Trout Unlimited Hiwassee Chapter 640

08/25/2026

SORRY FOR THE LATE ANNOUNCEMENT... BUT WE'VE GOT A PLAN!
Ever wondered what Trout Unlimited actually does besides talk about trout, stare at water, and use phrases like “the habitat looks promising”? 🤔
Well, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE!
Join us Saturday morning, August 29, 2026, for a Trout Unlimited Stream Survey! Come see firsthand how we get into the weeds—sometimes literally—to study our streams, collect data, inspect habitat, and generally look very official while standing in waders.
THE WEEKEND PLAN:
FRIDAY:
Roll into McNabb Group Camp in the Cherokee National Forest
Set up camp
Pretend you remembered everything you were supposed to pack
Camping is available Friday through Sunday
Dinner prepared by the WORLD-FAMOUS Arlen & Dawn Meline, with assistance from their highly trained, slightly overworked minions
And yes... there will be plenty of opportunities to chase some wild and native trout!
SATURDAY MORNING:
STREAM SURVEY TIME!
Get out in the water and see what Trout Unlimited conservation work looks like up close. If you've ever said, “I'd like to see what TU really does,” this is your golden ticket!
AFTER THE SURVEY:
GO FISH!
There will be ample opportunities throughout the weekend to catch wild and native trout, because it would be pretty rude to spend an entire weekend surrounded by trout streams and not at least try to bend a rod.
SATURDAY NIGHT:
More camping
Another delicious meal prepared by the legendary culinary duo Arlen & Dawn Meline, once again assisted by whichever minions haven't escaped into the woods.
SUNDAY:
Wake up
Maybe catch "just one more trout"
Break camp... eventually
Wonder why you didn't bring a better camping pillow
Head home with new friends, muddy boots, and the satisfaction of knowing you actually helped with something important!
Whether you're a longtime TU member, curious about conservation, or just heard the words “camping, delicious food, and wild trout,” we'd love to have you!
PLEASE RSVP AT THE LINK BELOW:
RSVP here
Come see what Trout Unlimited is all about—because healthy streams don't survey themselves... and Arlen and Dawn need someone besides the minions to feed!

Send a message to learn more

07/13/2026

06/26/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of one of the cherished members from the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

The rivers have a way of bringing people together, and through a shared love of cold, clear water and wild trout, we became more than fellow anglers—we became friends and family. Our chapter is stronger because of the time, kindness, and passion they shared with all of us.

While there is sadness in saying goodbye, there is also gratitude for the memories made along the streambanks, the laughter around campfires, the stories told between casts, and the lasting impact they had on our conservation community.

As we continue the work of protecting and restoring the waters they loved, we will carry their spirit with us every time we step into a river. Their legacy will live on in the friendships they built, the lives they touched, and the fish that will continue to thrive because they cared.

Please keep their family, friends, and fellow chapter members in your thoughts during this difficult time.

May the waters forever run clear, and may your final cast find peaceful waters.

Joyce Frey was a fireball of energy, an incredible angler, and a very good friend to so many people, myself included. Her life was taken away yesterday by a hit and run driver while she was on her morning bike ride.

Joyce was passionate about Trout in the Classroom, teaching people what fly fishing was and what it meant for inner peace, the environment, and conservation.

She never stopped. She was always learning, figuring out how to do something, creating. She knew who she was and what she wanted out of life.

Joyce made this world a little kinder, a little more beautiful, and a little more connected to the rivers she loved.

Love and tight lines forever, from Kim and your Little River TU family.

05/25/2026

Just a heads-up for anyone wanting to learn the fine art of waving a stick around in a river while pretending you totally know what you’re doing…
Our Fly-Fishing 101 class on June 13th will be held in beautiful Tellico Plains during the legendary Tellico Trout Festival!
That means you can learn the basics of fly-fishing and enjoy a festival full of trout talk, fishing stories, questionable casting demonstrations, and at least one person insisting they “almost caught a 20-incher.”
Whether you’re brand new to fly-fishing or just looking to improve your cast beyond “aggressively untangling yarn,” this class is for you.
Come for the education.
Stay for the trout festival chaos.
Leave with new skills and probably a sudden urge to buy more fly gear.

We will do the first portion of 101 at 9 am and then casting starting at 10 am. Everyone will need to meet at our festival location which will have the Trout Unlimited Trailer.

05/06/2026

ATTENTION, LADIES OF THE FLY-FISHING UNIVERSE
There is officially ONLY ONE TICKET LEFT for the 2026 Women’s Fly-Fishing Retreat… and honestly, it’s starting to feel a lot like Charlie searching for the last Golden Ticket in W***y Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Somewhere out there, one lucky woman is about to dramatically open her email, scream loud enough to scare trout out of the Smokies, and claim her spot in fly-fishing paradise.
Meanwhile, the rest of y’all are refreshing the registration page like: “I swear if Brenda from Knoxville gets the last spot before me, I’m gonna lose it.” 😂

Who will it be? The woman who accidentally buys it while pretending “just to look?” The one hiding in the work bathroom registering in secret? The midnight panic-buyer fueled by coffee and trout dreams?
ONE. TICKET. REMAINS.
Cue the dramatic music.

