JAMES PROSEK JOINS CONSERVATION EFFORT

February 12, 2007 – Today, the R.L. Winston Rod Company is proud to announce that James Prosek will be advising Winston on how the company can raise awareness for conservation issues. James and Winston have had an informal association for many years, well before James became an internationally recognized artist and writer.  David Ondaatje, Winston Chairman, points out that “In addition to being an extraordinarily talented artist, James is the one of the sport’s leading conservationists.  James’ assisting us on conservation issues is first and foremost a statement of shared ideals and a common commitment to preserving fisheries habitat.”  In the coming years, James and Winston will work together to achieve a greater role for Winston in its conservation efforts.  “Although we are a small company,” Ondaatje continued…”we believe we can play a greater role in helping shape public awareness about important environmental issues in the years to come.  We are very happy that James Prosek will be helping us in this effort.”  James, along with Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia, is a co-founder of World Trout, an on-going conservation effort to preserve native trout species worldwide. Remarking how glad he was to work with Winston to further the efforts of World Trout, James Prosek noted, “preserving diversity of indigenous trout species around the world is also about preserving our last coldwater wildernesses, and arguably our most precious resource, clean water.”

To kick off this new conservation effort, Winston today also announced the following programs to help raise awareness and funds for World Trout:



1.    Building on the successful World Trout T-shirt program, Winston will offer two new t-shirts featuring James Prosek illustrations of Rainbow Trout and Bull Trout to help raise funds for Montana trout restoration projects. These T-shirts will be available through any Winston Dealer or online at www.winstonrods.com

2.     A new James Prosek “Signed Book Program”.  Winston will now offer signed copies of several of James Prosek’s books including: Trout, an Illustrated History and Trout of the World.   Part of the proceeds from Winston’s online and Dealer sales of these books will be directed to World Trout.

3.    Winston helped sponsor a new short conservation film about World Trout featuring James Prosek by  filmmakers Travis Rummel and Ben Smith.  The film, World Trout, will appear on the new  flyfishingmovies.com section of Winston’s website.