BTCC History
1955-1962
In 1955, a dedicated group of concerned Chester County sportsmen united
their efforts to improve and preserve the quality of Trout fishing on the
East Branch of the Brandywine Creek. In addition they assure access to
the stream for all fisherman.
Together they formed the Brandywine Trout Club. During the ensuing 8 years, the Brandywine Trout Club remained a private
fishing club, raising Trout for stocking in the 3 ponds in Downingtown's
Kerr Park.
Membership dues ($2 dollars at that time) along with
donations from local businesses and individuals enabled the club to
purchase, raise, and stock 2500-3000 Trout each year. Along with these
fish, the club also tagged and released 75-100 "Trophy Trout" into the East
Branch of the Brandywine Creek.
1963-1979
In 1963, the Brandywine Trout Club became a member of
the "Cooperative Nursery Program" of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat
Commission. This program became the focus of the club's activities.
Annually in July, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat
Commission delivered an allocation of Trout fingerlings for the club to
raise for the upcoming Trout season. There is no cost to the club for
receiving the fingerlings. The Fish & Boat Commission also provides
technical aid related to water quality, routine inspections of the approved
nursery facilities, emergency inspections related to sickness and mortality,
as well as regional seminars on various topics.
In
return the club must not only bear the expense of raising the fingerlings as
well as any nursery maintenance, but also release/stock the fish in approved
trout water as designated by the State. These waters are open to
fishing for the general public. The club must also maintain and
furnish various records relating to fish mortality and stocking.
1980-2000
From these early beginnings, our club had grown in membership and
responsibility. In 1980 the club incorporated and acquired a
non-profit tax status. With this reorganization we accepted
conservation as part of our role, recognizing the importance of maintaining
and improving water quality of the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek.
Our name became Brandywine Trout and Conservation Club and we officially
adopted 10 miles of the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek from Glenmoore
to Downingtown. The club also acquired 3 miles of nearby Beaver Creek from
the Lloyd Avenue bridge downstream to where it meets East Branch of the
Brandywine Creek in Kerr Park.
In 1999 the
club played a vital role in acquiring a "Delayed Harvest/Artificial Lures"
status for a 1.2 mile length spanning from the bridge at Dorlan's Mill
downstream to the bridge at Dowlin's Forge. This stretch of water is
stocked by the state and none of the club's fish are stocked in these
waters.
2000-2008
We are proud of the improvements in our adopted streams and work hard to
maintain open relationships with all stream bank landowners, the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and various community groups.
General club meetings are held to educate the public on the benefits off our
local natural resources as well as annual kid's clinics on the basics of
fishing. In 2007 the Brandywine Trout and
Conservation Club was asked to be part of a larger group of southern
Pennsylvania clubs joining together to form the "South Eastern Pennsylvania
Angler's Coalition" or SEPAC.
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