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Connestee Falls Fishing Club – Monthly Meeting

Thursday November 17, 2022, Blue Ridge Lounge – 9:00 a.m.

Call to Order – George Goyette

·         About 30 members in attendance

·         Pledge of Allegiance

·         In opening remarks, George noted the 24 bottles of wine donated by Tracy Berry had resulted in a $274 donation to the Bread of Life in Brevard.

Secretary’ Report – Dave Maeda

·         50/50 Raffle – total receipts $37. Linda Grambow donated her winnings back to the Club.

·         Minutes from the last meeting approved.

·         Club memberships – 225 households.

·         Boat Sales – One sale for $700 in November.

·         2023 Calendar Sales – To date, 65 orders for 108 calendars totaling $1,417.

·         No new Lunkers reported during November. The year to date Lunker count is 16.

·         13 First Catches reported to date.

·         George G. reported receiving a Thank You note from the CFSSP for the Club’s donation of $250 to the program.

Programs and events – Linda Grambow

·         Today’s program – The Muskie Mile by Landon Lipke of Davidson River Outfitters (DRO).

·         January’s program – Fishing the Banks of Connestee Lakes by Chris Wunder.

Treasurer’s Report – Vernetta Milts

·         We currently have a balance of about $30,200 in the Club’s checking account. after Fish Fry expenses.

·         Fish Fry netted a profit of $7,022.

·         Reviewed the proposed Club 2023 proposed Budget which includes an $8600 deficit. Vernetta noted that the Proposed Budget is only for 2023 income and expenditures and does not include the current balance in the Club’s checking account. The Proposed Budget will be posted to the website as soon as the 2022 expenditures are finalized. Voting on the Proposed Budget will be both online and in person at the 19Jan2023 general meeting. An email will go out to Club members when the Proposed Budget has been posted and electronic voting is open.

Sunshine Report – Marion Wolf

No cards were sent this month.

Outreach Program – Nick Revill

As the retiring chair of the Outreach program, Nick thanked the Outreach volunteers and provided a summary of activities and accomplishments for 2022.

Fishery Management Update – Joe McMurray

·         Lake water temps have dropped into the lower 50s.

·         The Fall stocking of full sized trout has been completed. Joe noted that many of the stocked trout were in the two to three pound range and that the trout Lunker size may need to be increased.

·         Plans for the Spring trout stocking are proceeding. As part of the Spring stocking, there have been discussions of substituting either brown trout or golden trout (the rainbow variant) for the tagged rainbows in the Golden Trout Award. High Country Trout, our current trout source, has both options available.

·         Plans to stock forage fish, bream, are also going forward tentatively scheduled for February 2023.

·         The current hot topic of otters and beavers in the Connestee Falls lakes is a work in process.

Adjourn to the Musky Mile Presentation by Landon Lipke from DRO.

Next Club meeting: 9:00 AM Thursday, January 19^th in the Blue Ridge Lounge.

18 Nov 2022

Dave Maeda

Connestee
Falls Fishing Club – Monthly Meeting

Thursday October 20, 2022, Cherokee Room – 9:00 a.m.

Call
to Order – George Goyette

·        
About 30 members in
attendance

·        
Pledge of Allegiance

·        
In opening remarks,
George thanked the CF community for their continued support of the Wine Raffle
with over 100 bottles of wine and over $3600 in ticket sales. Tracy Berry,
second prize winner of 24 bottles of wine, donated her prize back to the Club.
Her 24 bottles were offered to the attending members for a cash donation to the
Bread of Life in Brevard.

Secretary’
Report – Dave Maeda

·        
Minutes from the last
meeting approved.

·        
50/50 Raffle – total
receipts $53. Steve Seelinger donated his winnings, $27, back to the Bread of
Life.

·        
Club memberships – 219
households.

·        
Boat Sales – One sale
for $750 in October. To date, $8,160 gross with $527 in expenses for a net of
$7,633.

·        
2023 Calendar Sales –
39 to date.

·        
No Lunkers reported during
October. The year to date Lunker count is 16.

·        
13 First Catches
reported to date.

Programs
and events – Linda Grambow

·        
Today’s program – What the
Club does for the community and how to get involved, basically a Club Open House.

·        
November
program – The Muskie Mile by Davidson River Outfitters.

