July 4th, 2016… Already! You’re kidding, half the year is gone and I am not sure where it went! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. The temperatures the last two weeks has pushed aside any doubt over what season we are in now. We need rain in our mountain streams and rivers, the bright side is my grass and weeds are hardly growing in this heat. After decades of yard work it does not take much for me to do anything but mow a yard, the blush passed on that bloom years ago. Now fishing that’s a different story, I have become over the years more like the labrador retriever that will jump in a truck and ride with anybody to the river.

A quick news update is Trout Camp ended last week, and Weston Claytor who we sponsored from the Great Smoky Mountain chapter as our representative sent me a picture of a great fish. The picture of a big beautiful rainbow he caught in crystal clear water in our mountains is better than any description I can write. Weston in addition to being a good angler, has volunteered at numerous TU events with his father Robert this year and even won a category at the “IRONMAN FLY CONTEST” in January. Congratulations to him and for making our chapter proud to call him one of ours!

July brings us at least three opportunities this month to join together, and one of them will give you the chance to meet not only members of the Little River and Clinch chapters but also state wide TU members. Everyone who has their email registered with TU should have received the invitation to attend the Tennessee TU Council meeting on Saturday July 9th at Center Hill Dam on the Caney Fork River. Details are in the article below, I encourage you to attend if you can, you do not have to be an officer or council member, and it is open to all TU members. In addition following the meeting will be a BBQ lunch sponsored by the Cumberland TU chapter. Some of us are going to camp at either of the two campgrounds at the dam and maybe get some fishing in after the meeting. Even if you cannot stay overnight it is just a two hour drive to one of the great trout waters in our state, and if you have not been there before this is a great chance to see it firsthand.

Following that on Saturday July 23 it is time for the Big Clinch River Cleanup 2016! This annual event has become legend as it grows with the participation of individuals and community organizations; and numbers over 100 volunteers each year. It is your chance to give back to the river we love and if you register early a free breakfast at the Museum of Appalachia will kick start your morning. See the article below for registration and information to become a team member.

Our July chapter meeting is one of my favorites and a summer treat at River John’s Island just minutes from downtown Knoxville. Join us as we gather with the Little River TU chapter members for an evening of fishing, grilling and spending time together. This annual event sponsored by the Little River chapter is a summer standout in a location that is so close but few rarely have seen. River John’s is located right in the middle of the Little River; you can choose to drive over the bridge or park onshore as we gather under the Pavilion for a good time. Do not miss this one; rain or shine this is the party of the summer.  Bring the family, friends and dog along with your fishing gear and license! See the article below for all the details.

John Reinhardt

President

Email: john711111@yahoo.com