Highlights of Rivercourse- June 2006 by Elizabeth Craig, Program Director

The fourth annual North Carolina Trout Unlimited Rivercourse: Coldwater Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp was held at Lake Logan Center June 18-23, 2006.

We welcomed twelve campers, eight boys and four girls. This year we housed the boys with two pairs of chaperones in the Retreat House located near the equipment trailer, the stream, and the dining hall. The girls were housed in one cottage on the lake with one counselor couple. Having most of the campers across the road near the facilities eased logistics, but the intimacy of the cottages was missed. We may return to the cottages next year.

The biggest and best change to camp this year was the addition of Jeff Curtis to our staff as Camp Director for camp week. Jeff was the perfect man for the job, coming to us with experience not only as a camp director, but as a lifelong fly fisherman and fly tier. Jeff owns with his partner, Carleton Murrey, Curtis Wright Outfitters. There are three locations of this fly shop in greater Asheville. Jeff, with his unending youthful energy and creativity, set the tone for a fun filled week. He definitely took Rivercourse camp to a new level and is already heavily involved in the planning of next year’s camp.

Another wonderful addition to camp this year was a large walk-in trailer loaned to us from Diamond Brand Outdoors in which we stored the campers’ waders and rods and reels. We hope to find the money to be able to provide vests and nets to the campers next year.

When Rivercourse Administrative Director, Craig Larsen, passed away shortly after camp last year, Co- Head Counselor, Dick Heald, with hardly a moment’s hesitation, picked up that ball and ran long and hard with it all Fall, Winter and Spring. It was a much bigger job than any of us knew and Dick did it relentlessly without complaint. His wife, Co- Head Counselor, Beth Heald, figured out much of the difficult computer work and, as our official camp photographer, created not only the class photo but also a disc containing many photos of this year’s camp. All campers will receive a copy of each.

Betsy Craig continued as Program Director. Throughout the week, the campers heard a variation on the theme of how the maintaining of clean water for all living creatures begins in these streams. Most of the classes were interactive, and as many as possible were held outdoors. Among the highlights this year was a geology presentation by Rich McKeever. The students were treated to an in-depth overview of plate tectonics, mountain building episodes, and periods of weathering which created this landscape. They were then shown many samples of the different kinds of rocks in the region: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic.

Perhaps the best received new class was on Wetlands and Salamanders given by Pisgah Center for Wildlife Ed Program Director Lynn Veruik. We were all over the property with Lynn, down at the wetlands and pond, in the classroom, and then up to a seep collecting live specimens of salamanders. There were lots. He reinforced the concept that salamanders are an indicator species for clean water. We also learned that there are more species of salamanders in the Southern Appalachains than anywhere else in the world and that new species continue to be discovered in this region.

On opening day, Sunday June 18th, the campers assisted trout farmer, Matt Rhea, stocking the West Fork of the Pigeon River at Lake Logan. Twice a day for the rest of the week, assisted by volunteer TU ghillies, they fished for and fooled those very trout as well as many naturally reproduced holdovers. Every camper caught fish and loved learning the process. In the mornings and evenings throughout the week, the campers were taught by Jeff Curtis to tie facimilies. Many campers enjoyed catching fish on flies they had tied.

Prior to the stocking, Bob Daubert and our resident Doctor, Steve Herring, introduced campers to essential fly fishing equipment in the classroom. Then expert caster, Terry Hackett, presented a casting demonstration on the field. The other adult staff members helped the campers refine their casting strokes, one-on-one several times throughout the week. There was significant improvement with each camper’s cast.

On the evening of the first day, we were treated to a program by Kevin Howell, owner of Davidson River Outfitters. Kevin is descended from the most prominent family of fly fishing in this part of the Southern Appalachains. He learned to love fishing these streams from his father Don Howell and his uncle Dwight Howell. He competes very successfully in national tournaments, most recently being the Grand Winner in the Outdoor Life Network Masters Tournament. Kevin is such an outstanding fly tier that he was recently asked to become a part of the Umpqua Fly Design Team. There he is listed with these world renowned fly fishermen: Lefty Kreh, Bob Clouser, Dave Whitlock, and A.K. Best. After his power point presentation of fishing in this region, we were treated to a fly tying demonstration by the master. The campers and adults alike were spellbound.

