Who we are
OUR VISION STATEMENT
Our Vision is to be one of the finest private fly-fishing clubs in America!
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Our Mission is to provide a premier cold water trout fishery for the benefit of our members and guests by preserving our pristine and idyllic Club property and facilities at Zanesfield, Ohio, and by stocking our ponds and streams with healthy trout so as to promote a high-quality fishing experience.
OUR STRATEGY STATEMENT
We will keep as our primary focus the preservation and enhancement of the club's existing streams, grounds and facilities.
We will stock healthy fish raised primarily in our own nursery facilities.
We will maintain a staff of capable, well-trained and competitively compensated employees who are motivated
to meet the fly-fishing needs of our members.We will maintain our streams, ponds, grounds and buildings in such a manner as to afford a welcoming and
comfortable environment and to maximize the fly fishing and social experience of our members and guests.We will strive for excellence and for continuous improvement in all Club endeavors, while making every effort
to achieve our goals at a reasonable cost to our members.
Our History
History of the Zanesfield Trout Waters and ZRGC
The origins of the Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club trace back to early Ohio history, when the present site was a marshland fed by natural springs flowing into the Mad River—ideal conditions for trout habitat.
In 1891, Byron G. “Bun” Cushman began learning trout culture in Castalia, Ohio, the site of America’s first artificially propagated trout. Upon returning, Bun and his father Warren Cushman began acquiring land and by 1913 had established a trout rearing operation near Zanesfield.
Throughout the 1920s and 30s, Bun developed the fish rearing facilities and leased waters to anglers, while several early attempts at forming a fishing club were made but did not succeed.
In 1938, Hazard Okey, a Columbus attorney, spearheaded the official formation of the Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club. He signed a lease with Bun and Mary Edna Cushman for the use of the trout waters at $750 per year, capping membership at 50 anglers. Okey also relocated the old T&O C Railroad station to serve as the club’s first clubhouse.
By 1941, the club entered a land contract with the Cushmans to purchase the property. After Bun's death in 1956, his son Warren Cushman managed the club for 24 prosperous years. Warren’s son, also named Byron, served as a valued club employee from 1968 to 2013, marking three generations of Cushman dedication to trout culture and ZRGC’s success.
Today, the club has grown to over 200 members and 220 acres of property. Modern enhancements include 14 enclosed fish holding tanks in the nursery, ensuring a steady supply of rainbow, brown, and brook trout for its anglers.
