Join us for some time on the water....
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Rocky River Chapter Trout Unlimited Charlotte, North Carolina
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Upcoming Events:
Spring Alarka Camping- April 11- April 14 Trout in the Classroom Releases - April 4, more below Fall Alarka Camping- October 10 - October 13 |
Spring Alarka
Okay folks, the Spring camping/fishing adventure is right around the corner. Thursday April 11 through Sunday April 14 Rocky River will be at the Alarka Smoky Mountain Meadows Campground. Please plan to join us by registering/paying for the amount of days you plan to attend.
In addition to the excellent, multiple fishing sites in the immediate or close area, there will be meals and entertainment. It is a terrific chance to meet and spend quality time with our fellow chapter members. Young and old alike.
This year we are repeating the excellent opportunity to win a brand spanking new Orvis Helios 3 of your choosing. This is the newest rod technology and an amazing fly rod. We are reviving the 52 Card draw to win. You can purchase cards in advance at a cost of 20.00 per chance. Don't forget this is an eight hundred dollar rod and you are part of a one in fifty two odds drawing.
Go to the events page and sign up under Spring Alarka today
In addition to the excellent, multiple fishing sites in the immediate or close area, there will be meals and entertainment. It is a terrific chance to meet and spend quality time with our fellow chapter members. Young and old alike.
This year we are repeating the excellent opportunity to win a brand spanking new Orvis Helios 3 of your choosing. This is the newest rod technology and an amazing fly rod. We are reviving the 52 Card draw to win. You can purchase cards in advance at a cost of 20.00 per chance. Don't forget this is an eight hundred dollar rod and you are part of a one in fifty two odds drawing.
Go to the events page and sign up under Spring Alarka today
The last session of RRTU Fly Tying -
We had another terrific turnout on Saturday for the last tying session, until this Fall. Great to see everyone this year and great to see lots of new faces. There are some very talented and very motivated folks at our sessions. We are lucky to have this opportunity to gather in one place for such fun days. Some are even sad it has come to a close so quickly. Please enjoy these photos and watch for the announcements for the next group of sessions. Thanks to everyone who attended and made this happen and be a such a pleasure to attend.
Trout in the Classroom Releases 2019
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One of the most successful programs our chapter is the TIC (Trout in the Classroom) and it is one of the most most enjoyable for participants. Raised from eggs and releasing small fish in a trout stream, involves a classroom's participation for nearly the entire school year. Learning why trout environments are critical to their success is knowledge and hands on experience will last a lifetime. The year's work culminate in a wonderful day for the children, teachers, parents and RRTU releasing the fledgling trout into a trout stream in a NC state park. The smiles are priceless. Please plan to attend as many of these as possible, and like the children, you will be joyfully rewarded. Releases are at South Mountains State Park in Connelly Springs NC and begin at 9:00 am until approximately 11:30 |
TIC Release Dates 2019
April 4 Cramerton Middle School
April 5 Sherwood Elementary, Gastonia April 9 Battleground Elementary, Lincolnton April 10 Sedgefield Middle School and Whitewater Middle School April 11 York Chester Middle School April 15 Pinewood Elementary April 16 York Chester April 18 Pinewood Elementary April 25 JTW Montessori School April 26 Providence Day School May 10 Quail Hollow Middle School May 15 St Patrick Catholic School May 22 Charlotte Country Day School May 31 Pleasant Knoll Middle School |
Friends of Rocky River Trout Unlimited Celebration 2019
What a great night we had at our Friends of Rocky River Celebration. It was great to see everyone, great to talk with old friends and meet new ones, great food, and great auctions. Lots of cool stuff went out the door. Thanks to everyone for their generous donations and contributions making it so successful. This has been and continues to be one of the best nights of the year for us and we look forward to another successful year of Rocky River Trout Unlimited. Enjoy these photos.
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February 16 RRTU Fly Tying Session 4A good crowd of eager tiers enjoyed a full, and fun day of new patterns and lots of good conversation about all things trout. Welcome to the new attendees and as always it is great to see all of those returning for a Saturday at the vise. Many trout catching flies came out of the day. Already looking forward to the last session next month. See you then !
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Alarka Fall 2018
The Fall Alarka was terrific with excellent Fall weather and great companionship followed by even better fishing. Tim Ramsey won the card raffle and a brand new Orvis Helios rod !
Make plans to join us in the Spring !
Make plans to join us in the Spring !
FLY OF THE MONTH
March 2019
Black Gnat
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Fly of The Month 03.19
In the archives, books refer to very tiny aquatic flying insects as Smut or Gnat. Our modern term that we use is typically midge or the scientific name diptera which is broader and includes Chironomid, mosquitos, black flies and crane flies.However, we still call them gnats when they fly around our face seeking the liquid tears in our eyeballs. The wingless, standard midge dry flies may well be included here but they are not included because they are rarely referred to as an imitation of a gnat.
