This summer has been spent donning my daily uniform of waders, pockets full of batteries and tools, and a layer of dirt and sweat. On some days, I’m also equipped with a five-pound sonde for measuring water quality or a six-foot pole for finding temperature loggers. My equipment makes me feel like a true scientist, but it often makes the public think I’m something else: an angler.   

At first, when I passed curious river users who asked me what I was fishing for, I felt like I was letting them down by not being able to reply with “rainbows” or “whatever will bite.” But as the weeks went on, I began to grow proud of my response: “We’re hoping to catch some data!” 

In the past ten weeks as an aquatic ecology technician with the Henry’s Fork Foundation, I’ve done just that. It’s been an honor to share my “catch” with you all, whether that’s through our live river conditions, swapping stories on the water, or here on the blog. Please enjoy the video below as I share what I’ve spent my summer fishing for one last time.