps.

How does a competitor gain confidence?Competitors gain confidence in a variety of ways. Anglers gain confidence by simply fishing a certain technique or fly successfully over a period of time thus gaining experience. Soon it becomes second nature, and he or she will have a firm grasp on how to fish productively. Catching fish utilizing a technique the angler is practicing is the reward that boosts confidence.

Anglers also gain confidence by competing. Placing or finishing well in a competition provides a sense of accomplishment and pride, and the confidence to know that you have what it takes to do it again. Competition experience is vital to confidence, in my opinion, because simulating the tension, stress, and time constraints of a competition is difficult to do in a non-competitive situation. Remaining positive, focused and confident at all times leads to the best competitive results.

How does a competitor best use confidence?Competitors use confidence in a variety of ways. Some competitors use their own confidence level to psyche out the

competition. Using confidence can be done by knowing a fly or technique is the right tool for the job and sticking with it until the end. Often when a competitor is having a tough time catching fish, so is everyone else. In that situation, knowing to stick with a technique that may catch one or one more fish could be all that separates the winner from the losers. Confidence in skill and technique are obviously critical to competitive success. In order to compete, an angler must be able to catch fish in all situations. Lacking confidence in an angler’s skill or technique often means

THE COMPETITIVE EDGEfor the sport

BENJAMIN VAN DEVENDER



the angler has lost before they even hit the water.

Fishing as much as possible, in as many varied situations as possible gives an angler the most confidence they can have. Using multiple techniques allows the angler to be confident in utilizing them when the time comes. Minimizing the opportunity for an angler to second guess himself allows him to spend more time fishing and results in a higher likelihood of catching more fish. Confidence plays into so many competitive factors that it is easy to see it’s importance.

Photos courtesy of Josh England and Hallie Roberts Photography

for the sport



Afamily outing in the High Sierras is my first recollection of my trout fishing. It was your typical family fishing scene: three young boys at lakeside

dangerously armed with rods, reels, hooks, bobbers and worms, and Mom (in this case) handling tangle-after-tangle that comes with the chaotic environment. Dad was there, too, with his Super 8 movie camera in hand to capture the scene. Oh, what a scene!

Move ahead 50 years, where I’ve found my resting place on a quiet mountainside above the Toccoa River in the southern Appalachian Mountains of northern Georgia. My childhood scene is repeated, I’m sure, many times over just a few miles from my front porch. Rock Creek is among Georgia’s most popular put-and-take trout fisheries, supporting fishing families with abundant rainbow trout stocked

from the federal trout hatchery that uses the creek’s cold water as life support for the tens of thousands of trout fingerlings annually raised to catchable size in its concrete lined raceways. Nearby, the stream’s easily reached pools and runs are frequently lined with families--moms, dads, brothers, sisters, granddads, grandmoms. All of them enjoy the tug of a trout on the end of the line as much as I do, but they often cast their hooks tagged with worms, crickets, corn and dough balls into the water with little clue as to where they are fishing and why they are fishing the way they do. There is a better way. Trout fishing can be–and for many, it should be–about adventure, discovery and learning, so that trout fishing can be more than a blind cast.

Picture a walk on carefully marked forest trails along and across pristine mountain streams

wanderings of the creek freak

TROUT ADVENTURE TRAIL: HIKE, LEARN AND EARNwanderings of the creek freak




TROUT ADVENTURE TRAIL: HIKE, LEARN AND EARN BOB BORGWAT WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO RALPH ARTIGLIERE


where children can experience nature’s wonders first-hand and learn how and why trout and other denizens thrive in the waters where they swim. It’s there, along the Trout Adventure Trail (TroutAdventureTrail.org) where families, teachers or youth groups can hike a marked trail through the Chattahoochee National Forest and learn about how, where, and why trout live in beautiful and wondrous places. Get that inside scoop on the fish, and the increase in your knowledge about trout will not only reward you with better trout fishing success, but also give you an experience to enjoy on the Trout Adventure Trail which pays dividends for life. Over the last couple years, volunteers from the Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter (#696) of Trout Unlimited, with the help of the USDA Forest Service, envisioned and developed the

Trout Adventure Trail. The first of its kind in the nation, and in its simplest form, the Trout Adventure Trail follows segments of the long-established and storied Appalachian Trail and Benton MacKaye Trail. Yet, there’s much more to the Trout Adventure Trail than a walk in the woods.

Today, competition is fierce for recreational time for kids. Among other things, organized sports, digital media, computer games and television swallow up the opportunity for children to experience the outdoors and commune with nature. It is incumbent upon parents, teachers and youth leaders to find ways to maximize the quality of the time kids spend outdoors. One way to do that is to plan a fun and worthwhile hike in the woods. For their health and well-being, to develop an appreciation for our natural surroundings, and


http://TroutAdventureTrail.org


to learn the skills necessary to successfully enjoy the outdoors, children should see and experience wooded wilderness areas.

For more than 12 miles, the Trout Adventure Trail winds around trout streams, passes alongside waterfalls and opens eyes wide when hikers gaze far across “smoky” vistas of the Southern highlands. Springer Mountain is the southern terminus of the Trout Adventure Trail, as well as both the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye trails. Those foot trails converge, diverge and crisscross as they wind between Springer Mountain and the northern end of the Trout Adventure Trail at Long Creek Falls. With the help of the guidance found on the trail’s website, a myriad of potential day-hikes of considerable quality and variety can be created to suit hikers of any age and physical ability.

Most notably, Long Creek, Chester Creek and Stover Creek merge on the Trout Adventure Trail, at the junction known as Three Forks, to form Noontootla Creek. The three tributaries are outstanding trout waters, harboring mostly small wild rainbow and brown, and in some places native populations of brook trout to thrive. Downstream from this junction, Noontootla Creek tumbles sharply for many miles toward its confluence with the Toccoa River. For many trout anglers, this is the gem of Georgia’s public trout waters. It has not been stocked with trout since the 1960s and fishermen on the stream must conform with state regulations that call for fishing only with artificial lures/flies. Trout must measure more than 16 inches long to be kept. That’s a tough set of rules that make trout fishing even tougher!

From the view of both learned and aspiring trout fishermen, that’s the beauty of the Trout Adventure Trail. For sure, trout fishing can be enjoyed where trout are stocked heavily and take baits of many kinds--natural, artificial and even homemade! However, trout fishing can also embody an adventurer’s spirit that

is steeped in discovering how trout survive only in clean, clear, well oxygenated and cold water. Water, that is, that originates from the ground, twists through thick forests, tumbles over long waterfalls, sparkles across rocky riffles, and glides through mirror-like pools.

You’ll see streams like that along the Trout Adventure Trail. Your hike doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to be tough. It can be both of those, but whether it’s a hike of just a mile or across many ridges and draws, keep your eyes open. Stop at a stream crossing. Gaze into a pool below a waterfall. Turn a few rocks in a riffle. Inspect a fallen tree. These, and other elements along a trout stream, contribute to the well-being and proliferation of trout in a stream. They also play well into the knowledge a keen trout fisherman carries with him on the water.

The Trout Adventure Trail® officially opened in fall 2012. It is a partnership of Trout Unlimited, the USDA Forest Service and Boy Scouts of America. The website, www.TroutAdventureTrail.org, holds a wealth of information on where to go, how to get there, and the types of experiences available on different routes. Use the website to plan a hike accounting for distance, degree of hiking difficulty and observational opportunities along the way. Depending on the route selected, hikers can experience well-marked portions of the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails, trout streams, a waterfall and magnificent views. Educational materials provide fundamental facts about trout and their habitat, watersheds, flora and fauna, and outdoor-related subjects such as modern forestry and following a trail. The information is designed to be sought and absorbed by





the hiker, not forced or memorized. The website enables the reader to obtain basic information with links to more detailed information where a subject piques further interest or need. The website is s u p p l e m e n t e d by the Trout Adventure Trail blog

(TroutAdventureTrail.blogspot.com), social media and links to the wondrous sources of the Internet because most kids today a r e seekers of knowledge in a digital world.

The Trout Adventure Trail is available to any parent, children, schools, summer camps, day camps, home school parents, and other youth organizations. Children and adults who hike the trails with them are eligible for a commemorative patch. Most importantly, adults are getting kids out into the woods one kid or one group at a time for a fun and worthwhile outdoor experience.

The core of the trail experience is hands-on activity. For example, a child may learn from the educational materials that trout need cold, clean water to survive. Water warmer than 70 degrees for sustained periods can be lethal to trout, which is why north Georgia mountain freestone streams are on the southern boundary of natural streams holding trout in North America. On the trail, hikers can test the water temperature of streams with a

thermometer or just by putting a hand or foot in the cold water. Supplemental information for this topic and more is available on the website.

Between Three Forks and Springer Mountain, the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye trails repeatedly cross bubbling trout

streams on the way up to the summit of Springer Mountain. Below Three Forks, the trails converge for the 1.1-mile pleasant walk along Long Creek on the path to Long Creek

Falls, a beautiful waterfall setting. This system of trails is virtually

equidistant from the Georgia mountain

towns of Blue Ridge, Blairsville, Ellijay, and

Dahlonega in the midst of the Chattahoochee

National Forest. While decent Forest Service

roads are available to reach either Three Forks

or Springer Mountain parking areas as alternative

starting points, the drives into those locations are just

far enough from paved roads and civilization to ensure a true

wilderness experience.

My lifelong love affair with trout fishing began when I was a young boy with hectic, frenzied days at lakeside, and in the bushes and over the rocks at streamside. But, it blossomed when I took time to learn how, where and why trout live like they do. So, despite 50 years of trout fishing behind me, I still keep the adventure and discovery



http://TroutAdventureTrail.blogspot.com


in trout fishing close to my heart with every step I take on a trout stream. That’s why I’m hiking the Trout Adventure Trail this weekend with my fly rod in hand!

Author’s note: A special thanks goes out to Ralph Artigliere, education director for Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited Chapter #696. Without his dedication, the TroutAdventure Trail would still be on the drawing boards rather than underfoot to many children, parents and youth leaders who have already enjoyed the discoveries found on the trail. He kindly provided much of the information provided in this column.






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new fly guy

GETTING TO THE STREAMSTEVE MOORE

After easing your truck to a halt at the trailhead, you take one last swig of lukewarm

coffee, jump out, and immediately make a basic mistake in your anxious anticipation of a great day on the water by rigging up.

Unless the stream runs adjacent to the road, reaching the water usually requires a bit of bushwhacking. As soon as you step off any trail, a dense tangle of wait-a-minute vines, thick bushes, slippery rocks and hidden roots conspire to protect the stream. Given that reality, the one thing you can do to add to your cross-country agony is to fully assemble the rod, tie on a fly and attempt to solve the calculus of threading a long, wiggly rod through imperceptible gaps in concentrated vegetation! Even if successful, an infinite number of branches will leap out to snag and cut the tippet, propelling your carefully tied fly onto the forest floor; never to be seen

again. Some believe that instead of poking the rod forward to blaze the trail, it is better to point it to the rear, leveraging the gap your body creates as it moves through the vegetation. I know from personal experience that this is a fool’s solution. As the vegetation snaps back into place, it will gently pull at the line guides and separate the rod tip, leaving you to contemplate how to fish with only two sections of a three section rod streamside.

The solution is simple. Do not assemble your rod other than firmly attaching the reel to the handle. It is much easier to wiggle through underbrush carrying several short sections.

In addition, by leaving the rod unassembled, you are less likely to break the tip when you inevitably trip over a camouflaged root or slippery rock and, with arms flailing and gear flying, your focus becomes personal survival rather than the gentle care of a fragile graphite stick. Two related lessons learned in the school of hard knocks: (1) Make sure the spool is firmly seated to the frame of the reel or it will fall off, (2) Make sure you take all the sections of your rod. It is easy to leave behind the narrow tip! Gently crumple the rod sock to confirm it is empty.

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John Hannah, outdoors artist, was fortunate to know what to do with his life from a fairly early age. “Throughout my childhood in Beaumont, I was always

drawing and dreaming of becoming a ‘real’ artist. I finally decided that I had to pursue that dream.” His artistic talents called him forward from high school, and he followed his heart and talents as they took him to Texas Tech University where he graduated with a degree in Advertising Art and Design.

Next, his heart led him to ply his trade as an artist amongst the concrete forests of New York City and Dallas, TX. His heart proved correct again as John found success in these cities. Over his twenty-year career, he was published in several, quite reputable magazines such as Automotive Quarterly, Car and Driver, Saga, Town & Country, Flying, Popular Boating, and Popular Science. Also, he was hired to do work for several large corporations such as Mercedes, Volkswagen, Bell Helicopter, Lockheed Martin, Borden’s, Pearl Beer, Coors Beer, Phillips 66, Shell Oil, Byron Nelson Golf Classic and Chili’s Bar & Grill. Publishers also sought his work as he can also be found in several books published by Harcourt Brace & World and McGraw Hill. Certainly not least among his accomplishments, he has also done work for author Ian Fleming and Warner Brothers.

Even with all this commercial success, Hanna’s heart was still unfulfilled. “My years in New York and Dallas as an illustrator were great, but I wasn’t really following my heart.” Once he traded in the “big city skylines” for the rock

houses, livestock, landscape and old barns of Fredericksburg, Texas, he feels he heartfully became an artist. Using his favorite mediums of oil and watercolor, John now inspires outdoorsmen and fishermen with his heart warming portrayals of God’s great natural scenes.

Hanna’s paintings are strong in dramatic light and rich in color. His paintings embrace a variety of subjects from landscapes, still

lifes, and portraits, set anywhere from the Texas Gulf Coast to quaint country homes on the back roads of Missouri. Some of his paintings portray the big picture, some zero in on a walked-over piece of life. “To me, life is more interesting if you look at it the way it is. Everything has its own innate beauty,” he reveals. “Something always triggers a painting: an old house, a rock wall, maybe just light playing on creek water. I never run out of things to see…Inspiration

is everywhere. I have a vision of sorts--some paintings seem to take on a life of their own. However, I try to do it as simply as possible, yet believable.” Trout fishermen in particular seem to appreciate his paintings because, John feels, they “…must strike a chord about some past fishing experience.”

John is a member of the Oil Painters of America. In November 2010 he was a finalist in the Bold Brush competition and his work has been published by Somerset House Publishers. He was recently commissioned by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to do an eight-phase depiction of the rodeo for their corporate offices. John lives in

feature

He’s just a guy who followed his heart



He’s just a guy who followed his heart Leah Kirk

feature

Fredericksburg, Texas with his wife, Sherry.

Not too bad of a resume for just a guy who followed his heart.



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outside the fly box

FISHING MIDGES SHAWN MADISON

OVERVIEWFishing midges is nothing new and the pattern could be considered the most utilized pattern in the sport of fly fishing. Fishing midges offers many different tackle configurations and endless techniques to present them to trout. From my experience, most fly fishermen utilize the indicator to midge fly tackle presentation. This tackle setup is typically presented to the trout by drifting the indicator and midge downstream of the fly fisherman. Although traditional methods of midge fishing are proven, effective, and reliable, there are many non-traditional methods that can reap excellent results and add to your skill base.

