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Saving salters and saving New England
Brook trout in the Northeast have taken a beating over the decades. Scientists estimate that brook trout—indicators of clean water and healthy lands—have lost more than half of their historic habitat to development, dams and urbanization. The brook trout of southeastern Massachusetts are particularly vulnerable, and worthy of protection. There, a unique form of sea run brook trout, called “salters,” persists. The late…
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Common sense climate solutions in a divided government
Anglers are optimists. We often stay out late for repeated “last casts” in the hopes of landing a big fish. For those of us who care deeply about trout and salmon, we need that optimism, because for multiple reasons, many populations are in decline and it sometimes seems that we are fighting a rearguard action. Scientists tell us…
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Fishing with, and learning from, Sharon
There are so many unsung women responsible for making Trout Unlimited what it is today. In honor of Women’s History Month, I want to celebrate one woman who has made an outsized impact on coldwater conservation and me, personally, Sharon Lance.
"Whoo hoo!" The first time Sharon shouted as she brought a fish to hand on the Roaring Fork, I waded out of my hole, ran upstream, pulled out my camera and took a few pictures of her with the fish. The next time it happened, I walked to the bank and asked if she needed…
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For 15 years, the Tie-a-thon has helped those who help people through fishing
It started 15 years ago with a conversation in a car. Terry Wittorp and Tim Scott were on their way to a chapter meeting of the Kalamazoo Chapter of Trout Unlimited. "Man, I am worried that we aren’t going to have enough flies for our youth camp in Michigan this year," Terry said. Tim, who…
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Improving on the Global Deal for Nature
Protecting 30 percent of the planet by 2030 may not be enough. In 2019, a group of international scientists came up with the notion of a Global Deal for Nature. Their idea is straightforward, and very ambitious. To “save the diversity and abundance of life on Earth,” the scientists said, we need to “save 30…
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Best, maybe last, chance for salmon
One of the great mythologies in America is that conservation is a "zero-sum game"—a term used by economists when the gain of one person is offset by the loss of another. Conservation is often, for example, described as “job-killing,” or pitting fish and wildlife versus people. Congressman Mike Simpson’s (R-ID) proposal to re-imagine the relationship…
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Looking back, looking ahead
Engaging with young anglers about conservation, policy and people It is easy to get cynical about the future, until you spend some time with it. I recently had a great time virtually speaking with over 100 college students who belong to our TU Costa 5 Rivers clubs and agreed to post my answers to their…
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