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Dean of the Umpqua
The thing about swinging flies for steelhead is that it’s remarkably unproductive. One wiles away entire days, even weeks, cultivating tennis elbow with nary a grab to show for it. Yet the allure of fishing this way for the iconic sportfish of the Pacific Northwest is somehow inversely proportional to its ratio of success. At…
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Riding the Skunk Train
TU-led partnership with historic railroad restores key salmon habitat on California's north coast Trout Unlimited works with many different types of partners in developing and completing stream restoration projects. Mining and timber companies, ranchers and wine grape growers, private landowners and water suppliers are among the diverse entities that make possible TU's efforts to enhance…
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Trout Unlimited receives EPA grant to expand STREAM Girls
By Jamie Vaughan Trout Unlimited staff in Michigan are excited to announce the expansion of the STREAM Girls program throughout the state thanks to a recently awarded grant through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Education Program. The goal of expanding Trout Unlimited’s STREAM Girls Program is to educate more than 275 girls, 35 partners and volunteers, and 1,000 community members…
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Home is where the fish are
Home. It’s where many of us feel most alive and comforted. And this year, many of us have become all too familiar with our homes. Since I work from home (and have for years), I cherish the idea of expanding my concept of home. My physical home is lovely. A ranch-style house with three bedrooms (one too many,…
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Old trout don’t need a mirror
Unlike humans, trout only grow more beautiful with age. I know, I know, beauty’s on the inside, but come on. We are all aware of growing older and should be able to admit to being bothered by it sometimes.
There are billions of reasons to love trout, their fickleness bordering on intelligence, their powerful reluctance to surrender in battle, and their impeccable taste in house and lot. The way trout look is enough by itself. This latter attribute expresses itself throughout a trout’s life. Baby trout are like jewels, their scales and inquisitive eyes shooting sunshine in every direction. The…
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Strong science, vocal public opposition stopped Pebble. The stickers helped.
The decision to deny the permit for the proposed Pebble Mine came from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last month after finding the mine plan incompatible with Clean Water Act standards and “against public interest.” Backed by strong science, a complete permit review process, and overwhelming public opposition that started in Bristol Bay and…
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Fishing in the abyss
California’s Owens River offers prettier sections. There are certainly reaches of this stream where an angler can find larger trout. There are many places on this river where you will not hear and feel electric diodes buzzing like murder wasps in the background. In fact, fishing the deep, dark-walled gorge this river carved over millennia…
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