Meet the angler who is trying to complete the Western Native Trout Challenge this summer

Casting for trout in a mountain lake.

“I felt this was an important chapter of history to experience and record,” said Daniel Ritz. “When I personally started to learn more about the history and status of the West’s native species, I quickly realized how change in the West since the arrival of Europeans and the health of its trout species were intertwined. I also quickly realized I was not the only angler, let alone citizen, who wasn’t aware of the state of our native trout.”

Don’t ‘dis’ the whitefish that swim next to the trout we love

An underwater look at a mountain whitefish.

There’s trout water, and then there’s trout water that also holds mountain whitefish. The latter is likely healthier.  Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) are often greeted by anglers with the same enthusiasm they might afford a creek chub or a sucker. The slightly downturned snout may not be as appealing as the maw of a wild brown