In Episode 34 of the Level Line Podcast the Tenkara Angler panelists welcome a truly special guest: Bob Mallard, Executive Director of the Native Fish Coalition (NFC) and one of the most passionate voices in native fish advocacy today.

Bob brings a remarkable background to this conversation; 15 years running a Maine fly shop on the Kennebec, hundreds of articles across publications from Fly Fisherman to Outdoor Life, five published books (including Squaretail: The Definitive Guide to Brook Trout and Where to Find Them), and co-founding the Native Fish Coalition, which has grown from a single chapter in Maine to 21 chapters spanning Maine to Arkansas in just a few years.

The NFC’s mission is simple but powerful: wild native fish, for the sake of the fish, not just for fishing. And as Bob explains in this wide-ranging conversation, that message is resonating with a new generation of anglers who are showing up in big numbers. We hope you enjoy this latest episode!

Episode Show Notes & Links:

00:10 - Introduction & Panel Welcome

02:51 - Meet Bob Mallard: Background & Career Path

- Article: Ecological Purity

06:20 - The Native Fish Coalition: From One Chapter to 21

09:00 - What Makes NFC Different and Why It Attracts Young Anglers

11:13 - Pushback from the Fly Fishing Industry

12:46 - Small Streams, New Anglers & a Different Kind of Fishing Culture

14:10 - The Brown Trout Problem: Recreation vs. True Conservation

17:39 - "Traditional Fish Conservation Isn't Conservation, It's Recreation"

18:51 - NFC vs. Trout Unlimited: How They Differ

21:14 - Can Brook Trout Come Back to Limestone Streams in PA?

23:02 - Urban Stream Conservation: Finding Fish Where No One Looked

25:09 - Working With Watershed Groups Instead of Fishing Groups

25:46 - Hatcheries, License Fees & the Broken Trout Model

30:57 - Climate Change, Warming Waters & Shifting Fish Populations

35:54 - The New Hampshire Habitat Project: NFC & Tenkara Community Work Together

- Article: NFC Plants Trees on Wild Native Brook Trout Stream

39:53 - Why Tenkara Anglers & Native Fish Conservation Are Natural Allies

- Article: Tenkara & Native Fish

42:46 - Bob's Books, Including Squaretail: The Definitive Brook Trout Guide

44:32 - Bob Tries Tenkara - What He Thought

49:14 - NFC Chapters, Growth & What's Next

51:03 - What You Can Do Right Now for Native Fish

- NFC Website | NFC Instagram | NFC YouTube

- Bob's Website

55:49 - Closing Thoughts & Sign-Off

Want to see more? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tenkara Angler⁠