There’s nothing better than watching new anglers light up with excitement on the water — and that’s exactly what we got to be part of in the Great Smoky Mountains this September.
Thanks to the National Park Trust, we had the privilege of helping host 14 enthusiastic Georgia State University students and staff for a weekend of camping and fly fishing on Deep Creek near Bryson City, NC. The event was part of a grant program designed to introduce more people to the outdoors through the art (and joy!) of fishing.
A huge shoutout goes to Annaliese Wan, Programs Coordinator with the National Park Trust, who made this adventure happen. On our end, Parker Andes and Kip Pritchard coordinated the Land O’ Sky Trout Unlimited crew. Come game day, we had six chapter members on the ground — Parker, Jamey and Stephanie Grant, Michelle Aguilar, Kristi Haynie, and Simone Lipscomb — plus two fresh faces from the new UNCA Fly Fishing Club, Mason Grant and Drew Tashner.
The weather kept us on our toes. We managed to get the first group of students and staff geared up and into the water, where they enjoyed plenty of “long-distance releases” along with a few trout successfully brought to hand. Safe to say, the fly fishing bug bit hard — and they were hooked.
Mother Nature, however, had other plans. Right around lunch, lightning rolled in and we had to pull rods and make a dash for shelter. That just means one thing: we’ve got unfinished business. We’ll be working on teaming up with Annaliese and Georgia State again soon to get the rest of the crew back out on the water.
For now, here are a few snapshots from a day that blended education, conservation, and a whole lot of fun.
Want to get involved? Join us at Land O’ Sky Trout Unlimited — whether it’s helping at events like this, volunteering on conservation projects, or just sharing your love of fishing, there’s a place for you in our community. Check out our upcoming events HERE, and let’s keep building the next generation of stewards for our rivers and streams.
