Mountain Bridge Warrior Program

Poster celebrating Mental Health Month in May, featuring a group of emergency responders including police, firefighters, and EMS, standing together during sunset, with a green awareness ribbon and supportive messages about mental health and community strength.

Provide opportunities to Veterans and First Responders through fly fishing for hope, camaraderie, and overcoming challenges.

Row of emblems representing various U.S. government agencies and services, including Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Police, ambulance, and Fire Department.

To our Veterans and First Responders,

On behalf of the Mountain Bridge Trout Unlimited chapter, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your service and the sacrifices you’ve made for our community and country.

We are honored to have many of you in our ranks, and we recognize that the path you’ve walked often comes with unique and lasting challenges. While we know those hurdles can be difficult to manage, we believe there is a special kind of peace to be found on the water.

Fly fishing is more than just a hobby—it is a powerful form of therapy. There is a restorative magic in the rhythm of a cast and the quiet hum of a mountain stream. Immersing yourself in nature and connecting with our "healing waters" offers a space to breathe, recharge, and find balance.

Thank you for everything you do. We look forward to seeing you on the river.

Tight lines,

Mountain Bridge TU

As a Veteran or first responder, you are eligible to take part in a TU Service Partnership Program, which gives you a complimentary membership to TU for free for one year. The complimentary membership also includes several bonuses!

(TROUT Magazine-4 issues, exclusive deals and discounts,  The Veteran/First Responders chapter membership in a nearby TU organization).  Please feel free to invite a Veteran or First Responder to our next MBTU meeting and share with them this amazing membership offer.  

This program which provides activities and encouragement for former and current military and their families. These activities include fly casting, fly tying, fly fishing education and fly fishing outings.

Statue of soldiers raising the American flag at the Marine Corps War Memorial against a blue sky with clouds.
Free Veteran / First Responder Membership
An ambulance and a fire truck stopped on a city street amid traffic, with cars lined up on both sides and trees in the background.
American flag on a grassy field during sunset with cloudy sky and sun rays in the background.
Two firefighters in gear and helmets stand on a city sidewalk, with one looking towards the street and the other facing a pole in front of them. There are cars, trees, and pedestrians in the background.
Police cars and emergency vehicles at the scene of a fire in an urban area with smoke and yellow caution tape marking the area.

Mountain Bridge Warriors Family Day 2026

We wanted to thank everyone that came out to our Warrior Family Day. This year we were able to support 62 Veterans, First Responders, and their families.

We’d like to thank Fork Grove BBQ, Callie Freeman Fly Fishing, Chattooga River Fly Shop, and G. Loomis, for your support and instruction. Participants were able to learn about fly casting, fly tying classes, enjoy some free BBQ, and more.

Stylized black and white fish graphic with the text 'G. Loomis' beneath it.
A row of various fishing flies used as bait in fishing.

Mountain Bridge Warriors Family Day 2025

A woman in outdoor gear, sunglasses, and a hat, holding a fish she caught in a river surrounded by tall grass and greenery, smiling at the camera.
Callie Freeman Fly Fishing

Callie Freeman is a professional instruction service led by Callie Freeman, PhD, a passionate fly-casting instructor and entomologist.

Based in Easley, South Carolina, she offers a variety of educational experiences ranging from personalized casting lessons to entomology workshops designed to help anglers "match the hatch".

A close-up of a large, rusted barbecue smoker grill outdoors at sunset, with the text 'Fork Grove Barbecue' overlaid.
Logo for Chattanooga River Fly Shop located in Mountain Rest, South Carolina.

Mountain Bridge Warriors Family Day is an annual celebratory event organized by the Mountain Bridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited to honor the service and sacrifices of local veterans and first responders. This day of appreciation focuses on building camaraderie and hope through the therapeutic sport of fly fishing, offering participants a full itinerary that typically includes fly casting clinics, fly tying demonstrations, and a community barbecue.

By bringing these heroes together in the peaceful outdoors of the Upstate South Carolina area, the event serves as a platform for physical and mental rehabilitation while fostering lasting relationships within the community. The program, often referred to as the Warrior Program, has grown significantly, serving over a hundred veterans in 2025 through the dedication of local volunteers and conservation partners.

