LETTER FROM PRESIDENT Great Smoky Mountain Chapter #047

Letter From Chapter President

Summer and all it brings is making it's mark here in the Smokies region. We have gone from the annual spring time quote of "When will this rain stop!" to our summer quote of "When is it supposed to rain?". We have been blessed this year with a spring that has kept us out of drought conditions so far into the summer season.

I hope everyone has been able to take those summer family trips and reconnects along with squeezing in a regular dose of fishing here locally in the Smokies and surrounding tailwaters. I just got back from our annual run to Colorado with Mike Bryant, my friend and Tennessee TU State council leader. This year Noel Hudson who many of you know as a GSM chapter and board member caught up with us as we spent days chasing trout in Rocky Mountain high country streams at 10,000 feet to rolling rivers like the Eagle and Frying Pan at 7,500 feet. I have been fortunate to be able to visit Colorado for over 10 years, yet I am always amazed at the amount of water we have right here in our own backyard.

Last week were two TU events held back to back within 3 days, first the annual picnic with the Little River chapter at River John's then the Tennessee TU State Council meeting hosted by the Clinch River chapter. I was lucky that both events were close by because just making it back from Colorado I had to use this past Sunday as a major R & R day!

Those of you who could not make the picnic at River John's missed a great one. The rain held off and this year we had a casting and accuracy casting contest. The food was outstanding as usual as we grilled burgers and dogs and everyone brought potluck dishes with plenty to go around.

The Tennessee TU State Council meeting which is always open to everyone, was held on Saturday and was a great roundup of where we are as a state organization. We heard updates on conservation projects, Trout in the Classroom, Trout Camp, and I presented a follow up of the survey results from the 2017 TU Southeast Regional meeting held in April at Gatlinburg, TN. The next one is in the fall and I recommend everyone who can attend and meet our fellow TU members from across the state and hear their stories and chapter projects.

We have two upcoming events and both are big and exciting, the "BATTLE OF GATLINBURG 2017" Fishing Tournament is Saturday, September 30th in downtown Gatlinburg, TN. Sign up for one of the fishing events and compete for cash and prizes or join us as a volunteer. The article below will have the links and more information on how to be a part of this inaugural event in Gatlinburg!

The next event is a one of a kind, unprecedented chapter meeting like none before. Join us on Thursday at 6 P.M., September 21st, 2017 at the Blackhorse Pub & Brewery for the Great Smoky Mountain Trout Unlimited chapter's "Tennessee's Greatest Fly Sale"! If you purchase flies, tie flies, buy hooks and materials this is the can't miss event of the year. Our own chapter member Les Graham has chosen the Great Smoky Mountain chapter meeting as the site to liquidate his extensive collection. After years of commercial fly tying out West he has chosen this time to give us an opportunity to purchase flies, hook, and fly tying material at deep discounted prices. I personally have viewed his collection and lifetime efforts of his craft and was astounded at the thousands of flies that will be available for sale. This is in addition to the fly tying material of every imaginable kind, along with hooks and assorted fly tying related gear. I truly want to thank Les and his family for offering this once in a lifetime chance to our members and guests.

A shout out goes to Brett Winchel & Matt Crockett of the UT-"VOLS on the FLY" 5 Rivers and GSM chapter members as they are heading into the home stretch of their great summer adventure. We are looking forward to welcoming them home with their tales and stories of conservation work and fishing in 10 western states.

Remember, please add our Great Smoky Mountain TU Facebook site to your phone and computer. This is the fastest way to see changes, updates and the latest information on any event in our area or keep up with chapter news. FACEBOOK: http://m.facebook.com/GreatSmokyMountainTU/

It's also time for pictures of our members and friends summer adventures. Send us your shots whether on a farm pond, mountain stream or an exotic locale you fished or visited this summer. Please see the article below on how to get them to us to add to our website and Facebook pages.

John, Reinhardt

President