Gnat Dry Fly and Wet Fly Group
The Black Gnat fly pattern tied with a black ostrich herl body and an orange tip is presented as part of his wet fly collection in Bergman’s book entitled Trout, published as the fourth edition in 1940. A modern standard dry fly version is basically the same color combination except with stiff dry fly hackle and upright and divided wings. The Leisenring Black Gnat is fundamentally a soft hackle version with a dubbed black body and gold wire ribbing.
The Griffith Gnat is a palmered dry fly pattern that is intended to be an imitation of a midge cluster, originally tied with a peacock herl body and a grizzly hackle, palmered over the body. One of the best variation is the Hi-Vis Griffith Gant with the addition of a highly visible, bright fluorescent colored tuft above the head of the fly. There are a multitude of color variations being tied and marketed today. These include various dyed-peacock herl bodies of tan, dark tan, purple, gray, insect green, gold, BWO and black as well as various dyed grizzly hackle such as olive, yellow, red and purple. An endless combination of colors to imitate any cluster midges.
The Prime Gnat fly with black body, wing, hackle and tail, and a red butt, was the creation of William Cowper Prime, 1825-1905, author of I Go A Fishingpublished in 1873. A graduate of Princeton, 1843, he engaged in the practice of law in New York from 1846 to 1861. He was editor of the Journal of Commerce from 1861 to 1869. He served as vice president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art after 1874. In 1884 he was professor of history and art at Princeton. It was Prime who said, “The angler, I think, dreams of his favorite sport oftener than other men of theirs.”
The Prime Gnat wet fly can also be found in Bergman’sTrouton Plate No. 7, page 169. Harold Smedley also seems to offer a second version: “The Prime Gnat has a peacock body; gold tip; and dark slate wings.”
Whether imitating a cluster, which is a sneaky way to use a larger, more visible fly with more hooking power, or imitating a larger gnat sized aquatic insect, these simple to tie fly patterns catch trout.
The Gnat Dry Fly and Wet Fly Group:
Black Gnat, Leisenring’s Black Gnat
Griffith Gnat, Hi-Vis Griffith Gnat, Griffith Gnat variations
Prime Gnat
Tom Adams and Alen Baker
References:
Smedley, Harold Hinsdill. Fly Patterns and Their Origins, 1944
Bergman, Ray. Trout
In the archives, books refer to very tiny aquatic flying insects as Smut or Gnat. Our modern term that we use is typically midge or the scientific name diptera which is broader and includes Chironomid, mosquitos, black flies and crane flies.However, we still call them gnats when they fly around our face seeking the liquid tears in our eyeballs. The wingless, standard midge dry flies may well be included here but they are not included because they are rarely referred to as an imitation of a gnat.
Gnat Dry Fly and Wet Fly Group
The Black Gnat fly pattern tied with a black ostrich herl body and an orange tip is presented as part of his wet fly collection in Bergman’s book entitled Trout, published as the fourth edition in 1940. A modern standard dry fly version is basically the same color combination except with stiff dry fly hackle and upright and divided wings. The Leisenring Black Gnat is fundamentally a soft hackle version with a dubbed black body and gold wire ribbing.
The Griffith Gnat is a palmered dry fly pattern that is intended to be an imitation of a midge cluster, originally tied with a peacock herl body and a grizzly hackle, palmered over the body. One of the best variation is the Hi-Vis Griffith Gant with the addition of a highly visible, bright fluorescent colored tuft above the head of the fly. There are a multitude of color variations being tied and marketed today. These include various dyed-peacock herl bodies of tan, dark tan, purple, gray, insect green, gold, BWO and black as well as various dyed grizzly hackle such as olive, yellow, red and purple. An endless combination of colors to imitate any cluster midges.
The Prime Gnat fly with black body, wing, hackle and tail, and a red butt, was the creation of William Cowper Prime, 1825-1905, author of I Go A Fishingpublished in 1873. A graduate of Princeton, 1843, he engaged in the practice of law in New York from 1846 to 1861. He was editor of the Journal of Commerce from 1861 to 1869. He served as vice president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art after 1874. In 1884 he was professor of history and art at Princeton. It was Prime who said, “The angler, I think, dreams of his favorite sport oftener than other men of theirs.”
The Prime Gnat wet fly can also be found in Bergman’sTrouton Plate No. 7, page 169. Harold Smedley also seems to offer a second version: “The Prime Gnat has a peacock body; gold tip; and dark slate wings.”
Whether imitating a cluster, which is a sneaky way to use a larger, more visible fly with more hooking power, or imitating a larger gnat sized aquatic insect, these simple to tie fly patterns catch trout.
The Gnat Dry Fly and Wet Fly Group:
Black Gnat, Leisenring’s Black Gnat
Griffith Gnat, Hi-Vis Griffith Gnat, Griffith Gnat variations
Prime Gnat
Tom Adams and Alen Baker
References:
Smedley, Harold Hinsdill. Fly Patterns and Their Origins, 1944
Bergman, Ray. Trout
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