NTRODUCTIONFly casting upstream under an eddy is one of the most effect non-traditional techniques. I was introduced to this style by my close friend, Beto Perez. Beto fishes this technique with unbelievable effectiveness in catching stout fish. The technique’s goal is for the fly to present in the seam of water between the down flow and the upward pull of the current. This is a prime feeding line for trout and an excellent opportunity for fly fishermen. The tackle setup involves an appropriate indicator size that is small but buoyant to handle the turbulence of the seam’s action. Beto fishes this with an extremely small (pea size) white-wool indicator. It is imperative to adequately prepare the indicator, or it will result in negative results.

NDICATORTo prepare the indicator, he uses sharp scissors to trim the top and to trim the sides of any loose wool pieces. Additionally, loose strands of wool can be removed slightly by pulling out the wool strands with a few strokes of your fingertips. This process helps with aligning the wool strands to create air pockets. Once the indicator shape is established, an effective process is to add a dab of floatant to the head of the indicator. The floatant helps the top strands of the wool stay dry and trap air underneath them during repetitive casts. This indicator setup should last most of the day or until it has to be reworked for tackle changes. One of the most dynamic parts of this fishing setup is the drop length from the indicator to the fly. The water depth intended to fish should dictate this distance. Typically, I fish a two foot drop on tail waters from the indicator to the midge.

MIDGEFly selection is the final part of the tackle setup, and I normally choose a heavily weighted midge to combat the turbulent water while fishing this technique. Fly size and pattern is generalized and should suit the typical size of the water body being fished. However, adding a small dropper midge from the main midge is equally effective in luring decent fish. The midge color pattern can vary to help it stand out in the quick water. Some excellent

-NOT THE TRADITIONAL WAY!



outside the fly box

patterns contain bright colors and Czech effect triggers to help the fly stand out. The end goal of this technique does not rely on the pattern as much as the trout’s

excited state in the feeding lie.

TECHNIQUEThe technique to fish this strategy can vary to suit the fisherman’s strong points. However, it is generally defined as positioning below an outflow at a distance of a comfortable reach cast. Additionally, there should be a slight angle from the

side of the outflow to allow the floating line to drift at a slower rate than the main outflow of the eddy. Peel off the amount of line and leader to equal the target distance only. Be attentive to managing the line slack between casts

as to not create an entanglement. The target can be identified by visualizing an upstream pointed arrow right below the eddy. The pocket below the arrow arm closest to the fisherman will be the target point. I typically utilize a reach cast and focus on allowing my fly and line to drop slowly and fairly tight. The

midge will start drifting back towards the fisherman quickly, so it is imperative to not have too much slack out of the rod tip. Once the fly starts drifting back,

it is imperative to strip the line smoothly back through the rod to maintain a good connection to the fly. If not, the additional amount of line will get caught

in the current and start to pull on the fly and create drag. Also, the extra line will increase the chances of losing a take by not being able to quickly manage

the fish. The end goal is to get the midge and indicator in the slower moving seam right next to the outflow. This is a prime feeding line for fish and one that

can be extremely rewarding if addressed with this technique. No matter what technique you use, always remember to find the joy in your fishing and life!



T here is a spot in the Smokies, quite easy to miss if you don’t know what

to look for, that ages ago was a home to a kind and loving family. He worked in the logging industry that was so prevalent before the National Park was created, and she busied herself as a mother to their children, raised a garden and livestock, and enjoyed their little piece of paradise along a cool running stream.

Now, well over half a century removed, all that remains of their homestead is the jonquils that still bloom in the early spring. If you look around find the stone foundation of a smoke house. It is most visible in the fall of the year, at least until the leaves have all abandoned the trees and covered the forest floor in a carpet of red and gold. The rest of the year this place remains hidden and protected from view by the seasons. It was there one fall day, as the leaves fell, that I caught the largest brown trout I have ever pulled from the waters of the park.

I brought with me a 6’ 6”, 4 weight bamboo fly rod that I had made myself based upon a Garrison taper. Everett Garrison was one of the finest bamboo rod builders in history of fly fishing. His tapers made great dry fly rods because of the slow action that they imparted, that today some folks would think to be too “noodley” to be effective. Perhaps that would be the case on large tailwaters, but when the largest fish you have even witnessed come out of these waters would have to be pulled quite hard to go fourteen inches, and the stream isn’t much wider than the carport at home, you don’t worry to much about it.

I fished this particular run with a Parachute Adams and though the fly had been productive for me all day, now it was as if someone had purged the fish from the stream. No rising trout could be seen anywhere in the pool I worked the runs and deeper pockets that formed further upstream. It was getting late in the day. The last vestiges of heat from the summer were still fighting with the fall for supremacy. The clothing I wore for warmth that morning had become an impediment. I had made up my mind to fish the head of the run with a nymph for a few minutes before heading for home.

The pool was deep enough that the bottom was obscured from close examination. I tied on a heavy golden stonefly nymph. The fly was so heavy that the tip of the bamboo bowed under its weight. Not the optimum setup for a fly with this much weight, but it was all I had to use so I thought through my approach and went with it. Any type of overhead cast was nothing short of fool hearty under the canopy, so I just flipped the fly out into the very head of the pool much like a bass fisherman would

bamboo for you

MARC PAYNE

GARRISON’S OLD TAPER AND A BIG BROWN



bamboo for you bamboo for youpitch a jig to deadfall along a lake bank. It wasn’t pretty, but I got the fly where I wanted it and that was all I needed.

As the fly sank and began its slow trip downstream, I looked across the water to the old smokehouse foundation. In my mind, I could imagine the smell of hog meat being smoked filling the air and a flurry of early fall activity around the old homestead. I imaged that could hear wood being cut and stacked for winter, and perhaps linens flapping as he hung from a line in the back yard. I even imagined that I spied an old workhorse or mule standing stoic in a lot off to the side of the now gone house where I am dogs napped in sunny spots on the porch.

I almost did not notice that My line had stopped moving downstream--my mind returned to the task at hand. Not feeling a tug, I assumed that it had caught a rock and quickly popped the rod tip up in hopes of breaking it free. The fly did not break free, instead, the line sped downstream to the tail of the pool and whatever was at the end of that line was large and not happy at the feel of the hook in its jaw. My little four weight splices of cane bent nearly down to the handle. The click and pawl reel sounded like a bicycle tire with a baseball card laid against the passing spokes. At that instant I felt totally outmatched, but in reality had it not been for a wispy bamboo rod and a reel that freed the line so easily, I no doubt would have lost the fish right then and there.

Reeling like a madman, I sped down the bank to keep constant pressure on the big fish. I

stepped out into the water as the butt of my seven and a half foot leader came out of the current. My free arm reached behind me for my land net. There are moments when you are certain that you are going to loose, and at the very second I remembered that I had forgotten my net. Before I could recover from that shock, once again the line zoomed—this time upstream. The tip of the bamboo danced like Morse code and I danced to retrace my steps back upstream.

It was only then that I finally saw the fish, a brown trout. Eyeing the leviathan, it was clear that it was least twenty inches long and was franticly moving upstream. With nerves on high alert, I followed the fish as best I could. On the right side of the pool was a small waterfall and the trout tried desperately to leap it and navigate its way through the pocket water beyond. But every time, with every extreme move the brown made, Mr. Garrison’s mathematics held true...the rod was tapered in such a way that every time it tried to escape the pool, the

rod pulled it back in to play.

Finally, after what seemed to be forever, the fish moved into shallow water, and with the rod bent double, I reached down and grabbed it by its thick tail and lifted it from the water. With its color vibrant for fall spawn, the fish seemed to glow in my hand. It was beautiful. The purple spot on the side of its head was the size of a nickel. After taking the hook from its mouth, I held it into the faster water. My whole body was shaking, and after it finally got its wind back and raced away into the



deeper water, I looked for a good place to sit and regain my composure.

I had been told of large browns in the lower sections of the river, but I never thought that they would grow that large in water that small. I had found a seat on some deadfall and looked directly across the stream in the direction of the old home place and wondered if they had caught the ancestors of the one I brought to hand.

The leaves, big and golden fell about me, and I stared into the pool for a long time before I had the strength to climb the bank and head for home. No photos, a memory being the only record. Much like the homestead that once was, and Mr. Garrison and his amazing taper that transcended time to this place and this day.

bamboo for you



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DON KIRK

THE OTTERS LIMITS

It’s a fair question to wonder if ole Don has finally crossed into an alternative universe where the sky is pink and the trout look like swimming zebras.

For the record though, reality is still a constant companion of mine, although I have to admit that otters make me a little nutty.

Otter attacks on humans are at a historical high. This past year alone saw numerous attacks on people by these blood thirsty predators. Oddly, though, we have only ourselves to blame. Review of wildlife records in a number of states show that by the 1940s, river otters had been utterly wiped out in most parts of the country. There’s a reason for that. People recognized otters for the trouble they are and as a result went to considerable effort to kill every damned one of them.

For reasons I cannot comprehend, we have allowed a bunch of government workers to not only undo all of that effort on the part of our forefathers, but in doing so, hand us the bill for their misguided efforts. It is a most baffling situation. Perhaps not has nutty as supporting efforts to not utterly wipe out the polio virus, it stands to reason that there is a perfectly logical reasons that some forms of wildlife such as wolves and bison were killed off. The fact of the matter is that some critters do not have a place residing in close proximity to civilization.

B a ck in the early 1980s before the otter restoration program first got legs in the southern states, our rivers and streams had long be cleared of otter infestation. Insofar as otters were wiped out, they qualified for listing as federally endangered species in these states. Such designation automatically means that someone in the US Fish and Wildlife Service is assigned the task of exploring options to restore a species to its former range, which is what happened. Armed with a federal edict, this agency enlisted the cooperation of other branches of government such as the National Park Service and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. In no time flat there was a cadre of people making a living by undertaking the mission to make otters once again plentiful.

At the same time this was going on these same government agencies were up to their necks in the red wolf debacle that ended with predictable failure. Also then, I was outdoor writer for a number of newspapers in East Tennessee, including the Knoxville Journal, Morristown Citizen Tribune and the Kingsport

”THE MORE ‘OTTER IT IS, THE MORE ‘OTTER OTTERS LIKES IT” - BRIAN JACQUES



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Times. Considerable fanfare was made every time an otter was imported from the

swamps of Louisiana for release in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or some river in Tennessee. Having dealt with otter problems in southern Georgia where they had recently ruined fishing in a pond owned by my in-laws, from the very beginning, I publicly questioned the reintroduction of otters here.

Naturally I was ignored. The restoration program inched along slowly until the otter farmer in Louisiana who had been providing otters to the state and feds for release, announced he was getting out of the otter rearing business. He offered the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) a hundred or so otters for $100,000. In a sort of quirky way, TWRA is charged by the state to handle endangered species programs, but barely funded to do. At the time TWRA received roughly $50,000 a year to managed endangered species programs statewide. Revenue from license sales, which in those days accounted for most of their funding, was by law earmarked for the management of game and fish. In other words, license fee revenue could not be spent to buy the otters.

At the same time the National Park Service was puttering along with its otter restoration program, and much to the pleasure of some, otters released in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were

prospering beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. With considerable fanfare, but questionable legality in terms of where the money came from, TWRA bought the

Cajun otters. Within days of the arrival of the otters in East Tennessee these animals were released pretty much willy nilly. After all, who the hell really knew enough restoring otters to wild then to make more than a scientific wild ass guess (SWAG) as to where to turn them loose.

Faster than a hard frost wilts a tomato vine, ten or so other the newly released showed up dead, mostly as road kills, but a couple were shot, apparently mistaken giant weasels. At the time a nutty book titled 101 Uses For a Dead Cat was on the best seller list. Insofar as I was already embroiled in a word match with the TWRA and NPS over the red wolf introduction at Cades Cove where these hybrid coyotes had already turned a turkey farm in Townsend into their own private buffet, it seemed like a good idea to write a newspaper column titled 101 Used For A Dead Otter. As it turned out, this was not the clever idea I thought it would be.

The story ran, and the heavens opened up with mail to the publisher of my newspaper employer who, until that time, I was not sure even knew my name. A couple of days later in his office he had a stack of letters that were over an inch thick, slapping them on his desk while asking me why I wrote such a controversial column. Actually, it was not the

first leap into that sort of thing. TWRA had been working hard to get me fired for some time because I opposed a giant license fee increase. However, this time the heat was on.

One letter was on the letterhead of the Tennessee Orthinological Society and said, as I

”THE MORE ‘OTTER IT IS, THE MORE ‘OTTER OTTERS LIKES IT” - BRIAN JACQUES



quote, “Mr. Kirk should be doused in gasoline and set afire.” Hell, I was always of the opinion that bird watchers were pretty peaceful people. Actually, the publisher was somewhat amused, as many critics of the newspaper accused him of controlling the news. Now, to deflect such charges, all he had to do was point at me, his unrestrained loose cannon. As I exited with what remained of my buttocks, he said, “In the future if you decide to nuke any coyotes, run the story by me.” Thereafter, I resisted editorializing anything that was remotely radioactive.

My kids thought it was a funny, which so did I. They had a T-shirt made for me that read “Eat More Otter.” The lady at the T-shirt store thought it was in poor taste. I agreed, and decided I would not wear it to church on fellowship night. As with many things in life, this too passed and sooner than you might think, I was back to normal accusing the TWRA of secretly plotting to release kangaroos on Clinch Mountain in order to establish trophy rabbit hunting, and chastising the NPS for their disgraceful participation in the Operation Smokey sting.

A year or so later in April, I made a solitary hike up from the old parking area at Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to fish Fish Camp Prong. With a limit of rainbows, once down I found a patch of ramps that I plucked and then some morel mushrooms.

Reaching my vehicle, I spotted one of those faded green NPS trucks with three people at the back of it diddling with radio telemetry equipment. As I approached, we greeted each other. I asked if they were tracking bears, as it was the time of year that sows with cubs emerge from hibernation.

A pert little brunette told me no, that they were tracking river otters. To this I smiled and continued on. The lass then told me that if I would like to see a river otter, there one right there then on the side of the stream. Smiling, I responded, “Darling, I am probably the last person on earth who is interested in seeing a river otter.”

She eyed me up and down and then said, “Are you Mr. Kirk?”

