Ambassador Profile: Dr. Robert Arlinghaus

Dr. Robert Arlinghaus is professor of integrative fisheries management at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries. For the last 20 years he has studied the social, economic, ecological, evolutionary and institutional aspects of recreational fisheries around the globe and particularly in Germany. Robert has published over 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles and has close to 500 publications overall. His work has been acknowledged by key awards such as the 2008 Award of Excellence in Fisheries Management by AFS, the 2012 Medal by The Fisheries Society of the British Isles, 2016 Cultural Award and 2018 Award of Excellence in Public Outreach by AFS. In many of his projects he works intensively with anglers, guiders, and managers in so-called transdisciplinary research settings. Public outreach and science communication are two key areas of Robert’s expertise and interest. Robert has worked intensively on catch-and-release angling, both from a conservation and social/ethical perspective, and included his research results in several high level policy documents that provide recommendations for best-practices in catch-and-release angling; the best example being the Technical Guidelines for Responsible Recreational Fisheries published with UN FAO.

www.ifishman.de

twitter

@ifishman.science

@RArlinghausFish


Ambassador Profile: Daniel Goez

German Daniel Göz was born and raised in France. He has a base in Frankfurt/Germany, but resides in both countries.

Daniel is an experienced and successful outdoor filmmaker, a seasoned cinematographer, director of photography, director, producer, editor, cameraman, multi award-winning for human-led as well as wildlife-led outdoor and documentary work producing small scale to large scale content.

He has worked in very remote locations and harsh conditions such as the strenuous climates of the Central American jungle to freezing climates of the North producing rare images in all these adverse conditions.

He is capable to produce iconic and stunning visuals through technically innovative approaches. His fortes are challenging underwater works be it oceanic or riverine, shooting and filming rare billfish species, incl. large free-swimming blue marlin and yellowfin tuna. His has further filmed the entire spawning act of Atlantic salmon and European lake trout underwater. His underwater photography spans well over a decade.
Some of his film works are the legendary flyfishing film "Tapâm" produced with Danish Jan Bach Kristensen, where both venture off the beaten path to catch giant tarpon from their float tubes. Other works include stills and film work on the Gaula River in Norway. Daniel was also involved in one of Animal Planet's most successful River Monster episode with presenter Jeremy Wade, in which Jeremy chases giant tarpon.

Beside his film and still work, Daniel holds an M.Sc. in geography/hydrology. He does camera based monitoring on rare trout species, using the trout's spots as bio markers to identify trout individually. His monitoring work is totally stress-free to the fish. 
Fun fact: Daniel is president of the fishery's guild in Frankfurt which was founded 945 ad. He takes care of all fish ecological aspects of the large Main River in Frankfurt.

Daniel is often amazed how anglers react to his images; many say they didn't know how beautiful fish look underwater. Daniel, being an angler, fish conservationist and environmentalist, is super proud to support the keepemwet movement with his knowledge and stunning visuals.

http://danielgoez.com

http://www.tapamthemovie.com

https://vimeo.com/user4502703

http://danielgoez.com

http://www.tapamthemovie.com

https://vimeo.com/user4502703

Catch Magazine- A MOBILE VIEW featuring KWF Ambassador Team

Our longtime friends at Catch Magazine have consistently produced the highest quality digital publication for many years now. And when it comes to representations of best case handling of fish that are released, they absolutely get it!

It's awesome to have our own feature article "A MOBILE VIEW" which can be found in the  April/May 2018 issue. If you don't already subscribe to Catch Magazine but can't get enough of the greatest fishing adventures on the planet, you're missing out!

Enjoy this excerpt from issue #56 with photo and C&R handling tips from our own Keepemwet Fishing staff and Ambassadors!

Make sure you have enough phone storage before you get on the river. Erase photos you don’t want. I’ve been in the middle of taking photos and received a message saying storage full. 
Photo by Marty Sheppard, KWF Ambassador.

Photo by Dr. Aaron Adams, KWF Science Ambassador.

Left - 3. Use the video mode for lens option different than photo mode and the ability to capture more of the experience then simply save the best still frames from the video! 
Photo by Sascha Clark Danylchuk, KWF Operations/Science Liaison. 
Right - 4. A common misconception about Keepemwet is a perceived opposition or conflict with grip and grin photos. While we work to raise awareness of the impacts surrounding various handling practices, it's a no-brainer to handle fish with care and get great photos too. My better half Ali demonstrates with ease on a cool October day last fall. 
Photo by Bryan Huskey

Captain Rob Kramarz holding a Permit in the Florida Keys. This fish was caught as part of a Bonefish and Tarpon Trust tracking study led by Jake Brownscombe aimed at understand habitat connectivity in the region. The visible dart tag is used for individual identification in case of recapture, while an internally implanted acoustic tag transmits a unique signal that is used for spatial tracking. 
Photo by Dr. Jake Brownscombe, KWF Science Ambassador.

This is the most air he saw, and it was only for a quick second. I tell people to hold the fish completely under the water and just lift it enough so I can see it's eye. Only takes a second or two and I shoot as many photos as I can, rapid fire. One usually turns out crisp. 
Photo by Jeff Hickman, KWF Ambassador.

Photo by Dr. Aaron Adams, KWF Science Ambassador.

Photo by Marty Sheppard, KWF Ambassador.

Left - Nets allow the fish to recover IN THE WATER while you compose shots. Gentle a-okay grip around the wrist of the tail with non camera hand can point and steer the fish angle and direction. Keep the head in the water and use the net to support the fish for various positions at water level. 
Photo by Bryan Huskey
Right - Take lots of photos in seconds by holding the button down. Get as many photos as you can fast.  
Photo by Marty Sheppard, KWF Ambassador.

