TU Chapters in West Virginia
Ernie Nester
3-23-12
When we moved to West Virginia in 1966 there were 6 Trout Unlimited members in the state. With help from Chris Colt from the TU National office we finally formed the Kanawha Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited (KVCTU) in 1972 and I was the first chapter president. Three charter members of the KVCTU (Ed Crum, Ernie Nester, and Max Robertson) are still active in TU affairs. The Mountaineer Chapter in Clarksburg was also formed in 1972 and the Mountain Trout Chapter in Bluefield was formed in 1973. The Mountain Trout Chapter eventually died and there is currently another TU chapter (East River Mountain Chapter) in Bluefield, but unfortunately that chapter is affiliated with the Virginia Council.
Since 1972 fourteen TU chapters have been formed in WV, but seven of those chapters have folded. There have been two chapters formed in the eastern panhandle (Opequon and Shenandoah), but neither survived. Elkins is close to numerous trout streams, but the Allegheny Highlands Chapter did not survive. We have not had much success in developing or maintaining chapters in the Elkins-Petersburg-Marlinton-Lewisburg-Richwood region.
It takes a few good leaders to maintain a TU chapter long term. In several cases chapters folded when the chapter president had to move to another location.
In spite of our relatively low numbers, TU has been an effective conservation organization in WV. A few of our major accomplishments in WV include the expansion of brown trout fisheries by stocking brown trout fingerlings, funding and participating in Trout in the Classroom projects in numerous schools, and providing funding and support for DNR’s limestone sand program to improve and restore native brook trout populations.
Chapter Location Yr. Formed Dechartered Membership
9-30-11
#166 Kanawha Valley Charleston 1972 449
#153 Mountaineer Clarksburg 1972 237
#192 Mountain Trout Bluefield 1973 2006
Opequon Martinsburg 1975 ~1981
#164 P. Pendleton Kennedy Morgantown 1975 249
#304 Blennerhassett Parkersburg 1977 111
#312 Greenbrier Lewisburg 1978 2009 *88
#338 KYOVA Huntington 1980 57
#372 Almost Heaven Beckley 1981 2007
#434 Upper Ohio Valley Wheeling 1983 46
#459 Central West Virginia Clay 1984 ~1992
#731 Upper Guyandotte Mullins 2003 32
#504 Allegheny Highlands Elkins 1985 2007
#595 Shenandoah Martinsburg 1990 ~1998
* Have been moved to KVCTU
Note: The West Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited was formed in 1974.