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Don’t miss out on your opportunity to own a limited edition print signed and numbered by artist Paul Waters. Printed with archival inks on Fuji crystal archival matte paper, the artwork celebrates CalTrout’s 50th Anniversary with a nod to our past, present, and future. This is your chance to own a beautiful piece of CalTrout history, knowing you are a part of our future. Only 50 of these prints were made making it a rare collectible.

Paul Waters is a renowned artist and angler and close friend to CalTrout. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Paul has been living in San Francisco for over 20 years. He was drawn to Northern California for its natural beauty and cultural diversity.

Let’s hear from Paul as he recounts his past and how he was able to merge two passions together: fishing and art. Thank you, Mr. Waters, for using your talents to support CalTrout. 

I designed a print that features Indian Rhubarb representing the first five decades, with the sixth and smallest leaf looking toward the future in anticipation of continued conservation work… work that will protect and restore these special places depicted through the 50th Anniversary print. 

By Paul Waters

The thrilling anticipation of a bite, the sudden surprise sighting or splash. I try my best to include these perspectives and feelings into my art. The mental snapshots of natural light and striking compositions are held forevermore…  

What started it all for me was catching a fake fish at an amusement park with my mom. More satisfying than the prize was seeing that wooden fish beneath the water, bending with the hues of the colorful circus lights. This mysterious unknown world under the surface grabbed my attention and soon after I went fishing for real. That fish turned in to a shiny round fish over the weeds of true water, real water, and I was stunned by the way it moved.  

This newfound connection to nature built the basis for new drawings, a simple looping fish with one pencil stroke from fish to tail. A fish from a cartoon came to life on chalkboards and notebooks throughout my childhood. My mom saw interest and soon I attended weekend art classes at Carnegie Museum from 3rd through 9th grade.  

Paul’s pin art from 10th grade.

Weekend sessions turned to a communication graphics class in 10th grade where I drew and designed a trout and bass pin. My teacher was encouraging and said I could make a career out of this: merging my passion and work. I was shocked, and super happy to learn. I never looked back at another way of making a living. 

The conservation community has always been one I admire, first being involved as a hunter and fisher and then donating to various environmental groups including CalTrout. As I grew in my personal art, work merged in and I started working on some graphics for Leland Fly Shop. Then, in 2013 thanks to my man Mikey Weir, I started some fish art and stickers for California Trout with then director Jeff Thompson. My work at CalTrout has grown over the years and I have been lucky to work with Tracey Diaz and the whole CalTrout Communications team. Being a part of the 50th Anniversary was a celebration all in its own. 

Giving back to this conservation community has been incredibly rewarding. This is a community on the frontlines protecting the magical gems. When the CalTrout Communications team and I sat down to discuss how we would put a lasting design together for the 50th Anniversary, we had a checklist of items to represent the past, present, and future of CalTrout. With our brainstorming session complete, I designed a print that features Indian Rhubarb representing the first five decades, with the sixth and smallest leaf looking toward the future in anticipation of continued conservation work… work that will protect and restore these special places depicted through the 50th Anniversary print.  

Huge thanks to Curtis Knight and the whole team for enlisting me to commemorate this year. Cheers to 50 more years CalTrout! 

Paul Waters dutifully signing all of the posters he designed for CalTrout.