5 River Fishing Challenge Update
At our last gathering, MCTU announced an exciting new program, the 5 River Fishing Challenge. This program is designed to get more anglers out fishing more waters in the Middle Tennessee Area by offering a free T-Shirt to anyone who registers and catches a fish on each of these rivers: Caney, Duck, Elk, Harpeth, Stones. We believe that people that use with our water resources will be more engaged in protecting them.
The 5 River Fishing Challenge is off to a roaring start with over 60 people registered and several catches have been reported. Congratulations to Mike, Bradley, and Jim for being the first to report a catch. The first two catches were reported on the Elk.
If you haven't accepted the 5 River Fishing Challenge yet, click on the link below and jump in! It promises to be a fun challenge and you don't want to miss out. Register today!
https://us.list-manage.com/ZBxbWoMQjJU?e=edb40ebd64&c2id=f70be21892fedf877f945791d3516c87
Boro II Meetup
MCTU and Fly Fishing Guide and Podcast Host David Perry are teaming up for another Fly Fishing Meet-Up in Murfreesboro. The Meet-Up will be on October 1 at the Tailgate Brewery (210 Stones River Mall Blvd.). MCTU will provide free pizza and attendees will be responsible for their own drinks. There is no charge to attend and you do not need to be a Trout Unlimited member. Donations are appreciated, of course. Learn more and register at the link below.
https://us.list-manage.com/4CRoISNPVRM?e=edb40ebd64&c2id=f70be21892fedf877f945791d3516c87
MCTU and Harpeth Conservancy Holding Fishing On the Harpeth on Saturday September 12
MCTU and the Harpeth Conservancy are partnering to hold a Fishing on the Harpeth event on Saturday September 12 from 10 am to 12 Noon at Harpeth River State Park, 1672 Cedar Hill Road
in Kingston Springs. This is a great opportunity to get started on the 5 River Fishing Challenge and fish with great people.
While this is not a Fly Fishing 101 course, we will have some fly rods and flies available if you don't have one of your own. If you have never fished the Harpeth, have taken a Fly Fishing 101 course but haven't been able to get on the water yet, love to fish for trout but have little or no experience fishing for smallmouth or bluegill, or just want to spend some time on the water and meet some great people then this is the event for you!
Mark your calendars now! Registration will be available soon.
https://us.list-manage.com/qBXtgCiFHrI?e=edb40ebd64&c2id=f70be21892fedf877f945791d3516c87
MCTU August Gathering (Smokey Mountain)
Reasons to Attend MCTU's Smoky Mountain Gathering:
It is an opportunity to hear from two well-known, highly respected Fly Fishing Guides and Authors: Charity and Ian Rutter.
It will include a drawing! Everyone who registers will get a free ticket and additional tickets will be available for purchase. Must be present to win. More details below.
Andrew Smalling will be demonstrating how to tie some of his favorite Smokey Mountain flies.
There will be an opportunity to purchase MCTU-branded insulated tumblers and hats.
MCTU will be announcing a fun, exciting program designed to get anglers our on different Middle Tennessee waters.
You can pre-order MCTU's Fish Camp Coffee when you register for the meeting. Orders for Fish Camp coffee must be ordered by August 13 to be delivered at the meeting.
Due to the popularity of this Gathering, registrations are limited to the first 60 people. The spaces are filling fast. Be sure to register today!
Here's the agenda:
5:30-6:30: Angler Networking and Fly Tying Demonstration
6:30-7:00: Chapter Update
7:00-8:00: Guest Speakers Charity and Ian Rutter
8:00: Drawing for Prizes
MCTU Inaugural Casting Contest and Spring Picnic
Mission Shelter in Shelby Park in Nashville
We will grill some hot dogs, have some kids activities, and hold a casting contest. Come out, bring the family, enjoy some great company, and try your hand at our casting contest. MCTU will provide the rods for the casting contest, so all you need to do is come on out!
Click link below to register for the event:
John Thurman Trout Adventure Camp
The John Thurman Trout Adventure Camp (formerly Great Smoky Mountains Trout Adventure Camp) is sponsored by the Tennessee Trout Unlimited Council and is open to Boys and Girls aged 12-16. The camp will run June 15-20 and applications are now open. Applicants should have an interest in fishing, science and the outdoors. Initial camper selection will be made the first two weeks of March 2026. Applications must be made by March 1 to be considered. Additional applications will be accepted until May 15. Learn more at the link below.
CYMI: Trout Camp Volunteer Opportunities
Trout Unlimited's John Thurman Trout Adventure Camp is run by volunteers. The camp runs runs from Jun 15-20. If you are interested in volunteering, some of the opportunities are listed below and you can sign up using the link at the end of this article.
