Trout Unlimited
World Trout
Jefferson River Project
Trout Conservancy
Marble Trout Restoration Program
Federation of Fly Fishers
Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers Campaign
Save Bristol Bay
Winston has long been an enthusiastic supporter of conservation groups with activities throughout North America and around the world. Our strong affiliation with Trout Unlimited has led to not only donations to local TU chapters and Trout Unlimited National Special Events, but also the development of unique rod series such as our “ Homewaters” rods, one of Trout Unlimited 2011 gifts for their new lifetime members. These limited edition 8’10” rods exemplify the famed “Winston Action, are available only from TU and are sure to become collector’s items. In addition, each Winston rod sold comes with a free trial membership to TU as our way of introducing anglers to TU and encouraging their support.
The individuals who dedicate their time and energies to conservation do so almost entirely because they, like us, believe passionately that while a healthy economy leads inevitably to change in many forms, including changing land use and other forms of growth, steps need to be taken to safeguard our environment. Consequently, we see it as our responsibility to help make sure that issues affecting water quality, wild trout populations, coastal fisheries, and other conservation efforts receive the necessary attention to ensure that short-sighted goals don't lead to long-term environmental problems. Our association with James Prosek and World Trout allows us to identify and assist groups and projects at both the national and grassroots level, such as Jefferson River Project, Trout Conservancy, Marble Trout Restoration Project, Montana Westslope Cutthroat Trout Management, and the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.
We can all help in different ways, large or small. Simply building awareness usually achieves the greatest results since we've found that most people care about their environment. We want our children to be able to tell their children as many big fish stories as we can. Learn more about Winston's specific conservation efforts by clicking the links at the top of this page. Please contact Leslie Clark at winasist@3rivers.net for more information about Winston’s Conservation Donation Program.
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FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS, TROUT UNLIMITED HAS BEEN THE LEADING VOICE IN PRESERVING COLDWATER FISHERIES IN NORTH AMERICA. For many years we have been proud supporters of Trout Unlimited and other conservation organizations. In fact, we are so enthusiastic about the great work TU does, that every new Winston fly rod is accompanied by a one year free membership in Trout Unlimited. We encourage you to get involved with TU, FFF, World Trout and other conservation organizations dedicated to helping preserve fisheries habitat.
Our Mission:
To conserve, protect and restore North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.
Our Vision:
By the next generation, Trout Unlimited will ensure that robust populations of native and wild coldwater fish once again thrive within their North American range, so that our children can enjoy healthy fisheries in their home waters.
See the short film, Against the Current (produced by Kathy Kasic/Metamorph Films with Trout Unlimited), in the Educational Films section of the Winston Channel. Click here for more information on Trout Unlimited's Montana Water Project or for more information on the film, contact: Trout Unlimited or kathy@metamorphfilms.com.
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All Winston World Trout products feature the spectacular artwork of artist/author James Prosek and are now available to purchase online or through any of our dealers around the world. Consequently, you too will be doing a great deal to help protect native trout habitat in purchasing these Winston World Trout items for yourself or for others as gifts. We expect the beauty of the T-shirts, mugs, and books alone will be enough to entice you to buy one. Combine that with knowing you've contributed to helping protect the environment and they become even more appealing.
Trout populations on many rivers face over-fishing and destruction of habitat. In 2004, artist/author James Prosek met with Patagonia owner Yvon Chouinard and formed the World Trout program to do something to address the dramatic challenges trout face around the world. World Trout's mission is to identify the individuals and groups that protect native fish, tell their story, and support their conservation efforts.
Arising from the initial efforts of James Prosek, Patagonia, and others, World Trout is now an ongoing program involving several companies and individuals interested in helping raise funds to directly combat the declining natural resources and populations of trout. Each participating company is encouraged to either identify new and deserving conservation programs or to supplement existing successful groups.
Since conservation efforts require organization, money, and a positive political climate, the goal was to make this initiative simple and to place the money into the hands of the actual groups working to protect the fish. By telling a compelling story and providing the angler and interested parties with a call to action, World Trout is able make this happen with the participation of all of its member companies and of individuals who help by purchasing World Trout products.