Blue Marlin: Two time Stanley Cup Champion, Tofino Resort and Marina owner and Keepemwet supporter, Willie Mitchell releases his first Blue Marlin in Abaco, Bahamas. 
Photo by Keepemwet Fishing Ambassador Captain Tony DiGiulian.

Keepemwet Ambassador Anthony DiGiulian releases a sailfish with IGFA President Nehl Horton. Leaders lead by example, 24/7 and 365 days a year.

Known as the "fish who can stop dam construction," "fish of a thousand casts," "cousin of Taimen, our king of the streams Hucho hucho (Danube salmon)"... Take a snap, release it and you will have the lifelong memory of your fish of a lifetime.
Photograph by Uroš Kristan, KWF Ambassador.

Sometimes you find big things in small details, even if it just sun coming through a dorsal fin of a nice brown trout.
Photograph by Uroš Kristan, KWF Ambassador.

Nice example of pure Danubian strain brown trout from the Obrh River... they fight hard to push out the introduced Atlantic strain of brown trout from our rivers. 
Photograph by Uroš Kristan, KWF Ambassador.

Not equally loved around the planet, but really important for the fly fishing community here in Slovenia, this trophy grayling "Lady of the Stream", was caught and released in early spring on the Iščica River. 
Photograph by Uroš Kristan, KWF Ambassador.

Here's a wild rainbow trout buck from the Idrijca River. They are almost native now, but at the same time totally alien ... future unknown?! 
Photograph by Uroš Kristan, KWF Ambassador.

Here's a baby marble trout from the emerald daughter of mountains, the Soča (Isonzo) River . Please #keepemwet and Catch & Release for generations to come.
About the net - This amazing "floating" landing net was a game changer and a clever simple design/innovation from a man who is a total fly fishing enthusiast. His name is Glen Pointon from England, and the name of the
net is Glen Pointon Living The Dream Catch and Release Net. 
Photograph by Uroš Kristan, KWF Ambassador.

Ambassador Profile: Adrian Gray

Adrian Gray's passion for fishing is clearly evident in his artwork and his photography. 

The man is a perfectionist, and you won't see his artwork unless it passes a very stringent quality test. Every detail must be perfect. If every finlet, color and use of light is not absolutely without flaw, the piece won't leave the artist's easel.

With that kind of attention to detail, it takes more time to produce a final painting, but the end results are incredibly lifelike scenes that depict a magical moment of the watery hunt. While the artist may never be 100 percent happy with the final piece, the public must be because demand for Adrian's artwork and photos continues to grow.  

Born on the southeast coast of South Africa, Adrian took to surf casting for local species such as kob and “pig-nose grunters” as a kid. He credits his mother and grandfather for getting him into fishing. When his grandfather passed away, Adrian inherited his fishing rods. Those rods led to a lifelong passion for angling.

At 11, he and his family moved to New York, where the fishing was much different than South Africa. He started targeting salmon and steelhead in the New York watershed and Great Lakes. At 14 his father bought a cuddy cabin boat and Adrian took it on fishing adventures throughout Long Island Sound. He caught bluefish, fluke and striped bass.

His love of fish and the ocean led him to the University of Miami, where he studied marine biology. “I wanted to do something with fish,” he says, but he had no idea that he’d move into art and photography. 

“I would sketch and play around with pencils,” he says. “I took general art classes in high school and excelled at it, but I kind of left it and it didn’t hit again till I was 24 or 25. We caught a big swordfish and I wanted to paint it.”

Using a friend’s easel and leftover paints, Adrian put his swordfish memory on canvas. His swordfish painting quickly caught the attention of the fishing world. The Big Game Fishing Journal ran the painting on its cover and Lindgren-Pitman bought the rights to it and used it as a catalog cover. Adrian began going to tournaments and selling prints. Demand for his art began to grow. He painted when he wasn’t fishing or working, which means he didn’t paint a whole lot, but he made time for it. Then he got a camera and that took his talents in yet another direction. 

“In 2004 I started working at the IGFA and I wanted to make the magazine and newsletter better, but I had no photos,” Adrian recalls. “Whenever I approached a photographer, I hit a wall when they said, ‘What will you pay me?’ So I invested in a camera got an underwater housing.” 

He taught himself the intricacies that go along with taking tack-sharp photos of fish in their natural element, whether that was below the water or jumping behind a boat. Adrian traveled and attended fishing tournaments and fished as much as he could, always toting waterproof boxes with his camera gear. He is now considered one of the premiere photographers in the recreational fishing industry, with many magazine covers to his credit. He has a gigantic photo library with everything from freshwater species to blue marlin, but he says he does not paint photos. He only uses them for reference to help him create the scenes he conjures up in his mind. 

His artistic style continues to evolve: “I have this perfectionist personality so I’m never satisfied,” he says. “I don’t want to show old works. They’re not an example of what my strengths are. The art develops through experimentation, growth and how you perceive things.”

With about 30 completed paintings to his credit, he is not about pumping out new paintings as fast as possible. He prefers to focus on the details rather than the end result. He started with acrylics but now paints in oils. “I like the way the oils blend,” Adrian says. “It takes longer to do. The mixing is more tedious but oils have a natural look.”

"The art develops through experimentation, growth and how you perceive things."

