Bluegrass TU

Bluegrass TU Bringing Kentucky together through our waterways : Every river needs a champion. BGTU welcomes members of all skill levels and ages!

Bluegrass Trout Unlimited (BGTU) is Kentucky’s only chapter of Trout Unlimited - a national non-profit focused on conserving, protecting, and restoring America’s waterways on which we all depend. Our mission is to bring together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout. Our volunteers work year round to bring toget

her anglers, businesses, schools, non-profits, and individuals who are passionate about: fishing, conservation, education, and community. We have a number of local and regional programs dedicated to facilitating our key goals including Trout in the Classroom (TIC), fly casting clinics, trash cleanups, trout stocking, Embrace A Stream - outdoor classroom at Veteran's Park, Talk and Tie nights and more! Join or renew today, come on out to one of our events, or send us a message to learn more!

This is a hybrid event with both in person and virtual attendance options Are you looking to be more involved in conserv...
05/04/2026

This is a hybrid event with both in person and virtual attendance options

Are you looking to be more involved in conservation right here in your own community? Are you looking to find out just what on Earth the troutsters are up to at Bluegrass Trout Unlimited? Are you looking to make some new fishing pals? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then join us for our May board meeting which is open to the public and being held at the University of Kentucky Gatton Student Center!

We will also have a special guest speaker from our good pals, Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA)! Nick Hart, their Water Policy Director and big supporter of BGTU, will discuss KWA’s recent projects and goals, especially their waste tire reporting and removal program - a huge effort across Kentucky, also featured in the superb local short film entitled “River Cowboys.”

Kentucky Waterways Alliance link: https://www.kwalliance.org/

If you have questions, comments, ideas, or just want to meet the board of BGTU we would love to hear from you.

You do not have to know how to fish or know anyone to attend this event! BGTU is open to everyone regardless of skill level and interest.

We will be discussing:
-Events and updates from last month at BGTU
-Upcoming events
-Ways to get involved/volunteer opportunities

What: Public Board Meeting
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026
TIme: 7:00 PM - 9:00PM
Location: University of Kentucky Gatton Student Center, Room TBD, 160 Avenue of Champions Lexington KY
Cost: Free and open to the public!

Zoom Registration Link: in our story
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84509673354?pwd=2O6bA6aUVE5UOQwOohn6roqOI6WG4M.1

Join us at BGTU’s Embrace A Stream Outdoor Classroom along West Hickman Creek in Veterans Park on Saturday, April 25, 20...
04/22/2026

Join us at BGTU’s Embrace A Stream Outdoor Classroom along West Hickman Creek in Veterans Park on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

*THIS EVENT IS STREAM KEEPERS ELIGIBLE (bring your passport for a stamp, or get a new passport at this event)*

We’re seeking volunteers to help:

- remove invasive plants (from small weeds to honeysuckle bushes/trees)
- plant native plants
- clean and install signs
- stack fallen limbs and sticks into bug habitat piles
- sand and seal wooden benches

This is an opportunity for anyone interested in volunteering and preserving our local environment. Whether you’re a chapter member or someone wanting to learn more about Trout Unlimited, we welcome your help! This event is free and open to the public, all are welcome!

BGTU will provide yard waste bags and a small quantity of gloves and hand tools. Please bring your own gloves, shovels, rakes, glasses, etc if possible. We recommend wearing lightweight pants, long sleeve shirts, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and appropriate footwear for walking in dense vegetation or in the creek if desired.

Bring a water bottle and bring some snacks if you need them!

We look forward to seeing you at the creek!

Google maps link to classroom:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Gk6orrFeWkvLhKrA9

Directions: Park at Picnic Shelter 1, walk down the hill and left onto the path towards the bridge. Cross the bridge, and the classroom is on the right!

In honor of EARTH DAY 🌎 I would like to introduce the first class of STREAM Girls for the state of Kentucky for Bluegras...
04/22/2026

In honor of EARTH DAY 🌎 I would like to introduce the first class of STREAM Girls for the state of Kentucky for Bluegrass Trout Unlimited!

