No one knows for sure when it really started. Perhaps it was at age 5 when he snuck down to the Licking River to go fishing while his mom was still asleep. Or maybe the idea was ignited and then fanned into flames each time his dad told him he was too young to go "up North" fishing with him. At some point the little boy determined that someday he’d be able to fish whenever he wanted.

So, in his late teen years and early twenties Karl Brandt organized his own fishing trips "up North". But when the little boy’s love of fishing encountered the young man’s entrepreneurial dreams Brandt Trout Hatchery was born.

Karl’s love of nature – fishing, in particular – and a good dose of American drive and ingenuity made the formation of some type of fishing venture inevitable. So, in March 1980 the first batch of fertilized eggs arrived from Washington state. It was a nerve wracking journey through the Columbus, Ohio airport as Karl and his wife Von gingerly carried the box marked "Caution – KEEP LEVEL" not knowing that the warning had nothing to do with disturbing the eggs but rather was intended to keep the packing ice in place. The eggs arrived safely at the hatchery, an old farm washhouse that had been outfitted with hatching troughs made from blanching tanks that had once belonged to Frito Lay.

In 1980 trout aquaculture was a pioneer venture. Karl read all he could get his hands on, and talked with the few people in the state of Ohio (and some outside the state) who were raising trout. He combined what he learned with his innate love of nature and keen observation skills to fill in the blanks. Challenges were faced and met. Learning and managing the environmental requirements of trout (oxygen levels, temperature ranges, alkalinity of the water, etc.), determining the best way to facilitate growth and increase production, learning to identify and treat diseases and stress factors, developing methods to reduce predation from the Great Blue Heron, ducks, mink, and yes, even man, were all challenges Karl faced and conquered.

While many of the challenges were far-reaching in scope a few non-critical ones provided comic relief through the years. For instance, thwarting the nightly visits from marauding raccoons that left the hatchery in shambles. Leaving the family pet in the hatchery as a deterrent proved a poor solution since the ensuring fight between dog and raccoons caused even more damage. Blocking up the old stone chimney used in generations past to heat water for washing clothes proved to be the solution. Then there was the challenge of finding high protein food to ensure the highest quality growth of the young swimups. The answer was Karl’s own fish food biscuits which were a hit with the fish but not with Von who wasn’t happy to have her kitchen smelling like liver and her blender filled with indescribable goo. Eventually, a commercial feed was located and everyone – both fish and people – at Brandt Trout Hatchery were happy once again.

The business grew and in 1985 was relocated to 28 acres "floating" on an underground river. The artesian springs that Karl developed over the next 20 years provides an abundance of pure, clean water perfect for raising the high quality trout for which Brandt Trout Hatchery is known. A "proper" hatchery was built in the bottom of the old, historic barn, natural rearing ponds and raceways were constructed and expanded as the business continued to grow. From the humble start of hatching eggs in "corn chip" tanks Karl became an expert in his field providing consulting for businesses and even a university, as well as being on a subcommittee responsible for shaping aquaculture laws in the state of Ohio.

Then, in 2004 the dream of a family owned business came to life when his son Jason returned to his roots. The young boy who helped load trucks and would get up in the middle of the night to help with a fish crisis became the next generation of trout men intent on preserving positive aquaculture. The restoration of the perfect marriage of fly-fishing and aquaculture established by Ohioan Dr. Theodatus Garlick over one hundred and fifty years ago has been a driving force in Jason’s daily inspirations.

On any given day if you drive by Brandt Trout Hatchery, you’re likely to see Jason pulling the nets as he did as a boy or hand feeding the raceways with a careful eye on how the trout are responding. More than likely you’ll see Karl walking through the hatchery holding one of his granddaughters in his arms pointing out various species of trout in the tanks and explaining the differences. The child in his arms is looking intently and listening closely because after all, someday she will be big enough to go "up North" fishing and quite possibly she may be the third generation to promote positive aquaculture in Ohio.
    
Big Springs Trout Fishing It’s more than an quality experience- it’s history waiting to happen.

In a fast paced world in which each aspect of life seems to tumble chaotically into the next sometimes it only takes a moment to create the fondest of memories. The delightful laughter of a child, a long forgotten smile of remembrance on a friend’s face, a business associate’s hands raised in triumph become brief moments of shared history which give a sense of peace and joy for years to come.

Building quality relationships is one of life’s most rewarding activities. Yet, in today’s world time constraints often rob us of the depth in relationships that we want. So, the key is to make the most of the time we do have and where we can to blend the aspects of our lives so that we can multitask, if you will, in building those relationships.

Big Springs Trout Fishing provides such an opportunity. Time with family, friends, and/or business
associates in a beautiful, serene natural setting enhances the experience of tying into a world-class trout flashing its awesome color display in the afternoon sun.

You may fish the exotic waters of the world in search of elusive and rare species but nothing compares to home waters with which you have a history – waters teaming with a family of memories.
The fondest of memories begin with a moment… What will your moment be?