Part 1 – Western Native Trout Challenge | By Deacon Aspinwall

What is the allure of native trout?

These beautiful creatures come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They are as varied as the landscapes of the west from which they evolved.

They come from the mountains, the deserts, the sea. Lofty alpine lakes and sagebrush prairies. Mighty rivers and tiny ribbons of life in harsh lands. They are the heart and spirit of the west.

The Western Native trout challenge is to catch 18 species throughout 12 states. To find these precious fish takes a spirit of adventure and dogged persistence. The pursuit helps one understand the precarious nature of their existence. Are you up for it?