In this episode John has Dean Finnerty on the podcast for a wide-ranging conservation about Dean’s background growing up as an angler in the Pacific Northwest and his eventual profession as a conservationist with Trout Unlimited. Dean’s first career was as a police officer, which eventually led him to become an undercover detective during the heat of the drug wars in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Imagine balancing your passion to fish for steelhead while also being an undercover operative in a biker gang? And then retire and transition to being a fishing guide and conservationist.
Tune in this week to hear about Dean’s journey, and how he found his love for steelhead, what he has learned during his 20 years of protecting salmon habitat, and why he thinks anglers need to be involved in conservation and ultimately, listen to him and John discuss what they think the future of steelheading looks like in the PNW.
