7 Environmental News March 1999 Earth Week Celebration April 19 -24 Don’t Let This One Get Away Try Musky Fishing in Brevard Kristen Cherry Activism > Mass Bicycle Day This day will be dedicated to walking and biking. On Bicycle Day there will be no driving on campus. > Coffee Mugs Brevard Reuse Program This is a program still in the process of being worked out. The basic idea is to have cups sold at our Brevard College bookstore that can be used at surrounding businesses instead of using their paper or styrofoam cups. The program also hopes to have businesses offer discounts to customers who bring their own cups. Campaign for Children > Trash Art Contest This is a contest that will take place between different elemen tary, middle, and high schools in the area. Students will bring their “trash” art to Brevard College’s campus to be judged. Students who participate will have an opportunity to win prizes. ® In Your Own Backyard This program will consist of nature walks conducted by different professors for children, students, and parents. > Thrift Store Fashion Show A special fashion show, this will prove that some of the best clothes on campus can be found in the thrift store.. .proving its better to reuse and recycle. Eartli “Day” > Tree Planting Planting native trees on campus will highlight this event Rainstick Making Participants will make rainsticks that can be used for the Earth Night jam. These instruments make beautiful sounds. Earth “Night” Drumming Around the campfire on the quad, students will hold a jam session to the Earth. > Readings Students are encouraged to come to the campfire and read their favorite earth-related Rufus Henry Temple The Muskellunge, also known as musky, is the largest member of the Pike family and is one of the most prized freshwa ter game fish. A musky can grow over 50-inches long. They are most common in the rivers and lakes of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada, but their range also dips as far south as North Carolina and Tennessee.) Wherever one finds muskies, one can also find musky hunters. Musky hunters are fisherman who spend many long hours locating, hooking, and landing these giant fish. Musky hunters have their own secrets as to how and where to catch Muskies. Even though they are generally rare in North Carolina, muskies are common in the French Broad River. Unfortu nately most BC fishermen have never been musky fishing, and they do not even know there are muskies in the River. Two general types of muskies live in the French Broad, the native muskellunge and the stocked Tiger Musky. Actually, no one ever stocked the French Broad River. Most of the Tiger Muskies were stocked in Lake Fontana and the Little Tennessee River years ago and since then have spread up the French Broad. In fact, the largest Musky ever recorded in North Carolina was caught in the Little Tennessee River on a live Walleye, but many large 40- inch muskies have been caught Th..r«iHav. May 13 - Striving for a Land Ethic 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Laura Elliott will engage program participants in a variety of hand- on activities based on the writings of Aldo Leopold, often called the “father of conserva tion.” Bring a copy of the Sand County Almanac (if you have one), a bag lunch, and dress for the outdoors. Contact Laura Elliott at 877- 4423 to register. in the French Broad. Landing a musky in the French Broad requires effort, knowledge, and the right tackle. When fishing for muskies, tackle is crucial. First, fishermen must have big lures that the muskies will chase. Any large rappala is a good lure, but live bait is the best choice because the biggest muskies are picky about what they eat. Usually they can distinguish - better than most other species offish - what is real food and what isn’t. Perhaps that is why they live long enough to grow as large as they do. It is also necessary that fishermen know what they are in for when preparing to hook a musky. To hook a musky, fisherman must have big enough rods and strong enough lines. Fishermen also must use at least 20-pound test with a wire leader in between the lure and the monofilament line. Muskies have rows of sharp teeth that can shred a 50-pound test line. A large rod, strong fishing line, a wire leader, and a big lure are the necessary tackle for hooking and landing a musky. Another important aspect of musky fishing is river or lake knowledge. Muskies like cover and deep holes, so the best places to fish are the deep parts of the river with lots of tree falls. Muskies are known to be the fish of a thousand casts. One old timer of Transylvania, known as “Mr. Musky,” states he fishes for musky about twice a week and catches one about every eight hours of fishing. He was reluctant to share his knowledge with the media, but his truck license plate reads “Mr. Musky. One weekend before you leave Brevard, take advan tage of living near such good fishing waters and go try to catch the fish of a lifetime. Go musky fishing, and treat yourself to a day of fun on the French Broad River. poems or prose. PISGAH WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTER Volunteer Training Schedule for Spring 1999 Thiirsriav. March 25 - Field Day! 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come have fun and participate in the Center’s most popular group programs, including Raising Trout, Mountain Habitats, Tracking and Talking Animals. This program is designed for those volunteers interested in assisting with the presentation of group programs. Bring a bag lunch and dress for the outdoors. Tuesday. April 6 - Raising Trout 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Laura Elliott will present a program on the lifecycle of hatchery-raised trout from spawning to stocking. Program will include a hatchery tour and a presentation of the daily Raising Trout Program. Thursday.April 15-Take Hike on Wild Side 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Laura Elliott will lead a guided hike to John Rock. Focuses will be hiking essentials, area trails, tips for observing and identifying wildlife, and area geology The round-trip hike will be moderately difficult miles requiring water and a bag lunch. Wpdnesdav. April 28 - Sala manders—^to know them is to save them 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This hands-on, out-door program will focus on salamander ecology and their role as environmental indicators. Bring shoes that can get wet and a bag lunch.