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Flyfisher’s Guide to™ TennesseeBy Don Kirk

Tennessee has long hosted some of the United States' best big-brown-trout fisheries, yet somehow it has managed to stay under the radar. Until now. Long-time writer and flyfishing guide Don Kirk covers every-thing in his all new guide book the Flyfisher's Guide to Tennessee. Productive tailwaters like the Clinch River, South Holston River and Watauga River are covered in full detail, as are their tributaries and reservoirs. And Kirk goes well beyond the major drainages, deep into the Cherokee National Forest uncovering some gorgeous gems that will give up trout for days. From brook, brown and rainbow trout to bass and panfish, Kirk covers all the gamefish. Hatch charts, detailed maps, recommended flies, specialized tech-niques, accommodations, sporting goods and fly shops, restaurants and all other relevant information is included. Kirk gives you tips from a lifetime of flyfishing in Tennessee in this comprehensive volume. If you're ready to give the tailwater pigs a shot, or even if you just want to pluck some brookies from an idyllic mountain brook, you'll want this book. Tennes-see is the next great destination - get in while you can.

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PIGEON FORGE SEVIERVILLE: WORLD-CLASS BRONZEBACK TROUT

Thousands of miles of blue-ribbon trout streams abound in Southern Appalachia. From the wild trout streams in the Great Smoky Mountains

to the tail race rivers such as the Clinch, South Holston, and Watauga, fisherman can expect to catch large rainbow trout and even larger brown trout. But the true world-class fishing in East Tennessee has nothing at all to do with salmonoids. We are blessed with the finest stream bronzeback trout fishing in the world, an untapped resource that I discovered at the age of twelve.

When I was twelve years old, my family moved to a new home in Pigeon Forge. So I went from fishing the trout-laden bubbling brook of Roaring Fork in Gatlinburg to fishing the meandering West Prong of the Little Pigeon River in Pigeon Forge. We lived on the highest

point in our neighborhood, which saved us from the floods that plagued many of our neighbors when the West Prong overflowed its banks. I could look out my window and see the river snake through the cornfields that bordered my backyard. One day when the urge to fish hit (and trust me it hit often), I grabbed my trusty rod and reel that had landed thousands of trout and raided my dad’s tackle box and found a 4-inches long black Creme worm threaded with two hooks, a couple of beads and a propeller at the eye. Minutes later I was standing at a beautiful hole on the stream, less than 100 yards from my house; I spent a lot of time over the next five years casting into that honey-hole. That day, I cast toward the upper stretch of the pool and set my rod on a forked stick. Within moments, the tip of my rod began bouncing and a quick hook-set later, the fight was on. That

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GREG WARD



featurefish ran me all over the hole, executing leaps and jumps that would make a rainbow trout jealous. It pulled like a freight train and was so big that I had a hard time lipping it. Finally, I hefted the fish from the water and ran back home with a brown bass hanging from my rod. My Dad informed me it was bronzeback trout and a nice one at that. At the time, I had a 20-inch rainbow and a 22-inch brown in the freezer waiting to be mounted so I asked if I could add my bass. My dad said, “Ok,” and the bronzeback trout became my first trophy bass. Needless to say, I was hooked on bronzebacks after that. As a matter of fact, I still am. I have pursued the “bronze back” fish through eight states and Canada, fishing the top bronzeback waters. I can tell you straight up that the West Prong and the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Tennessee, offer some of the best stream bronzeback trout fishing in the country.

In order to conserve this unique fishery, in the late nineties I spent a lot of time and money to get a law passed to protect it. I spoke to audiences in Memphis, Chattanooga, Nashville, Knoxville, and Gatlinburg urging the Tennessee Wildlife Commission to write

and pass a law that would protect these fish for generations to come. My efforts paid off in 1998; one fish over 20-inches long is the rule in all of our waters. The days of seeing fishermen drag stringers hung with four-pound plus bronzebacks along our riverbanks during the spring spawn are over.

The law has definitely helped conserve and preserve a tremendous resource. My spin fishing clients expect to catch a few 4 pound to 6 pound bronzebacks and often do. I have been close to retirement on more than one occasion—a world record bronzeback trout is worth millions.

My best bronzeback weighed 9 1/2 pounds, but I’ve lost much larger fish that I know (had I landed them) would have broken the world record. In the late 90s, I caught a 28-inch fish in March that would have matched the Dale Hollow record had she had been fed up. We have the genetics, water quality, food supply and growing season to produce a world record. Our streams have a great year-round population of bronzeback and every stretch holds one or more big fish. The numbers explode in the spring during a spawning run that adds at least a 10 to 1 big fish ratio. The West Prong runs 7 degrees warmer than the Middle Prong so we actually have two runs. I normally get on large numbers of big fish in mid-March through mid-June. When the fish go to bed on the West Prong, I leave them alone and switch to the Middle Prong. I focus on transitional fish heading to and coming from spawning grounds. I try not to stress spawned out fish.

Fly-fishing for these monsters is quite an experience, and I’ve only landed a handful of five pound plus bronzebacks on my fly rod. The types of baits you use will dictate the size fish you catch. I use a 8 1/2’ 7 weight with a



2x to 0x leader when I’m after the big boys. An 8-to-9 foot long fly rod designed to cast a 5-or-6 weight fly lines tipped with a 3x leader works well when fishing smaller flies and popping bugs.

March to Mid-JuneOur spring bronzeback trout fishing is excellent. Thousands of world-class fish choke our streams on their annual spawning run. Fly-fishermen can expect to hook 20-inch

plus long bronzebacks with little effort, but landing these fish is quite a different story. The fish are not leader-shy so use 2x to 0x leaders if you want to land a big one. An 8’6” 7wt or 8wt rod is a must. My favorite big fish streamers are size 4 or 6 Muddlers and White Wooly Boogers. Large popping bugs and Dahlberg Divers are best on the surface. Nymph fisherman cannot go wrong with large hellgrammite and crayfish style imitations. You can drift hellgrammite patterns, but you need to strip crayfish creations.

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If big fish are not your priority and you are after sheer numbers, I recommend a 8- to 9- foot fly rod engineered to cast 6 weight fly lines sporting a 3x leader. Fish sizes 8 and 6 streamers. White, Black, Olive and Brown Wooly Boogers and Muddler Minnows are great. Nymph fishermen should stick with hellgrammite patterns but size down to match your tippet. Sizes 12 and 10 Prince, Pheasant Tails, and Black and Brown Stone Flies are hard to beat. Popping Bugs work great on the surface. I like to strip popping bugs on the surface and streamers below.

Mid-June to Late SeptemberSummer fishing is much the same as spring fishing. The numbers of fish drop off, but we have a good population of resident fish that rival the most popular bronzeback streams in the country. Warmer water and lower oxygen levels will push the bass in to the white water, so fish close to the riffles. I speed up my presentation to trigger a strike. My fly selection stays the same with the exception of terrestrials. Dry fly-fishing hoppers and cricket patterns can be a blast if the bronzebacks can beat the panfish to your offering.

Late September through NovemberNow is the time to fish your most colorful flies. The fall bronzeback run is much smaller than the spring run, but these fish are here to eat. Our waters are teeming with multitudes of minnows, insects, darters, crayfish, amphibians, and much more. Bronzeback are feeding up for winter and can be extremely aggressive. I am after large fish and use the same larger white Wooly Boogers and Muddlers although I add some red, orange, and yellow to the streamers. I use more colorful popping bugs as well. The leaves that choke the National Park also fill the West, Middle, and Little Pigeon proper. Once the canopy begins to fall, I switch most of my attention to bear and deer hunting.

Access to our bronzeback trout streams is easy. Sevierville has a nice, scenic river walkway along the West Prong that extends

from Sevierville City Park for several miles. RV parks and motels dot the banks of the Little Pigeon proper, and large retail store managers do not mind if you park in their lots as long as you ask. The Middle Prong is a little harder to access, but there are some pull-offs along Highway US 411 and 416. Within the Pigeon Forge city limits there are excellent bronzeback holes that actually transition with trout. Catching a four-pound bronzeback and a four-pound trout from the same waters is a goal of more than a few of my clients. Pigeon Forge has a river walkway with ample parking. The many hotels, motels, condos, cabins, and RV parks along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon in Pigeon Forge can offer a great day fishing while the wife is shopping or enjoying a trip to Dollywood.

Next time you plan a trip to the Smokies, bring your 9-foot, 4 weight fly rod to test the 800 miles of pristine wild trout streams. If you want to tangle with some of the finest river bronze back fishing in the world, do not forget to bring along an 8-foot, 7 weight fly rod t and some big flies and popping bugs.

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situational fly fishing in the great smoky mountainsWINTER FISHING

RON GADDY

O n November 16th at 7 p.m. I made my phone call to arrange a daily fishing trip with my fishing buddy Mr. Phil. The low temperatures had

been around 27 degrees, about 5 degrees below normal, and the highs were in the high 40s and low 50s. The forecast for the next day indicated the high temperature would be in the mid 50s and sunny. Without doing any further research, I was fairly sure the fish would bite as the water temperature warmed up. When Mr. Phil answered the phone, I asked him, “What do you think about fishing tomorrow?” After a short pause he replied, “It’s going to get too cold tonight and the fish won’t bite.” He opted out, so after we got off the phone I, and my hard head, went into a “deep study” about where I would fish the next day.

I met Mr. Phil in the creek about four years ago and we have been fishing together since. He is a 70-year-old true mountain man that has been fishing in these Smoky Mountain creeks for over 50 years. At 70 years old, he gets around the creeks much better than I do. He knows these mountains like the back of his hand. He knows where to fish, when to fish, and with what to fish. I’ve learned more from Mr. Phil about fly fishing then I could ever imagine. I’ve spent many hours sitting around a campfire listening to his captivating fishing stories that go back decades.

Living in the midst of the Great Smoky Mountains, the fishing options are endless. The most stressful thing in my life is deciding where I’m going to fish or what pattern I’m going to tie. As I came out of my “deep study” I decided that I would fish through the lower Cataloochee Gorge starting at the lower bridge located right above the confluence of Little Cataloochee and Big Cataloochee and fishing up to the lower Cataloochee campground. It’s about 12 miles and a 35 minute drive from my house. Having fished this mile-and-a-half stretch many times, I knew it would be about a 5 to 6 hour event. It was November and the days were becoming shorter, so I wanted to get in the creek as late as possible to allow the water to warm up and still have time to get back to my jeep before 5 p.m. One of the issues with fishing this stretch is once you have fished in a few hours you are committed to either Option A-fishing through until you get close to the road, Option B-walking back down the creek, or Option C-scaling the incline of the Gorge and bushwhacking your way up to the road. I always like Option A, and I do not recommend Option C unless you encounter a hard rain and the creek starts coming up. If you decide to fish this stretch, it would be a good idea to bring a fishing buddy. I recommend the water level being below 2.6 feet before you take on this fishery. Check the water levels at


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the USGS Water Data web site. It’s not for the faint of heart.

I woke up the next morning running through my normal fishing preparations in my head and as usual, just like a little kid at Christmas, was very excited to be fishing one of my favorite stretches of creek. Knowing it would be a few hours before the creek would warm up, I spent a couple of hours tying a few last-minute patterns and slowly loading up my jeep with all my normal fishing gear. Being primarily a nymph fisherman and in the middle of November, I went through my nymph box

making sure that I had all my proven nymph patterns and some new patterns that I wanted for my presentation.

As I finished my preparations I noticed the temperature was rising a little slower then I had expected. However, being in a time management situation, I decided to take a slow drive over to the gorge so I could be slinging nymphs by 11 a.m. I knew it would be an hour or two before the creek would start warming up, so I started my prospecting at a slow pace.

As I waded into the creek I could tell the water was fairly cold, so I decided to drop my stream thermometer in the creek to see if the water was warm enough for the fish to feed. Then I remembered that I had taken it out of my vest and had not put it back. I knew if the water temperature got up to 45 degrees or higher the fish would feed. Without a stream thermometer, I didn’t know when that would happen, or if it would, so I fished on. I was hoping that at some point during the day, the creek would get warm enough to catch a few fish.

After fishing for a couple of hours without a strike, I was beginning to think the fish had “The Lockjaw Syndrome” so I decided to put on a “Squirmie Wormy” pattern. I normally tie them on a size 14 nymph hook, about 3/4 of an inch hanging off both ends of the hook and wrap the hook shank with some red Ice Dub or UV Dub. This is a good way to determine if trout are feeding. If the trout are feeding they will take this pattern anytime of year. If they won’t take the Squirmie Wormy pattern, there is a good chance they are not feeding. I always fish with two nymphs and

situational fly fishing in the great smoky mountains



ended up with the Squirmy Wormy pattern on top and a size 10 Brown Stone on the bottom. I completed my fish through the gorge with only three strikes and all of them between 2 and 3 p.m.

It was a beautiful fall day to be in the creek and a very pleasant walk back to the jeep. During the 45 minute walk I had plenty of time to reflect on the days events. On days I don’t catch fish, I always try to understand why and document my observations. I remembered what Mr. Phil said, “It’s going to get too cold tonight and the fish won’t bite.” I was sure that Mr. Phil was right, but I wanted to verify that, so when I got home I went to the USGS Water Data web site to see what the daily water temperatures were at Cataloochee. As I scrolled down through the graphs and charts, there it was. It hit me in the face with a wet mop! The water temperature was from 38 to 42 degrees, which is not very conducive for catching trout. Although, it was a beautiful day in the creek, had I done a little homework, I would have probably opted to stay home and tie a few fly patterns.

Winter fishing in the Smoky Mountains can be very productive if you can be selective of your fishing days. I have caught most of my biggest fish during the winter months. The trout metabolism will slow during this time of year, however, and as a norm they feed less and for a brief time later in the day when the creek temperatures reach max. If you predict that the water temperature will remain below 45 degrees, then you might want to opt for a

fly tying day or fish a delayed harvest fishery. Hatchery trout seem to feed in colder water more then wild trout. If you do fish on colder days your best option is to fish the slower water in the sun. Keep in mind if there is a sudden drop in water temperature of 8 to 10 degrees, wild trout will most likely get “The Lockjaw Syndrome.” You can also choose fisheries that will tend to be warmer than others in the lower elevations. The good news is because of the low volume of food available and unfavorable feeding conditions in the winter, trout are not very selective. Some of my best fishing of the year is in the winter after a warm-up. If you have a night where the temperature stays in the 40s or above, you can expect trout to be feeding early the next day and feeding aggressively. They will take this opportunity to gorge as much protein as possible. A little rain will improve conditions even more. Fish Responsibly..

Contact Ron Gaddy at: [email protected]

situational fly fishing in the great smoky mountains


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Stoneflies can have a lifecycle of up to three years making them available for trout year round in the Great Smoky

Mountain streams. Although there are many species of stoneflies, the brown stonefly nymph is one of my favorite lunker producing patterns and has proven effective even during the winter months. I tie them in sizes 12 to 8 and they always have a place in my nymph box. I have seen brown stonefly larvae that would measure up two inches long in the spring and winter months. Stoneflies are clingers that crawl along the bottom of the creek to feed on vegetation and sometimes even other aquatic insects. Many end up in the drift providing easy pickings for a trout. For best results, your stonefly nymph presentation should be up and across allowing it to bounce along the bottom.

