Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited

When and Where?

Saturday February 22, 9:00 AM at the Park Service Twin Creeks Science Center in Gatlinburg

A map showing access to the location of the facility can be found on the link below.

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=knoxville,+tn&daddr=35.687104,-83.501158

What is the Meeting about? 

Each year we have a meeting with volunteers for the Acid Deposition Sampling Program. With 20 years of data and the retirement of Steve Moore, the creator of the program, we will be reviewing the history and reflecting on the results of the data and changes in air emissions.

Who should attend?

• Anyone wanting to help gather samples this coming 12 months.

• Anyone interested in learning about the program or the results of the past 20 years of sampling is invited to attend. 

Meeting Agenda

• Breakfast is free.

• A short history of the program.

• Data trends over the 20 years of sampling.

For those who will volunteer to sample we will continue with the following:

• A short training overview of the process .

• A draft sampling schedule of volunteers will be prepared.

The meeting is expected to finish by noon or earlier.

Please contact Charlie Chmielewski at 865-661-7325 or by e-mail at charlieflyfish@gmail.com if:

• You will attend the meeting (head count needed for food)

• You want more information about the meeting or the program 

President’s Corner

Mike Bryant (mjbryant1954@hotmail.com)

Newsletter

Well, the holidays are behind us. It’s been a busy couple of months for Jan and me. Lots of time with family, a trip out west to New Mexico and Arizona before settling down in Townsend. Even though my fishing slows down a bit at this time of year, I’ve been busy.

I scrambled to finish a nice 7’- 9”, 3 weight rod to give to Jan as a Christmas present. Late delivery of the epoxy needed to finish the wraps had me carefully (and secretively) applying thin coats of epoxy on Christmas Eve and wrapping the rod early Christmas morning. It work out in the end, and Jan was both surprised and thrilled with her new rod.

It definitely looks like 2014 is going to be a busy year for our Chapter. As we noted in last month’s newsletter, the BOD has agreed to hold our Troutfest Banquet on Friday, April 25. This will be our major fundraiser for the year and we will need your help in the planning and execution of the event and well as attending the banquet.

We have a special opportunity to send one of our youths to the 2014 Trout Camp next June. The cost to attend is $495 per student. Believing that the education of our youth is critically important in the development of future conservation leaders, the LRCTU BOD has agreed to provide $400 in tuition assistance to reducing the cost for one of our LRCTU youths to only $95. This assistance is limited to on youth and the application must be received by March 1.

The planning for Steve Moore’s retirement celebration continues. The dinner event is scheduled for February 1 at the River Plantation in Seviereville. I believe cutoff for reservation is January 17, so don’t procrastinate if you plan on attending.

Our membership meeting is Thursday, January 23. Matt Kulp of the GSMNP Fisheries Dept. will be our presenter discussing Park current and future conservation efforts. I hope to see you there.

Time flies when you’re having fun. It’s hard to believe I’m already starting my second year as the Chapter President. I’m truly excited about the year ahead of us. Happy New Year, stay warm and be safe!

Mike

As I have been looking at my copy of Trout Unlimited’s guide to Americas 100 Best Trout Streams.  I got to thinking how good we have it here in East Tennessee.  Out of the 14 streams listed in the southeast 10 of them are within  a two hour drive from my house in Knoxville.  Tennessee has six streams listed in the book which make it the second most in a state east of the Mississippi River.  And just think of all the places we fish that did not make the list.  I am going to make it a goal to fish the 10 streams this year. The Toccoa is a River I have not had  the chance to fish before and I will be looking forward to it.  Chattooga River is more then two hours away but is another River that I have not had a chance to fish.  I think I will be adding it to my list for this year too.  All I can say is that we are blessed to live here in East Tennessee.  Hope to see you on the River.

Good fishing.

Joe