The meeting at Fatz Café in Easley , SC was called to order at 7 PM by President Matt McCreery.   There were 5 members present (Matt McCreery, Ken Sloan, Jim Rudy, Bryan Lee, and Lee Sakovich).

Matt chaired a discussion concerning setting up a JTC information and merchandise display at the Jocassee Outdoor Center .   He will work with Ken (who is in total agreement) to set up the display area which will include copies of the JTC tri-fold information brochure with member application section, copies of the Jocassee Trout Log with a slot for completed logs, and JTC t-shirts and hats for sale through Ken’s store.  The attendees authorized Matt to go ahead with the project.

Matt chaired a discussion concerning establishing an annual JTC agenda similar to the one established by the Midlands Striper Club. This would establish the meeting dates to the entire year (it was suggested to initially have one meeting per quarter).   In addition to the meetings dates/place a list of available speakers will be provided along with the designated club projects for the year.   Matt will work up a draft agenda for the calendar year 2007.

There was healthy discussion concerning the JTC getting more involved with SCDNR and also establishing a club project or projects in order to promulgate more member interest and to attract more new members to the club.   Concern was addressed about the SCDNR trout stocking this past month.   Apparently the bank fishermen and some boat fishermen are tearing into the stockers again at the remote boat ramp area.   Last year SCDNR barricaded the road to the remote boat ramp and also put SCDNR buoys around the stocked area in order to allow the fish to slowly disperse without “getting hammered”.  This was not done this year.   It was suggested that the JTC form a SCDNR committee to meet with Dan Rankin and his supervisor to discuss ways that the JTC could work with the SCDNR to further enhance the Lake Jocassee fishery.   Another idea, suggested by Ken, was to forgo a November tournament next year as a trade-off to SCDNR if they will reduce the vulnerability of the newly stocked trout (i.e. barricades and buoys plus assign a SCDNR officer to spot patrol on Saturdays and Sundays at and near the stocked trout area(s).   It was also brought up that the last time SCDNR met with us they asked us to provide them catch data via the newly established JTC trout log form.  This project failed miserably as only 3 or 4 forms were turned in for the entire year.   We, the club has to do much better is we are to be a “partner with SCDNR”.

Items for action included:

1. Establish a club agenda for near term projects and meeting dates.
2. Partner with SCDNR
3. Work with SCDNR to suggest they set up road barricades and buoys to reduce the vulnerability of the stockers.
4. Work with SCDNR for them to designate an officer to spot check the trout stocked areas on Saturdays and Sundays for the month or so after a trout stocking
5. Set up a JTC committee to meet/interact with SCDNR.

The last item discussed was brought up by Ken Sloan concerning how to handle the $1100 in the Trout Tournament pool (since no legal sized trout were caught by any of the 55 fishermen at the November tournament, this money will roll over to the April tournament – the next winner take all $25 per entry tournament).   The JTC position to Ken was to allow two options for those that enter the April tournament that had not fished in the November tournament.   If they only pay the $25 entry fee they would only be eligible for the “new pot” made up of total entries for the April tournament.   It they elect to pay an additional $25 they would be eligible for the old ($1100) and the “new pot”.    If a $25 entry won the April tournament then the other $1100 (from the November pool) would go to one of the 55 entries for November who happens to catch the biggest fish from within those 55 entrants.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.

Submitted by:

James J. Rudy