UCCTU Newsline: Spring fishing is in full swing!

UCCTU Newsline

May 2018 : Chapter #436

“So, here we are 'almost' mid-year”

We’re nearing the midpoint of 2018 – ALREADY! We’ve accomplished a lot, but there’s still a lot more that we can do. Maybe now’s a good time—while the sun is high and the heat’s turned up—to think about what you can do to help your TU chapter over the next few months.

What about giving some of your time and talents to these activities:

Youth Education – We’re on the lookout for members who can help teach our most recent Rizzio Youth Clinic graduates how to use their new fly rods on the water. Cullen McClure, our VP and Education Chair is heading up this effort and could use your assistance. Let him know you’re ready to join… click HERE .

Annual Fundraiser – October is coming up fast and Denny cannot run the event alone. He’ll be out gathering up gifts for the silent and live auctions. We need someone to lead the charge in organizing the helpers, restaurant, menu, agenda, set-up, etc. You won’t be alone. And it’s not our first rodeo so things are already well-thought-out. We just need someone to pull it all together. Can you help? Let Denny know you’re the one… click HERE .

It’ll be a great second half of 2018 IF these chapter leaders get some needed help. Now’s the time to raise your hand and “click” on one of the links shown above.

I hope you’ll join us at our May 22nd chapter meeting where Jennifer Haney, Zone Fish and Wildlife Technician for the U.S. Department of Agriculture will speak to us about current Brook Trout Habitat Improvement Projects throughout North Georgia.

Ken Mock

Chapter President

" Take care of the fish, and the fishing will take care of itself."

~ Art Neuman

Here are the latest news items and updates to stories and events happening now or in the near future. Get out-get involved-get the most out of UCCTU.

May Guest Speaker: Jennifer Haney

Brook Trout Habitat Improvement Projects in North Georgia

On Tuesday, May 22nd, our special guest speaker will be Jennifer Haney, Zone Fish and Wildlife Technician for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Jennifer will be telling us about current stream restoration activities underway to help ensure the sustainability of brook trout in North Georgia.

She is a biologist with a master’s Degree in Fish and Wildlife Management, a master’s Certificate in Ecological Restoration and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Environmental Sciences.

Also included in Jennifer’s background is an extensive history of conducting field surveys, delineations, assessments, inventories, ecological restoration, nest searching and point counts and working with endangered species.

Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month (except Nov and Dec) at 6pm at I ppolitos Italian Restauran t , 2270 Holcomb Bridge Road, in Roswell (east of GA 400).

A Picture-Perfect Day for Our 2018 Rizzio Youth Clinic

Mother nature let up on the rain and gave us a beautiful sunny Spring day on Saturday, April 28 for our annual Rizzio Youth Fly Fishing & Conservation Clinic. This year, 31 kids participated in fly casting, knot tying, insect identification, and conservation. The event was held from 8:30am to 1:30pm and included a pizza lunch. After lunch, all graduates received a free Redington rod and reel courtesy of UCCTU and a bag of fly fishing gear from Alpharetta Outfitters. Cullen McClure, our VP and Education Chair led the event with the help of many chapter volunteers.

Kid’s Fishing Day Coming on June 2nd

Come out and join us on the morning of Saturday, June 2nd (about 9am) as we partner with our friends at Alpharetta Outfitters and participate in the Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation annual Kid’s Fishing Day. The event will be held on the Gwinnett side of the Hooch at Jones Bridge Park (NOT ON THE FULTON SIDE).

About 500-800 kids are expected along with their parents. Free rods and bait will be given to the families to fish during the day.

Click HERE for more info.

Sweep the Hooch 2018: Huge Success!

The annual Sweep the Hooch event, held by the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper was another resounding success this year. Over 950 volunteers from across the Atlanta region registered and most showed up despite the rainy forecast (the rain never arrived). Everyone picked up trash from the Hooch and hiking trails along the river. In fact, over 21 tons of garbage (can you believe it!) was collected. The event was held from Buford Dam to points south of Morgan Falls Dam.

C heck out the Sweep the Hooch Facebook page.

A Bamboo Rod for Only $10 – AND, Fish it With a Guide from River Through Atlanta

That’s correct. You could be the owner of a fabulous bamboo rod for the price a raffle ticket! This is not some run of the mill rod. It’s a $2,500 bamboo fly rod custom made by J.D. Wagner rods of Ohio. This beautifully flamed honey-colored rod can be yours for the price of a $10 raffle ticket. And, we’ve added a ½ day fishing trip on the Hooch with Chris Scalley's River Through Atlanta guide service to break in your new rod. Now that’s a prize package worth investing in.

Click H ERE for more details and photos of the rod. Click HERE to purchase Raffle Tickets. Click HERE to read more.

Fishing Dayz at Fern Valley was a Blast!

What can you say about fishing at beautiful and bountiful Fern Valley on the Soque? It’s an amazing river with amazing fish with amazing hosts (Glad and Marty Simmons).

Over three days last month, a total of 36 UCCTU members and guests fished Fern Valley in six groups of six anglers each. During each day, everyone enjoyed the fishing tips and guiding services provided by Big T (Steven Tomasovich). Before and after each session, anglers enjoyed the hospitality of Fern Valley at their fire pit above the riverbank.

Be on the look-out for next year’s trip back to Fern Valley in the Spring.

It's Time to fish! Don't Forget to Turn Trash into Prizes!

We’re rapidly moving along with our new #cleanmywater @ucctu campaign and the trash-collecting all around the country is impressive (check out the interactive map on ucctu.tu.org and all of the great photographs that have been posted. You are encouraged to use your smartphone camera and enter photos of collected trash tagged with #cleanmywater found in the Instagram app. You can upload photos on either Instagram or Facebook since these sites are sharing the entries.

Click HERE to read more

South Holston Trip – Are You Going?

Our annual chapter summer trip has been announced for June 28 – July 1 at The Holston Castaway’s on the South Holston River. Several spots still remain for the trip.

If you want to go, email Ken Mock, Chapter President , so he can add you to the list of participants.

Fishing Dayz Schedule Changed for This Year

As a reminder, our Fishing Dayz events will now be scheduled on both Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate a wider range of participants. And, we’ll be holding the events every other month—not monthly.

Click HERE to view the rest of our scheduled Fishing Dayz.

Have You Made Your 2018 Voluntary Donation?

If you have---THANKS!

If not, you can do it now via several avenues:

On our chapter website at www.ucctu.tu.org
On our Facebook page – just search for Upper Chattahoochee Chapter Trout Unlimited
At any of our monthly chapter meetings. See Mark Romzick, Chapter Treasurer at the treasurer’s table.

We've got Rainbows too!

There is a lot talk about our wonderful wild brown trout fishery on the Chattahoochee but did you know we have a thriving rainbow trout fishery as well. There are four categories of rainbow trout in the Buford Dam tailwater “wild-stream-bred” “fingerling-sourced”, “stockers” and “hold-over-stockers”.

Click HERE to read the rest of the article.