20 Questions with Kirk Deeter

Kirk Deeter is the Vice President of Trout Media for Trout Unlimited, and Editor of their membership magazine, TROUT. He is also an Editor-at-Large for Field & Stream, and Editor for

Angling Trade magazine.

Who is TU?

1. For generations, Sportsmen have broken ranks with their peers over what they felt were threats to the resource. Bait fishing comes with a high incidental mortality rate, and by most admissions, bait anglers keep a higher percent of their catch than other anglers. TU is now reaching out to bait anglers and those who harvest fish by actively promoting both. Are you at all concerned that giving these anglers a seat at the table will make it harder for TU to gain consensus in the future regarding the promotion of conservation initiatives and low-impact fishing?

2. While long viewed as a “conservation organization”, many anglers now refer to TU as a “fishing club.” This is most likely due to a marked increase in outreach programs such as Youth Camp and Trout in the Classroom promoted at the national level, and events such as fishing derbies, stocked fish fin-clipping and fly tying at the local level. Guest speakers at chapter meetings now often present where-to and how-to. Many feel the emphasis has switched from “fish” to “fishing” over the last five or so years. Is this a national or regional trend, and does TU see this as a good or bad thing?

What is TU?

3. What would you say to those who feel “Trout in the Classroom” sends the wrong message: That trout come from an aquarium and that releasing trout from a secondary source into the wild is OK. With all the problems we are experiencing across the nation with respect to stocking and “bucket biology”, are you at all worried that the kids will get confused and see husbandry as a valid form of fisheries management?

4. The article “State of the Trout” in the Summer 2015 edition of TROUT magazine painted a pretty bleak picture for many of the nation’s wild native trout. How do you justify saying "There is true value in killing a few fish for dinner” in TROUT magazine last edition without prefacing it with a request that you do not harvest wild native fish, especially rare fish such as sea-run brook trout, Arctic char and Yellowstone cutthroat?

5. It is generally accepted that bait fishing, including worms, comes with a 30-35% incidental mortality rate, meaning that 1-out-of-3 trout caught and released using bait die. How do you justify saying “Bait makes fishing fun, and fun is not just for kids", without prefacing it with a request that you do not use bait over wild native fish, especially rare fish such as sea-run brook trout, Arctic char and Yellowstone cutthroat?

6. It is common knowledge that fishing with live bait, minnows, is behind many of the invasive fish infestations we are experiencing. As they say, “to use live bait is to lose live bait.” And like worms, live bait comes with a 30-35% incidental mortality rate, and even higher with ice fishing. How do you justify saying “Bait makes fishing fun, and fun is not just for kids" without prefacing it with a statement that precludes using live fish as bait?

7. The term “catch-and-release”, once common in TU literature and merchandise, and long a part of the TU logo, is now all but gone from the medias and consumer products. I can find only one product with “Catch & Release” on it: The awkwardly named “Retro TU Hat” (Retro: A style that is consciously derivative or imitative of trends, music, modes, fashions, or attitudes of the recent past.) Why has TU moved away from catch-and-release?

8. TU’s Mission Statement is “To conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.” The term “fishery” is defined as “the occupation or industry of catching or rearing fish.” Wikipedia says, “See also: fishing and fishing industry.” As a “conservation” organization, the term “fish” would seem more appropriate than the term “fishery.” Is this an oversight, or was it a deliberate choice of words?

9. Most of the conservation-oriented editorial on TU’s website and in TROUT magazine is about “habitat.” There is very little about protecting fish from angler exploitation and stocking. Conversely, the Native Fish Society promotes “Harvest, Hatcheries, Habitat, and Hydropower.” Does TU believe harvest and hatcheries pose a threat to wild native trout?

What is TROUT?

10. Upon taking over as Editor of TROUT magazine you stated in the “From the Editor” column that you considered it the “written conscience of trout angling.” TROUT had a pretty consistent conservation theme for decades. As you recently announced, you are taking the magazine in a different direction by increasing your coverage of how-to. Did the conscience of trout angling change, or were your predecessors misinterpreting it?

11. You also stated, “Part of me fears putting dings in a classic” in reference to TROUT magazine. You went on to say “…the other part wants to stand on the gas pedal and see what this baby can do.” It is fair to say you are now “see[ing] what this baby can do.” Why did you abandon a theme, “conservation”, that had been in place for decades, and does this imply a change of direction at the organizational level as well as at the magazine level?

12. You recently wrote, “…Now, we’re also going to pay more attention to helping you catch those trout… But we’re going to step up our ‘how-to’ efforts. You’ll see more of that in [TROUT] magazine, starting with this issue, almost entirely focused on ‘skills.’” With numerous "how-to” centric fly fishing publications out there, and no other conservation-centric publications, why do you feel TROUT magazine should increase its focus on tackle and technique, and does this mean there will be less conservation-oriented editorial going forward?

Corporate Partners?

13. There was an ad for an “Uncle Henry Fillet Knife” in the Summer 2016 edition of TROUT. As you know, fillet knives serve one purpose only: Preparing fish for cooking. Some would see this as inconsistent with TU’s long-standing mission of “protecting” our wild and native trout. What say you?

14. It is common-knowledge within the fly fishing industry that TU, or more accurately TROUT magazine, is pursuing paid advertisements from tackle vendors, lodges, guides, etc., more aggressively than they have in the past. What would you say to those who see this as a potential conflict of interest, and a threat to the integrity and objectivity of TROUT and TU?

15. Cabela’s is the number one purveyor of high-impact fishing tackle including treble and bait hooks, bait, soft baits, lead weights, minnow traps, bait buckets, fish stringers, filet knifes, fish skinners, cleaning stations and fish storage bags. How does TU justify promoting a company whose products put wild and native fish at risk via “Gear We Like” tackle awards (two of which appeared in the Summer 2015 edition of TROUT), gear give-a-ways, etc., and at the expense of fish-friendly companies such as Orvis, Patagonia and Simms?

Changing Directions?

16. Based on what I have seen and heard, and I believe it is fair to assume this is just the tip of the iceberg, the recent policy changes at TU and TROUT magazine have resulted in some level of membership cancellations. Did TU anticipate this, and is TU willing to continue to lose long-term members to try to reach non-traditional members?

17. Were the recent policy changes regarding TU and TROUT magazine decided by rank-and-file members, the National Leadership Council, Board of Trustees or the TU management team?

TU Policies?

18. It is my understanding that TU has a policy against chapters being involved in stocking over wild fish. Does the policy extend to stocking in general, and if not, where exactly does TU draw the line? If chapters are in violation of the policy, what can be done to stop them? Lastly, is there a mechanism by which concerned anglers can report violations of TU’s stocking policy?

19. What is TU’s policy regarding legislation? Specifically, are chapters allowed to submit and/or support state-level legislation, and do you see this as a valid and useful tool for gaining protection for wild native fish?

20. What is TU’s policy regarding federal and state ESA listings? Specifically, does TU support/allow chapters to get behind efforts to use the ESA to gain protection for wild native fish?