Author Lance Sawa’s childhood fascination in California with rare fish, including golden trout, has followed him into adulthood in Japan. He traveled north to discover more about the itou, a long-lived but highly endangered member of the salmonid family. (LANCE SAWA)
ON THE TRAIL OF THE ITOU
MEMORIES OF CALIFORNIA’S ICONIC TROUT STIRRED ON A FISHERMAN’S EXPLORATORY TRIP TO NORTHERN JAPAN By Lance Sawa
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own a nondescript road north of Independence, in California’s high desert area in Inyo County, is a historical landmark, Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery. Mount Whitney started raising fish in 1917, but in 1918 it began rearing golden trout, which is California’s state freshwater fish and one of its “heritage trout” species.
The golden trout is endemic to California waters, but through their efforts the fish is now in multiple states and no longer endangered. My dad and I would go to the old fish hatchery before it was closed temporarily in the late 1990s – before the restoration of the old building. The fish food was only 25 cents and we would throw it out for the many large fish in the front pond. Then we’d walk out to the rearing ponds and be
in awe of the huge fish mere feet from our fingertips. They too would get a handful of fish food as they fought and splashed for the pellets. Inside the old main building there was information not only about the local area but also about the important work they do. Displays on the lifecycles of the trout they raised. History about the fish hatchery itself. One photo of a train of mules heading up a snowy pass with fish fry
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