featherhook

Friday Films : MOTIV FISHING BELIZE - A MAYAN PROPHECY

2012-01-27T08:45:00.001-07:00

Ok ok, so I slacked last week or 2. Back on track, Watch this new film trailer from the MOTIV boys.

F3T MOTIV FISHING BELIZE - A MAYAN PROPHECY from MOTIV FISHING on Vimeo.
A fresh trailer from the Motiv Fishing crew's latest exploits, this time it's the jungles of Belize.

MOTIV Fishing cuts their own path through some of the most rugged jungles of Belize in hopes of finding out-of-the-way locations—with fish, and escaping with captured memories. To make it home they have to keep moving, or the jungle will surround and overtake them, making you just another roadside casualty in the vehicular ancient Mayan burial ground.

Belize is a contrast of extremes (beauty and pain), and the road you end up traveling may not be by choice, but as with anywhere that human interaction hasn’t overtaken, once you get there, paradise and unspoiled fishing are right at your feet.

Green with Envy

2012-01-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

Trout Unlimited, a national anglers' advocacy group that has been highly critical of the project, held its first public screening Thursday of a video that highlights the beauty of the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

A proposed pipeline to divert billions of gallons of water from Wyoming and Utah to Colorado's Front Range threatens more than the world-class trout fishing in the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. It poses a threat to a series of small communities and a way of life. This video from TU and the Sportsmen's Conservation Project shows why.

The short film also points out the environmental and economic harm opponents say will occur if Colorado businessman Aaron Million's proposal is approved.

Million wants to build a 501-mile pipeline from the reservoir and the river to serve cities on Colorado's Front Range. The Wyoming/Colorado Regional Watershed Supply Project — better known as the "Million pipeline" — would cost an estimated $7 billion to construct and would carry up to 81 billion gallons of water each year to cities like Fort Collins, Denver and Colorado Springs.

The project began as his master's thesis at Colorado State University, according to Million, who believes his proposal will have no significant impact on the Green River.

"There is a very apparent surplus of water above and beyond all the basic needs of the (Green River) system," he said, adding that he's instructed his team specifically to "find the fatal flaw" in his proposal.

"I've said before, if there's a problem with this project, I'd be the first to put a stake in it," Million said.

Those involved in the Trout Unlimited film project, however, point to several problems with the plan.

"You know the Million pipeline is a proposal that is elegant in both its simplicity and its insanity," Wyoming Wildlife Federation Executive Director Walt Glasson says in the film.

"The notion of shipping water from a desert river in one of the most arid regions of the United States across a 500-plus-mile stretch to water lawns in Colorado seems beyond the pale for me," Glasson adds.

The Green River is home to four endangered fish species and an estimated 15,000 trout per mile below Flaming Gorge Dam. A world-class blue-ribbon fishery, it winds through three states before emptying into the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park.

Opponents of the pipeline say the water it will take out of Flaming Gorge will, in turn, lower the level of the Green River. That would cause water temperatures in the river to rise, endangering the fish and damaging the tourism economy in the area.

The river also provides water for agricultural and industrial uses. Those would suffer as well if the pipeline were built, said Uintah County Commissioner Mike McKee.

"Water is key to the West," McKee said. "The water is very precious (for) recreation, agriculture, energy, and we need it."

The commissioner disagreed with Million's assertion that there is a surplus of water in the Green River system.

"He's a developer, and obviously from a developer's point of view there's plenty of water ... to do everything you want to do," McKee said. "But the reality is, and I think most of us would agree, that the water and the water rights are limited."

McKee acknowledged that Colorado does have a right to the water Million has his eyes on, but said the location where Million is seeking to exercise that right — at the headwaters of the Green River — poses a problem for people in Utah and Wyoming.

"Colorado may be able to go ahead and develop their water rights, but they need to do it further downstream so that it does not affect our ability to be able to utilize our water rights," he said.

The Uintah County Commission is one of a growing number of government bodies in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming that have voiced opposition to Million's plan. Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead has said he's against the proposal. However, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has not established his position and is still studying the plan, according to his office.

Million has submitted an application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for review because his proposal involves the construction and operation of several hyrdoelectric facilities. In October, FERC notified Million that the application was deficient and requested that he submit additional information.

If FERC issues Million a preliminary permit, it would allow him to apply to build the hydroelectric facilities. FERC specified in its notice to Million that it only has jurisdiction over the proposed hydroelectric elements of the project. It said construction of other substantial portions of the pipeline would require permits from other federal agencies.

Million's project is intriguing in Colorado, where water managers face the challenge of supplying water to sprawling development on the Front Range. Colorado water officials recently agreed to spend $72,000 to explore the pipeline proposal and another $100,000 after that if the initial study proves promising.
Contributing: Amy Joi O'Donoghue

Flaming Hypocrisy

2012-01-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

First published Jan 18 2012 Salt Lake Tribune http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion...oject.html.csp

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert would probably like to take a firm stand against the cockamamie idea of building a 500-mile pipeline to draw water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to slake the thirst of the rapidly growing Front Range of Colorado. The governor of Wyoming, after all, already has.

But, if Herbert marshals the evidence necessary to kill the plan, the collateral damage may be that he would also ruin the cockamamie idea of building a 139-mile pipeline to draw water from Lake Powell to drench the lawns and golf courses of the rapidly growing St. George area of Utah.

This is what happens when a boondoggle project that would benefit developers in another state is held up next to a boondoggle project that would benefit developers in your state. Opposing the first one — angering only people who can’t vote for you anyway — without undermining the second one becomes, well, awkward.

Backers of the proposed Wyco Power and Water Project argue that Flaming Gorge and the Green River that feeds it contain enough Colorado River Basin water to keep their proposed $3 billion pipeline flowing. And they logically warn Herbert and his state water experts that, should Utah argue otherwise, they would implicitly be making the case that other parts of the basin are likewise too short on supply to tolerate massive human interventions in their flow.

Herbert, to his credit, is warming up his anti-Wyco arguments, pledging that “not one drop” of Utah water will be shipped off to Denver, Pueblo and Colorado Springs. But the governor’s line in the water has a big “if” attached to it.

“If there’s not water there, we’ll do everything we can to block it,” Herbert said.

The fact that Herbert’s administration is not simultaneously trying to pre-empt the Lake Powell Pipeline project betrays a highly parochial view of when it is a good idea to reroute massive amounts of water and when it isn’t. It should not be just a matter of when another state’s economy gets the short-term boost out of the long-term burden placed on a region’s water supply.

The reason these things are overseen by federal authorities — in this case, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission — is that a broader view is needed. Water drawn from one place affects not only human activities, both urbanization and agriculture, but also fish, animals, plants, the survival of whole ecosystems. The downstream, long-term impact of any such move, factoring in climate change models and human demographics, must be carefully considered.

State lines should not matter.

Fly Fishing Film Tour Returns

2012-01-17T13:16:00.001-07:00

Submitted by Colin K. Breck on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 11:47

The Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) is back after a very successful year last year, which was highlighted by a 40 percent growth in attendance. This year's tour is scheduled to stop in over 100 cities, offering individuals all over North America a chance to view some of the finest fly fishing films in production. Show proceeds will benefit further fly fishing film making efforts by donating over $30,000 to film makers.

Here is one "The Kodiak Project"

Three fly fishermen (Conway Bowman, Kirk Deeter and

Chris Santella) head up to Kodiak Island, Alaska to fish a

legendary river that’s a bit like a unicorn – everyone has

heard about it, but no one seems to have seen it...

"The Kodiak Project" trailer - by LDR Media | Fly Fishing Movie
from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.

This year, the tour is currently featuring 7 films with more expected as the tour progresses. The tour kicks on January 26, 2012 in Ventura, CA at the Majestic Ventura Theatre. The tour will conclude almost a full year later on December, 12 in Providence, RI, though there is currently a six month gap in the schedule after the Boyne Falls, MI tour date on June 3rd.

According to show sponsor Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, "Every film segment tells its own unique story, from a surgeon with Parkinson’s disease sampling Ernest Hemmingway’s less than sober fishing favorites to the high-tension drama that is the life of aquatically consumed insects, you know that the bug is going down in funky town. And don’t sweat the drunk chick, she’s just pissed she had to leave her dog outside."
For more information on the F3T, including film trailers, tour schedules, how to buy tickets and more, visit the F3T web site. News Fly Fishing Film Tour F3T

Green River is a gold-medal trout fishery in which "proposed" pipeline threatens.

2012-01-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

$9 Billion Flaming Gorge Pipeline Would Further Drain the Colorado River System

This post was co-authored by Alexandra Cousteau.

The Aral Sea straddles the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Two powerful rivers, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, feed this inland sea -- one of the four largest lakes in the world -- and it, in turn, feeds the people and the economy of an entire region. Well... at least it used to.
Under Soviet central planning, the two rivers were deemed more economically valuable if diverted to feed the cotton and rice fields planned for the region by the state. Blueprints were drawn up, dams and pipelines were constructed, and in less than 30 years, one of the great environmental disasters of central planning was etching its mark in salted fields, broken communities, and a sea that is no more. Take a look at these National Geographic images -- they are shocking reminders of the short-sitedness of trading away the resiliency of an entire region by tapping the very source of the system and draining it to another basin for the sake of short-term growth.
Now, Colorado water officials are proposing to do the same thing in the Southwest United States.
A few months ago, the governor-appointed Colorado Water Conservation Board voted to create a special task force for a proposed pipeline to pull 81 billion gallons of water every year out of the Green River in Southwest Wyoming just before it joins the Colorado River. This week, that task force has its first official meeting.
The proposed pipeline would pump 250,000 acre-feet of water (up to one-fourth of the river's flow) 560 miles across Wyoming, up and over the Continental Divide and down to the suburban sprawl of Colorado's Front Range cities from Pueblo to Colorado Springs to Denver and Fort Collins. At a proposed cost of $9 billion, the Flaming Gorge Pipeline as it is called, would not only create the single most expensive source of water in Colorado, it would further tax the already broken Colorado River system. Already on the brink, the Colorado River is so drained by the demands of California's fields and overwhelming urban growth all across the Southwest U.S. that it no longer runs to the sea. It hasn't done so in almost 13 years now. In fact, the river no longer runs across two entire Mexican states that are now home to its salted and bone-dry riverbed.
If built, the Flaming Gorge Pipeline would irrevocably damage the Green River and further imperil the Colorado River downstream. Endangered fish in the Colorado River basin depend on flows in these rivers. Teetering on the brink of extinction, the Humpback chub, the Colorado pikeminnow, the Razorback sucker, and the Bonytail are listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But it doesn't just stop with those on the list; the pipeline will also harm wildlife habitat and the recreational economy along these rivers. The Green River below Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a gold-medal trout fishery, attracting fisherman from around the world. The area sports a healthy tourist economy based on rafting and hunting, both of which the pipeline threatens. Communities depend on healthy flows in the river for their financial success. In fact, a group of more than 250 local business leaders has formed to speak out on the issue. Calling itself "Protect the Flows," the group is working to keep water in these rivers so that communities can thrive.
At some point in time, we have to learn from history and say "enough is enough." Trading away the rivers and natural wealth and resiliency of an entire region to fuel the unsustainable sprawl and bluegrass lawns of a few cities is not just foolish, it's morally wrong. We've joined with businesses, communities, West Slope Colorado citizens, and dozens of conservation organizations to oppose the Flaming Gorge Pipeline.

We believe that if the State of Colorado wants to continue to be obsessed with encouraging population growth, it must focus on more sustainable options that benefit the entire region by encouraging smart growth and long-term collaborative management of natural resources. The state has already studied potential water supply alternatives including more aggressive water conservation programs, water reuse and recycling, better growth management, and cooperative relationships with Colorado farmers -- these alternatives can and should meet Colorado's future water supply needs.
We agree with the Colorado Grand Junction Sentinel newspaper when it called the Flaming Gorge Pipeline a "flaming fiasco." Colorado should stop discussing this foolish proposal and seek alternatives that benefit all Colorado River basin people.
or also read http://www.westernresourceadvocates.org/pipeline/FGCostAnalysis.pdf
 Gary Wockner is the coordinator for the Save the Colorado campaign. Alexandra Cousteau is granddaughter of Jacques-Yves Cousteau and founder of Blue Legacy.

Friday Fly Films & F3T 2012 Tour

2012-01-06T11:55:00.021-07:00


I just spent some time this morning discussing with the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) organizers the up coming tour for 2012. Aditionally I am excited to anounce that not just 1 showing, not 2 not 3 but... 4 showings of the tour are coming to Utah this Spring. To get you all psyched for the F3T I will be posting up each Friday 1 film trailer from the up coming tour. Check out "REVERB" As a favor and gesture of support, F3T has also agreed to allow Utah Stream Access Coalition (USAC) to raise awarness to the cause. Utah Dates below, & See ya all at shows!

The Depot

February 25, 2012

7:00PM

13 North 4th West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Peery's Egyptian Theater

March 16, 2012

7:30PM

2415 Washington Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84401

Egyptian Theater

April 19, 2012

7:00PM

328 Main Street
Park City, UT

Logan Arthouse & Cinema

April 24, 2012

7:00PM

795 North Main St
Logan, UT

"Reverb" Trailer from RT on Vimeo.
A feature about three musicians who were all part of the late 80's, early 90's punk scene in Chicago... and they all happen to fly fish.

FILM INFO:
A feature about three musicians who were all part of the late 80's, early 90's punk scene in Chicago...
and they all just happen to fly fish.
FILMMAKER BIO:

Robert Thompson:
I've been fishing as far back as I can remember. I caught my first brook trout at age nine, that changed
things. I cast my first fly rod six years ago, that really changed things. I originally started doing this as
a resource for beginning fly fishers, but have since somewhat changed it's focus.
I feel I am still a beginner...
READ MORE

REVERB	by: Third Year Fly Fisher
SIPPING DRY	by: Sharptail Media
FLY a LEGACY	by: Ronnie B Goodwin
Doc Of The Drakes	by: Bryan Huskey
Hatch	by: Gin Clear Media
Clearly B.C. - Fall Bullies	by: Todd Moen
More to come...

Happy New Year! from Utah Stream Access Coalition

2012-01-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

Issue No.

January 2012

Happy New Year!

Greetings!

Happy New Year!

As we begin this New Year, it's worth looking back at the remarkable achievements made by the Utah Stream Access Coalition (USAC) in its 17 months of existence.

Legal -

We have filed two lawsuits in two different Utah District Courts on two different sets of legal grounds. Our goals for both of these suits are to have the courts find as unconstitutional the so-called "Recreational Use of Public Water Act" (a.k.a., HB141), revoke the Act, and ultimately have the Utah Supreme Court address the extent of the public's easement to use their waters and waterways for lawful activities that utilize the water.
In November USAC joined in on a "Friend of the Court" Brief in an important case (PPL Montana v. State of Montana) before the United States Supreme Court. This case addresses the definition of "navigability" as a means for defining river & streambed ownership under Federal Law at the time of Statehood.

Grassroots -

We have grown our membership to approximately 1,500 individuals who share our mission "to promote and assist in all aspects of securing and maintaining public access to Utah's public waters and streambeds."
We have formally established ourselves as a Utah Non-Profit Corporation, achieved 501(c)(4) status at the Federal level, and filed our corporate tax returns.
We have sought and received donations of money and goods that have allowed us to cover our existing costs and build a small "war chest."
We continue efforts to make our existence know in every corner of Utah as we seek to recruit and enlist new members outside of the Salt Lake, Utah and Cache Valleys.

Outreach -

We are attracting nationwide attention for our efforts leading the fight for public access to the public waters of Utah, and it has been recognized that our successes in Utah might lead the way for citizens of neighboring states to engage in similar fights.
We have had articles on our activities published in national print and electronic media, and we have been gradually getting our message out to a more diverse audience through other means, such as radio.
We anticipate that there will be a groundswell of interest in our organization and its activities when we have our first major victory in the courts.We are doing our best to prepare for that day.

Meanwhile, I note that none of these achievements would have been possible without the dedication, conviction, and plain hard work of our Directors and Officers, past and present; of our Attorneys, who have put in hour-upon-hour of effort pro bono; and of our many "champions," both pubic & private, in Utah and elsewhere.Add to that the sincere & earnest efforts of our many volunteers: Volunteers who have "bent the ears" of fellow Utahans with the facts about the Legislature's revocation of their rights to use the public waters of Utah; volunteers who have made contacts and introductions for the Coalition; volunteers who have written articles presenting our goals and activities in a positive light; volunteers who have searched through property titles at county courthouses; volunteers who have unearthed forgotten anglers' easements on local rivers; volunteers who have sent requests for documents regarding river use and access to the Utah State Government; and volunteers who have spooled through miles-and-miles of microfiche in search of old newspaper articles providing proof of use of our rivers for commerce at Statehood and before.

To all of you, and on behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I'd like to say thank you for efforts. We hope that we can rely on your continued support and involvement. Let's hope that 2012 brings us continued success in this fight to secure and maintain the rights of the public to access and use the public waters and waterways of Utah.

May this New Year bring hope, joy, and meaning to you and your loved-ones.

Sincerely,

Utah Stream Access Coalition

In This Issue

Featured Article

WEBSITE - updated

Please take a minute or two and have a look at our updated website (utahstreamaccess.org), where you'll find up-to-date information on our legal efforts to overturn the "Recreational Use of Public Waters Act" (HB141) and links and addresses for making a New Year's donation to support our cause.

Donate

Follow Us

About Us

The Mission of the Utah Stream Access Coalition is to promote and assist in all aspects of securing and maintaining pubic access to Utah's public waters and streambeds.

