Angler Science: Mobilizing a Nationwide Group of Devoted Enthusiasts

Trout Unlimited (TU) is a national organization that works to conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. TU’s 150,000 members are organized into over 400 chapters across the... [ view full abstract ]

Trout Unlimited (TU) is a national organization that works to conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. TU’s 150,000 members are organized into over 400 chapters across the country and are matched by a staff of conservation professionals working to restore fisheries at the local, state and national levels.

Our members and their families, many of them fly-fishing anglers, spend a great deal of time each year enjoying our nation’s streams, while keenly observing the conditions that sustain trout and salmon. Variables like water temperature, stream structure and condition, water quality, and the aquatic insects present—changing moment to moment—are all important for sensitive coldwater fishes. Likewise, these factors are of particular interest to anglers: What prey species are present and when is feeding most active? Which streams provide the best habitat? Have conditions changed since they were last in the area? As online and mobile tools have expanded, the ability of our members to share their observations—many of which they’ve been making for years—has increased dramatically. As a result, Trout Unlimited has a variety of citizen science efforts underway to answer such questions as: How effective are TU’s restoration efforts? Are there on-the-ground conditions or developments that may be limiting the success of trout and salmon? Where are the strongholds of our native trout? How do species and their habitats vary geographically and over the course of time?

Through Trout Unlimited’s “Angler Science” program, we aim to foster a curiosity about the fish we enjoy and the environments that sustain them. Our challenge is figuring out how to leverage the expertise, enthusiasm, and insight of our members, while ensuring their efforts are scientifically useful, well-organized, and duly recognized.