Voices from the river
Where there’s smoke, there’s dinner
Blue Smoke that is… There was a time where finding a good meal in a small river town was a challenge. While not a fishing town by trade, Three Forks, Mont., is finding itself in the middle of a recreation boom and among the throngs frequenting the local rivers...
A Colorado fishing story
Two old friends get together in Salida for one last trout trip By Jim Aylsworth While my dear friend Dick and I would enjoy fishing anywhere together, for this trip we chose to explore the water around Salida, Colo. Upon seeing him at the airport I knew better, but...
Taking in the infrastructure of nature in New Mexico
Humans are coming to grips with the damage we’ve done … and the need to repair it Even in New Mexico, a state so over-endowed with emptiness that one can find a place to hide a body almost anywhere, Gila country is about the loneliest place imaginable. ...
Collaboration eases conflict in the Upper Colorado River drainage
Editor’s note: Water in the West is at a defining moment with severe drought and climate change upending decades of management practices and creating the need to find common ground so all users can benefit. Read or listen to learn more about how conflict...
Progress before perfection: advice from a bionic angler
I’m trying to improve my health. Still. Again. Since my hip surgery, working out has required considerably more intentionality than I’ve been able to muster over the last decade or so. Pain speaks in different terms; the “your legs are sore because you’re making...
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Remembering Duane Cook and his service to people
At the Memorial Wall in D.C., I remember tears rolling down my good friend’s face the moment he located the name of his father, who died when my friend was but two years old and had yet to commit his dad’s face to memory
Some of the wildest fishing destinations on earth
An angler tangles with a Dolly Varden on Alaska’s Stikine River. Chris Hunt photo. How can I adequately capture the essence of fishing the world’s wildest fisheries in a few sentences when only a book might do them justice? I can’t. But it’s fun...
The cult of the invasive fish
Growing up in the Denver suburbs, one of my favorite childhood haunts was a public park a short bike ride from home. It sported the sketchy jungle gym with the sharp, rusty edges, the little spring loaded ridable critters that, with enough momentum, could send a small...
The gift of the skunk
One learns not to expect much when fly fishing during the winter months. At least around here, or if you’re me. Regardless of the season, sometimes you step into a river and just know something’s off. The water’s not moving right, or the sound of...
Welcome to winter steelhead fishing
Dean hollered from upstream as a steelhead took his fly, then hollered again a moment later as the fish released it. At another spot Dean had a nice fish on for perhaps a minute, his rod bowed and bobbing. But that steelhead, too, practiced detachment. Welcome to winter steelhead fishing.
Sighs of relief
Do you make your sighs of relief audible? I sure have been lately.
Wild, scenic and fishable
New legislation from Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley would better conserve some of Oregon’s best waters for native salmon, steelhead and trout. Today, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon introduced the River Democracy Act of 2021, which would create new Wild and Scenic...
A case study for the ‘portfolio approach’
A fishery management plan being developed for southwest Oregon coastal rivers has generated debate over whether to temporarily reduce or prohibit harvest of wild steelhead. TU’s Kyle Smith has a suggestion.
Hiking the CDT: Four months, 3,100 miles and, suddenly, Mexico
We hadn’t changed at all, yet so much time had zoomed passed us. It felt like years had gone by since I saw my cousin Ethan, walking along in front of me down the trail in Montana. At the same time, it felt like no time at all. The road seems to go on forever, but it is behind you in only a moment.
What do trout hear?
I get lots of questions about trout, but many of them come this time of year. The sunlight shows itself for short periods, and the nights are long and cold. Seeing ice on riverbanks and entire lakes frozen over, people begin to think about what happens to the species...
Finding ‘lake mode’ out of angling necessity
I’m not much of a lake guy. Don’t misunderstand that statement. I like lakes as an idea. Fishing them, though, is problematic, mostly because the lakes I would relish fishing are well off the beaten track
Jeremy Brooks memorial internship applications due Feb. 1
If you know a young person who is interested in the outdoors, fishing and/or conservation as a possible career path, and you think they might want a really cool summer job where they will get their boots wet, have them learn more about the Jeremy Brooks Memorial...
New year’s pledge: Plenty of time on the water
There’s nearly no better way to kick off a new year than on a river. It’s a great way to set things right, forget what happened in the previous year and daydream about fishing adventures to come. A few years back, I attempted to catch a trout on a...
Plan to keep Asian carp from Great Lakes gets big boost
By Taylor Ridderbusch Today, both state governments and federal agencies announced two major milestones in the Brandon Road Lock and Dam project to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. First, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Illinois have reached a...
Up in the high country where the native trout swim
I learned to fish in the creeks and beaver ponds of Colorado’s high country, pulling nuggets of wisdom from willing grandfathers who believed time spent with their grandchildren should be time spent outdoors. These two men introduced me and my brothers to the wonders...
Tying the Flow Stone for high-water nymphing
Sleek, slender and heavy Euro-style nymphs are gaining popularity in the U.S., largely thanks to international fly-fishing tournaments where European anglers tend to take top honors more often than not. Make no mistake about it, these Perdigon-style nymphs catch fish....
Dean of the Umpqua
It moved so slowly that it took me a moment to grasp what was happening. I believe I uttered the standard expression all anglers rely on in such circumstances, which is, of course, “Holy Toledo!” Except you don’t use the word “Toledo.”
Riding the Skunk Train
On the Mendocino Coast in California, an historic railway line is at the heart of a suite of restoration projects completed this year that will help imperiled fish species in one of the most important river systems on California’s North Coast for Coho Salmon and steelhead.
Trout Unlimited receives EPA grant to expand STREAM Girls
By Jamie Vaughan Trout Unlimited staff in Michigan are excited to announce the expansion of the STREAM Girls program throughout the state thanks to a recently awarded grant through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Education Program. The goal of...
Home is where the fish are
Home. It’s where many of us feel most alive and comforted. And this year, many of us have become all too familiar with our homes. Since I work from home (and have for years), I cherish the idea of expanding my concept of home. My physical home is...
Old trout don’t need a mirror
Unlike humans, trout only grow more beautiful with age. I know, I know, beauty’s on the inside, but come on. We are all aware of growing older and should be able to admit to being bothered by it sometimes.
Strong science, vocal public opposition stopped Pebble. The stickers helped.
The permit denial for the proposed Pebble mine wouldn’t have been made possible without millions of people submitting comments and signing petitions, calling elected officials, and of course, rocking “No Pebble Mine” stickers for nearly two decades.
Fishing in the abyss
California’s Owens River offers prettier sections. There are certainly reaches of this stream where an angler can find larger trout. There are many places on this river where you will not hear and feel electric diodes buzzing like murder wasps in the background. In...
Nature’s wonders bring thanks
Finding things to be thankful for this week — especially this year — can be a challenge. But if we look deep enough, we can find them. I chose to look in nature. The brightest green lichen on dark volcanic rocks pop against the drab fall...
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