Native Waters, Changing Climate: Fly Fishing for the Eastern Brook Trout

Native Waters, Changing Climate: Fly Fishing for the Eastern Brook Trout
with Lou Zambello & Dr. Lindsey Rustad
Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Brook trout existed long before there were hatcheries or stocked rivers. Brilliantly marked with red spots haloed in blue and fins edged in white, it is the only trout native to the eastern United States, and it has made its home in the cold, clean mountain streams of Appalachia since the last Ice Age. It is also Virginia's state fish. Today, that heritage is under pressure.

On Wednesday, November 18, 2026, the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) will welcome award-winning outdoor writer, Registered Maine Guide, and celebrated storyteller Lou Zambello and his wife and fishing partner, Dr. Lindsey Rustad, a retired Forest Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service, for Native Waters, Changing Climate: Fly Fishing for the Eastern Brook Trout, an evening of stories, science, and conversation beginning with a cocktail reception.

Pairing a seasoned guide's knowledge of the water with a scientist's understanding of the forests that shelter it, Lou and Lindsey will share the joys of pursuing brook trout from Maine to Virginia and throughout the mid-Atlantic, along with an honest look at the warming waters, habitat loss, and environmental pressures threatening the species' survival right here in the Commonwealth. Along the way, they'll share epic tales from their fishing travels across North America and around the globe, the kind of stories that only come from decades spent on the water together.

"The brook trout is a living measure of the health of our mountain streams, and its story is one every Virginian should know," said Elizabeth von Hassell, President and CEO of the National Sporting Library & Museum. "Angling has always been at the heart of the NSLM's collections and mission, and Lou and Lindsey are passionate experts who we welcome at the NSLM! We're thrilled to welcome them for the first time."

Lou Zambello is the author of four books, including Flyfisher's Guide to New England and In Pursuit of Trophy Brook Trout, and has given more than 500 presentations to anglers up and down the East Coast. Known for his warmth, humor, and gift for storytelling, he brings a guide's practical knowledge and a writer's eye to every talk.

Lindsey Rustad can be found deep in the New England wilderness, whether she's hiking, kayaking, fly fishing, or patiently studying how these majestic ecosystems work. A Forest Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service, she has spent more than three decades conducting research. The outdoors is her laboratory, and she is internationally recognized for large and often daring experiments on forest soil warming, drought, acid rain, and even ice storms. She is passionate about bringing scientists, artists, and citizens together to address some of the most vexing issues we face today.

Together, Lou and Lindsey offer audiences both the thrill of the chase and a clear-eyed view of what it will take to keep these fish in our streams for generations to come.

Native Waters, Changing Climate promises an evening that is as inspiring as it is timely!

Event Details

What: Native Waters, Changing Climate: Fly Fishing for the Eastern Brook Trout with Lou Zambello & Lindsey Rustad

When: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 · Cocktail reception at 5 pm; presentation at 5:30 pm

Where: National Sporting Library & Museum, 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg, Virginia

Tickets: $15 for NSLM members; $25 for non-members. Advance registration is recommended, as space is limited. Register: https://www.nationalsporting.org/index.php/nslm/event_details/1654/

About Lou Zambello & Lindsey Rustad

Lou Zambello is an award-winning outdoor writer, Registered Maine Guide, and the author of four books, including Flyfisher's Guide to New England and In Pursuit of Trophy Brook Trout. A sought-after speaker, he has delivered more than 500 presentations to angling clubs, conservation groups, and sporting audiences along the East Coast.

Dr. Lindsey Rustad is a retired Forest Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service plus Lou's wife and longtime fishing partner. She received a BA in Philosophy from Cornell University in 1980, an MS in Forest Science from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in 1983, and a PhD in Plant Science from the University of Maine in 1988. She is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America and has been recognized by the USDA Forest Service as a Distinguished Scientist. Together, Lou and Lindsey have pursued wild fish across North America and around the world.