Learn to Cast a Fly Rod or Improve Your Cast
Where: IWLA-R Jim Berrier Memorial Lake OR at Seneca Creek State Park
Start time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
When: The THIRD MONDAY of the month running thru September
Next session: Monday, May 19
At this time, the sessions will be at the IWLA-R lake. IF the location changes, it will be posted here at least one day before the session.
The address for Jim Berrier Memorial Lake is 12057 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg MD. You can find more information and directions to the lake here.
Casting a fly rod is a key component of fly fishing and often the component that people find most challenging. SVTU and Izaak Walton’s Rockville Chapter is offering FREE learn to cast a fly rod classes on the third Monday of the month at the Jim Berrier Memorial Lake OR Seneca Creek State Park from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Bring your own fly rod or use one of ours to learn or improve your cast. We will have one-on-one instruction with our casting instructors, all supervised by a FFI-Certified Casting Instructor.
Family Picnic
When: Saturday, May 31
Where: IWLA-R Jim Berrier Memorial Lake
Start Time: 4:00 p.m.
In place of the May meeting, we will be having a pot-luck picnic at the IWLA-R lake on May 31, 2025. This picnic is open to SVTU members and their families and guests.
We look forward to you joining us for some camaraderie, a bite to eat, and a chance to wet a line in the lake.
Upcoming SVTU Events
What: 2025 SVTU Outing on Octoraro Creek
When: Friday May 2 and Saturday May 3
Due to popular demand, we’re adding a weekday to this year's shad outing on Octoraro Creek! The dates are Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, provided the weather and water level are acceptable. If the event is cancelled due to weather or water levels it will be posted to the site.
You are responsible for your own food & drinks for this trip. You will need a valid MD fishing license for this trip. Depending on where you are, you may be in a tidal or non-tidal area. It would be best to have both Non-Tidal and Bay & Coastal fishing license.
If you have a question about this outing, please click contact us in the top navigation.
Visit our Past Speakers Page
We have a library of our Past Speakers & their topics. A lot of our speakers have given us permission to post their presentation on our site. Check it out.
About Our Membership
Our core membership area stretches from the Washington Beltway to Hancock MD and includes western Montgomery, southern Frederick, and Washington Counties. We also welcome members from anywhere outside this geographic area.
When you join TU, you are a member of a national, council (state), and local organization. SVTU is a local voice. The Mid-Atlantic Council (MAC) speaks for cold water at the state level. National TU works with Congress and agencies at the national level.
What Our Chapter Does
SVTU supports the national vision in the following ways:
- Our chapter helps both financially and with volunteer hours to assist with restoration activities on Beaver Creek in Washington County
- Our volunteers help with maintenance activities on Little Seneca Creek in Montgomery County, southern Catoctin brook trout streams in Frederick County and maintenance of warmwater streams like Great Seneca Creek and areas of the Potomac River
- Youth fly-tying and fishing education events, adult fly tying, and assistance to Project Healing Waters events with our partner organizations
- Social events and our Fly Fishing 101 for members and guests
Join Our Chapter
When you join the SVTU Chapter $15 of every new membership fee comes back to us. Click the button "Join SVTU Button" to get started (you will be redirected to the National TU website to complete registration). You can join our chapter at an introductory rate of $17.50!
News & Articles
Chapter News
The SVTU chapter has lost some of our members. You can read about them at the “In Memorium” page.
Partnerships
SVTU received both the Maryland Division and National IWLA “Honor Roll Award” for our working partnership with the Rockville Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America.
The Adaptive Caster is a series of articles written by Dave Cleaves an FFI-certified fly-casting instructor.
New Article: Winter Casting Practice—Tips & Resources
Chapter Leadership
Officers
President: Noel Gollehon
Vice President: Joe Walther
Secretary: Peter Viechnicki
Treasurer: Nate Wallace
Board of Directors
Jack Higgins
Doug Hutzell
Andy Iams
Bob Irvin
Warren Junium
Ricardo Tappan
The Seneca Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SVTU) is a local voice of National Trout Unlimited.
SVTU is a 501(C)3 organization, so your cash contributions are tax deductible to the level allowed by your tax situation. Direct contributions are always appreciated, and we will occasionally solicit with a direct campaign to fund a special project from time to time. You can easily donate to our chapter, just click the donate button. Thanks!
© Seneca Valley Trout Unlimited, Chapter 369