"Native Waters, Changing Climate: Fly Fishing for the Eastern Brook Trout"
Native Waters, Changing Climate: Fly Fishing for the Eastern Brook Trout" brings award-winning writer and Registered Maine Guide Lou Zambello and USDA Forest Service ecologist Lindsey Rustad to the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg on November 18
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 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 will 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 enthusiastic 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 five hundred 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 is most frequently found 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. Lindsey is internationally known for large and often daring experiments on forest soil warming, drought, acid rain, and even ice storms. She is enthusiastic about bringing scientists, artists, and citizens together to address today's most vexing issues.
Details
What: Native Waters, Changing Climate: Fly Fishing for the Eastern Brook Trout with Lou Zambello & Dr. 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 highly recommended, as space is limited.
About Lou Zambello & Dr. 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 five hundred presentations to angling clubs, conservation groups, and sporting audiences along the East Coast.
Dr. Lindsey Rustad is a Forest Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service and 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.
About the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM)
Founded in 1954, the NSLM is located in Middleburg, the heart of Virginia’s beautiful hunt country. The inviting, 6-acre campus, world-class research Library, and fine art Museum highlight the rich heritage and tradition of country pursuits. Angling, horsemanship, shooting, steeplechasing, foxhunting, flat racing, polo, coaching, and wildlife are among the subjects one can explore in the institution’s general stacks, rare book holdings, archives, and art collection. The NSLM offers a wide variety of educational programs, exhibitions, and family activities throughout the year. The Library & Museum are open Thursday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm. Library admission is free of charge.
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