Chapter Educational Session, May 11
When: Monday, May 11, 2026
Zoom and in Person
Sign-in and Pre-Meeting Time: 7:15 - 7:30 p.m.
Program Start: 7:30 p.m.
Who: Matt Lawrence • Coldwater Fisheries Biologist with MDNR
Topic: The past and present status of eastern brook trout in Maryland
Matt Lawrence is a Coldwater Fisheries Biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Freshwater Fisheries and Hatcheries Division. He has worked for the department in various roles since 2009 and joined the Coldwater Fisheries Program in 2021. In his current position, Matt coordinates the management of Maryland’s coldwater fisheries resources, advocates for the protection of coldwater resources, and participates in regional coldwater conservation efforts.
Matt will present on the past and present status of eastern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Maryland and describe current projects that seek to expand brook trout occupancy through translocation and propagation.
Meeting ID: 891 7204 2424 • Passcode: 084667
Fly Casting Clinics
Improve your fishing by improving your casting
When: The 3rd Wednesday of the month
Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Seneca Creek State Park
Once again SVTU will be holding their fly casting clinics. The clinics have been moved to Seneca Creek State Park (11950 Clopper Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878) which gives us additional space and the ability to cast on Clopper Lake.
Clinics will be held on the THIRD Wednesday of the month from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Put the following dates on your calendar now: May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, and September 16.
These clinics are for ANYONE who wants to learn to cast, or improve their cast. If you are interested, we ask that you please complete the short survey so we can help tailor the clinics to help you reach your goals. If you did not, it's OK. Come anyway!
In addition to the basic pick up and lay down and roll casts, other areas of instruction may include double-hauling, managing the fly line (mending/dealing with slack), setting the hook, and fishing multiple flies/different rigging techniques. Additionally, we may also discuss fishing scenarios such as saltwater fishing, small streams, or particular destinations.
TIC Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer to support the Seneca Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter and the Trout Unlimited Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program. Need volunteers for the following dates. The times are from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All releases are at the Lodge at Little Seneca, 14500 Clopper Road, Boyds MD.
- 5/4: Need 2 volunteers
- 5/15: Release time is 4:30 - 6:30, need 1 more volunteer
- 5/18: Need 1 more volunteer
- 5/22: Need 3 volunteers
- 6/4: Need 2 volunteers
Contact Alan Burrows at aburrows53@gmail.com or 443-610-7850
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