“Salter Saturday” with Trout Unlimited
Saturday, October 17, 2026
River Walk: 10:00 a.m.
Main Event: 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Freeport Community Center | 53 Depot Street, Freeport, Maine
Free and open to the public
Join Trout Unlimited for Salter Saturday, a free event celebrating Maine’s native sea-run brook trout and the people working to conserve and restore their habitat.
Sea-run brook trout, often called “salters,” spend part of their lives in salt water before returning to coastal freshwater streams and rivers. The day will bring together authors, biologists, conservationists, and community members to learn more about these remarkable native fish and restoration efforts underway in Maine and beyond.
Event Highlights
Beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center, the afternoon will feature:
Author Tom Pero, reading from his new book, Salter, the first comprehensive book dedicated to sea-run brook trout
Francis Smith, sharing the story of the restoration of the Quashnet River on Cape Cod
A panel discussion on sea-run trout conservation, featuring Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife biologist Merry Gallagher and Trout Unlimited members working on sea-run trout projects across Maine
Conservation displays from Trout Unlimited chapters highlighting projects underway throughout the state
Opportunities to meet and connect with others working to protect Maine’s cold-water fisheries and watersheds
Start the Day with a River Walk
Beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Burr Cemetery parking lot, 56 Durham Road, Freeport.
Before the afternoon program, join a free guided walk along Frost Gully Brook at 10:00 a.m. to see former dam sites removed through a partnership between the Merrymeeting Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Freeport Conservation Trust. The restoration work has helped reconnect habitat for sea-run brook trout in downtown Freeport. The walk will be hosted by Nate Hicks and Matt Streeter, immediate past president of the Maine Council of Trout Unlimited.
What to Bring: Tick protection and knee-high rubber boots are recommended.
Learn More
For questions about Salter Saturday, contact Gene McKenna at 207-512-5610 or .
For questions about the morning river walk, contact Nate Hicks at 207-756-9364 or .