Rocky River Trout Unlimited

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  • Home 03.35
  • FORR
  • Programs
    • Trout In The Classroom >
      • Rocky River TU >
        • RRTU Events >
          • Monthly Meetings
          • Streamside Day Trips
          • Alarka Trips
          • Fly Tying Classes >
            • Instructional Tyers
        • Davidson River HEP
        • Conservation
        • Conservation Partners >
          • NC Camo Coalition
        • Diversity >
          • WOMEN ON THE FLY
          • BSA Merit Badge
        • We welcome your feedback!
        • Become a TU Member
        • Mission and Brief History
    • RiverCourse Fly Fishing Youth Camp
    • Casting Carolinas
    • Wilson Creek Adopt-A-Stream and Stream Watch
    • South Mountain Adopt-A-Park
    • Stone Mountain State Park
  • Resources
    • RRTU Class Recipes
    • NC General Hatch Charts
    • Fly Shops, Outfitters and Guides
    • Fly Fishing >
      • RRTU Reference Fly Tying >
        • Entomology Basics
        • More Entomology Basics
      • More Fly Fishing Basics
      • Fly Fishing Tips
      • Trout Fishing & Trout Fishing Stories
    • Fly Casting
    • History, Reading, References >
      • S. Appalachian & Smoky Mtn History >
        • Archive History >
          • Archive History
          • FORR Campaign >
            • FORR 2020
    • Calendar Copy
  • RRTU Store
  • Tips - Tying
  • New Page

Rocky River Chapter Trout Unlimited
Charlotte, North Carolina
We Conserve, Protect and Sustain our
Coldwater Natural Resources
See RRTU on Facebook

Calendar
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Our thanks to our recent speaker at Hopfly Brewing, Alen Baker, past-president of RRTU and one of the chapter's founding members. Alen covered his recent book, Southern Fly Tyers: Life Stories of Those Who Tie Flies, which he wrote with Gretchen Griffith. The book discusses the pioneers who laid the foundations of this timeless craft to the current tyers who continue to innovate and inspire. Each narrative is a testament to dedication and passion. This book promises to inspire and educate, leaving the reader with an appreciation for the craft of fly tying. The book focuses on our mountain streams, key events, fly tyers and some of the most significant fly patterns created in the region. 

Alen also discussed his work with the Patterson School near Lenoir including the Cap Wiese Fly Fishing Center. 

Alen is also the author of the award winning book,  Our Fly Fishing Heritage: The Making of the Fly Fishing Museum of Southern Appalachians (2016). Alen is most widely recognized as the founder and visionary behind the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians in Bryson City, NC.  Alen has recruited ongoing support (pledges), volunteer hours and content initiatives from all southeastern states. Alen also authored My Fly Fishing Playbook (2019).

Conservation & Leadership:

Alen has been in trout and cold water conservation for over three decades particularly within the Charlotte community. He served as President of the Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (RRTU). He helped RRTU achieve National Gold Chapter status in 1986. He also held national leadership roles including National TU Vice President of Trout Unlimited. 

Wildlife Federation: He is a former Chairman of the North C arolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF), which was named National Affiliate of the year during his tenure. 

Authorship and Contributions:

As an avid tyer and historian, Alen has authored or co-authored at least nine books detailing the heritage of the sport. See, Rocky River TU: The First Twenty-Five Years.

Alen along with Allen Rucker teach our intermediate fly tying classes. 


Upcoming RRTU Chapter Events:  Enjoy your Summer!

On Saturday, July 18th, we will be demonstrating fly tying at Sitka Charlotte located at 1930 Camden Rd. Sitka recently launched a big spread of new apparel devoted to fishing. Several other fishing related non-profits and vendors will also be represented at this afternoon event. Come join us and check out the Sitka gear!

We will be offering three stations of expert fly tyers. Tom Adams, RRTU past president and current lead for our fly tying schools will be leading this educational effort. Our chapter is very fortunate to have quality instructors like Tom for our classes. You can see the digest of flies along with recipes on our Chapter webpage. 

