Greg: You wouldn't think of New Jersey as a trout mecca, but surprisingly enough in the small town of Tinton Falls where I grew up we had a spring creek that they stocked with trout annually. My brother had a fly rod that I would take out occasionally with zero idea what I was doing. I just loved the "idea" of fly fishing. I would mimic Brad Pitt from A River Runs Through It, flinging the fly back and forth with the worst possible form, not catching a thing, but loving it. Fortunately my parents were big into the outdoors, so the love started young.
How did you find out about Trout Unlimited in general and the Truckee River Chapter in particular?
I'm sure I heard of Trout Unlimited through some form of outdoor media, but I never gave it much thought. Moving to San Francisco to escape a banking career in NYC where I had little time to volunteer or do much of anything else ended up being the best decision of my life (don't tell my wife that). I picked fishing back up after we moved to Nevada City and I bought a small rod for backpacking trips and started taking guided trips down the Lower Yuba. That was all it took. I now have a closet full of gear and fish through all four seasons. As part of exiting banking, I wanted to really focus on helping the environment and being involved with organizations that prioritize the outdoors. I was at a Truckee Thursdays event, came across a TU tent, and the rest is history. I was on the Board of the local chapter within a few months.
Where do most of the folks who participate in Truckee River Chapter events live?
Since Truckee is a popular vacation town for the Bay Area and Sacramento, we have participants from all over Northern CA—from the Bay Area to the Central Valley in addition to the locals. And let’s not forget about Reno. We have NV folks as well.
What are some of the events that the Truckee River Chapter has sponsored over the last few years?
I have only been on the Board for about 2 years, but some of our most popular annual events include Fishmas Eve—a fundraiser featuring awesome merchandise and fishing gear up for auction to celebrate the start of the season—and our Sierra Trout Camp where we take youth on a camping weekend to teach them lessons in conservation, and of course, how to fly fish.
[editor’s note: The Truckee River Chapter is looking for volunteers to help with the 2026 Trout Camp the weekend of June 27-28. Check out their Instagram post here for more info.]
Who are some of the key folks in the Truckee River Chapter that make these events happen?
It may be cliche, but really everyone on the board gets involved. Our current members include Miles Zimmerman, Larry Heywood, Trevor Fagerskog, Sheldon Felich, Brian Slusser, Brad Christofferson, and Dan Johnson from TU National. I’d like to give a shout out to our newest member, Miles Zimmerman who owns Trout Creek Outfitters. Miles really drove the Fishmas Eve event in getting a ton of gear donated for the auction.
What do you find is the Chapter’s most effective method of reaching your members with news and event announcements?
That's a great question. I think it's a combination of tools-social media, flyers, email blasts and word of mouth. Given the age range of members, different methods may be more effective for different groups of people. You need to approach all angles.
Can you talk about something that you and your fellow chapter members are particularly proud of accomplishing through the Chapter?
Larry Heywood and I dove deep into a complex river access issue the chapter had been looking into for several years. It took hours of work with attorneys along with time at the county archives and chasing down other leads for information. The outcome was a compromise, but it showed what we could do with the support of our chapter, TU National and our volunteers. It was motivating and a big learning experience.
What upcoming Chapter event(s) are you most looking forward to this year?
Well, as you may have guessed, statistically, there is a 75% chance that anyone from NJ was a DJ in their former life. So it's Fishmas Eve where I serve as the MC. It's always a fun event with a great turnout.
What do you see as your biggest challenge going forward?
Time, motivation and prioritization (all wrapped into one). I think one of the biggest challenges for non-profits in general is not just finding volunteers, but finding those that have a longer runaway (youth) and actually show up. Each generation seems to move further away from prioritizing community and "getting involved". Boards are aging and it's becoming harder to find replacements. I’m only 42, but I still need to work to make a living (CA isn't cheap). I am juggling my role as Treasurer of TUCA and a Board member for the Truckee River Chapter along with my professional work and multiple other volunteer efforts. Staying motivated is a challenge for us all.
Anything else you’d like to share?
It's incredibly rewarding to give back and work alongside an organization that makes a real impact for positive change. As technology speeds up our lives, it further disconnects us from the land, from the outdoors. We fail to realize that we are part of the equation. How we impact the environment, impacts us. Being stewards of the land, of the watershed, doesn't just ensure we protect the fish we love for the enjoyment of future generations, but it directly impacts our survival as a species.
Thanks Greg!