He’s currently working on a bluefin tuna piece inspired by a 2014 trip to Nova Scotia. “We only had two days and on the first day we went out it was unusually calm. Each of us caught our first bluefin in the 750- to 1,000-pound range,” Adrian says. “We started hand-feeding them and I jumped in. The water was cold but it was one of the best experiences of my life, swimming with something that big. They move so much water but they’re so graceful at the same time.”

Adrian, who turns 38 this year, still works for the IGFA, laying out their publications and posting on the organization’s website and social media. His phone usually goes to voicemail because he’s traveling, fishing, photographing something or in the studio painting. And lately he’s experimenting more with video. “I’m intrigued by slow-motion and and working with that type of video,” he says. “I’ll probably get more into that.” Fishing is his passion. The art and photography are his way of expressing this love of all things fishing. 
 
“My favorite thing is to jump in the water and take photos of fish.”

Webiste

Instagram

Ambassador Profile: Dr. Jake Brownscombe

Keep Fish Wet: Why do you believe Keep Fish Wet is important? 

Jake Brownscombe: Whether or not fish survive catch-and-release depends heavily on angling practices. We have a moral responsibility to treat fish with respect and use best angling practices, i.e., those that minimize impacts on fish survival and welfare, which will also maximize future fishing opportunities. KFW principles are built on scientific knowledge of best angling practices, providing anglers with a useful framework for employing them. 

KFW: If there was one thing about science-based best practices for fish handling that you wish all anglers would remember or do, what would it be? 

JB: Be adaptive in your fishing practices. Every fishing situation is different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to best angling practices. Fish condition assessments play a huge role in this – notice if fish are getting injured frequently by certain lure types or hook configurations, and whether fish swim off vigorously upon release (there are a set of impairment tests anglers can use to assess fish condition *link to my old article*) and adapt accordingly. If you notice a lot of predators around that may be eating fish post release, change fishing spots. It can be hard to leave a good fishing spot, but you’ll catch more fish in the long run because there will be more fish around to catch, and of course, fishing karma. 

KWF: What do you feel is the next big question to address when it comes to evaluating how fish are handled and released?

JB: Two of the largest knowledge gaps in best angling practices are 1. How to best help fish recover when they struggle to swim away, and 2. How to deal with high rates of fishing-related predation in certain fisheries. 

Jake is a research scientist that works on sportfish conservation through understanding how fish make a living, and developing catch-and-release angling practices that minimize our impacts on fish populations. From Largemouth Bass in Canadian lakes to Bonefish on the flats in The Bahamas, his research helps shape conservation minded angling practices. He works on recreational fisheries throughout the world, catching as many fish as he can along the way.

Dr. Brownscombe explains:

"Keep Fish Wet is one of the most significant cultural movements in the world of angling today. It is showing anglers that keeping fish in the water when practicing catch-and-release is the key to having fish to catch tomorrow – and we can still get amazing photos. This is why I support the movement:
    Fishing has an important role to play in conservation. Anglers care about conserving fish and their habitats more than the average person, and we often push our weight around to preserve the resources we love. Yet, angling can be stressful for fish and have negative impacts on their populations if we aren’t careful about it. It is therefore essential to evolve our angling practices to ensure we contribute in a positive way to conservation.
    Research has shown that one of the greatest causes of stress and mortality in angled fish is air exposure. This is well known in the world of catch-and-release science, but not all anglers recognize this. Angling practices change through angling culture. Through movements like Keep Fish Wet."

Twitter and Instagram: @sci_angler

Research: researchgate.net/profile/Jacob_Brownscombe

Ambassador Profile: Captain Tony DiGiulian

Zac Yarbrough Photo

What does Keep Fish Wet mean to me?

It is a tremendous honor for me to be asked by Keep Fish Wet to become part of such a distinguished and accomplished team of ambassadors, volunteers and corporate sponsors. I have been advocating for professional ethics and proper revive and release techniques for more than three decades. For me, “Keepemwet” is a life philosophy and is directly related to how we treat and respect not only our natural resources, but how we treat and respect other human beings as well. Ethical angling practices, professional responsibility and leadership go hand in hand. As fishermen and women, we are all responsible for protecting the resource we love and rely on so much. Being a professional and a leader in my industry, I feel I must set the highest ethical standards and example for others at all times, with no exceptions. As humans, we all have the ability to learn and evolve by keeping our minds open to new knowledge and scientific discovery. I am committed to the keepemwet mission of leading and educating others on the best way to enjoy all the joys fishing has to offer, while having the smallest negative impact on our fisheries. Please give the fish we catch and release, every opportunity to survive and spawn so that we can pass our blessings on to the next generation.

Leonard Bryant Photography

Anthony “Tony” DiGiulian is President of Saltwater Professional Consulting. Tony started his career in 1979, aboard his Aunt and Uncle’s charter boat, out of Shinnecock Inlet, Long Island, N.Y. Working for over 38 years in the sport fishing industry as a professional Captain, deck hand, conservationist and consultant, he has led anglers to over 10,000 billfish captures worldwide, including several ultra-light world records and tournament victories.

A published author on various subjects related to sport fishing, Tony is a recognized expert on all types of saltwater fishing. His articles have been published in Sport Fishing Magazine, Marlin Magazine, Tournament Digest, IGFA International Angler, Billfish Magazine, fishtrack.com, In The Bite Magazine and Coastal Angler Magazine. He has been interviewed for numerous articles on fishing related topics by all the major fishing publications. You can view his many how to videos on You-Tube, IGFA.org and Fishtrack.com.

