The Middle River Group, LLC

fly fishing, conservation and politics.

tenkara, conservation, communications, politics

Key grip and trout wrangler at the Middle River Group, LLC. Playing Doc Holliday to the Wyatt Earps of the fish and wildlife conservation world. Deputy Director, Marine Fish Conservation Network. Guide and instructor, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. Freelance outdoor writer.

Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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its not about the fishin, its about the friends...
it's not about the fishin, it's about the friends...

A couple of weeks ago I was in Tennessee on a fishing trip with three of my best friends. This was the second trip we have taken together as a group. Like last year, we spent four days fishing for trout in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The park is only about a five and a half hour drive south of here and contains over 700 miles of wild trout streams. The terrain features and watershed are not that different than what you find here in the Valley in the George Washington National Forest or the Shenandoah National Park.

What is different is the variety of trout you can fish for. All the trout in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are wild. They stopped stocking in the early 1970’s. You can fish for rainbows, browns and brookies there.

This year, like last, we started our trip at Little River Outfitters, Byron and Paula Begley’s shop in Townsend.

I have been in many shops over the years and this is one of the best. Not only do they have the gear you need, they have the local knowledge. Most importantly they share that knowledge willingly. If you decide to head down that way you really should check in with them.

What I really enjoy about the GSMNP is fishing for rainbow trout in the mountain streams. Rainbows, like brookies, are quick to take a well-presented dry fly. Catching these acrobatic fish in fast-moving mountain streams is a thrill.

According to the folks at Little River Outfitters “Rainbows are found at almost every elevation in the Smokies with the exception of some high elevation brook trout streams. Rainbow trout generally average in size from 4″ to 10″ and on rare occasions up to 14″”.

On this trip we spent a lot of time dodging the rain so most of the fish we caught were on nymphs tied behind a dry fly. Little yellow stoneflies, March Browns and light Cahill’s seemed to be the most prominent. We started to see a few sulfurs come off as well.

We stuck with pretty standard nymph patterns, pheasant tails, copper john’s and gold-ribbed hare’s ears. My “go to” nymph and all-around best producer was the shop-vac.

Last year we had a map marked with prime fishing spots. Our plan had been to fish the same areas again since they had lived up to our expectations last year.

The water levels this trip forced us to seek out new spots to fish. Waters levels were three times the normal flow, blowing out the larger rivers and making even the moderate sized mountain streams dangerous to wade.

Since many of the streams are easily accessible from the roads and trails we were able to look over the map and plan each day’s fishing based on the current or forecast water conditions.

This type of fishing is a bit more challenging than what we had wished for. Last year we had split up into pairs and fished different sections of the streams. With water conditions as treacherous as they were we opted to fish together as a group.

Needless to say this not only allowed us to scout around for potential fishing locations it also gave us a chance to offer each other some good natured “critiques” of each other’s fishing abilities.

Our evening destination was the Little River just up stream from Metcalf Bottoms. This section of the Little River boasts large pools, long runs and lots of pocket water. This is where the big brown trout hang out and we were hoping to find one or two.

Given the water conditions we opted to fish a long run near one of the picnic areas. For three of the four evenings of the trip we swung streamers and nymphs in the swift murky water.

Each evening we were rewarded with a good hatch of mayflies and stoneflies giving us some great fishing to rising browns and rainbows.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Fishing is a great way to join in the celebration.

The Jim Range National Casting Call

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On Monday I was in Washington, D.C. to participate in the Jim Range National Casting Call. I also had the privilege that evening to be the Master of Ceremonies at the event celebrating the life and conservation legacy of Jim Range, my dear friend who tragically died in January from cancer.

This was the ninth year that the American Fly Fishing Trade Association had gathered on the banks of the Potomac river to celebrate fly-fishing and an aquatic habitat success story, the return of prolific runs of American and Hickory shad to the Potomac river.

This was a special year for those of us who, under Range’s leadership, started the Casting Call. AFFTA’s board of directors, after conferring with the Range family and his friends, decided to rename the event in Range’s honor.

Jim Range was a widely recognized conservation visionary who represented AFFTA in Washington. He was a hero to many in the hunting, fishing and conservation community.

I wrote in this column at the time of his death that he was like a brother to me. The best man in my wedding, a hunting and fishing partner of many years, and the voice on the other end of the phone keeping me strong when trouble came. I still feel that way today and know many more who do as well.

Range saw the Casting Call and its venue, Fletcher’s boathouse on the Potomac, as the perfect opportunity for the fly-fishing industry to educate members of congress and administration officials on the important nexus between conservation and economic activity.

He knew as well that the partnership efforts that had gone into restoring shad to the Potomac were a model that could be replicated across the nation.

“The Jim Range National Casting Call gives us a chance to get government decision-makers on the Potomac to see and experience the aquatic resource we all cherish,” said Alan Gnann, Chairman of the Board of AFFTA. “It was our friend Jim who showed us that this was the best way to communicate the importance of aquatic habitat and fisheries and we will continue this tradition in his name and his honor.”