Utah Stream Access Coalition
7316 Sunhill Road
Salt Lake City, Utah 84121
secretary@utahstreamaccess.org

Ten Fly Fishing Predictions for the New Year

2011-12-30T12:59:00.002-07:00

December 29, 2011

Ten Fly Fishing Predictions for the New Year

It's time to gaze into the crystal ball and and make my predictions for the sport of fly fishing in the coming year. 2011 was a challenge for some, with lingering sluggishness in the economy, unusually high water throughout much of the country, and only a few really great new products to drive the market. Still, we saw some records fall, fishing in the Gulf Coast rebounded nicely from the oil spill, many guides I know reported boom seasons (once the water was right), and holiday sales seem to have added some year-end cheer for many in the industry.
Looking downstream, here's what I see in 2012:
1.) Based on the snowpack so far in the Rockies (and what I hear from my water manager friends), we're looking at an almost total reversal from last year. Where there were floods, there will be very low flows. I sure hope things pick up on the moisture front. When will Mother Nature give us a nice, balanced water year?
2.) Last year, Redington announced it will be selling products directly through its website. In 2012, I expect at least three other major companies to follow suit. I'm not talking about the small brands. I'm talking about major players.
3.) Fly fishing will see successful competitions happen that will actually promote the sport. Only they won't revolve around trout. (We tried, but it's hard to find a fair and legitimate format; one-flies are for fun). And they won't revolve around bass. (That market is already cornered, and the bass people don't want us). It's going to revolve around carp fishing with flies. Just you watch.
4.) Some manufacturer will break the mythical $1000 (US) barrier for a fly rod made of graphite. It will be billed as a very, very special graphite rod, mind you, but the jury is still out on whether or not that will fly.
5.) Meanwhile, perfectly workable rods that cost $200 or less will sell more than anything else.
6.) More low pricepoint products will be made in America and marketed effectively.
7.) About 75 fly shops will go to Reno, Nevada, to take part in a trade show at the end of the summer. Then afterward, the manufacturers and reps will slap themselves on their backs and say they see "new energy" with the show, when what they're really thinking is that they do all their business away from the show, and wonder why they even bother anymore. (That's not really a prediction, that's just what happens every year at the trade show).
8.) The world record bonefish will be caught on a fly, somewhere in the Hawaiian Islands.
9.) Tim Romano will fish at least 50 percent less than he did in 2011. (His wife is due with their first child any day now.)
10.) Sayfu will tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about at least 100 times. But we'll all still have fun, catch fish and trade info on Fly Talk.
Happy New Year everyone!

Sipping Dry: Film Trailer

2011-12-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

Now for something completly rad!

Sipping Dry trailer from Sharptail Media on Vimeo.

Shot on the Missouri River near Craig, Montana, "Sipping Dry" attempts to articulate the true essence of dry fly fishing in a setting many consider to be one of the dry fly capitals of the world. The full-length version will be featured in the 2012 Fly Fishing Film Tour (thef3t.com).

Footage captured with a Canon T2i. Lenses: 50mm f/1.4; 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5; 70-200mm f/2.8.

Music: "Cathedral Choir Nouveau" & "Choir of Intrigue !" by DIAMONDSOUNDS and "Grand Scheme" by lprecise.

Spencer Higa’s SOS

2011-11-30T14:23:00.001-07:00

by Lance Egan • November 26, 2011
http://www.flyfisherman.com/2011/11/26/spencer-higas-sos/

Higa's SOS

Spencer Higa created the SOS fly pattern with Baetis in mind. Once the red wingcase was added this fly took a turn toward an attractor style nymph while retaining its imitative traits. Generally speaking, Baetis nymphs are dark in color with a slim profile and noticeable segmentation in the abdomen. This is a quick tie, and will work great throughout the year with peak times during Baetis (BWO) hatches spring and fall as well as through the winter months when much of a river Trout’s diet consists of baetis nymphs and midge larva/pupa. Spencer also uses the SOS on lakes suspended under an indicator or retrieved, usually behind a larger fly like a leech or wooly bugger.

This video link (courtesy of youtube.com and Curtis Fry) has the recipe and tying instructions.

For those who don’t tie flies, the SOS is available from Orvis, or Spencer can tie a few for you. He can be reached via email at ifishfish@gmail.com Spencer Higa guides fly fishing and wingshooting at Falcons Ledge in Altamont, Utah.

When You Think All Hope Is Lost

2011-11-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Great story!
Re Post from http://silveysflyfishing.blogspot.com/
by Brian Silvey

This is one of those fishing stories that ends with a happy ending. On our last camp trip on the John Day we had some great fishing. On day 3 of a 5 day trip camp trip one of my clients was having a epic day, I think he hooked 7 or 8 fish. The last fish of the day is where the story begins. Bob was fishing through this big boulder run, I was standing high on the bank watching the fly, I just told Bob he was getting to good area with a big pile of rocks I could see from my high vantage point. The fly finally reach the rocks and wham fish on, the fish hit hard and ran directly toward the rocks on the far bank. Before we knew it the fish was wrapped up in the rocks.

I told Bob to move down stream to see if we could get it off the rocks, we tried all the tricks none of them worked. I figured the fish was gone by now and needed to get to the other side and untangle this mess. So got to the raft and rowed across to get the line back, before I untangled the line I thought I would take a picture to show Bob how we had no chance of landing this fish. After the photos I started to untangle the line from the rocks when I got to the leader I noticed the steelhead was still on the end. I have the raft in one hand and pile of line around me with a big steelhead on the other end. So I yell to Bob to strip line in the fish is still on and about ready to take off again.

Bob might say I was yelling at the top of my lungs Strip Bob, Strip faster, Strip, Strip, F ing Strip.

Bob finally reconnected to the fish and the fight was back on, I rowed across and help land the biggest fish I saw all season. I have been guided for over 20yrs and have seen this happen before but it never ends well, it feels good to have a crazy stories to end with photos of the fish.

Condit Dam is No more!

2011-10-26T14:55:00.000-06:00

Condit Dam in Washington's South Cascades, was demolished Wednesday‎ October 26,2011.

Condit Dam on the White Salmon River was breached Wednesday in the third-largest dam removal in the country.Watch the Dam Video -- Future of White Salmon river spills from Condit

Yakima Herald-Republic An image captured from live video showing water rush at the base of the Condit Dam breach on Oct. 26, 2011. The breach released water from a 92-acre reservoir on the White Salmon River.
VIDEOS FROM THE YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

The Condit Dam was breached today, releasing water from a 92-acre reservoir on the White Salmon River in Klickitat County.

The dam, constructed in 1913, was removed by owner and operator PacifiCorp instead of spending an estimated $100 million for fish passages that would have been required to renew its operating license to generate about 15 megawatts.

PacifiCorp spokesman Tom Gauntt expected that water would flow out of the breach at about 10,000 cubic feet per second.

Removal of the dam was spelled out in a 1999 settlement agreement with conservation groups, state agencies and the Yakama Nation.

VIDEO LINK IS HERE

•The concrete diversion dam spans 141 feet across the White Salmon river and is 125 feet tall.

•Over time, the cost of the dam removal has grown from $17 million to $32 million.

•Thirty-three miles of Salmon and steelhead habitat will be reopened.

•Water will pour through the breach until the spring of 2012, when work dismantling the dam begins.

•Sediment that has been trapped behind the dam is expected to pool up behind the Bonneville Dam in the Columbia River.

•Boaters should be cleared for access in August 2012.

Metal

2011-10-24T10:20:00.008-06:00

Well my birthday present came early this year. Here is the reader's digest version of the story. Friday night mr.kristof & I, rolled in to chrome camp late-ish after a six and a half hour drive. We set up the tent, had a night cap, and went to bed. Woke in the pre-dawn hour and it was still dark. Looked over to tent just next to us, and who is it there, none other than Grizz & Slayer. We started cookn’ up some joe. A few minutes later into my tasty dark roast, he offered up a float. It took us, oh about .2 seconds to accept the offer. A few minutes after that we had packed up & were on our way to the put in.

We got on the river at about 0 dark thirty. After putting in at the ramp Grizz rowed his RO to a nice run. I tied on nice little purple pronghorn spey and started prospecting for chrome. While I was out there with some steel veterans, I was a noob at this game.

The First to get the things started was Slayer. He landed a HUGE chromerer and wild too. Leaped & and jumped, and went all over the place. Man was that a hell of a fish.

Next Kris got one. A Wild Hen as well, Just strong! Bulldoged him down. I jumped into the soft water and in one shot netted this beauty.

At this point I was anxious and hopeful but not sure if I would lock into a steelhead or not, I was hoping that lightning would strike and it did.

After about 30 or 40 casts, I felt a strike and set. And then it happened, Wham! I had about a second to decipher, was this a fish? and it all became realized when she came completely out of the water, a slab of red side and then and stripped line off my virgin reel of the same color. Kris saw what was happening and came to help me (thanks man). She made a few more leaps and one or two short runs and before too long came to net.

While she wasn't very chrome nor wild she was incredibly colored up & bright. This was for sure a mark and milestone in my fishing experiences. The best part was that I was able to share it with some good fishing buddies. The weather was ideal. It was a thick moist fog that burned off to beautiful blue sky day, gorgeous yellow leaves on every tree and hardly even a slight breeze and not a drop of rain.

Luck was with me us this weekend. I took my first steelheadn’ trip and was fortunate to have landed my first steelhead ever on the Salmon River. She was a about a twenty something inch hatchery fish and absolutely freight trained on to my line on the swing. I think I am ruined.

Utah entry to the chum: Provo Brown

2011-10-20T08:49:00.000-06:00

October. SOTM (Slab of the month) Entry: Provo River Brown Trout

from the Wednesday, October 19, 2011 Mold Chum Page
A week ago my buddy sent me an email fwd: to him of this fish caught on the Provo River

Andreas Faulks interrupts this middle provo kype whilst getting his "f" on. Naturally he took an Kelly Galloup pattern streamer "olive sex dungeon."
Reader Comments (2)

Nice! I dig it brother - beautiful fish.
October 19, 2011
Justin Witt

Awesome fish! Congratulations!
October 19, 2011
Barry Fulks

TONIGHT is the NIGHT!

2011-10-19T08:48:00.000-06:00

Fishwest is VERY excited to bring you the Utah Premiere of the new Confluence Film : CONNECT! One night only showing at Brewvies on TONIGHT October 19th, 2011. To make it even better, all the proceeds of the show will be going to support local conservation efforts, like the Utah Stream Access Coalition and the Federation of Fly Fishers.

Details:
CONNECT : Utah Premier
TONIGHT : Wednesday, October 19th, 7:30PM
Tickets: $13 at the door, $10 in advance
Brewvies Cinema Pub
677 South 200 West, SLC, Utah
Must be 21 or older with ID
http://www.brewvies.com/ Tickets are available online at ticketriver.com or at Fishwest: 47 West 10600 South, Sandy, UT 84070

From Chris Patterson and Jim Klug - the filmmakers who created the highly acclaimed movies DRIFT and RISE comes CONNECT, the most ambitious, large-scale fly fishing film ever made. Continuing in the tradition of the multisegment, multi-story format that Confluence Films has become known for, CONNECT introduces a number of new locations, exotic species, and compelling characters that epitomize and exemplify the sport of fly fishing. Shot on location in Japan, Yellowstone National Park, the Yukon Drainage of Alaska, the flats of Cuba, the coast of Maine, and in the wilds of Tanzania, Africa, this feature length movie will once again transport viewers around the world in search of new waters and exhilarating travel experiences. CONNECT features well-known anglers Greg Vincent, Jeff Currier, Jimmy Bartschi, Craig Mathews, Masa Katsumata, Brian Porter, and Captain Eric Wallace, and more than a dozen different fish species, both freshwater and saltwater. As with DRIFT and RISE before, the cinematography, sound, and feel of CONNECT come together in a visual masterpiece that promises to re-set the bar for fly fishing films. Join us for the Utah Premiere of this great film and have a fun evening while supporting great local conservation efforts. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go to the Utah Stream Access Coalition and the Bonneville Fly Fishers. This event is brought to you by Fishwest Fly Shop in Sandy, UT with help from the Bonneville Fly Fishers. We will be raffling off some great prizes and a lot of fun will be had by all. Tickets are $13, but $10 discount tickets are available at Fishwest and through ticketriver.com. Buy your tickets early, as the seating is limited and we expect the event to sell out. Don't count on being able to buy tickets at the door.

More Fly Fishing Meets iStock Photo

2011-10-18T11:25:00.001-06:00

More Fly Fishing Meets iStock Photo Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 12:00AM

Reginald tests his prototype munchkin fly selector.

Rejected ad comp for Captain Morgan's.

Could someone in creative check if iStock photo has an image of a woman holding fly fishing gear with a navel piercing, suggestive tatt...... and wearing a magenta bra under her fishing vest?

Last time Jim checked he had two legs.

Yup, I'm adopted.

There isn't a river within 50 miles of here.

Roger insisted he fished dry flies exclusively but his creel told a different story.

Look, how many times do I have to tell you! Wear a fuckin belt, you're creepin me out.

The Big Easy

2011-10-11T09:18:00.000-06:00

William Joseph Fly Fishing

A short video from William Joseph / War Path Flies trip down to New Orleans for the Fly Fishing show catching a few Redfish. with Brent Dawson and his War Path Fly's hanging out with Mikey Wier, Jarrod Kear, Paul Swint and Marc Crapo On Burbon Street.

Premiere of the new Confluence Film : CONNECT!

2011-10-07T09:53:00.004-06:00

Fishwest is VERY excited to bring you the Utah Premiere of the new Confluence Film : CONNECT! One night only showing at Brewvies on October 19th, 2011. To make it even better, all the proceeds of the show will be going to support local conservation efforts, like the Utah Stream Access Coalition and the Federation of Fly Fishers.

Details:
CONNECT : Utah Premier
Wednesday, October 19th, 7:30PM
Tickets: $13 at the door, $10 in advance
Brewvies Cinema Pub
677 South 200 West, SLC, Utah
Must be 21 or older with ID
http://www.brewvies.com/ Tickets are available online at ticketriver.com or at Fishwest: 47 West 10600 South, Sandy, UT 84070

From Chris Patterson and Jim Klug - the filmmakers who created the highly acclaimed movies DRIFT and RISE comes CONNECT, the most ambitious, large-scale fly fishing film ever made. Continuing in the tradition of the multisegment, multi-story format that Confluence Films has become known for, CONNECT introduces a number of new locations, exotic species, and compelling characters that epitomize and exemplify the sport of fly fishing. Shot on location in Japan, Yellowstone National Park, the Yukon Drainage of Alaska, the flats of Cuba, the coast of Maine, and in the wilds of Tanzania, Africa, this feature length movie will once again transport viewers around the world in search of new waters and exhilarating travel experiences. CONNECT features well-known anglers Greg Vincent, Jeff Currier, Jimmy Bartschi, Craig Mathews, Masa Katsumata, Brian Porter, and Captain Eric Wallace, and more than a dozen different fish species, both freshwater and saltwater. As with DRIFT and RISE before, the cinematography, sound, and feel of CONNECT come together in a visual masterpiece that promises to re-set the bar for fly fishing films. Join us for the Utah Premiere of this great film and have a fun evening while supporting great local conservation efforts. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go to the Utah Stream Access Coalition and the Bonneville Fly Fishers. This event is brought to you by Fishwest Fly Shop in Sandy, UT with help from the Bonneville Fly Fishers. We will be raffling off some great prizes and a lot of fun will be had by all. Tickets are $13, but $10 discount tickets are available at Fishwest and through ticketriver.com. Buy your tickets early, as the seating is limited and we expect the event to sell out. Don't count on being able to buy tickets at the door.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UyrRMtGF...

Winning Battles in the Utah Stream Access War

2011-09-28T11:53:00.000-06:00

Winning Battles in the Utah Stream Access War

by Ross Purnell, Editor
September 21, 2011

6Utah is a a battleground state in terms of stream access. Many of you read Brett Prettyman’s article “Locked Out” in the April-May 2011 issue of Fly Fisherman. In that article, Prettyman explained how in 2008, the Utah Supreme Court decision in Conatser v. Johnson clarified state law and affirmed that Utah anglers had the right to roam public waterways up to the high-water mark. The decision was a time for rejoicing for Utah anglers, but it was short-lived. In 2010 Governor Gary Herbert signed into law HB141—erroneously called the Utah Stream Access Law because it actually reverses the Conatser decision, and takes away the stream access privileges outlined in the ruling. Since then the Utah Stream Access Coalition (USAC) has filed law suits to fight HB141, and to protect what stream access remains in Utah.

Here is the latest victory by USAC, outlined in a press release from Sept. 21, 2011.

“The Utah Stream Access Coalition (USAC) has had a few very busy weeks of late, and has made some unprecedented progress in restoring your rights to access and use Utah’s public waters. For those awaiting progress on the legal front, this is your month. Last week, USAC’s lawyers filed a motion for summary judgment and a request for oral arguments. The motion was the result of hundreds of hours of work by our legal team and is a huge step forward in the first court battle aimed at restoring the rights of our members and the public (Insert Link). We currently await our opponents’ response, which is due at the end of September.

Secondly, after receiving reports of folks being ticketed on the Lower Provo river, in the area immediately upstream of the trestle, USAC confirmed longstanding rumors that a public fishing easement exists on this reach, and that some of the property concerned was owned by UDOT and not the landowner who had posted it. Indeed, the recorded easement shows that both the UDOT parcel and the parcel upstream from it (owned by Mr. Steven Ault) are subject to the public fishing easement. As many of our members know, Mr. Ault has been the poster child for the anti stream access movement on the Lower Provo. He spent many hours lobbying in support of HB-141, spoke in committee meetings, and attended the Governor’s working group. The simple fact that Mr. Ault failed to mention that he took ownership of property subject to a public fishing easement demonstrates the lengths our opponents went to to distort the truth, so they could take away the public’s right to fish waters that have been enjoyed by generations of Utahns.

The good news is, as a result of USAC’s efforts, the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has informed the Coalition that anglers will no longer be cited for fishing the reach above the railroad trestle, or for walking across bridge, and that outstanding citations will be dismissed.”

Here is a copy of the legal document from 1993 that grants a fishing easement upstream of the trestle ont he Ault property.

UPDATE Concert to benefit the Utah Stream Access Coalition OCT 5th

2011-08-30T16:49:00.003-06:00

Announcing a Night of Rock and Roll and Fish Porn

Beneifit Show with Royal Bliss

Enjoy Pre-Concert Flyfishing Films

- Burl Productions – SOULFISH 2

- No Sports Allowed –Vol. 2
- NSA– A Sneek Peek at the all new Costa Rica Challenge

All proceeds will be donated to
Utah Stream Access Coalition
Help protect the public’s RIGHT to access Utah’s Rivers & Streams

When: Wednesday October 5, 2011 ( 10/5 )

Where: The Hukka Lounge
139 East 6100 South
Murray, UT 84107

Films at 7pm
Music at 8pm

Sponsors : Hardy, Sage, Lamson, R.L. Winston, Burl, Outcast, Wapsi, Kast, Smith, NRS, Simms, Dan Bailey, Scott, WestWater, Ross, William Joseph, Scientific Anglers, Cheeky, War Path Flies, Korkers, No Sports Allowed, Umpqua.

High Mountains

2011-08-30T15:15:00.000-06:00

Took off on a nice weekend day to a few little High Mountain waters.

