Check out this year's raffle quilt, yet again another work of art. Get your tickets as soon as they go on sale as this one is a beauty.

DECEMBER

It is with great sadness that we announce that former Chapter President Walter Jarck's wife passed away on October 26, 2020. We are extremely sorry for his loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this time. Her obituary can be found here:

The Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited has an incredible conservation project going on Crayfish Creek a few miles downstream along the Chattahoochee River from Buford Dam just below SR 20. This project is gaining a lot of attention on the local, state and national stages.

This is the kind of project we need to be proud of as fellow Georgia TU members and should be an inspiration of the good that we do and can do in other places. Check out this fantastic project at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/38658907b7e1480e84deac6ccf52e559

Recently, our Chapter President swung by the Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery to pick up trout eggs and delivered them to our Trout in the Classroom partners Mount Vernon Elementary School and Smithgall Woods State Park. Check out these high tech trout egg transport containers. Be sure to add those to your expense report Bruce.

[email protected]; [email protected] 

The painting is being auctioned off as part of Habitat Rabun’s Raise the Roof fundraiser. This year they are raising money to build a ADA compliant home for a lovely couple, Allison and Daniel. Allison was diagnosed with brain tumors in high school and subsequently had numerous surgeries to remove them. The surgeries left her wheelchair bound. Her fiancé, Daniel, works for the Rabun County sheriffs office. As an ADA home, the cost is significantly higher. Together, they and their families are working hard to help build this home.

Information about it and bidding can be found on our website, https://www.habitatrabun.com/

For those interested, here is the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Schedule of Proposed Actions for the current quarter. SOPA 10/01/20 - 12/31/20

The current and past SOPA reports can be found at: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests SOPA.

The Project Healing Waters group meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month at the Oakwood VA Clinic (4175 Tanners Creek Drive, Flowery Branch, GA) at 9:30 AM. Right now, they are currently tying flies and building fly rods. As the weather warms and the rains hopefully fall, they will start offering some fishing opportunities. They have a great group and good time at their meetings. All Veterans are invited.

This program could not be offered to our Veterans without the support of the Foothills TU Chapter, the Gold Rush TU Chapter and Unicoi Outfitters. They have really began to grow in numbers and programs because of all of the hard work by the volunteers who are TU members.

Did you know that you can make on-line purchases and designating our TU as a charity to receive a donation from Amazon as part of the purchase?

To access amazon for the charitable donation you need to go to this link. Your purchase will generate a donation to Foothills TU. Go to the attached link and then save it to your favorites bar and each time you access it and purchase the donation goes automatically goes to us.

Are you new to town? New to fishing? A terrible fisher?

Fear not, help is available thanks to the Georgia DNR.

Below are a few links to get you started on your way to becoming a professional fisherman or fisherwoman.

Fishing Report: https://georgiawildlife.wordpress.com/category/fishing/

Reservoirs:

Trout:

Follow GA DNR:

You can also check out NGTO for Dredgers Weekly Fishing Report"

I was standing waist high on the East side of the Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam across from Haw Creek. I was fishing a popular run trying to replicate my success from a couple weeks prior when I ran into a pod of recently stocked trout. A football field away entering the river they came, three comp guys with their big nets and chest packs. “Man, I can’t stand those guys” I muttered to myself as they proceeded to catch a ton of fish in water, I walked through minutes ago, laughing and bantering about.

Then it hit me, I was jealous. They weren’t doing anything wrong, just having fun catching fish in water I didn’t think held anything. In fact, as I began to further self-reflect, they were the group that posted quality information on the forum I had learned so much from. I was the one with the problem.

Turn the page a couple of years and I began to dip my toes in competitive fly fishing. I have met some of my best friends and learned a ton from the competitive experience. It is a very small group of folks, and if you fish in one you are likely to compete with someone from Team USA or the national youth team, high level anglers. I thought I would share a few of the things I have leaned that really impacted my ability to catch trout.

Find someone really good to fish with at least once.  I fished with some pretty good guys before I competed, but when I saw just how many fish the best comp fishermen were catching, I didn’t know that was possible. I knew then I had a lot to learn, and still do.

Fish don’t just live and feed in big pools and deep runs. Competitive fly fishing forces you to fish areas we call B and C water. The shallower stuff, the off the beaten path stuff. Being able to catch fish in these areas make fishing crowded water so much more enjoyable.

If you aren’t catching a good number of fish, it is unlikely that “they just weren’t biting today. After all trout live on a treadmill and eat breadcrumbs. Change something – flies, technique, location etc. until you figure it out. And if you never figure it out at least you made the effort to change up.

I also learned about patterning trout, much like a bass fisherman. On any given day or even during the course of the day trout may be feeding more actively in certain water types. Once you figure that out target that type of water.

Being competent in multiple techniques is a key to being a good angler. Comp guys get pigeonholed as the euronymphing guys. And while the method is widely used in competitions, the top guys know how to dry drop and fish a streamer with the best of them.

I figured out that barbless hooks don’t lose fish but sure are better for them and me. Big nets are good even if your fish are small. Competitive fishing is less about competition and more about camaraderie. While I could go on, but I will end it there.

Fish on –

Big T

The leaves are telling us that fall is here, but these warm temperatures and hurricanes aren't giving up their stranglehold on this wonderful year we call 2020. We have election issues, unseasonable warm temps, full rivers, DH season and every reason in the world to just say the heck with it and go fishing. All our local DH areas are in full swing now. From the Nantahala to Smith Creek., you're sure to find a place to wet a fly. Take not though, this year more than ever, everyone is outside and taking to the outdoors more than they have in the past. This is both a blessing and a curse. People who have never been into the outdoors are not pouring in like ducks to decoys, but it is getting crowded. My suggestions are to get there early and head off the beaten path. Most newbies won't drift far from the car and rarely wake up early. The fish have been in the river enough to spread out enough in the river to have a good time.

If you want some solitude, head into the old blue lines or float the Hooch. If you up in the WMAs and NF, remember we are in full deer/bear season, so be sure you are seen and remember to be respectful to those already in the woods just like you would like the same respect. You'r both back in there to get away from people, so keep that in mind.

Hooch browns are in their full color regalia now as they transition into fall spawning colors. Many of the trout are still strapping on the feed bag, so don't worry that you're targeting spawning fish. The Hooch can be a very difficult place to spot the spawners, but if you do find them, avoid fishing for them and actually fish behind them with eggs. Egg stealing scoundrels like to sit behind the redds and suck up the freshly released eggs. It can be a great pattern to target and avoid hurting the spawners.

It is that DH time of year again when you get to break out that junk food fly box and boost that fishing confidence up a bit. This month's fly is a great stocker junk food fly, but is also an incredible egg imitation for fishing behind the spawning browns and then in late winter behind spawning rainbows. This material comes in a variety of flavors/sizes and makes tying egg flies a dream. Their micro size is particularly good for tying up a little more natural looking fly for those wild streams where a dime sized egg really doesn't happen in real life.This pattern can go quick, so be sure to stock up.

For tying instructions, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0TQjhalPxc

If you haven't looked at the website lately, check it out. It is up to date and packed full of new information. Check us out. It's where we post all of our information and updates about chapter meetings, projects, fishing outings and any other items pertaining to Foothills.

Also, for even more up to date information, check out our Facebook page. Our Facebook page editor, Ted Jones, does an excellent job at adding new information almost every day. Be sure to "Like" it and share with your friends.

Thank you for your interest in the Georgia Foothill Chapter of Trout Unlimited. We are always looking for new members from the area to join us, so please tell a friend and have them join us at our next meeting.