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
Annual Business Meeting
It is that time of year for our Annual Business Meeting. We will be reviewing what we accomplished in 2025 and discuss our plans for 2026. We will also be electing board members. This year we have five (5) directors that are at the end of their term. Jeff Mann will be stepping down from the Board of Directors. We appreciate all that Jeff had done over the past 3 years, he will be missed. Rhett Morris, Sam Henry, Michael Fick, and Nichole Fick are up for re-election for another term. If anyone else is interested in becoming a board member, please contact Rhett Morris.
2026 Board of Director Candidates
Rhett Morris - Rhett has been a board member since 2020, he is currently the OMTU President
Sam Henry - Sam has been a board member since 2020, he is currently the OMTU Vice President
Michael Fick - Michael has been a board member since 2023, he is currently the OMTU Trout in the Classroom Coordinator
Nichole Fick - Nichole has been a board member since 2023, she is currently the OMTU Women's Initiative Coordinator
Dinner will begin at 6:00PM. The Annual Meeting will begin at 7:00PM
We hope to see you there!
📅 Tuesday, January 20
⏰6:00 PM
📍Golden Corral Buffet & Grill (3104 Browns Mill Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604)
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.
When: Meet at 9:00 AM
Dates:
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Saturday, December 6
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Saturday, January 3
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Saturday, February 7
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Saturday, March 7
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Saturday, April 4
Where: Meet at 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!
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, December 4
⏰6PM - 9PM
📍Mulligan's Irish Pub (308 E Main St, Johnson City, TN 37601)
Stream Level / Temperature Monitors
OMTU is installing water temperature and level monitors on three of our local wild trout streams—Laurel Fork, Doe Creek, and Beaverdam Creek. Installation has been completed on Laurel Fork and Doe Creek, with Beaverdam Creek scheduled for installation in the next few weeks.
Data from these monitors can be viewed on our website at https://www.omtu.org/water-temperatures. This information can help determine when stream conditions are safe for fishing. Over time, the historical data collected will also allow us to identify trends and better understand trout population fluctuations from year to year.
Funding for this project was made possible through generous support from the Tennessee Tri Fly Tournament, whose members contribute $3,000 each year toward conservation efforts in our area. Additional support came from the Trout Unlimited Conservation Grant Program, which is funded through the sale of Brook Trout license plates in Tennessee.
Hampton Creek Fencing Project
We had an excellent turnout on Saturday, November 8, 2025, for our Hampton Creek work day, with nine volunteers showing up to help remove an old section of fencing. This pre-work was an important step to make room for new fencing that will be installed over the next few weeks.
Thanks to a $25,000 grant from FishAmerica, we’ll be able to install additional fencing to keep cattle out of the stream—helping reduce erosion and sedimentation and protect water quality at Hampton Creek. The fencing project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
A big thank you to everyone who volunteered and supported this effort!
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.
