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.
Upcoming Events
Our Next Chapter Meeting
Laurel Fork Watershed Improvements
Mark Rine is a fisheries biologist and graduate researcher from Tennessee Tech University with a passion for restoring and protecting Appalachian freshwater systems. His research focuses on how fish respond to changes in stream flow and how science-based conservation strategies can improve aquatic ecosystem health and connectivity.
Mark will be discussing the conservation work he will be conducting in the Laurel Fork watershed over the next several years and how these efforts will benefit one of Northeast Tennessee’s most important coldwater fisheries.
We hope you’ll join us for an informative evening focused on conservation and the future of our local trout streams!
📅 Date: Tuesday, July 21
🕕 Time: 6:00PM
📍 Location: Food City (920 N State of Franklin Rd, Johnson City, TN)
Meet the Mountains Festival
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited will once again be participating in the Meet the Mountains Festival, and we need your help!
Join us at Winged Deer Park in Johnson City on August 14–15 as we share our passion for coldwater conservation, fly fishing, and community outreach with thousands of festival attendees.
We are looking for volunteers to staff the OMTU booth in 2-hour shifts throughout the event. No previous experience is required—just a willingness to engage with the public and help represent our chapter.
Volunteer Activities
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Talk with visitors about Trout Unlimited and OMTU's conservation, education, and community programs
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Demonstrate simple fly tying techniques at our fly-tying station
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Help teach basic fly-casting skills to festival attendees
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Share information about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and membership
Event Schedule
📍 Winged Deer Park, Johnson City, TN
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Friday, August 14 - 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
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Saturday, August 15 - 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Volunteers are welcome to sign up for multiple shifts if they would like to stay longer and help throughout the event.
This is a great opportunity to meet fellow anglers, introduce new people to fly fishing and conservation, and help showcase the work our chapter is doing across Northeast Tennessee.
We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at the festival! Together, we can inspire the next generation of conservationists and anglers while promoting healthy streams and thriving fisheries throughout our region.
Cellular Level / Temperature Monitors
We’re excited to share that, thanks to a generous donation from the anglers of the Tennessee Tri-Fly, Overmountain Trout Unlimited has purchased four new water level and temperature monitoring transmitters for local trout streams.
This summer, new monitoring stations will be installed on:
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North Indian Creek
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South Indian Creek
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Stony Creek
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Laurel Creek
These additions will expand our existing monitoring network, which currently includes stations on:
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Beaverdam Creek
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Doe Creek
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Laurel Fork
Collecting accurate stream temperature and water level data helps us better understand the health of our local fisheries, identify conservation priorities, and support science-based management of these important coldwater resources.
The transmitters have been ordered and are expected to arrive by the end of June. Once they arrive, chapter volunteers will begin installing the equipment throughout the summer.
We would like to extend a sincere thank you to the anglers and organizers of the Tennessee Tri-Fly for their support of trout conservation in our region. Their generosity is helping us build a stronger monitoring network and gather valuable data that will benefit our local streams for years to come.
Stay tuned for installation updates and future data from the new monitoring sites
Blue Lines Fishing Series
Discover new waters and reconnect with nature through OMTU’s Blue Lines Fishing Series. This is your chance to hike into quiet streams, cast in water no wider than your fly rod, and chase wild trout in some of the most scenic and remote parts of our region. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just starting out, these adventures offer something special.
Shady Valley
📅 Date: Saturday, June 27
🕕 Time: 8:00 AM
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Trip Details: Meet up at Shady Valley Country store in Shady Valley, TN before partnering up and carpooling to Beaverdam creek and its many tributaries that house native brook trout or fish Beaverdam proper for the potential for a grand slam (brook, brown, and rainbow).
South Indian Creek Watershed
📅 Date: Saturday, July 12
🕕 Time: 8:00 AM
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Trip Details: Meet up at the Bojangles in Erwin, TN before partnering up and carpooling to the many South Indian Creek tributaries native brook trout and wild rainbows.