STREAM Girls/STREAM Keepers is a community based program designed to connect individuals to their local waterways through science art and angling.

Last weekend at Rock Creek, these girls absolutely ROCKED it! In just one day they completed all 8 STREAM Girls activities and earned their official badges.

They learned what makes a healthy stream, measured water flow, collected creek critters for a macro invertebrate survey, picked up trash, looked at insects and plants under a microscope, tied their own flies, learned how to cast a fly rod, and to top it all off…they made their own ice cream!

Interested in becoming a STREAM Keeper? Great news! You can! There is no age limit on this program because there is no age limit for caring about streams! Come to any of our STREAM Keepers eligible events to get your own activity passport and start earning stamps towards your badge!

The next eligible event is this Saturday April 25 at our outdoor classroom at Veteran’s Park from 9am-12pm. We will be removing invasive species, planting natives, improving bug habitat, restoring benches and more!

Hope to see you there!

*If you would like to schedule for your Girl Scout troop, group, or organization to complete the STREAM Girls/STREAM Keepers program in one full or two half day classes, please reach out to [email protected]*

Join us at our 27th Annual Outing at Rock Creek in the Daniel Boone National Forest at Bell Farm! The outing will begin...
04/15/2026

Join us at our 27th Annual Outing at Rock Creek in the Daniel Boone National Forest at Bell Farm!

The outing will begin with a stream cleanup (clean where you cast!), followed by a picnic lunch sponsored by the chapter. Following lunch, chapter members will offer instruction in fly tying and fly casting. After the classes conclude, participants will disperse throughout the area and test their skills against the wily rainbow trout, who have been wintering in Rock Creek. We may even have time to conduct a stream assessment and macro invertebrates search!

The day will conclude with a potluck dinner around the campfire at Great Meadow Campground. Dutch oven deserts and fish tales will be a part of the evening festivities.

Schedule:
9:00 am Check in at Hemlock Grove for assigned cleanup areas
12:00 pm Picnic at Hemlock Grove
1:00 pm Classes for fly tying and fly casting
2:30 pm Fishing for the wily rainbows
6:00 pm Potluck Dinner at Great Meadow campground

What: 27th Annual Rock Creek Outing with BGTU
Date: April 18 2026
Time: 9am-6pm
Meeting location: Hemlock Grove picnic area
Location Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/c4njrifFZCM6CoNU9
Who: Anyone is welcome!
Cost: Free

For more information please contact: Sandy Broughman (859)229-1924

Do you have what it takes to be a S.T.R.E.A.M. Keeper? Hint: You DO!Join Bluegrass Trout Unlimited (BGTU) during Lexingt...
03/18/2026

Do you have what it takes to be a S.T.R.E.A.M. Keeper? Hint: You DO!

Join Bluegrass Trout Unlimited (BGTU) during Lexington’s Water Week to learn about our newest program: S.T.R.E.A.M. Keepers!
This event will take place on Tuesday March 24 in the McConnell Springs Park Education Center from 6-8PM.

This program uses Science, Technology, Recreation, Engineering, Art, and Math (STREAM) based activities to connect citizens of all ages with their local waterways through science art and angling (which is just a fancy word for fly-fishing).

STREAM Keepers is an activity-passport based program consisting of 8 core activities. Get a stamp in your activity passport (provided by BGTU) for each activity you complete, and earn a STREAM Keepers badge when you complete all 8!

On Tuesday March 24, we will be doing a sampling of our “Go With the Flow” activity. Participants will be able to investigate water properties (pH, mineral levels, microscopic life, and more) from 3 different pools of water at McConnell Springs including The Blue Hole, The Boils, and The Pond!

All ages from child to adult are welcome to become a STREAM Keeper because water connects us all!