Found some Brooks, Bows and Le Tigres. I love terrestrial flipping to hungry trouts.

Nothing beats the beauty of wild flowers in full bloom decorating in a sweet meadow.

Siyeh our trusted Bernese Mountain Dog was in her element.

I think she wanted to take a bite.

The IFTD 2011 Awards

2011-08-24T09:49:00.002-06:00

Best in Show:
•Simms took best of show for their pro dry jacket bib and pants as well as best wader and best outer ware.
•Sage swept both best salt and fresh water rod with the new One Rod
•Redington showed they love the ladies winning best women’s specific product for their Women’s Sonic Pro Waders
•Nautilus Reels Monster was voted best salt water reel.
•The Hardy Ultralite took best fresh water reel.
•Korkers Metal Head Boot with Svelte sole were the best Eco-friendly product.

There is so much cool gear at the show this year. The complete list of winners is below. Kirk Deeter and Tim Romano from the US-based Angling Trade magazine hosted the New Product Showcase right inside the entrance to the show with visitors voting on the best new products in a range of categories and of course the coveted 'Best of Show'.

Full Results:
Best Outerwear – Simms Pro Dry GORE-TEX jacket, bib and pants
Fly Rods, Freshwater – Sage “ONE”
Fly Rods, Saltwater – Sage “ONE”
Fly Reel, Freshwater – Hardy Ultralight fly reel
Fly Reel, Saltwater – Nautilus NV Monster
Fly Lines, Freshwater – Scientific Anglers Mastery Textured Trout Stalker
Fly Lines, Saltwater – Airflo Ridge Floating Clear Tip Tropical line
Eyewear – Smith Chief with Techlight TLT lenses
Wading Gear – Simms Freestone stockingfoot waders
Women’s-Specific Product – Redington Women’s Sonic-Pro Waders
Youth-Specific Product – CasTarget by The School of Fly Fishing
Eco-Friendly Product – Korkers Metalhead Wading Boot with Svelte 2 soles\
General Apparel – Buff Bug Slinger Series UV
Fly Pattern, Freshwater – Jay Zimmerman’s Texas Ringworm
Fly Pattern, Saltwater – Fish Skull Crafty Deciever
Fly Tying Material – Fish Skull Sculpin Helmet
Fly Box/Storage System – Montana Fly Company MFC Waterproof Boat Box
Book – Fifty More Places to Fly Fish Before You Die, by Chris Santella (Angler’s Book Supply)
DVD – Musky Country Zero 2 Here, by Robert Thompson (Angler’s Book Supply)
Gift Item – Montana Fly Company MFC iPad Folder
Luggage – Fishpond Bumpy Road Cargo Duffel
Accessory – Loon Outdoors Nip & Sip
Chest Pack/Vest – Rising Flask Pack

first posted by
Louis Cahill
Gink & Gasoline
http://www.ginkandgasoline.com/
hookups@ginkandgasoline.com

Utah Stream Access Coalition at IFTD show: Recap

2011-08-22T10:23:00.000-06:00

Utah Stream Access Coalition

IFTD show recap,

Well it was a busy 72 hrs in NO, LA. Overall the message was extremely well received. People from all over have read and are aware of USAC and of our troubles of stream access in Utah. Moreover they care and want to see us keep after it and fight the system and are urging us on. Tons of great people at IFTD and tons meaningful conversations and connections made. Thanks in advance to all the companies publications who have pledged support to us. Thanks to AFFTA again for putting this show together and allowing USAC’s involvement in it. There will be tons of great results and a ton more of positives for us.

See you all in USAC meeting to be announced here very very soon.

Hatches - Gray Drakes

2011-08-17T14:03:00.000-06:00

The prolific Gray Drake spinner fall on the Henry’s Fork is a must for any dry fly angler. We headed to the river with two cameras, a couple raggedy TroutHunter guides, a met up with a few hundred-thousand Grey Drake spinners.

USAC Still needs your help!

2011-08-16T09:19:00.004-06:00

The 2011 has been wild one politically with so many changing of seats in our federal government. In the western states it is no different. Montana and Colorado saw new movement to restrict public access to rivers and streams. Just read the excerpt from a recent High Country News.

In other Western states, stream-access laws vary widely, from Montana's wide-open model to Colorado's, which warns that anglers and floaters risk trespassing if they touch privately owned streambeds and banks. PERC calls Nevada, Alaska and Wyoming "battleground states" because of ambiguities in laws and court opinions. Idaho's and Oregon's laws are nearly as liberal as Montana's.

Here in Utah, Utah remains in stream-access flux. In 2008, the Utah Supreme Court ruled that, as in Montana, the public could legally touch all streambeds regardless of streambed ownership. That victory was short-lived: In 2010, the Utah Legislature essentially reversed the court's decision, passing House Bill 141 to restrict access to streambeds on private lands unless recreationists have a landowner's permission. Frank Hugelmeyer of the Outdoor Industry Association predicted that the law, called the Public Waters Access Act, would be "devastating" to the fishing industry, roughly a tenth of Utah's $5.8 billion outdoor recreation economy.

Steve Schmidt, owner of Western Rivers Flyfisher in Salt Lake City, says he felt the effects of the bill's impact within a month of its passage. The law has discouraged out-of-state clients from booking trips, he says, and locals are buying fewer fishing licenses. Between poor weather and the new law, he estimates his guiding business is down 30 percent this year. "This is a motivation for people not to fish in Utah," he says.

Schmidt hopes legal action will change that. Last November, the pro-recreation Utah Stream Access Coalition challenged the constitutionality of the Public Waters Access Act, arguing that it violates the state's obligation to hold Utah's waters in trust for the public. That case has yet to be heard. Meanwhile, the coalition filed another suit in May, seeking to have the Weber, a blue-ribbon trout stream, designated as navigable. In Utah, the beds of navigable rivers are public property, and a river is deemed navigable if it's ever been used for commerce.

"If we win the first lawsuit, we'll have a Montana-like law again," says Utah Stream Access Coalition President David Serdar. But there's probably a workable compromise that wouldn't be quite as permissive, he says: "In the long term, we would like to see no less than Idaho's (law)." In Idaho, a river is navigable -- and therefore publicly accessible -- as long as you can float a six-inch-diameter log down it.

As I stated in the title, “We still do need your help.” The Utah Stream Access Coalition is a Utah nonprofit corporation whose mission is to restore and preserve the right of the public to lawfully access and use the Utah’s rivers and streams for recreational and other lawful purposes.

This week Augusrt 18- 20, I will be in New Orleans to further promote the mission of Utah Stream Access Coalition at the International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD).
Look for me at booth 1217. Or email jarrodkear@msn.com me let me know you too will be at show.

What can you do? Donate, You can give of your time, your energy and effort.

With the fore mentioned lawsuits there is still costs and legal fees associated with them.

Already many organizations have stepped up by offering donated products that have then to be auctioned off and help off set many of these costs, but more money and help is needed from you.

You can donate product lines to USAC and join our fight. There is no dues nor membership fees. BUT we are in need of your help financing the cause.

An additional and convenient ways you can help:

* PAYPAL DONATION -

* CHECK or MONEY ORDER – made out to the “Utah Stream Access Coalition“.
Please send CHECK or MONEY ORDER to our treasurer, John Ludlum, at the following address:

Utah Stream Access Coalition
c/o John Ludlum
7316 Sunhill Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84121
john.ludlum@gmail.com

**Please note, while the USAC is a non-profit organization that lives through donations from it members and other concerned parties, your donations to the Coalition are NOT tax deductible.
For further information on the Utah Stream Access Coalition, go to: www.utahstreamaccess.org

MOTIV Fishing: GEOFISH TRAILER 3min

2011-08-15T22:10:00.001-06:00

www.motivfishing.com


	What started out as an idea, and later became a vision while on a 5 month expedition across Patagonia several years ago. As former members of AEG Media - creators of the Fly Fishing Film Tour, The Trout Bum Diaries and Fish Bum DVD series, set out once again to document an epic 20,000 mile vegetable oil fueled fly fishing expedition throughout Mexico, Central and South America. While they might be operating under a new tag as MOTIV Fishing our mission to get off the grid as far as possible with a fishing rod and camera in hand is still the same. MOTIV Fishing is an independent media production company focused on the creation of progressive fly fishing films, and adventure travel series broadcasts for outdoor television. Their mission at MOTIV Fishing is simple: Create a new genre of fishing media that is appealing not only to fly fishing and conventional sport fishing enthusiasts, but also inspiring and captivating to general audiences, fishermen and non-fishermen alike.

What started out as an idea, and later became a vision while on a 5 month expedition across Patagonia several years ago. As former members of AEG Media - creators of the Fly Fishing Film Tour, The Trout Bum Diaries and Fish Bum DVD series, set out once again to document an epic 20,000 mile vegetable oil fueled fly fishing expedition throughout Mexico, Central and South America. While they might be operating under a new tag as MOTIV Fishing our mission to get off the grid as far as possible with a fishing rod and camera in hand is still the same. MOTIV Fishing is an independent media production company focused on the creation of progressive fly fishing films, and adventure travel series broadcasts for outdoor television. Their mission at MOTIV Fishing is simple: Create a new genre of fishing media that is appealing not only to fly fishing and conventional sport fishing enthusiasts, but also inspiring and captivating to general audiences, fishermen and non-fishermen alike.

Email	team@motivfishing.com
Website	http://www.motivfishing.com

International Fly Tackle Dealer August 18 - 20, 2011

2011-08-02T14:46:00.001-06:00

International Fly Tackle Dealer

August 18 - 20, 2011

Halls B1 & amd B2 at New Orleans Convention Center in New Orleans, LA

IFTD-International Fly Tackle Dealer

Utah Stream Access Coalition will be at the show. Stop by booth 1217 say hello and lets discuss stream and river access issues. We'd love to see and here from you.

Access to fishing opportunities is an essential element to the financial well being of AFFTA member companies. AFFTA’s mission, to promote the sustained growth of the fly fishing industry, is threatened when fishing opportunities are limited, or in worst cases, denied. “From the perspective of the fly fishing industry as a whole, the multiplier effect of anglers traveling to and fishing in Utah is important, impacting not only guides, outfitters, retailers, and other businesses in Utah, but hundreds of other fishing-related businesses throughout the country,” said AFFTA Chairman Jim Klug.

· This is largest international gathering of fly fishing manufacturers, retailers, sales reps, media and fly fishing organizations in the world.

· The International Fly Tackle Dealer show is the best time and venue to meet with the industry – the people, products, innovations, emerging trends and the leading brand presentations of the 2012 fly fishing season.

· See all the latest gear, equipment, waders, fly line, tippet and accessories for the 2012 season.

· Experience proven new ideas to grow your business and increase your customer base through educational sessions.

· Save thousands of dollars by benefitting from show discounts from all of the fly fishing manufacturers.

· Get new ideas and creative ways of growing your business by being at the center of the fly fishing industry –The 2011 International Fly Tackle Dealer show. We will see you there.

Otto's fly fishing

2011-07-14T10:45:00.003-06:00

OTTO'S REELS

All reels are made from aluminum alloy and are machine cut for excellence along with a stainless steel ball bearing and carbon disc drag system. Our signature styles offer both large and super large arbors that can easily be switched from right to left handed.

The single clutch drag system offers tension to be adjusted for maximum play while the light weight reel can be enjoyed at any experience. Reels are anodized aluminum with a stylish cut for the ideal angler.

Super large arbor are anodized light green while the large arbor is anodized in gun color.

Packaged in a neoprene case and box for shipping. Line and backing are not included. Reels will take approximately 120' of 20# backing for 3/4 #, 100' of 20# backing for 5/6#, and 80' of 20# backing for 7/8# reels.

Web site here: click below
http://www.ottosflyfishing.com/

I have bought one of the otto's Bighorn ReelsI am looking

forward to using it this fall and will update you once I get it

in my hands later this week. Call Jonathan, Great to work with.

Otto's Fly Fishing

10492 Willowwisp Way
Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80126
Phone: (720) 542-8440
Fax: (866) 347-2125

HEY!!!!!! Henry Winkler Reels in New York Times Bestseller

2011-06-28T12:10:00.000-06:00

Henry Winkler Reels in New York Times Bestseller

Henry Winkler, one of TV's all-time favorite stars as The Fonz on the hit 70's and 80's sitcom Happy Days, has a legendary acting and directing resume that dates back four decades. He is now about to hit the New York Times best seller list with his debut adult non-fiction book I've Never Met An Idiot on the River: Reflections of Family, Photography, and Fly-fishing.

The book is set to debut at No. 30 on the New York Times Bestseller list on June 26. Henry has penned a heart-warming collection of humorous anecdotes and heartfelt observations about his passion, fly-fishing – and on life, love, and the importance of family. The book features his original photographs of beautiful nature-filled scenes, along with inspiring prose on how fly-fishing helps him reflect on what really matters in life.

From “Happy Days,” to Great Days for Fishing, from leather jacket to waders, Henry Winkler has written a new book on Fly Fishing. He’s not a newcomer to writing books. He has written children’s books and others. As an actor, producer, director and author his career has been one absent from supermarket tabloid headlines.

He’s a Fishaholic. In interviews he has been known to refer to a day on the river as a “washing machine for the brain,” problems being washed away by the river. As true as that may be, it does sound like a form of rehab. He talks about brown and rainbow trout. His first trip on the Smith River and being hooked, he even describes fly fishing in Zen like terms. In one interview he was asked, what are some of your favorite places to fly fish? His response was, “Montana. Montana. Tennessee was good, Idaho was very good, Wyoming is good, but Montana is like heaven on earth.” He talks about being banished to his own boat because he fishes his wife’s water. Does this not sound like someone with the addiction we all share?

This book exists because Jan Miller said yes. We never met. We never telephoned. We never e-mailed before this book idea became an idea.

Winkler’s warm-hearted spirit anchors the simple collection of Montana and Idaho river photos, reminiscences, and asides, resulting in a fantastic Father’s Day gift for any patriarch who owns a pair of knee-high rubber boots. The hand-written photo-captions font is also a nice touch.

Idiot begins with a good-natured and sometimes humorous chapter by Winkler’s wife, Stacey. If she is to be believed (and probably she should be; no one is more unbiased than a spouse), Winkler really is as he appears – a kind, humble, open, genuine person. (Note, though, that she also describes Winkler as having “no tolerance for anything that distracts from the wilderness experience” while he’s on the river. Like, um, idiots? No!)

The first chapter also contains a noteworthy photo of Stacey holding a nice trout in her gloved hands. The amazing part – her gloves appear to be leather. That’s a new one; no Glacier Gloves for her.

The six remaining chapters are Winkler’s own, and they are an unusually unguarded bit of writing. Winkler is candid about his insecurities and limitations, and his struggles to overcome them. There is plenty of self-mockery, but no self-protection, and the book is refreshingly free of irony. Winkler seems to realize that there’s no joy in scornful irony, nor is there any shame in open enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures. The book is suffused with a gentle humor, homey anecdotes, and startling humility. For example, Winkler apparently falls in the river at least once a day. This should endear him to many readers.

Winkler also draws many analogies between trout fishing and life, and while none of the analogies is necessarily earth-shattering, most all of them ring true. And it seems like every life lesson improves Winkler’s fishing, and his time on the river improves his life. Sound familiar?

Overall, this book is a quick read, and it’s frequently amusing. It does not pretend to be anything more than its subtitle suggests. It paints a clear picture of a fanatical fly-fisherman, someone who’s single-minded in his pursuit of trout. It also showcases Winkler’s focus on family (not in the political sense). And speaking of family: if you are a father, there are some insights and observations that will probably strike a chord – though be forewarned that some of Winkler’s fatherly anecdotes will likely make you feel like a bit of a heel. Not only is Winkler the Fonz, but he is apparently just about the most aware, reflective and attuned Dad too.

Hard rocker and hunting advocate Ted Nugent weighs in on stream access

2011-06-25T10:35:00.001-06:00

Published on Jun 24, 2011 02:04PM

I've interviewed rocker legend Ted Nugent a couple times through the years on various hunting-related issues, but was a little surprised to get a call earlier this week saying he wanted to be a part of the "Fishing Utah" blog. The fact Nugent will be in town Sunday (8 p.m. at The Depot in the Gateway) might explain the call.
I haven't heard him chime in on many fishing issues, but I decided to schedule the interview. Ted is hard to keep up with some times as his mind rolls quickly from thought to thought. After we talked about the typical hunting issues — reduce regulations or lose more hunters, conservation tags are a necessary evil to fund wildlife management and "let the people willing to pay shoot the animals that cities are hiring sharpshooters for" — I asked the man awarded the Bronze Smokey Bear Award (look it up) to weigh in on a weighty Utah fishing issue.
I explained the stream access debate and asked for his thoughts. He said he was somewhat familiar with the access issues across the county, but made it clear that he should study the Utah issue more before truly weighing in.
Nugent then surprised me.
"I'm a fan of the whole Lewis and Clark exploration bit," he said. "People own the waterways and the rivers. I would never deny decent people the opportunity to find soul cleansing and relaxation."
He went on to say that he understood that landowners were fearful of trespassers and vandals, but "you can't protect yourself from the evilest among us; invaders who will come no matter what the access is."
Ted continued:
"I guess I'd err on the side of freedom. I'd implore the landowners to reconsider and open the waterways. This is the land of the free and one nation under God. This is about a quality of life for all of us. It is critical to have access in the recruitment of future generations of people who love the outdoors and will fight to protect it."
Nugent, a ranch landowner in Texas, said he has a river on his property, and he thinks, but wasn't sure, that he owns the stream bed to the middle of the river and he enjoys seeing people floating by, but......
"They better never set foot on my land or I'll hunt them down," he said.

Salmonstock!

2011-06-24T14:27:00.000-06:00

National Acts Headline US Concert to Celebrate Wild Alaskan Salmon

By Paul Sharman 21/06/2011 10:07:00

Salmonstock 2011 - You can say you were there man!

Local Alaskan nonprofit, the Renewable Resources Foundation, is throwing a massive outdoor concert to celebrate wild Alaskan salmon! National headliners include; Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann and the 7 Walkers, Jackie Greene, Clinton Fearon and Great American Taxi.

Other groups include; Flowmotion, The Whipsaws, Pamyua, Old Believers, Superfrequency, The Dirt Band, Jim Page, Dana Lyons, Melissa Mitchell Band, Big Fat Buddha, Ratfish Wranglers, Susan Grace, Ginger Boatwright, High Lonesome Sound, Uplift, The Hoons, The Barroom Roses, Spiff, Backstrap, 907, The Milo Salem Project, Wolf Electric, Stuck in Reverse, Emma Hill, Josh Olsen and the Eternal Cowboys, Holy Santos Gang, The Seaside Farmers and others.

