Introducing
The Champions Trout Collection

In February 2006, four World Fish Carving Champions were in San Diego for the California Open Wood Carving Competition. While there, Bob Berry, Clark Schreibeis, Jeff Compton and Lance Lyons all hopped in Lance`s boat for a business trip (fish reference gathering) in the waters near the Coronado Islands off of San Diego.

Fishing was slow, but a few "bottom fish" were landed and Clark managed to score a keeper Lingcod. Also on the business agenda was brainstorming about a way to promote fish carving as a whole.

After much discussion, and over the span of a few days, we hammered out what our goals and objectives are:

• Create a camaraderie among the world`s finest fish carvers and work towards the common goal of fish carving promotion.
  
  
• Increase the prestige, desirability and value of fish carvings among the world of "angling arts" and also among the general public.
  
  
• Gain exposure and create new markets for fish carvers throughout the world.
  
  
• Promote healthy competition at the World Fish Carving Championships and increase participation over all.

In addition to the above objectives, we would love to "give something back" to the fish that we enjoy carving and fishing for as well. This would be achieved by financially supporting selected conservation efforts to enhance and/or protect wild fish populations or habitats.

To accomplish these worthy goals, we have decided to invite all World Champion fish carvers to participate in the "Champion`s Trout Collection" There are 9 eligible World Champions to date.

This event will be a public exhibition of miniature trout carvings of the most common trout species. To gain maximum exposure, the first public showing of this trout collection will be held at the April, 2007 World Fish Carving Championships in Reno, Nevada.

Although it will be in conjunction with the World Fish Carving Championships, the Champion`s Trout Collection will not be a competition. It will simply be the first public showing of the finest group of trout woodcarvings ever assembled in one collection and carved by the recognized world`s finest fish carvers.

We feel that the sky is the limit on the value of this set of collected works and will create great interest among fish enthusiasts.

All participating individual World Champions will donate a 4" trout carving to the Champions Trout Collection. Our goal is to build a valuable and highly collectable group of miniature fish carvings that will be available for exhibit and/or sale to various institutions or organizations.

All proceeds from the eventual sale of the collection and any donations will be, in turn, donated to wild trout. Of the many benefits to us, will be the increased exposure to our art, and the satisfaction of knowing we have contributed to helping wild trout.