Saturday, August 22nd in the morning (probalby): Fly Tyers -- Hold the date as we are planning something special for you

The photos below are from our April outing at Alarka. Our next Alarka outing will be in October. Hope you can join us for fellowship, fun and fishing. Our outing in April was enjoyed by many of our members and a few folks from other North Carolina Trout Unlimited Chapters. Ray Suggs of Trout Bum was our guest speaker on both nights and provided expert advice on local streams and how to fish skinny water. He was a great addition to our scheduled activities. Ray, please accept our thanks for a fine job! We are scheduled for Fall Alarka on Thursday, October 15 to Sunday, October 18. Please save the dates!


Some of the photos are from the recent Trout In Classroom release at Stone Mountain State Park. Bill Thomas, past-president of RRTU again organized this fun event for families. Bill also serves as chair of the NC Council ofTrout Unlimited's TIC program for the entire state. We had over 100 folks including the families of the students. 

Thursday, September 17th
, Next Chapter Meeting will start at 6:30 PM. Details to follow as we get closer to the date.




Thanks to all our chapter members and friends who attended FORR in mid-February. We raised monies for the programs we support: Trout in Classroom, Casting Carolinas, Project Healing Waters and more! We deeply appreciate the work of John Powell in leading our fundraising efforts!

Congratulations to Dr. Dana Hershey as we celebrated his fantastic tenure as our Director of Trout in Classroom. His years of service speak to the true meaning of being a volunteer! We look forward to working with Skip Lovejoy as he transitions into becoming the next Director of Trout in Classroom for the next academic year.


We also wish to thank Bill Bartee of Jesse Brown's Outdoors for his skill as an auctioneer and for his donations from his fly shop. Jose Rosado won the big prize with 2 days of guided fishing and 2 nights of lodging at the Watauga River Lodge. We wish to thank both Jose and the Watauga River Lodge for their donations. Jose - we want some photos!

We look forward to his 20th Annual Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) on Thursday, March 19th at the Visuaite Threatre in Charlotte. 

To get your tickets, please go to this link. In lieu of RRTU Chapter Meeting in March, we urge you to attend this fine event. It is usually sold out, so get your tickets early. RRTU will have a table at the event, please stop by to visit!
​Friends of Rocky River TU 2026 Fundraising Drawing

Congratulations to all the winners and especially, Ronnie Vagnone, Board Member of both RRTU and Casting Carolinas as she won the grand prize - a trip to Hubbard's Yellowstone Ranch in Montana! As we all of our fundraising, the monies go back to the community! Ronnie is pictured below providing us with an update on the work of Casting for Carolinas. Also in the photo is John Powell, our fundraising chair and his wife.
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Trout in Classroom (TIC) Release Dates in South Mountain State Park: Volunteers Are Welcome:

Note: Delayed Harvest Schedule for most of the streams in our area and Jacobs Fork (South Mountains State Park) is March 2 to March 6 and the first week of May. One can go fishing before and after the students release the trout. The parks open at 7:00 A.M.

Members are invited to join NC State Park Rangers on the listed dates to work with the students to release the fingerling trout into the stream. Volunteers help net the fish from a cooler and place the fingerlings one at time into a plastic cup or container. The student gets the cup/container and releases the fish gently into the water. During the aquatic macro invertebrate investigation in the stream, volunteers wearing waders and using a wading staff get in the stream with the students and assist them in rolling rocks to kick up bugs for identification. The state park rangers usually do the heavy lifting on this part of the program.  

For releases in South Mountain State Park, we generally arrive at the park headquarters around 9:30 A.M. to meet the bus(s) with the students and teachers. After a restroom break, we proceed deeper into the park to a large parking lot with a covered pavilion adjacent to Jacobs Fork Stream. The students are divided into three small groups and proceed to an assigned station. Station A is the release of the fingerling rainbow trout into the stream. Station B is the investigation of aquatic macro invertebrates in the stream to identify stoneflies, caddis flies, mayflies and midges, etc. Station C is a talk in the pavilion with the state park rangers reviewing creatures in “skins and skulls” — wild creatures found in the park. Each station is a hands on learning activity for the students. After a lunch and if time permits, the students go for a short hike along the stream.

