Overmountain Chapter Trout Unlimited
Did you know?
The Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited (OMTU) isn’t just a fishing club—we’re a cold water conservation group. Sure, many of us love chasing trout with a fly rod, but our real passion is protecting and preserving the cold water streams that make those moments possible.
Our mission is simple but important: To conserve, protect, and restore cold water fisheries in the Watauga, South Holston, and Nolichucky watersheds in Northeast Tennessee.
We’re always looking for passionate volunteers to join us—whether that’s helping out in the field, supporting local outreach, or just spreading the word in your community. Every little bit helps.
Can’t volunteer? No problem. Consider supporting our efforts with a donation. Your contribution helps us continue important work to keep these rivers healthy and thriving for generations to come.
Get involved. Make a difference. Protect what matters.
Our Next Chapter Meeting
Matt Champion - South Holston River Fly Shop
We are excited to welcome Matt Champion, Owner & Head Guide of the South Holston River Fly Shop, as the speaker for our October meeting.
Matt grew up fishing the South Holston River with his father and has been an avid sportsman for as long as he can remember. With over 20 years of guiding experience in this region, Matt has spent his life on the water and in the field. His ability to work with anglers of all skill levels makes him the shop’s most requested guide—and we’re fortunate to have him share his knowledge with us.
We’ll be meeting at the Golden Corral in Johnson City. Social time begins at 6:00 PM, and the presentation will start at 7:00 PM.
We hope to see you there!
📅 Tuesday, October 21
⏰6:00 PM
📍Golden Corral Buffet & Grill (3104 Browns Mill Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604)
Todd Burleson Memorial Cleanup
Come out and join us as our chapter volunteers team up with the residents of the Roan Mountain area to clean up the Doe River and it's tributaries. Everyone is invited to help out with this effort.
Bottled water, gloves and garbage bags will be provided. The Burleson Family will be providing breakfast and lunch for all of the participants and we will be giving away some prizes. We hope to see you there!
📅 Saturday, September 27
⏰Meeting time: 8:30AM
📍Roan Mountain Community Park (146 Carter St, Roan Mountain, TN 37601)
Boat Ramp Cleanup
Come out and make a difference in our community by helping us clean up our beautiful local rivers. We’ll be teaming up with local fishing guides, conservation groups, and community members to pick up trash and debris at key access points along the South Holston and Watauga Rivers. This is a great chance to give back to the waters we all love, meet like-minded folks, and enjoy a rewarding day outdoors.
Event Details:
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📅 Date: Saturday, October 11
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⏰ Meeting Time: 8:00 AM
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📍 Meeting Location: Hardee's parking lot in Piney Flats (5680 Hwy 11 E, Piney Flats, TN 37686)
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🧤 Supplies: We’ll provide garbage bags and gloves—just bring yourself, a water bottle, and a positive attitude!
Perks for Volunteers:
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☕ Free Breakfast: Start your day right with breakfast provided for all participants.
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🎉 After-Cleanup Celebration: At 4:00 PM, we’ll wrap up with a fun gathering at Appalachian Sun Brewery (221 S Sycamore St, Elizabethton, TN). Enjoy food, prizes, and a chance to relax and celebrate the hard work we’ve done together.
This event is about more than just cleaning up trash—it’s about protecting the rivers that bring so much joy to our community, from fishing and paddling to simply enjoying their natural beauty. Whether you’re a seasoned angler, a student, or a family looking for a meaningful way to spend the day, your help will make a big difference.
We hope to see you there with friends, family, or anyone who shares a love for our rivers!
Book Signing / Pint Night
Join folks from OMTU and the TN BHA Chapter at South Fork Taphouse on October 9th starting at 6:30!
Let’s get together, have a beer and meet author Neil Norman as he talks about his new book Tightlines and Tall Tales: Stories of Southern Appalachian Fly Fishing. Neil was born and raised in Boone NC and has recently moved over the mountain to Tennessee. His book is about his experiences starting at the age of 8, fishing the streams of our Southern Appalachian mountains. Neil has also included 45 of his fly recipes in his book!
This will be a laid-back evening of storytelling, fly fishing talk, and a book signing with Neil—plus maybe a pint or two of local beer. Come swap fish tales and pick up a signed copy of the book!
📅 Thursday, October 9
⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 South Fork Tap House (4189 Bluff City Hwy, Bluff City, TN 37618)
Fly Tying Social
OMTU is hosting a fly-tying social at Mulligan's Irish Pub. Come with your fly tying gear and materials or borrow ours. Learn a new fly from the experts or just come hang out over a beer.
📅 Thursday, October 2
⏰6PM - 9PM
📍Mulligan's Irish Pub (308 E Main St, Johnson City, TN 37601)
📅 Thursday, December 4
⏰6PM - 9PM
📍Mulligan's Irish Pub (308 E Main St, Johnson City, TN 37601)
Smoky Mountains Fishing Fall Day Trip
Fishing in the Cataloochee Valley watershed is one of the Smokies’ hidden gems. These streams hold everything from trophy browns to plentiful rainbows—and even brook trout. Few other places in the park give you such a great shot at a “Grand Slam” (catching all three species) without much hiking.