Horse Creek Watershed
📅 Date: Saturday, July 25
🕕 Time: 8:00 AM
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Trip Details: Meet up at the parking area at the end of the road at Horse Creek Recreation Area where we will have access to the many streams in the Sampson Mountain Wilderness with wild rainbows and brook trout including Turkeypen Creek, Squibb Creek, and Horse Creek.
Watauga Lake Tribs
📅 Date: Sunday, August 30
🕕 Time: 8:00 AM
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Trip Details: Meet up at the parking area at Dollar General on Hwy 67 / 321 on Watauga Lake between Elizabethton and Mountain City. We will pair up and carpool to the many streams flowing into Watauga Lake including Doe Creek, Elk River, and smaller tributaries such as Little Stoney Creek.
North Indian Creek Watershed
📅 Date: Saturday, September 19
🕕 Time: 8:00 AM
📍 Town of Unicoi Visitor Center
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Trip Details: Meet up at the Town of Unicoi Visitor Center at 8 AM before partnering up and carpooling to the many sections of North Indian Creek accessible within a short drive such as Limestone Cove. There are many nearby tributaries that hold trout (including brook trout) such as Clear/Red Forks and Rock Creek.
Roan Mountain
📅 Date: Sunday, October 4
🕕 Time: 12:00 PM
📍 Roan Mountain State Park Visitor Center
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Trip Details: Meet up at the Roan Mountain State Park Visitor Center in Roan Mountain, TN at 8 AM before partnering up and carpooling to the many tributaries of the Doe that house native brook trout.
First Saturday Fishing Days
Who: Fly fishers of all ages and skill levels
What: A few hours of relaxing fishing, most likely on the Watauga River or larger streams within a 30 min drive of Elizabethton.
🗓 Date: Saturday, July 4
🕕 Time: 8:00 AM
📍 Location: O'Reilly Auto Parts (500 N Sycamore St, Elizabethton, TN 37643) and decide on which river or stream based on conditions the day of.
Please reach out to us if you are a new fly fisher, need gear, or want to learn more!
Thank You, Tailwater Roundup Volunteers & Sponsors!
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out on March 14 to support this year’s Tailwater Roundup. Because of your hard work and dedication, we had an amazing turnout of 98 volunteers who helped remove over 10,000 pounds of trash and more than 2,000 pounds of tires from the South Holston and Watauga Rivers.
The impact you made on our local waterways is huge. These rivers are special places for so many of us, and it takes a committed community like this to help protect and preserve them.
A big thank you to the Elizabethton Moose Lodge for hosting our after-party and giving everyone a place to relax and celebrate a job well done.
We also couldn’t do this without the incredible support of our sponsors.
Please help us thank and support the businesses and organizations that made this event possible:
828 Flies
AFTCO
APES
Asheville Fly Fishing Co.
Blue Mountain Fly Fishing
Blue Ridge Guide Association
Bojangles
Burger King
Carter County Solid Waste
Chetola Resort
Cortland
Douglas
Due South Outfitters
Elk Creek Outfitters
Fly Desyne / Megafin Flyfishing
Flying Soho
Hares Ear Flyfishing
Hickory Tree Grocery Store
High Country Boats
High Country Guide Service
Holston Distributing
HUK
Hunter Banks
Love Graham Vintage
Mahoney's
Northern Safety
OMTU
Orvis
Pure Fishing / Hatch / Filson
R.L. Winston Rods
Riverfeet Fly Fishing
South Holston River Company
South Holston River Fly Shop
South Holston River Lodge
Southern Drifters Outfitters
Speckled Trout
Stone Fly Co
Sullivan County Solid Waste
Tailwaters Fly Shop
Tailwaters Lodge
The Fly Box
Trophy Waters Guide Service
TVA
VA Creeper Fly Shop
Watauga River Lodge
Because of all of you, this was one of the most successful cleanups yet. We’re already looking forward to next year.
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.
