From Georgia DNR: No more trout seasons

May 12, 2015

Trout season opened this past March, but unlike previous years, they will no longer have a closing date. Beginning April 21, 2015, state trout streams will remain open year-round, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.

“The Board of Natural Resources recently approved the lifting of seasonal restrictions on approximately 1,600 miles of trout waters,” said John Biagi, Fisheries Section Chief of the Wildlife Resources Division. “This decision, which initiated as something that anglers had been requesting for many years, comes after many months of research and analysis and extensive public outreach and we anticipate that trout anglers will eagerly welcome this additional time on the water.”

This change in trout fishing regulations only eliminates the dates of “trout season.” So, come this Octo-ber, the season will not close as it has in past years.

June 18: Chapter Meeting

May 12, 2015

June 18 (Thurs) Rabun TU Regular monthly meeting.

Fly tying starts at five.

Meeting starts at 7.

This month we welcome our canceled February speaker, Jenny Sanders. Jenny is a watershed management professional and an outdoor enthusiast. Jenny is affiliated with the Little Tennessee Watershed Association and the Chattooga Conservancy. She just recently got back from out west rafting and fishing the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. She will have lots of great info to share with our group!!

Our Meeting Place is the TU/Scout Hut

On the third Thursday of the month.

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.

Fly Tying for all ages starts at 5pm

Don’t miss these opportunities to learn from Terry Rivers !! Bring your own equipment if you have it.

Then 6:30 pm – 7:00 Social & Story telling (Truth or Lies), Then at 7:00 – Program & Meeting.

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 email. Bring an item to donate and a dollar or two for raffle tickets. You Might WIN something !

June 7-12: Georgia Trout Camp

May 12, 2015

Today’s Georgia Trout Campers are the next generation of conservation leaders.

Think – your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, neighbor’s kids, or any kid that is excited about the outdoors and fishing.

Deadline to apply: April 15, 2015

Camp Dates: June 7 (Sunday) – June 12 (Friday) 2015

Cost: $500 per camper (financial aid is available) Includes room, board, and all activities for the five-day camp.
(Campers must be within the ages of 12 – 15 at time of camp)
Mail applications to: Rabun TU, PO Box 371, Clayton, GA 30525

Trout Camp 2013 383-LEach of the 14 chapters in Georgia has spots to fill and each chapter decides how they want to select their campers. Once a chapter chooses a camper, the application, along with their tuition check, is forwarded to the Trout Camp Coordinator (Charlie Breithaupt). Campers will be notified of their acceptance as soon as possible. Later, around early May, more detailed information will be sent to each camper.

Questions and/or concerns should be directed to the Camp Coordinator, Charlie Breithaupt,
194 Kitchins Lane; Clayton, GA  30525  knc615@windstream.net    (706) 782-6954

Since 2004, the Rabun Chapter has taken a lead role in the Georgia TU Council’s summer Trout Camp for boys and girls ages twelve to fifteen. The streamside, hands-on experiences offered at Trout Camp provide more than just casting and fishing lessons, they strive to fully educate youth about the complex issues behind the restoration and protection of our streams and rivers.

For more than a decade we have prepared and hopefully motivated many young folks to carry on the work of Trout Unlimited and to enjoy the sport we all love.

Every year, 24 young anglers become better trained and better equipped than most folks you’ll meet on our trout streams. They eagerly soak up all that is offered to them by volunteer mentors and instructors from Trout Unlimited, DNR and the Forest Service. Our camp is an effort of all of Trout Unlimited in GA, and 12 GA TU chapters send campers.

A few facts and instructions

  • Cost: $500 per camper (financial aid is available) Includes room, board, and all activities for the five-day camp.
  • Instructions: Applications must be completed and turned in to Rabun Chapter by 3/15/2014. (Campers must be within the ages of 12 – 15 at time of camp) Information and application forms are available below.
  • Mail applications to: Rabun TU, PO Box 371, Clayton, GA 30525 Rabun Chapter will select 2 campers from the applicants to sponsor.

Each of the 14 chapters in Georgia has spots to fill and each chapter decides how they want to select their campers. Once a chapter chooses a camper, the application, along with their tuition check, is forwarded to the Trout Camp Coordinator (Charlie Breithaupt). Campers will be notified of their acceptance as soon as possible. Later, around early May, more detailed information will be sent to each camper.

Questions and/or concerns should be directed to the Camp Coordinator, Charlie Breithaupt, 194 Kitchins Lane; Clayton, GA 30525 knc615@windstream.net (706) 782-6954.

Boys and Girls ages twelve to fifteen learn and practice the sport of flyfishing, study sound conservation practices and enjoy a fun and rewarding experience!