Tony has worked for some of the top sport fishing operations in the world and learned his craft from some of the most famous captains in history. The list includes legendary Captains: Skip Smith, Eddie Herbert, Rick Defeo, Daniel Timmons and Australian Laurie Wright. In 2006, Tony co-founded along with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), the “IGFA School of Sportfishing”. In 2018 this program will be entering its twelfth year of existence. He also volunteers for all IGFA children’s programs and especially enjoys helping special needs children to experience the joys of fishing and being outdoors. Tony is a board member of “Fish To Make A Difference”, an organization that works with the Joe DiMaggio Children’s hospital to take children and their families, suffering with various health issues and life threatening diseases out on the water fishing.

In 2009 Tony started a project in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he guided his clients to the first rod and reel sword fish captures in Red Sea history. He is also responsible for the creation of The Red Sea Game Fishing Club and the Red Sea Game Fish Association. In addition Tony was the lead consultant and project manager in the creation of the first multi boat charter fishing operation in Saudi Arabia. In April of 2010, Tony was a guest professor at the prestigious King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, where he taught a three day course on fishing and the potentials of sport fishing as an industry on the Red Sea coast. In 2011 Tony was a guest speaker at the 2011 Asia Marine Conference at the 2011 South Korean International Boat Show, where he presented on the economics of the sport fishing and recreational angling industry. In 2012 he travelled to Egypt to begin a project in El Gouna, at the Abu Tig Marina with the end goal of bringing the sport fishing industry to Egypt’s resort coast on the Red Sea. In October of 2013, Tony was hired by the St. Lucia Game Fishing Association and the Southern Caribbean Billfish Circuit to begin a long term, multi-faceted project to promote that region as a top game fishing destination. Tony also created, produces and runs, the Sea Spray Abaco Challenge fishing tournament at the Sea Spray Resort in Elbow Cay, Abaco Bahamas.

Mr. DiGiulian has always been committed to the sport fishing industry, but above all, has a deep desire to help preserve our marine environment and to protect the rights of the sport fishing public. Tony has been advocating for professional ethics, responsible use and proper fish handling and reviving techniques for three decades. Tony is an active member of The Billfish Foundation and a member of their Captains advisory board. In February of 2010, Tony was awarded the title of “Billfish Foundation Conservation Ambassador”, and is now representing TBF in an official capacity. Tony is an original member of the South East Swordfish Club, committee member of The Big Game Room at the Miami International Boat Show and committee member of the Jeb Bush Classic, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Sailfish Tournament. Recently he has become the radio voice of the Yamaha/Contender Miami International Sportfish Tournament as that event’s on air scorekeeper.  He is a regular speaker at many fishing seminars and specializes in public speaking and organizing and conducting seminars for various organizations, including the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). His goal is to help boating and fishing enthusiast of all levels obtain the skills, information and technology necessary to maximize their overall saltwater experience.

Website

Instagram

Thoughts From John McMillan- Wild Steelhead of the OP

No better way to start the new year than with a hen less than 100 yards from the ocean. And while I wish everyone a happy New Year, and some chrome this winter, I also want to raise awareness about the plight of Olympic Peninsula wild steelhead.

By Keepemwet Fishing Science Ambassador John R McMillan

Populations of wild steelhead are in long-term decline in the Hoh, Queets and Quinalt. In fact, since 1980 (when they started collecting data on annual run sizes) populations of wild steelhead have declined by 33% in the Hoh and 48% in the Queets. The Quillayute system has fared a bit better, but it too has been in decline since the mid-90’s and it has experienced some of the smallest runs on record in recent years. In fact, just a couple years ago the Bogachiel escaped only 733 wild steelhead. That’s it, 733 fish. Last year was the smallest run size on record in the Queets, and the Hoh River steelhead have met the escapement goal less than 50% of the time in the past 15 years. That bad news: it looks like the trend will continue this winter. Managers estimate the run size will be only 7800 steelhead in the Quillayute, which includes the Bogachiel, Sol Duc, Calawah and Dickey Rivers. The forecast for the Hoh is a paltry 3,000 fish. Of further concern, ocean conditions don’t appear to be getting better in the next year or two, in fact, they may get even worse. During these poor return years it is incumbent upon anglers to play their part in conserving the fish. We, as anglers, are no longer harvesting wild steelhead in these streams. But, we are catching them, and catching them quite often. Data from 2014 in the Hoh indicates on average, every fish that escaped the tribal fishery was caught 1.44 times. And that is an underestimate, and does not include fish that were hooked and lost. Similar results were found in the Sol Duc. We don’t know what such high encounter rates do to wild steelhead. All I know is I love these fish. I love snorkeling with them. I love fishing for them. So, this year, my New Year’s resolution is to fish a bit less to give them a break, and make up some of that experience with snorkeling. It isn’t easy, but its better for the fish. 

John McMillan is the Science Director for Trout Unlimited's Wild Steelhead Initiative

Explore more of John's work here.

Ambassador Profile: Jako Lucas

Jako Lucas, a Quick Biography

I have fished many of South Africa’s premier fresh and saltwater destinations since I was 4 years old, and represented my province and my country in various competitions throughout my youth.

After completing my BCom Marketing degree, at the University of Johannesburg, I moved to London for a gap year however was fortunate enough to end up working at Farlows of Pall Mall, where I continued fishing many of the UK’s top fisheries including the prestigious River Test

During my time in London, I had the opportunity to represent Sportfish at various fishing shows, most notably The CLA Game Fair.

I started full-time guiding in 2006, guiding, but also taught myself about effective photography and filming techniques.