Salmonstock is a celebration of Alaskan salmon and the people who depend upon them. It's also about the power we have in protecting our resources and our livelihoods.

Stand up and join your fellow Alaskans in our fight for the wild salmon that bring us together and stop the proposed threats such as the the Pebble and Chuitna mines. We invite anyone who loves Alaska, our salmon, and spectacular music to spend the weekend with us, to show the world why we are so passionate about our renewable resources and what we can do to ensure another millennia of great fishing.

Salmonstock will showcase two stages featuring top Alaskan, Northwestern and National artists. The center arena of the fairgrounds will be bordered by an elite, hand picked roster of local restaurant booths exhibiting their individual prowess in preparing Alaskan cuisine, and several Alaskan brews will be offered in an extensive beer garden.

Available in another area will be Alaskan arts and crafts from local merchants, while an informal center will provide festival goers with the knowledge and resources necessary to make their own positive impact on wild salmon habitat in Alaska.

Tickets are sold in a 3 day pass ($80 June 16-July16, $95 July 17- August 3rd, $115 at the gate). Friday day pass is $40, Saturday day pass is $50, and Sunday day pass is $40. Tickets are available through CenterTix or at the gate.

For more information please visit the Salmonstock website: http://www.salmonstock.org/.

Sportsmen Condemn House Attempt to Weaken Clean Water Act

2011-06-23T09:04:00.000-06:00

http://www.trcp.org/media/press-release/sportsmen-condemn-house-attempt-to-weaken-clean-water-act

News for Immediate Release

Jun. 22, 2011
Contact: Katherine McKalip, 406-240-9262, kmckalip@trcp.org

H.R. 2018 would undermine EPA authority to enforce Clean Water Act, diminishing water quality and harming valuable fish and wildlife habitat.

WASHINGTON – American sportsmen today strongly criticized the House Transportation Committee for hastily passing legislation that would dramatically weaken the Clean Water Act and undercut four decades of progress in restoring the nation’s waters and wetlands and conserving valuable fish and wildlife habitat.

The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011,H.R. 2018, has received minimal review and no hearings since its introduction three weeks ago. The bill attacks two critical components of the CWA: enforcement of water quality standards and protection of waters from discharges of dredged and fill material. H.R. 2018 would increase state control over Environmental Protection Agency implementation of the CWA, including veto authority over EPA enforcement of water quality standards and over EPA authority to block projects that compromise or diminish fish and wildlife habitat.

“In the name of responsible management of our irreplaceable waters, wetlands, and fish and wildlife habitat, we urge House lawmakers to abandon their hasty approach to advancing this legislation,” said Scott Kovarovics, conservation director for the Izaak Walton League of America. “The committee should step back and hold a hearing to assess the sweeping consequences this legislation could have on water quality, streams and critical fish and wildlife habitat.”

“Sportsmen strongly oppose this misguided and damaging legislation,” said Jan Goldman-Carter, wetlands and water resources counsel for the National Wildlife Federation. “H.R. 2018 will lead to a hodgepodge of water quality standards and contribute to an overall reduction in U.S. water quality, our natural resources and outdoor opportunities such as hunting and angling.”

In April, sportsmen welcomed proposed guidance issued by the administration that would more clearly define which U.S. waters are subject to Clean Water Act protections, a move that would begin restoring long-standing protections to many of the nation’s wetlands, streams, lakes and headwaters that have remained threatened in the wake of two ambiguous Supreme Court decisions and subsequent agency guidance. Recent actions undertaken by House lawmakers since that time, however, attempt to weaken or undercut these restorative measures.

“The Clean Water Act has led to immense progress nationwide in cleaning up our waters, restoring fish habitat, protecting drinking water sources, reducing wetlands loss and developing water-based recreational economies,” said Steve Kline, director of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership’s Center for Agricultural and Private Lands. “While states play a lead role in implementing some CWA protections, the law does not function without a federal backstop that ensures its goals are met. We cannot afford to threaten our waters, which serve as economic powerhouses for innumerable communities across the country.”

Waters and wetlands in the United States sustain the activities of 40 million anglers, who spend about $45 billion annually, and 2.3 million waterfowl hunters, who spend $1.3 billion annually.

“Whether Trout Unlimited is restoring small headwater streams in the Potomac Headwaters in West Virginia, removing acidic pollution caused by abandoned mines in Colorado, or protecting the world famous salmon-producing watershed of Bristol Bay, Alaska, the CWA is the safety net on which we rely,” said Steve Moyer, vice president of government affairs for Trout Unlimited. “H.R. 2018 would cut large holes in the safety net.”

Mayfly Madness

2011-06-06T09:30:00.000-06:00

Mayfly Madness

60 min. + 50 min. bonus (2010)

Join Johan Klingberg and Ulf Börjesson during three seasons of fly fishing at the most thrilling time of the year. In early summer, when the Ephemera Danica and the Ephemera Vulgata hatches, there’s a good chance of catching the very largest of trout in these rivers. Johan and Ulf travel to some of their favourite rivers in southern Sweden in the hunt for mayflies and giant trout. On the Bonus tracks Johan and Ulf ties their favourite Mayfly patterns, and you get some valuable tips on fishing tackle from Ralf Raacke

Paradise Lost

2011-06-01T10:44:00.005-06:00

Page 66 of the latest thisisfly.com

Ten Things That Should Be On Every Fly Tying Desk

2011-05-24T14:23:00.000-06:00

Reposting a Great Blog post by Nick Granato & his blog http://flyobsession.com/
From Pisciphilia : Ten Things That Should Be On Every Fly Tying Desk Enjoy!

See Ten Things

Tying desk, dungeon, fly lair, man cave, the place you lock yourself in away from the kids and wife. What ever you call it you probably spend too much time there as do I. If you’re going to spend time somewhere you might as well make it a nice place to be. Ya know maybe add some nice lighting or a place to store some tasty malted beverages close to hand? Over the years my fly room has changed and morphed to improve productivity and comfort. Here are the top 10 essentials at my desk. I didn’t include music because that is a absolute must and a given! May I recommend some Black Keys or a little Black Sabbath?

1.Griffin Montana Mongoose: I tied for years on a Renzetti until I got some vise time on a Mongoose 3 years back. I’ve been tying on one ever since and haven’t looked back. From sub 20′s all the way up to 8/0 hooks I’ve never had a problem with holding power. Considering it comes with a stem extension, c-clamp, pedestal base, a supreme bobbin and a hackle gauge I’d say it’s also one of the best values in vise out as well.

2.Clear Cure Goo: Because epoxy or a UV curing adhesive is a must at the tying desk. And if you’re going to have one you might as well have the best. The best part is that it comes in flexible, thick, thin, brush-able and a few different kinds of tack free.

3.Yarn indicator brush: I use this tool as much or more than anything else at the vise. It’s the ultimate tool for picking and teasing out materials.

4.Mini Fridge full of PBR: What else are you going to stock it with! Natty light or Coors? I don’t think so.

5.Loctite: Almost every fly I tie gets some loctite somewhere. I use it to prevent flash from fouling, glue in a rattle, stick on some eyes or finish a head.

6.Ottlite: Probably one of my favorite things in the tying dungeon! Errrr um I mean favorite 3 things now that I’ve added a couple since the first. There is nothing worse than tying under some dim cheap light at night matching colors for hours just to find out when you get on the water the next morning to find out all the colors are off. Natural is key while at the vises!

7.Box of Sharpies: I color a lot of materials in my flies. Foam to craft fur I’ve found sharpies to be extremely effect and color fast.

8.Gamakatsu B10′s hooks: In my opinion one of the best tying hooks ever made. I go through them in 100 packs and they are my default hook for streamers. Extremely sharp, strong and a excellent gape there isn’t much more you ask for out of this hook. Well except maybe some 3/0 – 6/0 since the largest is a 2/0.

9. A 30 Lb Fluorocarbon: This is my go to for junctions on my articulated flies. I also use it for weed-guards, body extensions and making eyes.

10.Henckles 3” embroidery scissors: By far the best tying scissors I’ve found. Period end of story!

Basic 12: Survey reveals local anglers' fly prefererences

2011-05-22T09:35:00.003-06:00

Posted: May, 2011
by Dennis Austin The Herald Journal

Fly-fishing in the West is increasing in popularity among skilled anglers. However, fly fishing by the novice can often be unsuccessful and frustrating, and choosing a few flies from the hundreds or possibly thousands of available patterns can be confusing and intimidating. In 1995, I asked 20 expert fly fishermen to list their four most successful fly patterns for trout and their two favorite fly patterns for mountain whitefish. Flies listed were specifically fished on Utah’s Logan River as well as throughout the Western states.

Although few experts will agree with all these choices, for the beginner or intermediate fly-fisherperson, and from my fly box with fishy notes, here are recommend following basic 12 fly patterns for fishing Western streams:

1. #14-16 Adams: Fished dry for trout, anytime, any stream
2. #14-16 Mosquito: Fished dry for trout, especially high mountain lakes/beaver ponds
3. #14-16 Light Cahill: Fished dry for trout, especially during hatches of light-hued flies
4. #18-20 Blue Wing Olive: Fished dry for trout, especially during hatches of tiny flies
5. #4-10 Woolly Buggers: Fished wet for trout, especially larger streams and rivers
6. #4-10 Salmon Fly: Fished wet or dry for trout, especially in spring
7. #14-16 Elk Hair Caddis: Fished dry for trout, especially in summer
8. #4-10 Grasshopper Fly: Fished wet or dry for trout, especially in fall
9. #16-18 Black Ant: Fished wet or dry for trout, especially near banks
10. #16-18 Pheasant Tail Nymph: Fished wet for mountain whitefish or trout
11. #16-18 Prince Nymph: Fished wet for mountain whitefish or trout
12. #16-18 Hare’s Ear Nymph: Fished wet for mountain whitefish or trout

Read the whole article here

Salmon: Running the Gauntlet

2011-05-07T08:42:00.000-06:00

Salmon: Running the Gauntlet

This film investigates the parallel stories of collapsing Pacific salmon populations and how biologists and engineers have become instruments in audacious experiments to replicate every stage of the fish’s life cycle. Each of our desperate efforts to save salmon has involved replacing their natural cycle of reproduction and death with a radically manipulated life history. Our once great runs of salmon are now conceived in laboratories, raised in tanks, driven in trucks, and farmed in pens. Here we go beyond the ongoing debate over how to save an endangered species. In its exposure of a wildly creative, hopelessly complex, and stunningly expensive approach to managing salmon, the film reveals one of the most ambitious plans ever conceived for taking the reins of the planet. Watch the full episode.""

Watch the full episode. See more Nature.

Stream access advocates sue for rights on Weber River

2011-05-06T11:04:00.000-06:00

A "No Trespassing" sign on the Weber River

Story by By Brandon Loomis in Salt Lake Tribune
Utah anglers riled by the Legislature’s outlawing of wading in many streams crossing private property have filed a second lawsuit challenging restricted access, this time on the Weber River in Summit County. The case, filed in 3rd District Court in Park City, argues that the Weber is legally navigable, meaning the state owns the bed.

At statehood, the river already had been used to float logs from the mountains east of Oakley to market, according to Cullen Battle, attorney for the Utah Stream Access Coalition. The group has hired a historian that will make the case that the river was used for commerce, a key to the legal definition of navigability.

A barbed wire fence on the Weber River

“We think the evidence is overwhelming,” Battle said. For that matter, he contends log drives occurred on the Provo River — focus of a lawsuit the group previously filed — in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Stream access in Utah has been disputed since 2008, when the Utah Supreme Court ruled that anglers and other recreationists have a right to touch the bottoms of state waters. That case involved the Weber River in Morgan County. Two years later, the Legislature responded with a law protecting property rights where streams cross private lands.

The Stream Access Coalition’s first lawsuit, yet to be argued, contended that the Legislature overreached its authority because the high court had found a right to access on public waters regardless of who owns the lands they pass. This one claims rivers that were legally navigable at statehood flow on beds rightfully owned by the state. It will force the courts to define navigability; Summit County landowners say the Weber shouldn’t fit that definition.

Federal law requires a navigable river to be useful in commerce, said Rep. Mel Brown, R-Coalville, a lawmaker who went to school with at least one of the owners named in the suit. He doesn’t believe the Weber is navigable, and he doesn’t believe moving logs should count.

“I can float a log down any stream,” he said. Ranchers have a right to fence across the river, he said, and they do it to maintain cattle herds — not out of malice toward the public.

The landowners and their families have been fencing the river for a century, said Sheldon Smith, attorney for ranchers Wendell and Ila Stembridge, who are among the landowners named as defendants along with the state and Summit County sheriff. Smith said the landowners have deeds showing their ownership extends under the river.

“I think that this coalition is trying to just bully property owners into rolling over,” he said.

Rainy's Flies

2011-05-05T14:35:00.004-06:00

Rainy's Flies was founded October 1971 and they are located in Logan, UT. They are the leader in premium quality flies !!!

Rainy’s has been providing premium flies and time-saving tools and fly tying materials to the fly fishing industry since 1971. They provide flies for everything from Trout to Saltwater and everything in between. They truly have "Flies for EVERY appetite" !!!

Their Mission is to provide superior product to the Fly Fishing community with excellent quality, service, and selection.

Email info@rainysflies.com

Phone 435-753-6766

Website http://www.rainysflies.com/

Recently myself and, Wes Johnson, and John Page were recpients of some new Rainy’s Flies for properly identified the Callibaetis from the contest last week. So you all should stay tuned Like for more giveaways!!!

I got my flies yesterday. Sweet baetis patterns. I can't wait to get them into some trout lips asap!
Thanks Rainy's !

3,060 CFS and Rising

2011-04-25T14:50:00.008-06:00

Spring runoff & flows on the Green will be at 3,060 and rising untill about May 6. Therefore this past weekend friends and I fished Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. We rowed the upper section of seven miles from the dam to Little Hole, a very popular run because of the water clarity and abundance of fish. It also offers beautiful scenery, with 1,000- to 2,000-foot red canyon walls. With a quick stop at Trout Creek Flies we had got some advise and flies that worked. Those guys will give a fisherman information on how to fish the river, at any given time. They’re all really good at helping people have a good experience on the river. Once we left the shop launched and were on our way first half is mostly flat and deep, which makes it ideal for floating. There are handful of rapids. The second half moves faster, offering pocket water, and some shallow areas that are well suited for wading. A boat launch is 1/4 mile below the dam and take-out area is located at Little Hole.

Fly fishermen and river anglers from around the world will attest that this stretch of the Green River in Utah certainly deserves the moniker dream stream or even the best tail water fishery in the United States. For the sheer volume of fish, the Green is amazingly productive. About 15,000 fish per mile for the upper stretch and closer to 8,000 fish per mile lower down the river. Those numbers are unrivaled in the U.S. Why is it so ridiculously productive?

When the Flaming Gorge Dam was first built, creating Flaming Gorge Reservoir, water released into the Green River was from the bottom of the dam only. But the consistently cold temperatures hurt the trout fishing potential and changes were made to allow water to escape downriver from the dam at different levels, creating warmer water for the releases into the river. That change created one of the best, if not the best, tail water fisheries in North America.

Here is video shot over the weekend. http://vimeo.com/22869628 Variety is also an intriguing aspect of the Green. Directly below the dam is the greatest concentration of rainbow trout. But further down the river, brown trout, self-reproducing and on average longer that 16 inches, tend to dominate. There is also a population of cutthroat trout in the river. So with that many fish, fed year-round by a prolific variety of insect life in the clear waters below the dam, anglers feel like they’ve died and gone to heaven when fishing the Green plus the river is packed with insects all the time aside from the fishing itself, the area is beautiful. Fly fishermen will want to know more about the insect life. A quick summary notes that hatches are abundant. Scuds tend to be a primary food source and scud patterns are effective throughout the year. Midges bring good results during the winter and early spring. Sometimes experimentation is needed to see if they’re being taken on the surface or below. I tied up some of my own blue-winged olives that did the trick, the BWO hatch in April is incredible with great numbers seen on the water all day. Fun fishing with a dry fly and can be very effective during the baetis hatch. Almost all the time it’s like an aquarium, as you float through the canyon you see so many fish it’s like you’re looking into an aquarium at the dentists office. All in all a run on the Green is great atmosphere with huge red canyon walls and the crystal clear waters, it’s definitely a treat for anyone. The composition and the relative percentages of fish in the river change frequently, depending on weather patterns and river flows. We were lucky to not get a single drop of rain during our April float.

The Greatest Migration

2011-04-15T01:10:00.000-06:00

The Greatest Migration from EP Films on Vimeo.
Follow the journey of the critically endangered Snake River salmon from the coast of Alaska to Idaho’s Sawtooth Valley. These salmon migrate farther inland and higher in elevation than any other on Earth, along the way touching the lives of everyone and everything in the ecosystem.

This is a must watch!

Taking High Water Trout

2011-04-14T11:08:00.001-06:00

Posted by Chuck Stranahan Mar 23, 2011
www.midcurrent.com/articles/.../stranahan_high_water.aspx

Anglers who “know how” generally do well during high water. And they usually have long stretches all to themselves. It is happening again this year during the pre-runoff period. When the river is too high to float, the river will be all but abandoned.

Until it is blown out, fishing in the middle of the day and stripping buggers near the bottom, drifting big heavy nymphs, or early on, fishing the Mother’s Day Caddis that were active midstream, work well enough. When those methods quit producing, all but the diehards quit. A few of the diehards will continue to score. Big-time.

Jim Allred is such a diehard. He recently invited me to float the West Fork with him. As he wrestled the raft through a shooting gallery of midstream boulders, Bill Capps and I searched for trout along the soft edges with big nymphs. We didn’t use extra weight, and we didn’t fish the heavy main currents, in places where trout may have been holding just days before. Pickings were slim, but my first fish of the season came that day on a stonefly nymph. It was a 3 ½-pound rainbow.

Trout move around more than we think they do. They will move from the depth of a far bank to the shallower inside bank as water levels increase. Up to a point, during high water, trout will hold deep in familiar runs. While they’re there, fishing aggressively and stripping big stuff across the bottom is productive. As the water rises, at a certain point, this method all-of-a-sudden fails. Things are still OK on one day, and on the next, it seems that the fish have moved out.

