Survive and Thrive: Patagonia Incites Wild Fish Activism

To survive, our irreplaceable wild fish need clean, undammed rivers undiluted by inferior hatchery stocks, accessible spawning grounds, protected ocean habitat and sustainable fishing practices. To thrive, wild fish need wild fish activists—a lot of them—to protect, advocate and defend them. But what is an angling activist? What does it mean? What do they do? Where do I sign up? Do I have to go to meetings?

For us, the answer is simple. Tomorrow’s fish depend upon what we do today. An angling activist is an informed fly fisher who uses their position within the fly fishing community to simply make things better for wild fish and clean water. As anglers, we protect what we love.

That’s it. It’s that simple.

Patagonia Fly Fish’s Wild Fish Activism campaign seeks to incite, instigate and recruit activists determined to see our wild fish and clean water thrive. That activism comes in many different shapes – everything from simply crushing barbs and keeping fish wet to taking a leadership role in an advocacy group. It all counts, and it’s all valuable. Best yet, the reward is good times on the water, a supportive community and a wild, abundant future. It’s not too late. It’s not too early. It’s every day.

To introduce the campaign, Patagonia created a short, punchy video that illustrates the concept that the joy of wild fish activism is all around us and meant to be celebrated. The video captures the spirit of wild fish activism—a robust and diverse community engaged in protecting the future of wild fish and clean water.

If you’d like to wade in a bit deeper into the waters of wild fish activism, please see our Patagonia Action Works Fly Fishing page where you’ll find a local organization near you doing the work for our water and our fish. They’d love your help.