Around the time of the first casting call, the federally chartered Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, of which Range was a member, recommended that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service develop a partnership effort similar to the successful North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

This effort, endorsed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and supported by numerous conservation organization and federal agencies became the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.

The Action Plan is a science-based voluntary effort to address the challenges facing aquatic habitat and our nation’s fisheries. There are six regional partnerships, including the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture that works here in the Valley.

Range saw the newly created National Fish Habitat Action Plan as an exceptional example of how partnerships like the one that had helped the shad could be replicated across the country. He saw the National Casting Call as a great opportunity to showcase success.

“The National Fish Habitat Action Plan’s approach – teaming federal, state and local partners – is helping to bring fishable waters back to life in a faster more strategic way. We can see real progress in treating the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms,” said Kelly Hepler, Chairman, National Fish Habitat Action Plan. “The Jim Range National Casting Call gives NFHAP the opportunity to spotlight 10 specific projects that display on the ground work that can be held high as a vision of what quality habitat should be.”

The Action Plan’s 10 “Waters to Watch” was started in 2007. It highlights examples of aquatic habitat conservation efforts of the National Fish Habitat Partnerships. In addition the NFHAP board presents two group awards and two individual awards including newly renamed Jim Range Conservation Vision Award, given this year to world- renowned conservationist Yvon Chouinard, the founder of outdoor clothing manufacturer Patagonia Inc.

Jim Range was deeply missed at this year’s Casting Call, but his name and legacy live on in tribute to his memory.

You can read more of my columns at News Virginian.com

Tax incentives for land conservation

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For all the bad news coming out of our nation’s capital, sometimes our elected officials actually introduce legislation that makes good sense for conservation.

There are a couple of pieces of legislation that would, if they become law, be a great help to conservation not only here in the Valley but across the country.

The first bill is the Conservation Easement Incentive Act. It was introduced on April 1, in the U.S. House of Representatives, by Representatives Mike Thompson, D-Calif. and seventh district representative Eric I. Cantor, R-Va.

A similar bill, known as the Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act, was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Max Baucus, D-Mont. and Charles Grassely, R-Iowa.

These bills would make permanent the enhanced tax deduction for landowners who donate the fair market value of their land under a qualified conservation easement.

The deduction allows farmers and ranchers to claim a charitable deduction for up to 100 percent of the donated value of the land they place under an easement. Other landowners can deduct up to 50 percent of the value, an increase from 30 percent under the previous law.

These enhanced tax incentives became law in 2006 and were extended in 2008. Unfortunately, this enhanced deduction expires at the end of the year.

“I have seen firsthand how conservation easements are being used by family farms in my district,” said Cantor. “Providing a permanent tax incentive for conservation easements is a great way to encourage conservation efforts while also reducing the tax burden on these hard working families.”

Easements are an important conservation tool. According to the Valley Conservation Council, on whose Board of Directors I sit, easements have helped protect more than 48,000 acres here in the valley.

A conservation easement is a legal agreement, usually between the landowner and a land conservation organization or a public entity. The landowner continues to own the property but gives some rights to the easement holder.

Landowners often put some or all of their land under a conservation easement because they want to protect the important natural, historic or scenic qualities or their land.

Besides the charitable deduction, there can be other important tax benefits to landowners who place a conservation easement on their property.

Because of the way land is taxed, state and local taxes may be reduced.

Conservation easements could also mean lower estate and inheritance taxes. Heirs might be able to retain land they otherwise would have been forced to sell in order to pay those taxes.

Now the tax code is a tricky thing, so I won’t offer any advice on whether a donated easement makes tax sense for you. You will need to talk to the tax professionals about your specific situation.

You can also contact the Valley Conservation Council for more information as well.

What I will tell you is conservation easements are a good thing.

They help keep farmers and ranchers on their land.

Easements are also an important tool for protecting water and air quality, scenic vistas, open space and important fish and wildlife habitat. Benefits we often take for granted because they originate on private land.

The enhanced tax incentives favor working farms and ranches. By doing so, it creates an incentive to keep working lands working – less likely to become strip malls and subdivisions.

Here in the Valley that is a good thing.

You can read more of my columns at News Virginian.com

New Web site promotes recruitment and retention of hunters

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Here is the Wildlife Management Institute’s announcement:

The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) announced the launch of a new Website dedicated to sustaining and enhancing North America’s hunting heritage.  The Website, www.huntingheritage.org, will serve as a clearinghouse for information, programs and contacts related to programs that advance safe and ethical recreational hunting.  The Website was premiered at the 74th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference last month in Arlington, Virginia.

The Website currently hosts the Recruitment and Retention Assessment Survey Report.  This report was designed and prepared by WMI in cooperation with D.J. Case & Associates.  It provides the most comprehensive assessment of current efforts by all 50 states and 19 conservation organizations to recruit and retain hunters nationwide.  In addition, the Website provides a real-time compilation of recruitment and retention program details.  State agencies and conservation organizations are encouraged to share their program details with colleagues from other agencies and organizations.  WMI and D.J. Case & Associates expect a summer release of a companion report about hunting-access programs for each of the state and federal resource and land management agencies.

