In 1959, 16 fishermen gathered at the home of George Griffith. They were united by their love of trout fishing and by their growing discontent with the Michigan’s practice of stocking its waters with “cookie cutter trout”—catchable, but undersized hatchery fish. Strong of spirit and of one mind, they somehow marshaled their energies to convince the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that their trout streams could turn out a far superior fish, if left to their own devices; thus, was born a new organization: Trout Unlimited, dedicated to ensuring that wild and native trout populations were allowed to thrive, as nature intended.
From the beginning, TU was guided by the principle that if we “take care of the fish, then the fishing will take care of itself.” And that principle was grounded in science. “One of our most important objectives is to develop programs and recommendations based on the very best information and thinking available,” said TU’s first president, Dr. Casey E. Westell Jr. “In all matters of trout management, we want to know that we are substantially correct, both morally and biologically.”
In 1962-63, TU prepared its first policy statement on wild trout, and persuaded the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to curtail “put-and-take” trout stocking and start managing for wild trout and healthy habitat. On the heels of that success, anglers quickly founded TU chapters in Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, and Pennsylvania, with our Brodhead Chapter being among the first local chapters ever created!
From its hundreds of local stream restoration projects, to helping lead the way to remove the Edwards Dam on the Kennebec River in Maine, to compelling Congress to strengthen the Clean Water Act, TU has a strong 50+ year track record of conservation achievements. Perhaps TU’s greatest strength is that it works at multiple levels of society and government to achieve its mission. From the landowner on the stream bank, to the state fisheries agency, to the Halls of Congress, TU is working to achieve its vision.
The Brodhead Chapter was chartered as MONROE STREAMS in March of 1977.
At that time, our chapter was called Monroe Streams, and some time later officially changed to Brodhead Chapter; the Charter members were: Ed Bonser, Gene Gorse, Diane Gorse, Don Baylor, Dick Brown, Gary Smith, Bob Stevens, John Gialouris and Andy Charalampos. The first officers were Ed Bonser, President, Henry Fremount, Vice President, Diane Grose, Secretary and John Gialouris, Treasurer. The early meetings were held in the Windsor Fly Shop on North 9th Street in Stroudsburg. Henry Fremount followed Ed Bonser as President, and we moved meetings to the East Stroudsburg University. Today, our meetings are held at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center located at 8050 Running Valley Road, near Bartonsville, PA.
Brodhead Chapter of Trout Unlimited
P.O. BOX 661
TANNERSVILLE, PA 18372
administrator@brodheadtu.org
brodheadchapter@gmail.com