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To me Keep Fish Wet means that we have to be aware of our impact on the environment. It translates to our conscious efforts in protecting our fisheries and wildlife and ensuring that we educate others and our younger generations.

I will tell you that, having been a full time fly fishing guide, videographer and photographer for over 12 years now, my whole life revolves around the water and what lives in it. Not only do a I make a living out of it, but the more time I spend out on the water, the more I realize that we have to make sure that we do whatever is necessary, so future generations can also enjoy our waters and this sport that we love some much.

I believe it is so important that we get this message across in a positive manner. Focusing on the negativity will not help us educate and inform people.
The reason being is that, it is very difficult to deny that the classic ‘grip-and-grin’ is still one of the most effective methods to showcase clients’ or your own trophy fish. Therefore, I believe that, it will be hard to completely stop doing so. More importantly, I believe it is of paramount importance to instead educate anglers on handling the fish in the correct manner.
For example, I always explain to my clients, that they must understand that this fish has been fighting for its life and keeping it out of the water for too long is like me sticking your head under water after running a marathon.  
So, the most effective way I have my clients hold the fish is by instructing them to hold their breath as they pick the fish up and when they need to breathe, they then realize that they should give the fish a breather as well.
The key points to remember when getting ready for your ‘grip-and-grin’ is:
    •    Making sure this fish is wet at all times
    •    Ensure the fish has time to breathe
    •    Hold your breath while taking your photo
In saying this, we also have to consider it from a photographer and videographers’ point of view. We use our medium to share these incredible places with others and by doing this we are able to create awareness. Considering also the advantages that Social Media has to offer, we are able to bring this awareness to a wider audience. Luckily, by using Social Media, we are not just able to educate but also, almost immediately, advise someone who is not following the right procedures and help them.  
There has also been a movement, in the industry, towards getting more creative angles, for example, where the fish is still in the water.

At the end of the day, we all will benefit and we need to drive that understanding through so that we all know that if we just do our little part we can have a huge influence and bring about transformation.
As I said before, not only will we be the ones that benefit, but it will benefit future generations to enjoy the wonders that nature has to offer.

If we damage a fishery by either killing or catching too many fish, we may cause fish populations to shrink significantly or even collapse and in so doing, disrupting the entire food chain.
Oceans and river systems are the largest ecosystems on Earth, generating more than half of the oxygen people breathe, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping reduce the impact of climate change.
I could go on and on, yet the basic and most obvious answer is… to survive.

Website

Instagram

Ambassador Profile: Nick King

Born and raised in rural New Zealand Nick has had a chronic fur, fins and feathers addiction since he was consciously aware. 

NZ provided ultimate freedom in chasing a dream of working and living in the kiwi outdoors. As an eighteen-year-old in pre internet times Nick took his first guiding trip and 28 years later comes up with a blank page when trying to think of any alternative career. 

Having been the temporary custodian of a number of the South Islands big brown trout, he has come to understand the benefit to all of the quick, gentle and wet mantra when it comes to these decade old fish. A thoughtful handling of these resident fish living in low numbers waters, hands a gift of hope and fulfilment to the next angler. 

New Zealand’s fishery is a fragile as they come and as his home waters have become a discovered destination Nick is involved with fisheries managers in trying and solidify future fisheries schemes in order to benefit the environment, the fish the people of the country and all other anglers of the globe that travel to experience these islands in the south pacific. Respecting the fish is one aspect of sustainable fisheries and keeping them wet is a key to successful and healthy release of New Zealands sports fish. 

Website www.crikeycreek.com

Thoughts From John McMillan- Salmon & Steelhead Part 2

Continued from part 1 via the Instagram account of Keepemwet Fishing Science Ambassador John R McMillan. @rainforest_steel

Here we have a very simple statistical model that evaluates the relationship between variation in annual run size and the total number of life histories in each species. Of note, I changed the juvenile life histories from one to two to include yearling coho smolts, which I assume exist to some degree in the Skagit, based on a suggestion by @fisherfreak. Thanks! Someone else raised that same point to me about a year ago, in which case the total number of life histories for #cohosalmon increases from 3 to 6. I needed to standardize the variation in annual run sizes so I calculated the Coefficient of Variation (CoV) for each species annual run sizes over the period of record, which is represented by the 1-100% scale on the bottom (x-axis). The CoV tells us how much run sizes disperse from the mean run size. The higher the percentage, the more variation in run size there is from year-to-year (think pinks). The lower the percentage, the less the variation. On the vertical (y-axis) scale is the total number of life histories for each species. I used a simple regression model that allows for non-linear relationships (which just means the association does not have to be straight, or linear, and can curve). The solid black line represents the best fit of the model, and it was a very strong fit, with total number of life histories explaining 85% of the variation in run size. All this means is: Life history diversity among salmonids (in this data set at least) in the Skagit is strongly linked to how much run sizes vary from year-to-year. The theme is pretty consistent with steelhead, diversity matters, a lot. It is their evolutionary calling card, just like home runs were for Barry Bonds, steals were for Ricky Henderson, and 100 mph fastballs were for Nolan Ryan.

