My name is Morgan Bradley and I am from Telluride, Colo. From a young age, I began fishing with my dad, who has been a life-long angler. It started with a spin rod, fishing with worms and other bait for species like catfish and bass back when I used to live in Phoenix, Ariz..
When I moved to Colorado, I was introduced to the world of fly fishing and trout. By the time I reached high school I was immersed in the sport. Being based in Colorado, over the last five years I have had the opportunity to travel and experience the amazing waters of our own state, as well as those of our neighbors.
Seeing this array of different watersheds has given me an appreciation of the importance of protecting our fish, waters and lands so that we can continue to enjoy these resources in the future. I am excited to see how some of these ideas will carry over, and also differ on the Columbia watershed this summer.
Growing up in Telluride has also given me the opportunity to attend the renowned Mountainfilm Festival every year. After years of being inspired by films such as Artifishal and Damnation, I am excited to have the opportunity to explore these issues in person. I am sure that seeing these watersheds and dams with my own eyes and speaking with the locals will give new levels of understanding to these complex situations.
I am currently a sophomore at CU Boulder, studying TAM (Technology, Arts, and Media) and minoring in Business and Spanish. My dream is to be a product/graphic designer in the fly-fishing industry, and maybe someday start my own business.
I am also a member of the fly fishing club at CU. Getting to connect with a larger fly fishing community and go on trips, tie-flies and do river cleanups has been a great resource that was not available growing up in a town of 2,500 people.
One thing I think the club does a great job of is broadcasting the importance of conservation in our sport. It is amazing to see how many new anglers really care about preserving and protecting our rivers due to the club’s educational efforts.
I am most excited about getting to experience a new place and a new kind of fishing. Getting to see the Pacific Northwest, and fish and explore some of the most famed rivers in the U.S., such as the Columbia, Deschutes and Snake is an opportunity I’m grateful for.
Fishing for salmon and steelhead has been on my bucket list for years and I’m excited to have a chance to pursue these species. Another aspect of the trip I am very excited about is the media. Having the mindset of shooting photos and video every day is something I have never done before. I can’t wait to undoubtedly learn new skills and have the opportunity to document our trip.
I’m grateful to Trout Unlimited for the opportunity to go on this journey and can’t wait for the adventure ahead.