Fly Anglers to Gather in Smokies for Wilderness Wild Life Week

Wilderness Wild Life Week will be held January 24- 31^st the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. 2015 marks the second year a fly fishing program was added to the lineup of classes and activities, which includes a diversity of programs ranging from raptor rehabilitation to fly tying.

Read more in the press release below.

Fly Anglers and Hikers Converge on the Smokies

by Beau Beasley

January 24- 31^st marks the 25^th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week which will be held on the outskirts of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park at the LeConte Center, in Pigeon Forge Tennessee. The LeConte Center is a city owned special events building, which is beautifully appointed with an outdoor theme, and is within walking distance of the Little Pigeon River.

The idea of Wilderness Wildlife Week came from East Tennessee wildlife photographer Ken Jenkins who had no idea his suggestion for a winter program about the Great Smoky Mountains would become so popular. The program soon grew from a half day into a weeklong celebration of all things related to the Great Smoky Mountains. Last year’s weeklong event saw more than 27,000 visitors from 41 states.

In 2014 a fly fishing program was added with the assistance of Don Kirk, publisher of Southern Trout Magazine, http://www.southerntrout.com/ and author of The Ultimate Guide to Fly Fishing the Smoky Mountains (Stackpole Books 2014). According to Kirk “A person could spend his whole life fly fishing in the Great Smoky National Park and never need to leave. The park offers anglers a chance to unwind and get close to everything from brookies to rainbows with little more than hip boats, and a hand full of Appalachian trout flies.” Kirk went on to say “I am grateful to the folks of Pigeon Forge who have rolled out the red carpet to fly anglers and tyers from across the Mid-Atlantic.”

Wilderness Wild Life Week will offer as many as 400 programs spread over eight days, plus 66 hikes and excursions in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Classes range from wildlife photography, to cooking and colonial toy making. Other classes on topics as diverse as raptor rehabilitation, mountain music and fly tying will also be available. While hikes and other classes will be offered all week, the second Southern Trout Fly Fishing Fair will be held January 31^st.

Wilderness Wildlife Week, named 10 times as a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event, is a part of Pigeon Forge Winterfest, which starts in November and goes through February. Information about all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge is at www.MyPigeonForge.com or by calling 800-251-9100.