 |
 Troutline Graphic by Gary Visgaitis |
|||||
|
|
Dusty Wissmath and the Spring Creeks of the Mid-Atlantic
Region Dusty Wissmath and the Spring Creeks of the Mid-Atlantic Region Most of us know that spring creeks provide a special and nurturing habitat to their trout inhabitants, and their special characteristics also mean some unusual challenges to the fly fisherman. We may have opportunities to fish one of the famous creeks in Pennsylvania, but there are also a few to be found in the geologically similar limestone valleys of Virginia. Since Dusty has fished most, if not all, of these creeks, he just might be able to give us enough information to make the fishing challenge a little less daunting. Maybe there is a special fly to get past the selectivity of spring creek trout that arises from their abundance of food supplies. Perhaps there is a good terrestrial fly for those warm days of summer. Let's hear what Dusty has to say! Dusty runs his Whitetail Fly Fishing School and Guide Service out of the Whitetail Resort in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. Check out his web site at www.dwflyfishingschool.com. You may also call 717-328-9400, ext. 3531.
Northern
Virginia Chapter of Trout Unlimited Presents the NEW Boy Scout
Fly Fishing Merit Badge
The chapter's merit badge program was conceived in the fall of 2002 by Suzanne Malone, the Northern Virginia Chapter's Outreach Committee chair. Suzanne formed a Boy Scout Merit Badge Committee to develop and execute a lesson plan that was instructional yet fun. They put together materials covering the 10 requirements mandated by the Boy Scouts. Many of the handouts were provided courtesy of the Virginia Department Of Game and Inland Fisheries Fishing Education Program. Chapter member Jonathan Davies spearheaded a successful petition to the Chapter's Board of Directors for money to purchase rods, reels and line, and a generous benefactor provided Orvis flytying kits to round out the basic supplies that would be needed.Committee members pitched in to create a classroom package covering everything from knots to casting, hooks to catch-and-release, macroinvertebrates, local fishing regulations, and related subjects. After many planning sessions the committee was ready to implement its program in the spring of 2003, just in time for some really great fishing. Over the course of that first class, held at Camp William B Snyder, in Haymarket, Virginia, we rotated through the committee members to present a hands-on classroom program which covered first aid, rod-reel-line systems and knots, the many types of flies we use, fly tying and safety, the "leave no trace" outdoor code of ethics, matching the hatch, and fishing regulations. By the time we'd covered all this material the clouds had parted and we took our five brave Scouts outside to teach casting, leaving them to follow through with only the requirements to collect stream bugs, catch two species of fish, and clean and cook one fish. Much to our delight, it seemed that the fun of tying knots and flies was intoxicating, and we had the kids'undivided attention the entire day. The
instructors on this first day were Antonio Bravo, Ken Middleton,
John Mittleman and Suzanne Malone. We all felt so good about the
experience we cannot wait to schedule another day. Much of the
success of the program was due in part to the five fantastic scouts
we had the pleasure of spending the day with, and the thorough
preparations made by the Merit Badge Committee which, in addition
to the instructors, included Jon Davies and Robert Gwaltney.
Fish with a Member trips for May Piney
River (VA) East
Branch of Antietam Creek (PA)
Come
to the Big Spring Work Day May 17th Let's kick off the season with a good turnout on the 17th at our own Big Spring Creek, just north of Leesburg. Sign up with Burt Weisman, who will tell you how to get there. Volunteers are meeting at 9:00 a.m. at the shed beside the access road. Bring work gloves and hip boots. Lunch will be provided. You can expect a fun time, a lot of satisfaction, and it is all working in a core area of Trout Unlimited's reason for being. This stream project is the "jewel in the crown" of our Chapter's various restoration initiatives, because we are protecting the habitat of a unique population of wild rainbow trout. You can help. E-mail or phone Burt Weisman (d-bweisman@erols.com/703-255-2579) to sign up or if you have questions.
Thanks to all who helped out on "Kids Fishing Day" on March 15, 2003 at Four Mile Run in Arlington. Special thanks to our continuing partners in conservation the Chesapeake Women Anglers. Three of the members who volunteered that day to be stream guides are also members of the Northern Virginia Chapter. Thanks to Kiki Galvin, Robin Hoofnagle and Suzanne Malone. Another interesting fact the women fishing guides on the stream that day out numbered the men. You go Girls!
Thanks also to the members who volunteered at our booth at the LL Bean Fly Fishing Expo on March 22, 2003. Burt Weisman, John Hadley, Dick Davies, John Newton and Suzanne Malone tied flies, handed out samples, and talked to hundreds of visitors about Trout Unlimited, conservation and fishing. Thanks!
Tune
Up In Shenandoah National Park Vendors'
Night in June! Special
Workshops Being Held on Air and Water Quality in Shenandoah National
Park More
Banquet Donors
|
On
April 5th, 2003, the Northern Virginia Chapter of Trout Unlimited,
in cooperation with the National Capitol Council of the Boy Scouts
of America, kicked off the first regional training session for
the newly created merit badge in fly fishing. The new fly fishing
merit badge gives Boy Scouts the chance to learn about fly fishing,
fly tying and conservation. It also offers the Northern Virginia
Chapter a unique opportunity to share our love and knowledge of
fly fishing with the Boy Scouts in the National Capital area,
and to encourage positive ethics and stream stewardship among
our future leaders. As we set the wheels of fly fishing passion
in motion, we know that today's young men in the Boy Scouts may
become TU leaders and the conservationists of tomorrow.