That’s exactly what happens. They have to go someplace, and they have to keep eating. High water pushes them out. And as water levels rise, temperatures drop. Trout are sensitive to that.

When water is high and temps are marginal, the window of opportunity is narrow and may exist for only a couple of hours during the pleasant part of a day, on the heels of a storm, or during a light, warm rain. You have to be there when the time is right. Finding fish, and not spooking them, is equally critical.

During fishable high water, during pre-runoff, post-runoff, or a midsummer gullywasher of a storm, trout move around. They won’t hang in a roaring torrent, one that was a quiet pocket a few days ago. They find new lies, and while they’re in them, they’re skittish.

Trout move around more than we think they do. They will move from the depth of a far bank to the shallower inside bank as water levels increase. As temps drop, they’ll move away from swifter holding currents, where the water is moving at about three to four feet per second, into water moving barely a foot per second.

This business of current speed is important, but overlooked by many anglers. Moreover, it is easy to measure. Put a cast on the water, point your rod tip at your fly, hold it stationary as the fly drifts, and begin counting: “One-thousand, two-thousand, three....” Estimate how far your fly has moved each second. Guessing involves its own brand of vertigo. What looks to me like three FPS current often turns out to be more like six, if I check using the point-and-count method.
High water trout often cruise and hold in water barely deep enough to cover a dorsal fin. When fresh snowmelt hits the river, you’ll find trout along a near bank, sunning in slow moving water. Sometimes they’ll be in side channels that are dry the rest of the year. That favorite run, one you’ve taken fish from all summer long in seasons past, becomes a swift, noisy sluice during high water. That big long gravel bar which borders the run may be under a foot of water. Until they get spooked, the trout from the run will move onto the gravel bar, where food is washing into them. At the same time, they sense that they are exposed.
To approach them, you have to forget the roaring torrent beside you, and fish to them cautiously, as if they were in a mountain meadow stream. The fish in such lies are vulnerable, not settled into their new surroundings, without their customary amount of cover, and easily spooked. They will feed, though, until descending water temperatures from the snowmelt render them semi-comatose. They will hold or cruise in the shallows until spooked, and may not be available again until the following day.

Don’t waste your opportunities. Wade cautiously. Cast carefully. This is not flood stage “Yee-haw!” slap-the-banks-with-Bitch Creeks fishing. That will come later.

Bitch Creeks and other large nymphs will work, though, if swung into the quiet lies from the main currents. So will smaller nymphs, which I prefer, as they are easier to control during the drift than larger ones. Trout will position themselves where nymphs will be brought to them by the natural flow of the current toward shore. Spend some time studying the river. Fish where the current washes toward the edge in shallow slowwater.

A favorite trick of mine is to use a small streamer, about size eight or ten. I clamp a piece of split shot a foot above it. I make a kind of casual flop of a cast into a roaring torrent, and let the small fly swing into a lie where I think there is a fish. Sometimes this might be right below a submerged willow. I get hung up a lot, and I lose a lot of flies.

Scooting a Caddis Variant over the lie of a trout holding in pre-runoff cold water is likely to wake him up and make him strike.I’ll let the small fly sit and swim in the slow current for a few seconds, maybe half a minute if my nerves are up to it, adjusting the depth and position of the fly with my rod tip, raising and lowering the shot. After a while I'll lower the rod tip and move the fly. As I do I try to put myself into the position of that imaginary baitfish, and think while I retrieve “Ohh, goodness! I see a big trout! I think I’ll scram!” I move the fly, not quite far enough to avoid disaster, trying to inject that note of panic in my retrieve, and wait for the response.
Sometimes I feel a solid chomp. Sometimes I snag a willow. Sometimes there is nothing. If I can, I drift the fly back into the lie and try again. I might repeat the cycle several times before I take the fly out of the water. Sometimes it takes a little agitation and persistence to get a high-water trout stirred up enough to strike.

Streamers give me more options than nymphs for this kind of fishing. I can keep them moving, or let them hang still and swim in the current. I can try to trigger a strike response from a lethargic fish that wouldn’t bother with a naturally drifted nymph. I can cover a lot of water. But I always carry a batch of nymphs, dries, and emergers, and look for any opportunity to use them.

During pre-runoff and post-runoff high water here in the West it’s not uncommon to see localized hatches of several insects. There are gray drakes. There are March browns and smaller blue winged olives. And there are my personal favorites, caddisflies.

The so-called Mother’s Day Caddis hatches were on the river in flurries, right at the appointed time this year. As caddisflies tend to hang around for a while after hatching and can appear on the water at random, they can be fished reasonably well just about anytime. And, they scoot along the water. Scooting a Caddis Variant over the lie of a trout holding in pre-runoff cold water is likely to wake him up and make him strike. When nothing is on the water, it is usually more effective than dead drifting a small mayfly imitation.

The dry fly activity, if you hit it right, can be superb. When it isn’t, there are always small streamers. To use the hackneyed phrase again, think outside the box. Explore. You can expect to do well during high water for as long as you can find water along the edges to fish.

What will you do during run off season this year? Vote Here

     Fish Stillwaters?
     Fish Tailwaters?
     Watch Baseball?
     Tye Flies and wait for water levels to go down?
     Strip Streamers through highwater?

World Premier of Soulfish2: Fish Mode

2011-04-01T11:27:00.003-06:00

Last Night Soulfish2: Fish Mode was shown in Utah and I was super psyched to see it. This was the world premier and a truly awesome and rare opportunity to see this showing. March 31st showing was at the at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts on the University of Utah campus in the Dumke Auditorium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This was the featured film at this year's film Wasatch Fly Fishing Film Festival part of the weekend Expo. The film was awesome and featured fly fishing travels from around the world full of fly fishing action and lots of fish porn. It also includes celebrity appearances from Ralph Cutter, April Vokey, Brent Dawson, Mike Copithorn, Richard McPherson and Mikey Wier. It's a must see! Mikey Weir, the films creator is an angling adventurer, as well as is passionate conservation minded individual was there in person to introduce the film and offered intermission banter about making portions of filming and fishing in the remote locations. His description of Mongolia was as if he had stepped back in time and arrived in western Wyoming in the late 1700’s. Everything is pristine and the land and rivers and fish are all wild. No dams, no highways, just nothing but beautiful natural landscape and friendly welcoming native locals. He told a story of how upon arriving to their destination river in Mongolia they were casting out standard streamers and landed a nice 24” Lenok. Upon examining the fish they saw a large bite mark on its belly. It was then the Mikey had admitted that when he saw the bite, if a 24” fish is prey for a Taimen and if he wanted any chance at catching one, all of his ordinary sized streamers were way too small. The film continues with its travels from Mongolia, to British Colombia, Belize, Louisiana, Mexico, Egypt, and finishes up with Mikey on his home waters casting to big rainbows & browns trout in Amador County, Northern California.

Mikey Weir with Mongolia Taimen

Wier's film “Soulfish 2” by Burl Productions is the follow-up to his widely watched “Soulfish,” which chronicled Wier's fishing around the world in a style that was much different to typical fly fishing videos. The DVD of Soulfish2: Fish Mode will be ready in a couple weeks. Keep an eye out for more additional showings coming soon to a town near you. See a trailer of the film on VIMEO here.

Wier plans on allowing Trout Unlimited to use the film on a nationwide tour to raise money for conservation of cold water fisheries. That is why he worked closely with the local Trout Unlimited Salt Lake chapter, the Stonefly Society of the Wasatch who is created the annual event Wasatch Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Expo. The Expo continues through the weekend Friday & Saturday, April 1-2, 2011 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City. Times: Friday 12pm-6pm, with Cocktail Hour 5:30pm-6:30pm, Banquet 6:30pm & Saturday 8am-5pm. Admission: Adults $1.00, children under 17 Free.

by J. Kear

USAC, Update March 2011

2011-03-30T11:01:00.005-06:00

photo by B. Gregson

Just a quick word of thanks for all your support over the last few months. USAC has recently attended numerous events, spreading the word on stream access. Special thanks go out to Western Hunting & Conservation Expo, International Sportsmens's Expo, Fly Fishing Film Tour, South Valley Chapter of Utah Ducks Unlimited, Stonefly Society, Cache Anglers, High Country Anglers, Utah Trout Unlimited, Western Rivers, and Fish Tech; all of whom have hosted USAC at some point in the recent past. As a result of these efforts, in this short period, our membership has increased from less than a hundred to several hundred.

photo by C. Kruitbosch

You may have noticed electronic billboards along the Wasatch Front announcing the existence of the USAC. This service was generously donated by YESCO, who believe in our cause. There have also been articles in magazines, such as Fly Fisherman and The Drake, authored by Salt Lake's Brett Prettyman. These articles do a great job advancing public awareness of Utah's stream access "challenges." Anglers Trade has stepped up and provided free advertising space in both electronic emails and print. Also, the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) has announced a matching grant for donations from the fly fishing industry specifically destined for the USAC fight.

Thanks snapping these shots, photo by B. Gregson

photo by B. Gregson

Clearly, the word is starting to get out. Please talk to your fishing or boating buddies, your co-workers, and you neighbors about stream access. Ask them to contact their legislator right now, and tell the legislator how unhappy they are with the results of HB 141.

Finally, USAC will be at the Wasatch Fly Tying and Fishing Expo April 1-2, 2011. USAC will beproviding an update on their recent activities, and will be giving away a bunch of wonderful donated stuff including a spey rod/reel, waders from William Joseph, etc. This is great event; we hope to see you there.

Best Regards,
Dave Kuehn, Director, Utah Stream Access Coalition

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Professional Guide on Utah's Green River, John Sparger

2011-03-23T23:27:00.001-06:00

To fish Utah's Green River, might I recommend you book a trip through http://www.guidegreenriver.com/. John M. Sparger is a fantastic fly fishing guide and will make sure you have a good day.

Welcome to Utah’s Green River.

Home to some of the world’s most amazing fly fishing. Where large, healthy, educated trout live in the pristine, crystal clear tailwater of Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

The fishing on the Green is world famous for a reason, home to one of the highest population densities of trout in North America (11,000-15,000 fish per mile on the “A” section), and located in the stunning red rock canyon of Flaming Gorge. It is no small wonder that thousands of people annually come to visit and fish this spectacular river.

My name is John Sparger, and for the last few years I have had the distinct pleasure of spending my life in and around this beautiful river. Taking pleasure in getting to know its beauty and tendencies as it relates to the amazing fishing that can be had. I have been able to guide people on many exciting fishing adventures and been lucky enough to build relationships with many of the people that have fished with me over the years.

My hope is that through this site you will be able to gain an appreciation for this area and river that I love, as well as be inspired to join myself or one of my fellow guides on an adventure on Utah’s Green River.

John Sparger
PO Box 156
Dutch John, Utah 84023
spartagain@gmail.com

12 Apostles

2011-03-21T09:05:00.004-06:00

By Brett Prettyman from Drake magazine.

ACCIDENTAL? MAYBE. RELUCTANT? HELL, YES. APPROPRIATE? OF course. Apologetic? Hardly. The aforementioned lines can all be applied to Bryan Gregson and his emergence as one of the main voices fighting for anglers in Utah’s ongoing and controversial battle over stream access rights. His passion for fishing, spurred by a strong distaste of political posturing and hidden agendas, combined with his ability to communicate and connect with fellow anglers, made him the perfect poster boy for the cause.

It is a title he accepts, but does not acknowledge. “Plan on becoming an activist? Are you kidding?,” says Gregson. “Honestly, I don’t know how it happened.” He does know he lost countless and precious hours of river and tying-bench time. It is a sacrifice, he says, that more people, both in and outside of Utah, should make as the battle continues. “There is nothing to say other than he is a doer,” says Chris Barkey, Gregson’s tireless compatriot in the access battle since the Utah

Supreme Court clarified a law, which had been misinterpreted for years, in the summer of 2008 that opened previously wrongly closed river and stream beds. “He is self motivated. He doesn’t wait for people to tell him what to do. Bryan gets others involved; people who probably wouldn’t get involved without his example.” The real work started when legislators began to make their expected behind-closed-doors moves to overturn the Conatser v. Johnson Supreme Court decision. Gregson began to hear troubling comments coming from those who were claiming to represent Utah anglers.

ACCIDENTAL? While many sat back and whined about the situation …..

http://utahstreamaccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Drake_Gregson.jpg

Think Green - as in the river - on St. Patty's Day

2011-03-17T15:03:00.001-06:00

Fishing Utah

by Brett Prettyman

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Matt McKell - a biologist with the DWR's Flaming Gorge/Green River Project, sent in a piece on, what else, the GREEN River. Since I've been looking for an excuse to tease the videos I made with Reed Sherman with the DWR last year at this time on the Green, I'm running it. Thanks Matt for sending it in and for being creative. I didn't know biologists could be so witty.....

Now’s the time to “Think Green!” No, I’m not talking about reducing your carbon footprint, and this really isn’t about St. Patrick’s Day. It’s about the Green River in the northeast corner of Utah and its spectacular scenery and phenomenal fishing. If you’re looking for somewhere to fish this spring, you should consider the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam.

Why the Green? This stretch of river is a world-class trout fishery, known for its crystal clear waters, steep-walled canyons, stunning landscapes, and abundant trout populations. Early explorations of the Green River canyons included naming prominent features—like “Flaming Gorge,” the name given by Major John Wesley Powell in 1869 to the canyon that marked the river’s entrance into the Uinta Mountains, “a flaring, brilliant, red gorge”—mapping topography, documenting geology, observing the wildlife and plants of the canyons, and even fishing! Today, the Green River is a flyfishing “Mecca,” named the nation’s best tailwater fishery a few years ago by a popular outdoors magazine, and for good reason, too. Boasting roughly 15,000 trout per mile in the upper eight or so miles, there are plenty of fish to cast to, primarily browns and rainbows, and the chance that you’ll entice a strike from one of the river’s larger trout inhabitants, too (the river record, caught in 1996, was a behemoth brown trout that tipped the scales at 29 lb 12 oz!).

One way to fish the river is by drift boat—you can bring your own, rent one from a local outfitter, or hire a local guide. You can also hike several miles of riverside trail and fish from shore or wade the shallower areas—the 7-mile “Little Hole Trail” parallels the river all the way from Spillway to Little Hole, and there are a couple more miles of trail below Little Hole. There are lots of ways to get to the fish in this river!

While it is true that flyfishing is the most popular fishing method on the Green, it’s not the only way to fish the river. One common misconception is that the Green River is a fly-only or “catch-and-release” water. Yes, there are special regulations (refer to the current edition of the Utah Fishing Guidebook), including gear restrictions (artificial flies and lures only) and restrictive bag and size limits (3 trout bag limit, 2 under 15 inches and 1 over 22 inches, no harvest of trout 15-22 inches), but these regulations are not intended to exclude non-fly fishermen. In other words, if you prefer fishing with spinners, jigs, or other artificial lures, you can fish the Green River—just make sure your tackle meets the definition of “artificial lure” in the current Guidebook. A couple of examples: casting crankbaits, deep runners in slow, deep runs and shallow runners in shallow, quicker water, can provide excellent fishing; hair jigs are a great option as well, and can be especially deadly for ‘bows. And, if you want to fish where you can keep a few fish, you can try the Green—just make sure the fish you keep comply with current regulations.

And why come in the spring? Several reasons, but probably the biggest is that you won’t have to fight crowds like you would in the much busier summer season. (During summer, the river is used heavily, not only by anglers, but also river rafters.) For fly anglers, another reason to make the trip in spring is the opportunity to fish some of the major “hatches,” including midges and mayflies like the blue-wing olive. Or, depending on the year, the well-known cicada hatch, when for a brief period in late spring-early summer the river seems to boil with trout in a feeding frenzy over the large, irresistible bugs and also willingly take large dry-fly imitations, including hopper and ant patterns. Late spring is also a great time to fish streamers, like woolly buggers and leeches.

Never been, or don’t know what to expect? Don’t let that stop you from making the trip out to fish the Green. There is plenty of help available to get you on the river with the right equipment at the right time, from local fly shops to professional guide services to online resources. Abundant food and lodging are also available in the area. Lastly, to ensure that you aren’t the cause of spreading disease, invasive species, and other unwanted organisms, don’t forget to clean your boat, boots, waders, and other gear before and after fishing the Green River or any other water.

For great spring fishing, “Think Green!”

AFFTA announces matching fund for Utah Stream Access Coalition

2011-03-15T10:47:00.001-06:00

Posted on 03/15/2011 by AFFTA admin.

Westminster, Colo. – AFFTA President, Randi Swisher, announced today the formation of a matching fund to be used to support the Utah Stream Access Coalition’s challenge to the constitutionality of Utah’s Public Waters Access Act. “We are going to match up to $2,500.00 in contributions from our members who contribute to the fund,” said Swisher. “We know our members care about access, we have heard that loud and clear and we are asking them to join with us in this financial support.”

AFFTA is asking its members to notify AFFTA when they make a contribution to the coalition. AFFTA will match that contribution dollar for dollar up to a total of $2500.00. The money will be used by the coalition for court costs, witnesses and other related litigation expenses. Without financial support from industry and anglers it maybe a lost cause. “We don’t have a huge financial war chest for things like this,” said AFFTA Treasurer Scott Harkins. “But we want our members to know we will support important challenges to our businesses like this one if they will.”

The coalition has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Utah’s Public Waters Access Act passed last year. The coalition filed the suit because the Act effectively prohibits public access to hundreds of miles of rivers and streams in Utah.

Access to fishing opportunities is an essential element to the financial well being of AFFTA member companies. AFFTA’s mission, to promote the sustained growth of the fly fishing industry, is threatened when fishing opportunities are limited, or in worst cases, denied. “From the perspective of the fly fishing industry as a whole, the multiplier effect of anglers traveling to and fishing in Utah is important, impacting not only guides, outfitters, retailers, and other businesses in Utah, but hundreds of other fishing-related businesses throughout the country,” said AFFTA Chairman Jim Klug.

For more information about the Utah Stream Access Coalition go to http://www.utahstreamaccess.org/

For more information about AFFTA go to www.AFFTA.com and www.facebook.com/AFFTA.

AFFTA is the sole trade organization for the fly fishing industry, working to promote the industry’s sustained growth. AFFTA represents more than 300 small businesses including, manufacturers, retailers, guides and media operating in more than 42 states.

I've Got Work in the Morning But....

2011-03-14T12:53:00.002-06:00

I've Got Work in the Morning But.... from Fish Porn on Vimeo.
A little taste of some midweek, nighttime fly fishing in Miami. If this
doesn't make you want to get out on the water whenever you can,
than I don't know what else will. Just Go Fishing!!!!!!!!!

