Georgia Trout Camp

 

·    Georgia Trout Camp

·    We are returning to Tallulah Falls School for GA Trout Camp. Dates – June 5 – 10^th. Bruce is updating our website with more information - in the meantime the application is attached in both word and pdf. We are accepting 12 campers for the 2022 camp, one from each Chapter. We will have our usual wait-list for additional campers, or those who inquire from the web. There is a fee increase of $100 – to $700. Of course we will make adjustments as needed for any COVID issues that we must deal with. But in the meantime, it is Full Steam Ahead!

PROPOSED 2022 VOLUNTEER CONSERVATION OPPOTUNITIES

 

PROPOSED 2022 VOLUNTEER CONSERVATION OPPOTUNITIES Georgia Trout Unlimited   Contact Steve Westmoreland with questions: stevewestmoreland1@gmail.com. Cell-770-403-0609   February 4th and 5th: Fly Fishing Show- GA TU Booth help needed.   March 5th: Raccoon Creek Workday- Cohutta Chapter and NPHS 5Rivers Club   March 26th: Sweep the Hooch- Chattahoochee River Keeper and NPS   April 14th: Hedden Creek- Rabun County: Rabun Chapter and Friends   April 16th: Rock Creek- Murray County: Coosa Valley lead   April 16th: Long Creek- Fannin County: BRMTU   April 30th: TroutFest-Blue Ridge: BRMTU   May 7th: Fly Fishing with Mom- GA DNR; Unicoi State Park   May 14th: Kids Fishing Rodeo- Murray County: TBD   June 4th: Lake Winfield Scott- Kids Fishing Day   June 5th: 10th- TROUT CAMP-Tallulah Falls School   June 8th: Trout Camp Workday- Walnut Fork   June 11th: Tallulah River- Kids Fishing Day   July 9th: Jasus Creek- White County- TBD   September 17th: Johns Creek- Floyd County: Cohutta and Coosa Valley   November 4th- 5th: Becoming an Outdoors Woman- BOW- Location TBD- GA DNR

Message from the president....

 Over the past years Georgia Foothills TU has made a huge impact in our local community supporting programs and organizations that align with our Trout Unlimited values and principals. Some examples are Smithgall Woods Education Outreach Program, Casting for Recovery, Trout in the Classroom, Project Healing Waters, 4H Youth Kayak Fishing, Trout Camp, and others. We have been very fortunate to have been able to continue our support during this pandemic even though we have had our main fund raiser the Hoot on the Hooch canceled twice because of it. If we wish to continue to support these programs and organizations into the future, we must start planning for it now. The direction things are going now makes it reasonable to think that we should be able to host the ‘Hoot in March of 2022.

Putting on the ‘Hoot is a big job typically accomplished by a handful of club members. It also provides us our funding for the year. We need to decide if we want to host it again or find a new source for obtaining our funding. This is a decision that needs to be reached by the membership.

After last month’s forced postponement due to the gas situation. We will hold June’s meeting on Thursday the 10th at Fish Camp in Smithgall Woods. It is still of great importance that you come and share your thoughts and ideas on how best to move Georgia Foothills TU forward as we transition beyond Covid. In the years prior to the pandemic, club participation had been declining. Now, after being shutdown for a year we need to get things going again. This is OUR club, and it needs to move forward with everyone together. The only way that can happen is with YOUR Input. The CDC and the State have relaxed the social distancing rules for outdoor meetings. We will continue to take a common sense approach to avoiding spreading the virus. I look forward to seeing everyone again.

Bruce

June Monthly Meeting

Date: June 10, 2021

Time: 6:30

Location: Fish Camp in Smithgall Woods

Helen, GA 30545

Program: General Meeting (that will be incredible)

All the social media rumors are true, we are having a June meeting this Thursday the 10th. All the fake news and snide remarks made online that Foothills will never have a meeting again were all fabricated lies. We here and we are ready to get this ball rolling again....again. So get your Sunday best ready for some Thursday action as we welcome everyone back for a face to face meeting.

This, as always, will be an important meeting. We hope to see all of you there.

Directions to Fish Camp at Smithgall Woods

Do Not go to the main entrance of Smithgall Woods SP off Alt Hwy 75. You will not be allowed to drive through the park to get to fish camp. Note that Duke’s Creek is closed to fishing for the summer.

