Rocky River Chapter
Trout Unlimited   
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

WE CONSERVE, PROTECT, AND SUSTAIN OUR COLDWATER NATURAL RESOURCES

October 4th is right around the corner.  Sign up today for the Streamside on
Big Horse Creek !

Use the button below :

FALL   ALARKA -  10/12 - 15  !!!

ROCKY RIVER TROUT UNLIMITED
​ FLY OF THE MONTH :

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Lefty's Deceiver FFI
Fly of the Month 09.23 Lefty’s Deceiver
The “fly of the month” series for 2023 will celebrate the Fly Fishers International Fly Tying Group Fly Tying Skills Awards Program. Each month Tom and I will present one of the fly patterns used to evaluate a fly tyer’s skills toward a Bronze Level in the first six months, then one of the fly pattern used to evaluate a fly tyer’s skills toward a Silver Level in the later part of the year. The third fly pattern in the Silver Level series is a saltwater streamer fly pattern. The deceiver has evolved to be tied in various sizes and used in warmwater and coldwater as well.

Lefty’s Deceiver- Saltwater Fly

One of the finest gifts the late, great Bernard Lefty Kreh left to the fly fishing world was the Deceiver fly pattern. In the early 1950s, Lefty could typically be found out in the Chesapeake Bay chasing striped bass on the fly.

“I’m going to design a fly that won’t foul on the cast! It will have a fish shape but can be made in many lengths. You can vary the color combinations; it will also swim well but when lifted for the back cast it will be sleek and have little air-resistance.”  - Bernard Lefty Kreh

Lefty shifted his focus from the Stripers to the tropical species of the Florida Peninsula, and it was here that the pattern then took on a life of its own as creative tyers put their own twists on it to mimic the bait of their own fisheries.

Lefty's Deceiver is a very versatile salt water pattern intended to imitate a small bait fish to act as prey for larger predatory fish. This streamer originated by Bernard Lefty Kreh in the late 1950’s is one of the most popular saltwater fly patterns today. Lefty incorporated several characteristics into the design;

1) Easy to cast long distances and into the wind

2) Have a baitfish shape and appeal to predator fish
3) Materials shouldn't foul during the cast
It is not a precise pattern but more of a style or method of tying. It typically is tied with lighter colors of feathers and bucktail with a little flash. Over the years it has been tied using many combinations of colors and size variations from size 10 bronze hooks for bream to 2/0 stainless steel hooks and larger for saltwater species. The techniques for tying this pattern are generally those used for tying many other saltwater patterns. However, the instructions and materials described here generally follow those demonstrated by Lefty Kreh in his video "Lefty Kreh Saltwater Fly Tying" produced in 1990 as well as Lefty's book, “Presenting The Fly”, 1999,

Choose the Learn More button for the rest of the story and the tying recipe with instructions :

This is where we should all be .......

Video courtesy Paul Duffy

Calendar of Events :

 Important Notice On Upcoming Events !!

In response to member suggestions, we are experimenting with rotating locations for upcoming chapter meetings. Please make note of the following locations on your calendar. These meetings will also be broadcasted through Zoom.


October 4 - Streamside at Big Horse Creek, Lansing

October 19 - Chapter Meeting - Jacob Rash  : Brook Trout
Location - HopFly Brewing Co    6:30 PM
1327 S Mint Street  Charlotte, NC 28203

October 25 -  Fly Fishing Film Festival
Location - HopFly Brewing Co    6:30 PM
1327 S Mint Street  Charlotte, NC 28203

​November 16 - Chapter Meeting  - Tim Flaggler
Location - Covenant Presbyterian   6:30 PM
​1000 E Morehead St  Charlotte, NC 28204

More details to follow regarding each meeting. Let us know your thoughts by clicking on the below survey !!

sign up for raffles using the button below :

watch these samples :


Conservation News Here :

HOT WEATHER AND TROUT 

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Many of our rivers and streams due to unseasonably high temperatures have warmed to a level where fishing stresses trout and may cause potential harm.   Do not fish if the water temperature is higher than 65 degrees.  Make sure to carry a thermometer and check periodically throughout the day.  

PLASTIC IN OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS

The photo is a ‘birds nest’ one of our members picked up recently while fishing.  It appears to be 20# mono line.  Interestingly, it was found on a ‘blue line’ in an area that is a bit off the beaten path.

Plastic pollution and in particular micro plastics are increasingly becoming a problem in many of our rivers in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. The Broad, French Broad, Green, Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, New and Watauga river basins have all been tested and shown to contain varying levels of microplastics. They are harmful to aquatic life and also a potential threat to human health. 
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Many of us, myself included have at some point been guilty. Maybe it’s the small tags we trim off or a small/large piece we leave in the trees. In any case it is time that each of us make a conscious effort to not contribute to the problem. If you are interested in learning more about plastic pollution in North Carolina check out this Link.

Rocky River Events

Join us in the activities that are of interest to you and become one with our cold-water resources.

Join Chapter 348 - Rocky River

The members of the Rocky River Chapter support a number of local area programs. Join Us Today!

Rocky River Programs

Rocky River Trout Unlimited members are heavily involved in a number of conservation projects and programs.
NOTICE: A quick overview of the calendar is now at the top of this page under Upcoming Events.
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We who trout fish together ...will work together to
Conserve,  Protect,  and Restore our Coldwater Streams
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Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (RRTU) 348