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A woman wearing a straw sun hat, sunglasses, a blue tropical-themed shirt, and jeans, holding a green water gun, stands on a grassy field with a group of people fishing in the background under a clear blue sky.
People playing a game with a long string in a park on a sunny day, with parked cars and trees in the background.
People standing on grass field with trees in the background, some holding equipment and others observing, possibly participating in outdoor activity or workshop.
People at a park during daytime, with a fire truck and trees in the background.
Multiple people standing outdoors in a line, holding fishing rods during daytime, with a cloudy sky and green trees in the background.
Four people standing on a grassy field with trees in the background, participating in an outdoor activity that involves measuring or setting up with strings and cones.
Four people sitting around a table assembling firearms in a room with framed pictures on the wall.
Three people standing outdoors on a sunny day with green grass and trees in the background. The man on the left is wearing a gray t-shirt and khaki pants. The woman in the middle is wearing a tan jacket and dark pants. The woman on the right is weari
Two smiling men outdoors on a sunny day, one wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap, the other with sunglasses hanging from his collar, standing in a grassy field with trees and parked cars in the background.
Group of six people standing outdoors on a sunny day, smiling. They are wearing casual clothing and sunglasses, with two people holding drinks. Trees and a fence are visible in the background.
Three people standing on a grassy field, holding fishing rods, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
Three people outdoors on a grassy field with trees in the background, two men standing and watching, and a woman in a blue jacket and green cap holding a fishing rod or similar object.
People standing on grass field in a park during daytime, some near a red tent, with trees, parked cars, and a blue sky in the background.
Two men standing on a grassy field at an outdoor event, one holding a large inflatable object and smiling. Several other people are in the background, some holding drinks near tents and parked cars, with trees and a blue sky above.
Open grassy field with people gathered under a red canopy, parking lot with cars behind, and a small barn structure in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
Two people standing on a large grassy field near pink cones, with a blue sky and trees in the background.
Two men stand on a grassy field near a line of pink cones, with trees and a blue sky in the background, during a sunny day.
Three people outdoors on a grassy field, flying kites on a clear, sunny day. One woman is facing away from the camera with a baseball cap, two men are facing each other holding kite strings, and pink cones mark the field.
A man wearing glasses, a gray t-shirt with a logo, and a brown cap is sitting at a black table, using fly tying tools. There are various materials, such as feathers and hooks, organized in plastic containers around him as he works on tying a fishing
Three men fishing in a river surrounded by trees, with one man holding a fishing rod and the other two with fishing gear.
Two men fishing from a boat on a river, with one man in the foreground holding a fishing net and the other in the background giving a thumbs-up. The scene is misty with trees and hills in the background.
Three men in fishing boats on a foggy river, near rocks and trees on the bank.
Two men taking a selfie outdoors near a boat in a foggy, wooded area.
A river with a light layer of fog on the surface, surrounded by green trees and rocky cliffs on the left, with a partly cloudy sky above.
A pickup truck with an open tailgate towing a small boat on a trailer. A man is working inside the boat, and another person stands in the background near the truck. The scene is outdoors on a paved road with trees overhead.
Two men fishing from a boat on a misty river with lush green trees on the riverbank.
A man holding a rainbow trout on a boat in a river, surrounded by green trees with fog and mountains in the background.
Woman in black jacket and cap holding a fish on a boat, with river and green trees in the background on a rainy day.
A man standing in a shallow river holding a freshly caught fish, smiling, with trees and blue sky in the background.
Three men dressed in fishing gear standing in a parking lot in front of a truck and other vehicles, with buildings and trees in the background.
Three men in fishing gear taking a selfie in a parking lot, smiling and making a peace sign, with trees and a building in the background
Group of eight men standing outside in front of a building with signs for Davidson River Outfitters, Sage, and Redington.
Two men fishing in a shallow river with a small waterfall in the background, surrounded by trees.