Access to Fish Camp is via Joe Franklin Rd it is a small graveled road with NO sign for the park marking it. It is in between The intersection of Hwy 75 and Duncan Bridge rd & the Shell gas station on Hwy 75.

From Helen/Sautee :

From the intersection of Hwys 17 & 75 at the Indian Mound

Go south on Hwy 75 for approx 1.5 miles

Turn Right on to Joe Franklin Rd.

Go about a half mile and drive through gate into park.

Follow signs to fish camp

From Cleveland :

From intersection of Hwys 129 & 75 at Ingels

Go 5.1 Miles North on Hwy 75

Turn Left onto Joe Franklin Rd

Go about a half mile and drive through gate into park.

Follow signs to fish camp.

0 C

From the chapter president.....

 Over the past years Georgia Foothills TU has made a huge impact in our local community supporting programs and organizations that align with our Trout Unlimited values and principals. Some examples are Smithgall Woods Education Outreach Program, Casting for Recovery, Trout in the Classroom, Project Healing Waters, 4H Youth Kayak Fishing, Trout Camp, and others. We have been very fortunate to have been able to continue our support during this pandemic even though we have had our main fund raiser the Hoot on the Hooch canceled twice because of it. If we wish to continue to support these programs and organizations into the future, we must start planning for it now. The direction things are going now makes it reasonable to think that we should be able to host the ‘Hoot in March of 2022.

Putting on the ‘Hoot is a big job typically accomplished by a handful of club members. It also provides us our funding for the year. We need to decide if we want to host it again or find a new source for obtaining our funding. This is a decision that needs to be reached by the membership.

After last month’s forced postponement due to the gas situation. We will hold June’s meeting on Thursday the 10th at Fish Camp in Smithgall Woods. It is still of great importance that you come and share your thoughts and ideas on how best to move Georgia Foothills TU forward as we transition beyond Covid. In the years prior to the pandemic, club participation had been declining. Now, after being shutdown for a year we need to get things going again. This is OUR club, and it needs to move forward with everyone together. The only way that can happen is with YOUR Input. The CDC and the State have relaxed the social distancing rules for outdoor meetings. We will continue to take a common sense approach to avoiding spreading the virus. I look forward to seeing everyone again.

Bruce

Monthly Meeting 4/8/2021 - RESTART

 

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter holiday, the weather certainly cooperated. Covid vaccine is becoming widely available and the weather is warming to make outdoor meetings doable again. Let’s hold a meeting this coming Thursday April 8^th at Smithgall Woods Fish Camp. We’ll get the meeting going around 6:30pm. Since we have been in a hiatus for the past year or so due to the Corona Virus, this gives us an opportunity to kind of give a reset for the chapter and redefine ourselves moving forward. Please bring your thoughts and ideas on how we should conduct our chapter moving forward. Before our forced shut down, we were having a door prize drawing for fishing at Nacoochee Bend. We still have (2) of the certificates left. I spoke with Wes at Unicoi Outfitters and he gave thumbs up to us use them. So we will have two door prizes at the meeting. These certificates are meant to be used. They will expire when Unicoi shuts down Trout fishing due to water temp, typically sometime in June. So get out and use them asap !   Must be present to win. While we are not completely clear of Covid, things are improving. We will observe the guidelines by wearing our masks and maintaining social distancing. Common sense goes a long way in keeping us all safe. I look forward to seeing and enjoying everyone again.

Bruce

2021 Dream Trip Tickets

 For the past 15 years Georgia Trout Unlimited has conducted the “Dream Trip” raffle to raise the funds needed to support Trout Camp and other conservation items to support our TU mission. This is truly a “Dream Trip” in that for a $10 ticket you can win a weeks worth of Guided fishing and lodging with TU member John McGarity at his place right outside Yellowstone National Park. This raffle is open to EVERYONE not just TU members. There are lots of great runner up prizes also. Please consider this an investment in Georgia TU Projects. The money raised from this stays here in Georgia. The drawing will be held at the Georgia TU State Council meeting in March. So hurry and get your tickets before time runs out.

Because of restrictions due to the pandemic we are unable to sell the Dream Trip tickets in our normal fashion. This years Dream Trip raffle has been moved online. Here is what we need to do :

# 1 Go online to the site below and purchase your tickets.

https://go.tulocalevents.org/georgia-trout-unlimited...

