The Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock

In A Nutshell

The name of the Organization comes from the waxed neck feather of the Indian Jungle Fowl which was worn as a symbol of the group.  This chicken-like bird is on the endangered species list.  A brief history goes like this…. In the late 30’s a group of men had formed a tradition of a Spring outing to fish Maryland’s Hunting Creek.  They would stay in a small cabin on the upper portion of the stream.  In 1939 the meeting was set for mid-April, but on Friday the 21st a snowstorm hit keeping the men indoors.  Now these men were fly fishermen.  They shared common feelings about their sport.  They wanted to protect it and ensure that future generations of anglers would be able to enjoy fishing as they had.  They determined to pass on the knowledge, skill and ideals of conservation to the youth of their generation.  How best to do so was the topic of conversation on that Friday night.  Finally they determined to compose a CREED to define the goals and guide their organization into the future.  Clarke Venable wrote the CREED on Saturday morning, it was accepted and remains unchanged today.

Now 85 years later the tradition continues.  The Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock still meets near Hunting Creek in the Catoctin Mountains of Central Maryland the weekend after Mothers Day to hold their annual Campfire.  A three day weekend designed to pass on to the youth of today the knowledge, skills and love of our sport.  Man and boys sleep in modern cabins, and eat in a central dining hall.

A seven year instructional program is currently being used.  It starts with boys 8 or older, starting with basics of beginning angling and taking them through an opportunity to fish with “the masters.”

Conservation, reading the water, stream side instruction, entomology, terminal tackle, equipment maintenance, knots, fly tying, rod building and net making are some of the classes being taught.

Attendance is by invitation only and a man can only attend when he sponsors a boy.  As many as 475 men and boys are able to attend the Campfire weekend.

The Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock has grown.  Maryland is the parent chapter, with offspring chapters in Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

We Guard Tomorrow Today