The Little River's annual Troutfest raises over $10,000 that is donated to the Park Service Fisheries Department of the Great Smoks Montains National Park. Kicked off by their banquet on Friday June 2nd with great food and opporutnities to spend money on auctions and bucket raffles, this event had artisans, anglers, representatives from TWRA, the National Park Service, rod builders, and of course food.

One organization we learned about is Casting for Recovery.  This is an organization that teaches fly fishing to women who have had breast cancer. These no-cost retreats are "tailored to promote and support mental and physical healing, shared experiences, and the hope that comes from learning new skills." Mary K. Jenkins, an artist from Townsend and a volunteer for Casting for Recovery, is working toward hosting a retreat in Tennessee. She is raising money and looking for volunteers and facilities to hold this event. If you would like to help her, please contact her at 865-898-6020.

The National Park Service recently opened Brook Trout fishing in all but three of the Park's Brook Trout streams.  They had maps and brochures about Brook Trout, the Hemlock trees that are under attack by the non-native Woolly Adelgid, and air quality. I look forward to fishing some of these streams.

In addition to the brochures provided by the National Park Service, the TWRA had very nice brochure about Wild Trout streams in Tennessee. I'll bring one to the meeting this week.

 - Robert Wilson