LETTER FROM GSM PRESIDENT

Have you been fishing??.....At last we are seeing a break in the rain the last couple of weeks! The tailwaters are starting to slow down their water releases in some areas and the Smokies are starting to green up in the low to mid elevations.

I have been able to grab a few days on the Clinch and in the mountains. It has been a treat to get out and walk river bottoms and see the changes in the mountain streams after a record winter of water in our area. Even better has been to try out new gear and flies gathered over the winter months and attempting to get used to again scrambling over rocks and bramble.

Maybe part of the appeal of spring fishing is to relearn the familiar tailwaters and streams after a long winter. The old standby fishing holes from last summer become reshaped by wind and water, trees in the water where the trout always hang out are now gone and sent downstream by high water. The age old quote always holds true.."fly fishing is a college you never graduate from".

Speaking of new views we are looking forward to this month's chapter meeting on Thursday April 25th at 6PM as Captain Rocky Cox of Rocky Top Anglers presents his brand new video of the Clinch River. Rocky as many of you know is a long time guide on Tennessee rivers with many years of experience on the Clinch, Hiwassee, South Holston and Holston just to name a few. This video and presentation is shot from overhead by drone as he navigates the Clinch and offers never before seen views of the water and structures below. Join us as we welcome Captain Rocky Cox for the first time and see the Clinch river from a new perspective.

Coming up this Saturday on April 6th, 2019 is the return of the annual Little River Clean-up at Metcalf Bottoms in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Starting at 9:00 AM till 12:00 PM it concludes with a picnic lunch provided by the hosts Little River Trout Unlimited chapter. Please see the article below for all the details and information and help us keep the Park the natural beauty we all love.

We are proud to announce the Great Smoky Mountain TU candidate for Trout Camp 2019 has been accepted and confirmed. This year's sponsored GSM camper is Peyton Bodo, some of you may remember he and his father took part in the "BATTLE of GATLINBURG in September. Not only did they participate but swept the first and second place awards and we know he will represent our chapter and excel this summer. As you know it is the "IRON MAN FLY CONTEST" each year in January that enables us to help sponsor a young angler for a trip of a lifetime in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each summer.

Hats off also to Gentry Oswalt, last years GSM TU chapter's sponsored camper! He was just accepted to attend TU Teen Summit 2019 in Montana this year. This event is open to select 16-18 year old teens who are chosen from a written and personal interview. We should all be excited to see Peyton and Gentry have the opportunity to participate in these camps. These are the bedrock that lays the foundation for our future TU leaders and members.

As always thanks to everyone who attends our meetings and events, it is your chapter and we invite you to get involved this year. Please bring family and friends, and 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 fellowship of those who feel the same.

Follow us on our GSM TU website and to stay current with the latest chapter news and updates please visit our GSM TU Facebook page. Link: http://m.facebook.com/GreatSmokyMountainTU/

John Reinhardt
President