-
Fishing with, and learning from, Sharon
There are so many unsung women responsible for making Trout Unlimited what it is today. In honor of Women’s History Month, I want to celebrate one woman who has made an outsized impact on coldwater conservation and me, personally, Sharon Lance.
"Whoo hoo!" The first time Sharon shouted as she brought a fish to hand on the Roaring Fork, I waded out of my hole, ran upstream, pulled out my camera and took a few pictures of her with the fish. The next time it happened, I walked to the bank and asked if she needed…
-
For 15 years, the Tie-a-thon has helped those who help people through fishing
It started 15 years ago with a conversation in a car. Terry Wittorp and Tim Scott were on their way to a chapter meeting of the Kalamazoo Chapter of Trout Unlimited. "Man, I am worried that we aren’t going to have enough flies for our youth camp in Michigan this year," Terry said. Tim, who…
-
Improving on the Global Deal for Nature
Protecting 30 percent of the planet by 2030 may not be enough. In 2019, a group of international scientists came up with the notion of a Global Deal for Nature. Their idea is straightforward, and very ambitious. To “save the diversity and abundance of life on Earth,” the scientists said, we need to “save 30…
-
Best, maybe last, chance for salmon
One of the great mythologies in America is that conservation is a "zero-sum game"—a term used by economists when the gain of one person is offset by the loss of another. Conservation is often, for example, described as “job-killing,” or pitting fish and wildlife versus people. Congressman Mike Simpson’s (R-ID) proposal to re-imagine the relationship…
-
Looking back, looking ahead
Engaging with young anglers about conservation, policy and people It is easy to get cynical about the future, until you spend some time with it. I recently had a great time virtually speaking with over 100 college students who belong to our TU Costa 5 Rivers clubs and agreed to post my answers to their…
-
Helping trout and helping America
As he was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States this week, Joe Biden made a powerful call for unity as the necessary foundation for tackling our nation’s challenges. Many celebrate and welcome the change. Others are angry and frustrated. Here is what I wrote four years ago when President Trump was…
-
It’s time for the lower Snake River dams to go
“It is our collective opinion, based on overwhelming scientific evidence, that restoration of a free-flowing lower Snake River is essential to recovering wild Pacific salmon and steelhead in the basin.” So reads a remarkable letter recently sent to the governors of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana by 10 of the finest and most-respected salmon and steelhead scientists in…
Author