Big Brown Fish Hatchery, Inc. was started in 1972 as a hobby, at the age of 11 by its owner, Charles A. Conklin, II.¬Ý The first sale was made in 1975.¬Ý It was difficult for Charlie to sell these fish as they had become pets.¬Ý He had names for the 25 most distinct individuals.¬Ý The fish that he was most fond of was called Big Brown.¬Ý In 1984, after graduation from college, the hatchery became a full time business.¬Ý¬Ý A name was needed and the first that came to mind was Big Brown Fish Hatchery.¬Ý The hatchery produces over 260,000¬Ýpounds of Brown, Brook, Rainbow and Golden Trout and about 20,000 Large Mouth Bass annually.¬Ý Approximately 25% of its fish are sold at its own Fish & Pay Lake, 65% are stocked for private sport fishing and 10% are sold to food processors.

Since the beginning, Big Brown has grown and expanded to other venues.¬Ý The Pay Lake is now 18 years old and is visited by over 10,000 people annually.¬Ý We have supplied processed trout to the finest restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia.¬Ý We now concentrate solely on our live fish sales and pay lake.