🎣 Tuesday, 6/16
- 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Fly Casting… Help teach campers the basics of fly casting in a group setting at the Tremont Center
- 1:00PM - 5:30PM Reading the Water (on stream mentoring)… join the campers on the water and give advice as they practice casting, reading water, wading, (and fish handling, if the trout are feeling cooperative!).-
-7:00PM - 9:00PM Fly Tying..Spend the evening helping the campers learn how to tie their own flies during classroom fly tying instruction.
🎣 Wednesday, 6/17 | 12:00pm – 7:00 PM On Water Mentoring (Norton Creek - Private Waters)
Campers will continue to work on their streamside fishing skills and will pair up with volunteers (you!) for a full day of one-on-one mentoring on this beautiful stretch of private trout water. Expect some big fish and excited kids!
🎣 Thursday, 6/18 | 7:00 - 9:00 PM Fly Tying
Spend the evening helping the campers learn how to tie their own flies during classroom fly tying instruction.
🎣 Friday, 6/19 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM On Water Mentoring (In the National Park)
You will spend the whole day with a team of campers covering a lot of water, and ground, fishing the streams and rivers of the park. If you have some secret spots in the park this is the time to share them with the campers!
All-Week Overnight Counselors (Monday PM – Saturday AM)
As an overnight counselor, you will see to it that the campers have fun (and get some rest) during the evening/night hours. Volunteers team up with a Junior Counselor and stay with their camper group in Baker tents at the Tremont Center. You are welcome to join in on the activities during the day or do your own thing while the campers are attending the programs. The tents are on platforms and are equipped with bunk beds. This is a great way to connect with the next generation of TU members and share your fishing knowledge.
MTCU and Southeastern Fly Team Up to Host 'Boro Fly Fishing Meetup
Music City Trout Unlimited and Southeastern fly are teaming up to host a 'Boro Fly Fishing Meetup on June 11 from 7-9 pm at the Tailgate Brewery at 210 Stones River Mall Blvd in Murfreesboro. MCTU will provide some pizza and participants will provide their own drinks. This will be an informal event and will be a great way to meet other anglers and swap some fishing stories. Click below to register and come out an join us on June 11!
Click link below to register for the event:
Fly South Spring Casting Clinic May 9
Fly South has scheduled a casting clinic on May 9 from 9 am - 12 noon. The clinic will be led by Steve Nix (Fly Fishing International Certified Instructor). Learn more and sign up at the link below.
May 3 9-12: Youth Education Day MCTU will hold a Youth Education Day
MCTU will hold a Youth Education Day on the Elk River.
Trout Tour - Film Night
Join us in store for a fun, laid‑back evening celebrating fly fishing, great storytelling, and our local angling community.
Orvis Nashville
2122 Hillsboro Drive, Nashville, TN 37215
We’re hosting a Fly Fusion Trout Tour Film Night, featuring beautiful short films that capture what we all love about chasing trout—along with drinks, giveaways, and exclusive event‑night savings.
4–6 PM | Happy Hour
Grab a drink, talk fishing, and connect with fellow anglers.
6 PM | Film Starts
Enjoy Fly Fusion’s Trout Tour film, with gear giveaways during intermission.
Wrap‑up around 7:30 PM.
Harpeth River Tree Planting
Help Trout Unlimited and our partners at Tractor Supply Company plant 350 native trees along this stretch of water at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm. We'll have all the trees and tools ready to go at 9 a.m.
MCTU Fill your Net to the Limit Challenge
The idea is to challenge our members to fill their net with trash while they are out fishing, or anywhere they are enjoying the outdoors. We ask them, once they have collected the trash, estimated the weight, take a picture, then they email the chapter musiccitytu@gmail.com with the info. We add up the totals and publish those in Fly Lines.
For more details: https://tu.myeventscenter.com/event/123469
Annual meeting for Music City TU March 19, 2026.
MCTU Seeking Leadership Volunteers
At that meeting we will be electing a board to serve the chapter for 2026-2027. We have several open positions on the board including President, and two Board of Directors seats, there may be others also. The Nominating Committee will begin work soon recruiting volunteers for these positions. If you are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee, being considered for the board, or know someone who might be interested, email your interest/info to musiccitytu@gmail.com . In the Subject line please note: "MCTU Board Info".
Trout Unlimited Cold Water Summit January 31
Farragut Community Center 239 Jamestowne Blvd, Farragut, TN
All Tennessee TU Members are invited to attend. The event runs from 9:30 am to 5 pm and light breakfast and lunch will be provided. The final agenda is due soon. You can register at the link below. Registration is requested by January 23 to ensure the organizers can order enough food.