05/06/2026

Ever wanted an excuse to say “I tied one on” and have it mean fly fishing instead of bad decisions? Well… here it is.
The Tie One On Fly-Fishing Tournament in beautiful Cherokee is calling your name—and your best flies. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or still figuring out which end of the rod does the work, this is your chance to fish, laugh, and maybe even outfish your buddies (bragging rights included, obviously).
Even better? It’s all for an incredible cause—supporting Casting Carolinas and the amazing work they do introducing people to the healing power of the water.
So grab your gear, your lucky fly, and that friend who swears they “almost had a big one”… and get signed up before the fish hear about it and start practicing their evasive maneuvers.
👉 Come tie one on. Catch a few. Do some good.

Registration is Now Open!

We’re excited to announce that registration is officially open for our
11th Annual Fly Fishing Tournament!

🗓 October 24 & 25, 2026

Cash Prizes, Food, & Fun (& Fishing!)

More details are coming soon, but you can sign up now if you’d like to be part of this year’s tournament.

💙 Stay tuned for additional updates

https://castingcarolinas.com/tournament/

05/02/2026

F3T IS HERE, BABY!

The legendary Fly Fishing Film Tour is making a splash at the Tellico Trout Festival—and you’re invited to the most fin-tastic night of the weekend!

Location: The Blue Possum
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM

Get ready for an evening packed with jaw-dropping fly-fishing films, wild adventures, big laughs, and enough fish tales to make even your “one that got away” story sound believable. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just here for the vibes, this is THE can’t-miss event of the festival.

Tickets:

Available in-person at Tellico Outfitters
Or grab them online here: https://flyfilmtour.myeventscenter.com/event/Tellico-Trout-Festival-Tellico-Outfitters-And-124153

Expect:

A curated lineup of the best fly-fishing films from around the world
Raffles, giveaways, and prizes (because who doesn’t like free stuff?)
A room full of people who think talking about bugs and fish is a perfectly normal Friday night

So grab your fishing buddies, your non-fishing buddies, and even that one friend who thinks a fly rod is for swatting mosquitoes—this night will convert them.

Seats will fill up faster than a trout on a dry fly hatch, so don’t wait!

2026 Fly Fishing Film Tour - Fri, Jun 12, 2026 - Tellico Plains, TN - Get tickets online

05/01/2026

BREAKING NEWS: TROUT EVERYWHERE ARE NERVOUS

The 2026 Fall Women’s Fly-Fishing Retreat is coming in HOT (and slightly tangled) to Whittier, North Carolina… and let’s just say the fish of the Great Smoky Mountains have been put on notice.

Picture this:
Crisp mountain air…
Leaves showing off like they’re in a Hallmark movie…
And a group of women aggressively side-eyeing their fly boxes like, “Do I need 6 flies or 600?” (Answer: yes.)

What to expect:
• Flawless casting… eventually
• At least one person hooking a tree and insisting “it moved”
• Waders that make everyone look like slightly confused astronauts
• Fish that will absolutely judge your fly choice before refusing it

Activities include:
– Fishing (obviously)
– Laughing until you can’t tie a knot
– Learning new skills
– Pretending you meant to step in that deep hole
– Making lifelong friends who will forever remember that one cast

Skill level? Doesn’t matter.
If you’ve never touched a fly rod or you casually talk about hatches like a bug scientist, you belong here.

Side effects may include:
• Sudden urge to buy more gear
• Saying “just one more cast” 47 times
• Referring to normal life as “not being on the river”

So pack your layers, your sense of humor, and your willingness to get a little muddy—because this fall, we’re heading to the mountains to fish, laugh, and maybe—just maybe—outsmart a trout (no promises).

Tag your fishing buddy, your hype squad, or that friend who thinks “dry fly” is a hair product. Let’s gooooo!

Get ready to cast lines and chill with awesome women! Ticket price shown is for the optional purchase of a fly rod combo.

04/18/2026

Fly-Fishing Film Tour Comes to Tellico!
As part of the Tellico Trout Festival, we’re bringing the big screen to the mountains with an unforgettable night of fly-fishing films!
Join us at The Blue Opossum for a screening of the Fly-Fishing Film Tour—featuring stunning cinematography, wild places, and the kind of fish stories that only get better on film.
📅 June 12th
🕖 7:00 PM (Eastern)
📍 The Blue Opossum
Sponsored by:
Appalachian Chapter of Trout Unlimited 137
Trout Unlimited Hiwassee Chapter 640
Tellico Outfitters
We’ll have prize drawings throughout the night—so come early, grab a seat, and try your luck!
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just love a good story, this is one event you won’t want to miss. See you in Tellico!
https://flyfilmtour.myeventscenter.com/event/Tellico-Trout-Festival-Tellico-Outfitters-And-124153?fbclid=IwdGRjcARQhOtjbGNrBFCE5mV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHs1xQqQ35LYLbfPl4Nt0HzFPhXo1kiA0o19pVrhQLEs84mowjCRlurH6tVpS_aem_FLCkX33mblvqHfnAXuW32g

04/18/2026

https://flyfilmtour.myeventscenter.com/event/Tellico-Trout-Festival-Tellico-Outfitters-And-124153