Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Congratulations, Sara Bishop!

Being preoccupied with an upcoming trip while writing last month’s notes, I completely forgot to congratulate Sara Bishop for winning the Eddy George Award! This prestigious recognition is based on volunteer hours served in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP).

Sara has risked life and limb to take part in many volunteer events most folks would never dare to do. In working alongside her (on events not risking life OR limb), I’ve learned she is deeply passionate about all things LRCTU and never hesitates to jump in wherever and whenever help is needed.

Thank you, Sara — and congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

It’s hard to believe another year is already coming to a close! We’ll be taking a break next month to enjoy Thanksgiving, but mark your calendar for Thursday, December 4 — our next meeting. Same place. Same time. Different week.

At the December meeting we’ll be showcasing auction items, so come check out the merchandise and get a sneak peek at what’s up for grabs. We already have donated items valued at over $8,500.

As in years past, Harry Fetterman and the various teams are doing a fantastic job getting us up and running for another successful event.

The auction will start on Saturday, November 22 at noon and end on Sunday evening, December 7 at 9:00 PM. We will highlight many of our Auction items at the December 4 Chapter meeting at the Blue Tick Tavern. 

Tight lines!
Kim Emery

“Fly fishing: because standing in a river and talking to yourself is more socially acceptable with a rod in your hand.”

Newsletter

Happy fall, Friends!
If you spent your summer traveling – welcome back! It’s hard to believe fall is already upon us. With cooler weather comes fishing season (yay!), new Norton Creek fishing dates, and a full slate of projects for the Little River Chapter.

Trout in the Classroom
There were a few supply snags with tank supplies early on, but thanks to Dave Tolliver everything is now on track, and eggs will be distributed September 18. Some of the tanks have moved to new locations with unique purposes and audiences:

– Covey Farm Treeschool – Jenna Jackson (a former TIC program teacher) is the Director and Lead Teacher for a mix of preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade students. Along with Jenna, the students will take a truly hands-on approach to caring for the tank—feeding fish, checking water quality, and tracking their growth. We look forward to working with this school and wish them all the luck in their first season!

– Heritage Middle School – Julia Ross, formerly the hands-on teacher at Townsend Middle School, retired from teaching but couldn’t stay away from Trout in the Classroom. Together with Mr. Wieltlisbach, she has brought the Townsend Elementary tank to Heritage Middle School students. The Heritage High School AP Environmental students will be involved with managing the project as part of their coursework while also earning volunteer hours.

It’s great to see these new opportunities for education, stewardship, and youth involvement take root!

Other Fall Projects
Along with Trout in the Classroom, LRCTU has a busy fall schedule ahead:

– River Cleanups:
– Little River – with cookout Saturday, October 4 – Meet at Metcalf Bottoms
– Pistol Creek – Saturday, November 8 – Meet in the parking lot of Blount County Courthouse
– Townsend Fall Festival booth – September 26 – 27
– Norton Creek Fishing Days

September Chapter Meeting – Thursday, September 25
Join us as videographer Ben Fields takes us on a visual journey with some incredible footage and even better stories. This is one you won’t want to miss—I can personally vouch that it’s worth seeing! Want a sneak peek? Check out dorsaloutdoors.com. Just copy and paste link into your browser.

Your support is the heart of Little River Chapter. Whether you’re donating time, sharing your expertise, or simply showing up to lend a hand, you’re helping us make a difference for trout, rivers, and our community.

Thanks for all you do!
Kim Emery

“The best fisherman I know try not to make the same mistakes over and over again; instead they strive to make new and interesting mistakes and to remember what they learned from them.”
– John Gierach “Fly Fishing the High Country”

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Cannot believe Labor Day is just around the corner!
The summer LRCTU picnic was a great day for all—even if it was a tad warm. Talk about being tied to a hot stove… Bob and Joyce were in it to win it on that grill. I’m pretty sure Joyce shrank a couple of inches from water loss alone!

I’m not sure everyone realizes just how hard the LRCTU Board works to keep our chapter successful and involved. I didn’t either—until I was smack in the middle of it. Kudos to our board! I’m continually impressed by their dedication to our mission, to growing our membership, and to getting the word out about who we are and what we do. LRCTU is lucky to have such passionate people who care deeply.

That said, the board is nothing without our members—and we have some amazing ones. When I first joined, I’ll admit I was intimidated. It felt like everyone knew what was going on except me. Then I dipped a toe in and realized… they did know what was going on—but they were more than happy to share their knowledge and welcome me in. The best part? Being able to give what you can, when you can—no expectations.

So here’s my challenge: if you see a cleanup, trout release, or project coming up—just show up. No RSVP, no fuss. An hour of your time can make a big difference—and you might meet people you’d never have crossed paths with otherwise. Maybe even some new fishing friends.

Hope your summer has been full of great stories (and maybe a few fish tales). See you at the August meeting—Thursday, August 28th. Still traveling? I’ll catch you in September.

Fish on!
Kim

“Three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn.” – Chuck Clark

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