Roger Wilson has been interested in sport fishing since his earliest memories. He looks back on his childhood fishing experiences as some of the most enjoyable moments of his life. By the eighth grade, he knew he wanted to turn his passion for fishing and conservation into a career with a state or federal agency.

He graduated from Utah State University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Science, focusing on Fisheries Management. He worked for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) in various roles for nearly 40 years and is now enjoying retirement. His UDWR career included positions as a fisheries seasonal in Cedar City, a laboratory technician in the Salt Lake office, a Resource Analyst for the Habitat Section in Price, a High Lakes Fisheries Biologist on the North Slope of the Uintas, Strawberry Reservoir Fisheries Project Leader, Coldwater Sportfish Coordinator, and ultimately the Fisheries Section Chief.

Throughout his career, Roger especially enjoyed working with anglers and angler organizations. He believes these collaborations led to many significant achievements for Utah’s fisheries. He is particularly proud of the work done at Strawberry Reservoir, transforming a chub-infested waterbody into a nationally recognized cutthroat trout fishery. He was also involved in the early stages of the Strawberry River Restoration Project.

Roger is currently a member of High Country Fly Fishers, Strawberry Anglers Association, and Friends of Strawberry Valley, and he serves as the Chairman of the Utah Anglers Coalition.

While he enjoys fishing for nearly all sport fish species, Roger feels most at home fly fishing Utah’s stillwater fisheries from his float tube in waters such as Strawberry, Calder, Rockport, Lost Creek, East Canyon, and many of the smaller lakes in the Uintas and the Boulder Mountains. He has also fished in diverse locations across the country, including Yellowstone Lake, the lakes of the Wind River Mountains, Okoboji Lake, Lake St. Clair, and coastal waters in Alaska. Now retired, he hopes to expand his fishing adventures internationally.