http://smtu.org/index.php/site/index/ en jeff@tristateangler.com Copyright 2010 2010-08-15T13:01:45+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/tic_release_video/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/tic_release_video/#When:13:01:45Z I apologize for not having this for our members sooner. I have had it for a couple months now but it has been a very hectic summer. I plan on getting this moved to its on section of the front page. As you can tell this was a great day for the kids and for our members. Thanks again to East Wilkes Middle School students, Russell Sparks and Shelly Somers for all their help to make our first TIC Project a success. http://www.wilkes.k12.nc.us/ewms/news.html 2010-08-15T13:01:45+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/who_is_our_fish_management_new_contributor/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/who_is_our_fish_management_new_contributor/#When:02:20:19Z “Kevin Hining is a fisheries biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.  He assists with the management of freshwater gamefish populations in northwestern North Carolina. Kevin will provide information to the chapter on stream fish management activities in northwestern NC when he is able to get time from his busy schedule. Kevin is not a TU member but has graciously offered to help us out. Kevin can be contacted at hiningk@charter.net.” 2009-03-14T02:20:19+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/stream_clean_up_bbq_cookout/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/stream_clean_up_bbq_cookout/#When:12:26:25Z Our chapter will be having a Stream Clean Up on the North Fork of the New River August, 28th with a start time around nine in the morning. After we get the trash out of a section of the river we will be having a stream-side BBQ. All of this is possible with the help of the National Committee for the New River. Cortney Waite, from the NCNR, again has been gracious enough to set this up along with the help of our very on Scott Frye. More info to come about meet points to drive up and the area we will clean. To help out call Scott Frye at 336-409-2429. 2010-08-15T12:26:25+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/tic_release_at_stone_mountain/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/tic_release_at_stone_mountain/#When:02:08:32Z This will be pretty much a full day of education with us also cooking lunch for everyone. It is our hope that we will be able to set up several conservation and environmental station to cover all the curriculum covered in the Envirothon Program that East Wilkes Middle School has been participating in. Anyone who feels that they have a 10 to 15 minute program relevant to environment or conservation education can contact Jeff Payne at 336-902-5497. 2010-05-22T02:08:32+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/kids_fishing_day_ararat_river_mount_airy/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/kids_fishing_day_ararat_river_mount_airy/#When:02:06:33Z This will be our first annual kid’s fishing in Mount Airy. We will start at 9:00 am and conclude about 12 noon. The day includes children fishing and keeping stocked fish the NCWRC has stocked just for our event so we need help watching to make sure everyone is safe. We also will cook food for everyone participating in the event. Contact Jeff Payne at 336-902-5497 if you want to help with this event. 2010-05-09T02:06:33+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/mount_airy_kids_fun_day/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/mount_airy_kids_fun_day/#When:01:31:52Z We will meet at 9:00 Saturday at the park in Mount Airy. The address given to me by the recreation department to get directions is 270 Riverside Dr., Mount Airy, NC 27030. Hope to see everyone there. 2010-05-06T01:31:52+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/wlkesboro_kids_fishing_day_and_stream_clean_sweep/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/wlkesboro_kids_fishing_day_and_stream_clean_sweep/#When:11:03:58Z Stone Mountain Trout Unlimited is staying busy in the community with the help and partnership of other organizations. Our “Kid’s Fishng Day” was another success with the help of the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and our very own fisheries biologist, Kevin Hinning. Kevin is shown stocking trout the day before our 6th annual fishing day. You can’t deny the fact, as this young angler shows, that the kid’s (and parents) enjoy this event. We hope some day a few of these kid’s grow up and want to help other young people learn more about angling and will one day join SMTU and help in conservation of streams so trout can continue to live in the wild. We also had another “Stream Clean Sweep” with the help of the National Committee for the New River’s very own Courtney Waite. This girl has enough energy for everyone, which is good since we aren’t as young as we once were. We cleaned up another stretch of the Upper New and ended up with to canoe loads of various trash. Thanks to both organizations for helping us continue our mission to educate and give back to the resource that is so important to our communities. 