Here is the 2026 Trout in Classroom schedule for South Mountains State Park (Jacob’s Fork)

J.T. Williams Montessori School March 23
Sedgefield Middle School  May 4
Merry Oaks International Academy May 8
Whitewater Middle School May 12

Here is the schedule for 2026 Trout in Classroom for Stone Mountain State Park (East Fork Roaring River) 
 We can show you where to meet the students - it is downstream of the Church. It is the biggest parking lot on the stream and it has a pedestrian bridge over the stream.

Coddle Creek Elementary  May 2, (Rocky River Trout Unlimited will also run a streamside on this date from 7:00 A.M. until 10:00 A.M. A streamside event the participants get divided up between experienced and inexperienced anglers. Instruction is provided along with an orientation to the stream. Anglers are responsible for their own equipment.
From 10:00 A.M. until noon, we work with the students in the stream. We will serve lunch starting at noon for the volunteers, the students and their families. (Last year we had about 120 attendees.

Carolina International School May 5
Davidson Day School May 7
Davidson Community School TBD

Please advise if you  can join us. We can provide you with additional logistical information which is date specific to the individual school. 

The release of the rainbow trout fingerlings is a capstone event for the students - learning science in a hands on environment. For many of these students, this is the first time they have visited a state park or waded in a high quality, mountain stream.
Streamside Event for Trilogy Twin Mills Fishing Club to target trout:

Fly of the Month

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Grizzly King
Fly of the Month 6.26 - Panfish Fly
In North America, the panfish tradition has been long established, but fly fishing for a species
which are not gamefish has slowly developed a following in the UK and the rest of Europe as an
accessible form of sport fishing.
A panfish is likely to be one of the first fish caught while growing up. They are traditionally not
considered to be a gamefish but rather a fish for the pot or pan. Currently, fly fishing for panfish
using catch-and-release is equally acceptable to catch-and-eat - where regulations allow
harvesting. Some traditional panfish might be protected (and not available to cook and eat) or
have strict catch sizes or limits for conservation reasons.
Panfish Species - Panfish are not a single species but a branch of fishing for small edible fish that
fit in a pot or pan. Here are the most common target panfish species:
Bluegill, Flier, Green Sunfish, Longear, Pumpkinseed, Redear, Warmouth are the larger seven
species of sunfish that are most sought after. In North America, Bluegill sunfish are most
abundant and the prime target species.
Black Crappie, White Crappie despite the name, is regarded as the best-tasting panfish for those
that stray from catch-and-release and seek a meal of fish from the fry pan.
White or Yellow Perch in America and Canada and European perch are considered panfish as
well. Some anglers might include rock bass, carp, catfish and sucker on the list. Locally, anglers
call carp a Carolina bonefish and a white sucker a mountain bonefish, though for sport. In
Europe fly fishing for Chubb is increasingly popular though for sport, not for the pan.
Panfish Fly
Choosing the best panfish fly patterns requires a little bit of knowledge on where and what these
species of fish feed on. A panfish will take almost any reasonable fly pattern but not all flies are
practical panfish flies, so choosing the right patterns will definitely help improve the odds of
catching more of these fish for releasing them or for feeding everyone.
Panfish will certainly take many of the traditional fly fishing fly patterns and the usual life cycle
of aquatic food will form part of their diet. Mayfly Dun, adult Caddis, Damselfly, Dragonfly, egg
laying aquatic insects, spinners, emergers, waterborne pupa, larva and nymphs all form part of
the food chain. Yet because of the smaller mouth, many trout fly patterns will catch panfish but
the release may be difficult and harmful to the fish.
Best Terrestrial Flies for Panfish: Terrestrials include non-aquatic flies such as dead wasps,
spiders, caterpillars which have fallen from waterside vegetation. These fly patterns stand out:
Foam Hopper - A green or brown grasshopper with rubber or plastic legs appropriately sized.
Foam Beetle - Sizable and most abundant along highly vegetated banks along the edges of water.
Foam Ant - Successful for panfish as well as trout.

