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Map questing: How to find trout water on public lands
It’s nice for anglers to know that we have access to literally millions of miles of trout streams and countless acres of trout lakes and ponds on public lands in the United States. But just how do we pinpoint those fishing spots? Fortunately, we have many options to help us, including those old-fashioned paper maps,…
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Public lands photo essay
Vast expanses of public lands and waters The Rocky Mountains offer nearly endless public lands and waters Sinuosity on public lands Pure joy of fishing on public waters Public lands and waters offer solitude if you know where to look Public lands and waters come in all shapes and sizes Oxbows galore on public lands…
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Of Sticks and Strings
Public Lands support the underlying spirit of traditional bowhunting and fly fishing As trout season draws to a close in Michigan, the leaves change hues and, for many of us, our attention turns to antlered pursuits with the opening of archery deer season. Out West, hunter-anglers have been pursuing elk for almost a month…
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The agony and the ecstasy
Even when they’re beset by freezing rain or other forms of natural calamity, public lands bring peace, quiet, and miserable joy Public lands aren’t always perfect. The fish don’t always cooperate, and the mosquitoes do not care if you are trying to have a moment of peace. Consider it one of those Instagram vs. reality…
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Roundtable: Our favorite public lands
The Caribou National Forest, Idaho. Chris Hunt photo. Editor’s note: In celebration of Public Lands Month, several TU anglers are showcasing their favorite public lands fishing and hunting destinations. America’s public lands are our national treasure — places that have storied histories for all people, from Indigenous Americans to modern-day hunters and anglers. Keeping them…
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Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge gives hope to coaster brook trout
For two decades, Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge has been the site of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service efforts to restore self-sustaining populations of coaster book trout. Trout Unlimited has been a partner in the work. The efforts haven't been successful, but have increased knowledge about this unique form of brook trout and what could be needed to restore the fish to Lake Superior tributaries.
Of the many forms of brook trout, one of the more unique is the coaster. Coasters are potamodromous, spending much of their adult lives in nearshore waters of the upper Great Lakes and then migrating into streams to spawn. They can grow to larger sizes than brookies that live their entire lives in streams, and…
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Red Rock Lakes shows off its fish and wildlife conservation values
Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn’t be easier if all public lands were just lumped together. I mean, who can keep straight national forests, wildlife refuges, national parks, national preserves, national monuments, national lakeshores, BLM lands—it can all be a bit much to keep track of! But then you experience a place like Red Rock…
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