During my undergraduate years at UC Santa Cruz, I and other freshman in Environmental Planning Program read "An Island Called California". This book was my ecological introduction to the natural communities of our golden state. In its preface, Elna Bakker wrote, [n]ot only is it [California] isolated by a combination of topographic and climatic features, it differs from the rest of the continent in a number of significant ways which, involving as they do both species and the natural communities where they live ..."
I experienced this ecological diversity over the following three decades of hiking and fishing around the state. But it was not until recently, that I became awestruck by just how diverse the nature of California is. It was when I landed our state fish and saw its beauty knowing there is nowhere else in the world that the California Golden Trout is a native.
In 1971, California recognized native trout by the passage of key legislation acknowledging the importance of designating Heritage Trout waters. A California Heritage Trout is a native species or subspecies of trout that was originally found in California prior to human intervention. Legislation (i.e., Fish and Game Code Sections 7260 and 7261) gave birth to the California Heritage Trout Challenge. There are eight (8) forms of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and three (3) subspecies cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki). To complete the Challenge, you must catch and photograph six different forms of native trout from their historic drainages.
Over the past year, I've been learning about native trout, where they are, and what is being done to conserve and restore their waters. Then in July, I decided to take the challenge and caught one of the eleven native trout of California in its historic range.
I plan to journal my adventures and share them with anyone who listens. From now until July 2011, you will be able to read about where and how I caught and photographed my natives. Each episode will unfold almost in the way I experienced it starting with a photo of the species, data on it, maps and exhibits where it can be found, then my adventure. It's a journey that as of July 2010 only 151 anglers can say they did it and have the certificate from Department and Fish and Game to prove it.
I am starting this story in the middle. Two weeks ago, I caught and photographed my third native- Little Kern Golden Trout. The photograph will be followed by more. Enjoy !
R. (Rudy) Nicolas Brown
California Trout Stalker (CTS)
Comments
This is so cool. Good luck,
This is so cool. Good luck, it sounds like alot of fun. When you are done in CA, come to AZ for your apache
Polite request
Hey Rudy,
Love the enthusiasm regarding California's Heritage Trout. I'm wondering about the benefits and repurcussions of exposing "data, maps and exhibits" of where the fish can be found. I have wrestled with this myself as I have given presentations on the HTC to several local fly-fishing clubs in the Sacramento area. Part of the joy and excitement of the challenge is that feeling of accomplishment in doing successful research and finding the appropriate locations on one's own. The certificate itself states that one has "demonstrated knowledge and appreciation" of the trout species. While sharing the photos and adventures is a no-brainer, certain locations are best left to "be discovered" by the individual. Again, I don't pretend to know where to draw the line on fragile fisheries that should not be overexposed versus bigger rivers that can handle lots of pressure. But I do feel that if a person could just look in one spot for directions, GPS coordinates, freeway exits, parking spots, logs and rocks to stand on, it somehow cheapens the experience. It is already exponentially easier to find all the information needed to complete the challenge than it was just a year or two ago. I have no idea how specific you intend to be with sharing locations but I ask all of us to use a little discretion. I am not saying not to share information but rather be thoughtful in its sharing. To suggest there are Steelhead available in the Klamath River is not the same as catch your stream Lahontan Cutthroat in XXXXXX Creek. (Complete with driving mileages, trailheads, and pictures of signs). There are some threads on this site about the idea of hot-spotting with some interesting perspectives. What do the rest of you guys think about this? Rudy, please don't take this as a personal attack or attempt at a shutdown. The timing of your post simply provides an opportunity to discuss a sensitive issue for many of us during the "off-season" for many small streams and high elevation fisheries. Thanks, and I hope I don't sound too pretentious or "high-horsey".
By the way, I am looking forward to more pictures and tales of adventure about your quest. Good luck and have a wonderful time.
Scott
Very well stated
Very well stated Scott!
Residing east of the Mississippi, I may have a different perspective, but we struggle with the same balance with our declining populations of native brook trout.
