2013 Trout Camp: 24 Kids, 40+ Volunteers, One Great Week
July 27, 2013
June 9 – 14 (Sun – Fri) Mentoring – 10th Annual GEORGIA TROUT CAMP – Passing It On
Trout Camp 2013…21 boys and 3 girls. And..rain, high water and mud. However, with the help of 40 + dedicated volunteers from 9 of the 13 chapters around our state, we completed another successful camp. This year’s highlight was our opportunity to fish Nacoochee Bend on the Chattahoochee River in Helen, GA. This stretch of private water is managed by Unicoi Outfitters. Owner Jimmy Harris, a dedicated and generous member of Trout Unlimited, extended an invitation to fish and we accepted. All 24 campers were able to fish at the same time with mentors by their side. It was an exciting day for all.
As always, our hard-working partners from the Forest Service and Georgia DNR supported us in every way. Camp would not happen without them.
This was our tenth year to hold our camp. New volunteers showed up and some helped fill important roles in camp. “New blood” is important if we expect this camp to continue. From what I hear, all believe this is a good way to ensure our future and “pass on” our love of cold water and trout fishing, especially fly fishing. Georgia Trout Camp is truly a state-wide camp as all 13 chapters sent campers. Consider being actively involved in “your” Trout Camp next year. You will experience a sense of pride and satisfaction and probably learn something. The best way to learn is to teach…especially a kid.
Michele Crawford – Rabun Chapter – provided these links to some of the pictures:. http://michelecrawfordphotograph.smugmug.com/Other-1 and http://michelecrawfordphotograph.smugmug.com/Other
The Julie Stalnaker Memorial Award was created by The Georgia Women Fly Fishers and Trout Unlimited to honor the memory of Julie Stalnaker. For years Julie and her husband Duane were strong supporters of trout fishing in Georgia. Julie passed away suddenly in 2010. Duane continues to be part of trout camp every year.
Each year a camper at the Georgia Trout Camp is chosen to receive the award. An ad hoc committee of camp staff selects a camper who shows the qualities exhibited by Julie…intelligence, positive attitude, helpful spirit and good natured personality.
The 2013 Julie Stalnaker Memorial Award was presented to Myles Hartley – Upper Chattahoochee Chapter
Report by Charlie Breithaupt – Director, GA Trout Camp
2013 Rod Raffle Winner: Charlie Pennington!
July 27, 2013
2013 Rod Raffle Winner
SAGE ONE Series, 4 wt., 4 piece, 9′ Fly Rod & SAGE 2030 reel – $1000 value
The winner is Charlie Pennington of Dillard, GA, who was presented the rod and reel. Charlie is renewing his TU membership that he had previously allowed to expire.
Thanks to all that participated and to Kent Wilson, the rod raffle manager. A special “Thank You” goes to our good friend Mack Martin of Atlanta Fly Fishing School and North Georgia Custom Rods. Mack donated this fly rod and reel to Rabun TU as a fundraiser
The raffle raised a total of $1,402 (up from $1,105 last year).
Sept 28: Outdoor Adventure Day
July 27, 2013
Sept 28 (Sat) Outdoor Adventure Day at Unicoi S.P./Smith Creek
TU Volunteers needed!
FROM Jeff Durniak – Regional Fisheries Supervisor, WRD:
Please consider volunteering to help us at Unicoi State Park’s Outdoor Adventure Day to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday, 9/28/13. You don’t have to be an expert outdoorsman or woman to play a vital role in the day’s success. Can you help at registration or direct parking? There’s a niche for everyone. http://www.gastateparks.org/event/6006?locationid=98&p=98&c=4343826
Unicoi State Park staff hosts us, Game Management Supervisor Ken handles the budget, and I handle event staffing.
We (DNR) need a hundred or so volunteers to make this event happen. Many of you are OAD veterans, but the following info may help prospective volunteers to understand the roles they could play and to make the decision to join our ranks. To fill out my roster and to ensure good communications with volunteers, I would like the following info from each volunteer: =====================================================================
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM
1) Your name: ________________
2) Your affiliation (if you’d like me to credit your group or club): __________
3) email address: _______________
4) phone number: ________________
5) first choice of venue: _______________
6) second choice of venue: ____________
7) are you willing to work anywhere I need somebody (y/n)? _ ============================================================
First come, first served. Below is the narrative from previous years’ volunteer instructions to help you understand the duties. Thanks for your consideration. We can’t pull off this event without an army of vols!
Venue Info:
1.The event will be held in the big field along Smith Creek just downstream from Unicoi Lake Dam.