Anglers can fish the larger, more accessible waters running right through the campground, or take short hikes (1–3 miles) to reach quieter, more remote streams. All skill levels are welcome, and beginners will have plenty of support if they’d like to learn the art of fishing small mountain streams.
The fishing is usually excellent, but even if the trout don’t cooperate, the scenery alone makes the trip worthwhile—elk often roam the open fields above the creek.
Recommended Gear
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Rods: A 7'6" 3 wt is great for the smaller waters, while a 10' 5 wt works well for tight-line nymphing on Cataloochee Creek. An 8'–9' 4 or 5 wt will cover most situations.
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Wading: In October, wet wading is often possible, but a cold front could make waders a smart backup.
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Flies: October often brings lower water, making dry-fly fishing productive. If rain hits, expect the nymphing and streamer bite to pick up.
Need gear? No problem. Just let us know in your RSVP at least 7 days before the trip, and we can provide boots, waders, rods, or flies.
Trip Logistics
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📅 Date: Saturday, October 18
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⏰ Meeting Time: 5:30 AM
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📍 Carpool: Meet at Unicoi Walmart (110 Rocky Bottom Dr, Unicoi, TN 37692). We’ll depart at 5:30 AM.
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Fishing: Arrive at Cataloochee Campground (Cataloochee Entrance Rd, Waynesville, NC 28785) around 8:00 AM. We’ll partner up and fish until about 5:00 PM—or until we’ve had our fill.
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What to Bring:
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Food & water
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Cash for gas (or be willing to drive)
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Fishing gear (or request gear in advance)
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TN or NC fishing license (required to fish inside GSMNP)
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Please RSVP here with you name and cell phone number:
👉 https://tu.myeventscenter.com/.../Omtu-Smokemont-Camp-Out...
OMTU Smokemont Camp Out
Register here to share your contact info:
👉 https://tu.myeventscenter.com/.../Omtu-Smokemont-Camp-Out...
📅 Trip Dates: Wednesday, October 29 – Sunday, November 2
Can’t make the whole trip? No worries—come for a night, two nights, or even just for the day!
We’re excited to host another Smoky Mountains trip, this time based out of Smokemont Campground near Cherokee, NC. The campground offers both tent and RV/camper sites, but reservations are first-come, first-served (OMTU will not be reserving sites). Trip leader Evan will be at site D31, located near the Bradley Fork trailhead. Expect crisp fall weather—most of the autumn leaves (and leaf-peeping crowds) will be gone by late October.
🎣 Fishing
This is one of the best times of year to chase all three trout species within just a couple miles of camp. Bradley Fork, which runs right through the campground, is one of the rare streams in the Smokies where anglers can achieve a grand slam. Expect dry-fly action in low water, but streamer fishing really comes alive this time of year.
🛠 Recommended Gear
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Small streams: 7'6" 3 wt (upper Bradley Fork, smaller tributaries)
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Tight-line nymphing big water: Up to a 10' 5 wt (Oconaluftee River)
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All-around setups: 8'–9' 3, 4, or 5 wt rods
Need gear? Just let us know in advance—we can provide boots, waders, rods, or flies.
📍 Logistics
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Make campsite reservations directly through Recreation.gov.
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Bring your own food, water, and fishing gear (unless arranged ahead of time).
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A valid TN or NC fishing license is required to fish inside GSMNP.
Hampton Creek Grant
We are excited to share that we have been awarded a $25,000 grant to repair the Brook Trout barrier on the Left Prong of Hampton Creek. Our gratitude goes to the FishAmerica Foundation and The Brunswick Foundation for funding this important project. We also extend our thanks to the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) for their assistance in securing the grant. Construction is scheduled to begin in May or June 2025.
2025 Tailwater Roundup
What a day! 138 volunteers came together to restore the Watauga and South Holston rivers, with over 110 on the Watauga, alone. This has been our largest clean-up EVER! Several large dumpsters of trash were filled with trash, tires, and other debris at several locations along the rivers.
While significant improvements were made, there is still much to do after the unprecedented damage caused by Helene. Expect to see other clean-up opportunities in the future.
After the clean-up, volunteers met for BBQ and beer at Appalachian Sun Brewery LLC, where lots of folks walked away with sweet gear and guided trips generously donated by local businesses. Organizations providing volunteers included Overmountain Chapter Trout Unlimited, Blue Ridge Guide Association, Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts, East Tennessee State University, and several local outfitters.
THANK YOU to all of our fantastic volunteers and our sponsors!
OMTU Story
Here is a video that was made by OMTU members back in 1999. It tells about the mission of OMTU and some of the past projects that we have worked on as a chapter. The narrator of the video, Paul Anderson, recently passed away so we decided to post this video in his honor. The projects that we have worked on over the years may have changed, but the mission remains the same.
