Sawyer is proud to partner with artists and Save Our Wild Salmon conservation efforts to protect and restore wild salmon, steelhead, and the healthy river systems they depend on.

“Save Our Wild Salmon is honored to partner with Sawyer on this project to raise awareness and funds to support our advocacy efforts,” says Joseph Bogaard, Executive Director of the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition. “Healthy fisheries, healthy rivers, and responsible companies like Sawyer Paddles and Oars remind us all about how environment and economy can, and must, go hand-in-hand.”

Hear from Ty Hallock about his design and inspiration and learn more at www.tyoutdoors.com.

What was the inspiration for your Artisan Series design, and why is that species of fish meaningful to you?

So I drew a Brown Trout. Not really a fish that people think about when talking about salmon and steelhead. However, I thought this might help bring in people outside the Pacific Northwest.

I live in Casper, Wyoming, where I am a guide on the North Platte River. The Brown Trout in this river are few and far between, much like catching a salmon or steelhead in the Pacific Northwest. They are known as the rare purple unicorns of the Platte—rare and very hard to find.

I absolutely love trying to catch these fish. They are all very different, and each one is unique. The spots and coloration are always different, and people come from all over to try and catch these bad boys. I draw a lot of these fish for clients, and they are always a good seller.

They are by far my favorite fish to catch and draw.

Salmon and Steelhead are iconic species in the Pacific Northwest. What do you want people who aren’t familiar with the efforts to save them to know about the work and your art being done on their behalf?

Even though I drew a Brown Trout for the Artisan Series, salmon and steelhead have a special place in my heart.

I was a pretty serious fly fisherman when I moved to the Columbia River area in 2002. I instantly fell in love with the area and all the fish found in this amazing place. I was living alone when I first moved to the area, and I fished every day for three months until my wife could join me from California.

It took me a long time to catch any steelhead, but once I did, it increased my passion for fly fishing.

I noticed some issues while fishing all the areas around Hood River. At the time, I was working for the USGS tracking salmon through this river system. The dams had—and still have—passage issues, and it was great being a part of this tracking effort to help identify problem areas in the Columbia River system.

I always want to do more to help but never really know what to do. I donate art to many different agencies that help protect and preserve habitat for numerous fish species.

To have my art help these iconic species is a true honor, and I am happy to help.