2010-04-20T11:03:58+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/stream_clean_up_on_south_fork_of_new_river_near_boone/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/stream_clean_up_on_south_fork_of_new_river_near_boone/#When:22:21:54Z We will once again be partnering with the folks from NCNR and will be cleaning up a stretch of the South Fork of the New River…..Next Saturday, April 17! I have the time now as well as the date, hope to see everyone there. Members are welcomed to bring a friend or more to help, all are welcomed. We will meet at 9:00 to start the adventure.  NCNR will provide boats to haul trash in as well as gloves.  Directions to the meeting spot are as follows: US421 NB Just before entering Boone proper, you will cross the South Fork. Take a left on the road immediately past the bridge after crossing the river. Continue on this road until you come to a low-water bridge.  There is parking there around the bridge.   2010-04-09T22:21:54+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/aril_newsletter/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/aril_newsletter/#When:22:27:15Z I know that I am probably sounding like a broken record to everyone but I want to be sure that all the dates for our April events are fresh in every ones mind. Our next event you will want to attend will be the presentation, April 6th 7:00 pm at our regular monthly meeting by our TIC participants. This will be the third attempt at this program that has been postponed by our snowy winter two times prior. As I have stated before I would like to have a good crowd to show our support for the work these ladies and their teachers have done. Hopefully we won’t have call this one off for snow. Saturday, April 10th will mark our 6th annual “Kid’s Fishing Day” in Wilkesboro. We plan to start the fishing at 9:30 am and then have lunch between 11:00 am and 12 noon. Kevin Hinning from the North Carolina Wildlife Commission will be bringing the trout the night before and providing bait and some fishing rods for children who don’t have one. We will need help with netting trout and making sure that everyone is safe and has fun. April 17th will be our Spring Stream Clean Sweep that is being set up with the help of National Committee for the New River. I will be posting the time as the date gets closer so if you are interested be sure to check back for that. We should know the time within the next week. Despite the slow start of the 2010 due to all the weather situations we have had to deal with, we are ramping up for several things for our members to participate in. I will try to remember to e-mail the members I have on my SMTU e-mail list and if you read this and want to be added to that as an extra reminder for yourself be sure to let me know at my e-mail address. jeff@tristateangler.com Your President, Jeff Payne Meeting date is April 6th, 7:00 PM @ the Foothills Arts Council Building in Elkin. Officers President -Jeff Payne Vice President-Rick Parish Treasurer-Bob Pearson Project Coordinator- Dick Everhart Newsletter Editor- Nancy Payne 2010-04-01T22:27:15+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/trout_in_the_classroom_presentation/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/trout_in_the_classroom_presentation/#When:23:27:53Z Our meeting for April will hopefully be the one when we get out TIC presentation done. Be sure to check the April Newsletter for other dates and hope to see everyone at the April meeting. 2010-03-22T23:27:53+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/march_newsletter/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/march_newsletter/#When:01:23:57Z Well it is only a few more days till Spring and it looks like it is going to be a wet one. I finally got in a little fishing and the streams and rivers are full of water. With a little patients and some split shot my friend T R and I were able to pick up some nice rainbows that were healthy, feisty and willing to jump. It was one of those trips that it was just nice to get out after all our wintery weather and even better to find some fish willing to come out and play. I hope everyone has had a chance to get out during some of these warmer days we have been having. We have several events coming up in the next few months and we are hoping to have good participation from our members. In the month of April we have our 6th annual “Kid’s Fishing Day” at Cub Creek in Wilkesboro which is in Wilkes County. April 17th we will be doing a stream clean up with the help of the National Committee for the New River. After both of these events we have been known to do a little fishing so everyone is invited to help and then hit a stream for some fishing. Be sure and keep check on our SMTU web-site for everything coming up. Your President, Jeff Payne Meeting date is April 6th, 7:00 PM @ the Foothills Arts Council Building in Elkin. Officers President -Jeff Payne Vice President-Rick Parish Treasurer-Bob Pearson Project Coordinator- Dick Everhart Newsletter Editor- Nancy Payne 2010-03-11T01:23:57+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/tic_presentation_for_march_meeting/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/tic_presentation_for_march_meeting/#When:02:24:51Z The TIC meeting will be re-scheduled for next month due to inclement weather. 