After adult stoneflies emerge they mate, and the females return to the stream surface to deposit their eggs. Normally, stoneflies will emerge by crawling up the stream bank to mate in the late afternoon or night making any emerger patterns pretty much ineffective. Female stoneflies tend to be clumsy as they try to deposit their eggs on the stream surface. They bounce, flutter, and splash around, sounding the dinner bell for the hungry trout. Various colors of stimulators work well for the adult

egg

l a y i n g f e m a l e

s t o n e f l y . Bouncing, shaking,

or skipping your dry stonefly presentation will sometimes provoke a violent strike by a top feeding trout. Stoneflies will emerge to adults at all times of the year, mostly from late spring to mid summer allowing for some good dry fly action.

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The water underneath the ancient sycamore tree was dark, and it swirled in a strong back current as the clear Ozark creek made its way

from the rugged highlands to the point where it merged with the White River several miles downstream. I had floated down to this spot, and I knew from the way the fish had bitten all morning that something nice had to be living under the roots of this old sycamore tree. I had just enough room for a short back cast with my five-weight fly rod. (I didn’t need to cast too far on this narrow Ozark creek) and I managed to drop my small yellow popper into the very back of the pocket where the water circled back to the main current.

As the little popper jerked and bumped on the surface, I saw two shadows emerge from the dark water and slowly rise toward the bug.

One was a small shadow, and one was a very respectable shadow. It was a race to see which shadow would win and get to the fake bug first.

The little shadow won. I quickly landed a small rock bass--or goggle eye-shadow bass--this panfish goes by many names. As I unhooked the quick little fish, I could see the big shadow hovering in the eddy where I first saw it. I made another short cast, and the popper landed a foot ahead of the big shadow. The big shadow slowly moved upward, and I could see that this was a very, very nice bronzeback. It stopped just below the fly, almost touching it, and then slowly finned around and sank back into the dark water. Five pound bronzebacks are not common on small Ozark creeks, and this was a “sho-“nuff” five pound fish. Big fish in small creeks don’t get big by being stupid.

arkansasBRONZEBACK TROUT IN THE OZARKS-SMALL CREEKS AND FEISTY FISHED MASHBURN



arkansasWhere Are These Creeks?A long time ago, the White River which runs across northern Arkansas and southern Missouri was famous for its bronzeback fishing. Float fishing and johnboats to navigate the rapid and rocky waters of the White River were born here. When the series of hydro-electric generating dams were built along the length of White River decades ago, the bronzeback fishery was wiped out in the White River because of the too cold water released from the dams. Rainbow trout, brown trout, and even brook trout anglers would say that it was a very good swap, because the White River became a world-famous cold water trout fishery.

However, for those of us who prefer warmer water bronzeback trout, there are still some places where we can find our preferred quarry. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of small streams which feed into the White River all along its run from northwest Arkansas across southern Missouri and down to Batesville, Arkansas, and almost all of the feeder streams have at least some bronzebacks in them. Some have lots of bronzebacks.

Probably the best known of the White River tributaries which has lots of bronzebacks is the Buffalo River. Thousands of floaters and

anglers travel down the Buffalo River every year, and there is some very good bronze trout fishing there. However, the Buffalo is not the only stream which has good populations of bronzebacks for anglers to pursue.

A good way to find good White River feeder creeks is to get a good detailed map of the area (Delorme makes excellent maps and charts) and look for little blue squiggly lines which end up in the White River. Quite often the small streams can be reached at bridge crossings, but some

may require a bit of a hike. Some are large enough for a canoe or kayak float, but some are only suitable for

wading and these are often the best streams.

Would you like for me to go ahead and tell you which streams are the best? Not on your life! Find them and fish them yourself just as I had to do! Just find a creek that feeds into the White River and work it; the fish will be there.

How to Catch Bronzebacks in the Small CreeksBronzebacks are predictable in one way,they love to eat crawfish. These little Ozark streams are full of rocks, and the rocks are home to tons of crawfish. Anglers, whether they prefer spinning or fly tackle, will not go far wrong using lures and flies which resemble small, two-inch long crawdads.



One of the absolutely best places in any Ozark stream to find bronzebacks stacked up and feeding is at the foot of riffles and rapids. Most of the Ozark creeks will have a deeper pocket of water where the water runs out after a set of rapids, and the fish will almost always be in this deeper water to take any food items which are washed down by the fast water. Fly anglers will want to use a sinking dark colored fly with a touch of orange or chartreuse and

let this fly sweep with the current as it moves around rocks, logs and other structure.

Of course, there is absolutely nothing like catching bronzebacks on popping bugs, and fly anglers can have a ball early and late in the day when the bronzebacks leave their deeper water holds and go actively searching for bugs which fall into the water from

vegetation above. Even smaller bronzebacks are fun on a fly rod.

Spinning gear folks will want to try short plastic worms in brown, black, and orange fished behind the biggest rocks in the pool. Don’t be in a hurry to get the soft plastic back. Let the bronzebacks have a good look at it. The bigger fish will often take the lure on the first cast, if they are going to take it at all, so be ready.

Another very productive way to fish the small Ozark Creeks for bronzebacks is to cast a tiny crankbait in crawfish patterns under overhanging limbs and bring the crankbait back among the rocks on the bottom. It doesn’t hurt a thing if the lure bumps into the rocks occasionally.

Of course, if things get really tough, the most sure- fire way to catch Ozark creek bronzebacks is to first catch a can full of crawfish and live bait fish. A two-inch crawdad on a small hook dipped into good pockets either on spinning or fly gear will work when nothing else will, but honestly, it is very rare to have to resort to live bait on most Ozark Creeks.

Best Times and Worst Times on the Small Ozark CreeksIn a perfect world, it would always be spring or fall when we go bronzeback fishing in the Ozarks. Late April and early May is a gorgeous time to be on the small creeks and streams in the hills, and when the dogwoods and redbuds are blooming, the bronzebacks tend to really fire up and bite well.

Late September through early November is a fine time, also. Floating leaves can be a problem in some stretches of the creeks, and if the summer has been dry, some streams may actually go dry in the fall. However, if the water is still flowing at all, bronzebacks tend to feed heavily in fall.

Winter is tough fishing for bronzebacks, and I never did much winter fishing for

arkansas



them. However, some of the very biggest bronzebacks of the year are caught in winter by old-timers who catch some crawfish and toss one on a hook into the deepest holes on the creeks. It is very slow fishing, but some real studs are caught this way. It’s just too cold for me.

Summer is a very off and on time of year for Ozark bronzebacks. After short rains, the fish will usually bite well for a day or two. When the water gets low and warm in summer, the fish usually don’t do much.

Anglers who visit the Ozark creeks in search of bronzebacks need to pay attention to the weather, whatever time of year they go fishing. These small streams are very prone to extremely fast rises after heavy rains, and flash-flood conditions can develop very

quickly. Even if no rain falls downstream, if a big gully-washer happens upstream, the water can rise and become dangerous very quickly. This is serious. Watch the weather forecast and pay attention to rapid rises.

And for a Special TreatFishing these small Ozark streams is a special thing, but sometimes great things get even better. If we wade or float one of these small feeder streams all the way down to where it joins with the White River, we can still catch bronzebacks, but we can very often catch rainbow trout and brown trout which leave the main body of the White River to go up the creek a little way to feed there.Now, this is a fine kind of fishing! When I can catch bronzebacks with the occasional rainbow and brown trout thrown in, that’s just about as good as it can possibly get.

arkansas



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GYPSY CAMPING IN ARKANSASLORA S. LA MANCE

We were determined to take a pleasure trip through Northern Arkansas, but our neighbors ridiculed the idea. Who ever

heard of humdrum villagers living miles from railroad or telegraph offices being in need of fresh air? Ten minutes’ walk in any direction would take one to a hazel patch or paw-paw thicket. Nevertheless, the merchant had grown pale behind his counter, the lawyer had pored over his books until his brain was tired, and we women had preserved and pickled ourselves into bundles of aches and cares.

We promised ourselves three weeks of rest to visit the Pea Ridge battle grounds, some far-famed springs, and the Arkansas backwoods. There were six of us in all, besides Harvey, our driver. We were to leave the beaten paths, so we prepared to carry supplies. We loaded

a covered wagon to the guard with tents, bedding, victuals and trunks. We strapped tent poles and frying-pans on the outside, we hung camp-kettles underneath, teakettles and oil-cans we stuffed into the feed boxes behind, and tied lanterns to the bows.

Into the two buggies went a full assortment of rubber over-garments and umbrellas, together with hammocks, baskets and guns that the wagon would not hold. The steady riding and camping for the first two days was new to the ladies, but was greatly enjoyed. The men, war veterans, at first took great delight in showing off. They built our fires and tried to show us how to fry the meat and toast the bread. But a few whiffs of smoke in their faces quenched their zeal, and the women were left to learn fire-place cooking as best they could.

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Editor’s note: Gypsy Camping In Arkansas is a reprint of an old article that ran in a 1911 issue of Forests and Woods Magazine.



featureThere was work as well as play in camping out. Tents had to be put up and taken down; horses fed, groomed and harnessed; and meals cooked with dishes washed and packed away. Yet, after all, our life was most exhilarating. We saw a thousand things to interest and amuse us. Every member of the party was in the best of spirits, and we had unbounded appetites in spite of smoky meat and leaves in the gravy.

We crossed the Arkansas line just below the hamlet of Caverna from the Ozark Mountain country of Missouri. Our road wound sometimes through broad reaches with fertile farms and comfortable houses on every side, but more often, it led us up lonely valleys or “hollers” in Arkansas parlance. Some of these bear such suggestive names as “Thief Hollow,” “Bear Hollow,” “Dog Hollow” and “Wolf-pen.” These narrow hollows were sometimes uncultivated, sometimes cut up into farms that rose like ribbons between the high wooded hills on either side, leaving barely room for the road.

In many places it was impossible for teams to pass each other, and we had to keep a sharp lookout. Each little log house we passed was guarded by as many as six wide-mouthed, lop-eared hounds, and a crowd of tow-headed children generally rushed out to get a look at us. Much of the state is well improved and cultivated, with schools and churches and an intelligent population, but it cannot be denied that the parts of the country remote from railroads and towns are inhabited by as shiftless-looking a set as the sun ever shone upon. Yet, they are the kindest-hearted and most contented people I have ever seen.

Their “range” cows and razor-backed hogs climb the steep hills like goats and are no

expense to the owners. The farmer has his little patches of tobacco, sorghum and corn, and a raw-boned mule or two. With cornbread, bacon, molasses and tobacco in plenty, what more could he want? His wife cooks at

the old-fashioned fire-place; the bedsteads, chairs and tables are of home manufacture. The bedsteads are often made of cross-pieces fitting into holes bored into the logs of the cabin walls and supported in front by two short

posts and a front bed-rail. Yet, the owners of such crude belongings never seem to think anything is lacking. We could not go to a house to buy milk or eggs without being greeted with a ringing “Howd’y? Take a cheer and hey off your things.” At parting, we were generally invited to “Come in and see us if you come this way ag’in.” Our first afternoon’s travel in Arkansas was up through one of the typical hollows; but the next morning we climbed up a long ridge, and before us as far as the eye could reach were level fields and orchards, dotted here and there with comfortable farm houses.

This was Pea Ridge, and very fair it looked to us after the brush and rocks of the cramped valley below. The men of the party, with that relish for reminiscence shown by all old soldiers, kept pointing out to us this and that road, up which this and that detachment had hurried during those fateful three days in early March 1862. At this farmhouse General McIntosh had died, and up yonder road the Confederate forces had retreated. Every eye was strained to catch the first glimpse of the battle monument, which we knew was not far away, and at noon we came to an open grove where, through the trees, we caught the gleam of polished marble. Ten minutes later the horses were quietly eating their corn



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featureand sheaf oats, while we gazed at the marble shaft, or explored the wood, too eager to eat just then.

The monument stands on the main battle-field, at the point where the victory was won. It was built by contributions from the soldiers of both sides and serves as a tribute of honor to the fallen brave and of reunited brotherhood of North and South. Each year the veterans of the Blue and the Gray meet together here to rehearse the history of that famous battle. The monument is about seventeen feet high. The two stories of the pedestal are of red-veined sandstone, most appropriately quarried from under the exact spot where Price’s Confederate battery was planted. The shaft is of gray granite crowned by a six-foot statue of Italian marble, representing an angel with bowed head and folded arms, holding in one hand a wreath of flowers. Carved on the gray granite are the most beautiful expressions of loyalty and brotherly love.

After traveling a few miles more, we turned our backs on civilization and started up a narrow valley that grew wilder and rockier as we advanced. It offered an alleged short-cut across country toward Eureka Springs, but if we were to travel in that vicinity again, we should choose the longer but smoother route. Night found us at the head of a little stream and our camping place was a paw-paw thicket. Poor as it was, it had to serve us for thirty-six hours, including a Sunday of rest. There was nothing to see, and to add to the discomfort, a chilly mist fell the whole time of our stay. Yet, we managed to keep comfortable.

Cots invited Sunday napping, a dry-goods box served for a center table. On it were magazines and a dozen books. Pie-pans were heaped with apples and oranges, peaches and paw-paw. The men rolled great logs together and set them afire. We roasted potatoes in the hot ashes and oh, how sweet they were! No oven ever gave such a flavor. At night we sat in our tent door in the light of the great

blaze and whiled away the time with songs and stories.

On Monday morning we proceeded. Our valley widened, and houses and orchards dotted the landscape. Fruit was the main crop here, and some enterprising soul had started a fruit evaporator, which we visited. The proprietor took as much pains to show us every detail of the preparing, bleaching and drying of the fruit as though we had been life-long friends, while his motherly wife invited us to her house and treated us all to handfuls of sugary evaporated pears. Two miles farther on, we came to Poor Mountain, memorable to us because here we first had to double teams to get up the grade.

During our entire trip we had to double teams a dozen times, and many more times all but the driver walked. This time, the mountain-climbing had the charm of novelty, and we trudged along in high spirits, while the heavy wagon behind was going bumpety-bump over the rocks while the kettles and pans within made noise enough for a brass band. Beyond the mountain rolled the White River, angry and muddy from recent rains. We crossed it without accident, though we were obliged to unload the buggies and raise the wagon box six inches by means of wooden blocks, to keep the water from wetting everything. Our road was now fearfully rough and tiresome, leading up what was called Cliff Creek, a narrow valley with few inhabitants. At one log we saw strings of red peppers hanging we stopped to buy some to flavor a stew, and the housewife gave us seven dozen whole red peppers for a nickel.

If everything else is in proportion, living must be cheap in that valley. The last six miles of the road were good, but there were no settlers. The valley here was not over a hundred yards wide, and on either side rose steep mountains, shutting us in from the rest of the world. Up the mountain sides and in the valley, trees were waving in the breeze,



the straightest, tallest, finest timber our party had ever seen. There were hundreds of oaks, pines, walnuts and shellbark hickories not less than a hundred and fifty feet high. Coming out of the valley we climbed a mountain so steep that our doubled teams came near stalling. Over the stones, up and up we climbed, and as the summit was gained a panorama was presented to our gaze that filled us with delight.