The campers once again enjoyed getting in the stream turning over rocks to find and study macroinvertebrates in their nymphal stages (trout food!), led by Lindsay Green of NCWRC Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. In the afternoon, they looked at those same insects under the microscope with Warren Wilson professor, LOS TU member and trout fisherman, Mark Brenner after a power point presentation on the ecology of a trout stream. We learned about the differing adaptations of macroinvertebrates, including burrowers, clingers, and scrapers.

We appreciate the efforts of ultimate volunteer Squeak Smith to make a quick trip over and back from Morganton, the day before he drove to Michigan, to once again entertain us with his “What’s in My Vest?” talk. We also asked Squeak to talk about the big picture of Trout Unlimited, giving the campers a broad and in-depth perspective of projects across the country and how these youth can become involved.

Camp Director Jeff Curtis inaugurated a fishing tournament for the campers this year. Only after completing the requirements in the casting events were they allowed to hit the stream with their partners to find the first, biggest, and last fish. That was such a success that Jeff came up with the idea of a carbon copy tournament for the adult ghillies, assisted by pairs of campers as their ghillies. Much fun was had by all in this role reversal.

Our midweek field trip to the Davidson River chaired again by Bob Daubert was, as always, a big hit with the campers. They learned about the importance of riparian vegetation from Forest Service Fisheries Biologist, Lorie Stroup and then did the actual planting of about twenty native plants along the Davidson. From NCWRC Fisheries Biologist Doug Besler they learned about the three kinds of trout in the NC mountains and from observing his dissection of a trout, they learned all about what makes a trout tick.

We always make a point of having all of these employees of the wildlife agencies and forest service to tell the campers what jobs are available in wildlife management, including internships, and what it takes in the way of education to get those jobs.

Susan Overman, new to us last year as a counselor, took on the additional major task of redesigning our Rivercourse logo, incorporating the new Trout Unlimited logo trout into our own logo. She then ordered all of our caps, t-shirts, and patches bearing this very pleasing design.

Dave Maeda, NCTU State Council Secretary, returned to camp this year again as Head Ghillie. The campers appreciated helpful input from many different ghillie volunteers each morning and evening on the stream. Following the hurricanes of two years ago which caused regional flooding and devastation, there was major reconstruction of the West Fork of the Pigeon River in the private section on Lake Logan property which adjoins the Delayed Harvest section in the national forest. What was a major problem for Lake Logan Center netted us wonderful new fishing opportunities.

Rounding camp out were: a surprise visit Sunday by NCTU Chair, Tim Wilhelm, a hands-on fly fishing knots workshop by Bob Daubert, a power point Reading the Water” presentation by professional guide and LOS TU chapter President, Starr Nolan, a couple of lively swim sessions overseen by lifeguard, Wilson Gabriel, lanyard making led by Susan Overman and Beth Heald, an Enviroscope demonstration by Gail Heathman of Haywood County Soil and Water, a trout shocking demo in the stream by Smoky Mt. Nat. Park Fisheries Biologist Matt Kulp, and a wrap up campfire with prizes on the last night, put together by counselors, Sam and Carol Ogburn.

Chaperone, Joyce Shepherd, kept them happy every evening with tasty bedtime snacks. What fun it was to see our Joyce’s image featured twice in a splendid Asheville Citizens Time newspaper article on this year’s Rivercourse, arranged for by Co-Director, Dick Heald.

Our new Rivercourse Treasurer, Giff Hampton, has us in good financial order and commuted to camp five of the six days to help with fly tying and being a ghillie.

The overall feeling of the staff was that the low number of campers made for a very manageable group and a better experience for all: staff, campers and Lake Logan Center alike. We intend to accommodate a maximum of 12-14 campers next year.

Rivercourse will again be at Lake Logan, June 17-22, 2007. Many thanks to all staff, steering committee members, and professionals for the efforts all year to make this camp such a success.