September??.....We are going thru 2016 like the front car of a roller coaster and it is picking up speed! I hope everyone was able to get their summer vacation and fishing trips completed as we begin to make the transition to fall. Personally I am ready for cooler weather as the dog days of August still deliver 90 degree days to us as we enter September.

I was fortunate to fly fish Colorado again this year with Mike Bryant, president of the Little River chapter and our newly appointed Tennessee TU State chairman. We had a great time the last of July in Colorado and fished a different river or stream each day including the Rocky Mountain National Park. It was truly another bucket list trip with everything caught from Colorado cutthroats to beautiful high country rainbows and browns. An annual trip to the N.C. coast the first of August brought me 8 days of saltwater surf fishing and one of the best variety of fish caught in recent years. This past Sunday, Mike Bryant and I did a half day float on the Caney River with guide David Knapp and had a great day of fishing even in the high heat. You may remember David of Troutzone Anglers was a guest speaker this past winter. As with all the guides we have brought in or recommended he put us on fish from the beginning to end, their knowledge and expertise cannot be underestimated. No matter what your skill level a guide can add to your knowledge or refresh the things we all have forgot and help make you're next outing a success.

This year is going to be a busy one for our chapter and the Tennessee State TU starting with our next meeting at 6PM Thursday, September 22nd at the Blackhorse Pub. We will be electing officers in October and if you have a nomination you would like to submit please come prepared to do so. This coming Friday evening is the Project Healing Waters Banquet at the Foundry in Knoxville and as of this writing tickets are still available. Here is the link:

http://www.projecthealingwaters.org/Events/Tournaments/TheSmokyMountainGrandSlamChallenge.aspx

Our annual camp-out at Smokemont, on the Cherokee side of the Smokies is Friday Sept 22nd and Sept. 23rd with the Little River TU chapter. This is your chance to fish, camp, and share good times with friends in the Park as we fish the Oconaluftee, Bradley Fork, and surrounding streams. See the article below; space is limited but still available,  shoot an email to: john711111@yahoo.com to reserve your spot today!

The "Women on the Water" event hosted by Melissa Maple-Harrell is also on September 24, 2016; this annual event is sponsored with TVA and the Clinch River TU chapter at Millers Island. This event enables women and girls to experience the world of fly fishing at no cost to them with everything included from waders, boots, flies and even a free lunch! Contact Melissa at tleo2008@live.com if you would like to help. See the article below for time and place.

I have some sad news this month; I was just contacted by George Lane, longtime chapter member and board member that our friend and board member, April Burt has passed away after an illness. I have printed the obituary below for all the information we have, and please note a celebration of her life will be held on October 1, 2016. Many of you worked with us at our two fundraisers last year at Bass Pro with April leading the charge to sell those hot dogs! Though her passing is untimely I will always remember her hard work, willingness to help, and donate her own money and time to Trout Unlimited. I promise you no one got by her without making a food purchase those days or a donation to our chapter. I will miss her.

I look forward to seeing everyone at 6PM Thursday, September 22, at the Blackhorse Pub 4429 Kingston Pike, Knoxville for our first fall meeting!

John Reinhardt

President

Email: john711111@yahoo.com