In this field-oriented course, we will introduce students to the macroinvertebrate community of several area streams, including our own Carvin’s Creek. In doing so, students will learn to assess a stream’s ecological “health” using the Izaak Walton League’s Save Our Streams Multimetric Index Score to better understanding what fish species may live in these bodies of water (or why they may be absent). Once students have a good understanding of basic stream ecology and aquatic food chains, they will learn ways to create mimics of aquatic invertebrates, in order to fool and capture fish. Students will also learn to the basic casting techniques used to fly fish and will have several opportunities to employ what they have learned by taking trips to several local area streams and rivers to fly fish.

The art of fly fishing has spawned a rich tradition of literature. We will integrate the above-mentioned course of study with readings in the literature of nature, sport, and fishing. We will examine how many of the same principles involved in good fishing also apply to making a good story, essay, novel, or poem – principles such as attention, patience, planning, practice, risk, meditation, and faith. In our reading and discussion, we will plumb notions of conservation, place, the wild, the hunt, sport, gender, happiness, and pleasure. A field/writing/reading journal as well as a final creative work will be required. Authors will include Jan Zita Grover, Dame Juliana Berners, Franklin Burroughs, Thomas McGuane, John Engels, Christopher Camuto, and others.

Tuesday, Wednesday * 9am-12pm

Thursday 9am-4 pm

Plan to be outside for at least part of the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and all day on Thursdays. Dress appropriately each day – layers of clothing (wicking under layers, wool or fleece, and wind blocking outerwear) hat, gloves, sunglasses. We plan to take fishing trips on Thursdays each week, but this will depend somewhat on the weather conditions.

*If weather conditions prohibit us from taking a trip on a Thursday, we will reschedule for a Tuesday or Wednesday.

Course Fees and Materials:

Virginia Freshwater Fishing License (statewide) $17.00
Virginia Trout Fishing License (statewide) $17.00
National Forest Permit $3.00

All fly fishing gear (rod, reel, terminal tackle, flies) and waders will be provided. If you have your own gear and wish to use it, please feel free to do so.
(Available at Moody Bookstore) – The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton; A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean; Trout Fishing in America by Richard Brautigan

Course Expectations:

Active participation in all aspects of the course.
Be on time to all class meetings. On days we will take trips, the van will leave promptly at 9 am. If you are late, you will be left behind.
No unexcused absences will be allowed. If you are ill, you must provide a note from a physician. If you must be absent because of a University approved event, you must provide documentation from the sponsoring department in advance.

Proposed Schedule:

Date	Topic / Activities	Assignment
Jan. 3	Course introduction, fly fishing literature,
4	Invertebrate sampling* fly casting (Catherine Slone, ‘87)*	Read/Journal on Blackboard “An Angler’s Coast” “A Treatise on Fishing With an Angle” “Snook” “Northern Water”
9	Fly casting*, introduction to fly tying	Read/Journal The Compleat Angler
10	Fly tying I ( Dover England )	Blackboard Reading/Journaling
11	Fishing Trip to Wysor Smith’s (New Castle, Craig Co.)*‡	Blackboard Reading/Journaling Collect Journal
16	Fly fishing literature, fly casting*	Read: A River Runs Through It/Trout Fishing in America
17	Fly tying II (Blane Chocklett), Stream Safety	Blackboard Reading/Journaling
18	Fishing Trip to Roanoke River, Green Hill Park ( Salem ; Catherine Slone ’87) *‡	Blackboard Reading Collect Journal
23	Fly fishing literature/Workshop	Paper Draft Due (5-7p)
24	Workshop	Draft #2 Due
25	Fishing Trip to Chestnut Creek (Carroll Co.; Catherine Slone ’87; Barry Witt) *‡	Collect Journal Final Draft Due Mon 29
30	Reading , Orvis	Final Edit

Visit our From the President link for Dover's comments and vision for the coming year.

Roanoke Valley Trout Unlimited, Chapter 308 annual picnic will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at Wiser Smith's in Craig County. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend. Click here for more details

Check out the Newsletter link. Many of our past newsletters now are online.

Bulletin Board

Visit the new bulletin board. Members please feel free to email any items you may have for sale, items you may be in search of, fishing trips or fishing partners wanted. If it is legal I will post it. Email to Jon Wilson and your request or desires will be posted upon receipt.

I am also requesting feedback from all members on any ideas to improve website or any items you would like added? Send any ideas to Jon Wilson.

PROPOSED ELLISTON INTERMODAL PROJECT

It seems that we are suddenly at a point where we are rushing toward a possible rapid conclusion on the finalization of the proposed inland port facility in Elliston. With the posturing during the recent election campaigning, certain state government factions and our local newspaper have suddenly promoted the proposed inland port/rail facility as a cure-all for our I81 crowding issues. Thus, a possible rush to judgment might steamroll us to a non-reversible course of action.

In my opinion, the I81 issue is one that should have very high priority, but I'm pessimist enough to doubt whether we have a "simple" solution right under our noses. First of all, how are we going to take north/south truck off of I81 by putting the freight on east/west trains? Also, can we believe that the railroad just happens to have enough extra capacity to handle such traffic when they are constantly appealing for government funds?

My thought is that we just need slow down a bit and think about what we are doing. I'm afraid that we might get into a situation where we have political decisions being made without citizen input and without considering the balancing of the economic and environmental issues involved. After all, we are talking about the prospect of a massive facility, paid for with our money, that could be an economic boom (or bust) and possible an environmental misadventure. There should be careful weighing of all aspects of the issues.

I haven't had time to digest the full information or look at other sources, but in my view, those concerns are well founded. Responsible efforts to consider all aspects of the project are called for rather than a steamroller rush to action. If such consideration leads to a possible favorable conclusion for the facility, then so be it. But, the potential impacts of such a project are too great to take chances. What do you think?

I would invite anyone out there to provide similar information, both pro and con. We can post opinions and information on this web site. Our environment, and particularly out waterways are potentially at stake.

Keep your comments coming in. The more I see of this issue, the more alarmed I become.

More details here and more updates here.

Instructors:

Dr. Morgan Wilson

Office: Dana 210

Office: Swannanoa 308

Course Objectives and Goals

Course Fees and Materials:

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23

30