2010-02-26T02:24:51+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/smallmouth_bass_in_western_nc_rivers_and_streams/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/smallmouth_bass_in_western_nc_rivers_and_streams/#When:14:43:53Z In recent years, many of the questions I’ve received about stream and river fishing have shifted from trout to smallmouth bass.  That’s not to say trout aren’t still an extremely important part of the western North Carolina fishing experience, but there does seem to be a push towards fishing for smallmouth bass.  This is probably due in part to the numerous rivers and streams in western NC that contain smallmouth bass, as well as their great fighting ability.  While we’ve spent years sampling the reservoirs and trout streams in western North Carolina, very little is known about our smallmouth bass populations.  In part to an increased interest by anglers coupled with limited fish data, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission biologists started a three year project intended to obtain some baseline information on smallmouth bass from western North Carolina rivers and streams.  We completed the final year of data collection in 2009, and plan to submit a final report by 2011.  Our primary goals were to (1) collect life history information for smallmouth bass so that we could determine management possibilities, (2) better educate NC anglers on where good smallmouth fishing opportunities exist, and (3) improve angler access to smallmouth populations.  In order to obtain this information we have collected length, weight, and age information for smallmouth bass from throughout western NC, and surveyed public access opportunities to these rivers and streams.  From 2007-2009 over 3000 smallmouth bass were collected from approximately 40 different populations.  All fish were measured for length and weight, and aged.  We have not completed analyzing the data from 2009, but our findings from 2007-2008 suggest a few things: 1)  Although the vast majority of smallmouth collected were less than 11 inches (84%), fish in excess of 14 inches were collected from most of the streams (70%), and fish greater than 17 inches were collected from 12% of the streams surveyed.  2)  There appears to be a huge variation in the growth rates of smallmouth bass from the streams sampled.  This wasn’t to surprising since we collected fish from a wide range of streams, varying from 600 feet to only 30 feet in width.  Furthermore, the elevation of the streams sampled ranged from 600 feet to 2600 feet above sea level.  The size and elevation of a stream often plays a role in the potential growth rates of smallmouth bass.  Unlike trout, smallmouth bass are a coolwater species, so high elevation streams and rivers will likely have shorter growing seasons and slower growth rates than similar sized waters at lower elevations.  A good comparison might be the Yadkin River and the South Fork New River.  Many anglers would assume the South Fork New River would be the better of the two for catching smallmouth bass, but actually your chances of catching an 18 inch smallmouth bass are much better on the Yadkin River.  It is lower elevation, and therefore has a longer growing season for smallmouth bass.  Another important aspect controlling the size of fish is the nutrient levels.  We often associate clear, clean water with big fish, but this is often not the case.  A stream must also have nutrients to support fish growth.  Streams in the southern Appalachians are natural low in nutrients.  As a result, streams with nutrient inputs from agricultural runoff, wastewater treatment plants, etc. are often better at growing big fish than similar pristine streams.  Obviously it’s a balancing act, and streams receiving excessive nutrients can be counterproductive for fish growth and survival. 3)  On average, it takes a smallmouth bass 5 to 6 years to reach 12 inches in size in NC streams.  In some streams fish reached 12 inches in only 3 years, but in others it might take 7 or more.  This information is important when modeling the impact of possible regulation changes to these fisheries.  As a general rule, faster growing populations offer the best opportunity for improving fish sizes through restrictive creel and size limits.  Putting restrictive regulations on slow growing populations often results in limited improvement or may even reduce growth rates/fish sizes.  Stunted bluegill in a farm pond offers a good example of this.  Anglers sometimes assume the best way to improve the size of fish is to release them and give them more time to grow.  This can be counterproductive in cases where food availability is low.  In those cases, a reduction in the number of fish might be the best way to improve overall sizes, unless of course you can improve nutrient levels.  There is much data analysis needed before we can suggest any regulation changes, but the majority of streams surveyed appear to be moderate to slow growing.  4)  In northwest NC we have a wide variety of smallmouth streams – from small streams where you might catch as many wild brown trout as smallmouth, to streams 2 to 3 football fields in width and more rocks and ledges than you could fish in a lifetime.  