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Record-low flows make floating the Smith a bad bet
Typical spring flows on Montana's Smith River are completely navigable. But last week, the river's flows hit an all-time low of 116 cfs. Greg McReynolds photo. Montana’s fabled Smith River at the Eagle Creek gauge shattered a low-flow record last week, and the outlook for anglers with float permits this summer is beyond bleak. As…
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Tips for chasing coastal cutthroats in the Pacific Northwest
Coastal cutthroat trout from a stream near Ketchikan, Alaska. Chris Hunt photo. By Chris Mayes The coastal cutthroat trout is a fish of many names: sea-run cutthroat, blue-back, harvest, among others. Regardless of the name, most Pacific Northwest anglers agree the coastal cutthroat is a fantastic gamefish for anglers of all ages. Often the top…
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Policy update: Waters of the U.S. revisited, and a critical look at critical minerals
TU welcomes EPA decision to revisit WOTUS Trout Unlimited welcomed this week's announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that the “Waters of the United States” rule promulgated by the previous administration is illegal and must be redrawn. In moving to repeal and revise the rule, the EPA is listening to the many states, businesses,…
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Roundtable: Dealing with bad behavior on public lands
Kamil Miłkowski photo via Pixabay. Editor’s note: With more and more people heading to the outdoors in pursuit of safe and healthy recreation, reports of bad behavior are becoming more common. From abandoned campfires to litter, we’re seeing impacts on public lands that stem largely from ignorance rather than malice. We asked several long-time Trout…
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In New Mexico, recreation is paying off for conservation
by Dan Roper During the havoc and heartbreak of the pandemic, many of our fellow Americans turned to the outdoors. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, 28 percent more Americans went camping in 2020 than during the previous year, and 8.1 million more of us went on a hike. Fishing numbers soared too, with at least one state reporting a 40…
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How plan your national park vacation like a park ranger
Insider tips for making the most out of national park adventures By The National Park Service Summer is here and many national parks are expecting an especially busy season in 2021. A little trip planning can ensure that your only surprises are happy ones. To help everyone have a great experience, National Park Service rangers share…
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Visitation surges on U.S. national forests in 2020
An angler casts to trout on the Targhee National Forest in Idaho. Chris Hunt photo. Agency says pandemic spurred more people to explore the outdoors By Andrew Avitt Over the last year, people across the U.S. chose the great outdoors to reduce stress and find a physically distanced alternative for having a little fun. National forests and…
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