Treasurer’s
Report – Vernetta Milts

·        
We
currently have a balance of about $28,500 in the Club’s checking account after
Fish Fry expenses.

·        
Fish
Fry netted about $6800.

·        
A
motion was made and passed to increase discretionary spending on a budgeted
line item from $300 to $1000. However, it was found after the meeting Club
Bylaws require a written motion be submitted to the general membership before a
vote, both of which could be done electronically. To be continued.

Sunshine
Report – Marion Wolf

Cards were sent this month to Joyce Hybil and Meryl Huckabey.

Outreach Program

The Special Olympics event at Atagahi Park on Saturday 24 Sep went
well.

Fishery
Management Update – Joe
McMurray

·        
Lake
water temps have dropped into the 60s and started to turnover.

·        
Plans
for a Fall stocking of full sized trout are proceeding on schedule for
November.

·        
Plans
to stock forage fish, bream, are also going forward tentatively scheduled for
February 2023.

·        
The
current hot topic of otters in the Connestee Falls lakes is a work in process.

·        
Anyone
wishing to assist placing fish hides should contact Joe McMurray.

Adjourn
to the Fishing Club Open House

Next Club
meeting: 9:00 AM Thursday, November 17^th in the Cherokee Room.

20 Oct 2022

Dave Maeda

Connestee Falls Fishing Club – Monthly Meeting

Thursday September 17, 2022, Blueridge Lounge – 9:00 a.m. 

Call to Order – Myron Pstrak

• 18 members in attendance
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Minutes from the last meeting approved

Secretary’ Report – Al Byrne

• 50/50 Raffle – total receipts $41. Winner Myron Pstrak donated his winnings back to the Club.
• Club memberships – 217 households.
• Boat Sales – $7,260 to date, thanks primarily to the generous donation of a pontoon boat.
• 1 Lunker reported – Dave Maeda, 12” redear sunfish while fishing with Bill Roehrich in Lake Atagahi, using ultralight tackle.
• 12 First Catches reported to date this season!

Treasurer’s Report – Vernetta

We currently have a balance of $28,460 in the Club’s checking account.

Programs and events – George Goyette

• Today’s program – “Finesse Fishing” by Dave Maeda & Bill Roehrich.
• October program – plan to publicize what the Club does for the community. Invite all Connestee residents.

Sunshine Report – Frank Wolf

No cards sent this month.

Outreach Program – George Hewertson

We will be hosting the Special Olympics athletes this coming Saturday, Sept 24, at Atagahi Park.

Fishery Management Update – Rick Hybil

• Joe McMurray was recently fishing with Jimmy Fisher in Lake Atagahi, and in 3 hours they caught 45-50 bass. Joe was very encouraged by the size of the catches. Only 4 or 5 were in the 10”-12” range; all the rest were larger! Forage fish stocking is definitely making a difference.
• We are planning a Fall stocking of full sized trout and expect to also continue with our forage fish stocking.
• We have submitted a budget request to the POA for $21,000 for stocking next year.

 Fish Fry

• 231 meal tickets were sold, generating revenues of $3,696.
• The silent auction generated $1,990 in receipts and the merchandise raffle generated $1,140. Net profit after expenses for the tent & table rental and purchase of gift cards was $1,900. There are several unclaimed raffle prizes; ticket numbers are posted on the Club website.
• The wine raffle got over 100 bottles donated. 1200 tickets were sold for revenues totaling $3,605. Raffle winners are:
  • 1^st prize: 48 bottles to Joan Valdes & Jim Pence
  • 2^nd prize: 24 bottles to Tracy Berry
  • 3^rd prize: 12 bottles to Amy Osterberg
  • 4^th prize: 12 bottles to Rob Sisserson
• Leftovers from the meal, including 8 fish fillets, were donated to Bread of Life.
• Fish Fry photos from Ray Tuers are posted on the Club website. Note that Ray has been preparing corn for the Fry for 26 years!!

Club Officers – Passing of the gavel:

Myron introduced next year’s officers. Terms begin October 1^st:

• President – George Goyette
• Vice-president – Linda Grambow
• Treasurer – Vernetta Milts
• Secretary – Dave Maeda

 Next Club meeting: Thursday, October 20^th.

Adjourn to the Finesse Fishing presentation by Bill Roehrich & Dave Maeda. A copy of the slides is posted on the Club website.

9/17/2022

Al Byrne