Here’s a quick synopsis (without providing to much detail in case one of these is your favorite ).  The Yadkin has the potential for big smallmouth anywhere below W. Kerr Scott Reservoir that has habitat (think rocks!), but I personally prefer the stretch between the Mitchell River and the HWY 67 bridge in Donnaha.  I know that’s a long stretch, about 40 miles, but I guess my point is there’s plenty of room to spread out.  In addition to the Yadkin, the area around Wilkes and Surry County contain numerous fun smallmouth destinations.  Practically all of the sizeable tributaries of the Yadkin hold smallmouth.  The Elk, Reddies, Roaring, Mulberry, Mitchell, and Fisher all offer some great fishing opportunities.  They all have numbers, but a few have some nice surprises for the angler willing to give it a trip or two.  Maybe just as important, these rivers along with the New (Ashe and Alleghany County), Watauga (Watauga County) and Dan River (Stokes County) have some gorgeous areas.  The numerous tall, hemlock bluffs on the Dan River are worth a float trip even if the fish aren’t biting! 5)  We have encountered some exceptional landowners during this study, and have recently worked out agreements for smallmouth bass fishing and small boat access at a few new spots in northwest NC.  These access sites were basically obtained from generous landowners that wished to provide anglers an opportunity to get in the river and fish.  We are working with various state agencies and local governments to obtain additional access sites, and hopefully the list will continue to grow.  Feel free to give me a call for additional information or more specifics - Thanks, Kevin Kevin Hining Fisheries Biologist - NC Wildlife Resources Commission 336-818-0283 hiningk@charter.net 2010-02-07T14:43:53+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/february_newsletter/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/february_newsletter/#When:01:21:16Z I think I can speak for the rest of the officers and banquet chairman that we are glad the banquet is now in the past and appears to have been a success despite the crazy weather that seemed to change every hour.  As you all know, it is important to maintain successful banquets in order to continue to grow our programs we have started over the past year.  Now we can take a serious look at expanding our trout in the classroom program and possibly put into action some of the other worthy projects we have discussed.  I hope everyone had a great time and want everyone to know how appreciative we are of your support.   Next month we will try again to have the young ladies and teachers from EWMS in for the presentation for our Tuesday night meeting since it was postponed this month due to bad weather.  Remember that we start at 7:00 and the March meeting will be on the 2nd.  I would like to have a good crowd to show these ladies we appreciate the job they are doing and to thank the teachers assisting them with their project.  It is pretty labor intense so good support from the teachers is vital for the success of the program.  Be sure to mark your calendars for that Tuesday night now so you won’t miss it. I would also like to remind everyone about the 6th annual “Kid’s Fishing Day” coming up in April at Cub Creek Park in Wilkesboro, NC.  This is usually the second Saturday in April so tentatively speaking that would be the 10th.  For those of you who haven’t helped with this event before it is a fun time for our members, kids, parents, grandparents and guardians.  Be sure to check back with our web-site for more details as the date approaches. It has been a snowy winter so I hope as the weather improves everyone can find time to do a little fishing and volunteer for some of the events and programs we have coming up.  Help us help our communities by making young people aware of the need to protect the environment and the world around us in general.  By getting young people outdoors and involved and educated we help to guarantee that our grandchildren can enjoy the world around us as we have been able to do. Please remember you do not have to be a member to come to our meetings and you are encouraged to bring family and friends concerned about our water and environment in general. Thank you. Your President, Jeff Payne Meeting date is March 2nd, 7:00 PM @ the Foothills Arts Council Building in Elkin. Officers President -Jeff Payne Vice President-Rick Parish Treasurer-Bob Pearson Project Coordinator- Dick Everhart Newsletter Editor- Nancy Payne 2010-02-07T01:21:16+00:00 http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/february_scheduled_presenters/ http://smtu.org/index.php/site/permalink/february_scheduled_presenters/#When:01:24:17Z Due to the sketchy weather for tomorrow nights meeting our presenters will be rescheduled for next months meeting. This was to be the ladies from East Wilkes Middle School who are our first TIC participants. We may also try to set up a presentation later this month at EWMS so the girls can meet there Envirothon dead line and I will post the time and date for that. So be sure and check back with us late this week. 2010-02-02T01:24:17+00:00