A FISHING PARTNERSHIP

Trout Unlimited, Fannin Middle join forces

  • Fannin County Middle School eighth-grader Olivia Green gently pours a tiny trout fingerling into the chilly Toccoa River, December 18. The field trip was a culmination of a trout life-cycle program facilitated by the local chapter of Trout Unlimited called Trout in a Classroom.
    Fannin County Middle School eighth-grader Olivia Green gently pours a tiny trout fingerling into the chilly Toccoa River, December 18. The field trip was a culmination of a trout life-cycle program facilitated by the local chapter of Trout Unlimited called Trout in a Classroom.
  • Students from Fannin County Middle School take turns placing baby trout into their new watery home. Shown is Marissa Holbert sending her trout off into the river.
    Students from Fannin County Middle School take turns placing baby trout into their new watery home. Shown is Marissa Holbert sending her trout off into the river.
  • The Blue Ridge chapter of Trout Unlimited facilitated a trout life-cycle program, Trout in a Classroom, at Fannin County Middle School where the eighth-graders raised trout from eggs and then released them into the Toccoa river, December 18. Shown is Ridge Stevens pouring a trout fingerling into the chilly water.
    The Blue Ridge chapter of Trout Unlimited facilitated a trout life-cycle program, Trout in a Classroom, at Fannin County Middle School where the eighth-graders raised trout from eggs and then released them into the Toccoa river, December 18. Shown is Ridge Stevens pouring a trout fingerling into the chilly water.
  • Fannin County Middle School teacher Cherie White points to the tiny trout she just poured into the Toccoa river. Her students learned all about raising trout and their life-cycle throught a partnership with Trout Unlimited.
    Fannin County Middle School teacher Cherie White points to the tiny trout she just poured into the Toccoa river. Her students learned all about raising trout and their life-cycle throught a partnership with Trout Unlimited.
  • A tiny trout fingerling, or baby trout, is about to begin its new adventure of living in the Toccoa River.
    A tiny trout fingerling, or baby trout, is about to begin its new adventure of living in the Toccoa River.
  • Trout Unlimited’s Carl Riggs tosses the few remaining trout fingerlings into the Toccoa river, December 18. The group partnered with Fannin County Middle School to learn about the trout life-cycle by raising them from eggs in the Trout in a Classroom
    Trout Unlimited’s Carl Riggs tosses the few remaining trout fingerlings into the Toccoa river, December 18. The group partnered with Fannin County Middle School to learn about the trout life-cycle by raising them from eggs in the Trout in a Classroom

    Fannin County Middle School partnered with Blue Ridge Trout Unlimited (TU), Chapter 696, to raise trout from eggs for the Trout in a Classroom project.

    Teacher Cherie White and Trout Unlimited had worked together at Fannin County High School for two years and had success with the trout life-cycle program, they said. So when White began teaching at the middle school, she wanted to continue the program there.

    In this third year of the program White’s eighth-grade A and B Agriculture students participated in the Trout in a Classroom project. Bramlett Trout Farm donated about 100 eggs to the class in August. 

    Blue Ridge Trout Unlimited education chair Roger Johnson and TU representatives Jeff Kling, Bob Bradley, Carl Riggs, Bob Wetzsteon and Mel Richardson introduced the program to the kids and checked in on the trout habitat on a regular basis. Teacher Cherie White taught lessons on each stage of the trout life-cycle including what trout eat and where in the rivers they like to hangout.

    “Students did all the testing and the maintenance of the tank,” White said. “They kept a journal and monitored the level of nitrates, nitrites and ammonia in the water.” The eighth-graders followed a manual to make whatever corrections were needed and changed the water a lot, White said. The water quality fluctuated often requiring them to add good bacteria to level out the water quality. 

    White said the students enjoyed watching the transformation from eggs into fish. “What was really cool is that after they hatched they were really dark and over the week they got lighter and lighter and then you could see spots on them.”

    Fifty-three to 56 of the 100 fish survived to be placed into the Toccoa river Thursday, December 18. 

    Student Kaleigh Ann Ware said, “It was fun and a good experience.” She added she liked checking the water and learning about water quality. Ware is also a member of the fishing club at the school, also in partnership with Trout Unlimited. 

    White said she’d love to do another semester of Trout in a Classroom this winter so her other students also have the opportunity.