TU assists with successful TAPS retreat

For the past five years, Trout Unlimited has had the honor of partnering with TAPS , Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, to support the TAPS  Montana Men’s Retreat. Held at Parade Rest Ranch , located on Grayling Creek near West Yellowstone, Mont., the event brought together nearly 40 men, many Gold Star dads, who have lost loved…

Voices from the River: A reincarnated trout?

Photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife. By Garrett Hanks Extinction, as the saying goes, is forever. Reincarnation? Let’s just say the jury is still out. But the case for rebirth grew significantly stronger over the summer when Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed the rediscovery of a native trout species long considered extinct. Thanks to a…

Voices from the River: Grazing reality

By Toner Mitchell Livestock grazing has always played a leading role in shaping the image, if not the substance, of America. Evidence is everywhere from the burger in your hand, the jeans covering your butt, possibly your favorite pro football team (“America’s Team”), to the truck you drive “til the cows come home,” even if…

Yellow perch … in Yellowstone?

Yellow perch were discovered in Goose Lake inside Yellowstone National Park in 1919. Photo by Wikimedia Commons. Wait. Don’t panic. There aren’t any yellow perch inside the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park. At least not anymore. I’m in the final throes of researching a book on the wild trout of Yellowstone that’ll hit bookshelves next…

Fly tying: Black Bear Green Butt

It’s tough for me to get really excited about steelhead flies this fall–Idaho’s steelhead run as been dismal, so much so, that I haven’t bothered to make the trip to Salmon to swing flies. The last thing the few fish that made it home need is another angler harassing them. Video of Black Bear Green…

The caddis: ‘The most dishonest fly ever’

Big trout won’t chase adult caddis as much as they will go after emerging caddis that are still in the water. Tom Rosenbauer doesn’t like caddis flies. OK. Maybe you need some background. I’m in snowy Island Park, Idaho, for a couple of days this week to drop in on the School of Trout, a…