The legend is that Fishtrap’s name is a play on the Nez Perce word “wallowa,” meaning the anchor on each end of traditional fishing weirs—fish traps. For us, the name symbolizes our roots in the local area of Wallowa County. It also offers a wonderful echo of the famous performing arts center, Wolf Trap, based in Virgina. Over time, the Fishtrap name has come to symbolize the essential purpose of the organization—just as a fish trap catches food to feed our body, Fishtrap helps us capture that which nourishes our creative life.
While many Fishtrappers enjoy actual fishing, nature, and our local wildlife, we are not a fishery. However, if you want to write a creative nonfiction piece about fishing, we can definitely help you with that.