2. Registration & Raffle tents. These workers will greet visitors and get signed liability release forms and pens back from them in exchange for raffle tickets. Detailed instructions will be provided to you on Saturday (9/28), as Kim trains you. Visitors will put one copy of the raffle ticket into the raffle bucket of their choice and keep the other copy. They will use that copy as proof of signing the release form (so they can shoot or canoe) and as proof of a winning raffle ticket number. The raffle will start at 1 PM for free prizes. I have a small, separate work force assigned to the raffle. Volunteers on my roster are eligible for prizes, also!
3. Parking. State Parks staff will guide visitor vehicles to orderly parking in the big field. Parks staff also have a plan for overflow parking, if needed. They may need a few helpers.
4. Archery. Hands-on. One-on-one instruction by WRD and Traditional Bowhunters Association. Note that this venue is on far side of Smith Creek, next to the laundry building. Some of you may be asked to provide security. Just stand at edge of venue and prevent visitors from straying into the line of fire.
5. Airgun. Hands on by WRD, 4-H Club, and other volunteers. Same as #4, and located next to it. Again, a few of you may secure the perimeter.
6. Skeet. Handled mainly by well trained DNR and USFS Rangers and Game Management Technicians. It’s 500 yards downstream from the main event (safety, safety). A few of you may simply help at the sign-in tent and keep waiting guests away from the shooting area (no experience needed).
7. Fishing tent. This is where visitors can exchange a driver’s license for a loaner fishing pole and bait. Biologists, fishing guides, TU’ers, and other fibbers can answer questions and give fishing tips. Fisheries staff will need at least 5 helpers to stay at the tent to handle loaner rod untangling, knot-tying, bait distribution, and rod checkout. This is a busy tent.
8. Fly casting. Part of the field will be set aside for casting instruction. I suggest that volunteers bring a rod that they don’t mind visitors tinkering with (DON’T BRING YOUR GOOD SAGE OR WINSTON!!!). I am venue leader for casting and tying. If you tie, bring your tying stuff with you, too.
9. Fly tying. Bring your supplies and an extra vise if you have one. Let visitors sit down at the table and tie his/her own fly to take home. Variations of the woolly worm (W. bugger, Anytime/Anywhere, etc.) or San Juan worm have worked well for me in the past. Kids love a gold bead and a big, gaudy fly. Girls love pink flies. Beads from craft store, yarn from Wal-Mart. Cheap, easy, and fun for visitor. Many visitors are shy, so you may have to speak up and encourage youngsters to come over and tie their own fly. We will try to have power to the tent (if generator is not too loud), so consider bringing a small lamp.
10. Fishing – onstream helpers. Grab a pocket fishing kit (hooks and shot) and some bait (corn) that WRD will supply and go help people fishing on stream. Search them out – look at stringers, tackle used, and forlorn faces. Find a kid and work with him/her for an hour or so on reading water, casting, setting hook, etc. Mentoring! Fishing is NOT restricted to kids only (parent has the driver’s license, so they must be hooked, too). Feel free to bring some of your favorite baits to help your reputation as an awesome fishing guide. We will have about 100 loaner poles available, but feel free to bring an extra Zebco outfit if you have one to loan to your “student,” since we made more than 300 loans at our last event. (See item #9). Some of you can help WRD staff stock creek around 10-11 AM. Get some kids to help too – we’re bringing buckets to get them involved.
11. Wildlife and Camping venues. The experts pretty much run their own shows. Volunteers here will mainly help Smithgall Woods Education Specialist Sheila Humphrey (Wildlife) with logistics needed by the demonstrators (tables, chairs, PR, food and water, etc.).
Thanks for considering the donation of your Saturday to preserve the future of your sport! Please provide your information to Olivia if you are interested in helping DNR to promote outdoor recreation and plant some seeds of conservation. Olivia McClure Olivia.McClure@dnr.state.ga.us . Her phone:770-535-5498, and fax 5953.
Sept 19: Chapter meeting
July 27, 2013
Sept 19 (Thurs)
6:30 pm – Social & Yarn Spinning 7:00 pm – Program & Meeting
(You don’t have to believe the yarns if you don’t want to . . .)
Program: Seth Sullivan – Life as a Brookie Intern
Troop 6 Scout Hut, next to the Rabun County Library
US 76 west, the brick building located behind the Rabun County Library
Parking is available in the Rabun County Library parking lot and Rabun County Tax Office parking lot.
At every regular chapter meeting there will be a raffle for fishing or camping items to help pay the cost of mailing the newsletter to members without E-mail. Bring an item to donate and a dollar or two for raffle tickets – you might win something.