Fishing tournament participant. Image courtesy of Knoxville Chapter of Project Healing Waters.

Disabled veterans and their sponsors will compete for trophies and prizes on Saturday, Oct. 17 during the 2nd annual Smoky Mountain Grand Slam Challenge on the stretch of Clinch River directly below Norris Dam.

The tournament is hosted each fall by the Knoxville Chapter of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Program, a group dedicated to the emotional and physical rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly-fishing and fly-tying education and outings.

Ten teams composed of a veteran, sponsor and river guide will compete for prizes including grand slam (one each of brown, rainbow and brook trout) most total inches of trout, (first, second and third place), largest trout and smallest trout. Veterans and their sponsors may fish, while their guides may not. Trout will be measured by the guides and kept on a scorecard.

Last year, U.S. Army Capt. Mark Johnson, of Johnson City, and his sponsor, Shannon O’Quinn, of the Tennessee Valley Authority, teamed up to win the inaugural tournament after catching all three species of trout in the river. Johnson took top honors for largest trout after landing a 17.75-inch rainbow. They were guided by Mike Bone.

The tournament raised $40,000 in cash donations, as well as a large amount of in-kind donations.

On Friday, Oct. 16, a tournament fundraiser banquet will be held at 6 p.m. at The Foundry in Knoxville. Tickets for the buffet-style meal are $100 each and may be purchased at www.smokymountainslam.com. There will also be a live auction and silent auction during the event.

The tournament will begin Saturday with a 9 a.m. ceremony and put-in at the Miller Island River Access near the intersection of U.S. 441 and River Road a couple of miles below Norris Dam. Fishermen may begin casting at 9:30 a.m. All trout will be returned to the river to be caught again.

Following the tournament, an awards ceremony will be held at the Holiday Inn at World’s Fair Park where the veterans will be staying.