Fishing for Profit and Influence

1
Fishing for Profit and Influence

• What the Forest Service doesnt want you to know
  about Trout Unlimited and the Tellico River

2
Background

• Brook Trout are a native species of the Tellico
  River Watershed.
• Rainbow Trout are a native species of the Pacific
  Northwest and are voracious feeders
• Brown Trout are natives of Great Britain,
  Germany, and Northern Europe, and are a robust
  fish that outlives the Brook Trout

3
Background

• The National Forest system is the Land of Many
  Uses

4
Multiple Use

• The National Forest system is the Land of Many
  Uses
• Is my use more important than your use?
• NO!!
• Is one use more important than another use?
• NO!!
• If a form of recreation can be practiced
  responsibly so that others can practice theirs
  nearby, isnt that how it should be ?!?
• YES!!

5
Exclusive Use

• How do some groups exclude others?
• Money
• Influence
• Science

6
Money

• Trout Unlimited spends millions of dollars
  influencing our Government to preserve their
  barbaric hobby at the exclusion of all other
  taxpayers.
• If you cant pay, you cant play
• They use politics, rather than science to
  determine who can play, and who cannot.

7
Influence

• If Trout Unlimited does not like you, they will
  create science to influence the Nantahala
  National Forest to close your recreation areas.
• Shouldnt the Forest Service work for you, the
  taxpayer? Not the rich special interest group
  who has deeper pockets?

8
Brook Trout

• Trout Unlimited members prefer to fish for more
  aggressive Rainbow and Brown Trout, and the
  Tellico River system has been stocked with these
  species
• Native Brook trout are dying of starvation, their
  fingerlings eaten by Rainbows and Browns
• The Tellico River is re-stocked with Rainbows and
  Browns

9
Decision

• Do you want Trout Unlimited deciding whether your
  family can recreate in the Nantahala National
  Forest?
• Call the Tusquitee Ranger District today. Tell
  them to play by the rules. Tell them you refuse
  to let a single special interest group dictate
  the rules for everyone.

Nantahala National ForestTusquitee Ranger
District123 Woodland DriveMurphy, North
Carolina 28906828-837-5152