Letter from President

Fall is in full swing as we literally race towards the holiday season and the end of the year. It is like being in the front car of a roller coaster as the year picks up speed heading towards 2023.

October was a great month for the chapter as we held our “Day on the Water” at Twin Creek Pavilion and won the Tennessee-Alabama game on the same day! The Smokies that day was maybe the most beautiful fall day I have ever seen. You can see a short video on our GSM Facebook page. The leaves were nothing short of stupendous and I have never seen that many bears and turkeys in one day. We had to take extra care as some of the trails were closed due to aggressive bear activity. Fortunately, no incidents other than fantastic opportunities to see Smokies wildlife getting ready for winter.

We ended the month with our regular meeting at Dead End BBQ with a presentation by Caleb Abramson of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Matt Kulp and Caleb are the fishery biologists and two of the most knowledgeable people with the Park concerning the Park conditions. Caleb’s presentation brought us up to date with their work this year and what the plans are for next year.

There will be a lot of work in 2023 for those who wish to volunteer their time and help the Park staff continue their work. Stay tuned for more information in the new year.

We are excited to be kicking off December in a big way as we combine our November meeting into a holiday gathering on Thursday, December 1 at 6pm. Our friends at Orvis in Knoxville have graciously allowed us to hold our next event in their brand  new store at 4315 Kingston Pike Knoxville TN.

This special night will also feature noted guide and fly tier Josh Pfeiffer of Frontier Anglers TN. Josh has become one of the leading small mouth experts in our area in addition to his vast experience on our rivers and streams including the Park. He will be tying as we project it on the large screen TV at Orvis.

It gets even better as we will also be providing dinner thanks to Orvis and our GSM TU chapter. Be prepared for a beer and pizza party on us that night as we crank December up in a big way for the holiday countdown! Please RSVP your name and number of people attending to the email below, so we have plenty for all.

EMAIL RSVP YOUR NAME AND NUMBER ATTENDING TO: gsmtutenn@gmail.com     

Don’t forget… just around the bend coming in January 2023 is one of our biggest nights of the year as we present the famous “Iron Man Fly Contest 2023”. This Great Smoky Mountain Trout Unlimited tradition is our way of making sure a deserving boy or girl ages 12-15 years old gets to attend “Trout Camp” each year in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We have raised almost five thousand dollars over the past few years sending a young angler for a week of learning about conservation, nature, and most importantly fun. You can be a part of that night by registering to compete for great prizes like new fly rods, reels and gear from our sponsors like TFO Rods and all the local fly shops. Whether you compete or are a part of the crowd this is a rollicking evening of fun for a great cause.  

Remember to follow us on the GSM TU Facebook page and the chapter website. The Great Smoky Mountain Facebook page is the best way to follow us for the latest chapter information and changes. As always remember you never have to be a Trout Unlimited member to attend our events or meetings, all are welcome.

GSM FACEBOOK: http://m.facebook. com/GreatSmokyMountainTU/

John Reinhardt

President