Rocky River Chapter
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Finally the time is here for Fly Tying Sessions !
Rocky River Trout Unlimited has offered fly tying lessons for nearly two decades and fall brings the return of our in person classes.
We offer Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced sessions. These classes are all a very user friendly, not intimidating way to learn the joy of crafting your own trout fly patterns. Anyone can do it. Children to adult. The classes are paced for skill set and there is a progression of classes to keep development going.
Tying your own flies will allow you to see why the fly is the fly. Why it is made the way it is and is constructed and what it represents to the trout and how to present it to the trout. These skills will propel you forward on the stream and offer the amazing satisfaction of being able to say " I caught that fish on a pattern I tied ! "
Rocky River Trout Unlimited has offered fly tying lessons for nearly two decades and fall brings the return of our in person classes.
We offer Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced sessions. These classes are all a very user friendly, not intimidating way to learn the joy of crafting your own trout fly patterns. Anyone can do it. Children to adult. The classes are paced for skill set and there is a progression of classes to keep development going.
Tying your own flies will allow you to see why the fly is the fly. Why it is made the way it is and is constructed and what it represents to the trout and how to present it to the trout. These skills will propel you forward on the stream and offer the amazing satisfaction of being able to say " I caught that fish on a pattern I tied ! "
Last Session !
Dates : 3/15 (this is a date change from 3/01)
Time : 9am - 1pm
Location :
Covenant Presbyterian Church - Fellowship Hall
1000 E Morehead Street
Charlotte, NC 28204
Fly of the Month
Secret Weapon
Fly of the Month 03.25 - Secret Weapon
This local fly pattern is provided by Roger Lowe of Cashiers, North Carolina and is published in his book Roger Lowe’s Fly Pattern Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains. The fly pattern which is similar to the prince nymph was originated by Allene Hall (1918-1995) of Bryson City, North Carolina. This fly [pattern] was first tied in the Smokies as a year-round consistent [fly] pattern. Years later, the Modified Secret Weapon was originated by Don R. Howell of Brevard, North Carolina. As the bead heads became popular, the Green BH (bead-head) Secret Weapon was originated by Benny Joe Craig of Waynesville, North Carolina.
Our museum Stream Blazer, Bernice Allene DeHart Hall, “True Mistress of the Vise” was half of an innovative fly tying couple credited with originating a number of fly patterns. Her husband Fred is generally credited with having originated the Thunderhead and the Adams Variant, two popular patterns which now enjoy widespread popularity. They were both accomplished fly tyers when it came to turning bits of fur, feather, and thread into trout-fooling creations which were as functional as they were beautiful. We believe that Allene’s role was bigger than most folks imagined. Unquestionably she produced more flies than her husband. Allene was always in the background, usually busy at her vise as Fred talked. She just smiled, added an occasional comment, and kept on working. Most impressive was the big boxes of flies, hundreds upon hundreds of them, which would be close at hand. She would whip out another fly in what seemed like mere moments and add it to an open box. Their banner years in producing flies were the 1950s and 1960s, with weekly shipments going out to individual anglers and fly shops all over the country. Her grave marker in Swain Memorial Park indicates she saw military service in some capacity, almost certainly as part of America’s all-out effort in World War II.
Secret Weapon
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker
This local fly pattern is provided by Roger Lowe of Cashiers, North Carolina and is published in his book Roger Lowe’s Fly Pattern Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains. The fly pattern which is similar to the prince nymph was originated by Allene Hall (1918-1995) of Bryson City, North Carolina. This fly [pattern] was first tied in the Smokies as a year-round consistent [fly] pattern. Years later, the Modified Secret Weapon was originated by Don R. Howell of Brevard, North Carolina. As the bead heads became popular, the Green BH (bead-head) Secret Weapon was originated by Benny Joe Craig of Waynesville, North Carolina.
Our museum Stream Blazer, Bernice Allene DeHart Hall, “True Mistress of the Vise” was half of an innovative fly tying couple credited with originating a number of fly patterns. Her husband Fred is generally credited with having originated the Thunderhead and the Adams Variant, two popular patterns which now enjoy widespread popularity. They were both accomplished fly tyers when it came to turning bits of fur, feather, and thread into trout-fooling creations which were as functional as they were beautiful. We believe that Allene’s role was bigger than most folks imagined. Unquestionably she produced more flies than her husband. Allene was always in the background, usually busy at her vise as Fred talked. She just smiled, added an occasional comment, and kept on working. Most impressive was the big boxes of flies, hundreds upon hundreds of them, which would be close at hand. She would whip out another fly in what seemed like mere moments and add it to an open box. Their banner years in producing flies were the 1950s and 1960s, with weekly shipments going out to individual anglers and fly shops all over the country. Her grave marker in Swain Memorial Park indicates she saw military service in some capacity, almost certainly as part of America’s all-out effort in World War II.