Brook trout studies have found that fishing pressure has minimal effect on brook trout populations. The main issues are habitat (land management and water quality) and invasive species. Great Smokey Mountains National Park closed a handful brook trout streams for 25 years ad their studies proved that high water events had a larger effect on populations than fishing pressure - after 25 years the populations on closed versus open streams did not have a statistically significant difference.
I don't think it is a fair comparison between a species that ranges from Georgia to Canada and a species that may only exist in a handful of streams. From what I've read regarding these native species in California, they suffer from the same hazards - habitat and invasive species.
I highly doubt that publishing these streams will have a negative effect on the populations as most who chase them are C&R anglers. Also, how can you expect a conservation-minded individual to protect a resource if they do not know it exists?
With that being said, I don't agree with publishing stream names. I won't post names on my blog or on website forums, mostly out of respect of the individuals who have provided or protect the resources.
The folks on this board are serious in their pursuit of a species, but do it only for individual gain, and even they won't post names. Where I really have a problem with posting these names is from an individual that wants to make a profit from the information or somebody that wants to be "published". I think this individual may be one of these two as a simple Google search revealed a request in the Sespe Fly Fishers newsletter to "write about their adventures". Like Scott stated, if the publication is written with generalities and not specifics - go for it! Otherwise, don't exploit the resource for personal gain.
Chris
Agreed!
Scott very eloquently explained a concern of mine (and I know of others) here on this board. We all appreciate the beauty and the challenge of finding native trout, but we don't want to see some of these places over-run with anglers. Some of the streams I've fished for natives are REALLY small and can't handle the pressure. I've asked a few questions about location of trout from some of the folks here, via email, so the info wasn't out there where all could see. And I've reciprocated as well, also via a medium not open to everyone on the web. I guess it all boils down to being discreet with your info. Sharing pictures and stories of angling adventures is always welcome, though.
Cheers!
--Fly Guy Dave
Too late.....
All I can say, and yes it's Feb and I'm a bit late, but Cal Fly Fisher has already outed many of the sensitive streams involved........ which is apparent by the jump in the number of heritage trout certs issued in the last 2 or 3 years..... I'm not making a judgement.....just pointing it out.....
Yep, five years too late actually....
One google search and the streams are all named. Too bad. This short changes people in my opinion. It takes away their motivation to do further research and reduces the likelihood that they will do more than just go catch a few trout....
Dave B
Yep
2003 is when I got #5. I have fish from on that one that goes back to early 90's as a high school punk. Word traveled fast as we know. Oh well, keep the ones we treasure close!
Yep
2003 is when I got #5. I have fish from on that one that goes back to early 90's as a high school punk. Word traveled fast as we know. Oh well, keep the ones we treasure close!
Ethics of Publishing and Distributing Information
Ethics of Publishing and Distributing Information about Angling Locations.
In reading the collection of blogs in response to my entry, I appreciated the sensitivity writers have for the issue of publishing and distributing information about angling locations. I do wish to be very specific about the following discussion. I am only speaking of native and wild trout. I believe there is a different threshold for backcountry locations of natives and wilds versus road side hatchery stocked waters. Maybe I can write about stocked waters after reading " An Entirely Synthetic Fish: How Rainbow Trout Beguiled America and Overran the World" by Anders Halverson.
I see ourselves as stewards both caretakers of and advocates for an important resource. As caretakers for native and wild fish, we must not exploit them in ways resulting in destruction of this wonderful resource. One blog entry, characterized my intention as "an individual that wants to make a profit from the information or somebody that wants to be published." I can assure you that as a caretaker, the origin of my desire is to bring nature in reach of others who because of economic status, cultural background, or age would not catch and release a native or wild. They are anglers who would want their picture taken with a hand in the water releasing a trout rather than a stringer.
As advocates, we should carefully weigh the benefits of sharing our information against the costs of encouraging activities that harm. I would not go as far as the society of archaeologist who keep "official" information about sites and site locations with a state office of historic preservation which is not available to the general public. Rather, native and wild trout are treasured resources to be enjoyed in "their" environment not in a museum.