Best Wet Flies For Panfish: These fly patterns are also classic trout wet fly patterns.
The McGinty Wet Fly is nearly 150 years old. The McGinty was developed in 1883 by Charles
McGinty. The fly pattern was originally intended for bass fishing, yet over time has gained
popularity among trout anglers as well. This fly pattern is highly visible in murky conditions.
With a striking black and yellow chenille barred striped body this is waspish or “bumblebee” in
its looks, has a red game cock tag, and soft brown hackle for some movement.
The Black Spider is a superb and simple “best panfish fly” pattern – another one which will
catch trout too. A black wool or seal’s fur body, soft long black hackle for movement. This fly
has caught fish for probably well over a hundred years. The dense black profile performs as well
as some of the more brightly colored dressings when fished in rather colored water.
Red Tag Wet Fly originated from the UK and is highly used in the “land down under” as a beetle
imitation for trout and panfish. It is tied with peacock herl and a red wool tag end and with soft
long brown hackle for some leg-like movement.
Best Streamers For Panfish: Opt for smaller sizes to accommodate the tiny mouths of panfish:
The Clouser Minnow is a versatile streamer pattern, especially effective when fishing for perch
and crappie. Its shimmering underwater movement, large buggy eyes and a flexible hair wing
body makes it an irresistible lure for bluegill and other sunfish. It is a tried and trusted pattern for
many species of fish.
The Woolly Bugger fly has a bit more movement and effective for catching most fish.
The Zonker is a “best panfish fly” and a fly pattern that offers a super-mobile action in the water
for catching most fish.
Just like fishing with worms or corn, panfish are opportunists that tend to suck and swallow very
quickly any fly that attracts their attention. So, selecting flies that hook panfish but are shaped or
sized to not be swallowed should be considered. The sunfish family in particular have very small
mouths which make it difficult to remove the fly that has been sucked in deep.
Since all fish are cannibalistic, fish fry fly patterns and streamer fly patterns are on the list of best
panfish flies. Streamers - Provided these are correctly sized then streamers should be a good
panfish offering. Remember panfish are generally going to be a bit smaller than some other
target fish for the fly fisher so need to represent something they would wish to eat, can get their
mouth around (and let you put a hook in).
Panfish are relatively small carnivorous aggressive fish typically. So a fly pattern with a bit of
action and wiggle and looking alive and perhaps trying to escape will more likely be taken. An
imitation of a food source can be good but does not need to be a precise copy. Anything that at a
quick glance looks like something a panfish would eat will be in with good odds. These are
smaller fish so hook sizes will tend to be smaller too. Elements of attraction will be an effective
component of many, perhaps most, of the most effective panfish flies. Flash, sparkle, bright
colors or sound effects such as ripples and plops all have a place.
Whether a beginner or a seasoned angler, here are the 12 Best Panfish fly patterns, overall:
The Elk Hair Caddis is exceptionally effective in shallow water or near water structures. Once
you use it, you’ll be in awe of the number of fish it helps you land. This phenomenal dry fly was
first crafted by Al Troth, a pioneer in fly tying, in 1957.

