Save Wild Trout

In the spring of 2023, Montana’s media started to highlight the fact that wild trout populations in Montana’s Jefferson Basin – an area that includes the world-famous Big Hole, Ruby, Beaverhead and Jefferson Rivers – were in severe distress. Legendary for cold-water fisheries that have historically supported an abundance of wild trout, the rivers in Southwest Montana are currently experiencing what some are calling a population-level collapse. SAVE WILD TROUT was launched to address this very crisis: a coalition of anglers, river advocates, concerned citizens, businesses, guides, and outfitters that have come together with the focused mission of protecting wild trout for the benefit of all. YDCCF is proud to support this effort being put forth by Save Wild Trout, and recently presented a grant in the amount of $10,000 to the organization.

You can learn more about Save Wild Trout by listening to this Waypoints Podcast episode. In this episode, Host Jim Klug is joined by two founding members of SAVE WILD TROUT: Guy Alsentzer and Wade Fellin – two individuals who know a thing or two about the rivers of Southwest Montana. Guy is the Executive Director and Founder of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, and Wade is a guide, lodge owner and outfitter on the Big Hole River.

YDCCF could not help fund vital work like this without your support. We are deeply grateful for our donors’ generosity, and welcome you to join your fellow anglers in supporting our work by clicking the Donate button at the top of the page.