Behind, as far as the eye could range, stretched a sea of green, each billow of which was the crest of a mountain; before us and at either hand rolled the same sea, immovable, steadfast, yet with its undulating lines seeming ever in motion, Before us, in a valley, like a pearl in the heart of the seas, nestled the white city of Eureka, its topmost hill crowned by the massive Crescent building, looking like some pictured castle. Words are powerless to describe the attractiveness of that scene. The view alone repaid us for all our journey. Another hour’s drive brought us to the limits of the city. The first thing that caught the weary driver’s eyes was a stockade-like enclosure bearing a sign with STOCK YARD painted upon it in staring letters.

We were hungry and tired, and the men drove through the wide gate, glad enough to leave their teams to the yard-master’s care. Then we began to look around us. At the back of the enclosure were the stalls for horses, with water and feed at hand. The inside square was filled with wagons, buggies, etc., and as we looked about we discovered that one end of the stockade was

a frame building with a big sign which read on one side FIRST CHANCE SALOON, and LAST CHANCE SALOON on the other. What a place for a party of church members and ultratemperance people to stop! We got out of our difficulty by having our tents set up outside of the enclosure. There, with the pine-trees waving over us and the city in front, we spent several pleasant days.

Where the city of Eureka now stands was a wilderness twelve years ago. From the bosom of a lofty hill a great spring burst forth and ran in a silvery stream through a cleft of the

hills so narrow that it could not be called a valley. Generations ago, the Indians had penetrated this mountain fastness, and chipped a basin in the solid rock to hold the mineral waters. In July, 1879, an old hunter by the name of Jackson discovered the spring, a tradition of which still lingers in the old settler’s memories, and the discovery was at once blazoned to the world. Wonderful tales were told of almost miraculous cures by the use of the magic waters, and though the spring was in the wildest part of one of the wildest counties of the State, miles from railroads, almost without roads at all, yet it was the Mecca that drew thousands of sick and

curious from the adjoining country.

Today, Eureka has a railroad and a population of fifteen thousand. No pen can do justice to the city, so unconventional, so unique. From the bottom of the old natural cleft, now called Mud Street, the town rises in irregular terraces to the very mountain tops. With

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featurealmost incredible labor, each terrace has been blasted out on the one side and built up with solid masonry on the other. The roads, smooth as glass and level as a floor, except at the steep turns, wind back and forth from one terrace to another, like an interminable letter S. There are hundreds of beautiful houses in every style of architecture, and every lawn is gay with flowers. Truly, it presents a singular combination of wealth and art with rugged nature. The green-topped mountains are ever in sight, as are the ragged rocks now blasted to form high and frowning walls left in the thousand wild forms of nature’s mould.

One could hardly imagine a sharper contrast than appears between the finer buildings and streets and the sea of surrounding m o u n t a i n tops,some of which stand plainly out, as craggy and rough and nature-wild as when the Indian alone was here. It was with regret we bade farewell to Eureka and turned our faces toward the unknown Kings’ Valley and backwoods country. We passed over mountains that had ceased to be novel, through the sleepy little towns of Berryville and Green Forest, and jolted and bounced over the miserable roads that lead to Carrolton. I shall always have a lively remembrance of that little place, not for any merits of its own, but for the horrible roads that lead to it and beyond it, The only attempts at road-mending, even where the roads were worst, was the throwing up of immense

furrows right across the road, which gave one the impression of riding over graves.

Our second Saturday night found us, stiff with jolting, at the foot of an immense mountain we had just passed over, the wildest and most forlorn of spots. Nevertheless, our Sabbath was far from being the quiet day we had expected. The people of the neighborhood dropped in to see us by twos and threes—not from curiosity alone, but from friendliness. The sun never shone on kinder people than dwell in these Arkansas mountains. Many times we had difficulty to induce them to take pay for milk and such things, poor as they were. So it was now.

One man, an i n t e l l i g e n t one, too, very c o u r t e o u s l y urged us to put our horses in his field, pasture free, and promised if we would but stay another day to act as our guide to Pilot Knob, a mountain to our right that towered above the rest of the range, on the very top of which a strong

fortress appeared to have been built. It was hard to believe that this was the naked rock cropping out of the ground. The view was said to be grand, but we were tired of climbing and declined the offer with thanks. One gray-haired old lady came to see us and brought us a present of cucumbers and tomatoes. In return, we presented her with some mixed almonds and Brazil nuts. Neither she nor her grown daughter had ever seen any before, and the good old soul asked us what they



were. Indeed, we and our belongings seemed to interest the “natives,” as they called themselves, very much, and it seems to be a new and unheard of thing that seven people could be banging through the mountains merely for pleasure.

By Monday morning we knew the number of children at each house and all the other neighborhood news. We really hated to leave. Our roads were very fair, as we traversed a fertile, prosperous country. The metropolis of this back country, for a hundred and fifty miles in the interior, is Harrison—quite a pretty town of three or four thousand inhabitants. When we struck a town at meal time, it was always our custom to save work by taking our meals at a hotel. Harrison proved one of our lucky towns, and we were soon eating at an old-fashioned inn. We were a coldwater crowd, and the glasses the thrifty land-lady brought us were empty jelly schooners. Our driver boy, Harvey, was not used to them and in taking the glass rather suddenly from his lips, there came a report like a pop-gun, and poor Harvey’s face was bespattered with water. “We call them Methodist glasses,” said the landlady; “they are so fond of sprinkling. You needn’t mind, I’ve seen other folks beside you get red in the face.” And then the poor fellow turned redder than ever. I am afraid in spite of our good intentions, some of us laughed a little.

At this same inn, the porter was asked how many churches there were in town, and he astonished us by rattling off, “North and South, Old and New and Christian.” We thought it a remarkably concise way of designating the divisions of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches. It was at Harrison, too, that some one caught sight of our hammock stretchers and stopped us with, “Stranger, I don’t want to be inquisitive, but I want to know what them thar crooked sticks air fer?” Talk about questions, a Yankee can’t hold a candle to a genuine Arkansan.

Our next and last objective point was Yellville, thirty miles away. The first twenty miles of this were good, but the last ten were simply frightful. Up and down the mountains over ledge rock that spread out like stair steps. Loose stones and sidling places abounded without number. It was a torture to ride and a misery to walk. Five miles from Yellville, we passed a sign where the Y looked suspiciously like an H, and considering the road, we thought perhaps some wag had changed it. Yellville itself is a quaint, pretty place. It is the center of a lively cotton district. Here we women refused to go any farther. So, after taking a couple of days’ rest, we started homeward. Eight days of hard driving brought us to our own door, tired and travel-worn, yet fresher and stronger in spirit for our weeks of gypsy camping.

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FLY FISHING THE DUCK AND ELK RIVERSBOB SHANKS

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I live near Winchester, Tennessee, and the Duck and Elk rivers in South Middle Tennessee are my home waters. I love fishing them during the winter months

when cool/cold weather keeps fair-weather fishers off the water. Personally, I’d rather be fishing tree-lined, wind-shielded river bottoms in 50 degree weather than sweating in summer heat.

Both streams are stocked with seven- to twelve-inch trout by TWRA–the Duck below Normandy Dam and the Elk below Tims Ford Dam. Both dams were built by TVA in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and their tailwaters supply cold water suitable for trout. The Elk is cold enough year round. The Duck warms too much for trout during late summer, so it’s a late fall to early summer trout fishery. Fly fishing for sunfish is fun year round. A three or four weight rod is ideal for these streams. Anything heavier borders on overkill, in my opinion.

The Duck and Elk tailwaters have the appearance of low elevation creeks. They are generally shallow, moderate to slow flowing, and easy to wade. Their gradients don’t provide enough shoals and riffles for healthy naturally dissolved oxygen content. To compensate for this condition, TVA has installed oxygen enhancement systems at both dams, which have greatly benefitted both trout and aquatic insect habitats. Midges are

a dominant aquatic bug for food, especially during the winter months. Caddis, mayflies, and stoneflies may be seen during warmer weather, but the hatch is unpredictable and generally sparse. Nymphs and minnows are also important food all year.

Since I’ve already written more than I know about the hydrology and biology of these streams, I will turn to fishing them.

First, the Duck. This stream tends to show more color than the Elk. For some reason, the state has limited stocking to rainbows. The most popular access is gained at a paved public parking area four hundred yards below Normandy Dam. This site attracts bait and spin fishers, and it can be hard to find a fly fisher here to swap yarns. One can work downstream to get more privacy, but it requires a bit of bushwhacking. Another parking access is located at a second bridge about two miles downstream from the dam at the edge of the Normandy community. Movement up and down the river at this access isn’t easy, and wading isn’t as inviting in deeper water.

A popular access is found at Cortner’s Mill, about four highway miles downstream from the Normandy community. The river spills over the old dam site, and most of the fishing is done in an area 75 to 100 yards below the dam. Downstream access from this site requires more bushwhacking than most fly fishers will



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undertake.Interestingly, the Duck is known for its rich biodiversity and produces more aquatic insects than the Elk. Too bad it warms up too much to support trout during the summer months when it becomes a popular float destination for canoes and kayakers.

The Duck has been stocked in times past farther downstream at an area called Three Forks. The only dependable stocking sites in recent years have been just below Normandy Dam, Cortner’s Mill, and Dement Bridge.

Favorite flies for the Duck are #8 to #12 Woolly Buggers and #12 to #16 beadhead nymphs. Olive and brown buggers seem to work best, but white, yellow, and black also produce. Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail, and Prince nymphs work well. Bugger, soft hackle, and nymph creations tied by local fly fishers often work even better on both streams.

I’m partial to the Elk River. Except when there is a hard rain, it’s usually clearer than the Duck, and I find it more aesthetically appealing and trouty looking. More importantly, it supports holdovers from previous year stockers that have gone wild. It’s stocked with both brown and rainbow trout, and for the first time, some small brook trout were stocked in the spring of 2012. I have caught both brown and

rainbow trout up to eighteen inches that were as colorful, well formed, and strong as the pure wild trout I’ve caught in Montana. Don’t come to the Elk expecting to catch fish this size. They are rare, but they are being caught.

The most dependable stocking accesses on the Elk are the parking area at the Tennessee Highway 50 Bridge just below Tims Ford Dam and Farris Creek Bridge about nine river miles below the dam. The more adventurous fly fisher can be rewarded by bushwhacking, when necessary, a half mile or so up or downstream from the public accesses to locate productive runs.

I’m a subsurface, dead drift, strike indicator fisherman on these streams any time of the year. My favorite flies on the Elk are San Juan Worm and any nymph #12 down to #18. Freshly stocked trout tend not to be fussy. Midge patterns are especially effective, but I hold fewer trout stuck on #18 hooks, even seven inchers, than #14 or #12. I often fish two flies, a #14 to #18 beadhead nymph, any



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pattern and any color, tied under a #8 or #10 San Juan Worm or a beadhead nymph. Others have caught fish on nymphs tied behind Woolly Buggers.

I’ve done the best when using red, sparkle green, silver and gold midge droppers. Copper Johns have also worked well for me, especially the red wire body. I also fish a soft hackle as the bottom fly on occasion. The Woolly Bugger attracts big fish, but I prefer fishing the San Juan Worm, red or pink. The worm is less tiring to fish (all that stripping), and it has been my most effective big fish fly. It seems a favorite of brown trout of all sizes.

Dry fly fishing is done at times on both the Duck and Elk. I‘ve caught trout on the Elk using #18 and #20 Griffith’s Gnats and tiny Parachute Adams during heavy midge emergences when trout are seen “sipping water” in flat water, especially tailouts. This fishing soon tries my patience, and I return to subsurface. A trout will try eating an indicator on occasion, so it can improve your odds at times to use a high floating dry fly as a strike

indicator above a nymph. It’s always good to be prepared when hatches of other bugs are seen in warmer weather. Trout and sunfish can key on terrestrial imitations on these streams especially during those infrequent cicada emergences when the bigger fish feast on them. Hopper patterns can also be the ticket for bigger fish in warmer months.

If you enjoy seeing rainbows go airborne, I find they are more likely to jump when fishing the lightest tackle you can fish confidently. Personally, I’m not comfortable with a tippet smaller than 4X, but often go to fresh 5X, and occasionally 6X, when midge fishing although I know 6X or smaller is more appropriate for #18 and smaller flies.

CAUTION: I do NOT recommend fishing these streams when the flow is above 300 cfs. Wading can be tricky even above 200 cfs. Do check the predicted flow by going to the TVA website for these dams. And be warned that predicted flows often change. Fishers have drowned on these rivers from rapidly rising swift water. Heed the dam warnings!



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Get directions to these streams and the latest fishing conditions by calling Tims Flies and Lies Outfitters operated by Tim and Rhonda Page at Lynchburg, TN. The shop is well stocked with hot flies, accessories, and fly-tying material. They also offer resident and nonresident license and guide service. The shop is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. It’s open MTT from 11 til 5 and Friday and Saturday 9 til 5. Their phone during business hours is 931-759-5058




For Readers of Southern TroutFor a LIMITED TIMEclick here to enjoy this excerpt on the Rapidan River in Virginia from

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by Beau BeasleyISBN 978-1-892469-24-3208 pages8.5 × 10.875 in.Paperback • $29.95

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http://www.southerntrout.com/pdf/SouthernTrout-RapidanRiver.pdf


For Readers of Southern TroutFor a LIMITED TIMEclick here to enjoy this excerpt on the Rapidan River in Virginia from

• Signed and numbered with author bookplate

• Hardcover sewn bound• Silver-foil stamped cover and spine

• Silvered book edges• Satin ribbon marker• Retail $49.95

(dealer discounts available)

by Beau BeasleyISBN 978-1-892469-24-3208 pages8.5 × 10.875 in.Paperback • $29.95

Fly Fishing the Mid-Atlantic

Limited Collector’s Edition also available

This Limited Collector’s Edition of only 150 makes a great gift!

NO NONSENSE

FLY FISHING GUIDEBOOKS

Available through your favorite flyshop or direct from No Nonsense Fly Fishing Guidebookswww.nononsenseguides.com888-511-1530


It is very important that anglers clean their waders, hippers, wading shoes, and nets after each fishing trip. This aquatic biosecurity policy is primarily in response

to the range expansion of Didymosphenia geminate (Didymo) but pertains to other aquatic exotic species as well. Aquatic Nuisance Species have been found in many streams throughout North America. When leaving a stream/river or before entering another stream/river please follow one of the following disinfection options. For those attending our On-The-Stream Fly Fishing Schools or Guided Fishing Trips please take the time to disinfect your equipment/wading gear. Should you not have the resources available to disinfect your gear, please inform your guide prior to departure to the stream.

To date there are three streams in Virginia infected with Didymo: they are the Pound River, Smith River and Jackson River. Numerous streams in West Virginia and Maryland are affected as well.

