From the chapter president.....

 Over the past years Georgia Foothills TU has made a huge impact in our local community supporting programs and organizations that align with our Trout Unlimited values and principals. Some examples are Smithgall Woods Education Outreach Program, Casting for Recovery, Trout in the Classroom, Project Healing Waters, 4H Youth Kayak Fishing, Trout Camp, and others. We have been very fortunate to have been able to continue our support during this pandemic even though we have had our main fund raiser the Hoot on the Hooch canceled twice because of it. If we wish to continue to support these programs and organizations into the future, we must start planning for it now. The direction things are going now makes it reasonable to think that we should be able to host the ‘Hoot in March of 2022.

Putting on the ‘Hoot is a big job typically accomplished by a handful of club members. It also provides us our funding for the year. We need to decide if we want to host it again or find a new source for obtaining our funding. This is a decision that needs to be reached by the membership.

After last month’s forced postponement due to the gas situation. We will hold June’s meeting on Thursday the 10th at Fish Camp in Smithgall Woods. It is still of great importance that you come and share your thoughts and ideas on how best to move Georgia Foothills TU forward as we transition beyond Covid. In the years prior to the pandemic, club participation had been declining. Now, after being shutdown for a year we need to get things going again. This is OUR club, and it needs to move forward with everyone together. The only way that can happen is with YOUR Input. The CDC and the State have relaxed the social distancing rules for outdoor meetings. We will continue to take a common sense approach to avoiding spreading the virus. I look forward to seeing everyone again.

Bruce

Monthly Meeting 4/8/2021 - RESTART

 

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter holiday, the weather certainly cooperated. Covid vaccine is becoming widely available and the weather is warming to make outdoor meetings doable again. Let’s hold a meeting this coming Thursday April 8^th at Smithgall Woods Fish Camp. We’ll get the meeting going around 6:30pm. Since we have been in a hiatus for the past year or so due to the Corona Virus, this gives us an opportunity to kind of give a reset for the chapter and redefine ourselves moving forward. Please bring your thoughts and ideas on how we should conduct our chapter moving forward. Before our forced shut down, we were having a door prize drawing for fishing at Nacoochee Bend. We still have (2) of the certificates left. I spoke with Wes at Unicoi Outfitters and he gave thumbs up to us use them. So we will have two door prizes at the meeting. These certificates are meant to be used. They will expire when Unicoi shuts down Trout fishing due to water temp, typically sometime in June. So get out and use them asap !   Must be present to win. While we are not completely clear of Covid, things are improving. We will observe the guidelines by wearing our masks and maintaining social distancing. Common sense goes a long way in keeping us all safe. I look forward to seeing and enjoying everyone again.

Bruce

2021 Dream Trip Tickets

 For the past 15 years Georgia Trout Unlimited has conducted the “Dream Trip” raffle to raise the funds needed to support Trout Camp and other conservation items to support our TU mission. This is truly a “Dream Trip” in that for a $10 ticket you can win a weeks worth of Guided fishing and lodging with TU member John McGarity at his place right outside Yellowstone National Park. This raffle is open to EVERYONE not just TU members. There are lots of great runner up prizes also. Please consider this an investment in Georgia TU Projects. The money raised from this stays here in Georgia. The drawing will be held at the Georgia TU State Council meeting in March. So hurry and get your tickets before time runs out.

Because of restrictions due to the pandemic we are unable to sell the Dream Trip tickets in our normal fashion. This years Dream Trip raffle has been moved online. Here is what we need to do :

# 1 Go online to the site below and purchase your tickets.

https://go.tulocalevents.org/georgia-trout-unlimited...

#2 Please make sure you check “Foothills Chapter”

#3 There is a fee for the purchase. The council passed this fee to the purchaser in order to maximize the donations.

#4 Note that you can purchase ANY number of tickets. Also this is not just for TU members, anyone can buy tickets and win the Dream Trip. Please ask your friends and family to purchase tickets also to help support our Georgia TU mission.

Each of the state chapters is expected to sell our quota of 150 tickets. So far Foothills has accounted for 42 tickets sold. I want to thank those of you who have purchased tickets. I am asking all of you to help in Foothills reaching it’s quota of 150 tickets sold. Any number of tickets you purchase will greatly help and be greatly appreciated. Again, Thank You to those that have already purchased tickets and Thank You to those that are going to do so.

Please do everything you can to keep yourself and your family safe and well as we negotiate our way forward. Better times will return and we will be able to meet again soon.

Bruce

UCCTU online Fundraiser

 

I would like to extend the offer for your chapter membership to participate in our annual fundraiser which commences later this month. What makes this year’s fundraiser unique for us is that it’s the first time the event will be an online auction.

     I’ve attached our poster which highlights the specifics of the event which starts on October 27 @ 7:00 pm and runs for one week ending November 3 @ 7:00 pm. We have a great mix of fishing equipment, guided trips, lodging and even assorted non-fishing items such as golf passes to local course; gift cards to local markets; and more.  Anyone can visit the online website in advance of October 27 to get a peek at the full list of items up for auction. 

   Should you have any questions about this fundraising event please contact me.

 

  Kind regards,

Tim Yeager

UCCTU Fundraising Chairperson

404-386-6860

tim.yeager@outlook.com   

       

Smith Creek Delayed Harvest

Foothills Tu will be the lead chapter again this year for stocking Smith Creek for the delayed harvest season. We will be stocking on November 2^nd at 11:30 am.   We have been asked to wear masks to limit the risk and follow the Governor’s recommendations.  As this event takes place outdoors and wearing our masks we are keeping the risk low for spreading the virus.  Be aware that risk is still present and make your decisions accordingly.  We will not be grilling hotdogs and hamburgers this year to help maintain our safety.  I’m very hopeful that by next year’s stocking event we can resume with that practice. We all will miss it this year.   Please print off and fill out the attachedwaiver. The DNR uses this information for it’s processes.   Look forward to seeing everyone there.