#2 Please make sure you check “Foothills Chapter”

#3 There is a fee for the purchase. The council passed this fee to the purchaser in order to maximize the donations.

#4 Note that you can purchase ANY number of tickets. Also this is not just for TU members, anyone can buy tickets and win the Dream Trip. Please ask your friends and family to purchase tickets also to help support our Georgia TU mission.

Each of the state chapters is expected to sell our quota of 150 tickets. So far Foothills has accounted for 42 tickets sold. I want to thank those of you who have purchased tickets. I am asking all of you to help in Foothills reaching it’s quota of 150 tickets sold. Any number of tickets you purchase will greatly help and be greatly appreciated. Again, Thank You to those that have already purchased tickets and Thank You to those that are going to do so.

Please do everything you can to keep yourself and your family safe and well as we negotiate our way forward. Better times will return and we will be able to meet again soon.

Bruce

UCCTU online Fundraiser

 

I would like to extend the offer for your chapter membership to participate in our annual fundraiser which commences later this month. What makes this year’s fundraiser unique for us is that it’s the first time the event will be an online auction.

     I’ve attached our poster which highlights the specifics of the event which starts on October 27 @ 7:00 pm and runs for one week ending November 3 @ 7:00 pm. We have a great mix of fishing equipment, guided trips, lodging and even assorted non-fishing items such as golf passes to local course; gift cards to local markets; and more.  Anyone can visit the online website in advance of October 27 to get a peek at the full list of items up for auction. 

   Should you have any questions about this fundraising event please contact me.

 

  Kind regards,

Tim Yeager

UCCTU Fundraising Chairperson

404-386-6860

tim.yeager@outlook.com   

       

Smith Creek Delayed Harvest

Foothills Tu will be the lead chapter again this year for stocking Smith Creek for the delayed harvest season. We will be stocking on November 2^nd at 11:30 am.   We have been asked to wear masks to limit the risk and follow the Governor’s recommendations.  As this event takes place outdoors and wearing our masks we are keeping the risk low for spreading the virus.  Be aware that risk is still present and make your decisions accordingly.  We will not be grilling hotdogs and hamburgers this year to help maintain our safety.  I’m very hopeful that by next year’s stocking event we can resume with that practice. We all will miss it this year.   Please print off and fill out the attachedwaiver. The DNR uses this information for it’s processes.   Look forward to seeing everyone there.

CLICK HERE FOR WAIVER

October Monthly Meeting - 10/8/2020

 We will be holding our October meeting on Thursday the 8^th at Fish Camp in Smithgall Woods State Park.  This will be a chapter business meeting as discussion will be centered on our fund raising events such as the Hoot on the Hooch.  We will also be discussing the changes being made to Trout Camp and Dream Trip ticket purchases.    We will be wearing our masks and practicing social distancing to keep the risk of transmission of coronavirus at a minimum.  As there will be no speaker and the meeting will be outdoors, I’d like to get the meeting started right around 6pm.  If you need a little more time to get there please let me know and we’ll adjust as needed.  The risks of Coronavirus remains and each of us needs to decide what is in our own best interests.  We will have a raffle quilt again this year.  I plan to have it at the meeting so we can include it in our discussions.

 

I hope everyone is safe and well as the season changes over to fall.

 

Bruce

 

 

Directions to Fish Camp at Smithgall Woods

 

Do Not go to the main entrance of Smithgall Woods SP off Alt Hwy 75. You will not be allowed to drive through the park to get to fish camp. Note that Duke’s Creek is closed to fishing for the summer.

 

Access to Fish Camp is via Joe Franklin Rd  it is a small graveled road with NO sign for the park marking it.   It is in between The intersection of Hwy 75 and Duncan Bridge rd  & the Shell gas station on Hwy 75.

 

From  Helen/Sautee :

 

From the intersection of Hwys 17 & 75 at the Indian Mound

Go south on Hwy 75 for approx 1.5 miles

Turn Right on to Joe Franklin Rd.

Go about a half mile and drive through gate into park.

Follow signs to fish camp

 

 

From Cleveland :

 

From intersection of Hwys 129 & 75 at Ingels

Go 5.1 Miles North on Hwy 75

Turn Left onto Joe Franklin Rd

Go about a half mile and drive through gate into park.

Follow signs to fish camp