The Prince Nymph with copper wire ribbing over the body, and optionally a copper, brass or
tungsten bead head is one of the most effective panfish fly patterns and is suitably heavy to get
down to the level of deeper feeding fish.
J’s Grinchworm is a vibrant and flashy pattern and guaranteed lure for bluegill, perch, and even
trout. With an eye-catching chartreuse color and lifelike movement, this fly pattern is irresistible
to panfish. Its jointed body and rubber legs create a convincing sense of motion underwater that
fish find hard to resist.
The Creature is a deadly subsurface pattern for many species of warm water fish. The Creature is
tied with dust mop/bath mat material. “Mop Flies” as they are generically called are loved by
some anglers and shunned by others.
The Soft Hackle Wet Fly is a must-have for any panfish fishing expedition. Once you master
your presentation, you’ll be amazed by the number of fish you catch with this versatile fly.
The Woolly Worm is the precursor to the Woolly Bugger and an incredibly versatile fly pattern
that mimics aquatic insects like hellgrammites and stoneflies, making it a favorite choice for fish.
The Panfish Wiggler is an adaptation of the Spring Wiggler a Michigan Steelhead nymph pattern
resized to fit into the small mouth of a panfish. This bead head fly swiftly reaches the strike zone
and is a highly effective streamer for bluegill, perch, crappie, and more.
Green Eyed Damselfly Nymphs are common across U. S. waters, making them an ideal fly for
panfish. Usually tied with chenille or ostrich herl or seals fur body to provide some movement
and replicate gill action. A larger nymph pattern on a size 8 or 10 hook to match the natural.
The F-C Mackie Bug, despite its odd appearance, is an excellent pattern that consistently nets
results. Its flashiness and plumpness make it an irresistible lure for fish. Note: F-C is an
abbreviation for Feather-Craft.
Poppers have a simple design but are highly effective. The satisfying plop onto the water’s
surface instantly attracts nearby fish. Correctly retrieved, the air bubble formed in the head cavity
‘pops’ and should arouse some interest when nothing else will.
And for the final top two, we present the Gypsy King and the Triangle Bug, both are swallow
resistant.
Gypsy King - Warm Water Variant
Foam Spiders are a fantastic choice for panfish. The lifelike movement attracts fish of all kinds.
Cast one near submerged structures, follow with a twitch and pause. A guaranteed catch awaits!
Fly of the Month 6.26a

Panfish Fly - Gypsy King - Warm Water Variant
Hook: Allen S402 or S402BL (barbless)
Size: 6, 8, 10, 12
Thread: , color to match body
Underbody: Peacock Herl
Body: 2 mm foam, tan or black
Underwing: 3 strands of Pearl Krystal flash, doubled
Wing: Deer or elk hair in light or dark colors
Legs: Round Rubber 
Hackle: Grizzly rooster feathers

Panfish Fly - Triangle Bug
The Triangle Bug is an effective dry fly pattern that sits high in the water. The long, rubber legs
create a tempting silhouette for fish, making it appear like a juicy morsel. The unique design
makes it easy to remove from the tiny mouth of a, making the angling experience smoother and
more enjoyable.


- Tom Adams, Alen Baker
For MUCH more information Select the button below :
More info


Fly of the Month Tying Video 



Grizzly king Video


Trout in the Classroom-Release

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Hi All,


We were blessed with gorgeous sunny but cool weather yesterday for our first field trip of the season. The South Mountains State Park rangers made a special effort to get us into the park, which is still officially closed until Monday. After the 4th grade students released the trout they had been raising since November, the rangers gave them the “What’s in the Stream” and “Skins and Skulls” programs.

We are so appreciative of the excellent care that Anna Tivnan and her students provided for these Rainbow fingerlings and for the excellent education that the SMSP rangers give to our TIC students every year.

Dana Hershey

PS     The rangers told me that they had cleared over 5,000 trees that were felled or damaged by Hurricane Helene!
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Chapter Fly Tying Videos

These videos are from the RRTU Fly Tying classes, they are short.  Enjoy and more to come.

