Management actions involving non-native species, including, in some cases, their removal, can create tension between fisheries managers and anglers, which poses challenges in fostering collaborative efforts and leads to a lack of angler buy-in to new management. These are circumstances within which both ecological and social science may be needed to address these challenges, and may require viewing management as a collaborative effort, where angler’s attitudes and anecdotal experiences are considered in decision-making. One such context occurs in the Teton River drainage (Idaho, USA), where Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (YCT) (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) are a native trout species imperiled (reduced to half their historical range) due to habitat degradation and negative interactions with invasive, nonnative trout. In particular, Rainbow Trout (RBT) (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are considered a major threat due to their hybridization with YCT which decreases genetic diversity and quantity of pure YCT populations, but competitive interactions with nonnative Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are also a concern. To address the status of YCT, we are integrating social research methods with an ecological field study. I conducted semi-structured interviews with Teton River anglers and fisheries managers to explore their values and perceptions of YCT conservation and management approaches to mitigate invasive species impacts, as well as the “tension” that I’ve observed in initial interviews. My interviews were coded into network mental models of both group’s varying perspectives. The ecological component of my project focused on Badger Creek, a tributary of Teton River that received a rotenone treatment in fall 2025 to remove its high RBT numbers. I evaluated ecological assumptions underpinning this removal action and that may help in predicting its ecological outcomes. I also drew on a drainage-wide, 20-year time series of e-fishing monitoring and a species distribution snapshot (based on eDNA) to determine if there is evidence for additional locations that might be priorities for future removal efforts. Managing for native YCT against non-native species creates tensions with anglers, therefore considering angler opinion along with ecological research creates a more comprehensive management approach to preserving native YCT populations within the Teton River drainage.