STREAMS OF THOUGHT—NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT
FISHING QUOTE OF THE MONTH
FISHING MAKES US PARTICIPANTS IN NATURE INSTEAD OF SPECTATORS, A CRUCIAL DISTINCTION BECAUSE PARTICIPANTS TEND TO BECOME PASSIONATE AND PROTECTIVE AND SPECTATORS TEND TO BECOME INDIFFERENT.
JERRY DENNIS
A DIFFERENT KIND OF SMOKIES TRIFECTA, BROOK TROUT RESTORATION AT NORTON CREEK
Trout Camp has been taking much of my time and attention lately but I did take Saturday to complete a different kind of Smokies Trifecta. I spent the morning and early afternoon performing our bimonthly water sampling; this time on Porter’s Creek with fellow chapter members Rich Eitel and Steve Darnell, along with Steve’s grandson, Thomas. (We didn’t pick Thomas up in the woods someplace, he is getting in shape for a 12-day trek at Philmont Scout Ranch). I had forgotten how beautiful Porter’s is. I then tried to fish a short section of Porter’s; several nice strikes on a wooly bugger although nothing to hand (no Smokies slam but an improvement over the past few times out!). Then I made my phenology observations at the Greenbriar plot on Injun Creek Trail behind the Greenbriar Ranger Station. This last volunteer task really brought home to me how fast the forest develops that shade rendering and trout preserving canopy; it seems like less than a month ago our Phenology team was struggling to find leaf buds. A full day in one of my most favorite places!! A day like this in the outdoors leads to a good night’s rest (and a little stiffness the next morning. I truly hope that you have an outdoor place like that where you can go, maybe get a little stiff in the joints, and not care whether you catch a fish or not—a place where you can go “to have your senses put in tune once more”. If not, maybe it is time to do so.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY AT NORTON CREEK – JUNE 5th
Earl Worsham, a Little River Chapter member and the owner of a good swath of the Norton Creek drainage has negotiated an opportunity with the Fisheries guys at GSMNP and the TWRA to reclaim a section of Norton Creek for Brook Trout. He needs our help in making this possible. The plan is very much the same as that executed in the Park when restoring a stream for Brook Trout; eliminate those pesky rainbows with repeated shocker passes and then bring in some Brookies from elsewhere to repopulate the stream. Our part is to clean up the foliage that blocks the stream for easy access for the shocking teams. For you that are familiar with Norton Creek, it will be the section above the ‘Pool House’ where there is a large cascade that will block rainbows from migrating back up into the upper parts of Norton Creek. There are 4 separate sections that need some work. We are looking at June 5th to be the cleanup day. So please bring your gardening gloves, loppers, hand saws, some safety glasses, and a lunch; waders aren’t necessary but you may want to wear wading boots and wet wade some of the sections. We will start about 10 am and be done in midafternoon. The reward is shown in the accompanying picture; access to fish Norton Creek at your leisure and discretion!
Best wishes and Tight Lines! – Steve Y