Follow this link to listen to Harry’s Podcast on Aquatic Nuisance Specieshttp://blog.murraysflyshop.com/2010/05/invasive-species-cleaning-procedures/

featureCLEANING AND DISINFECTING FOR AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES

Disinfection Options – February 2010 (adapted from Biosecurity New Zealand/National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd.)

Treatment % Solution Formula Duration Gear to treatDish detergent

(Dawn or Palmolive)

5% 1 cup per gallon of water

Greater than a minute

30+ minutes for felt

All gear

Salt 5% 2 cups per 2.5 gallons of water

OR1 pound per 5 gallons water



Non-metallic items

Drying, Freezing Greater than 48 hours

Until frozen solid

All gear, Porous gear

Disinfection Methods and Gear Precautions

5% Detergent Solution–For a one or more minute soak. 1 cup Dawn or Palmolive dish detergent per gallon of water will be used. Felt soled waders and PIBS foam will have to soak at least 30 minutes or more. Soaked gear will be rinsed with tap water after soaking. Note: Organic/green type detergents have been found ineffective at killing didymo so please use the approved products.

5% Salt Solution–For a one or more minute soak. Felt soled waders will have to soak at least 30 min-utes or more. 2 cups of salt per 2.5 gallons water OR 1 pound salt for 5 gallons of water will be used. Gear will be rinsed with tap water after soaking. Rock, salt, water softener salt, or regular salt from Southern States will work.

PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES FOR BIOSECURITY



CLEANING AND DISINFECTING FOR AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES

HARRY MURRAY

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Disinfection Options – February 2010 (adapted from Biosecurity New Zealand/National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd.)

Treatment % Solution Formula Duration Gear to treatDish detergent

(Dawn or Palmolive)

5% 1 cup per gallon of water



All gear

Salt 5% 2 cups per 2.5 gallons of water

OR1 pound per 5 gallons water



Non-metallic items

Drying, Freezing Greater than 48 hours

Until frozen solid

All gear, Porous gear

Disinfection Methods and Gear Precautions

5% Detergent Solution–For a one or more minute soak. 1 cup Dawn or Palmolive dish detergent per gallon of water will be used. Felt soled waders and PIBS foam will have to soak at least 30 minutes or more. Soaked gear will be rinsed with tap water after soaking. Note: Organic/green type detergents have been found ineffective at killing didymo so please use the approved products.

5% Salt Solution–For a one or more minute soak. Felt soled waders will have to soak at least 30 min-utes or more. 2 cups of salt per 2.5 gallons water OR 1 pound salt for 5 gallons of water will be used. Gear will be rinsed with tap water after soaking. Rock, salt, water softener salt, or regular salt from Southern States will work.

PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES FOR BIOSECURITY



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W hen you first approach a Trout stream, it’s wise to stop and take some time to observe both the surface of the water and the air

above it to see if any of the various species of aquatic insects that inhabit that stream are presently hatching, or if there are any adult females of said species flying over the water to lay their eggs. If so, then your best option for selecting an appropriate fly pattern is to capture one of these insects and then choose an “Imitator” fly pattern that matches it as closely as possible in size and color (called “matching the hatch”). However, if there is no hatch presently happening (as is often the case when fly fishing on small streams here in western North Carolina) matching the hatch is not possible. Therefore, instead, try examining the streamside foliage (especially the undersides of leaves) to see what types

of adult aquatic insects might be available to the trout in the stream you are fishing and again, choose a fly pattern that matches it in size and color as closely as possible. However, if you don’t see any adult, aquatic, insects either flying over the water or resting in the foliage adjacent to the stream, then you might want to try prospecting with “Attractor” patterns instead.

Now, for those of you who are not familiar with this term, “Attractors” are fly patterns that imitate naturally occurring aquatic insects in shape and size, but are tied in bright, non-natural, color patterns that attract a trout’s attention and convince them to strike even though they have never seen a naturally occurring insect with that particular color pattern before. One possible reason for this behavior is that wild trout are opportunistic

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featureA NOVEL APPROACH TO FLY SELECTION

BILL BERNHARDT

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ambush predators, and as long as they are not feeding selectively on a particular species of insect either during a hatch or a Spinner fall, a hungry trout will often attack almost anything that looks both alive and edible. For instance, dry fly patterns such as the Royal Wulff, the Carolina Wulff, the Tennessee Wulff, the Red Wulff, the Yellow Wulff, the Green Wulff, and Humpies in red, yellow, and green are all examples of attractor patterns that work well on western North Carolina streams.

However, when there is a hatch coming off, the trout will see an over-abundance of nymphs, emergers, duns, and/or pupae of the same size and color drifting in the water column, and thus they tend to become very selective about the flies that they will take for the duration of the hatch. So, when trout are actively feeding on a hatch, it is very important to capture an insect and choose a fly that matches the size, color, and stage of the particular insect the trout are presently feeding on as closely as possible.

Yet, in my opinion, when novice fly fishermen (and even some experienced fly fishermen) read the more popular fly fishing literature presently in publication, they

are often misled into believing that they must carry numerous

fly boxes filled with every “Imitator” pattern available so that they will always be prepared for any hatch that they might encounter. In my experience, nothing could be farther from the

truth! Consequently, I have developed two separate fly

selection systems that I call the “Three-Color Attractor System”

and the “Six-Color Imitator System” that consists of

eighteen common dry fly patterns and that can easily be contained within a single fly box. Thus, by employing

these two, simple, dry fly selection systems, I can use

my “Imitators” to effectively cover any hatch that I might

encounter during the morning and evening hours on our

local trout streams and still have the flexibility to prospect with “Attractors” during the intervening late-morning through

afternoon hours.

The Three-Color Attractor SystemFor reasons that are not entirely

clear, trout will often strike a brightly colored May Fly, Caddis Fly, or Stone Fly pattern that does not closely resemble any fly that they are commonly used to seeing. Also,

for reasons that are not entirely clear, trout seem to

be attracted to certain colors.



featureTherefore, when choosing “Attractor” fly patterns, I use my “Three-Color Attractor System.” As the name implies, this system consists of the three colors trout seem to be most attracted to and which consists of flies that are predominately red, yellow, and green. For instance, the Royal Wulff (red floss), the Carolina Wulff (yellow floss), and the Tennessee Wulff (green floss) are fly patterns that are quite possibly the most productive “Attractor” dry fly patterns ever designed. Each of these patterns is tied such that it resembles an adult May Fly in shape, but there are no naturally occurring May Flies in existence that actually exhibit the color combinations presented by the dark green, iridescent, peacock hurl and red, yellow, or green floss combined with white wings that these fly patterns present. Each pattern has proven to be absolutely deadly for me on both wild and stocked trout here in western North Carolina. In addition, Red Wulffs, Grizzly Wulffs, and Green Wulffs as well as red, yellow, and green Humpies are also effective “Attractor” patterns for fly fishing here in western North Carolina. Thus, at times when aquatic insect activity appears to be at a lull, such as the mid-morning to late afternoon hours, it is often helpful to use an attractor pattern in one of the above mentioned colors as a “search” pattern in order to find actively feeding trout. Thus, my favorite selection of flies for my “Three-color Attractor System” consists of Stimulators in red, yellow, and green (or olive), as well as Royal Wulffs, Carolina Wulffs, Tennessee Wulffs, and Red Wulffs, Yellow Wulffs, and Green Wulffs in sizes 12 and 14. In addition, it is helpful to realize that this three-color attractor system can also be applied to other types of fly patterns such as nymphs or streamers in order to help you locate actively feeding fish that will not respond to a dry fly.



feature featureThe Six-Color Imitator SystemOn the other hand, while it seems to me

that the large majority of the presently published fly fishing literature either overtly or inadvertently emphasizes the need to carry a selection of flies that imitates the prevalent hatches on a given

stream as closely as possible, in my opinion, this approach is not absolutely necessary.

So, while there certainly is merit in this approach, most of that literature is written by fly fishermen who regularly fish large and/or famous streams on which the aforementioned hatches of a specific species of aquatic insect

hatches at the same time each month (and even at the same time each day!) every single year. However, such is not the case with the small, mountain, streams here in western North Carolina. Instead, it has

been my observation that most of our aquatic insect hatches seem to be nocturnal

occurrences, and thus day time hatches are irregular and sporadic at best. So, instead of focusing on selecting specific fly patterns to match individual species, I prefer to use my “Six-Color Imitator System” instead. With this system, I focus on choosing fly patterns in

six basic colors consisting of cream, yellow, green, gray, brown, and black. Thus, by carrying a selection of dry fly patterns in these six basic colors in sizes 12, 14, and 16, I can usually match any hatch I may

encounter in both color and size closely enough to catch trout rising selectively to any May or Caddis Fly hatch. Therefore, the fly patterns that I use to comprise this six-color system are as follows: Light Cahill’s, Sulphur Duns, Blue Winged Olives, Female Adams, March Browns, and Black Gnats. Also, if you have hatches of large, Green Drake May

Flies in your area, then you might want to carry some Eastern Green Drake patterns in a size 8 or 10 as well. In addition, most swiftly flowing streams here in western North Carolina harbor large populations of Caddis Flies. Thus, a selection of Elk

Hair Caddis patterns in yellow, green, gray, brown, and black is also essential to have along.



TerrestrialsIn my opinion Terrestrials are also a very important part of any small-stream dry fly system since all of the trout streams here in western North Carolina are heavily shaded with dense streamside foliage. Thus, during the warmer months of the

year, terrestrial (non-aquatic) insects are continuously falling from the streamside foliage into the stream. Therefore, I would also recommend carrying a selection of crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, bumble bees, Yellow Jackets, and large, red, ants in sizes ranging

from 8 to 12 in a separate fly box. In addition, it is very important to keep in mind that during non-hatch periods, larger trout often prefer larger meals, and thus the larger the fly you use when prospecting, the larger the trout you are

likely to catch. In fact, the analogy that I use to convey this concept to my clients is

to imagine the current as a floating menu in an underwater restaurant. Consequently, all a trout has to do is select what it wants to eat,

and then enter the current and snatch it off of the menu. Thus, if you were presented with the choice of a free McDonald’s cheeseburger or a free 20 oz. steak dinner, which one would you choose? Right! Therefore, this train of thought is

why it’s often helpful to use larger May Fly, Caddis Fly, and Terrestrial fly patterns

during non-hatch periods to help entice the trout to come up to the surface for your dry fly. So remember; think steak dinner instead of cheeseburger!

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(for iPhone) or Google Play (for Android)

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featureFISHING FROM A TUBE

LARRY REA

One of the nation’s hottest-selling fishing vessels has no horsepower rating, requires no trailering and relies on air to keep it afloat. On top

of that, it’s cheap . . . and fun. More and more float tubes, or belly boats, are showing up in streams and small ponds across the Memphis area, including the cold-water portion of the Spring River that flows near this historic town in northern Sharp County.

‘’Unless you try it, don’t laugh,’’ said Stewart Bronson of Memphis, who has been a float tuber for years. ‘’Some of my best friends didn’t understand float tubing . . . until they tried it. Then, a lot of them went out and bought one.’’

Float tubes, which range in price from $80 and up with the average about $350, have been around for years, but have become popular in recent years due to their ability to get into areas unsuitable for larger boats. One of those areas is the Spring River, especially that portion that flows from Mammoth Spring State Park near the Arkansas-Missouri border to Hardy. This is where floaters share the water with canoeists and kayakers.

At Bronson’s urging, I gave the sport a try several years ago, slipping my recently purchased float tube into the back of my truck and headed for one of his favorite Spring River fishing spots. The air temperature was close to 90 as my day of fly and spin cast fishing on the river began. The water temperature was–as usual–58 degrees. There’s no getting around the fact that the Spring River is chilly. After all, 9 million gallons every hour of 58 degree water is hard to ignore. That’s the volume that flows out of nearby Mammoth Spring, making the Spring a year-round float stream and allowing the river to be regularly stocked with rainbow trout.

The likelihood of catching a lunker trout on



featurethe Spring is minimal, but what the fish lack in poundage by comparison with trout fishing on Arkansas’s White or Little Red rivers is compensated by the fierce fight that the fish can wage. There’s no battle like that between a trout and an angler fishing out of a float tube. For this is when you get eyeball to eyeball, or face to gill.

‘’Sometimes, you’re actually right at the fish’s level,’’ Bronson, who is semi-retired from the sporting goods business, once told me with a laugh. ‘’That’s one of the reasons it’s so much fun to fish out of a float tube.’’

Prime Spring River float areas are from the base of Dam 3, a former hydro-power structure, to Many Islands Camp, a private campground located between Hardy and Mammoth Spring, about 2 1/2 miles west of U.S. 63. One of my particular favorite places to fish is that portion of the Spring upriver from Many Islands where not only 2-plus pound rainbow trout roam, but also pole-bending smallmouth bass and an occasional walleye.

The cool waters and scenery of the Spring River, however, help offset the work that goes into reaching some of these against-the-current fishing hot spots. Clear water, overhanging trees and occasional wildlife make the Spring a scenic float. The float tube enables me to silently slip into prime fishing areas. But first, you’ve got “kick” your way up river through the current to reach these areas. Using scuba diving-like fins, anglers are able to maneuver the tube up river. The fins, or flippers, help keep the tube in line.

At these times, float tubing can become a test of endurance; man against current. Expect a few sore muscles the day after a float fishing trip. Yet, there is a plus side to the work that goes into tubing. To fish from a float tube is like spending a few hours in your favorite easy chair. Most are that comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that if the fish aren’t biting, you can always catch a few winks of sleep.

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‘’I’ve almost gone to sleep fishing,’’ Bronson told me with a laugh. ‘’This is especially true at this time of the year when it’s so hot and the water is so cool. If you get out of the current and the fish quit biting . . . .’’

It is the return trip that makes the float tube so enjoyable. You simply maneuver the tube into the current and let it float to your return destination. However, a word of warning: watch out for submerged rocks.

Bronson, whose family opened Tommy Bronson Sporting Goods in Memphis in 1926 (the store recently moved to a new location at 964 June Road in East Memphis, 901-761-9133), said, “I’ve kicked a few rocks. I know where most of them are in the river, but they still trick me every once in a while.’’ Bronson is one of those tubers who has mastered floating over waterfalls, for which there are many on the Spring River. Most of them are

small . . . but they can be tricky to maneuver in a float tube.

Using a float tube isn’t for everyone. But, if you like water and the possibility of being close to some quality fishing areas, then I suggest you give it a try. I did, and I’m still kicking.

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On the banks of East Tennessee’s Clinch River, is a secluded yet

accessible superb fly fishing spot – the Clinch River House.

Our 8-acre location features a fully furnished main house, cabin and pavilion, and is the perfect setting for families, groups, reunions, weddings, corporate meetings and other events.

Book your relaxing return to nature today!