Wrapping up the first part of the discussion here on steelhead life histories. As mentioned previously, they display the most life histories of any salmonid. Up to 32-38, and that does not even include repeat spawners. As smolts, most steelhead spend 1-4 years in freshwater before migrating to the ocean. However, they have found fish as old as 7 migrating to the ocean! It suggests that some fish are maturing as rainbow and then going out to the ocean to become a steelhead. Shape shifters. And once they get to the ocean, some fish spend only a month or two, while others may spend up to five consecutive years. The result of this diversity is an incredible array of ages at maturity. Some steelhead will mature by age-2, others not until age-9. Consequently, we have mature steelhead ranging from little ones as small as 2lbs to huge fish that tip the scales beyond 40lbs. Given all this diversity it is not surprising that biologists and anglers were long confused about what a steelhead actually was, and the delineation of species was further muddied by the inclusion of resident rainbows (which I have not yet touched on). Steelhead have so many choices in life history they are basically like a Baskin Robbins or a Costco. Options, options, options. Or, think of them like a leatherman tool, while species like pink are a phillips head screwdriver – not many options with the last, and if the environment in a given year requires a flat head screwdriver, the pinky phillips won’t do as well. Steelhead populations on the other hand will not fare as badly, while their phillips head won’t work well, they can simply pop open the leatherman and choose the right tool. This is what helps them occupy the greatest geographic distribution of any Pacific Salmon, all the way from Russia across the Pacific Rim down the Baja California. No other species of salmon comes even close to matching this. They are not leathermen.

Decided I can’t just walk away with figures and tables. I will continue the presentation tomorrow, until then, here is a small summer run steelhead. Nothing is more rewarding than spending all day snorkeling to finally capture an underwater photo of the most difficult species to shoot. I love these fish! 

Thoughts From John McMillan- Salmon & Steelhead Part 1

From the Instagram account of Keepemwet Fishing Science Ambassador John R McMillan. @rainforest_steel

Let’s begin! Steelhead are a species of #PacificSalmon, which includes sockeye, coho, chum, pink, chinook, steelhead and cutthroat trout – in addition to cherry/masu salmon. They all descended from a common ancestor millions of years ago. Despite the shared genetic heritage, each species has evolved a unique set of characteristics, such as optimal range of temperatures, metabolisms, age at smolting, time spent in ocean, size at maturity, and whether or not they go to the ocean. These attributes differentiate the species, in addition to a variety of other features. The challenge with steelhead is that they are often managed in the same way we manage salmon such as coho, sockeye and kings. In those management schemes we tend focus almost solely on abundance, aka: How many fish do we get back each year? Though an important metric, for a species like steelhead their abundance does not exist within a vacuum, it is partly – and sometimes strongly so – a function of their diversity. The question is then: What is the big difference between steelhead and salmon?

The Skagit River in Washington state provides a good starting point for comparing salmon and steelhead because it has so many species of salmon. I start with #pinksalmon. Here we have the total annual run size of pinks, the number of fish for pinks is on the axis on the right. Below we have #chumsalmon, and their abundance is depicted on the axis to the left. I separated pinks from other species because they are incredibly abundant and make it almost impossible to see the variation in lesser abundant fish. In any case, wow, that is a tremendous amount of variation from year to year in both species. In some years you have over 1.5 millions pinks, in other years you have less than 100k. Similar variability with chum. In some years over 500k return to the Skagit, in other years it is less than 20K. The point is we see a lot of variation among years in terms of run size for these two species. This is probably not a surprise to most anglers. Chum and pink – and sometimes sockeye – have evolved to rely heavily on their abundance as a means of sustaining themselves. Next post I focus on the other species of salmon, and then finally, steelhead, before we get into looking at the diversity within the diversity.

Day 2 of the presentation. Here we have all the other species of salmon and steelhead for the Skagit. The abundance of #cohosalmon, #kingsalmon, and #wildsteelhead is found on the left axis. We can see there is more variation in coho annual run sizes than there is for kings and more variation for kings than there is for steelhead. For instance, coho run sizes have exceeded 400k fish in one year, but are lower than 10K in others. For kings we run sizes from about 7k up to 25k, rarely more, while steelhead are basically going from 3k up to 12k. Essentially, steelhead display the least amount of variation year-to-year in terms of population size. The big question is: Can we attribute any of this variability among species to some aspect of their biology? That is what I will cover in the next slide.

time to look for potential explanations. Life history diversity is one feature that could help explain such variability. For example, in recent years scientists have coined the term “Portfolio Concept,” which basically means that different life histories survive at different rates at different times and places. Such diversity can potentially help dampen annual variability in run sizes by spreading risk across time and space. To determine if that is one cause, we first must identify how many life histories each species displays. Here is a table that describes the number of life histories found in each species. First, I have freshwater life histories: the number smolt age classes in each species. Steelhead have four because smolt ages range from 1-4 years old – though one-year olds are rare in the Skagit. Kings have two, yearlings and sub-yearlings. There is only a single strategy for all other species, sub-yearlings for chum and pink, and yearlings for coho. Next I considered ocean ages, which ranges from 1-4 years for steelhead. For kings we have 2,3, and 4-salt fish, though historically there were also 5-salt. Chum and coho also generally have about 3 age classes for adults, though they tend to be younger than kings. In contrast, all pinks do the same thing – go figure! They are putting all their eggs into one basket each year. Last we have run timing. There are two for steelhead, summers and winters. Same for kings, summer/spring and fall, while there is only one run timing for coho and chum. I gave pinks two run timing because while most are odd year fish, there are a few even year. I was being generous. I think multiplied freshwater life histories by ocean life histories, and then that number by run timing. The result is a total number of potential life histories for each species, excluding repeat spawners for steelhead. And what we see is that #wildsteelheadhave many many more life histories than the other species. Back to my original question: Can this diversity help explain the variation in annual run sizes? I dive into that tomorrow, until then, may the diversity be with you.

Ambassador Profile: Brian O'Keefe

"Keep Fish Wet should have been in our world 20 years ago, I am really glad it is here now. I like to grill hatchery steelhead and the occasional mutton snapper, but our native and wild trout, especially, need tender loving care.

