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TU’s top 10 conservation campaigns of 2019
Bristol Bay The clear, cold rivers of the Bristol Bay region in southwest Alaska support some of the strongest remaining salmon runs in North America. These waters entice anglers, tourists and other outdoor enthusiasts from around the globe to view rare and majestic wildlife, marvel at an untouched landscape, and chase trophy rainbow trout and salmon. The region is under imminent threat…
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Resilient waters
The 2019 5 Rivers Odyssey traveled to the west coast to explore the stories and the ecosystems of the Columbia River basin. From the people they met to the ecosystems they encountered, it was clear that passion, recovery and resilience remains a large part of this area’s story. https://vimeo.com/381559254 Coming soon: Resilient Waters. Follow the…
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Skating big dries for big trout
Nicco stood next to me along the middle reaches of Patagonia's Malleo River in the fading Argentine light. Willows shrouded the creek, and I could only see the silhouette of the big Fat Albert as it drifted in the heavy water just across river. Nicco, my guide for the day, chose the hefty, foam monstrosity…
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Making a double spey cast
Spey casting is a growing discipline among fly fishers, even though the method has been employed for centuries. For many of us, though, spey casting is foreign and simply looks incredibly difficult. The long, two-handed rods appear unwieldy and complex. The graceful, yet foreign, motions of the spey cast don't feel at all intuitive. Yet,…
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John Gierach: The Secret
A few years back, Gray Ghost Productions crafted a fly fishing film about Atlantic salmon. It was called "Turning Tail," and it featured John Gierach, the renowned author and angler whose books line the shelves of avid trout bums everywhere. The film was about the value of the Atlantic salmon and the tragedy that would…
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Fasten, buckle and clear
As fly fishers, most of us are gear junkies. We like the latest gadgets and we like to use things like sling packs, hip packs, chest packs ... whatever it takes to bring everything we need (or think we need) to the water. But all that gear can get in the way. It can get…
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Isonychia Parachute
I'm less than a week away from a much-anticipated trip to Argentina, where I'll be fishing the country's northern Patagonia region. When I arrive, summer will be on the horizon, and bigger mayflies will be in my fly box. Tim Flagler ties an excellent big mayfly pattern—size 12—in his Isonychia Parachute pattern, a dependable dry…
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