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For more inFormation call: 1-865-250-9361

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If you’re looking for a sure fired cure for cabin fever, make the trip to Winston Salem, North Carolina for the biggest fly fishing show in the South. Aptly named

“The Fly Fishing Show,” it will be held at Winston-Salem’s Benton Convention Center on the weekend of February 9 and 10, between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm. The show is a gathering place for fly fishermen to meet guides, fly shop owners, fly tyers, book authors, resort operators, and manufacturers of everything from fly lines and waders, to float boats and the hardiest fly tying materials.

Back again this year to the Carolina show is the popular International Fly Fishing Film Festival. One night only, Friday, January 4 at 6:30pm, tickets are $15 at the door or $10 in advance or with a paid Fly Fishing Show admission for that day. Throughout both days of the show there is much to learn at seminars held at the show. Here’s the entire show schedule:

2013 FLY FISHING SHOW IN WINSTON-SALEMnews

JEFF KIRK

SATURDAYCATCH ROOM 10:30 Eric Stroup – Approach Angles and the Delivery12:00 Joe Humphreys – Nymphing the Mountain Streams North Carolina to Pennyslvania1:30 Lefty Kreh – Taking Better Fishing Pictures with Phone or Any Camera3:00 Henry Cowen – Carp 101

RELEASE ROOM 10:00 Jim Casada – Specks in the Smokies11:30 Bob Clouser – All Bass and their Waters from A-Z 1:00 Bob Popovics – Bait Profiles and Fish Blitzes2:30 Jim Casada – My Top Five – The Finest Streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park4:00 Gary Dubiel – Saltwater Slam on North Carolina Neuse River

SUNDAYCATCH ROOM10:30 Henry Cowen – Carp 10112:00 Joe Humphreys – Nymphing the Mountain Streams North Carolina to PA1:30 Lefty Kreh – Taking Better Fishing Pictures with Phone or Any Camera3:00 Eric Stroup – Approach Angles and the Delivery

RELEASE ROOM 10:00 Jim Casada – My Top Five–The Finest Streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park11:30 Bob Clouser – All Bass and their Waters from A-Z1:00 Bob Popovics – Bait Profiles and Fish Blitzes2:30 Jim Casada – Sixty Years in the Smokies–A Fly-Fishing Fool Looks Back



2013 FLY FISHING SHOW IN WINSTON-SALEM

SATURDAYCasting with Joe Humphreys – Learn the effortless techniques that will improve your fishing from a legendary instructor. All levels.

Fly Tying with Bob Clouser – Tie Bob’s best patterns that have made his flies world famous. Learn the real techniques from the originator. Intermediate.

Fly Tying with Henry Cowen – A comprehensive class covering a variety of natural and synthetic materials for Henry’s best fresh and saltwater patterns. Intermediate.

TFO’s Queens of the Streams, Tracey Stroup and Wanda Taylor - Learn exercise and technique enhancement for pain free casting, walking, and wading. Stay in the game with injury free fly fishing. Improve your casting precision and distance through proper body mechanics and techniques. All Levels.

news

SATURDAY10:00 Fishy Fullum – New Creative Creatures11:30 Ben Furimsky – Tying Articulated Streamers1:00 Henry Cowen – Hybrid Tying – The Perfect Blend2:30 Bob Clouser – Clouser Minnow and More4:00 Bob Popovics – Tying with Flyeye Foils

SUNDAY10:00 Bob Popovics – Tying with Flyeye Foils11:30 Eric Stroup – Stroup’s Favorite Guide Patterns1:00 Henry Cowen – Hybrid Tying – The Perfect Blend2:30 Bob Clouser – Clouser Minnow and More

FEATURED FLY TYERS

CASTING DEMONSTRATIONSSATURDAY10:15 Prescott Smith and Ian Davis - Casting in the Wind and Other Difficult Casts12:00 Lefty Kreh – Correct Casting Steps2:15 Joe Humphreys – Casting to Catch4:15 Bob Clouser - Casting Heavy Flies

SUNDAY 10:15 Prescott Smith and Ian Davis – Casting in the Wind and Other Difficult Casts11:45 Lefty Kreh – Correct Casting Steps1:15 Joe Humphreys – Casting to Catch2:45 Bob Clouser – Casting Heavy Flies

CLASSES WITH THE EXPERTS

FEATURED FLY TYERS

l- Fishy Fullumr- Henry Cowen



SUNDAYCasting with Bob Clouser – The class will cover getting better distance with your double haul, how to cast weighted flies, sinking lines and shooting heads. Bob does it all. Intermediate.

Tying and Nymphing with Joe Humphreys – Joe is considered fly fishing’s finest nymph fish-erman and he’s ready to show you why. Learn tying, rigging, and techniques. Intermediate.

Women Only Fly Casting with Wanda Taylor – Join this all women’s class to learn proper basics and improve your fly-casting. All levels.

Additionally, the show will feature fly tying classes. Most of these tying classes require some tying experience, and others may require more. Beginners are welcome, but be prepared for more than basics. All students must bring their own tying vise, tools, lamp if needed, and a sampling of materials. Most classes will provide adequate materials for the patterns being taught. There also will be Casting Classes, so be sure to bring your own rod, reel and line. To ensure quality instruction, class size is limited. Call for more class descriptions or availability. Classes will fill and close, so register early. The tuition charge of $80 includes admission to the show for that day. There are no refunds unless the class is canceled. You MUST register in advance. Credit cards accepted. To register or for more information call 866-481-2393 or click here for convenient online registration.

Admission to the Fly Fishing Show in Winston-Salem for adults $15 for one day (there is a $25 for two-day pass). Children under 5 years old get in free, and those under 12 pay $2. Boy Scouts under 16 in uniform get in free, and Active Military with ID pay $10 for admission.

CLASSES WITH THE EXPERTS

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2013 SPEAKERS



2013 SPONSORS

2013 MAJOR SPONSORS







2013 SPEAKERS



2013 SPONSORS

2013 MAJOR SPONSORS






Tommy Lawhorne, fly rod in one hand while the other hand gathered up spare fly line, watched his trout fly intently as it bounced along

downstream. As the fly passed a half-submerged log, I watched the surface of the water break and Lawhorne’s fly rod bend in response to the hungry fish at the other end of the line. After a brief tug-of-war, Lawhorne lifted from the water a beautiful brown trout with a golden brown back and blue-red haloed spots on its belly. I just shook my head and wondered what I’d done wrong. I’d fished some of the same water only moments ago; how had he wrangled this brown trout from under my very nose? Lawhorne just smiled. “Don’t take it so hard, Beau. I’ve got the home court advantage here,” he said graciously. “Stick around for the rest of the day, and I’ll teach you how to battle the local trout,” he promised. “It’s what we do here in Waynesboro.”

Local trout—in Waynesboro, Virginia? Yes, indeed—for Virginia’s South River runs right through town. Home to healthy brown trout, sleepy little Waynesboro is named for Revolutionary War hero Major General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, who hailed from Pennsylvania originally and rose to prominence in command of the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment. Wayne distinguished himself in many Revolutionary engagements and is credited with leading forces in New York and Virginia as well as in the Keystone State. He survived the famously harsh Valley Forge winter alongside General Washington and was known as a fierce fighter, earning his thrilling nickname when he led a daring and successful midnight bayonet charge against superior British forces at the battle of Stony Point in New York.

Waynesboro itself saw nearby military action in the American Civil War. In

the spring of 1865, Union Major General Phil Sheridan was on the march from Winchester with his army, hoping to meet up with General Sherman on his famed “March to the Sea.” Sheridan, along with a flamboyant young Brigadier General named George Armstrong Custer, slammed into Confederate forces led by Lieutenant General Jubal Early just outside of Waynesboro in the spring 1865. Early arranged his men slightly in front of the South River just outside of town where his field pieces could defend their position against the Union assault. Unfortunately for Early, he left his left flank exposed—a fatal mistake that Sheridan exploited. In the end Early and his staff escaped, but 1,500 Confederate soldiers eventually surrendered to Sheridan in what was the last major Civil War engagement in the Shenandoah Valley. The Business of ConservationWaynesboro, a thriving small town just 30 miles west of Charlottesville off of I-64, is quietly making a name for itself among fly

BEAU BEASLEY

FLY LINES AND WINE: A LOOK AT THE VIRGINIA FLY FISHING FESTIVALnews



anglers. The Old Dominion is blessed with a lot of good trout water, but fly anglers and wine lovers—and especially fly-angling wine lovers—have flocked to the South River and the City of Waynesboro in recent years. Why? Because every April Waynesboro hosts the Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival (VFFF) on the banks of the South River. Certainly the festival had its naysayers in its infancy; many locals struggled to see any economic value in a river that in an earlier era had been heavily polluted by local industry and that has overrun its banks periodically following significant storms. Today the festival is the largest outdoor fly fishing event in the country and has made humble Waynesboro a successful ecotourism destination in its own right.

Waynesboro is one of only two urban trout fisheries in the Commonwealth, so it is perhaps fitting that the VFFF was founded in

1999 not by fishermen or conservationists but instead by the nonprofit

Waynesboro Downtown Development Incorporated

(WDDI). After all, these

businessmen and women reasoned, the South River runs right through the city’s downtown and adjacent to one of its parks. Why not highlight the trout stream as a tourist attraction? What began that spring as a simple affair with a few curious onlookers has become an enormous draw for fly angling tourists. Some festivalgoers travel from as far away as New York and Georgia to learn more about the quiet sport of fly fishing. And the outdoor enthusiasts who visit Waynesboro for the festival often fall in love with the happily situated town, frequently returning to support businesses like the South River Fly Shop and the Speckled Trout B&B. Anglers love to put up at the Speckled Trout, and not just because of the fly-fishing-themed décor: The friendly proprietors of the comfortable inn Jim and Kay Heafner, love to point visitors to other local attractions like the Wayne Theatre and the local vineyards. Not long after its inception, the festival committee cast a wider vision for their event than just the economic development of downtown Waynesboro. For this reason the committee earmarks half of all festival profits to conservation efforts on the South River (while remaining funds promote the following year’s festival). Though many who drive through town don’t know it, the VFFF and the local Shenandoah Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited collaborated to install the rock structures in the river visible from

the road. These rock formations provide not only provide good habitat and

shade for the local fish but stability to the river banks. The river’s

current striking the rocks also increases the oxygen level in

the river.

Learning Can Be FunWhat is good for

aquatic habitats

Rock structures in the South River aide in providing good habitat for the South River trout.

Photo by Beau Beasley.

FLY LINES AND WINE: A LOOK AT THE VIRGINIA FLY FISHING FESTIVALnews


newsalso happens to be great fun for fly anglers and their families. To broaden the festival’s appeal to anglers and non-anglers alike, the festival includes wine tasting from eight of Virginia’s top wineries as well as live riverside music. In this way, the festival becomes an event that the entire family can enjoy.

Orvis, arguably the best known name in fly fishing, was an early supporter and has a large presence each year. Duber Winters, manager of the Orvis Company Store in Woodbridge, loves the concept of on-stream casting instruction and knows his customers like the idea too: “Orvis is proud to be a sponsor of the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival. This event is a perfect marriage between fly fishing and fine wine,” he says. “Throw in

some great food and nice people, and you have one heck of a weekend on your hands.” Rick Pope, owner of rod manufacturer Temple Fork Outfitters, agrees. “We love coming to the festival each year. It’s a great place to showcase our rods and we enjoy spending time with the public.” Pope flies in from Texas to attend the event each year: “To be honest, the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival is one of the best fly fishing events I have ever seen anywhere.”

Subaru, perhaps better known for its commitment to all-wheel drive vehicles than to fishing, joined the ranks of festival sponsors as the Official Festival Vehicle in 2010. Company staffers genially invite attendees to check out the latest Subaru models—brought right to the festival grounds for their convenience—and then direct questions to Ray Smit, the local Subaru representative. Though Subaru doesn’t sell models painted to look like trout, Smit does give away a few custom-made popping bugs—crafted exclusively for Subaru by Walt Cary of Walt’s Poppers fame—to customers. These one-of-a-kind poppers are hand painted with actual Subaru colors and, like all Walt’s Poppers, are tough as nails and built to be fished.

Good Water, and the Gear That Loves ItMany who are interested in the quiet sport of fly fishing simply don’t even know where to begin: What rod do I use? How do I cast it? What do I tie on the line? And where can I find fish? Experts at the festival seek to answer all these questions and more. Attendees can get casting instruction from some of the best fly casters in the world. Those entirely new to the sport can find rod, reels, flies, fly lines, and waders from large manufacturers like Orvis and from family-owned operations like FloatMaster Products, which offers an innovative line of indicators created by owner Steve Vorkapich. Steve also gives a class on how to use his indicators which has proven to be very popular.



news



newsFor a mere $5 raffle ticket, lucky winners could walk away with unbelievable gear packages worth more than $400. One lucky winner will go home with a four-day, three-night trip to fish either the Jackson River in Virginia or the South Fork of the Snake River in Idaho compliments of Natural Retreats, which offers luxury accommodations in exotic fly fishing locations all over the world. This is a company that thinks of everything: the streamside lunch midway through your guided fishing trip, or the bike ride over bucolic countryside that your non-angling spouse might enjoy. Natural Retreats helps guests craft an entirely customized vacation in some of the most beautiful spots in the world.

Those who wish to stay closer to home can book at trip with one of the many guides who attend the event from across the Mid-Atlantic. Brian Shumaker, for example, could float you down some prime Pennsylvania fly fishing water. Kayak expert Cory Routh offers a guided adventure near Virginia’s Back Bay, while Harold Harsh of Spring Creek Outfitters is a trout aficionado with insight in to great waters of Maryland. Looking for smallmouth bass? Brian Kelly of the Angler’s Inn can put you on excellent smallies near his home waters of Harper’s Ferry. West Virginia.

Some attendees come to the festival just to meet and listen to acclaimed fly angler Lefty Kreh; others come to take fee-based casting instruction directly from famed instructors Bob Clouser and Ed Jaworowski. Women will enjoy master casters Wanda Taylor and Tracey Stroup, who teach them not only how to cast but also how to stay healthy and strong, how to prevent injury, and how to compensate for previous injuries which might otherwise keep them off the water.

Fly tying enthusiasts can learn from Mike Smith of Flymen Fishing Company, whose smallmouth patterns and tying techniques are instructive for novices as well as veteran tyers. Captain Tommy Mattioli, a favorite among saltwater fly tyers, enjoys introducing fly tying to children and even allows them to tie with him with parental permission. Staffers from Montana Fly Company display the company’s latest patterns and fly boxes and more. Not to be outdone by the talented tyers, outdoor artists grace the festival grounds with their captivating, fly-fishing inspired artwork.

Fly fishing remains shrouded in mystery to too many would-be enthusiasts. Among the goals of the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival is to demystify the quiet sport so that the next generation of anglers finds it less daunting and more fun. Many who have attended the festival on a whim find that for the price of admission (which includes wine tasting, for those aged 21 years and older), a whole new world has opened up to them. They may never fish the South River like a local, but they’ll never be intimidated by a fly rod again.



