Rocky River Chapter Trout Unlimited
Charlotte, North Carolina
We Conserve, Protect and Sustain our
Coldwater Natural Resources
See RRTU on Facebook
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Fall 2026 Alarka Registration is now open:
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October 15–18 | Fall Alarka Outing near Bryson City, NC.
Our annual Fall Alarka trip is confirmed for Thursday, October 15th through Sunday, October 18th.
Our Spring Alarka in April was a tremendous success. 32 participants from RRTU and sister North Carolina TU chapters enjoyed fishing, great food, and wonderful fellowship.
Ray Suggs of Trout Bum will be joining us again to discuss trout fishing on local waters. He can provide expert guidance on fishing skinny water. Ray has fished over 1,100 trout streams in North Carolina. Please vist his blog (see link below) for insights into the depth of his fishing knowledge. He is a true gentleman and he loves to teach!
T.J. Hawkins, a National Trout Unlimited staff member acts as our North Carolina Project Manager. He will also be joining us. He has a bunch of exciting conservation projects to discuss. (He is also a wild trout expert - just ask Greg Norman about his PB last year).
We hope you'll plan ahead and join us this fall.
Alarka Registration:
As you plan your strategies on what streams to target the following stocking schedule for the Delayed Harvest areas may be useful to you:
Fires Creek, 9/28 to 10/2
West Fork Pigeon River, 10/5 to 10/9
Tuckasegee River (Jackson County Only) 10/5 to 10/9
Nantahala River 10/5 to 10/9
East Fork French Broad River 10/5 to 10/9
Link to NCWRC mapping tool for fishing areas in North Carolina. As the state fish hatcheries continue to rebuild, we will see less fish being stocked. This map will provide you with information for delayed harvest areas, hatchery supported streams (no stocking scheduled for the fall of 2026) and wild trout streams.
October 15–18 | Fall Alarka Outing near Bryson City, NC.
Our annual Fall Alarka trip is confirmed for Thursday, October 15th through Sunday, October 18th.
Our Spring Alarka in April was a tremendous success. 32 participants from RRTU and sister North Carolina TU chapters enjoyed fishing, great food, and wonderful fellowship.
Ray Suggs of Trout Bum will be joining us again to discuss trout fishing on local waters. He can provide expert guidance on fishing skinny water. Ray has fished over 1,100 trout streams in North Carolina. Please vist his blog (see link below) for insights into the depth of his fishing knowledge. He is a true gentleman and he loves to teach!
T.J. Hawkins, a National Trout Unlimited staff member acts as our North Carolina Project Manager. He will also be joining us. He has a bunch of exciting conservation projects to discuss. (He is also a wild trout expert - just ask Greg Norman about his PB last year).
We hope you'll plan ahead and join us this fall.
Alarka Registration:
As you plan your strategies on what streams to target the following stocking schedule for the Delayed Harvest areas may be useful to you:
Fires Creek, 9/28 to 10/2
West Fork Pigeon River, 10/5 to 10/9
Tuckasegee River (Jackson County Only) 10/5 to 10/9
Nantahala River 10/5 to 10/9
East Fork French Broad River 10/5 to 10/9
Link to NCWRC mapping tool for fishing areas in North Carolina. As the state fish hatcheries continue to rebuild, we will see less fish being stocked. This map will provide you with information for delayed harvest areas, hatchery supported streams (no stocking scheduled for the fall of 2026) and wild trout streams.
We need you to help us defend the Roadless Rule in our National Forests including 3 North Carolina National Forests: Nantahala, Pisgah and Croaten. We need to protect the headwaters of our favorite streams.
Please follow the link provided to register your comments. It only takes about 5 minutes of your time. Comments are due by September 21.
Roadless areas are multiple-use lands that sustain native trout and salmon, support wildlife with unfragmented habitat corridors, and offer irreplaceable backcountry hunting and angling experiences while allowing for grazing, energy, and resource management activities that help power rural economies. But these cherished public lands and the rule that protects them is at risk. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published its plan to rescind the Roadless Rule, leaving 45 million acres of national forest land across the country vulnerable.
Here is the link to take action!
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Fly Tying News: 2026-27 Fly Tying Classes - Reserve These Dates on Your Calendar:
We will be back at the Covenant Presbyterian Church as they offer great classroom space and plenty of parking for our students.
Dates:
Saturday, November 21, 2026 from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
Saturday, December 19th, 2026 from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
Saturday, January 16, 2027 from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
Saturday, February 13, 2027 from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
Saturday, March 20, 2027 from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
Please watch your email for registration information for these classes.
Tom Adams just updated his Fly of the Month pattern -- be sure to check it out! Many thanks to Tom for all of his fine efforts.
Upcoming RRTU Chapter Events:
Thursday, September 17th, 2026 is our next chapter meeting. The chapter meeting will be at Hopfly Brewing located at 1327 S. Mint Street in Charlotte. We usually get together around 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for a pre-meeting beverage and grab some food at the food truck. The chapter meeting starts around 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.The discussion will be our Trout in Classroom (TIC) program. Most of all of the monies we raise as a chapter goes to support this great STEM program. Our money stays in our community to help these students - a number of the students attend Title 1 schools.