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In 2008, R.L. Winston Rod Co., on behalf of the World Trout organization, made a donation to Trout Unlimited for the Jefferson River Project and their work to revitalize the Jefferson River watershed and its rainbow and brown trout fishery.
The Jefferson, Big Hole, Beaverhead, and Ruby Rivers surrounding Twin Bridges near Winston in Montana make up some of America's finest wild trout fisheries, but the entire Missouri Headwaters watershed suffers from dewatering, altered flow regimes, and degraded tributary and mainstem habitat. In 2001, Trout Unlimited (TU) launched the Jefferson River Project to work cooperatively with landowners, local businesses, and public officials to restore the Jefferson. The three key components of the project are:
for the river, and using stored water to improve streamflows and restore mainstem river habitats.
The Jefferson River has been particularly hard hit from the effects of inconsistent water flows. However, the results of the Jefferson River Project work have been promising. Sampling in the spring of 2007 demonstrated that rainbow trout populations in the Jefferson River have doubled every year since 2003; from less than 100 fish in the three-mile sample stretch near Waterloo to more than 600 in 2007.
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Founded in 2000 by executive director, John Zelazny, the Trout Conservancy of Montana is a small, independent organization that works on wild trout habitat restoration, conservation, and education projects.
In addition to their stream restoration work, the Trout Conservancy is currently working on a Montana-wide anti-entrainment program aimed at installing fish screens on irrigation ditches to stop the needless deaths of tens of thousands of wild trout each year.
They are also developing a mapping tool and conservation strategy to help wild trout survive climate change. By restoring and protecting native habitat, the Trout Conservancy works to ensure the perpetuation of wild trout in the northern Rockies of the United States.
Visit www.troutconservancy.org for more information.
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John Zablocki is a Fulbright Scholar in Slovenia researching the conservation needs of endangered Balkan trout. The Balkans are home to an ancient and diverse collection of trout. This unique diversity has been seriously threatened by various factors ranging from political unrest to the introduction of non-native species. The success of the Marble Trout Restoration Program in Slovenia has served as an exemplary model for the creation of effective conservation programs throughout the region.
John is also working on a film/documentary about the role fly fishing has played as the lifeline of this conservation program in Slovenia. With the addition of funds donated by Winston, John hopes to launch a public awareness campaign to promote marble trout research and conservation in Northern Italy, where endangered pure populations of marble trout may yet survive in headwater tributaries of the Po River.
In the long term, John hopes to help establish additional sustainable wild trout conservation programs throughout the Balkans.
Visit www.balkan-trout.com for more information.
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We at Winston also support, the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF). The FFF mission is to lead activities that enhance and support the experience for all flyfishing anglers.
Conservation is a keystone to the FFF mission, recognizing that conservation of our wetland and fishery resources is fundamental to our present and future angling experiences. Conservation efforts include "All Fish, All Waters" where flyfishers have an interest, including warmwater, coldwater and saltwater fisheries around the world.
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Fly fishing and sustainability, where's the connection? For the lay person, it may not be obvious, but for the R.L. Winston Rod Company, the connection lies with consumer education, which led to Winston's partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force through the "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!" program.
In the U.S., participation in fly fishing continues to grow. To maintain this upward climb, quality fly fishing experiences need to be maintained. However, what are the keys to a quality fly fishing experience? According to Winston, quality fly fishing experiences have many inter-dependent parts; however, three of the most important are the correct equipment, the requisite skills and healthy aquatic resources. This combination prompted R.L. Winston Rod Co.to formally join the "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!" campaign.
Winston figured that if they could influence at least two of these variables, namely the equipment issue and healthy aquatic resources issue, the company had a really good chance at providing and sustaining quality fly fishing experiences for its customers. And with aquatic invasive species like Whirling Disease and New Zealand Mud Snails directly impacting quality fly fishing experiences and indirectly implicating fly fishermen as one of the carriers of these harmful aquatic organisms to various western waters, Winston decided to take action.