I think Keep Fish Wet is a growing and important component of todays flyfishing culture and just starting to grow fins. After educating anglers on the proper landing, handling and releasing of fish, there are other channels to wade, like spawning bed etiquette, for starters. No other part of angling is more important than fish health. Catch and release fishing is really a little barbaric, even Jacques Cousteau called it perverted. Too minimize stress on our beloved catch, every effort should be made, by as many anglers as possible, to get ‘em in and get ‘em off, as humanely as possible. Do we really need to see more 10 inch to 15 inch trout, or any size for that matter, in a death grip, inside a drift boat on Facebook?" 

Brian O'Keefe- Fishing Bum With A Camera

I have had so much fun pretending to call fly fishing photography work, that I still describe this endeavor as a 'hobby out of control'. I sold my first fly fishing photograph when I was 16 years old, and let me tell you, that was a fairly long time ago. Since then, it has been my absolute pleasure to work with some of the finest publishers, magazine and photo editors and graphic artists in the world. I consider the following publishers of fly fishing photography some of the finest, and thank you for using me as a contributor: Field & Stream Magazine, USA Today, The Drake Magazine,  Outside Magazine, American Angler Magazine, Orvis, Patagonia, Fly Fisherman Magazine, Outdoor Life Magazine, Catch Magazine, Fly Rod and Reel Magazine, Northwest Flyfishing Magazine, Voyage de Pesch Magazine, Oregon Tourism, Chile Tourism... I could go on and on, especially with the addition of blogs and all the websites for fly fishing lodges, products, travel companies, etc.

It has been a good ride and thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way. I am more of a shoot from the hip photographer. I rarely use a tripod and I usually have to put down my fly rod or the oars to organize a shot. My style is basically editorial in nature and natural. I do not use professional models or fancy lighting. If I did, I couldn't call this a hobby out of control. I have a very deep collection of images. From my backyard pond, here in Oregon, to far flung destinations like Alaska, the Bahamas, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Tonga, England, Mexico, Belize, Sierra Leone, Christmas Island and many more. Every decent fly fishing photographer has these kinds of lists, also. But, I have a little more time on the water than most. For example, I have made over 50 trips to Alaska and over 30 trips each to the Bahamas and Belize. Let me know what you are looking for, I'll probably have it.

Special Edition Keepemwet Artist Series "SILHOUETTES"

As we developed the Keepemwet logo featuring the silhouettes of three fish, we sought iconic shapes that were emblematic of major sport fishing categories. A bass shaped profile for warm water species, the iconic tarpon representing salt water game fish, and a salmonoid shape which could be interpreted as a trout, steelhead or salmon, representing cold water species. Another element of this selection was to feature species that are commonly caught and released- the paramount purpose of the existence of Keepemwet Fishing and reflected by the underwater port-hole.

These of course are just three of many categories, which is why we also have art and designs on hand for many many other popular C&R species such as permit, rooster fish, bonefish and pike. As we look into these generic shapes however, we can imagine individual fish we cherish as part of our passion for fishing, wild species and pristine habitats. We can imagine what those individual fish may look like, which is exactly what I asked a few of our artist friends to do with a special edition artist series featuring the stars of Keepemwet Fishing and our logo.

"Consider this black and white outline part of a coloring book." I said. "Fill these lines with the fish that you see when you close your eyes." The invitation sparked instant responses from our friends Ed Anderson, Josh Udesen and Travis Sylvester. The green flag waved and they each set forth in their own respective styles and mediums.

It's no surprise that Ed Anderson and his organic, up-tempo gestural style finished first. If you've ever seen Ed paint, it's impressive in his speed. He moves in quick reflex motions, almost like he's not really using his eyes, like the brush is guided by his entire arm and body with results that flow together quickly. Paint drips and splashes on the floor. It's really cool to watch!

As Ed explains "It's great to be working with Keepemwet Fishing on this project.  Keeping our fish populations healthy for sport fishing plays an important role in creating all my pieces.  This species is one of my favorites and hopefully this tarpon can help continue the mission."

With that we introduce the first fish in the Keepemwet Artist Series Silhouettes and "Baileys Tarpon".

7.5 inch decals of "Baileys Tarpon" and "Wild Steelehad" are available now, and stay tuned for print availability throughout the entire series.

Ambassador Profile: Travis Sylvester

Travis Sylvester working his Jedi color pencil magic.

Travis Sylvester is an artist out of the Salt Lake City area. His love and appreciation for the amazing colors and markings of trout can be seen in his artwork.
Colored pencils are his medium of choice, and have been since he was in high school.  “I really enjoy the results that I get out of colored pencils, they allow me to create very vibrant images with hard sharp edges, while at the same time I can smoothly transition through all of the brilliant colors on a gill plate.”

"Felicity" is drawn from a #keepemwet photo of a wild Eastern Oregon desert rainbow trout.

Travis’s artwork and style has become widely recognizable in the fly fishing industry. It is often mistaken for oil or acrylic paintings. Although Travis has not attempted using paint of any kind, he does state that he can see himself “giving it a whirl” in the future.
“My favorite part about drawing trout is trying to capture that awesome shimmery wet look. I also like to exaggerate the tones and glossy reflections that can often be seen around their eye or down their backs. If my completed drawing looks wet, or if it appears that you could reach out and touch the fish, I am happy with it.”

"I Call Bull" is drawn from a #keepemwet photo of a wild bull trout from the Imnaha River.

