Video spotlight: Unspoken

Chris Johnson is an evangelist for native trout. He understands that fishing is not just about huge trophy trout and grip-and-grin shots—it’s about experiencing firsthand some of the most beautiful creatures and amazing places on Earth. This excellent new short video captures perfectly the adventure of fishing for a rare native trout species—the Rio Grande cutthroat trout—which occupies only 10 percent of its historical range in Colorado and New Mexico.

“Unspoken” was filmed and co-produced by Johnson, owner of Living Waters Fly Fishing, and Nathan Brown, Living Waters’ art and media specialist. The anglers drove from their fly shop is in Round Rock, Texas, to remote backcountry in Colorado and New Mexico in pursuit of RGCT.

Johnson is an unabashed fanatic about Rio Grande cutts—he loves fishing for them. And that passion drives their pursuit to the breaking point.

“In the course of a single week of filming,” he says, “we nearly got stranded in a canyon, almost dehydrated, hiked over 40 miles, drove over 2,000 miles, and I blew out my knee on the third day of filming. However, we saw country that few ever see, and I know that most of the water we fished sees less than a single angler each month!  It was truly special to catch and release fish in places where no footprints could be found!”

This is the allure of fishing for native trout. Johnson says the film was “meant to inspire others to take action on behalf of the species.”

No, these native trout aren’t hogs. But as the film shows, they’re among the most beautiful fish on the planet. And they’re worth the attention and respect of fly-fishermen who care about preserving the wonders of our natural world.

It’s great that Living Waters Fly Fishing—a Trout Unlimited endorsed business—is partnering with TU to use the film to raise awareness and funding for protecting the species.

Trout Unlimited has created a donation fund for viewers of the video who want to contribute directly to Rio Grande cutthroat conservation. The money goes to on-the-ground restoration projects in Colorado and New Mexico, where TU is working with local partners to improve stream habitat.

Watch the film to understand why the Rio Grande cutthroat trout is worth saving.

— Randy Scholfield