The above efforts form a basis for the Hunting Heritage Action Plan (Action Plan).  The Action Plan was conceived by the Hunting Heritage Steering Committee.  It will entail assessment, analysis and strategies to enhance hunting by examining seven programmatic areas: the role that hunting and hunters in conservation; conservation education; hunter recruitment and retention; social and economic impacts of hunting; political and legal obstacles and opportunities; outreach; and a funding plan to address gaps in program coverage.

The Action Plan was modeled after the successful North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), which was developed to counter declining waterfowl numbers.  Just as NAWMP became a rallying mechanism for wetland and waterfowl enthusiasts in the mid-1980s, the Action Plan will provide comprehensive information for the determination of national strategies, objectives and priorities to counter declining hunter numbers.  Individuals, agencies, organizations and industry are encouraged to provide support for this important effort.The Website and Action Plan were partially funded by the Multistate Conservation Grant Program and the Wildlife Restoration Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The launch of www.huntingheritage.org provides the information system that will drive future efforts to sustain our hunting heritage,” remarked WMI President Steve Williams.  “WMI would like to thank the federal and state agency and conservation organization contacts who helped compile this critical information.   Thanks also are due Bob Byrne, Jon Marshall and other D.J. Case & Associates staff who developed the informative Website. The success of efforts to advance hunting through effective hunter recruitment and retention requires comprehensive and accurate baseline information.   WMI encourages agencies, organizations and individuals to update and utilize the Website.”

What you can do to stop spreading aquatic nuisance species

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Aquatic nuisance species are a growing concern in the fishing and boating community. While many of us who hunt and fish care a great deal about conserving and protecting our habitat, we may be ignoring a growing problem.

For many years, aquatic nuisance species, also called aquatic invasive species, were considered to be a problem in the west and Great Lakes, not here in Virginia.

You may have heard about whirling disease in the western rivers or New Zealand mud snails in trophy trout waters in Idaho, Montana and the Yellowstone National Park. Didymo or “rock snot” was fouling those waters as well.

Unfortunately for us, we now have to worry. Didymo, short for Didymosphenia geminata, has been found below the dams on the Smith River, the Jackson River and the Pound River.

According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, “Didymo can smother streambeds and adversely affect freshwater fish, plants and invertebrate populations by depriving them of habitat. These stalks can form a thick brown mat, effectively covering the entire river channel.”

No one seems to know for sure how it got here. What is important is not to spread it.

What can we do?

Like many die-hard fisherman I was convinced that felt was the best bottom for my wading boots. Felt grips well on wet and algae covered rocks.

The problem with felt is it is also a great transport mechanism for mud and other junk that can hold microorganisms and aquatic invasive species.

I have used sticky rubber soled boots for the last five years. Recently, I replaced my old boots with Simms G4 Guide boots. Simms switched from AquaStealth and now uses a Vibram 360 lugsole. I have been using them this spring and am impressed with the way they grip.

Simms announced they would phase out felt soles on all of their wading boots, sandals and shoes by 2010.

“We know felt is not the only material that has spread invasive species and disease,” Simms president K.C. Walsh said. “But felt is surely part of the problem. At Simms, we’ve decided to be part of the solution.”

Simms however is not alone in moving away from felt. Trout Unlimited has asked all manufactures to drop felt by 2011.

At L.L. Bean, their Riverkeeper line uses AquaStealth. Mike Gawtry, Bean’s product line manager told me, “we are going to exit felt by 2010.”

A nice touch and typical of L.L. Bean is the cleaning brush they include with the boots.

Orvis offers a sticky rubber boot in the Clearwater Navigator Rubber Sole Shoe and the Side-Zip Brogue Boots. Both boots have studs in the rubber soles.

“Orvis uses its own sticky rubber compound,” Tim Daughton product development specialist at Orvis told me. “We plan to continue to expand the non-felt options.”

Cloudveil’s 8X grippy rubber boot uses a Vibram Idrogrip sole. The tread pattern is different from the others resembling a car tire tread.

Patagonia uses its own Star Tread sticky rubber. I have not used their boots but knowing the company I expect the boots work well, folks I trust confirmed that.

Bill Dawson, a sales representative for Cloudveil worries that anglers may think just getting new boots is going to solve the problem. Dawson notes there are other pathways like fabric, laces, crevices that can carry bad stuff from place to place.

Bill Klyn, Patagonia’s marketing manager says anglers need to change their behavior as well as the soles of their boots. “inspect, clean and dry needs to be the mantra for all anglers now.”

Inspect your gear to get the plants, mud and debris off. Next, take a moment to rinse and scrub your boots and waders streamside or at home to make sure all the mud and debris is off. Then if you can, let it dry before fishing in different water.

Learn more and take the Clean Angler Pledge at http://www.cleanangling.org. Hat tip to @roughfisher on Twitter.