Who are we?
ABOUT US
Chasing Natives is a fly fishing journey that explores the beautiful places where North America’s trout and salmon call home. Tim Chase and Joel Vos met in 2016 while working together for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. From Tim’s stories of catching Brook Trout in Shenandoah National Park, to Joel’s bragging about Dolly Vardon from Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, these two outdoor enthusiasts quickly learned of their shared passions for fly-fishing, conservation education and exploring our nation’s public lands.
Since then, Tim and Joel have traveled more than 20,000 miles together, exploring rivers, lakes and streams across North America. These adventures have taken them from Appalachian streams to Rocky Mountain Wilderness, from the western reaches of the Bridger-Teton NF to the renowned waters of Yellowstone. Along the way, these two friends hatched the idea of helping others connect to nature and conservation by sharing their experiences.
A vast system of public lands – almost 650 million federal acres that belong to all Americans – is what make this journey possible. National Parks, National Forests, Wildlife Refuges, Wild and Scenic Rivers and Wilderness areas inspire us. We hope they will inspire you, too.
You are invited to share in this journey. Come along as we celebrate native trout, beautiful places, and the stories that connect them. Follow in our footsteps. Better yet, create your own path. You will be glad you did. We hope to see you out there
Celebrating native trout, beautiful places, and the stories that connect them.
OUR MISSION
CHASING NATIVES provides learning experiences about nature through travel and fly fishing that:
♦ INSPIRE curiosity about the natural world
♦ PROMOTE conservation and public lands stewardship
♦ DEVELOP social understanding, respect, and cooperation.
Tim Chase
Educator ♦ Conservationist ♦ Public Lands Advocate ♦ Fly Tyer ♦ Rod Builder
Tim Chase has been an educator since 1998. As a high school ecology and AP Environmental Science teacher, Tim received numerous awards including the 2018 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. While earning his degree in Biology from James Madison University, Tim spent time exploring Shenandoah National Park and the nearby George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. He would later return to Virginia’s public lands to hone his fly-fishing skills on the native brook trout streams of the Appalachians. Tim got hooked on the sport of fly-fishing over twenty years ago while traveling extensively across the mountain west. He is an accomplished fly-tyer and custom fly rod builder who now calls the Denver, Colorado area home.
Joel Vos
Natural Resources Interpreter ♦ Public Lands Manager ♦ Angler ♦ Photographer
Born in Minnesota’s “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Joel Vos has dedicated over 20 years to environmental education and conservation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and a master’s in Environmental Education from the University of Minnesota. In 2012, Joel joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Homer, Alaska, where this “fly-curious” Midwesterner discovered his passion for fly fishing trout and salmon.
Since then, he has served as Environmental Education Coordinator for the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Refuge Ranger at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and Refuge Manager for Green Bay and Gravel Islands National Wildlife Refuges. Joel now calls Colorado home, working as a Program Coordinator at the USFWS regional office, where he focuses on connecting people to conservation through internships and fellowships.
Enjoy the Adventure!
Talk to us
Let’s connect! We want to hear from you! At CHASING NATIVES, we are always open to talk about your ideas or answer your questions.