CLICK HERE FOR WAIVER

October Monthly Meeting - 10/8/2020

 We will be holding our October meeting on Thursday the 8^th at Fish Camp in Smithgall Woods State Park.  This will be a chapter business meeting as discussion will be centered on our fund raising events such as the Hoot on the Hooch.  We will also be discussing the changes being made to Trout Camp and Dream Trip ticket purchases.    We will be wearing our masks and practicing social distancing to keep the risk of transmission of coronavirus at a minimum.  As there will be no speaker and the meeting will be outdoors, I’d like to get the meeting started right around 6pm.  If you need a little more time to get there please let me know and we’ll adjust as needed.  The risks of Coronavirus remains and each of us needs to decide what is in our own best interests.  We will have a raffle quilt again this year.  I plan to have it at the meeting so we can include it in our discussions.

 

I hope everyone is safe and well as the season changes over to fall.

 

Bruce

 

 

Directions to Fish Camp at Smithgall Woods

 

Do Not go to the main entrance of Smithgall Woods SP off Alt Hwy 75. You will not be allowed to drive through the park to get to fish camp. Note that Duke’s Creek is closed to fishing for the summer.

 

Access to Fish Camp is via Joe Franklin Rd  it is a small graveled road with NO sign for the park marking it.   It is in between The intersection of Hwy 75 and Duncan Bridge rd  & the Shell gas station on Hwy 75.

 

From  Helen/Sautee :

 

From the intersection of Hwys 17 & 75 at the Indian Mound

Go south on Hwy 75 for approx 1.5 miles

Turn Right on to Joe Franklin Rd.

Go about a half mile and drive through gate into park.

Follow signs to fish camp

 

 

From Cleveland :

 

From intersection of Hwys 129 & 75 at Ingels

Go 5.1 Miles North on Hwy 75

Turn Left onto Joe Franklin Rd

Go about a half mile and drive through gate into park.

Follow signs to fish camp

2021 Dream Trip

As announced, the tickets for the Dream Trip will be sold online this year.  Each chapter is charged with selling a minimum of 150 tickets in order to receive the $500 rebate for all 2000 tickets being sold.   You can purchase your tickets here:   https://go.tulocalevents.org/georgia-trout-unlimited-dream-trip-2021/Campaign      Please be sure to select Georgia Foothills #629 as your chapter when making your purchases.   Please encourage your friends and neighbors to participate also. This is the State Councils fund raiser and the major source of funds to operate Trout Camp each year.

 

 

Foothills August monthly meeting 8/13 - Special meeting place - SEE BELOW

After four months of postponing meetings, Foothills Chapter TU will be holding a meeting on August 13th starting at 6pm. The meeting location will be at Fish Camp in Smithgall Woods State Park. I want to thank our member Mike Dye for coordinating our use of this location. We are fortunate to have been given access to Fish Camp, it is a secluded outdoor space near the Education Cabin. We owe a debt of gratitude to Smithgall Woods SP for allowing us to use it. I would ask that everyone bring along a lawn chair so that we can practice social distancing guidelines by staying 6 feet apart. I would also like to strongly encourage everyone to wear their masks. I’ll have mine. Kathy Church DNR Wildlife Interpretive Specialist will be speaking to us about the Smithgall Woods Education Outreach Program. With all the challenges to the school districts dealing with the pandemic it is important that this valuable program remain available to our teachers and our community. We look forward to seeing everyone again. However, while holding the meeting outdoors and practicing social distancing is low risk for spreading the virus. The risk still remains and it is real. I encourage all of you to give it some thought and decide what works best for you. If you are experiencing symptoms, we ask that you refrain form attending. Thank You all for hanging in there and staying safe through these trying times. Better days are ahead.

Bruce

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Directions to Fish Camp at Smithgall Woods
Do Not go to the main entrance of Smithgall Woods SP off Alt Hwy 75. You will not be allowed to drive through the park to get to fish camp. Note that Duke’s Creek is closed to fishing for the summer.
Access to Fish Camp is via Joe Franklin Rd it is a small graveled road with NO sign for the park marking it. It is in between The intersection of Hwy 75 and Duncan Bridge rd & the Shell gas station on Hwy 75.
From Helen/Sautee :
From the intersection of Hwys 17 & 75 at the Indian Mound
Go south on Hwy 75 for approx 1.5 miles
Turn Right on to Joe Franklin Rd.
Go about a half mile and drive through gate into park.
Follow signs to fish camp
From Cleveland :
From intersection of Hwys 129 & 75 at Ingels
Go 5.1 Miles North on Hwy 75
Turn Left onto Joe Franklin Rd
Go about a half mile and drive through gate into park.
Follow signs to fish camp

Foothills July monthly meeting CANCELLED

When the Coronavirus shelter in place directives got stated back in March, I thought for sure we would be back to having meetings by July. Sadly for all of us that is not the case. With infections on the rise across the country and here in Georgia, we feel we must cancel our July meeting as it is still not wise to risk a gathering. We will revisit the situation around the first of August with an eye towards possibly holding an outdoor meeting at a local park or some other outdoor venue if conditions allow. I really miss our monthly meetings and the fellowship and camaraderie that goes with them. I hope everyone has an enjoyable and safe Independence Day celebration. Everyone Please stay safe and do everything within your power to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Thank You for all you guys do. I am certain we will be having meetings again soon.

Bruce

Trout in the Classroom - SmithGall Woods

Hi All -     Angel Cain the Naturalist over at Smithgall Woods put together this video on our Trout in the Classroom program that we partner with them on.