Trout Arrive @ NCWRC Pechmann Center

[Al]

The ponds at the NCWRC John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center located in Fayetteville NC have cooled to about 54 degrees which means we were able to stock two of the ponds with trout in preparation for our 8th year of fly fishing clinics. The trout arrived on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 after a long journey from one of NCWRC's mountain hatcheries. 



They are greeted by the news media and several volunteers who will soon be sharing their love of the sport to anyone who wants to learn.



Two of our one acre ponds receives about five hundred fish each. The mix is about 60% rainbows, 20% browns and 20% brook trout.



These trout will act as the "final exam" at each of several fly fishing clinics sponsored by the NCWRC. We have scheduled three beginner clinics, one advanced clinic and the Boy Scout Merit Badge events for 2010. Beginner clinics are on Jan 9, Jan 23 and Feb 6. The advanced clinic will be conducted on Feb 20. Boy Scout merit badge clinics will be held on Mar 6 and Mar 20 . All dates
are on a Saturday with a start time of 9:00am and end time of 3:00pm. Registration through Lake Rim Park (424-6134) began on December 1, 2009. The cost is $5. Pre-registration is required. The basic clinics fill very fast so pass this information along to all of your friends.



One of Ft Bragg's Wounded Warriors who is a volunteer at the Pechmann Center helped out. In addition to our regularly scheduled clinics we open the Pechmann Center to Wounded Warriors and NC Handicapped Sportsmen the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 1-5pm. We also extend an invitation to all military and their dependents on that day as well.


We have said many times that we could not put these events on without the help of the volunteers. That still holds true. Most of our volunteers return year after year. but some drop out for various reasons such as family obligations or relocation from the area. Therefore, we always welcome new folks. You do not have to be an expert fly fisherman. You just need a passion for the sport and a willingness to pass that passion on to others. We normally have our new volunteers audit one of the basic clinics before assigning them to assistant instructor duty. We don't expect our volunteers to make every clinic but we would like them to commit to at least half of them. (It requires a minimum of 12 volunteers for things to run smoothly at each clinic)

The pay is not great. Lake Rim Park has promised coffee and a sausage biscuit and the NCWRC sends us a nice letter and some other token of their appreciation. We also have limited access to the ponds to practice our fly fishing skills during the week (sort of like having our own private delayed harvest pond). The payment that most find so rewarding are the smiles and "thanks" we receive.

If anyone not currently on the volunteer list might be interested in volunteering please contact Al Kittredge, FFC Volunteer Coordinator aakitt@earthlink.net or tele (910) 868-6235. They can't just show up without an interview, paperwork and criminal history check.

[jwgnc]

I helped a Boy Scout Troop many years ago and it was very rewarding.  Watching somebody catch their first fish is as good as it gets.   And besides,  I have 50 years expereince in untangling leaders and re-tying.  Time to give something back.

I just volunteered.

[Trout Maharishi]

Well, now I know what's for supper tomorrow

[flynhokies]

did you put a tracking device on that stocking truck? 

[Al]

did you put a tracking device on that stocking truck? 

No, but the driver said some of the local boys who follow the truck when it leaves the hatchery near Bervard gave up after about 75 miles of driving east and not stopping at any of their favorite streams.

[flynhokies]

did you put a tracking device on that stocking truck? 

No, but the driver said some of the local boys who follow the truck when it leaves the hatchery near Bervard gave up after about 75 miles of driving east and not stopping at any of their favorite streams.

haha thats classic. i'm sure the driver was laughing his ass off

[Z-Man]

did you put a tracking device on that stocking truck? 

No, but the driver said some of the local boys who follow the truck when it leaves the hatchery near Bervard gave up after about 75 miles of driving east and not stopping at any of their favorite streams.

Ha Ha Ha!  That made my day!

[Woolly Bugger]

did you put a tracking device on that stocking truck? 

No, but the driver said some of the local boys who follow the truck when it leaves the hatchery near Bervard gave up after about 75 miles of driving east and not stopping at any of their favorite streams.

Ha Ha Ha!  That made my day!

funny stuff 4 sure!

[rjs123]

Maybe they need a dummy truck. Send it out first for the locals to follow and then send out the real one.  They could mix it up when they find out whats going on and keep those boys guessing.

[Al]

NCWRC Pechmann Center fly fishing clinics in the local newspaper today. Here is link to the story  http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2009/12/20/962024