Secret Weapon
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker
Choose the Learn More button for the rest of the story and the tying recipe with instructions :
Fly Tier Tips
Tip of the month :
Keeping tying supplies in order and accessible can take the fun out of a days tying or cause dread when looking for a certain dub. , etc. The majority of materials are packaged to hang on pegs. Using a loose binder ring you can group your materials in whatever manner you choose and easily find a specific item and easily replace in for storage. I have done this for years and recently I have seen fly tying suppliers offering a similar item for ten times the cost of these. Available at office supply stores, Amazon and Walmart to name a few.
Tom Adams
02.25
Keeping tying supplies in order and accessible can take the fun out of a days tying or cause dread when looking for a certain dub. , etc. The majority of materials are packaged to hang on pegs. Using a loose binder ring you can group your materials in whatever manner you choose and easily find a specific item and easily replace in for storage. I have done this for years and recently I have seen fly tying suppliers offering a similar item for ten times the cost of these. Available at office supply stores, Amazon and Walmart to name a few.
Tom Adams
02.25
some patterns .......
Calendar of Events :
F3T 2025 Fly Fishing Film Festival Charlotte Edition is Thursday, March 20th hosted by Jesse Browns Outdoors at the Visulite Theatre staring at 5:00 PM with film starting at 7:00 PM. This ia great chance to view some incredible films while enjoying your favorite beverage with friends.
RRTU will be supporting a couple of very interesting raffles:
Raffle #1:
Opportunity to go fly fishing with Sam Johnson, author of Fly Fishing the Blue Ridge Parkway. He has written two books -- one on NC and the other on VA. To buy raffle tickets to go fishing with Sam, click here.
Sam will also be our speaker at our April Chapter Meeting on Thursday, April 17th at 6:30 PM at Jesse Browns Outdoors in Charlotte.
Raffle #2:
Charlotte Artist Brian Hester will be creating a 2' by 3' vertically oriented masterpiece! He will donate a portion of proceeds to cold water conservation.
To learn more about how to purchase a raffle ticket, see below:
RRTU will be supporting a couple of very interesting raffles:
Raffle #1:
Opportunity to go fly fishing with Sam Johnson, author of Fly Fishing the Blue Ridge Parkway. He has written two books -- one on NC and the other on VA. To buy raffle tickets to go fishing with Sam, click here.
Sam will also be our speaker at our April Chapter Meeting on Thursday, April 17th at 6:30 PM at Jesse Browns Outdoors in Charlotte.
Raffle #2:
Charlotte Artist Brian Hester will be creating a 2' by 3' vertically oriented masterpiece! He will donate a portion of proceeds to cold water conservation.
To learn more about how to purchase a raffle ticket, see below:
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.
RRTU -TIC
Take at look at the map below and see the expanse of our TIC program in our region.
Wow !
Rocky River has one of the larger program in the US and your monetary support and our exceptional volunteers have built this to have the greatest impact for our youth . This program plants the seeds for future participants in the exacting the best ideas and actions to maintain and improve our essential cold water resources.
Many, many thanks for the many many hours our volunteers have invested in our children and all of our futures !
Many, many thanks for the many many hours our volunteers have invested in our children and all of our futures !
Another Successful Appletree Outing
Our thanks to Bill Thomas and Jim Mabry for their mighty efforts to coordinate all the fine food and logistics for our recent camping experience! Everyone chipped in on the chores to make for a memorable time. Hope all of you can join us next year!
Our thanks to Bill Thomas and Jim Mabry for their mighty efforts to coordinate all the fine food and logistics for our recent camping experience! Everyone chipped in on the chores to make for a memorable time. Hope all of you can join us next year!
Casting Carolinas is a fantastic organization which supports women who are challenged with all forms of cancer, at all stages of cancer. They are currently taking applications for their 2024 retreats so please follow and share the link below. Casting Carolinas is also seeking additional volunteers to assist at these retreats. Here is the link to the retreats.
https://castingcarolinas.com/retreats or email: Pat Lautner - [email protected]
https://castingcarolinas.com/retreats or email: Pat Lautner - [email protected]
Conservation News Here :
HOT WEATHER AND TROUT
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.
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.
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.
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.
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