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August Meeting
Gar Fishing with Jim Mauries
Our guest speaker for the August meeting will be Jim Mauries from Fly South. He will be presenting a program on fly fishing for Gar. Jim will be discussing the flies used for this adventure, what gear, and where to find them. Jim presented this program to the MTFF club back in 2006 and I have had more comments and questions about his program than any other MTFF program. Most questions were centered on the types of flies, how to tie them and what materials to use. Jim will be tying a few Gar patterns as part of his program. Make plans to attend this program, it will be enjoyable & informative.

The Fly Of The Month for July 2008 is the Grey Midge Emerger. I am so used to fishing bead head midges as a dropper, I thought I would mix things up a bit with a fly that floats in the surface film. I’ve had some success with these when trout are feeding on the top.

Bob Ryon will be tying the Grey Midge Emerger at the August meeting. Please check out the website Fly Tying Forum for a photo and pattern for the fly as well as a downloadable PDF of the pattern.

The MTFF club meets at the TWRA Region II building at Ellington Agricultural Center. The doors open at 5:30PM for the tying session and the meeting comes to order at 7:00PM. For directions, check here.

August Outing
Elk River – August 22-24, 2008.
This year the August Outing is at the Elk River. The club will be staying at Tims Ford Dam State Park, which has 52 sites, with water and electric at each site, and a dumping station available at the entrance to the campground. The camp sites are limited to 10 people per site: one (1) RV and one (1) Tent, or Two Large Tents. The camp sites are available year around on a first come first served basis. The campground has two bathhouses, which provide hot showers, lavatories and commodes.

The local fly shop is Tim’s Flies & Lies Outfitters in Lynchburg. Their number is (931) 759-5058 or can be found on the Web at www.timsfliesandlies.com.

Group Leader is Harold Sparks; 615-771-2165 or hsparks1@bellsouth.net. Look for more information in the handout at the meeting or on our website in the Outings Fishin' Forum.

From the President
In addition to the program by Jim Mauries, at the August meeting we will be taking nominations for an open Board of Directors position and we will be holding the election for this position the following month. If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors or would like to nominate someone, please contact any of the officers or current Board of Directors.

The MTFF shirts are here! If you ordered one, please see Winston or Scott at the August meeting.

Our Beginning Fly Fishing Class only happens once a year usually. Never the less, throughout the year we normally have a number of members new to the sport asking for some help to get started. It got me thinking about a Mentor program. I’ve heard the club used to have one but that was well before I joined. It often happens on it’s own during an outing when an experienced member will take a little time to work with another that is just starting. But this is usually by chance. I’d like to build a list of members who wouldn’t mind giving an hour or two during an outing or whenever available to show a new fly fisher how to get started. The list would be kept with the board members and used to match up a new member with a mentor. And, no, you don’t need to be an “expert” to be a mentor. If you don’t mind being on the list and being called on once a year (probably less), please see me or one of the board members.

Scott Weber

Ramblings from the Past President
Wow the Caney Fork has been a popular place so far this summer. With the number of people that I’m running into I thought this would be a good time to discuss Fly Fishing Etiquette. When you're out on any rivers or streams, you're going to come across many other people enjoying the waterways. By following these basic guidelines, they may help to prevent some misunderstandings.
  • Allow others as much space as possible based on the situation. – Look for an open section of water to give the other angler their space. On more populated streams, try to work a section as far from the nearest angler as possible.
  • The first angler in the water has the right of way. When you encounter another angler, it's your job to determine which direction they're headed. Give them enough room to fish from their current spot to their target location.
  • Stay quiet around the water. - If you must walk close to the bank, try to walk slowly, quietly, stay low and be aware of your shadow. A fast moving shadow can spook a trout just as easily as a boot splashing into the water.
  • Respect your environment. - If you pack it in, make sure you pack it out.
  • Respect the Law. – Familiarize yourself with local fishing rules and regulations.
  • Ask for permission to fish private land. - Many streams and rivers run through private land. Showing respect to landowners will help to ensure access to the water.
In closing, fishing etiquette should be nothing more than common sense, and that the best way to define etiquette is: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." All anglers should exercise good manners and common sense on or off the water. Be mindful of your manners and language especially around youngsters. They will learn best by example. Offer advice only if you are asked, and ask only if you are willing to listen.

Jeff Barrett

MTFF Meeting
August 6, 2008

MTFF Outing
August 22-24, 2008
Elk River

Don't forget to order your Trout Unlimited specialty license plate. You can do so either on line at www.tuplate.org, by downloading the order form at the Cumberland TU Chapter website or filling out the TU specialty plate brochure distributed statewide. By ordering your TU specialty plate, you'll be showing your personal support for Tennessee Rivers and streams conservation. - Jeff Barrett

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You can find the latest FFF ClubWire at the next MTFF meeting or access it on the internet.

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