Public comments needed on Tellico Fishery

"The Upper Tellico ORV trail system has extensive damage and contributes unacceptable levels of sediments into the Tellico River and its tributaries. The Forest Service is in violation of its own standards and North Carolina water quality standards because visible sediment from the ORV trails is reaching the Tellico River and its tributaries in hundreds of locations."
Cherokee Scout - March 3, 2009


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More Dam Problems

“If your concern is economic, removing the dam will create a 32-mile stretch of unimpounded river — a boon to paddlers and anglers. Dillsboro, on the highway between Atlanta and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, should take advantage of being the gateway community to what could be a destination river for the paddling and fishing communities."

...Excerpt from a letter published in The Asheville Citizen-Times in Aug 2007, by former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Education and Outreach coordinator, Gary Peeples concerning the removal of the Dillsboro Dam.

The point he makes: Positives greatly outweigh the negatives no matter what your opinion on the issues surrounding dam removal.

Read the full story as issues are being hashed out in Franklin, NC

Brassie Midge

As Nashville's first winter storm of 2009 approaches, I've been indoors tying some Brassie midges for a fly swap with some members of Little River Outfitters message board.

These midges are size 20 and honestly, that's the smallest size I'm willing to attempt, and that's with a fairly simple recipe and some magnifiers.

Hopefully it won't be much longer before we start seeing some bugs up in the mountains.

Caney Report 2.16.09

The first outing of 2009 was a successful one; that means I caught at least one fish today on the Caney. I gambled on the generation schedule since it was in the low thirties yesterday....turned out to be a nice day to be out on the water, and not too many people around on this President's Day.

I started out below the dam and wasn't seeing much anything other than 4 spin-reelmen chucking spoons for distance. It never ceases to amaze me...but I'll save my negativity for next month.

Down at Happy Hollow, I got three stocker-bows and one nice Brook maybe 12 inches. I actually had a couple rise to a #16 Parachute Adams but of the four I landed, I got with a #14 Prince nymph. That's a shot of the Brook Trout at the top...