JULY, 2006 UNICOI NEWSLETTER

Are you praying for rain?!! We've got over 2,000 friends on this newsletter list who know what rain means to trout fishing in Georgia during July and August. Have you dedicated any time at all to sending up a request for some cool rain? The trout are asking for your help. Just last week at Frog Hollow we spent an entire afternoon dusting all the fish for ticks. Donna was watering her back yard and two 8 pound rainbows came out of the river to play in the sprinkler.

As we mentioned in the June newsletter, you need to go as high as you can get in Georgia or in the Smokies to fish right now. We had a fun day on the Oconoluftee River up in the Park on July 4th with a 13" wild brown being the fish of the day in our group. However, even those streams are warming up quickly here in mid-July. Something to keep in mind when fishing those narrow streams in the park are flash floods. We were actually asked by Park Service personnel not to enter the river after lunch because they expected a flash flood. Turns out the rain fell on the Raven Fork watershed and not the Oconoluftee but the flood did occur. As we came through Cherokee the crest of the flood was moving through town. Everyone had been advised to exit the river and the banks were lined with spectators sitting on the tailgates of pickups and in lawn chairs waiting on the big event. By that time, with the river 75 or 80 feet wide, the wave was maybe a foot high but we could only imagine what it would have been like in the higher reaches of Raven Fork. That would have been something to see! And definitely something to respect from a distance.

Most of our guided trips for the next few weeks will focus on Noontootla Creek in the mornings and, of course, the Toccoa tailwater. TVA has been having some problems with their website and their phone lines recently so, if you're fishing the tailwater, please pay close attention to water conditions as they may not be what you expect. Actually, the fishing on the Toccoa has been as good the past three or four weeks as we've seen it in a long time. Lots of dry fly action on parachute emergers, small gray caddis and even some small sulfurs. When the dry fly action is as hot as it's been lately, it's difficult to fish nymphs but small prince nymphs and hares ears with no beads are catching plenty of fish right now.

Many of you have inquired about someone to run a car shuttle for you when you come up to float the Toccoa. We have a friend who has recently retired to his piece of heaven on the river and plans to offer a shuttle service. His name is Jack Abbott and he may be reached at 706-855-7213. When you consider the option of driving two vehicles from, say Marietta just so you can float the river, this could be an excellent alternative.

One other tailwater you may want to consider in your search for cold water is the Nantahala River between Bryson City and Andrews, NC. We're talking about the section below the powerhouse which parallels the highway to Bryson City and is usually full of rafts and kayaks during the day. You can fish all day and catch fish in the wake of the rafts if you don't mind all the traffic and you can stand hearing, "Catchin' any?" about 500 times during the afternoon. Your best bet, however, is to time your trip to coincide with the shutoff of the water late in the day. This gets all the floaters off the river and you still have several hours of daylight left to fish. A couple of warnings: this is extremely cold water (no wet wading here) and the fishing is about as technical as you can imagine this side of a Pennsylvania spring creek. You bring your "A" game to the Nantahala or you don't catch many fish. Humbling but fun!

The rest of this newsletter will be devoted to some items of interest we would like to pass along to you.

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Public Input Requested! WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO FISHING REGULATIONS

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) will hold a public hearing to receive input on changes and additions to fishing regulations. The purpose of the proposed changes and additions is to manage Georgia's game fish according to sound principles of fisheries management and to meet public objectives for the use of these renewable resources.

The proposed changes and additions that WRD will address at this hearing includes:

· A regulation change to designate a portion of the Toccoa River in Fannin County as a delayed harvest trout stream.

· A change to strike the word "fish" and replace it with "mountain trout" in the Catch and Release fishing rule as it pertains to delayed harvest streams.

Members of the general public will have an opportunity to provide input regarding these changes and/or additions at the following WRD sponsored public hearing: Thursday, July 20, 2006; 7:15 p.m.; Ellijay Elementary School (32 McCutchen St., Ellijay, GA 30540); Directions: From GA 515 in East Ellijay, turn west at the exit marked U.S. Hwy 76/GA Hwy 282. Stay straight on this road to the "T' intersection and make a left onto GA Hwy 52. Travel for 0.8 miles and turn right onto N. Main Street at the Ellijay square. Travel 0.2 miles and the school is on the right.

Any participant at the hearing may present data, make a statement or comment, or offer a viewpoint or an argument, either orally or in writing. Statements should be concise to permit everyone the opportunity to speak. Participants in the hearings are requested to register on arrival and to notify the registering official of their intent to give a statement.

Those unable to attend the hearings may submit written statements. Such statements should be received no later than August 14, 2006 and should be mailed to: Georgia Department of Natural Resources/Attn: Ted Hendrickx/2065 U.S. Highway 278, SE/Social Circle, GA 30025

These meeting sites are accessible to people with physical disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretations or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ted Hendrickx at the above address or by calling 770-918-6406 by July 18, 2006.

