The Imperiled Cutthroat

Book excerpt: Yellowstone, the world's first national park and one of America's truly great trout fisheries, has been a crucible for ideas on how to look after wild places. Renowned Australian fishing writer Greg French gives a sparkling firsthand account of how the park's history, landscapes, wildlife, and people have touched anglers worldwide -- and why this matters. The Imperiled Cutthroat is a travelogue that covers the story of the Yellowstone cutthroat trout: its discovery, biology, decimation, modern-day allure, and uncertain future. Although set against the dramatic backdrop of Yellowstone, comparisons to Australia, New Zealand, and Europe are inevitable. It is a cautionary tale too, ending up in Mongolia, which is as pristine as Montana once was. The Yellowstone fishery is at a crossroads, and debate about what to do is dangerously narrow. Anglers everywhere need to be constantly reminded that hatcheries are far from a panacea for ailing fisheries: fostering conservation of the natural environmental delivers far better outcomes at a fraction of the cost. The power of Greg's stories comes not just from the quality of the writing but also from the quirks and passions of the people he meets. Greg's compelling storytelling enthralls anglers and naturalists the world over.