From Out of the Smokies

Stories of Fly Fishing and Life

By: Charlie Tombras

Narrated by: Gary Roelofs

Knoxville native Charlie Tombras may be best known for his fifty-seven-year leadership of the nationally recognized advertising firm the Tombras Group, but in his moving memoir, From Out of the Smokies: Stories of Fly Fishing and Life, he chronicles his personal journey, letting business take a backseat.

Born and raised in the Smokies, Tombras grew up exploring mountains and streams, fostering an appreciation for nature and fly fishing that would follow him through a tour of duty in Vietnam and into adulthood. With a relatable, often humorous style, Tombras recollects adventures spanning eight decades and the resulting lessons of friendship, loss, and love that he learned along the way. Emphasizing the value of hard work and perseverance, Tombras thoughtfully examines his lifelong love of fly fishing and leaves no stone unturned as he takes listeners from childhood to adulthood in vivid memories and captivating prose. From exhilarating tales of white-water canoeing in Northern Labrador to grief-stricken seasons of loss, Tombras’s memoir of spirit and adventure provides a nuanced portrait of a successful manin business and in life.

Through his sporting adventures and other personal experiences, Tombras continues to learn how to weather storms in whatever shape they may take and how to grow in the face of adversity. Much like the wild rivers that Tombras explored and loved, From Out of the Smokies will inspire listeners to accept and marvel at forces beyond our control.

The book is published by The University of Tennessee Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

“Tombras reminds us that fishing is about more than catching fish and, in fact, engenders much else, including life-long friendships, self-reliance, ingenuity, and an abiding appreciation for nature’s beauty.” (David Brill, author of As Far as the Eye Can See)

©2025 The University of Tennessee Press (P)2026 Redwood Audiobooks