Trout Unlimited (TU) started in 1959 when a group of anglers decided the rivers they enjoyed and the communities around them deserved more attention and care then they were getting. Today, TU is a national nonprofit that blends the art of fishing with a commitment to people, place, and stewardship. We’re still rooted in cold, clean water and wild trout, but we’re just as focused on ensuring that future generations get to feel the same joy of the outdoors.
We’re hundreds of staff and more than 300,000 members, volunteers, advocates, scientists, policy advocates, and young people finding their footing outdoors. TU is about more than catching trout—it’s about building a community where people of all ages can connect, learn, and pitch in.
Local chapters are where it all comes to life. Anglers, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts roll up their sleeves together to clean streams, plant trees, assess water quality, and run youth programs that get kids outside and curious. Fishing clinics, outdoor education, and hands‑on projects have a way of bringing people together from all kinds of backgrounds. Friendships form, confidence grows, and kids discover that they can make a real difference.
Guided by science and powered by community energy, TU takes on work that improved both rivers and the surrounding natural resources. And none of it happens without volunteers. Every year, people of all ages put in more than half a million hours, from tying a first fly to helping a young angler hook their first trout.
Whether you’re joining a cleanup, teaching a kid to cast, or just looking for a place to belong, TU offers a way to connect—with your community, with your home waters, and with the next generation who will care for them.