RRTU Adv Tiers - Gierach's Hares Ear Stonefly

RRTU Advanced Tiers - Gierach's BWO Palm Emerger

RRTU Advanced Tiers - Atherton Dry No. 3
RRTU Advanced Tiers - Shane Stalcup Biot Nymph Brown
RRTU Advanced Tiers - Shane Stalcups Ice Emerger
RRTU Advanced Tiers - Shane Stalcup Loopwing Emerger
Gierachs Hares Ear Stonefly Nymph
​
News Release for Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (Charlotte) Receives $3,320 Grant from Arts & Science Council

Funds will be used as a strategic investment for several Trout in Classroom projects in Charlotte Mecklenburg County Public Schools

Charlotte, NC - Friday, January 16, 2026 - The Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) located in Charlotte has received a grant of $3,320 from the Arts & Science Council (ASC). The purpose of the grant is to make a strategic investment in several public school classrooms located in Charlotte Mecklenburg County hosting Trout In Classroom 55 gallon aquariums. Several hundred students raise rainbow trout from eggs to fingerlings and release the trout in South Mountains State Park in April or May in a hands-on indoor/outdoor education program working with the North Carolina Department of Parks and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. 

The grant was awarded as part of the Strategic Investment Grant program, which was created to help invest in an organizations growth and sustainability. “We are thrilled to be able to do more great work providing a science, technology, engineering and math program to public school students located in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Area. We wish to thank ASC for their Strategic Investment Grant,” said Greg Norman, Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited President. “With this grant, we will be able to really make a difference by purchasing new equipment to ensure the aquariums have cold, clean water to raise the rainbow trout.”

Last year, the Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited and its 715 members and supporters contributed more than 8,100 volunteer hours on conservation, education and community awareness programs and projects to protect and restore streams. “TU is a strong STEM organization thanks to the incredible amount of time and energy volunteers like the Rocky River Chapter members contribute each year,” said ASC President Adam Santalla Pierce. “ We’re excited to play a role in restoring local streams and providing meaningful science education experiences for youth.”

About Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Founded in Michigan in 1959, Trout Unlimited today is a national nonprofit organization with more than 300,000 members and supporters in over 420 local chapters and councils dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Our volunteers and staff work from coast to coast to protect, reconnect, restore and sustain trout and salmon habitat on behalf of today’s anglers and coming generations of sportsmen and women who value the connection between healthy, intact habitat and angling opportunity. 

About ASC and Strategic Investment Grants
The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is the designated local arts agency for Charlotte-Mecklenburg We sustain the region’s cultural ecosystem by providing grants to nonprofit cultural organizations of all sizes, stewarding the Public Art program for the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, investing in our local creatives and supporting everyday arts and cultural activities in every corner of our community. ASC combines financial resources from local and state government with those from the private sector to maximize community impact. 

The Strategic Investment Grant program stemmed from the research and development of the City of Charlotte Arts & Culture Plan, which outlined a vision to nurture and grow the arts and culture sector in Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. It is designed to provide funding to established nonprofits in Mecklenburg County with a primary misssion of arts, science, history and/or heritage. These grants support one-time strategic opportunities that help an organization invest in its growth or sustainability. For more information, visit: https://artsandscience.org/sig/.
​

RRTU Chapter Meetings:

Winter 2026 -- Lots Going on at RRTU! Please join us! The Public is Invited





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February:






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Alarka Fall Trip: October 16-19, 20egistration is Open
Spring Alarka is Back ! April 16 to 19th, 2026

In October, we had a group of 32 folks - one of the strongest registrations in recent times! Everyone caught fish and we all enjoyed some great food. Many thanks to Greg Norman, RRTU  Chapter President for all of his efforts to coordinate this outing. We also had folks from other North Carolina Trout Unlimited Chapters. Save the date on your calendar and we will publish registration materials as we get closer to the date.


RRTU Supports Kelly McCoy of RiverGirl Fishing Company in Todd, NC Following Helene Damage

 At our Friends of Rocky River event, we announced we would provide support to several local guides adversely impacted by Hurricane Helene. Below see former RRTU Chapter President, Bill Thomas dropping off a check to Kelly McCoy of RiverGirl Fishing Company located at 4041 Todd Railroad Grade in Todd, NC. Bill also serves as the Trout In Classroom coordinator for North Carolina Council of Trout Unlimited. RiverGirl is located on the banks of the South Fork New River in Ashe County. RiverGirl provides fly fishing and spin fishing guide services along with boating, tubing, biking and eco-tours. It was flooded in Hurricane Helene. RiverGirl is one of our supporters of Trout In Classroom (TIC). Kelly hosts a fish tank of trout eggs, raises the eggs to fingerlings. Kelly teaches youth about the importance of cold water conservation. This is how RRTU gives back to our community.

