Kevin Howell, Davidson River Outfitters

Partial Transcript: Kevin gives a little background into his family’s fly-fishing history.

Keywords: Great Grandfather

Subjects: Family fly fishing background

Partial Transcript: Kevin talks about the fly fishing heritage in North Carolina. He can trace it back to the Cherokee Indians in the 1500s and 1600s. Fly fishing has been a big factor in the culture of North Carolina from the Indians to the settlers. The equipment has changed over the years. The Indians started with bone hooks, with deer hair wrapped around the hook. Today we have all kinds of equipment. Technology has come a long way in the realm of fishing lures and equipment.

Keywords: Cherokee Indians; Heritage; bone hooks; deer hair; fly fishing; settlers; technology.; North Carolina

Subjects: Fishing equipment through the years

Partial Transcript: Kevin talks about his fishing career and that in the streams around developed areas, he is seeing more sediment and warmer waters. The sediment is killing the insects in the streams and they are getting muddier. He calls this thermo pollution; the water gets warmer and stays warmer. Kevin talks about how the trout and bio-mass suffer.

Keywords: thermo pollution; sediment

Subjects: The affect sediment has on the streams

Partial Transcript: Kevin discusses the biggest changes he has seen in the rivers over his lifetime. The French Broad River has gotten cleaner but the sediment has gotten worse around the developed areas. The smallmouth bass live in this river and they are not as susceptible to the warmer water. The fishing in the Mills River is not what it used to be due to sedimentation and possibly herbicides and pesticides.

Keywords: Mills River; herbicides; pesticides.; small mouth bass; French Broad River

Subjects: The condition of the French Broad and Mills River.

Partial Transcript: Kevin talks about his business and how it is directly related to the stream quality. When a stream suffers, like the Mills, people don’t fish it and may find an alternative stream to fish. He talks about the pollution spill on the Lower Davidson and how it affected his customers.

Keywords: lower Davidson

Subjects: How the condition of the streams affect his business

Partial Transcript: Kevin talks about trout fishing with his father who was one of the premiere fly tyers of his generation. Now his 2 kids are fishing all the time. Kevin discusses the changes he has seen in the river. There is more sediment and less water flow, warmer water.

Keywords: warmer water; premiere fly tyer

Subjects: Kevin’s start in fly fishing and how the conditions have changed.

Partial Transcript: Kevin talks about the economic impact of fishing in Western North Carolina, it is staggering. He estimates $200,000,000 is spent on just trout fishing. Transylvania County is #1 in the state for trout fishing. Henderson County ranks about 4th or 5th.

Keywords: Henderson County.; Transylvania County; Western North Carolina; Economic impact

Subjects: The Economic impact fly fishing has on Western North Carolina.

Partial Transcript: Kevin talks about what the possible economic downfall would be if a stream was hurt. The $200,000,000 is just on fishing, not all the other activities, motels, food, gas all this could add up to a billion dollars. Even a small cut in the number of people fishing could have a huge impact.

Keywords: $200,000,000; food; gas; hotels; huge impact; motels; Economic downfall

Subjects: The economic downfall if the streams are hurt.

Partial Transcript: Kevin talks about what he thinks would help keep the streams safe. He suggests a 4 – 5 foot buffer. Trout Unlimited has spent millions on just the Davidson River. He thinks a big effort should be made by the state to help the farmers increase the setback from the river. He talks about the Clean Water Trust Fund and what it was set up to do and what in fact it has done with the money in the fund.

Keywords: Clean Water Trust Fund.; Davidson River; Trout Unlimited; increase the setback; buffer

Subjects: What could be done to ensure the water quality of the streams.

Partial Transcript: Kevin talks about the legacy his father left him. His father and his uncle founded Trout Unlimited in North Carolina. They were the first to promote catch and release and leave no trace. His dad taught Kevin these values and he tries to teach them in the schools and the classes he teaches.

Keywords: Trout Unlimited in North Carolina; catch and release; leave no trace; teach in schools and classes; Legacy

Subjects: The legacy Kevin’s father taught him and how he tries to pass that on.

Partial Transcript: Kevin discusses why it is important to protect the waterways. The availability of clean water in our streams is so important. Kevin talks about what happens when there is no clean water for the insects, animals and the food cycle.

Keywords: availability of clean water; Protect waterways

Subjects: Why it is important to protect the waterways.