Currently browsing… Western Native Trout Challenge
-
A case of mistaken identity
Would you recognize a native interior redband trout if you caught one? Editor’s note: Daniel Ritz is fishing across the Western United States this summer in an attempt to accomplish the Master Caster class of the Western Native Trout Challenge. He will attempt to land each of the 20 native trout species in their historical ranges of the 12 states in…
-
All you wanted to know: Redband trout
Redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss sub-species) Species summary and status: Redband trout are subspecies of rainbow trout and exist in two well-defined geographic regions. The Columbia River redband trout is found in Montana, Washington, and Idaho, and the Great Basin redband trout is found in southeastern Oregon and parts of California and Nevada. The redband is similar…
-
Sign, sign everywhere a sign
Author Dan Ritz hits the end of the road while trying to get to a better of idea of why he couldn't fish for the Little Kern golden trout. Dan Ritz photo. Golden Trout Wilderness Area is closed, but a connection to the Little Kern golden trout was still made Daniel Ritz is fishing across the…
-
Red is the new golden
Rough roads and spooky golden trout in California Daniel Ritz is fishing across the Western United States this summer in an attempt to reach the Master Caster class of the Western Native Trout Challenge, attempting to land each of the 20 native trout species in their historical ranges of the 12 states in the West. You can follow Ritz as he…
-
The 117 degree Kern River melting pot
What rainbow trout can teach us about engaging native fish, salads, diversity and river towns Daniel Ritz is fishing across the Western United States this summer in an attempt to reach the Master Caster class of the Western Native Trout Challenge, attempting to land each of the 20 native trout species in their historical ranges of the 12 states in…
-
Everything you wanted to know: Kern River rainbow trout
Kern River Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gilberti) Species summary and status: Kern River rainbow trout look similar to Coastal rainbow trout, have a slight gold hint. They have many fine, irregular spots all over their bodies, and larger fish may have a rosy streak along their sides. They can also be identified by the distinctive…
-
Everything you wanted to know: California golden trout
California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) Species summary and status: The state fish of California, California golden trout once occupied about 450 miles of stream habitat in the upper South Fork Kern River and the adjacent Golden Trout Creek. Currently, the trout is native only to two high-altitude watersheds in California’s rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains. The…