Man holding a large fish in a river with a small waterfall and green trees in the background.
Seven people standing on a concrete platform near a misty river with boats and dense green trees in the background.
A group of people with fishing gear standing by a river in a wooded area, learning from an instructor.
Four women wearing waders and sunglasses standing in a shallow river, smiling and holding onto each other.
Three men are standing in a shallow river, fishing with a fishing rod, surrounded by a forest with tall trees and a clear blue sky.
People fishing in a shallow river with a forest backdrop on a clear day.
Four people fly fishing in a river surrounded by trees and forest.
Two people are standing in a shallow river, fishing, with a background of green trees and a clear blue sky.
Four people fishing in a river surrounded by trees on a sunny day.
Two people fishing in a river surrounded by a forest of tall pine trees, with a bright blue sky and scattered clouds above.
Two people fishing in a calm river surrounded by lush green trees under a bright blue sky.
A group of six people standing on a rocky beach by a river, surrounded by trees, engaged in conversation, some holding fishing rods, on a sunny day with clear blue skies.
A group of people hiking in a forest on a sunny day, walking along a dirt trail surrounded by tall trees with green leaves.
Woman smiling while holding a fish she caught while fishing in a river with green trees in the background.
Five people standing in shallow water near a river, smiling and wearing fishing gear. There are trees with green leaves and a clear blue sky in the background.
A serene river flowing steadily through a dense green forest with tall trees on both sides, under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
A man wearing a large sun hat and sunglasses is standing by a river with a forested hillside in the background under a bright blue sky with a few clouds.
A river flowing through a dense green forest with tall trees and a person fishing in the water.
A peaceful river flowing through a forest with tall green trees on both sides and a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds above.
People fishing in a river surrounded by tall pine trees on a sunny day.
A group of four men standing outdoors in front of a sign that reads 'Chattanooga River Fly Shop' with a phone number underneath. The men are smiling and posing for the photo, with one holding a box labeled 'Echo Lift Kit.' A dog is in the foreground,
People fishing in a shallow river surrounded by green trees and a clear blue sky.
A man wearing sunglasses and a cap holding a fish in front of a river with rocks and trees in the background.
A man standing by a riverbank, wearing a cap, sunglasses, and fishing gear, holding a fishing rod in a forested area with trees, rocks, and a clear blue sky.
A river flowing through a forest with tall trees on both sides under a blue sky with a few clouds, and two people standing in the water.
Two people standing in a river, surrounded by lush green trees and a forested hillside under a partly cloudy sky.
A river flowing through a lush, green forest under a bright blue sky with sunlight streaming through the trees.
A person sitting in a boat fishing on a calm river surrounded by lush green trees under a bright blue sky with sunlight streaming through the branches.
A man with a hat and sunglasses smiling while fishing in a river surrounded by lush green trees.
Two people wading in a river surrounded by tall green trees under a bright blue sky, with forest in the background.
Two people are standing waist-deep in a river with rocks, surrounded by a dense green forest under a clear blue sky.
People fishing in a river surrounded by trees on a sunny day.
Two people are fishing in a river in a forested area on a sunny day. The river has clear water, and tall trees with green foliage line both sides. The sky is bright blue with sunlight shining down.
People fishing in a river with tall trees on both sides and sunlight streaming down from a clear blue sky.
Three people fishing in a river with a forested background and a clear blue sky.
Four men fishing in a clear river, surrounded by tall pine trees and lush green forest under a bright blue sky.
Two men stand in a shallow river, surrounded by a lush, green forest with tall trees and blue sky. One man points while the other listens, both wearing outdoor clothing and backpacks.
A group of people standing in a shallow river surrounded by tall trees under a bright blue sky, with sunlight streaming down.
Group of people standing on a rocky beach by a river with a forest of tall green trees under a clear blue sky.
A group of people hiking on a forest trail surrounded by green trees and foliage on a sunny day.
A scenic forest path with trees on both sides under a bright blue sky with a few wispy clouds. The trees are lush and green, indicating spring or early summer, with some partially leafless branches. The ground is grassy with a dirt trail.