Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited

September is shaping up to be a busy month for our Chapter. LRCTU has activities planned for three consecutive weekends this month starting with Water Sampling supporting the Acid Deposition Study in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). The following weekends include the Little River Clean-Up in GSMNP on September 23rd, the fall camping trip at Cataloochee September 22 – 24, and the Townsend Fall Festival on September 29 – 30. Combining the above events with the arrival of new eggs for our fall/winter session of Trout in the Classroom and the potential to begin Phase II of the Stream Barrier Survey Project should keep us busy.

The LRCTU exhibit at the Townsend Fall Festival will focus on the legacy of fly fishing in the Smokies and the importance of conserving our coldwater resources in and around GSMNP to preserve this fishery for future generations. Many of our members will be displaying their fly tying skills. We will also offer fly casting instruction and a display featuring our Chapter activities. This event is a great outreach opportunity for our Chapter.

The September Chapter Meeting will include a feature presentation by Sally Petrie of the Tennessee Wildlife Resouces Agency (TWRA) on brook trout restoration. We will also, for the first time, recognize our volunteers for their contributions since April.

I’m looking forward to getting caught up with our traveling members returning
from trips to Pennsylvania, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. Remember to send some pictures to lrctu.newsletter@gmail.com so they can be shared with our Chapter.

Bob Bishop
President

The Little River Chapter Volunteer Recognition Program will recognize members for participation in any volunteer effort supported by LRCTU.  In addition to all GSMNP Fisheries Department activities, this expanded program recognizes Chapter members for participation in all volunteer efforts sponsored by our Chapter. To ensure you are properly recognized for your contributions and to more accurately report our volunteer hours to TU National, be sure and enter your volunteer hours in the Chapter database accessed at www.LRCTU.org.  Awards include LRCTU logo decals, safety vests, label pins, coffee mugs, T-Shirts, medallions, and a framed print.

LRCTU has been selected as an exhibitor for the Townsend Fall Festival on September 29 -30.  We will focus on the legacy of fly fishing in the Smokies and the importance of conserving our coldwater resources in and around GSMNP to preserve this fishery for future generations.  

Our annual on-line auction is scheduled from November 20 to December 3.  Proceeds from the auction support the GSMNP Fisheries Department.  If you are interested in volunteering to assist with either the auction or the Festival, contact me at bishmoose@sbcglobal.net.

A special thanks to Gary Pickens and Harry Fetterman for their work on a significant upgrade to the LRCTU Website (www.LRCTU.org).  The website has been updated to include current LRCTU projects, activities, and slide presentations from Monthly Chapter Meetings.  If you haven’t accessed the website in a while, now would be a good time to take a look.

It’s the time of year when some of our members travel to look for bigger fish, different fish, more fish, and/or a change of scenery.   If your traveling, be safe and remember to send some pictures to lrctu.newsletter@gmail.com so they can be shared with our Chapter.

Highlights of the August Chapter Meeting will include a feature presentation by Ian and Charity Rutter of R & R Fly Fishing, and details of the recently implemented Little River Chapter Volunteer Recognition Program.  This will be a great opportunity to get caught up with Chapter activities and socialize with your friends.

Bob Bishop,
President

August 2023 Newsletter

Congratulations to Little River Chapter member Bernie Maloy who received the Eddy George Award for significant volunteer work supporting the Fisheries Department of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP).  Bernie was instrumental in leading a team of LRCTU volunteers to successful completion of Phase I of the Stream Barrier Survey Project in GSMNP.  Bernie participated in a number of other volunteer opportunities including Index of Biotic Integrity Assessments, Water Sample Collection for Acid Deposition Studies, and Brook Trout Restoration Evaluations.

The LRCTU Board of Directors unanimously approved implementation of a Volunteer Recognition Program.  In addition to all GSMNP Fisheries Department activities, this expanded program recognizes Chapter members for participation in all volunteer efforts sponsored by our Chapter including, but not limited to, Trout in the Classroom, Trout Camp, Fundraising, Stream Clean-Ups, Community Science, and Service Projects. Details of the recognition program will be presented at the August Chapter meeting.  To ensure all members are properly recognized for their accomplishments, be sure and enter your volunteer hours in the Chapter database accessed on the LRCTU.org website.

Speaking of our website, it is in the process of being updated.  Although still a work in progress, recent updates have made the site more readable and user friendly.  Other changes forthcoming will be updates to our Chapter overview, projects and upcoming events.  If you are unable to attend monthly Chapter meetings, the slide presentation for each meeting is now included on the website.

Back on the subject of volunteers.  Our Chapter has completed the majority of the more rigorous field work for this summer in GSMNP.  It was encouraging to see several of our newer members participating in these events. 

We have a couple of major events scheduled for the fall.  LRCTU has been selected as an exhibitor for the Townsend Fall Festival on September 29 – 30.  We will focus on the legacy of fly fishing in the Smokies and the importance of conserving our cold water resources in and around GSMNP to preserve this fishery for future generations.   The other event is our annual on-line auction scheduled from November 20 to December 3.  Proceeds from the auction support the GSMNP Fisheries Department.  Planning and supporting these events is a significant effort and is somewhat limited by our volunteer base.  If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity to assist with one or both of these events contact me at bishmoose@sbcglobal.net.

Bob Bishop,

LRCTU President

July 2023 Newsletter