Reminder: Stand Up for Clean Water
The EPA and US Army Corps of Engineers have proposed a rule that would dramatically restrict which bodies of water are covered by the Clean Water Act. Their proposal would strip federal clean water act protection from millions of stream miles across the country. These streams not only supply drinking water for 117 million people they provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife.
The opportunity for public comment is open and will run through Monday January 5. The link below will take you to a Trout Unlimited page where you can learn more about the proposed rule and easily share your comments with Congress. It only takes a few minutes, so act now!
11 / 20 / 2025 Meeting
MCTU Fall Gathering: This will be another in a series of Fly-Fishing informational meetings. "The State of Fly Fishing in Middle Tennessee". Our speaker will be David Perry a middle Tennessee guide and Podcaster on Southeastern Fly. David's topic will be The State of Fly Fishing in Middle Tennessee. He will cover the ins and outs of our local rivers, seasonal opportunities, floating vs wading, and what fly fishing is all about in Middle Tennessee. This is a BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair) gathering.
Silent Auction: A new exciting opportunity for all in attendance. We will have our inaugural silent auction at the event. We will a good assortment of items to bid on. Plan on supporting MCTU's conservation efforts, education programing, and keeping our blue lines blue by bidding on the auction.
Schedule for the evening: 5:30-6:30 social time, meet a new fishing buddy, silent auction open, and food/beverages. 6:30-7:00 update on the Chapter, 7:00-8:00 The State of fly fishing in middle Tennessee with David Perry, 8:00-8:30 last chance for the Silent Auction, 8:45 Silent Auction closes.
Tennessee Council for Trout Unlimited Zoom Meeting Scheduled
The Tennessee Council for Trout Unlimited has scheduled a Zoom meeting on October 25. The Council gets the bulk of the money from the sale of the TU Brook Trout license plates and allocates those funds through a grant process. Their funds were used for the recent MCTU monitor on the Caney.
A detailed agenda will be shared with participants soon, but key topics will include updates on the following topics:
Fiscal year budget
John Thurman Trout Adventure Camp
Trout in the Classroom
Chapter initiatives across the region
National Leadership Council update
Conservation Grant Program
Jeff Wright, Southern Appalachians Project Manager for Trout Unlimited, will also update us on TU’s regional and national conservation projects.
Register for the Tennessee Council of TU meeting using the button below.
Fundraiser Auction Supporting Music City Trout Unlimited
Visit the Auction site - click here
Bid on auction items. Please note: we are starting to add items to the auction site, so, feel free to look around.
Earth Day Cleanup - Pinkerton Park
Music City Trout Unlimited will be partnering with the Vanderbilt Fly Fishing Club and hosting a river cleanup for the Harpeth River at Pinkerton Park on Earth Day 4/22. Please see the link for more details.
https://tu.myeventscenter.com/event/Harpeth-River-Cleanup-Family-Friendly-Earth-Day-75588?redir=1
Date: Saturday April 22nd
Location: Pinkerton Park
405 Murfreesboro Rd, Franklin, TN 37064
Time: 8:00 AM -11:30 AM
If you are interested in helping out with the cleanup please send an email of interest to musiccitytu@gmail.com. Also, to find us in the park we will have a TU banner on the back of one of our cars.
IF4 - International Fly Fishing Film Festival
Fly South is hosting and we are partnering as a sponsor for the 2023 International Fly Fishing Film Festival tour. The event will be held at:
Pennington Distilling Co.
900 44th Avenue North
Nashville, TN, 37209
Doors open at 5:30PM and the show starts at 7:00PM.
Tickets can be purchased at Fly South, or online at https://www.showclix.com/event/if42023nashvilletn
If you’d like to learn more about the event and check out the previews of the films, you can get more info at https://www.flyfilmfest.com/
We hope to see you there!
Tree Planting at Harlinsdale Farm - Franklin, TN
Chris Wood, CEO of Trout Unlimited will be in town to host a tree planting as a part of our partnership with Tractor Supply at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, TN on Tuesday, April 18 at 9:30am.
We encourage any of our members who are able to attend to show up and help remove invasive species and plant some trees. There will be a lunch provided and some fly casting lessons.
Best of all - it’s free!
For more information about the even, please visit https://tu.myeventscenter.com/event/Harpeth-River-Tree-Planting-Celebrate-Earth-Week-75590?redir=1https://tu.myeventscenter.com/event/Harpeth-River-Tree-Planting-Celebrate-Earth-Week-75590?redir=1
2020 Winter Quarterly Meeting
Fly South
February 25th, 2020
5:30 PM - Hattie B’s Hot Chicken Provided
6:00 - Presentation from TWRA’s Travis Scott on Caney Fork Temperature Monitoring Results