Skwala Pledges 20 Percent of Thursday's Sales to Save Wild Trout

The technical fishing apparel brand Skwala has announced that it is donating 20 percent of all sales on skwalafishing.com on Thursday, December 14, 2023, to the Montana non-profit Save Wild Trout.

“We have enjoyed an incredible history so far and we all feel blessed,” Skwala's CEO and Founder Kevin Sloan said in a press release. “Now it's time to help out our beleaguered fisheries through a partnership with Save Wild Trout.”

Save Wild Trout is a nonprofit coalition started by Wade Fellin and others in response to the recent discovery of plummeting trout numbers in Montana's Jefferson River basin, and it aims to aid Montana's coldwater fisheries and the economies supported by the rivers. The organization's mission is to conserve wild trout by protecting their habitat, educating the public about the importance of wild trout, and advocating for policies that support wild trout populations.

In 2023, trout numbers on the Big Hole River, a headwater tributary to the Jefferson, were the worst since they started surveying in 1969 with fewer than 500 trout per mile. On average, it has about 1,500 trout per mile–the numbers represent a decline of 61 percent over the past decade.

Save Wild Trout recently hired Montana native Kyle Flynn, Ph.D. to bridge the gap between non-governmental and state and federal agencies. Flynn is a professional hydrologist and engineer with an academic and research background in water quality.

“The holidays are usually about celebrating what we are all thankful for,” Fellin said. “At Save Wild Trout we are thankful that anglers and outdoor enthusiasts are banding together to fight for what makes our fisheries so precious. We hope anglers can help support our cause to protect these amazing wild trout.”

SaveWildTrout.org invites citizens, environmental and fishing enthusiasts, and organizations from around the world to join their campaign. Visit www.savewildtrout.org to learn more.