Travis gets inspired to continue his artwork from either catching beautiful trout, viewing fantastic trout photography, as well as viewing great artwork from other fish and trout artists. He continuously strives to make each new piece even better than the previous while continuing to establish his own unique style. Travis also likes to create wild digitally manipulated images from his own original drawings in between projects.
“For the most part, I am as self-taught with my artwork as I am with fly fishing. I still have a ton to learn about fly fishing, I feel that trying to figure things out on the water is half the fun. Although I do enjoy wading a mountain creek or river, I tend to find myself in my float tube out on a small lake or pond when I get a chance to go out.”

Travis hoofing his way to a high mountain puddle.

Some of Travis’s work can be seen on Montana Fly Company’s “River Camo” product line, Patagonia Tech shirts, and Fincognito Apparel. His work has been published in several popular magazines such as; Fly Rod & Reel, American Angler, Fly Fusion and H20.  Giclee fine art prints on treated loose canvas, gallery wrapped canvas or fine art paper can be purchased from his website.

Instagram

"Goliath" is drawn from a #keepemwet image of a wild N Umpqua winter run steelhead caught by angler Adam Haarberg and carefully lifted just above the water's surface for the few seconds required for a photo.

Ambassador Profile: Marty Sheppard

Born and raised in Oregon, Marty grew up on the banks of the Sandy River. With his dad as tutor and angling mentor, Marty landed his first steelhead at the age of five. During the 70s his dad continued to hone and shape [perhaps unknowingly] Marty’s future by taking him fishing, seemingly every day, and instilling in him the instincts and techniques for pursuing steelhead. Much of his fly-fishing inspiration came from devouring books, especially those written by such notable and insightful naturalists as Roderick Haig-Brown and Bill McMillan. While still a young strapling in the 1990s, Steve Kruse took Marty underwing and taught him the art of Spey casting. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that all these elements now manifest themselves as Marty’s unbounded enthusiasm for guiding—backed up by over a decade of professional experience in the “field”—and an almost missionary zeal for teaching others and sharing in the pure joy of rivers.

Website.

Instagram.

In addition to being a veteran steelhead guide, Marty is also a photographer.

Ambassador Profile: Mia Sheppard

Threetime world champion spey caster,  accomplished guide, conservationist,  upland bird hunter, skier and mother, Mia Sheppard, grew up in Tennessee, chasing trout and hiking the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains. Fly fishing caught her attention in 1996 and in 2001, Marty Sheppard, her husband, introduced her to spey casting, and connecting with steelhead.  In 2003 they purchased Little Creek Outfitters, a outfitter deep rooted in fly-fishing since the early 90’s, guiding anglers into steelhead, trout, and smallmouth bass on Oregon Rivers.
Committed to conservation, she works for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, is a river steward for Native Fish Society, the conservation chair for IWFF and supporter of Deschutes River Alliance, Trout Unlimited, Casting For Recovery, Fly Fishing Collaborative and Keep Fish Wet. Mia has contributed to the books; Wild Steelhead: the Lure and Lore of a Pacific Northwest Icon and 50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northwest. She is an ambassador for Simms Fishing Products, Airflo Lines and Field Advisor for Winston Rods.  When she isn’t fishing she can be found chasing upland birds or skiing Mt Hood with family and friends. Website. INSTAGRAM

Ambassador Profile: Josh Udesen

I never really considered the idea of art as a career, so my focus was always on the fun of art. In college I took as many art classes as I could, simply because I loved them, not because I ever imagined I would do something beyond a hobby. Even if I never considered an art major or thinking of a career in art, I continued my personal goal of educating myself in painting, drawing, ceramics and printmaking.

My "new" career as an artist was preceded by a long list of careers that have shaped both me personally and the art I do today. I've been teaching 11th and 12th grade History and Comparative Religions at Riverstone International School in Boise, Idaho, for the past nine years. Prior to moving to Boise I spent several years living and teaching in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (not a typo - I did live in Central Asia), eight years teaching in Central Oregon and a few years learning to teach in Alaska.

As I developed a teaching career I was a long time fly fishing guide on some of the greatest rivers on earth. I spend six summers as a guide on the Deschutes River in central Oregon working for the Flyfisher's Place out of Sisters, Oregon. Before guiding in Oregon I was a guide for Tikchik Narrows lodge in the Bristol Bay region of Southwest Alaska.

Website. INSTAGRAM

Other Posts from Josh

Ambassador Profile: Arian Stevens

Keep Fish Wet: Why do you believe Keep Fish Wet is important?

Adrian Stevens: The movement transcends just fly fishing and it’s for everyone who fishes, really. It’s be great to see it develop into what it is now and the change in minds and habits on social media.

KFW: If there was one thing about science-based best practices for fish handling that you wish all anglers would remember to do, what would it be?

AS: Keep your fingers out of the gills.

KFW: What challenges do you feel anglers face when applying KFW principles and tips?

AS: Every fish doesn’t need its photo taken.

Growing up in the foothills between Yosemite and Tahoe I’ve always been spoiled by the awesomeness of the outdoors. Fresh out of high school having no clue what I wanted to do I happened to take a photography class and found not only my passion, but a way to share the beauty of my surroundings with others. Back then, every river I photographed I always imagined how much cooler it would be if there was someone fishing it. Combining the two, I added a fly rod and a few fishing buddies to my arsenal and decided to move where there was a bit more water to cover. I’m still more of a photographer than a fisherman, since I prefer a killer image to a killer fish. But… I’m still pretty stoked with a killer fish. Website. INSTAGRAM