Shaun Leonard became Director of the Wild Trout Trust (WTT) in 2009. His adventurous childhood was split between Mombasa, Africa and West Cork, Ireland. Here we talk about his escape from the trophy fishing of a bygone era to heading an aquatic habitat conservation charity. Shaun also gives a great slide show from his parasitology work, the story of his bicep-ripping roosterfish from a kayak and being on board Jacques Cousteau's boat "Calypso" in the 1960s...
What Does the Wild Trout Trust Do?
The Wild Trout Trust (WTT), is a charitable organisation with a dedicated staff of fishery and ecological professionals who work to protect and improve freshwater habitats.
Using Salmo trutta, the UK's native wild trout species, as a totem of good river health the WTT acts to create healthy, robust river ecosystems. It does this by focusing on providing each of the characteristic habitats needed for three key lifecycle stages of the wild trout: Spawning success, Juvenile/overwinter survival and Adult holding cover.
To support these aims, ensuring ease of access between existing valuable patches of good stream habitat and improving the surrounding land-use are vital components of work. You can click here to see existing project examples.
Is this Only for the Countryside (What about Urban Trout)?
Myself (Paul) and my colleague at the Wild Trout Trust (Theo Pike) head up the "Trout in the Town" project - which brings all the aims mentioned above and then helps to engage and train residents of towns and cities to adopt and care for their local stretches of urban trout stream.
Trout in the Town Affiliated Project: River Holme Connections
Theo also wrote "Trout in Dirty Places" - basically the bible of urban trout fishing in the UK, which also features a lot of the projects that "Trout in the Town" has been involved with over the years.
In fact, one of the first things Theo and I collaborated on was some of the chapters within Trout in Dirty Places - before we became WTT colleagues as well.
How Can I Support the Wild Trout Trust?
Annual Auction
Wherever you are in the world, the WTT's annual auction is full of a wide range of affordable and super-luxury (generously donated) lots to tempt you. It goes live on E-bay during March of each year and even includes international destination fly fishing packages (as well as artwork, days fishing in the UK, books and more). Auction catalogues are sent out to WTT members as well as partnering retail outlets (contact me if you'd like to see them featured in your local fly shop - and I'll see what can be done!).
My Auction Lot Winning Bidder, Ian B, on a memorable day together
If you have a lot that you'd like to donate, please feel free to email me and I'll get you in touch with the right people.
Become a Wild Trout Trust Member
Ranging from concessionary and retired levels, through regular individual membership on annual and lifetime bases - right up to club and corporate membership tiers. Either click the photo below (or the highlighted text link beneath it) to check out more details on memberhips.
WTT Conservation Officers are all Anglers as well: Beautifully-marked fish for Nick
The Wild Trout Trust achieves an outstanding amount of practical good for trout and the streams where they live in the UK and Ireland because of the support of members. Check out membership options by clicking here.
Share This Article with your Fishing Buddies
Invite your fishing buddies to check out this article and encourage them to also look into the work of the Wild Trout Trust. If you have a website, blog, social media account - or any other publishing platform - please consider dropping a link to this page with an invitation to your tribe to check out the WTT and the people involved.
Shaun Leonard and the Bicep-Busting Roosterfish
I thought I would leave you with the image of the end result of Shaun's terrifying - and injurious - encounter with this beautiful fish from Panama.
More Like This?
If you enjoyed the interview stories in this episode, you might like to sample some of the episodes below too:
Broadcaster (and Wild Trout Trust Vice President) Matthew Wright
Angling Writer and "Participation Advocate" Dominic Garnett
Fishing Industry "Lifer" & Master Storyteller John Shaner
As always, let me know in the comments how we did on this episode and in the article explaining more about Shaun's role and achievements in running the WTT.
Paul