Why we have Trout Unlimited

The Coosa Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited was chartered by a group of avid Northwest Georgia fishermen who not only wanted to catch more fish, but wanted to preserve and improve streams so that their kids and grandkids would be able to enjoy the sport that we all loved. Throughout the years our members have worked hard to achieve our goals of cold, clean water and education of the youth and adults of the area.

One member who has done more than his share since joining Trout Unlimited is Robert Bold. Not only has he attended most of the workdays digging holes, driving steel and rolling rocks, he has been at almost every event from the Chili Cook Off, Kids Fishing Days and the Trout Expos but has held one of our most important chapter offices, that of treasurer.

The Coosa Valley Chapter raises, spends and distributes more money to its many causes than most chapters in the country due to the Chili Cook Off. Roberts’ record keeping was impeccable and his reports to the chapter were in such detail that there was never a question as to what the chapter had in its account or exactly where and on what the money was spent.

Robert has turned into a really good fisherman and below, in his words, a story about his first trout-fishing experience.

For a link to the Coosa Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited website,

visit RN-T.com.

My first trout

fishing trip

I grew up in the Midwest in a fishing family between Michigan City and Gary, Indiana. Later in life I lived in Florida and Mississippi. There were no trout to be found around those places. In the late 1990s my mother and step father, Jimmy, retired and moved to his hometown in Ellsworth, Maine.

Jimmy had fished the area for brook trout as a youngster so I made a special trip to visit them at the opening of trout season.

My step dad took us to the sporting goods store where I got a license and worms. We had spinning rods with a worm rig that had red beads, spinner, and two hooks to keep the worm stretched lengthwise.

Off we went in a pickup truck to the first spot. It was a long walk over a boulder-strewn field to find a brook in the forest. The widest part was four feet and most sections were one to two feet wide. I was thinking to myself there couldn’t possibly be any fish in there.

There were fish in every little pocket of water and they were hungry.

Only one person at a time could cast and it was a challenge with overhanging tree branches and standing on wet rounded boulders. We caught a few fish and then went back to the truck to go to the next spot.

We would make similar difficult treks in and out for one or two fish; then back to the truck.

This fishing was definitely more rigorous than sitting in a boat drinking a cool beverage. We hit about 10 different brooks that day.

The trout we kept were in the six-inch range. When we got home we gutted them, left the heads on, and my mother fried them in bacon grease with a light breading. They were delicious and of course we were hungry.

I developed an appreciation for trout that can live in the least little bit of water and the fishermen and women who work so hard to stalk them.

When I moved to Rome after retirement I joined the Coosa Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited and have developed many special bonds with a great group of folks who freely shared information to get me up to speed to fish for trout in this area.

Trout Expo set

for Feb. 27

Members of the Coosa Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be sharing their knowledge of trout fishing Feb. 27 with everyone who attends the Trout Expo.

Many of our members are expert anglers who can answer questions about how, where and when to fish for trout.

There will be demonstrations on fly tying and fly casting as well as bait fishing and spin fishing.

Did you know that using a fly rod as a delivery system for live bait on a small stream is one of the most productive methods of catching trout? I will be happy to explain how to do it.

Many of our members will enlighten you about the best destinations. Speaking of a destination, there will be tickets available for the Dream Trip, a fly fishing vacation for two to a private cabin outside Yellowstone.

Whether you want to learn how to catch more for the dinner table or just want to catch some trophysize trout, come to the Expo at the River Education Center at Ridge Ferry Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and learn how.

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Upcoming trout meeting

The next meeting of the Coosa valley Chapter will be Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the River Education Center.

The public is invited.