Submitted by bigsur on Sun, 2023-02-12 16:23 Great Smoky Mountain - 047 Vote Up Down +46 + IMG_3256.jpg LETTER FROM CHAPTER PRESIDENT February…We have all been pulling for Spring like a Kentucky Derby race in May! The last few days of warm weather and sunshine has brightened everyone’s outlook. Even though if you have lived in the Smokies region any length of time you know we can have snow and cold right up thru April. Hope blooms eternal,so let’s keep our fingers crossed. We want to thank everyone, competitors and attendees alike for making “Iron Man Fly Contest 2023” another great success. Thank you to our long-time sponsors at TFO Rods, Smoky Mountain Angler, Little River Outfitters, 3 Rivers Angler and our host, Dead End BBQ. We awarded more prizes then ever to the competitors and prizes even to the audience this year. It is because of their generosity we are able to continue our long standing tradition of sending a young angler to Trout Camp each year. The competitors this year were top shelf contestants as they tried to beat the clock tying flies. It is one thing to tie at home at yourleisure versus under the gun, facing a crowd with loud music as the clock ticks. Congratulations to our top winner this year, Grand Champion Winner David Holdridge, returning with a mission after placing3rd last year. David also won 1st place followed by, Zach Grava 2ndplace, and Jonah Duran 3rd place. This year was unique as all our top winners are either current or past members of the “VOLS on the FLY. Our Great Smoky Mountain chapter has worked with the University of Tennesseechapter of the TU 5 Rivers program since its inception. It has been a source of great personal pleasure for me to watch the growth of these young men as not only students but to return to be active members and leaders of our GSM TU chapter. Coming up at our next chapter meeting on Thursday, March 2,2023 is another person that I have enjoyed watching his growth. We will be featuring Jessie Huddleston of Smoky Mountain Angler of Gatlinburg. Jessie not only guides but has also built a large following on Instagram for not only his Smoky Mountain flies but his own unique style and take on fly tying. Check out his Instagram link in the article below. Speaking of exciting upcoming events, the first weekend of May brings the 2023 induction of the “Fly Fishing Hall of Fame” in Bryson City, North Carolina. This year is special because one of the original founders of the Great Smoky Mountain TU chapter is our own, Walter Babb. He is being recognized for his exceptionalrod building and fly tying and history for the Smokies fishing. I have been asked to return as master of ceremonies again this year for the Hall of Fame and know many of this year’s inductees. See the following article for all the details of this “don’t miss event”. Hopefully you have seen the news about the new required parking pass for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park starting March 1, 2023. There is a lot of information that is incorrect about the requirements. Here is the link from the National Park website with the correct information. Read carefully the question and answers section as there are options that may be relevant to you. LINK: Fees & Passes - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) Remember to follow us on the GSM TU Facebook page and the chapter website. Our Facebook page is the best way to see the latest chapter and updates. As always we remind you that a Trout Unlimited membership is never required to a GSM TU event or meetings. All are welcome! GSM FACEBOOK: http://m.facebook. com/GreatSmokyMountainTU/ John ReinhardtPresident