2016 SPRING EVENTS

It's hard to consider based on last week's weather that spring will be officially here on March 20th this year. Yes I am counting and hoping on it, even though if you live in this area you know a Tennessee spring can be 30 degrees in the morning, 60 degrees by noon and snowing by 4 P.M.!

Fly tying classes are still being held at the local fly shops and the Clinch River chapter has a Saturday session going on along with the Little River chapter Tie & Lie at the Casual Pint on February 8th. (see calendar for more details).

Our planning has begun for chapter events of course and  we are looking to continue our expansion of getting out on the streams and rivers as a chapter. The events where we co-ordinate with our fellow local chapters worked out great last year and more is planned for 2016.

One of the first spring events is our camp-out at the Cataloochee group campsite on the N.C. side with the Little River chapter the second week of April. If you have never fished that area it is beautiful and when you add the elk sightings as you fish, it is spectacular. We will have more details in the coming weeks, get your spring fly box ready and find the tents and sleeping bags!

We have been continuing meeting with the group at UT-Knoxville this winter; "VOLS on the FLY" and I am impressed with their progress. Every time we go to their meetings their member's numbers increases. It is encouraging to see the interest these college students have in Trout Unlimited 5Rivers program fly fishing and we will continue to help anyway we can.

I hope to work with them this spring on a "Day on the Water" event. A day of fishing with a cook-out at the end combining their members with the local TU chapters would be great. Trust me these guys and girls can fish and we could probably learn a thing or two from them!

Do not forget coming up on Saturday February 13th at 10AM is the annual Coldwater meeting at the library in downtown Knoxville, which is followed by Tennessee State Council TU meeting with the eight TU state chapters. If you would like to attend please see the details below and contact information to reserve a spot.

Dr. Justin Murdock of Tennessee Tech University will speak about his research on Didymo in Tennessee tailwaters at the annual Coldwater Meeting hosted by the Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited (TU) on Saturday, Feb. 13, in Knoxville.

Murdock’s presentation will be one of several at the meeting; other speakers will be from TU’s state and federal agency partners including the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Valley Authority and the National Park Service.

The Coldwater Meeting will be followed by a short lunch break and a meeting of the Tennessee Council, a coalition of volunteers from the state’s eight TU chapters.

Both meetings are open to everyone interested without charge—but reservations are required due to limited space and to the need for a head count to make sure there are enough lunches. To reserve your seat and your lunch, email Dick Geiger, council chair, at geiger3892@gmail.com.

The Coldwater Meeting starts at 10 a.m. at Lawson McGhee Library, 500 W. Church Ave., Knoxville; the council meeting is expected to end in mid-afternoon.

Council meeting agendas will be distributed about Feb. 1; if you have an item you’d like to bring up for discussion, please email Geiger with the information by Jan. 29.

COMING IN MAY

The 2016 Trout Unlimited Southeast Regional Meeting is being held this year on May 20-22 in Roanoke, Virginia this year and I am fortunate again this year to be on the planning committee. Last year's event in Asheville was my first attending as your chapter president and I had not only a great time but was a learning opportunity to interact with the TU chapters across our region. The big news this year is one of the guest speakers will be Chris Woods, our national TU President and CEO. As we get closer details on hotel and agenda will be posted as the schedule shapes up. If you would like to attend please let me know; as a TU member it is open to all. The days are filled with sessions that are important as TU chapters and are always interesting with current topics followed by dinners in the evening where you meet people from across the region and country.