This will be a panel discussion with Bill Thomas and Paul Duffy - both RRTU past presidents along with Skip Lovejoy. Skip recently replaced Dana Hershey as the director of RRTU's TIC program. Bill Thomas is currently serving as the TIC coordinator for NC Council of Trout Unlimited. Both Bill and Paul are past- presidents of RRTU with years of experience with our TIC program. The meeting will be in the loft at Hopfly Brewing on South Mint Street in Charlotte.
October - First week -- Please see the stocking schedule for Delayed Harvest. One can also check the daily trout stocking schedule which is updated at noon. This report is updated once the NCWRC starts to stock. It is helpful to see where and when the fish are stocked.
Fall Alarka: 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 and see the registration form above.
Our Chapter meeting in October will be at the Fall Alarka event. See the registration link above. We hope to see you at this event. We expect over 30 attendees.
Thursday, November 19th, Chapter Meeting at Hopfly Brewing located at 1327 S. Mint Street in Charlotte. We usually get together around 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for a pre-meeting beverage and grab some food at the food truck. The chapter meeting starts around 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Speaker TBD
Saturday, November 21, 2026- See the first fly tying class -- all levels are invited especially beginners and youth. The dates for all the fly tying classes can be found above.
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.
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!
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!
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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. 
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
Dirty Hipster
Fly of the Month 9.26 - Dirty Hipster
The “fly of the month” series for 2026 has included a number Euro nymphs to recognize the competitiveness of fly fishing, For September the Dirty Hipster is presented. Newberry’s Dirty Hipster has a hot spot by the tail to attract attention and looks super buggy. This fly pattern has top ten status among American anglers that practice Euro nymphing. Tying the Dirty Hipster is straightforward, making it an excellent pattern for both beginner and experienced fly tyers. In Euro nymphing, casts are really just lobs, and most drifts are in front and only run as far as the rod reaches. Once the “reading the water” is complete, take the first steps into the water (or begin from the bank) and cast upstream. Gather the line and leader. Then raise the rod tip so everything is taut. As the fly drifts downstream, follow its path with the rod tip and maintain a tight, constant connection Feel the bumps of the river bottom. If there a few or no bump, lower the rod tip. Use the leader to gauge the depth and the relationship of the fly with the rocks and structure along the stream bottom. Sometimes, there may be a need to speed up moving the rod and actually pull the fly through a run in order to stay in contact with the bottom through the entire drift. After making drifts through the area directly, take a few steps forward until standing on top of the area just fished. Then repeat the process. After each few drifts, European-style nymphing allows sweeping the bottom with the fly in front of fish all over the river. No other method of nymphing break the river bottom down in such a way. Dirty Hipster The Dirty Hipster, designed by John Newbury, is a versatile Euro nymph pattern that effectively imitates various aquatic insects, including stonefly nymphs and mayfly emergers. Its combination of rubber legs, a flashy body, and a jig-style hook makes it an excellent attractor pattern, suitable for various fishing conditions. This is a attractor that should be in every Euro Nymph collection. The Newbury's Dirty Hipster has fishy attributes that just works. The rubber legs, flash on the body, and hot spot are proven to attract fish. The fly just works! Newbury's Dirty Hipster is weighted with a tungsten bead on a barbless Hanak jig hook. The construction of this fly is a proven formula to catch more fish: Tungsten Bead - gets fly into the feeding lane faster Jig hook – less snags and better hook ups as hook rides upward Barbless hook – better penetration and less damage to the fish The Dirty Hipster Jig is a combination of great fly design, balance, and natural imitation. This pattern is an exceptionally effective year round pattern to get you down in the water column quickly and present naturally to the fish. The rubber legs, flash in the body, and pronounced tail, bring this fly alive in the water. This fly pattern is easy to tie and has proven effective in various water conditions and is particularly successful in cold water. Rather than imitate naturals, this pattern is an attractor fly. The Dirty Hipster fly can be fished alone. However, when paired with another fly, this nymph performs the best at the bottom of the rig on either a two Euro nymph rig or in a dry-dropper setup. For an extra sink rate in the fastest water, pinch a little split shot about 6 inches ahead of the fly. One variation is the Dirty Hipster Golden Stone. A bold, buggy Euro nymph built to get down fast and stay in the zone. This is not your clean-cut, traditional stonefly. It is dirty, it is heavy, and it is highly effective for the take. Designed with a tungsten bead and slim profile to sink like a rock, the Dirty Hipster Golden Stone brings just the right amount of flash and movement to stand out in technical water without spooking fish. With its golden body, durable materials, and rough-and-ready look, this fly crushes in pocket water, deep seams, and heavy current. The Dirty Hipster is a must-have anchor fly when you’re dredging Euro-style through deep runs and fast slots—whether you’re hitting Tennessee tailwaters or backcountry North Carolina streams. Fly of the Month 9.26 Dirty Hipster - Tom Adams, Alen Baker For MUCH more information Select the button below :
Trout in the Classroom-Release
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!
Chapter Fly Tying VideosThese 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
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Winter 2026 -- Lots Going on at RRTU! Please join us! The Public is Invited
February: 
PlAlarka Fall Trip: October 16-19, 20egistration is Open
Fall Alarka will run from Thursday, October 15 to Sunday, October 18 - Please Mark Your Calendar To Join Us In April, 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.
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