Kelly is a wonderful fishing guide and can take you to delayed harvest sections, hatchery supported and wild trout. For another recent video on RiverGirl and the recovery post-Helene, please see this video. Kelly also serves as the Fire Chief for the Todd Volunteer Fire Department.


Mecklenburg County Council Fishing Committee Recognizes RRTU Member Jim Mackey!

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July 2, 2025

​The committee recently awarded the Certified Angling Instructor designation to Jim Mackey upon being awarded the title Master Angling Instructor. The Master Angling Instructor is the highest honor that can be conferred by the National Fishing Leadership Team. It is presented each year to a select group of individuals who are experts in angling knowledge, and have provided immeasurable service to the Scouting America fishing program.


Jim is a key member of the MCC Fishing Committee. He has spent countless hours teaching Cubs and Scouts to fish. Jim played a major role in converting the Lakeside Shelter at Belk Scout Camp into the modern fishing center that we can be very proud of.

Jim Mackey exemplifies the very best in Scouting. He is dedicated to providing a quality program for our youth. Through his expertise and hard work, he has made a significant contribution to the MCC and Scouting America fishing program that will live on for generations to come.

CAIs Bert Fox (Vice Chair of the MCC Fishing Committee) , Zach Tywater (lead fishing instructor), and Bill Kalbas (Chairman of the MCC Fishing Committee and a member of the National Fishing Leadership Team), had the pleasure of presenting the award to Jim yesterday at Camp Grimes



COMMITTEE UPDATES

Trout in the Classroom Spring 2025 Releases on Stream
TIC releases have been completed for Spring 2025. If you are interested in helping in the fall with tank setup, please advise Dr. Dana Hershey at [email protected]. 

Read More TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM

Outreach
In February, we had our 2025 FORR Celebration and it was great to see so many of our chapter members at this event. We wish to thank everyone for their continued financial support. Special thanks to John Powell who organized everything. The monies raised go to support coldwater conservation and education efforts of Trout Unlimited. We also made several donations to local fishing related businesses adversely impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Read More Outreach

Conservation
Post Helene, we are monitoring clean up and restoration activities in the streams we cherish. We will keep you advised of opportunities as they arise. Please keep watching our Facebook page to get the latest on opportunities for you to help restore streams.

Please see the Fly Fishermen Magazine article which appears in their July magazine for a fine article on the local impact of Helene.
READ MORE CONSERVATION
Diversity
RRTU is a proud supporter of Women on the Fly (WOTF). This group is for women anglers based out of the Carolinas. It is an inclusive angling community and strives to unite all women through advocacy and opportunity - all are welcome! We are committed to providing women with the education and resources needed to fly fish. Whether you are a novice angler or have never picked up a rod in your life, this is your group! We welcome women of all skill levels and have events suited as such. Our year round events include fishing stocked, wild and private trout waters. We also branch out into fly tying, educational clinics, ladies night out and much more!
We pride ourselves on being more than just a group through mutual encouragement and support we form long-lasting friendships and memories of a lifetime. Visit us on Facebook at Women On The Fly - Carolinas.
READ MORE DIVERSITY




Rocky River Events

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Join us in the activities that are of interest to you and become one with our cold-water resources.

Join Chapter 348 - Rocky River

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The members of the Rocky River Chapter support a number of local area programs. Join Us Today!

Rocky River Programs

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Rocky River Trout Unlimited members are heavily involved in a number of conservation projects and programs.
Fly Patterns
RRTU Gallery
Trout in the Classroom
NOTICE: A quick overview of the calendar is now at the top of this page under Upcoming Events.
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We who trout fish together ...will work together to
Conserve,  Protect,  and Restore our Coldwater Streams

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Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (RRTU) 348


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