Additional information on the proposed changes may be found at http://www.gofishgeorgia.com under "Public Notices" in the Fishing portion of the website.

The Board of Natural Resources will consider the proposed rules and any comments received during the public hearing process at its meeting at the DNR Boardroom in Atlanta on August 23, 2006 at 10 a.m.

For more information, contact the WRD Fisheries Management Office at (770) 918-6406.

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From Jeff Durniak:

DNR organizers met this week to kick off plans for Outdoor Adventure Day, scheduled for September 23, 2006 at Unicoi State Park. For those of you who have not attended one of these in the past, it's a ton of fun. Attendees are treated to trout fishing, archery, BB gun, and skeet shooting, live animal demos (snakes and hawks), hunting dog demos, hayrides, and much more.

The event is held at Unicoi State Park, along Smith Creek below Unicoi Dam, from 10 AM til 4 PM. It will cost you only three bucks for a Georgia park pass for your vehicle. Last year's event was canceled due to recent tornado damage at the venue site but we hope for better luck with the weather this year!

The event is only possible due to the large (150+) volunteer force that helps Wildlife Resources and State Parks Division staff to host and teach our visitors. This volunteer force will be even more critical this year, as we are faced with fewer DNR staff members to tap into.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1) Consider volunteering. You can help register guests, direct traffic, be a creekside fishing guide, teach fly tying, etc. As the event staffing coordinator, l'll find a niche for you. Once again, working thru organized groups like Trout Unlimited, The UGA Widlife Society, and the Wild Turkey Federation, I'm gonna need about 150 conservationists to step up and volunteer their Saturday. The number of smiles and "thank you's" from suburbanite families will make you glad you volunteered, and you will help recruit our newest generation of Georgia conservationist.

2) Bring your kids!

3) Encourage other folks to come- spread the word to family, friends, schoolmates, scouts, and church members. This is a great chance for non-outdoorsy types to learn from real experts!

4) WISH FOR GREAT WEATHER!!!!

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We received the following from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation:

ANGLERS RALLIED AS GUARDIANS OF SPORT

The gift of fishing is something special that those who don't fish might never get, or even know what they have missed, unless those who fish decide to share it. Of today's 50 million anglers in the United States, 99 percent say they fish because someone once took the time to introduce them to the sport. But the changing American lifestyle seems to be changing the face of who that someone is, and is also being blamed for much of the angler fallout that has occurred over recent decades. That is why the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), a non-profit organization charged by congressional action to address declining participation, is rallying the country's most avid anglers, the sport's strongest guardians, to become part of a new program called Anglers' Legacy and take someone fishing. "Anglers' Legacy is about bringing like-minded anglers together as a national community of the sport's greatest ambassadors to help ensure fishing stays America's favorite pastime," said Bruce Matthews, RBFF president. "There are no meetings or costs to join. Anglers' Legacy is simply a group of anglers and organizations united in a common commitment to passing on the gift of fishing." Although just recently introduced, Anglers' Legacy is already snowballing throughout fishing circles everywhere and the Who's Who of fishing are lining up in support, including well-known TV anglers like Bill Dance and George Poveromo, all wanting to help lead the effort. Recent research indicates there is the need for such a leadership role in the changing America. Among the 67 percent of respondents who said "dad" took them on their first fishing trip, 87.8 percent were 35 years of age or older, compared to only 12.2% for those under 35. If dad has a diminishing role in introducing new anglers today, and others don't step in, how will fishing be passed to future generations? And how will those who miss out even know what they've missed?Today in the United States, kids spend an average of 44 hours a week experiencing life through a glass - watching TV, playing video games and on the computer. Forty-four hours a week equates to a full-time job and leaves little time for anything else. So how will today's younger generations garner an appreciation of the natural world and its resources if they don't have the opportunity to experience them first-hand? RBFF officials are confident, based on the avid angler research, that Anglers' Legacy is an outstanding place to start. Targeting the country's estimated 7.5 million most avid anglers, the program urges its participants to introduce at least one new person to fishing per year. It is not about asking strangers to go, but people they know. And the effort focuses more on adults than kids, knowing that adults can involve their own families and friends after being armed with the appropriate fishing knowledge and confidence through quality introductory experiences.Anglers are asked to take "The Pledge" at AnglersLegacy.org (http://www.anglerslegacy.org), the primary communication vehicle for the ambassador community. The Pledge is a simple promise to take at least one person each year on a first-time fishing outing. Names and addresses of those who sign up will not be distributed, sold or otherwise shared by RBFF. Participants do have the option of subscribing to receive special offers and discounts from the program's partners, and can also unsubscribe at any time. Pledging is important to the program because it provides a process where anglers, clubs, organizations and communities can find each other for mutually beneficial relationships regarding fishing-program expertise, education and new-angler outreach. The Anglers' Legacy Web site is also a great resource for anglers looking for tips and information on how to introduce others to fishing. "It is amazing to realize the lifetime impact one can have by teaching someone to fish," said Matthews. "My dad was that someone who took me, and its been a gift that's never stopped giving. Being an Anglers' Legacy ambassador isn't a task but a pleasure. It's sharing skills, knowledge and equipment with someone that you believe will really appreciate what fishing is all about. And there is no substitute for a test drive. Who we take can be any acquaintance - friend, neighbor, coworker - we all know somebody who would like to go," he said.