I turn to two advocates for my measures of how much is too much information. Jack E. Williams, Ph.D., Senior Scientist of Trout Unlimited, in a recent email in response to my question of how much information is too much said, " ... while publishing all this information and making it available on websites does disclose the location of populations and their relative sizes, we think the collective conservation value of this knowledge far outweighs the potential for harm." I use information TU publishes on their website to determined were the natives are located. My first outing was volunteering four days to Fish and Game and U.S. Forest Service to protect the California Golden Trout on Mulkey Creek in the Golden Trout Wilderness. The TU site keyed me in on where my protection and conservation efforts would be most helpful and where to catch my natives.
My second measure is provided by Jeff Weaver, Associate Fisheries Biologist and administrator of California Heritage Trout Challenge who believes, "in not spoon feeding anglers who are pursuing the challenge. Part of the challenge is for them to learn where a particular species, subspecies or form of trout was historically distributed (native range), which waters within a particular range to focus on for angling, and what tactics they may need to employ to ensure the highest chances of landing a fish and getting the photograph needed to document the catch. We will certainly provide some level of detail when asked, either by phone or e-mail. However, we do not want to post information that will minimize the challenge and allow people to print a page or two off our website, hop in their car, string up a rod and get their next fish." I was guided by this statement in preparing a handout for my fly fishing club, Santa Clarita Casting Club that is informative but not divulging to much information.
In conclusion, I hope you have a comfort level with my personal motive. Basically, I wish to bring nature in reach of others who do not measure their fishing experience on how to get the first, the biggest, or the most. I advocate another measure - catching and releasing the purest. In regards to how much is too much, I will think of the audience and how the information may be used. Any geographic information if presented will be organized at the sub watershed scale (i.e., 6th code hydrologic units) rather than specific stream reaches. But, as noted by TU, one still can infer from this information where the fish are. I will leave how to catch them to the individual.
This matter has generated interesting and insightful dialogs among my angling friends. I am looking for a way to broaden this dialog among others. Please let me know if you have any ideas.
Rudy,Your response says
Rudy,
Your response says volumes about the good intentions you have. You have chosen to site two impeccable resources. I have used the information on the TU website to help identify the locations of certain species and help choose a precise location to fish. I have also utilized the resources of the members of the Heritage Trout Program, including Jeff Weaver, within the CDFG. I think Jeff sums up the feelings of those who have already completed the challenge when he states that no one should be "spoon fed" information. He added that for those who choose to pursue the information, more details would be provided. I think the key here is that the anlger himself takes the initiative to request further information. Personally, I think the map provided on the CDFG website regarding historical drainages of the species is enough to perk one's interest. The rest should be up the "interested" individual. That "interest" is probably the litmus test as to whether or not that angler will become part of the "collective conservation value" TU mentions or is just someone who wants to "catch some fish." Surely, in a desire to broaden the appeal of the experience of fishing for native trout, you can understand that announcing to a crowd at the nearest Cabela's, "How easy it is to catch Little Kern Goldens in XXXXXX Creek" would not accomplish the goal. Unfortunately, you know there would be someone who would head out there and keep a limit (or three). "Stream-resident Lahontans and Warner Redbands are so beautiful. You can go to XXXXX Creek and catch one" does little for the resource or the enhancement of the experience itself. So, I applaud your efforts to promote the desire in each individual to want to seek out that feeling of accomplishment ON THEIR OWN. How will they even know about the existance of the native species? Your presentations will inspire some to come forward. Those are the ones you begin to point in the right direction, knowing that the more they can uncover on their own, the better the expereience is for them. You ever get the feeling that, pretty soon, there are going to be clubs holding "fish outs" on some of the more isolated and fragile streams? Leave 'em under the radar, I say. I'm glad you have chosen to pull back a bit on the specifics. You'll feel better about it when you hear others talk of their own adventures on the Challenge. Enough rambling, I'm out, Scott