#TroutTuesday! Catching the Joy of Fishing all Summer Long
By Jim Muck/USFWS
Photo: A young angler shows off her catch at the 4th Annual Panhandle Lake Family Fishing Funday at the 4-H Camp in Shelton, Washington on June 9, 2018. Credit: USFWS
Food, live music, raffle prizes, pony rides, free fishing rods and lots of hungry trout to catch. Now that’s a recipe for a good time! The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) was happy to support the 4th Annual Panhandle Lake Family Fishing Funday at the 4-H Camp in Shelton, Washington on June 9, 2018. This support was well received and utilized, especially given record turnout!
With many of the participants being first time anglers, the USFWS staff from the Washington Fish & Wildlife Office (Lacey, WA) focused on providing skill building opportunities. The main activity at the learning station was a casting game. Retrievable plastic fish targets, or “Backyard Bass”, were placed at different distances and kids were able to cast and reel in the big one. Through trial and error and encouragement and instruction from USFWS staff, even the youngest anglers were able to cast their lure and bring one in. Other activities included fish identification and knot tying. For fish identification, laminated printouts of different fish species were available with a key to step through on how to identify the fish based on color, fins, size of mouth, etc. In addition to being a fun challenge, this activity was related to the state fishing regulations booklet and the need to properly identify fish in order to help determine whether or not to keep or release them.
Photo: Anglers, many for the first time, look to reel in their catch at Panhandle Lake in Shelton, WA., Credit: USFWS
With over 160 youth and an overall estimated 250 total participants, this Panhandle Lake Family Fishing Funday surpassed the previous three years combined! And it was all smiles as there were no shortage of fish caught thanks to the generous stocked trout donation as well as gear and staffing support from Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. In addition to walking home with a fish to fry up, these young participants also received a free rod and reel thanks to 4-H and other generous partners such as the Puget Sound Anglers.
Photo: Young anglers work on their casting techniques, Credit: USFWS
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in coordination with businesses and organizations, provides numerous kids fishing events throughout Washington. Most of these are held from April through June. More information on these events can be found at:
So long Monday! It's #TroutTuesday! And better than the news that Monday is over is the news that Redband rainbow trout and other fish may get a little more protection in Washington State with action scheduled by the Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission this weekend, January 9 - 10 on 2015-16 sportfishing rules that include a Columbia River Basin Stream Strategy. Meanwhile, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists are working with partners to fill information gaps about redbands in Lake Roosevelt, the Spokane River, and other waterways, to better manage these unique fish.
Happy #TroutTuesday! We are bringing some attention to this often overlooked day of the week and shining a light on one of the most incredible species of fish out there - the Interior Redband Trout.
The path forward for this fish takes collaboration and stewardship; check out this video to learn about conservation along the Metolius River and read the latest #TroutTuesday blog to find out how we are working with partners to protect the species across six states.
Introducing Trout Tuesdays – Finally Something Great About the Second Day of the Week
Blogger’s Note: As far as days of the week go, Friday seems to get all the love. There are restaurants, movies, and songs dedicated to the day that the week’s work is done and the fun can begin. To be fair, Wednesdays get an honorable mention as far as days go because, after all, if you have made it through Wednesday, you are that much closer to Friday. And while no one loves Mondays, they at least have a reputation (and a song) and you can occasionally hear “Happy Monday” around the office, although the sincerity behind it is questionable. Then there are Tuesdays. Neither celebrated nor dreaded, the second day of the week is often overlooked in our headlong rush towards beloved Friday. But, at last, there is something great about Tuesday. With the help of our partners in conservation, we are initiating #TroutTuesday to honor an incredible species of fish – the interior redband trout – that, like Tuesdays, could use a little bit more love and a lot more celebrating.
About Trout: Why the Interior Redband Trout Matters
The interior redband trout is listed as a “Species of Conservation Concern” in most of its range –parts of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Nevada. Its historic range covers eastern Washington and Oregon, northeastern California, central and southwestern Idaho, northwestern Montana, and parts of northern Nevada. Habitat for the interior redband trout has declined 42 percent from its historical range – from 60,295 kilometers of stream and 152 lakes to less than 26,000 kilometers of stream and 124 lakes.
There are ecological, cultural, and economic reasons to protect and restore interior redband trout and these are reflected in agency, Tribal, and non-governmental organization mission statements. Whether resident or migratory, redband trout play important roles within the aquatic ecosystems in their range, including nourishing wild predators and human anglers. Fisheries managers recognize the value of maintaining and restoring native fish population diversity in species, subspecies, and life history patterns to increase native fish population resiliency.
Redband trout have evolved for thousands of years to develop into the most evolutionarily fit trout species to survive in their natural environment over the long term. With redband trout established through a large portion of the West, Native American Tribes in the Columbia River Basin and elsewhere in portions of its range developed a spiritual and cultural appreciation for the species and, in some cases, depended upon them for nourishment particularly where the anadromous form didn’t occur. In addition to Tribal appreciation for the species, recreational anglers in the United States place an economic value of $1.3 to $1.4 billion per year upon trout and often target the species.
Photo: Interior redband trout have historically been an adaptable, hardy species. But as their habitats decline, they are in need of protection. Credit: Joel Sartore
Shout for Trout: Conservation Agreement Brings Together Partners at All Levels, Raise Awareness of Species Status
To protect and conserve the interior redband trout, a Conservation Agreement has been signed among six states, four federal agencies, one non-governmental organization and multiple tribal governments. A Conservation Agreement is a cooperative effort among agencies and tribes to promote conservation of a species, reduce potential threats to the species, and potentially preclude future needs for listing under the ESA as threatened or endangered. Federal agencies include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. States include California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Nevada. The Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI) and Trout Unlimited, our partners in conservation, have also signed the Agreement. The Agreement will provide protection in habitats where present land management plans might not be adequate. The Conservation Agreement is needed to describe specific actions necessary to improve conservation of the interior redband trout. Cooperation and coordination among the participants will lead to improved information sharing and understanding of the conservation needs of this vital species.
Photo: Native redband trout in Crooked Creek on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Lake County Credit: Joshua ‘JD’ Jones
Clout with Trout: Meet the Partners Behind the IRBT Conservation Agreement
Federal, State, and Tribal agencies and non-governmental organizations with the responsibility to manage and protect fish and their habitat have mission statements that include maintaining and restoring native fish populations. Protecting this incredible fish is a big job. Here are the partners banding together for the conservation of interior redband trout (click on each partner to learn more):
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Montana Department of Fish and Wildlife
Nevada Department of Fish , Wildlife and Parks
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
USDA – Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management
Fish and Wildlife Service
Burns Paiute Tribe
Coeur d’Alene Tribe
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
Shoshone – Bannock Tribes
Trout Unlimited
Western Native Trout Initiative
Redband trout are important for ecological, cultural, and economic reasons. Participants in the development and signing of the Interior Redband Trout Conservation Agreement recognize they have the mission to protect and restore of the species. Part of the conservation mission of these partners is sharing the story of interior redband trout to raise awareness of this fish now and in the future. It is a story that has many authors and we couldn’t tell it without you. Join us each week and help us spread the word about #TroutTuesday. Happy Tuesday!