Conservancy buys 3,088 Acres along the Clearwater River

2011-03-03T14:31:00.002-07:00

Posted by the The Nature Conservancy

Our new acquisition along the Clearwater River will help bring back wild salmon.

3,088 Acres are now Protected in Washington. A new conservation acquisition on the Washington coast lays the foundation for a major initiative to bring back wild salmon to historic levels of abundance. We’ve purchased 3,088 acres in a corridor along the Clearwater River from Rayonier Timber.

Forests here have been managed to produce timber for generations. Timber remains a significant part of the Washington coast economy. At the same time, bringing salmon back is very important for local cultures and economies. So in this stretch of forest along the Clearwater River we will bring back giant trees—so wild salmon can thrive again.

A Force for Nature

Nature here runs on salmon. Salmon need clean, cold water to survive. Forests that surround the rivers provide shade and filter water so it will run cool and clear. By restoring these forests, we’ll be able to secure a healthy future for salmon and the people who depend on them.

VIDEO: scroll down to learn what salmon need in our rivers.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/CjOklr4yarA

Read more HERE
Here too

Stream Access Again? This time in Montana.

2011-02-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

Montana HB 309-Limiting Stream Access

Yesterday The Montana House of Representatives pushed forward "the ditch bill," a piece of legislation opponents say would gut the hard-won consensus between landowners and sportsmen over access to streams

This bill would effectively repeal the Mitchell Slough decision that upheld Montanans' rights to float, fish, and enjoy our rivers and streams. HB 309 aims to limit Montanans' right to access the public waters of our streams and rivers by more broadly defining irrigation ditches.

Please Read the following: http://www.montanatu.org/take_action/HB309_alert.htm

The 2008 Montana Supreme Court decision unanimously ruled that Mitchell Slough in the Bitterroot Valley is a natural stream and therefore open to public recreation under the state's stream access law. In other words, Montanans have the right to fish, wade or float the stream so long as they are below the high-water mark, even if it passes through private property. HB 309 seeks to elliminate such access to a number of streams by defining them as private irrigation ditches.

Mark Aagenes, a lobbyist for Montana Trout Unlimited, said that while the bill "purports to clarify what an irrigation ditch is ... it clarifies it to the point that many side channels (of) most streams and lots of rivers would no longer (be applicable) under the stream access law.

"The whole Bitterroot would be considered an irrigation ditch. ... The Sun River would be an irrigation ditch," he said.

Aagenes said the Montana stream access law is "super clear" in not allowing for recreation on irrigation ditches. He added that as far as he knows, no one has argued for or pushed for access to irrigation ditches.

"That is trespass, clear and simple," Aagenes said. "This is a completely unnecessary bill unless you are trying to dramatically erode (the) Montana stream access law. The point was missed on the floor today on just how clear Montana law is on irrigation ditches."

The bill would reopen an issue decided by the state Supreme Court in 2008 declaring that a slough running through the Bitterroot Valley property of 1980s rocker Huey Lewis and others is a public waterway and as such is open to recreational use under the state stream access law.

That ruling followed a 25-year struggle to reach an agreement over landowner rights and the rights of recreationists to access streams.

PLEASE ! Contact your representative and tell them to uphold the Montana Supreme Court decision and maintain public access to the public waters of our streams and rivers. You can find your House member's direct e-mail and phone number by clicking here. Or you can call the Legislative switchboard and leave a message for your representative at (406) 444-4800. If you don't know who your representative is, click here for the Montana Legislature's Find a Legislator page.

2011-02-04T11:39:00.001-07:00

The Utah Stream Access Coalition [USAC] will be at the Western Hunting Expo, booth #607. If you get a chance stop by. It's a good opportunity to join plus there is lot's of prizes to win in the free drawings! I will be there Saturday.

This is Fly

2011-02-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

This site is an online magazine chronicling fly fishes, great places to go fishing, ways how to catch fish efficiently, etc. ThisIsFly.com is an information-based site that hands out cool photos of different articles related to the world of fish and fishing.

- The main page has a list of magazine pages. Clicking them one-by-one is like flipping a magazine. This shows how stylish the site is made.
- You may also find more topics through their “Search” option and “Join” their mailing list to receive updates right away in your inbox.
- “View Back Issues” and enjoy other issues of ThisIsFly.com online magazine.
http://www.thisisfly.com/ If you are not already reading it, by now you should be.

Pebble Would Become Long-Term Liability

2010-12-21T12:10:00.001-07:00

This is something worth talking about: Former state Senator from Alaska, Rick Halford, now opposes the proposed Pebble Mine. He is long time Republican and typically a support of projects in development, but now has a different opinion with regard to Pebble. Read on.

Pebble would become long-term liability

COMPASS: Other points of view
By RICK HALFORD

Published: December 20th, 2010

December's National Geographic -- the premier magazine of its kind in the world -- focuses the global spotlight on Bristol Bay and the proposed Pebble mine project.

For years, Alaskans -- myself included -- have objected to federal intervention in our state. Politicians who live in the Lower 48, many in areas that are polluted beyond repair, do little to protect their own environment because of short-term economic consequences. The lockup of even a small directional drilling pad in ANWR while allowing Gulf drilling in waters a mile deep seems ridiculous to us. Alaska has been, and probably will always be, a place of National Conscience ... often of guilty conscience for all the mistakes of the South 48 dealing with land, waters, resources and Native Americans.

While I have worked with or for mining interests as a participant, air taxi operator and in public service all of my adult life, learning about the Pebble prospect has stretched my comfort zone. I cannot support this mine in this place.

No, I did not fall and hit my head. I still enjoy my heavy equipment. I still enjoy building roads, airstrips and trails. I am still a Republican. However, like the late Sen. Ted Stevens, I believe the Pebble mine prospect is unlike anything Alaska has ever seen or can even imagine.

Bristol Bay, as the National Geographic article "Alaska's Choice: Salmon or Gold" so accurately portrays, is unique in the world and is the last great stronghold for a complete red salmon ecosystem. Flying the photographer and writer to these amazing locations was a privilege. The country speaks so well for itself, words hardly do it justice.

The type of ore body at Pebble is extremely dangerous. If the prospect were named for what it's primarily made of, we'd be calling it a sulfur mine with a little copper, gold and molybdenum. Once that ore is ground to powder, it becomes our responsibility to guard the tailings from the combination of air and water that generates sulfuric acid. It becomes Alaska's liability for endless generations.

That is why I join the overwhelming majority of those from Southwest Alaska in opposing development of the Pebble deposit. Mining has an important place in this state but the margin for error in Bristol Bay is much narrower than in other areas. The size, type and location of the deposit are what make Pebble so problematic.

The largest open pit mine in the United States is Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah, located in a dry climate close to Salt Lake City. It has polluted 72 square miles of the aquifers beneath it and is only a third of the size of the ore body that Pebble Limited Partnership has told shareholders is mineable, which is 30 times the size of the largest mine in Alaska.

The cost of the hundred-mile access route around the east end of Lake Iliamna to a new deepwater port on Cook Inlet would be very high. Infrastructure development will require roads, pipelines, power generation and concentrate transportation. Any mine development plan would have to be massive in scale to be profitable. There is no feasible small development alternative.

The discussion moving into the national spotlight will be bigger than the ANWR debate. The values are high and until there is finality there will be collateral damage. From fish buyers to mine investors, Pebble is a concern. The sad thing for many of us who see both sides of this argument is not only that the Pebble development would probably cause irreversible loss to the last, best wild salmon fishery on Earth, but that the reaction of the National Conscience if that were to occur would likely destroy reasonable mining in Alaska for a century. Whether we appreciate or resent being a place of National Conscience doesn't change that it is a matter of fact.
________________________________________

Rick Halford, former state Senate president and 24-year member of the Alaska Legislature, now lives with his family in Chugiak and Aleknagik. Halford has been a registered guide since the early 1970s, is a commercial pilot with close to 10,000 hours in the air over Alaska and is a consultant to Nunamta Aulukestai and Trout Unlimited Alaska.
Read more:

The “Provo Hooker” Tutorial

2010-12-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

The “Provo Hooker”
Tutorial by Collin Carlson see the whole post by Collin here and at http://finpusher.com/

I want to start by saying this is my first tutorial so don’t expect a masterpiece. The “Provo Hooker” has been over a year in the making and this final version has accounted for well over a hundred healthy trout to hand. If you frequent this site you have undoubtedly seen it before.

Pictured above are the ingredients needed including optional Root Beer UV flash.

Gamakatzu B10S #2

.035 Lead Free round wire

Balz Dumbbell eyes Black Nickel large

Marabou, Black, Moss Green, Burnt Golden Tan

Dyed UV Polar Chenille Olive

Ice Dub UV Cinnamon

Barred Olive Green Zonker strip

White Zonker strip

Moose hair

You can add Root Beer UV flash just after the moose hair if you desire (trim to the length of the Olive Zonker strip). I have fished it both ways with great success but prefer mine without any additional flash. I hope you found this tutorial beneficial and you are able to slay a hog or twelve using it. Next time the fishing calls for streamers tie on a “Provo Hooker” for a happy finish.

The “Provo Hooker” is a Finpusher original.

SOULFISH 2

2010-12-09T15:31:00.001-07:00

Check Out Trailer SOULFISH 2, FISH MODE is an around the world fly fishing adventure movie. Coming soon from BURL Productions. http://www.burlproductions.com/
SOULFISH 2, FISH MODE from Mikey Wier on Vimeo.

Pool 32

2010-12-03T16:57:00.002-07:00

If you haven't seen the excellent, free online magazine called "Pool 32" check it out. The photos are awesome and the stories, particularly the "Save Bristol Bay" feature, are extremely worthy. A truly artistic piece of work.....
Pool 32 Mag
A free fly fishing e-magazine for everyone, everywhere in the Universe...

Alaska's Choice: Salmon or Gold

2010-11-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

If built, the huge Pebble Mine would transform Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, possibly jeopardizing the world’s richest sockeye salmon fishery. Pick up a copy the latest National Geographic.

Check Out Images at: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/12/bristol-bay/melford-photography

Here is a few.

Nushagak Bay, where a tempest is raging over the proposed Pebble mine. Fishermen say it could ruin salmon runs. Mine owners promise jobs and an infusion of money.

Relying on memory and a keen sense of smell, sockeye find their way from the ocean to their natal stream near Iliamna Lake, downstream of the mine site. Their fry will spend a year or two in the lake.

"We love our fish!" says Ina Bouker, a Yupik native and teacher from Dillingham who opposes the mine. "The salmon always run. But if their habitat is destroyed, they will not come back."

The 2.75-mile-wide pit in Utah's Bingham Canyon Mine is visible even from space. With perhaps the world's largest deposit of gold and one of the largest of copper, the Pebble mine too would require a huge open pit—and fail-safe toxic-waste containment.

The South Fork of the Koktuli River—ideal habitat for coho salmon—flows near the Pebble site. Water withdrawals for the mine could drain the stream's headwaters, leaving fingerlings high and dry.

"This is nirvana for trout and salmon fishermen," says guide Nick Jackson, holding a 27-inch rainbow caught at the mouth of Upper Talarik Creek.

Far upstream in Upper Talarik Creek, near the mine site, researchers found young salmon and trout in the unprotected creek.

Like his Dena'ina ancestors, Luther Hobson checks the salmon in his smokehouse for dryness. In his village, Nondalton, most residents favor their subsistence lifestyle over the promise of mining jobs.

Utah Stream Access Coalition Files Suit Against Utah

2010-11-15T12:22:00.005-07:00

Access Rights Group Files Suit Against Utah
Posted on MidCurrent By Marshall Cutchin on November 14, 2010 8:07 AM
"The Utah Stream Access Coalition, a nonprofit group created to preserve public access to the state’s waterways, filed a lawsuit Friday challenging the constitutionality of Public Waters Access Act, which was passed by the Legislature in 2010." Roxana Orellana and Peter S. Lozancich reported in the Salt Lake Tribune that the group, made up primarily of anglers, is asking that property owners be forbidden from impeding access to waterways, and that law enforcement stop penalizing those who use the state's rivers and streams.

You can follow the actions being take on the Utah Stream Access Coalition's Facebook page.

This lawsuit will be the main thrust of discussion at the upcoming Utah Waterways Task Force Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. at the State Capitol in Room 250. It is time for all anglers to show up en masse again and let their voices be heard. Lawsuits may get their attention, but real people standing up for their rights is just as important for the task force to see. I hope to see you all there.

Eastern Rises

2010-10-27T11:46:00.006-06:00

Eastern Rises | teaser from felt soul media on Vimeo.

I watched this last night. So Awesome!
Check out the Eastern Rises Teaser here
www.vimeo.com
Felt Soul partnered with The Fly Shop to document an epic fly fishing journey to Russia's remote Kamchatka Peninsula. What we found... big, beautiful, mouse-crushing native Rainbow trout, super Kudzha and Bigfoot in Russia's far, far east.
http://feltsoulmedia.com/products/index.html

Time On The Water in October

2010-10-26T08:51:00.004-06:00

Nice Day. Nice Fish Brandon. Fall Browns are on the move. Dont' you just love this time of year.

Recycled Fly

2010-09-25T08:55:00.016-06:00

There comes a point in ones own fly tying that you start to look over your past ties, be they one two from three years old and ask yourself. What the hell was I thinking when I tied this chicken headed mess? So it is especially when you go to reorganize your fly box that, I for one, will take out the old ugly flies I had tied from years past and put in new better looking ones, or I at least hope they will be better catching ones. With little regard for those forgotten tatter masses, I just blinly deposit them into a container that sits on the corner of the fly tying desk where the are often forgotten and I resume the current tie of the day. Until, you look to tie a size 14 mayfly/ caddis/ or scud and you discover you have no size 14 hooks. So yes you could jump in the car to frequent the local fly hook dispensary, & then shell out some more duckets to only run back to your fly desk and resume your previous ambition of a new size 14 fly. It was in a moment like this that I thought no, and instead, I reached to the container of old feathered mass in the desk corner and rummaged through to find a beat up old fly with a size 14 hook. In fact there were several. So then I reach for the scissors and had at destroying that very thing that I put time into creating not so long ago. Then I now had my correct bare hook in the size I wanted and it is time to go to work on a new creation. For whatever reason I had it in my head on this late summer day before pre spawn of browns that most stoneflies would long be gone, caddis are out mostly in the dusk hours and the best dry action is on hoppers this time of year. What goes well with a hopper? It’s a dropper of course, but what dropper is right for this season. I begin the initial wraps of the new fly not exactly sure what I will end up with and the I see an Orvis catalog that has some nice looking Czech-mate nymphs and so I decide to give few of those a go. A few flies latter I decide to vary that design a little and add a big bright bead to the middle of the body. Those will surly get some fish attention. A few days latter I am off the river with my new flies to see what will come up and notice.

Angry Middle Provo Brown Trout

2010-09-13T14:05:00.007-06:00

Here is a newly shot film: Angry Middle Provo Brown Trout from Sean Kerrick on Vimeo.

Tom's Tarpon Fly Fishing For Tarpon First Time

2010-07-23T23:41:00.005-06:00

Tom's Tarpon: Fly Fishing For Tarpon from WorldANGLING on Vimeo.

Love the Drake!

2010-07-12T11:19:00.012-06:00

Elaine: I Love the Drake. Jerry: How could you not like the Drake? George: Who's the Drake? Elaine: "Who's the Drake"? Jerry: The Drake is good! Jerry: (to Kramer) Do you like the Drake? Kramer: Love the Drake!

Over this past weekend I took some time up on the middle. I had not fished there in a long time as it has become so hugely popular. Take that into account, plus the addition of the most noteworthy hatch of the year on this river &, the fact that it was a weekend too... Well, you guessed it, it was a mad house of anglers. I think one estimate was 38 vehicle parked in river road south lot.

Fly Fishing The Provo River Utah Green Drake Doing what I typically like to do most, I got up early and was head out trying to beat the sunrise. I made my way & as best I could , I tried to avoid the scene. Even so, I was the 4th car in the lot, I headed out and hiked as far as I thought necessary to insure a quiet peaceful day. I did find a quiet spot where I had never casted before, & the run looked fishy. It was good seam, a tailing pool and some rocks to offer targeted throws. All that aside I was there & it was time to fish. Not just a regular day on the water, this was a drake day and promptly I tied on the large green & grey offering, applied a dab of floatant, and sent it on the first cast of the day. Seconds after it landed on the water, fish started after it. That is a reassuring feeling. No bugs on the water but the drake crazed browns were coming up & hungry. Every fish in the river was drake happy, even fish not much bigger than the fly itself. I got this little guy just by lifting the rod to recast, and like a streamer I thought ther was a little bit more weight than just a dry fly. Over the next several hours I tried out every color & size variation of a drake I had in the box. Cripples, foam boddies, extendeds, duns, floating emergers etc… & all of them produced takes & fish. I even tried a olive stimulator with rubberlegs just as a trial and sure enough it worked too. By far the most effective was an extended body grey drake parachute. I fished this till there was nothing left but the bullet head and a few tattered threads. Even in this shambled state it still hunted. The hatch itself was about 11-noon, but the pre hatch fished the best. A great fishing day, I hiked back to the car and was amazed at how busy the river was. An angler in every hole, riffle & run. I can only hope each did as well as I had. I ran into the softhackle class offered by western rivers. It sounds like they all had stellar results. A supper fun fishing day and I was done just after noon. It won’t last forever but if you haven’t hit it yet, spend a morning out on the water with drakes tied on. Well worth it. You’ve got to love the Drake!
I left the house without the camera so all I had was my phone with a 2 megpix. Sorry for low quality images. A big thank you to Kris Olsen providing the top Photo of the mean Green Drake.Thanks Kris!

Lazy River

2010-06-28T09:11:00.010-06:00

The family, our good friends, & I all just spent 3 days on Utah's Green River. A great trip spent camping and floating & fishing. The kids were excited! The fish were hungry & the beer was nice & cold.

Here is a few shots of the fun. I can't wait till we can do it again. You have just got to love it when the fish are rising to the dries! Great Pictures Thad!

Anyway we went, Kayak, Cataraft, or Drift Boat we were loving the ride! Just check out these future fishers.