Make sure to check out all the other awesome water week events at:
https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/departments-programs/environmental-quality-public-works/environmental-services/live-green-lexington/water-week

What: STREAM Keepers 101
Where: McConnell Springs Park Education Center
Date: March 24, 2026
Address: 416 Rebmann Ln, Lexington, KY 40504
Who: Any person of any age is welcome
Cost: FREE

Join us Thursday March 19 at to tie flies, grab a bite, grab a drink, play some trivia, and talk with other cool people...
03/17/2026

Join us Thursday March 19 at to tie flies, grab a bite, grab a drink, play some trivia, and talk with other cool people about fishing/streams/conservation/bugs/etc.! We will be in the upstairs balcony seating area.

This is a casual event where you can come and go as you please. There won’t be a formal fly tying demo, but we will have a few fly tying stations set up if you would like to either observe or learn from someone there! We have several skilled fly tiers! Don’t care about arts and crafts (fly tying), then hang out with other local conservationists, make some friends, and learn about Bluegrass Trout Unlimited!

Any person of any skill level is welcome!

What: Talk and Tie Night
Where: Blue Stallion Brewing
Location: 610 West 3rd Street Lexington KY
Date: 3/19/2026

Volunteer with us to help stock brown and rainbow trout at Bark Camp Creek in Daniel Boone National Forest!For full deta...
03/03/2026

Volunteer with us to help stock brown and rainbow trout at Bark Camp Creek in Daniel Boone National Forest!

For full details visit our current events link in our bio!

Stocking date: Wednesday March 11 2026
Meeting time: Around 1:00 PM EST (We usually ask that volunteers arrive ~12:30 PM EST)
Meeting point: Bark Camp Creek Trailhead (GPS coordinates: 36.90444, -84.281025)
Stocking method: Using buckets halfway filled with water and around 10-20 trout to disperse along Bark Camp Creek

If you have any other questions, concerns, etc., feel free to contact: Brad Hartman- KDFWR Assistant Fisheries Biologist-Southeastern Fisheries District [email protected]

Join us tomorrow February 18 for our monthly Talk and Tie night at from 7-9PM!All skill levels welcome. Come to chat, l...
02/17/2026

Join us tomorrow February 18 for our monthly Talk and Tie night at from 7-9PM!

All skill levels welcome. Come to chat, learn about Bluegrass Trout Unlimited, grab a drink, tie flies, tell fishing stories, or all of the above!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of our FIN-tastic members, friends, supporters and collaborators!
02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of our FIN-tastic members, friends, supporters and collaborators!

Come see Bluegrass Trout Unlimited at Derby City Fly Fishers 19th Annual Kentuckiana Fly Fishing Show in Shepherdsville,...
01/14/2026

Come see Bluegrass Trout Unlimited at Derby City Fly Fishers 19th Annual Kentuckiana Fly Fishing Show in Shepherdsville, KY!  We will host an exhibitor booth at this superb annual event, details can be found on the flyer!

Join us tomorrow at from 6-9PM for Mission Monday! 10% of sales will be donated back to to support local conservation ...
11/30/2025

Join us tomorrow at from 6-9PM for Mission Monday! 10% of sales will be donated back to to support local conservation efforts in 2026!

Board members of BGTU will be there to share information on all of our programs, volunteer sign up opportunities, and answer any questions you might have about the organization.

PLUS we will have fundraising BGTU merch available for purchase (hats, shirts, pins, koozies, candles, mugs). Treat yourself, or treat your friends and family to a trout treasure this holiday season.

You can also gift yourself or someone you know a Trout unlimited membership - $15 of your membership dues will stay right here in Kentucky!

All of our merch is designed with sustainability in mind!

👕 Our shirts are 100% cotton from a local, woman owned business
🧢 Our hats are 100% cotton corduroy with a metal and cloth adjustable strap instead of plastic
🥫 Our koozies are secondhand and printed locally by
🧷 Our pins are printed on sustainably sourced wood
🕯️ Our candles are made in upcycled jars locally from .babes.co

Come hang out, make a friend, grab a drink, and see what BGTU is all about !

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Lexington, KY

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