Each camper leaves with his or her own set of fishing equipment!

Closing ceremony in which campers receive a certificate of completion

Fly casting competition with awards presented at closing ceremony

What to expect at Trout Camp

Learning hands-on skills and trout fishing fundamentals

Knot tying
Attaching lines for specific needs

Stream tactics
Presenting the fly

Tackle
Handling and maintenance

Fly Casting
The basics and practice

Entomology
Bugs! Study insect life cycle, physiology, behavior environment, and classification

Fly tying
Create the flies that catch the fish

Fishing on the stream
Applying newly learned skills
At least two hours daily devoted to fishing
One mentor per two campers

Stream etiquette
How we consider others and the environment

Natural Resources and Conservation

A visit to Burton Trout Hatchery and nearby creeks

The trout’s life cycle

Aquatic invertebrates (more bugs!)

Protection of trout habitat

Stream Dynamics/Fish stocking

Work project to restore habitat structures

Particulars

Fees: $500 per camper
Includes a TFO, 9Ft., 5WT, Rod and Reel Outfit, Fly-Vest packed full of flies and other gear, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, and much, much more!

Trout Camp brochure available here(pdf)

Room and board in the facilities of Rabun Gap Nacoochee School 

Application form available here (pdf)

List of what to bring available here

Detailed Trout Camp schedule available here (MS word doc)

Who staffs Trout Camp?

Many TU members willingly volunteer their time and talent to pass on their knowledge and love of fly-fishing to another generation. Our camp is truly a statewide effort as mentors from 10 of the 14 chapters in Georgia show up to help out. Some mentors even take vacation from their jobs and stay all week; you can’t ask for more than that!!

Georgia DNR and USFS personnel provide great support, including leading sessions on stream entomology at Smithgall Woods, visiting Burton Hatchery, stocking the Tallulah River, building structures on Ramey Creek and electro-shocking brook trout all added to the experience for the campers. Even in these tough economic times, these agencies still find a way to give us all the help we need. We couldn’t do it without them. We have also welcomed guest speakers from the national office of Trout Unlimited as well as Jimmy Harris, local expert guide and owner of Unicoi Outfitters.

For further questions, please contact

Charlie Breithaupt – Trout Camp Coordinator
knc615(at)windstream.net
194 Kitchins Lane
Clayton, Georgia 30525
706-782-6954

June 6: Annual Kids’ Fishing Event at Tallulah River

May 12, 2015

June 6 (Sat) Annual Kids Fishing Event, 8 AM at Tallulah River with USFS & GA WRD. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Frank Patton Coordinating julianfpat- ton@yahoo.com Passing it on !

How to Get There

Directions from Clayton

Take US Highway 76 West approximately 7.8 miles.

Turn right onto Persimmon Road. Follow Persimmon Road approximately 4.2 miles.

Turn left onto Tallulah River Road. Follow Tallulah River Road approximately 1.3 miles to Tallulah River Campground – Camp 5 on the left.

Directions from Hiawassee

Take US Highway 76 East approximately 18.5 miles.

Turn left onto Persimmon Road. Follow Persimmon Road approximately 4.2 miles.

Turn left onto Tallulah River Road. Follow Tallulah River Road approximately 1.3 miles to Tallulah River Campground – Camp 5 on the left.

Directions from Cleveland

Take GA-115 approximately 2.7 miles.

Turn slight left onto GA-255. Follow GA-255 approximately 7.0 miles.

Turn left onto GA-17/GA-255/Unicoi Turnpike and follow approximately 2.6 miles.

Turn right onto GA-255 ALT and follow approximately 3.3 miles.

Turn right onto GA-255 and follow approximately 3.1 miles. GA-255 becomes GA-197. Follow approximately 12.3 miles.

Turn right onto US Highway 76 E and follow approximately 3.0 miles.

Turn left onto Persimmon Road. Follow Persimmon Road approximately 4.2 miles.

Turn left onto Tallulah River Road. Follow Tallulah River Road approximately 1.3 miles to Tallulah River Campground – Camp 5 on the left.
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Prez Tammy Wins Mack Martin Rod Sweepstakes

Chapter Prez Tammy Hopton held the winning ticket at the Chapter’s annual July 11 family picnic that she won the raffle for Mack Martin’s custom-built Winston 3-weight fly rod! The rod raffle brought in more than $1,800 to support our programs. That’s a new record. We can’t thank Mack enough for his generosity in crafting and donating such a beautiful trout tickler to our Chapter.

More details here.

Fellowship and Fly Fishing

Is coming back! This program in which members would fish a local stream together was put on pause during COVID,  but Rabunite Mike Fuller is resurrecting it.  Read more!

 

 

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