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.”

Umpqua Feather Merchants stands with TU on Lower Snake

“At Umpqua, we say we’re tied to the water,” Russ said. “Our love of the water is the constant that binds us all together. From flies to tools, everything we do is made for the water. The Snake is an iconic American river that once supported plentiful runs of salmon and steelhead. For decades now, we’ve tried to work around the issue of the dams with fish ladders, barges and a host of other failed alternatives. The fact is that we can either have dams on the Snake or fish in the Snake. We can’t have both.”

Wild Rivers Coffee Company stands with TU on the Lower Snake

For a young family like theirs, the notion of losing salmon and steelhead runs in this iconic American river is simply unacceptable. These fish are too special, this place is too special for us to sit by and watch as these fish simply disappear. “Wild Rivers Coffee is with Trout Unlimited all the way on this proposal,” Marshall says. “We believe these fish are a legacy for our children and future generations of Americans to enjoy and pass on. That’s what conservation is all about.”

Master’s student searching lake sediment for clues to Idaho’s salmon past

“For me and my research specifically I want to make people aware of the number of fish that use to be in these lakes. We can fall into a trap of seeing a couple of hundred of fish after years of seeing a few and think things are good,” she said. “It is important to understand dramatic measures will need to be taken to restore these fisheries.”

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