Fishing provides lots of wonderful memories and that is the theme behind the Anglers' Legacy public service announcements now running in more than 35 of the country's top boating and fishing magazines. They show snapshots and carry the headline, "Picture a life without fishing," and encourage the readers to join the Anglers' Legacy community by taking the Pledge.

Bill Dance said he couldn't picture a life without fishing. "I was very blessed to have a daddy and granddaddy who loved to boat and fish," said the host of the long-running "Bill Dance Outdoors" TV fishing show. "They took me along on their outings many, many times... teaching and sharing. They were doctors, and fishing was their escape. To me, it was more than that. Fishing was my life, and became my career. I've passed my love for fishing on to my kids, my grandkids, and countless numbers of acquaintances. And I'm not through yet. Believe me, I'm one of Anglers' Legacy's biggest advocates," he said.

George Poveromo, a noted saltwater angling authority and host of "George Poveromo's World of Saltwater Fishing" on ESPN2, has a similar story. "I was lucky to have a dad and grandfather who took me fishing," he said. "I'll always remember those times, and I like to think it made me a better person. It seems once someone gives fishing a try, they can't shake the fever - and that's a good thing! It's important to me that sport fishing remains in the hands of those who respect and protect our fish stocks and the marine environment - and that's the anglers themselves. I'm all for sharing the sport with those who I think get the whole picture of what fishing is all about," Poveromo added.While Anglers' Legacy is about giving the gift of fishing, the giver also receives something special. "I can feel that special moment when it all begins to connect for the person I'm taking." said Matthews. "When that first perfect cast is made, or a first fish landed, the big grin and the look in the eyes say it all. I'm a better person because I fish. Other anglers know what I'm talking about. Fishing is an experience to be shared ... let's share it," he added. Learn more about Anglers' Legacy, Take Me Fishing and RBFF at RBFF.org (http://www.rbff.org).

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Its LWCF time again and You Can Help Georgia Get Its Fair Share! http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/LWCF/

LWCF (Land & Water Conservation Fund) monies are not tax revenues. They were originally established as mitigation money to offset the impact of offshore oil drilling. All of the money collected was intended to be used for "land and water" conservation projects.

As you may recall, last year the President asked for $1 million dollars of LWCF money for Georgia, which the U.S. Forest Service would have used to assist in the purchase of critical properties on the upper Chattahoochee River (see photo) and on the Etowah River. But Congress cut it out and GEORGIA got $0.00, ZIP, NOTHING!

For F/Y2007 the President is requesting $1,500,000 for the Chattahoochee National Forest. If approved, that will provide the funding to acquire key properties with cold-water habitat on the Chattahoochee River (3000 feet of double frontage) and the possible purchase of some Jacks River, Etowah River and some of the headwaters on the Soque River.

Now is the time to make it very clear to our Senators and Congressmen that this is an important issue to people in our State. Do it tonight! Do it this weekend for sure. Next week may be too late. Take a few minutes and send the E-mails.

To contact Senator Saxby Chambliss: http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs. ContactForm&CFID=51392169&CFTOKEN=14703251

To contact Senator Johnny Isakson: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm

To contact Rep. Charlie Norwood: http://www.house.gov/htbin/wrep_findrep?HIP4356366362.18923.7628

To contact other Representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

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While it's obvious this newsletter has more fishing related content and much fewer current fishing reports than we usually offer, we do sincerely hope you will consider the information contained here and, just maybe, act on it. Thank you for taking the time to read it.

THANK YOU

As always, we are grateful for your friendship and your patronage. If you ever need current fishing information or specifications and recommendations on gear, please call us at (706) 878-3083 in Helen or (706) 632-1880 in Blue Ridge.

Remember, if you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, just reply to this email with the word "remove" in the subject line. On the other hand, if you know someone you think would like to know what's going on with north Georgia trout fishing, please have them send us an email and request to be placed on our mailing list.

Tight lines!

The Liars Club http://www.unicoioutfitters.com