Spring, Winter, Spring? I am as confused as the birds and the bees with this Tennessee winter, on any given day it has been 65 degrees or 35 degrees. We even hit the low 80's one day last week! I hope you have been able like many of us have done and hit the water. President's Day weekend, we hit the Clinch river on Sunday and the Hiwassee river on Monday. Bug hatches and warm days in February is like an extra helping at dinner.

The next few months are going to be packed with things to do across our region and especially here in the Tennessee mountains. Our next chapter meeting is Thursday, March 16th, 2017 at the Blackhorse Pub in Knoxville, TN. Many people including our board members have requested our guest speaker, Matt Kulp, Fishery Biologist Supervisor, with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I am happy to say we were able to have Matt take time from as you can imagine his busy Spring schedule and talk with us about his work. His presentation will include updates on the status of the Park and news on current and upcoming projects. Matt and the park service have been friends to our region's Trout Unlimited chapters as we have worked alongside on volunteer projects in the Park for years. Come early; his talks always draw a crowd.

Speaking of volunteer work our own chapter member Charlie Chmielewski is gearing up for another season of Acid Deposition Sampling, data that helps document the effects of acid rain on the health of our citizens, mountains, and of course fish. Contact Charlie at phone number 865-661-7325 if you want to help. Hats off to Charlie for his untiring dedication on this project!

The Fly Fishing Film Tour is back in Knoxville, TN on Friday March 31st, 2017 at the Relix Theatre. Once again 3 Rivers Angler has donated a space for us to set up a booth and talk with people about Trout Unlimited. Get your tickets and come out for a night of film, fun and tall tales! (See Article Below)

Here is your next Great Smoky Mountain chapter job, "Get Ready & Get Registered!" Yes it is almost here, just days away the 2017 SOUTHEAST REGIONAL TU MEETING has arrived, see the article below for all the details. The Glenstone Lodge in Gatlinburg, TN is the place to be on April 21st-23rd, 2017, and the Tennessee Trout Unlimited and our chapters are the hosts. Do not delay get signed up now as this event will draw TU members from eight states for this one of a kind weekend. Website link: http://www.tu.org/southeast-regional

In closing, I want to ask you to see the last article in this newsletter about the Project Smoky Mountain Rebirth. I was invited by project leaders Chris Turner and Chad Fouts, manager of Smoky Mountain Angler to attend the first of these events in February on the Clinch River. I was impressed by their work to make this event happen and their dedication to helping repay the people who helped during the Gatlinburg fire in November 2016. As someone who helps plan events the scale of their undertaking was immense and they did it. Hats off to them, and I encourage everyone to attend the next one on Saturday, April 29th, 2017. Stay tuned for details as we get closer to date. The cost of $5 gave you a day of fellowship with the people who helped save Gatlinburg from the fire, a great lunch, but most of all a quality day with quality people! (See article below)

As always thanks for being a part of our chapter and make this the year you get involved whether thru chapter meetings or events. Remember, the success of our chapter depends on you!

John Reinhardt

President