Beau Beasley (www.beaubeasley.com) is an award-winning conservation writer and author. His work appears in fly fishing publications throughout the country, and we’re happy to have him as a regular contributor in Southern Trout.

news


http://www.beaubeasley.com


John BerryLocated in Cotter, Arkansas, “Trout Capital USA,” John Berry provides wade and float trips on the White, Norfork, Spring, and Little Red Rivers for trout and Crooked Creek for Smallmouth Bass. A retired CPA, he has been a professional fly-fishing guide in the Ozarks for almost two decades. An active conservationist, he has taught fly fishing and fly casting at a long list of colleges and events.

contributorsBeau Beasley, Virginia EditorBeau Beasley is a well-known name among readers of fly angling magazines. His work has appeared in nearly every major fly fishing periodical in the country. He is the author of Fly Fishing Virginia. Recently he won the Talbot-Denmade Memorial Award for Best Conservation Article from the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association for his investigative piece “Where Have All The Menhaden Gone?” He’s also the director of the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival www.vaflyfishingfestival.org and lives with his wife and children in Warrenton, VA.

Bob Borgwat, ColumnistBob Borgwat, 55, leads the team of Reel Angling Adventures at ReelAnglingAdventures.com as owner, administrator, webmaster and guide. His freelance writing, editing, and photography covers fishing across the US, but his daily piscatorial adventures take place with fly-rod in hand just outside his doorstep in the southern reach of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. He is a former senior editor for Game & Fish Magazines, Primedia and Intermedia Outdoors, and is an active member of the Georgia Outdoor Writers Association.

David CannonDavid was previously a full-timer in the outdoor publication world, having worked for such titles as American Angler, Gray’s Sporting Journal, Fly Tyer and Georgia Outdoor News and Alabama Outdoor News, but he is now a global missions pastor and photographer in Walton County, Georgia (betwixt Atlanta and Athens). He is also the author of the book Fly Fishing Georgia: A No Nonsense Guide To Top Waters. He and his wife, Stephanie, successfully spawned this past winter and are expecting their first fry - a baby girl - this fall. When he’s not working, David enjoys tearing his own ligaments, sprouting new grey hairs and making new people who will eventually replace him. For more, visit CannonTTL.com.

Bill BernhardtBill Bernhardt, 52, is the owner of and guide, instructor, and custom rod builder for Harper Creek Fly Fishing Company (www.nc-flyfishing.com) located in Lenoir, North Carolina. In addition, Bill is somewhat unusual in that he specialize in small streams, wild trout, and back county, remote access, walk/wade trips into the Blue Ridge Mountains. Consequently, his freelance outdoor articles along with his nature photography focus specifically on the exceptional beauty and excellent trout fishing opportunities available to fly fishermen in western North Carolina.


http://www.vaflyfishingfestival.org

http://www.ReelAnglingAdventures.com

http://CannonTTL.com

http://www.nc-flyfishing.com


William “Bo” Cash A native of Morganton, North Carolina, Bo Cash was taught trout fishing by his grandfather at the age of three in 1952. He earned a B.S degree in biology with a concentration in ecology from Gardner-Webb University and began tying flies in 1970, rod building in 1976, and opened a Table Top Angler fly shop in 1980. In 1998, he “retired” from building rods after having completed well over 500 and in 2001he retired from teaching high school biology. He is the owner of the Table Top Angler fly shop, a life member in Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishers, and as had articles published in sporting journals. His first book, Water Under the Bridge, was published in 2011. Bo is married Novah Wall, who accompanies him on many of his trips.

Soc ClaySoc Clay was first published in Field & Stream and Outdoor Life magazines in the 1950s. He was one of the first members of the SEOPA, served as director for the OWAA, founded the Kentucky Outdoor Press Association, an inductee of the Freshwater Fishing Hall, and he is a poet laureate of Kentucky. A lifelong resident of South Shore, Kentucky, Clay is also known as an outdoor photographer. His photography has graced the covers of scores of magazines including in one year 11 of 12 issues of the fabled Bassmaster magazine. His latest book Soc Clay’s Mad Trapper Sourdough Baking Book, portrays the romantic history of the use of sourdough starters and recipes used to sustain rugged prospector during the Alaska Gold Rush. It is the authority for the use of sourdough in baking in the world. (www.WhitefishPress.com)

contributors

Dave EzellDave Ezell grew up fishing on East Tennessee rivers and lakes and in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Lucky enough to make a living in sales and as a scribe for business publications, he also has enjoyed fishing a variety of waters from steelhead on the Sol Duc to tarpon off North Captiva, Florida. Dave is one of the sparkplugs in the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, he has been intimately involved with Troutfest since its inception. Currently he finds himself just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Maryville, Tennessee.

Ron GaddyRon Gaddy grew up in Waynesville, North Carolina and started fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains at an early age. He grew up fishing Cataloochee, East and West Fork of the Pigeon River, Little East Fork of the Pigeon River, Nantahala River and Jonathan Creek. Ron left North Carolina at age 24 for a career with the Department of Defense at Charleston, SC and Norfolk, Virginia. After retiring from DOD in 2009 he returned to Waynesville, North Carolina to be close to all the great trout fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains. Since retirement, Ron has consistently fished in the Smoky Mountains for trout. When not fishing, Ron is tying flies or building fly rods.


http://www.WhitefishPress.com


contributors

Kevin HowellKevin Howell fished 38 states before college. In 1997 Kevin took a job as Manager of Davidson River Outfitters. He was also helping his father run Dwight and Don’s Custom Tackle. After his father passed away in 1998, Kevin took over the operation of Dwight and Don’s Custom Tackle while remaining the Manager of Davidson River Outfitters. In 2000 Kevin purchased Davidson River Outfitters and combined the operation of the two businesses. He is also a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor. Kevin is also a nationally known fly tyer and is currently the Fly-Tying Editor for Fly-Fishing the Mid Atlantic States. He has also had several of his original patterns published in various magazines as well as being produced by some of the national tying companies.

Craig Haney, Editor-at-LargeCraig Haney has spent a lifetime chasing trout on the streams, headwaters and tailwaters of the southern Appalachians and elsewhere. After graduating from Auburn University with an animal science degree, Craig has spent the majority of his career in the outdoor industry as a manufacturers’ rep for fishing, boating, camping and hunting gear as well as operating partner of Riverwoods Outfitters / Haney-Mullins Orvis for eight years. He has taught fly tying and fly casting at his shops and community colleges. Additionally, he has written on fly fishing and other outdoor subjects for a variety on national and regional magazines. Craig and his wife Lynn live on Shades Mountain in Hoover, AL in the southern Appalachian foothills.

George Grant George Grant lives in Johnson City with his wife and earnestly wades upstream through his sixth decade. Mountain streams large and small are his first love, but he regards the South Holston and Watauga tailwaters to be his mistresses. In addition to actually fly fishing, he enjoys the history and the craft of fly tying, especially “resurrecting” patterns that have passed from common use. For many years Grant worked in local fly shops. He also wrote columns about fly fishing for a local sports magazine and for the Bristol Herald Courier.

Daniel Brent GoldenNative East Tennessean Brent Golden’s interest in photography began while studying for his fine-arts degree at the University of Tennessee. An avid flyfisherman, his passion for the outdoors is the focal point of his photographic interest. His specialty is shooting large panoramic landscapes of North America’s flyfishing waters. A recent interest in the invisible light of infrared (IR) photography has inspired him to capture his local waters in this unique way.

contributors



Jimmy Jacobs, Georgia EditorJimmy Jacobs is with Game & Fish Magazines. He also is the Outdoor Columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper and online Atlanta Outdoor Travel Writer for Examiner.com. Jacobs has authored five guidebooks to fishing in the southeastern United States, including Trout Streams of Southern Appalachia; Trout Fishing in North Georgia; and Tailwater Trout in the South. His writing and photography have earned Excellence In Craft awards from the Florida Outdoor Writers Association, Georgia Outdoor Writers Association and the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association.

Jeff “Owl” Jones, ColumnistFly Fishing Film Maker Owl Jones is a something of polarizing figure among the fly fishing community. He first came on the scene during the message-board craze of the mid-90s. Since the late 90s, he has been banned from most of the larger forums due to his ability to ruffle the feathers of fellow anglers and state wildlife agencies alike. In late 2010 he started his own blog which is now called “OwlJones.com” where he has not yet been banned. Owl currently lives in Gainesville, Ga., with his lovely wife and their invisible dog “Snickers” who always does what he’s told and never barks at night. His goal is to get famous, and to take over the fly-fishing world.

contributors

Dr. Todd Larson, ColumnistA dedicated fisherman and college history professor, Dr. Todd Larson writes and publishes everything related to the history of fishing, including the history of baits, (lures and flies), rods and reels, techniques, and people important to the history of fishing (Zane Grey, Ernest Hemingway, etc.) As an owner of Whitefish Press, Dr. Todd is dedicated to publishing a wide variety of works on fishing history and fishing tackle. Founded in 2006 by Dr. Todd, The impressive Whitefish catalog includes some of the finest in fishing history. He also writes and publishes a fine blog called Fishing for History: The History of Fishing and Fishing Tackle. More recently, he acquired ownership of The Classic Fly Rod Forum.

Roger Lowe Roger Lowe is the owner of Lowe Guide Service & Outfitters, located in the heart of the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains in Waynesville, North Carolina. The area offers some of the best fishing in the eastern United States. Being a native of Waynesville, he spent his childhood summers camping and fishing with his father and grandfather in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. He learned about insects indigenous to local streams and the trout’s feeding habits. Roger developed his own technique for tying effective imitator patterns and became a master at catching the wild and wary mountain trout. He has been tying for forty years and fishing all his life. Today, as a professional guide, his fly patterns are used extensively by local fishermen. Roger’s book, Roger Lowe’s Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains is a fly tying and identification guide. He also has a tying video, Smoky Mountain Fly Patterns. It shows how to tie a lot of the Smoky Mountain Patterns. He also has a hatch book, Smoky Mountain Fly Patterns which is a guide to the patterns to use each month.



contributors

Larry Rea, Arkansas EditorLarry Rea is the seasoned, retired Outdoors Editor for The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, TN, where he held that post between 1967 and 2001. Currently he is the host of Outdoors with Larry Rea on Sports 790-AM in Memphis; www.lroutdoors.com. He is also free-lance writer for The Commercial Appeal’s DeSoto Appeal (Sunday outdoors column). A master scribe, for five consecutive years he was a double award winner (first and second place) in Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association’s Excellence in Craft Broadcast category. He was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Hall of Fame in 2010 where he is now an honored lifetime member. Larry also serves on the board of directors for Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (2010-present).

Oak MyersNative West Virginia resident, Oak Myers has been a full time trout fishing guide for decades. His company, Cranberry Wilderness Outfitters (wvoutfitters.com, 304-651-3177) is based out of the mountain town of Richwood. A talented writer and fly fishing instructor, Myers is best known for helping his clients use bicycles to access the bowels of the rugged Cranberry Wilderness.

Steve MooreA native of northern Virginia, Steve Moore grew up fishing in a fishing family. Steve’s father, much to his mother’s chagrin, was fishing in a local bass tournament the morning Steve was born. Steve has published five books on fishing in Virginia and Maryland including Maryland Trout Fishing, Wade and Shoreline Fishing the Potomac River for Smallmouth Bass, Wade Fishing the Rappahannock River and Wade Fishing the Rapidan River. Steve provides frequent updates on fishing these waters and others on his popular blog at www.CatchGuide.com.

Marc PayneMarc is a Knoxville, Tennessee based fly fishing enthusiast. His popular blog, The Perfect Drift, has been up and running since 2019. Riverdale Classics Bamboo is a one man company Marc started seven years ago. His first stab at bamboo rods was purely economic, as he says that he could not afford a bamboo rod but wanted one badly. So he read on techniques, took a couple of gratuitous classes with rod makers, and bought several old rods to restore. From there, he began repairing and restoring old rods for friends, and as word of his skills grew, he began building for others. Now he is repairing, restoring, and building new rods for folks from all over the country. His email address is [email protected]

Harry MurrayHarry Murray was born, raised and still lives on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River in the village of Edinburg, Virginia where he owns and has operated Murray’s Fly Shop for over 40 years. He has published eight books on fly fishing, including Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park; Virginia Blue Ribbon Streams; and Murray’s Fly Shop Exclusive Fly Patterns. His articles can be seen regularly in many national fly fishing magazines. Harry conducts “on the stream” fly fishing schools each spring and summer out of his fly shop. He has designed over 50 fly patterns and provides guide service in the Virginia area.

contributors


http://www.lroutdoors.com

http://wvoutfitters.com

http://www.CatchGuide.com

mailto:riverdaleclassicsbamboo%40gmail.com?subject=


Benjamin VanDevenderPresident of Team Dead Drift, Georgia’s Competitive Fly Fishing Team, Benjamin VanDevender, fell in love with fly fishing and chasing trout across Georgia. In recent years he has won accolades and awards for his fly-fishing expertise. Ben started fly fishing competitively a few years ago. Through competitive fly fishing, Ben learned more advanced tactics than some have ever thought possible. Already a fan of fly fishing for trout, his entry into its competitive side has given him a new appreciation for all aspects of the sport we call fly fishing.

Greg Ward, Tennessee EditorGreg Ward lives in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, where he has been a full-time hunting and fishing guide since 1989. He owns and operates Rocky Top Outfitters, a hunting and fishing guide service specializing in stream fly-fishing, spin fishing, and guided turkey and bear hunts. His articles have appeared in numerous newspapers and outdoor magazines. He is the co-author of the Ultimate Fly Fishing Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains. Greg has hosted several radio shows and has been a popular presenter at Pigeon Forge’s annual Wilderness Wildlife Week. He lives in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with his wife and daughter.

W. H. Bill Stuart, JrBill, a fourth generation Floridian ES (ES stands for Endangered Species), was born and raised in Bartow, Florida. He is a retired businessman, the former owner of Bagley Bait Company, and the former director/curator of the Museum of Fishing. Bill is the principal author of Florida Lure Makers and Their Lures which, so far, is up to six volumes of history and identification. He is a past president of the Florida Antique Tackle Collectors and was selected as an Honorary Member by the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club and by the Florida Antique Tackle Collectors. In addition to collecting Florida lures, he is also a collector of fly rod lures. Bill and his wife, Nancy, have two grown daughters and five grandchildren. He is active in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Rotary International and the E. B. Kennedy Scholarship Program at Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina.

contributorsScott SpencerScott Spencer is a freelance writer who was born and raised in Alabama. An avid hunter and fisherman, he learned about fly fishing nearly 40 years ago when he first picked up the flyrod at the age of 12. He was tutored in the art of casting and fly fishing using my father’s 1952 Phillipson bamboo flyrod. A banker by profession, he has hunted across the United States and has done both television hunting programs and hunting DVD’s. A passionate fly fisherman, Spencer frequently fishes the streams and tailwaters of North Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. He is married with three children.

contributors



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Southern Trout Issue 5 Feb Mar 2013

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