Starting a new student organization on campus can be a daunting task. The path to accreditation is lined with red tape and an array of mandatory classes, recruitment efforts, fundraising and rafting a binding constitution to govern the organization. The latter part alone tests the resolve and organizational skills of those seeking to expand the list of UGA’s official student organizations. Two ambitious UGA students have garnered support from a national organization and local club to help ease the strain and help navigate the ups and downs.

Brent Ledford and Taylor Murray are two students with very similar interests—specifically fly fishing—but neither had met the other before a recent Monday night, when dozens of people gathered at the Eastside Loco’s Grill for the Oconee River Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s monthly meeting. Students, teachers and fly fishers alike came out to show their support of the duo’s proposition of starting a new UGA Chapter of TU’s 5 Rivers College Outreach Program.  

TU Chapter President Steve Hilliard was an early advocate of the proposed club. “When [Murray and Ledford] asked us about starting a fishing club at UGA, the Five Rivers program seemed like a perfect fit,” he said. “It will be a UGA student organization, run by the students, so they can give it their own style and make their own decisions. My hope is that we’ll work together on fisheries events and habitat improvement, giving the students exposure to our chapter and the mission of TU, and giving us the opportunity to connect with the next generation of business owners, decision makers and anglers.”

The 5 Rivers program seeks to cultivate a unique connection between young fly fishermen and women and the conservation efforts necessary to protect trout waters across the country—although you don’t have to have any experience with trout or fly fishing to sign up. Students will have the opportunity to learn all about fly casting, fly tying and cold-water conservation—not to mention spending a lot of time on the water doing what they love, fishing.

Though they just recently met one another for the first time, Ledford and Murray are equally shouldering the responsibility of starting up the new chapter. Students who are interested in joining or learning more about the 5 Rivers Club, can join the discussion on the new Facebook page called “5 Rivers Club UGA,” by emailing the guys directly at [email protected] or [email protected], or by attending ORCTU’s monthly meetings.

In the months to come, ORCTU will serve as home base for updates and information for the aspiring 5 Rivers program. Meetings are held the third Monday of each month at Loco’s on the Eastside at 6:30 p.m. Next month’s meeting, on Feb. 15, will feature guest speaker Zach Matthews, a trial lawyer, photographer, writer and host of the Itinerant Angler podcast for a presentation on “Fly Fishing for Striped Bass.” March’s monthly meeting will be a presentation on ORCTU’s annual fishing trip to Brevard, NC. April’s meeting will be the annual spring banquet fundraiser. Keep up with local events and meetings at orctu.wordpress.com or on Facebook at Oconee River Chapter of Trout Unlimited.