There are a number of events going on this year in Great Smoky Mountains National Park where volunteers are needed. Most people don’t realize it, but much of what is accomplished in the park is done through the efforts of volunteers including trail maintenance, visitor relations, and fisheries management.

TroutFest is an event organized by the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited to raise money for fisheries in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Money raised by the event helps the park fisheries department hire seasonal workers, typically college students, who monitor fish populations and restore native brook trout. Volunteers are still needed to carry out some projects because of their large scale. These include fish population monitoring of large streams and the Lynn Camp Prong brook trout restoration.

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The Fly Fishing Film Tour will be in Asheville, NC April 7^th, 2012, at Highland Brewing Company.  Doors open at 5:00 pm, film at 7:30 pm.

One of fly-fishing most celebrated annual events; the Fly Fishing Film Tour simply offers the most diverse, polished and compelling set of independent fly fishing films.

Fly Fishing Film Tour 2012 | thef3t.com from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.

Visit the expo before the show:  Live music and a fly casting course will be sponsored by Southern Culture on the Fly.  WNC’s own Sylvan Sport, recently featured in Outside Magazine will have one of their GO tents on display.  Support and learn more about Land O’ Sky TU!  Come meet Cameron Mortenson from the famed blog, The Fiberglass Manifesto.  Food will be available from Asheville’s own the Lowdown Food Truck.

Trout Unlimited will be selling raffle tickets for a 45 Tundra Yeti Cooler (a $299 value)!  Visit the TU table for more information.

TONS OF Give-A-Ways to give out from Sage, Korkers, Leland Outfitters, Nomad Nets, William Joseph, Goat Head Gear & Costa Del Mar  just to name a few.

The film will start promptly at 7:30 pm.  Discounted tickets are available at Hunter Banks Co. and Highland Brewing Co. and online for $10, $15 at the door.

Buy Tickets Here

Well, just as Ian Rutter predicted the Quill Gordons have begun to hatch early in the Smokies. Here’s a shot Ian posted recently on his blog at www.randrflyfishing.com . With the mayflies hatching the fish are beginning to take dry flies on the surface–spring’s a coming!

The region’s best tiers including guides, shop owners and commercial tiers will put their noses to the vise for eight hours to see how many flies they can produce in the name of Project Healing Waters, a non-profit dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of wounded veterans through fly fishing and fly tying. Attendees can watch the tiers work their magic, visit with veterans, win hourly door prizes from sponsors, and enjoy food and drink available by donation including fine craft beer provided by Green Man Brewery (after 12noon).

Advanced $10 tickets are available at Hunter Banks Co., 29 Montford Ave., Asheville

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The Tie-One-On-Athon event has been organized and is sponsored by Southern Culture On The Fly, Hunter Banks, and The Fiberglass Manifesto.

Knowing which insects are likely to be hatching on a stream is an important part of planning any fishing trip. We recently came across a hatch chart prepared a number of years ago for the LOS chapter by ex-member Troy Alexander and we have added it to the website in the “Fishing” section. This chart will not only tell you which insects are likely to be hatching in a given month, it also suggests common flies that can be used to match the hatch. One thing I discovered is that I need to tie up a lot more #18 Adams! So next time you’re planning a trip don’t forget to check the chart. Go directly to the hatch chart by clicking here.

It was great to have the guides from Curtis Wright talk about fishing our local streams at the January meeting. The mild winter we’ve enjoyed this year gives the trout in our mountain streams more opportunity and desire to feed and fish activity has been high. Curtis Wright provides regular stream reports from their guides on their website. If you’re interested in how the fish have been feeding and what flies are working this is a great resource. Visit the streams reports page by clicking here.

March 01/2012: Laurels, Westfork Pigeon, Spring Creek
02/2012: Eastfork, Green, Little River
05/2012: Jacob, Nantahala, North Mills (Monday)
06/2012: Tuckasegee
April 02/2012: Laurels, Little River, Jacob
03/2012: Nantahala, Eastfork, Spring Creek
04/2012: Westfork Pigeon, Green, North Mills (Wednesday)
05/2012: Tuckasegee
09/2012: Tuckasegee
May 01/2012: Laurels, Spring Creek, Little River
02/2012: Tuckasegee, Jacob
03/2012: Tuckasegee, Nantahala, Westfork Pigeon
04/2012: North Mills, Eastfork, Green( Friday)