Some people fish to travel. Some people travel to fish. I am somewhere in the middle.
I am starting the Western Native Trout Challenge as a long term project, something to work on between guide days and seasons. I have caught many of these fish before, but doing it with purpose and documenting each species in its home water feels right. There are twenty one native trout and char across the West, each tied to a landscape, a watershed, and a story about how they have managed to stay part of these places.
Because I guide in southwest Montana and spend so much time around Yellowstone, the beginning of this project naturally starts close to home. The Park holds several native species that fit into the early stages of the list and there is meaningful restoration work happening right now. It is a good place to begin before traveling farther for the rest of the species.
Native Trout and Grayling in Our Backyard
Yellowstone has become one of the most active native fish restoration areas in the country. The work being done here lines up well with the spirit of the Western Native Trout Challenge.
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
This is our native trout in the Livingston area. Yellowstone cutthroat anchor the entire Yellowstone River drainage and have been the focus of major restoration efforts in the Park, especially around Yellowstone Lake. After many years of lake trout suppression their numbers are improving and spawning runs are becoming more consistent. This will likely be one of the first species I document for the challenge since it lives right in the center of the water I guide every season.
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Westslope cutthroat were historically native to the upper Missouri River headwaters inside the Park. Non native trout pushed them out of most of their range, but biologists have worked to restore them in select headwater streams where pure populations can survive. These waters are close enough for shorter outings which makes them a natural early target for the challenge.
Snake River Fine Spotted Cutthroat
These fish are native to the southwest corner of Yellowstone and the greater Snake River system. Their populations have remained more stable than some other native trout, but they still benefit from continued monitoring and protection. They are another nearby species that fits well into the beginning stages of the project.
Arctic Grayling
Fluvial grayling once lived in several Yellowstone rivers but disappeared by the early nineteen hundreds. After many years of restoration work they have been reintroduced into Grayling Creek and a few connected waters. It is still early, but signs of persistence are promising. Catching one here connects directly to the conservation work taking place in the Park.
These species are all within reach of the areas I already fish, which makes the greater Yellowstone region a natural stepping off point for the larger project.
Why I Am Taking On the Challenge
I do not plan to rush this. Guiding keeps the summer busy, so I am giving myself time to complete it at a comfortable pace. The slower approach keeps it enjoyable and leaves room to travel when it fits the season.
Fishing for native species also teaches you a lot about water and habitat. Native trout and grayling show you what healthy rivers and lakes look like. You start noticing the small details in flows, temperature, structure, and access. You also gain a clearer understanding of the work involved in keeping these fish on the landscape. Watching Yellowstone cutthroat return to tributaries or seeing grayling show up again makes this challenge feel deeper than simply checking species off a list.
How to Sign Up for the Western Native Trout Challenge
The challenge is run by the Western Native Trout Initiative also known as WNTI. The process is simple.
Sign up here: www.westernnativetrout.org/challenge
Their website explains the levels of the challenge, the species list, the maps, and the submission steps.
Their Instagram: @westernnativetrout ……..great site
This is a good account to follow for updates on restoration work and native fish projects across the West.
What you submit: A clear photo of each fish |The species name |The location within its native range |The date of the catch
What You Will See Here
As I work through the list, I will post updates on each species with photos, notes from the day, and a bit of context about the fish and the water it lives in. There is no timeline. This project will unfold naturally between guide days, winter creek sessions, and the small openings that show up during the year.
For updates you can follow along on the blog, on Instagram, or join the newsletter.