Doug you deserve a cold one buddy!

more pics here

A big thanks John "Spartagain" Sprager for setting us up! It was a great trip! Cicadas?!??! hmmm... well not so much, but I did here 1 off in the distance, but not for long. Poor lil' guy can't find any friends. We threw cicada, and had no takes. None the less fishing was good. When the sun is on the water best thing to do was what Spartagain says. Throw large chernobyl ants. Also had hits on x-caddis, pmd and on yellow sallies in the the lower river.

FLY-FOCUS Trailer

2010-06-16T19:07:00.002-06:00

FLY-FOCUS Trailer from Marcus Sies on Vimeo.

FLY-FOCUS
by Marcus Sies

He’d rather be fishing

2010-04-28T11:36:00.003-06:00

By BILL SCHWANKE of the Missoulian Posted: Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Offensive guard Mike Agee of Helena looks for someone to block. Agee played on teams that went 48-8 over four years at the University of Montana and played in two national championship games, winning in 1995. .
..Share6Little did Mike Agee know when his dad started taking him fishing as a youngster that as an adult he would be taking others fishing not only in Montana, but in foreign countries as well.

And making a living at it to boot.

Agee, a two-time All-American guard for the University of Montana Grizzlies, has owned and operated Agee Outfitting in Helena since 2003 after working with and for other outfitters here and abroad virtually from the time he left UM in the spring of 1997.

Still single but looking for the perfect catch, Agee actually started guiding as a summer job in 1994.

Agee’s fishing experiences started on the Kootenai River. His dad is a urologist and at that time practiced in Kalispell, but occasionally traveled to Libby to see patients, managing to squeeze a little river time in on the way home.

“At the time I probably didn’t like it much,” Agee recalled, “but it’s something I got used to and really just love now.”

Bird hunting is another thing Agee and his father spent time doing together. These days Mike, Jr., focuses on bow hunting for elk in the fall.

About the time Agee first came to UM for a redshirt year in 1992 his dad moved his practice from Kalispell to Fort Harrison near Helena.

“It really bummed out the coaches at Flathead High because my brother and sister turned out to be really awesome athletes that Helena High School got to have,” Agee said.

Agee’s full-time fly-fishing guide work started with five-day float trips on the popular Smith River on the Hi-Line. It led to his first trip to New Zealand in fall 1997.

He stayed there through the winter, kick-starting his opportunity to travel around the world to fly-fish.

With the option of first going to either New Zealand or South America Agee chose the former because everyone speaks English there.

“At the time you could go there reasonably,” Agee remembered. “I could camp (and) drive around the south island and just fish all over. I just had such a good time and met so many neat people.

“It just got in my blood to get out and see as much of the world as possible,” he added. “Trout live in such pristine areas, it’s hard not to like where they live.”

The next season on the Smith River Agee met a South American named Spencer Moore who ran the Rio Palena Lodge in the Patagonia area of Chile. Agee and Griz teammate Mike Kowalski of Cut Bank hired on with Moore.

“Once you have established yourself as a guide in Chile you can easily find another job there,” Agee explained. “I ended up going to Chile for multiple seasons.”

One problem was doing back-to-back long seasons in Montana and Chile for a number of years.

“You can get kind of burned out a little bit,” Agee admitted. “Just too much time undoing knots, I guess.”

Kowalski currently does both real estate and guide work, also in Helena, so he and Agee still work together fairly often.

“He’s really a good guide,” Agee said. “People really enjoy fishing with him.”

Football was Agee’s main thing in high school, although he took up wrestling as a sophomore and wound up being pretty good at it. He also threw the shot and discus in track.

One of his track and football teammates was Mark Gilman, who wound up being an All-American football player at Nebraska.

Agee won a state title in the discus as a senior, and generated recruiting interest from numerous colleges, including Clemson.

Agee was recruited by several schools for football as well, and pretty much knew he would be an offensive lineman. While he had other football options as well, Agee said playing at the University of Montana had been his goal since seeing the Griz trounce Weber State behind quarterback Grady Bennett when Mike was a prep sophomore.

“I just thought it was the neatest thing I’d ever seen,” Agee recalled. “They ran up the score on Weber. That day kind of made me think that that’s where I wanted to go, and luckily that’s how it worked out.”

Mick Dennehy was the offensive line coach at the time. As a freshman Agee split starting time with Jeff Zellick, and he became a full-time starter as a sophomore.

But the guy Agee really looked up to was guard Frank Garrett.

“He was really technical (and) one of the best linemen on the team at the time,” Agee said, “and that was including Scott Gragg, but he was a tackle. I got a lot of (benefit) from watching Frank play.”

During his career Agee also got to line up beside the likes of Eric Simonson and Dave Kempfert.

The Grizzlies threw the ball a lot in those days, and admittedly Agee and his line mates didn’t care much for running plays.

“We used to kind of roll our eyes when they’d call a run play,” Agee laughed. “Like, ‘aw geez, we’ve gotta run block? Let’s just throw the ball. We’re better at it.’”

The Grizzlies were 48-and-8 during Agee’s four seasons on the line and played for two national championships, winning in 1995 and falling to Marshall in the rematch in 1996. It was memorable to say the least, but Agee said he and his teammates never took winning for granted.

“My (redshirt) year those guys were 6-5,” Agee noted. “My freshman year Dave Dickenson stepped in (and) we (didn’t) know what’s gonna happen there. We don’t know that Dave’s gonna end up being Super Dave.”

Agee said the teams he played on were “scrappy and hungry and everything we got we really earned. We took every game very seriously.”

Agee thinks often about what an amazing accomplishment that four-year record was. Even the national title loss to Marshall to wrap up his career didn’t put a damper on his enthusiasm for what he’d just been through, even though it left the team at 14-1.

“We knew what we were up against,” Agee said of the Randy Moss-led Marshall team of 1996. “I had not seen him on film very much. We were busy watching the great defensive players they had.”

Agee’s initial first glimpse of Moss was impressive enough, a long touchdown catch early in the game.

“That, unfortunately, was repeated a few times that day,” Agee said. “We thought we could take them again, (but) they were awesome.”

Agee agrees with an earlier assessment by Griz receive Mike Erhardt that the 1996 team was more talented overall than the 1995 bunch.

“That group of seniors that I was a part of, they were such solid, good guys,” Agee said, “intelligent, good football players, good people, a year older and a year stronger.”

Looking back, in fact, it’s the teammates he played with and not any particular games or plays that Agee remembers most.

“That’s what I remember most, the fun times we had,” Agee said, adding that he stays in touch with several teammates, many on Facebook.

“We get together on our own,” he went on. “A couple years ago that class met up at Brian Toone’s lake place in Idaho, and we got to have a little reunion. We’re trying to do stuff like that every so often.”

If Agee sees Grizzly games these days it’s usually later in the season when the fishing and hunting wind down. He says he wouldn’t miss playoff games when they’re in Missoula.

He had no idea the program would grow to where it is now.

“It was a pretty big deal when they put in (seats) in the North End Zone,” Agee remembered. “We thought that was pretty awesome. It’s just growing and growing and growing.

“I’m proud of what we did because it really did start all that.”

Anglers for Corroon

2010-04-17T11:17:00.004-06:00

Not always are anglers as a group politically motivated. We prefer the quite solitude of a mountain streams or the serenity of flowing river. Well those days are going to be more and more rare. As many of you that have read postings on http://www.featherhook.blogspot.com/ already know the right to access streams & rivers is Utah has greatly decreases. Politically there are many who became more involved, and yet we are still far from organized. If you are interested in leadership in a different direction from the Utah Governor, than support the campaign for Peter Coroon to become Utah's next Governor. A man who will stand up for what is constitutional and encourage recreational river and stream access for all. If you agree, join the group, http://corroon.ning.com/group/anglersforcorroon
Also on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=109793885723433

Legislative foolishness could cost us big bucks!

2010-04-09T09:48:00.004-06:00

By Brett Prettyman

As usual, the misinformation and cheap shots ran rampant during the 2010 Utah Legislature. The opposing sides of the stream-access issue probably provided the bulk of the antics.

Such actions are troubling, but have become commonplace at the Capitol.

In the days leading up to the governor's signature, I received a call from a landowner with property on a popular Utah river. He called to let me know that not all landowners were against anglers having access to streambeds on their property.

He told me he had been grossly misled by the Utah Farm Bureau. Unfortunately, it was not the first time I have heard that line.

The ugliness continued even after the bill was signed.

Don Peay, founder of the poorly named Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW), made a completely unnecessary statement on KUTV last week. Why Peay was asked about the bill in the first place is a mystery because he and SFW claimed to have been neutral on the subject, but he just couldn't resist an opportunity to sound as if he knew what he was talking about.

"This is a classic case of a handful of greedy fly fishermen getting too greedy," Peay told KUTV. "People violated their private property rights."

That is about as much the pot calling the kettle black as you could ever encounter. Peay has provided a perfect definition of the word greed in his repeated attempts to open a deer hunt on Antelope Island State Park. Seeing those bucks with big racks roaming the island has Peay drooling about the possibilities of selling high-priced and exclusive tags to his hunting buddies.

One of the favorite emotional lines used by landowners during the 2010 session was that their private property was trespassed upon and people were using their land as an outhouse.

I would never condone trespassing and I always promote "leave no trace" practices when pooping in the woods, but it should be pointed out that many of the landowners making those claims -- including legislators -- are creating their own disgusting land mines in nature by running their cattle on public lands.

And just how exactly were anglers being greedy?

One of the biggest misconceptions about the stream-access issue, and there are a ton of them, is that the anglers came out of nowhere to make the demand to be able to fish anywhere they want.

For the record, the Utah Supreme Court -- yes, Utah Supreme Court -- ruled in a 2008 decision that the public has the right to walk on the beds of all streams and rivers, no matter who owns the land they run over.

Landowners thought they had been bamboozled by the Utah Supreme Court with the 2008 ruling because they had been misinformed about the law, but the court only clarified the existing law.

And, as it turns out, the law has been around for a while.

Guess who had this to say about the suddenly meaningful issue of stream access in Utah.

"There is to be no private ownership of streams of water, and wood and timber shall be regarded as common property. Walk faithfully in light of these laws and you will be a prosperous people."

The quote is found in the book What of the Mormons by Gordon B. Hinckley and came from Brigham Young, who made the declaration in a worship service the day after the Mormon pioneers arrived in what is now the Salt Lake Valley.

The passing, and eventual signing by the governor, of HB141 has done more than temporarily delay anglers access to rivers stocked with fish by state wildlife officials. In a time when budgets are so tight, the wise representatives on Capitol Hill are making the residents of Utah pay for a lawsuit that should, and almost assuredly will, be found illegal. Maybe the sponsors of the bill would like to volunteer their salaries to the cause.

Anybody? I didn't think so.

And what's more, the passing of HB141 -- and some other works of genius on the Hill -- will end up costing Utah revenue from tourism, fishing license sales and maybe even the state's biggest convention.

Frank Hugglemeyer, president of the Outdoor Industry Association -- which sponsors the Summer and Winter Outdoor Retailer conventions in Utah twice each year with an estimated value of $14 million to the state economy -- watched the antics of the Utah Legislature. He and many of the exhibitors at the shows are dismayed with what they saw.

"The climate-change resolution is counterintuitive to our position as an industry, and the eminent-domain decision is in direct contradiction to what we stand for. And then you throw the stream-access repeal on it and it becomes absolutely disturbing," Hugglemeyer told me. "Utah is going in the wrong direction and different direction than the rest of the West."

Hugglemeyer said the outdoor industry in Utah pumps $4 billion in annual sales to the state economy and creates 65,000 jobs, which generates $300 million in state tax revenue.

"If you take the economic multiplier effect, the full contribution is $5.8 billion each year," he said.

Hugglemeyer and the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau are currently in discussions for a four-year extension on the Outdoor Retailer shows.

"This last legislative session has made our decision to sign a little more difficult," he said.

Brett Prettyman is an outdoors columnist. Reach him at brettp@sltrib.com.
Nice Job Brett & a very good summation of the last few weeks & months.

Pebble Mine: Foreign Mining Companies' Scheme Would Poison America's Paradise

2010-04-08T09:06:00.003-06:00

On Earth Day, April 22, 2010, of all days, the British mining giant Anglo American is holding its annual shareholder meeting in London. Anglo American and Northern Dynasty Minerals, its Canadian partner, are scheming to construct one of the world's largest copper and gold mines, the Pebble Mine, in the watershed above Alaska's pristine Bristol Bay.

This unspoiled region, surrounded by icy peaks, is made up of vast tundra, crisscrossed by crystal clear rivers, fed by pristine lakes, including Alaska's largest. Moose and caribou wander in fertile wetlands across a jigsaw array of national parks, wildlife refuges, and our country's largest state park. Grizzlies, wolverines, seals and whales, sea birds and bald eagles flourish there in numberless congregations drawn by the lure of tens of millions of thrashing salmon, charging upstream to spawn, feeding the most productive sockeye salmon fishery in the world. For thousands of years, local communities have relied on subsistence fishing and hunting.

Incredibly, the global mining conglomerate Anglo American and its Canadian partner Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (including Rio Tinto and Mitsubishi Corporation) have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in a plan that would transform this magical Eden into an industrial wasteland. They want to build one of the world's largest gold and copper mines in the heart of Bristol Bay's watershed. Picture a gaping pit two miles wide and 2,000 feet deep, and an underground mine almost a mile deep near the shores of Lake Iliamna, the source that, with the Nushagak River to the north, feeds the entire 40,000-square mile watershed and Bristol Bay itself.

At Bristol Bay's headwaters, the Pebble Mine will spew a witch's brew of toxic waste -- deadly acids from mineralized rock, contaminated leacheate from tailings piles, and the toxic residues from processing chemicals. The mining moguls will detonate thousands of tons of explosives to open the earth, build roads and trample thousands of acres of wilderness and wetland beneath giant vehicles. Project construction will permanently alter the region's natural river drainage system, including de-watering an estimated 60 miles of spawning habitat in the world's largest intact sockeye salmon streams. An 86-mile road will link the mine to a new deepwater industrial port in Cook Inlet, increasing ship traffic and port pollution and further pressuring the Inlet's dwindling population of critically endangered beluga whales. The mine would also threaten beluga whales in Bristol Bay, who depend on the salmon runs for survival. The mine may produce up to 10 billion tons of waste and lethally poisonous mine tailings stored in artificial ponds covering over 10 square miles, behind several of the tallest dams in the world - earthen structures that dwarf even China's concrete and steel Three Gorges Dam. The operation will require as much energy as Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, exacerbating global warming.

This apocalyptic spectacle in one of the world's most treasured ecosystems has mobilized a rare coalition of angry opponents in Alaska, including native communities, commercial and recreational fishermen, hunters, outdoor outfitters, environmentalists, and Alaska's tourism industry. Even prominent jewelers led by Tiffany & Co. aren't buying the conglomerate's claims that their project is safe: Tiffany's announced last year a "No Pebble Pledge" -- a campaign joined by over 20 jewelry companies, with annual sales in the billions.

And their skepticism is a safe bet given the track record of similar large-scale hard rock mines. A recent study found that 89% of such mines in the U.S. violated water-quality standards despite unequivocal permit commitments to comply with state and federal requirements.

The leader of this unusual alliance to protect Bristol Bay is Nunamta Aulukestai ("Caretakers of Our Land" in Yup'ik), an association of native communities around Bristol Bay that have relied for millennia on subsistence fishing and hunting. Nunamta has partnered with Alaska's commercial and recreational fishermen to protect the cradle of what is arguably Alaska's most valuable renewable resource - the Fort Knox of salmon -- generating tens of thousands of jobs and over $400 million in revenue each year. Because copper is toxic to fish, even minute exposures risk impairing their navigational systems, destroying a salmon's ability to return to its spawning stream, and thereby jeopardizing all of the native communities around Bristol Bay and the region's wildlife that rely on annual salmon returns.

The Pebble Mine threatens southwest Alaska's natural resources, the economic foundation of communities throughout Bristol Bay, and our shared interest in the security of a food supply of national importance. Pebble is a toxic recipe for disaster, and it should be abandoned now. There are a lot of places in the world to mine copper and gold. But there is no compelling reason to allow a foreign consortium to destroy one of America's great national treasures and jeopardize the health and livelihood of American citizens.

Please take action now and sign NRDC's petition. Tell Anglo American that you won't tolerate the destruction of America's natural and cultural heritage in order to line its own pockets.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr/pebble-mine-foreign-minin_b_528324.html

Of Midges & Men

2010-03-02T19:20:00.009-07:00

In the midst of winter there are grey sky days and bitter cold air temps that keep most of the fly flinging brethren off of the rivers. They are like me and I suspect most of you too. In that way, what we all want to do is get out and fish but not terribly willing to freeze ourselves to the bone, just for a handful of trout at best. However with a slight perk to the thermometer things can change & change quickly. Once midges are warm enough, right about 32 degrees, they will start to head to the water surface, sprout wings and take flight. That whole process is one that makes the midge very vulnerable. During the time they make their ascension to the surface, and start hatching out of their own shuck, there are eager to eat trout lurking about keying in on this movement and are aggressively headed to gobble up any would be micro flies on the move. In essence the trout become fixated on a meal that stirs them so much so that they no longer take just what drifts in the current but now are willing to move around the river to now find their meal, or at least up and down when one come floating by. They, the trout, get midges on their mind. It only stands to reason during the weeks leading up to this event that we fly fisherman get midges on the mind too. I spent several hours of the last weeks seeing what midge patterns worked and which ones were plainly ignored. Once I got an idea of few that would I went to the vice. I definably had midges stuck in my skull and on the mind in a bad way. Why? Simply put, well, because browns would be ready to take dry flies again. I had caught a handful of fish this year on a midge or midge like offering, but the feeding was slow, few and far between. What I was looking for is frenzy to get most all of the fish in the river up. That is the circumstances I was anticipating and was fortunate enough to get in the past week. Words can only fail me to describe this event.

What I can tell you is that fishing was slow and cold at first when Doug, Brandon and I arrived to the PBR river.

There was no worries there because what could be better than 3 friends 3 flasks full of whiskey, & several cold beers sitting in the snow. Some fish were taken on subsurface rigs before the temps got warm enough. Around the noon hour fish were rising in rapid succession to digest as many midges as they could. Make no mistake this was not easy pickings. The main reason our efforts met with opposition is due to what we were offering was on a size 22 / 24 hook. The real thing was more like a 28 / 30.None the less we were catching and watching, often times that means missing fish too. "Isn’t fishing with 8x great” was sarcastically said by Brandon after I set the hook then only see my rod bend and then go straight again when Mr. Brown took off with my flies and a fair amount of tippet too. None the less what we were doing was working and was fun for sure. From the bank, and a highervantage, I would just spot fish. The midges, the real ones, would just drift until a shadow maneuvered underneath. In all of one second the shadow would become clear as a defined jaw line and fish eye would show from the depths. In a casual swagger, as if to say I ant worried about a thing, the trout would lip on the passing midge and then dive back down to his deeper water home. This was so cool to see not just once or occasionally, but every second during the heat of the hatch. The most frustrating part was to stop to retie on a new fly during the main course and knowing that it wouldn’t last all day.

