Rocky River Chapter Trout Unlimited Charlotte, North Carolina
We Conserve, Protect and Sustain our
Coldwater Natural Resources

Chapter Meeting June 2019

It's not often we have the opportunity to meet and learn about our native living companions, the snake.  Misunderstood, but vital to our environment.  Thanks to our guest speaker and herpetologist, Grover Barfield.   Enjoy these photos from Dana Hershey.


​Great chapter meeting in May.  Brian Esque lead a terrific presentation on fly fishing the Northwest corner of Yellowstone and the surrounding area.  Enjoy these scenes from the area,  and watch for the presentation along with important details in planning an amazing trip out west.
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, involving 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 culminates 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.  





​Enjoy some snaps from our recent Trout in the Classroom releases :
photos by George Fleszar
Fly of The Month 06.19
                  We find it interesting that fly patterns often have parallel originations and very different stories. Since fly patterns were not copyrighted or trademarked until recent times, only in the cases of a patent has anyone in the past challenged who rightfully can claim ownership of a given fly pattern. 
Historically, fly patterns may be identical or only slightly different with very different names. Likewise, identical names may mean very little and may be different, slightly different or independently originated fly patterns.
                  One series of fly patterns that was originated by Benny Joe Craig from western North Carolina is the Redhead. His long creative list of flies is a lengthy story to be told at another time. However, there is also a fly pattern from Michigan so named the Redhead fly. In this case there is absolutely no connection between Craig’s Redhead series of flies and this Redhead fly found in Smedley’s Fly Patterns and Their Origins published in 1944.
 
Redhead Fly
                  This squirrel tail fly was first tied by Paul Young of Detroit, Michigan, at the insistence of Jack Redhead, native of, and raised on, the Au Sable River in Michigan, at the mouth of the North Branch; a guide, and a good one. It differs from most squirrel tails in that the hair flares out on each side of the long shank hook, which is lightly dressed in a gold or silver spiral.
 
Redhead Series by Benny Joe Craig
                  Craig was a seat of the pants fly tyer who discovered that almost any fly pattern tied with red thread and ending up with a pronounced redhead was highly productive for catching trout in the Southern Appalachians. He used both red thread and fire orange thread depending on the fly pattern. His redhead series includes: Clay County Redhead Caddis, Black Redhead Caddis, Orange Redhead Caddis, Chartreuse Redhead Caddis, Yellow Redhead Caddis, Peacock Redhead Caddis, Golden Redhead, Royal Redhead and Redhead Jassid. 
Craig also had two fly patterns that used copper thread, the Dark Copperhead and the Light Copperhead. These fly patterns are totally unrelated to the highly productive Copperhead saltwater fly which imitates a redfish fry.
 
Redhead
Benny Joe Craig (BJC) Redhead Series:
Redhead Caddis
Black Redhead Caddis
Orange Redhead Caddis
Chartreuse Redhead Caddis
Yellow Redhead Caddis
Peacock Redhead Caddis
Clay County Redhead Caddis
Golden Redhead
Royal Redhead

Tom Adams and Alen Baker
References:
Smedley, Harold Hinsdill. Fly Patterns and Their Origins, 1944
Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachian, Benny Joe Craig
 
Redhead Caddis
Hook      Dry
Size          14, 16
Thread   Red          
Tail          None
Body       Pale green dubbing
Hackle   Brown
Wing      Light elk hair
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC
 
Black Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Black dubbing)
 
Orange Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Orange dubbing)
 
Chartreuse Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Chartreuse dubbing)
 
Yellow Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Yellow dubbing)
 
Peacock Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Peacock herl)
 
Clay County Redhead Caddis
Hook      Dry
Size          14, 16
Thread   Red
Tail          Brown, short
Body       Dark brown dubbing
Hackle   Dyed-coachman brown grizzly, palmered over body
Wing      Squirrel tail, down-wing
Created by Bennie Joe Craig           
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC    
 
Golden Redhead
Hook      Dry
Size          12, 14, 16
Thread   Fire orange
Wing      Black & White, over hackle, portions from grey squirrel tail
Tail          (Tag) Fire orange thread
Body:     Harvest gold yarn
Hackle:  Dyed-red grizzly
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC
 
Royal Redhead  
Hook      Dry
Size          12, 14, 16             
Thread   Fire orange           
Wing      Black & White, over hackle, portions from grey squirrel tail             
Tail          (Tag) Fire orange thread  
Body       Wine-colored yarn            
Hackle   Dyed-red grizzly
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC


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.
Picture
We who trout fish together ...will work together to
Conserve,  Protect,  and Restore our Coldwater Streams
- - -
Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (RRTU) 348