Educational Speaker—March 16, 2026
When: Monday, March 16, 2026
In-Person & Zoom: IWLA-R Chapter House • 18301 Waring Station Road • Germantown MD 20874
Zoom Sign-in and Pre-Meeting Time: 7:15 - 7:30 p.m.
Program Start: 7:30 p.m.
Who: Alan Burrows
Topic: An Overview of the Trout in the Classroom Program
Join SVTU as Alan Burrows, a leader in the Trout in the Classroom (TIC) Program in Montgomery County, presents on the impact the program can have. Maryland has the largest totally volunteer TIC programs in the Nation. It positively impacts thousands of school students every year and teaches them the importance of protecting our natural resources. Join us to hear what it takes to operate on this scale and possibly find a role for your volunteer time educating youth on trout, fishing, and water quality.
BIO: Alan has been a member of TU since 1999 when he started fly fishing (converted from golf)! He began his Trout in the Classroom (TIC) history two years later joining the Kamloops express delivering eggs and coordinating TIC in Howard County Maryland
In 2013 he took on a larger role coordinating Montgomery County as well, and taking a leadership role as Jim Greene retired from active involvement. This action also put him on the Mid-Atlantic Council Board (MAC) as youth education chair, and he is still there today. MAC TIC expects to reach over 4,000 students each year. Since Alan has been helping run the program it has exposed close to 50,000 students to trout and clean cold fishable water.
Alan was Speaker Chair for PPTU for four years before becoming VP in 2016. He served as president for a two-year term and was called back in 2021 for a short six months. In 2017, he guided PPTU in establishing a partnership with Howard County Rec and Parks and PPTU has offered Fly Fishing 101 every year since then.
Meeting ID: 891 7204 2424
Passcode: 084667
One tap mobile: +1-301-715-8592 -- *084667# US
2026 Fly Tying Classes
It's that time again. Our winter/spring fly tying class schedule has been set.
SVTU will be providing ALL materials needed for a particular fly. If you have your own tools and vice please bring them.
- Monday, March 2: Hares Ear (2 ways, with and without a bead)
- Monday, March 16: General Foam Attractor (GFA) Hopper
- Monday, March 30: Wooly Bugger (2 ways, with bead and dumbbell eyes)
- Monday, April 6: Elk Hare Caddis and X-caddis
- Monday, April 20: Poppers—design and create your Bass or Panfish poppers
Feel free to download the Introduction to Fly Fishing handout which has a lot of great information in it, especially if you are a beginner/novice.
Upcoming 2026 Fishing Shows
March 14-15—The Fly Fishing Show, Lancaster PA
Lancaster County Convention Center, 3 East Vine Street, Lancaster, PA.
Find out more at www.flyfishingshow.com/lancaster-pa/
March 21—Maryland Fly Fishing and Collectable Tackle Show
Towson University, West Village Commons, 424 Emerson Drive, Towson, Maryland.
Find out more at www.marylandflyfishingshow.com
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
John Smith
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