After investigating the issue, Winston discovered the "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!" campaign and knew partnering with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service was the right thing to do. With the focus on conserving our natural resources through the promotion of environmentally-responsible recreational behaviors, Winston plans to incorporate the "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!" program into their marketing. According to Winston, "Participating in Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!" just makes good business sense for the fly fishing industry. With numerous environmental issues impacting our fisheries, helping to educate our customers about specific, relevant issues and what they can do is a key component of sustainability for our industry."
As the 187th member of the growing "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!" campaign, R.L. Winston brings strong leadership to the table to help promote the campaign's conservation message. Winston's support for and involvement with the campaign will help to educate millions of anglers about invasive species' threats across the country and what they can do to stop the spread.
The majority of foreign plant and animal species that have found their way to North America are benign, but a small percentage cause significant environmental impacts and costly infrastructure damage. Zebra mussels clog industrial and marine water intake equipment, Chinese mitten crabs damage commercial fishing nets and the Round goby continues to impact Great Lakes' sport fisheries. However, two of the more prominent species of concern are impacting trout fisheries in the West, which in turn, impacts the fly fishing industry. With Winston's corporate headquarters situated in Montana, Winston is very aware of the aquatic invasive species' threats to fly fishing. "New Zealand Mud Snails and Whirling Disease are impacting blue ribbon trout fisheries throughout the West. This campaign is tailor-made for our industry to educate our customers and all anglers about their role in conserving our fisheries."
R.L. Winston is among a list of partners that includes Federal and State agencies, universities, other businesses and national, regional and local conservation organizations. As the primary funding agency for the campaign, the Fish and Wildlife Service works to promote "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!" and tap into the communication networks of its partner organizations. "R.L. Winston becoming a campaign partner is great," said Mamie Parker, Assistant Director for Fisheries and Habitat Conservation and co-chair of the ANS Task Force. "Their involvement shows the value of 'Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!' and the conservation commitment and leadership of the fly fishing industry."
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Update on the Bristol Bay Alaska Mining Threat
By Scott Hed, Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska
You've likely heard that a Canadian company called Northern Dynasty is proposing to build North America's largest open-pit gold and copper mine between Lake Iliamna and the Mulchatna River. The permitting process began in July 2006, as Northern Dynasty applied for water rights from Upper Talarik Creek and the North and South Forks of the Koktuli River.
In August 2007, Northern Dynasty announced it was forming a partnership with Anglo-American, the world's third-largest mining company. Despite its name, Anglo is not an American company - it is based in London. So, now that 2 foreign companies are trying to lay claim to some of the world's most productive salmon and trout waters, what's next?
The developers are still asking everyone to take a "wait and see" approach, but they continue their exploratory work in the region. Aside from the proposed Pebble project, other mining interests are developing plans for other lands in the greater Bristol Bay area. The mining industry views Bristol Bay as a potential massive mining district.
Support for Bristol Bay conservation continues to grow around the country and the globe. While Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishers have been engaged for a while, new opposition to Pebble has been registered by the Izaak Walton League of America, Dallas Safari Club, and Wildlife Forever (the conservation affiliate of the North American Hunting Club and North American Fishing Club). Nearly 100 companies in the fly fishing industry have gone on record as opposing mining plans in Bristol Bay, and fishing publications continue to give the subject coverage.
Perhaps of most immediate importance is an effort to place several initiatives on the 2008 election ballot in Alaska that would protect the clean water resources of the State from new large mining projects. Signature gatherers have been working since late October to acquire over 23,000 valid signatures, the amount required to put the initiatives up for a vote in November 2008. The signatures must be submitted to the State by mid-January, so there is a lot to do in a short time in Alaska.
In coming months, there will be several opportunities to learn more and do your part to help protect Bristol Bay.
to supporting the campaign to protect Bristol Bay.
There's only one Bristol Bay. If you've been there you know how incredible the land and the fishing are. If you dream of fishing there someday, or if you dream of returning, now is the time to get involved.
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