Fly Fishing Film Tour 2010

2010-02-25T12:13:00.006-07:00

My fishing buddies and I met up headed out this past Wednesday to Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Tower Theatre in Salt Lake City. Despite the Salt Lake City Show was officially SOLD OUT. There may be a few rogue tickets available at Western Rivers the Patagonia outlet store and Fishwest. We were able to get together some tickets for the show. This year's lineup, 10 films ranging from six to 18 minutes, "offers a blend of inspiring cinematography, hilarious comedy, poignant commentary and tons of amazing fish," The fourth annual Fly Fishing Film Tour is to show you a new lineup of abbreviated films that range from pulsing to poetic. “We will take you on the journey to see what it takes to be truly committed, or insane, by those who capture the new revolution of fly fishing adventure on film,” said Thad Robison, the film-tour organizer . “You will be watching several ‘first-run’ films making their big-screen debut. They aren’t available for download. You can’t watch them on YouTube, Vimeo or any other Web server, media outlet or film tour across the country.” More than 70 percent of the footage has never been seen by a public audience, he said, noting that each film has a unique flavor and message. However, all of them showcase incredible footage and their own blend of comedy, storytelling and, of course, some impressive fish caught both by the angler and the cameramen. Official selections are films by RA Beattie, World Angling, Confluence Films and a handful that were previously unreleased...

The Take is quick look at guides life out of the Snake River Angler fly shop in Moose, WY.
HooDooStyle is about Silver salmon chasing waking flies in Alaska, " Simply put, "chrome plated, butt kicking, fighting machines.”
Off the Grid wraps up an adventure that starts in Montana and concludes in the remote saltwater flats of Mexico.
Rise 2 friends that grew up in South West MT to only leave to Patagonia & start up the own guide service for giant sea run brown trout mammoth rainbows .
Once in a Blue Moon is of mice & men & brown trout in New Zealand.
METALHEAD is a film about dirtbag camping, loud music, heavier winds & even heavier steelhead caught on an undisclosed British Columbia stream. It was filmed over a combined four-month period,” said Thad Robison, films editor. “We filmed in both fall and spring to get footage of both runs.”
Heads of Tails was very cool! It showcased some awesome footage of Permit fishing in Western Australia.
High in the Lowlands showed the remote parts of the very diverse Everglades and these boys were targeting baby tarpon & monster snook.

Do make sure to fill out a raffle ticket there are cool prizes. 2 of the 6 in our crew had their names called. Prizes were varied from sunglasses, to fly lines, to a all expense paid guided trip. As an added bonus, there will be a grand prize drawing at the end of the tour & the winner will take home an all paid trip for two, to Patagonia for 10 days. Plus other offers and coupons are available at all our tour stops on this year’s program so if you have attended a previous show, or are planning on attending a future show check out our website for offers and coupons for your local area once you have your ticket in hand. There are offers & discounts from Patagonia, Blue Fly Café, Dry Fly Distillery, Yellowdog Fly Fishing Adventures, Korkers, Bugslinger Fly Gear, Premier Oars & Blades. When you go to the show make sure you hang on to your ticket. The serial number on your ticket will give you access to multiple discounts and offers from our local and national partners when you click on the "Offers" tab at the top of our website. Also they have multiple items that will be available at the show to purchase such as Film Tour T's (both mens and womens) Film Tour Hoodies, and Film Tour Buffs. They also have a selection of the film makers DVD's including Metalhead which was just released this week.

In an effort to create a market for recycled waders and to increase awareness of the impact invasive speicis has on fisheries, Patagonia is running a specialy through the spring through Western Rivers. Bring in any pair of breathable waders and receive $50.00 of a pair of Patagonia Water Master waders or Guide Water Waders. Western Rivers will send in your old waders to be recycled and turned into renewable products. Bring in your old wading boots in exchange for a pair of Patagonia Sticky wading boots and receive $25.00 off.

Fishwest has created and offer that gives you 20% off any order of $100 or more (excludes sage rods & reels) Offer good one time only and excludes online orders. See coupon for details and valid dates.

I was glad to see fantastic job the Webeye Media group did of making for a great time. Props to them for also allowing Bryan Gregson & Chris Barkey of the Utah Water Guardianshttp://utahwaterguardians.org/ to speak to the crowd about our effort to keep Utah rivers & streams free & open to the public. I can only hope everyone there will ACT Fast, & ACT NOW !

Get out and catch a show. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

We May Have Lost This Battle But Not The War

2010-02-19T08:59:00.008-07:00

"Pick Up The Banner & Fight!" " The Battle Rages ON!!
Please CONTACT THE SENATE NOW!! HB-141 passed 50-25 today and is now moving onto the Senate.This is NOT GOOD! Please contact all Senators NOW...VISIT YOUR SENATOR IN PERSON!!!! The vote http://le.utah.gov/~2010/status/hbillsta/hb0141s1.001h.txt HB 141: YEAS - 50 NAYS - 25KEY POINTS of INTEREST --HB 141:It is a clear violation of separation of powers, making it in direct contrast to the Utah Constitution Article V Section I and the ideals of our founding fathers. It was done in secret, and the substitute bill came out after it passed committee and was sprung on the House for a quick debate. Approves a political and controversial process of adding waters to a list that can be access by the public and saying what waters can't be accessed by the public. Negates over 100 years of water law in Utah. Flies in the face of 3 Utah Supreme Court decisions separated by over 70 years declaring and defining the public's easement in State waters. Refuses to balance two competing constitutional rights, but unconstitutionally disregards one in the favor of the other. This bill is unconstitutional....PERIOD!

Sincerely,Bryan Gregson Utah Water Guardians

Way fun video to get you thinking about spring

2010-01-26T20:43:00.003-07:00

Wild Trout and Big Jumps on the FLY in Montana from John Gould on Vimeo.

Warm Weather & Remanescent Daydreams

2010-01-21T13:40:00.005-07:00

Perhaps due to the snow & cold found in Utah this time of year, fly fishing is not the main reason get outside. Even as a low pressure system of weather permeates the landscape & don’t get me wrong it is much needed. I cannot help but think of warm sunny skies & beautiful blue ocean water. Or perhaps due to the new television show on ESPN Pirates of the Flats I have been thinking about fly fishing for bonefish. Either way as I do get out with snowshoes & waders warm mittens & woolen hats to the river’s edge,

I can’t help but think of others out there right now in the Caribbean region casting flies out to tailing bonefish on the flats. They don’t need waders, they don’t need to pick ice from the frozen guides of their fly rods, in fact just being in the Caribbean means you shouldn’t have any worries at all. Yes I’d like to get back to that place again but for now all I can do is tell the tale of the first bonefish I caught on the fly.

Two years ago I spent a week in region known as Quintana Roo on the east coast of the Yucatan of Mexico. It was a great getaway and a chance to see sites not often seen in U.S. & that’s just above the water. We started out journey by renting a car driving south to the village Akumal. This place immediately sets you in state of mind of peacefulness & tranquility. The bays out the beach front condominium door were gorgeous & full of sea life. A quick walk from our accommodations put us on the beach of Akumal Bay, where I first was able to see bonefish for the first time. Though I didn’t know it yet what I was witnessing were bonefish of a lifetime cruising around the tethered boats just off the beach there. Yes it would be tempting to cast to these 15 & 20 lbs. monsters but they were off limits. So you guessed it Akumal Bay is a no fishing beach but after spending each evening at the La Buena Vida you soon forget about the uncatchable. As we toured around I had known of the reputation of places like Ascension Bay & Holbox island. We were close to these destinations but I was assured by our guide that the lesser known fishing on the northern flats of Cozumel would get us into some bonefish for sure. So the morning came where my wife & I were off to meet Hector our fishing guide for the day. We went to the quite dock where we boarded a panga and we soon speeding around the mangroves to find the flats that the bonefish would be feeding on.

Until you have been on a flat you don’t really know what it will be like to cast long distances with a fly rod. All I can tell you is that casting into slice the wind is a exercise that often winds up with bad results of where your fly will actually land. So I stepped up and let it go this time with the wind at my back. A better cast but still no bone on the line. My wife and Hector were hooking up with mangrove snapper & jacks but alas the bones were alluding us. Hector then poled our way through the flats between some mangroves to a secluded flat where he was sure there bones. As we approached sure enough he was right we spotted them but to see & then cast & get the distance all correct was way too much for me. My Crazy Charlie fell short & by that time the miniature torpedoes where gone. We then left the panga after a quick discussion, some lunch & knocking back some cervezas.

As we walked the flats Hector pointes to where he spotted the bones and told me to cast. I did time & time again. Finally after nearly who know how many tries I got a hook up. I have caught many big trout & other species of fish, but never have I had the bliss of experiencing the fun of the fight & run of a bonefish. To have one 3lbs fish take you into your backing, & I mean way into your backing twice in the same five minutes, it is an amazing experience. I now see why professional guides leave Montana to go to the Bahamas to live & pursue these fish. I only got two bonefish that day but the memory will last me the rest of life or at least until the next time I get to a salt water flat with a fly rod in my hand to chase the amazing fish of the Caribbean.

Fun with Macro

2010-01-20T23:23:00.005-07:00

Weber River Brown

Provo River Rainbow

Freeze Your Ass Off and Fish the Provo

2010-01-11T09:12:00.008-07:00

I had a fun day out on the sub freezing temperature day on the middle Provo with the UTOF crew. There were about dozen & half guys & gals out Saturday. I think most, if not all got in to some fish. We no sooner parked the car when we were greeted with smiling faces of the “on the fly guys” who promptly offered up bourbon as we wadered up for the winter outing. Good to meet several of you. My buddy Ebon, my dog & I headed down river with few of the crew & found a couple bends in the river that look as they should hold fish. It was all sub surface searching for first hours of the morning. I had tied up a few days ago a miracle midge & that got the first fish on the day for me. Not long after I had helped out Ebon with his nymph rig & he was into couple fish too. Siyeh the fish lovn’ Berneses Mountain water dog offered her affections to the trout before we put them back into the river. Most of our fish we has caught were a foot long or so but after an hour or more I had a big take and a big bend in the rod. A good 2 lbs.er decided he would play. It was getting to be lunch time & since we didn't have the big breakfast that the others did we went back to the car & cooked up some grub. After that we wandered back down to the “suka hole” where everybody gets sucked in because of the constant rising of fish. We caught a few more & Milo of KUTTHROATKEEN came by. He then put on a clinic of how to catchem. Also showing off some of his very nicely tied & trout tempting flies. The temps were dropping & dark was soon on its way so we called it a day, but a great day & a very fun day at that.

Dry Fly of The Month Club

2009-12-14T16:11:00.007-07:00

It was almost a year ago I had read a post by Bryan on his
blog about a goal he had been working on. The plan is to catch at least one fish each month of the year (January – December) on a dry fly. I thought well that seems attainable & so it began for me. I thought I had done this already in 2008 but as I thought it through, I actually was nymphing in December or using streamers in November. So in January 2009 I started keeping track. If for nothing else this plan made me want to try to cast dries more often than anything else. I learned If there were fish to be caught on top, then I was going to figure out how to get them. Through the course of the year there were some very memorable trips to the river. Here is just a few:
· In February I recall a great day of freezing my finger to the bone but Doug & I loving it. Nothing a flask of bourbon couldn’t fix.
· In April I went fishing each afternoon to try for blue wings, & most often was lucky enough to be rewarded.
· In May I saw my very first Salmon fly. The hatch is the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen. Driving up the canyon when I first spotted them, with excitement pulled over the car to catch one right out of the air. The best part of that weekend was sharing it with my family. The kids loved feeding the fish by tossing these giant orange stones on the river, & in a second they would (gulp) disappear. They got huge kick out of that.
· June marked first day of 09 when I had not yet tied on a caddis, but once I did, it was the fly of the day, fish after fish, including very nice sized trout for such small water.
· June, July, August, & September, All were months with great rivers, great fishing, & great trips floating on the cataraft & loving every minute of it.
· October was the month I taught a few friends the joys of night fly casting & even better Pabst beer drinking.
· Warm November afternoons were spent with my son casting to sippers taking blue wing emergers.
· December consisted of days of struggle & cold. I actually, to my on disbelief & dismay, got skunked.

Then there was today. December 14th was the day. I was so afraid of not catching a fish in December I had to hedge my bet just a bit. I decided this week I would have to spend lunch time going fishing close to work, up the Wasatch canyons to try for my December fish. I pulled in to the snowy lot. Hopped out of the rig & had to dawn my waders & boots. Not because I got in the water, but because the snow was so deep & I was wearing my clothes I going to go back to work in. First casts, nothing. I leaned over the perch to see better, uh oh, I had spooked em & there they go swimming away. Next spot, I didn’t see a thing. Third pool, same thing, nothing. So on it went. I decided to hop back in the rig head to one last holes before I threw in the towel. I walked from the road through the 24” deep snow slowly to the overhang above the creek. I readied my fly and in one cast put it out in quite drop to creek’s surface. The fly drifted perfectly & went behind where I could not see it. The snow was so high there was a bluff & I didn’t see my midge. So I lifted my rod tip & “aw damn” I must’ve snagged on a low lying limb. Except wait I hear a splash down there. I peered over, & it’s a fish on. Wah Hoo! It was a nice little Bonnie Cutt to fulfill my year long endeavor to catch at least one fish per month on a dry fly. What a year!

Bristol Bay Salmon, Seattle Restaurants, a Pit Mine, and a Blogger

2009-11-19T10:57:00.001-07:00

By Angela Garbes in Food Media

What started as a press release landing innocently in the Inbox a few days ago has erupted into a little storm, complete with an AP story featuring Seattle restaurants and local food blogger Ronald Holden being picked up by The New York Times. So, what the hell happened?
The backstory: this week, up until November 21, thirteen Seattle restaurants (Art of the Table, Chiso, Emmer & Rye, Etta's Seafood, Flying Fish, Palace Kitchen, Persimmon, Ponti Seafood Grill, Rover's, Steelhead Diner, Tilth, Tilikum Place Café, and The Pike Brewing Company) are featuring Bristol Bay wild salmon on their menus to support Trout Unlimited's Savor Bristol Bay campaign. Trout Unlimited, an organization dedicated to conserving coldwater fisheries, is raising awareness about a threat posed to Bristol Bay salmon and fisherman by a proposed open-pit gold and copper mine called Pebble.
It was all simple enough until one of the mine's supporters, Gail Phillips, also a former Alaska state legislator, sent an email out to people (including, oops, Steelhead Diner's chef Kevin Davis and Emmer & Rye's chef Seth Caswell) asking them to boycott the participating restaurants. This prompted Holden, aka the Cornichon, to ask the rhetorical question now heard round the fish news-related corners of the internet: "Seriously, Ms. Phillips, are you nuts?" ''Every single visitor and every single local knows Seattle is famous for salmon,'' Holden responded to Phillips. ''Like it or leave it, salmon is at the heart of Seattle's restaurant economy.''
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. , a subsidiary company of famed mining industry leader Rio Tinto, and Anglo American have a 50-50 partnership to develop Pebble, which they say is one of the largest gold and copper deposits in the world. Plans call for starting the permitting process in 2010 with construction beginning as early as 2013.
The Trout Unlimited campaign is timed to coincide with Seattle's Pacific Marine Expo 2009, the largest commercial marine trade show on the West Coast.
Chatter aside, this important fact remains: you have until this Saturday to support and savor wild Alaskan salmon and the fishermen whose livelihood depends on them. (After the 21st, you can ask for Bristol Bay salmon at your Seattle fish markets, or order directly from this list of family-run businesses.)

Save the Salmon By Eating the Salmon

2009-11-19T08:39:00.002-07:00

It sounds like a culinary twist on the famous Vietnam-era statement — “It became necessary to destroy the village in order to save it.” — but there’s some logic behind Trout Unlimited’s campaign this week to save Bristol Bay’s wild salmon.

Trout Unlimited is, according to this story in the Anchorage Press, a national non-profit of fly-fishermen, and the group has hit the streets of D.C. like a school of piranha. They’ve been here all week for meetings on the Hill and to prove to Washingtonians that Bristol’s wild sockeye salmon is both tasty and worth protecting from the proposed Pebble mine, which according to Trout Unlimited, is “the world’s largest open-pit gold and copper mine in the headwaters of Bristol Bay, Alaska.”

Maybe you’ve sampled the salmon this week? The fish has been on plates at such restaurants as Blue Ridge, Coppi’s Organic, Equinox, Granville Moore’s, Harry’s Tap Room, Hook, Kaz Sushi Bistro, Poste Moderne Brasserie, Redwood, Rock Creek Mazza, and Sonoma.

Y&H asked Paula Dobbyn, the director of communications and co-director of policy for Trout Unlimited, why they’re targeting Washington diners in the campaign to save the Bristol Bay salmon. What, after all, can a diner do?

Her response is after the jump:

As far as the focus on D.C., we recognize that the nation’s seat of power is there and that many folks in the district and surrounding suburbs have the influence and connections needed to help shape the debate. We’re trying to put Bristol Bay on the radar screens of Americans in general and get it the national recognition that it deserves. Many Americans know about oil drilling and caribou in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or about the timber wars in the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska. Or they’ve heard of Denali or Glacier Bay. But Bristol Bay is still largely unknown, even though it produces most of the wild salmon left on the planet and it’s an incredibly gorgeous place. It’s also largely unprotected from development, unlike the national parks and forests.

We’re trying to get permanent protection for the Bristol Bay watershed so that a massive mine like Pebble could never be built there. That’s why we’re bringing the issue to DC. And instead of just lobbying Congress, we think it’s important to engage people through their taste buds. There are millions of seafood lovers out there. We feel that if they know what’s at stake in Bristol Bay, they will “vote with their forks” and insist that this incredible area and resource be protected. (see http://www.whywild.org/ for more on Trout Unlimited’s Vote With Your Fork campaign.)

Photo by Lindsey Bloom via Trout Unlimited
Story by Tim Carman Washington City Paper http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2009/10/22/save-the-salmon-by-eating-the-salmon/