The school year may be cranking up and talk of the UT football season is in the air but there is still time for trips and getaways. Speaking of vacations that is not the Smokies in the picture above, that is me on my favorite high elevation stream in Colorado this past July. Each year fellow TU members Noel Hudson, Mike Bryant and myself make our annual pilgrimage to Colorado for trout fishing. That stream above is at 9,500 feet filled with brown trout and even higher mountains in the background. If you ever see me with a faraway look that is probably where my mind is at that moment. We start and end our trip every year in that spot and dream about it the rest of the year. The best part is we have the Great Smoky mountains to roam when we get back home, truly a blessing we do not take for granted.

We want to thank everyone who came out to our annual cook-out with the Little River TU chapter at River John's Island. This year might have been our biggest turn out ever with around 60 people enjoying burgers, dogs, and enough side items to feed an army. The casting competition also drew a large number of entries and was the highlight of the evening.

The "BATTLE OF GATLINBURG 2019" is open for registration and the tournament website is up and running. The latest issue of SOUTHERN TROUT MAGAZINE, one of our great sponsors is out and has a featured article about the "ONE FLY ROYALE" Fly Fishing Tournament being held on Saturday September 28th, 2019 in downtown Gatlinburg, TN. Please see the article below for a link to the article and for more information on how you can be a part of this one of a kind event.

Our next chapter meeting is at 6PM Thursday, August 29th, 2019 at DEAD END BBQ located at 3621 Sutherland Ave. in Knoxville. We have two special guests Dennis Baxter and Dave Harrell, who will be giving a presentation on "Entomology for the Fly Fisherman". Simply put that is the study of aquatic insects in our streams and rivers that we try to duplicate with our flies everytime we go fishing. Dennis Baxter is the TVA manager of Aquatic Resources and Dave Harrell is the program manager at TVA's Recreation Division.

Both Dennis and Dave are active local TU members and have put together a presentation that is both informative and interesting. Come out for a fun evening and enhance your skills and knowledge for your next trip on the water.

As always thanks to everyone who attends our meetings and events. It is your chapter and we invite you to get involved this summer. Please bring family and friends amd remember you never have to be a Trout Unlimited member to attend a Great Smoky Mountain TU chapter activity, just a love of the outdoors and the fellowship of those who feel the same.

In closing, please follow us on the GSM TU Facebook page and website. The GSM TU Facebook pages is the best way to stay up to date with current information or changes.

GSM TU FACEBOOK

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

John Reinhardt

President

Email: john711111@yahoo.com