Kids Fish Free Day
11 June 2005
See photos below!

We are pretty sure some kids slept really well last night after spending their day on the Clinch River.  What a fun, relaxed day for the kids, parents, grandparents, and volunteers!  We don't think any group of kids  could have found more one-on-one personal guidance on fishing, casting, fly tying, floating down the Clinch River and learning about the science of bugs, fish and critters in the river than on our chapter's "Kids Fish Free" Day event on Saturday, June 11, 2005.

The day was held on the Tennessee statewide “Free Fishing Day” when no fishing license was required.  The Clinch River Chapter of Trout Unlimited in cooperation with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) sponsored the event between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  The activities took place at the TVA Miller Island Access on the Clinch River in Norris.  TWRA stocked fish for the event.  TVA kindly held off their generation for the hours of the event.
Volunteers were on hand to teach kids to bait, spin, and fly fish.  Equipment was available for loan to children.  Other activities included fly tying demonstrations, casting lessons, boat rides, and an aquarium and bug displays for the kids to learn about the critters in the river.   There were also free hot dogs, homemade brownies, and drawings for prizes!

Approximately 50 kids attended and brought their parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents with them.  The day left folks with a positive experience on the Clinch River with Trout Unlimited members and volunteers. Thanks to chapter member and TVA employee, Tiffany Foster for arranging for loans of waders and life vests to keep the kids safe. 
Buzz not only taught the art of tying flies, but also showed several kids how to conduct themselves while being interviewed by Ray Blakney of the Clinton Courier News and Tom Wiest from the Oak Ridger newspaper.

Courier News article

Oak Ridger article

Check out the day in the photos below.  Click on image to enlarge:
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Two months later at our August, 2005 meeting, little fisherman, Sam and his father made a special visit to our chapter meeting to bring Bill Shipman a special thank-you note for helping Sam catch his first fish.  What's better than that!?

Click on image to read Sam's thank you note and the photo of him and Bill that his daddy, Richard, took of them.

Thanks to all the volunteers and friends who helped out today.  Also, thanks to the staff of All Occasions Party Rentals for their prompt and courteous service in the delivery and set-up of the tents, tables, and chairs.

See a list of volunteers below:

Baxter, BJ
Baxter, Brian
Baxter, Kristen
Baxter, Mindy
Brown, Steve
Buffington, Buzz
Cademartori, Joel
Chilcoat, Terry
Fly, Mark
Foster, Tiffany
Geiger, Dick
Gist, Clayton

Greer, Bob
Harness, Andy
Hunter, Dave
Jenkins, Bob
Jerrolds, Cathy
McMahan, Denny
Moore, Carol
Patterson, Dave
Shipman, Bill
Still, Andrew
Stone, Lisa
Thacker, Barry
Thurman, John
Weeks, Sarah

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