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Barriers limit cutthroat trout migration
We are broadly familiar with the plight of the salmon, hatching in freshwater, moving downstream as smolts and, entering the ocean. Their magnificent return to the rivers during spawning migrations, hundreds of miles up the Columbia and Salmon rivers, illustrates fish movements at a grand scale. Few people know the same phenomenon occurs with inland native trout such as the cutthroat
Few people know rivers more intimately than anglers. Every bend, pool and overhanging trees of our favorite river stretches are stored in the recesses of our brains. Particularly those where big fish are known to hide. From year to year, the pools we fish are usually static and don’t change dramatically. We walk up to our favorite stream and, by all appearances, the water looks…
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Is this Heaven?
No, Morgan ... it's Idaho I had just finished leveling the camper when Morgan pulled up in his white sedan. It’s a process—leveling the camper—made a bit more complicated thanks to a slightly hyper mutt running around while I work the jacks, wondering why we can’t just go straight to the creek. “Who cares if…
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The ethics of the dropper
By Chris Hunt The ethics of fly fishing can get pretty sticky, or at least I’m gleaning that from social media, where some folks aren’t afraid to scold fellow anglers for teetering on the edge of angling impropriety, whether that impropriety is real or perceived. For instance, when did using a “dropper” become taboo? Last…
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Prospecting blue lines
By Chris Hunt South of Old Faithful, a tiny stream runs beneath the Grand Loop Road—thousands of tourists drive over the little bridge every single summer day. A trail generally follows the stream on its gentle course to Shoshone Lake. If you walk the trail, you might occasionally see a tiny brook trout finning in…
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Instagram Live with TU’s Scott Hood and Dave Hettinger Outfitting
Scott Hood represents Oklahoma (Indian Nations Council) on TU's National Leadership Council. He's also a guy who loves wild things and wild places. So when he teams up with TU Business Member Dave Hettinger, backcountry magic happens. Join us on Instagram Live @troutunlimited at 3 p.m. Central on Friday Aug. 7, when we talk with…
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Dave Hettinger Outfitting – wild country, big fish
There are still places and people in the backcountry of the interior West that transcend time. Wild places that seem unchanged from the days of Lewis and Clark still persist in this country, far from the roads. And people who persist in that same country, likewise unaffected by America in the 21st century. So it…
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Living off the land
In the summer, I think I could live off the land — with a bit more education. Wild raspberries and strawberries, wildflowers, wild trout, some wild onions, mushrooms and cattails would make a smorgasbord. The trout tend to come easily in the high-mountain streams I frequent, but too bad I’m a vegetarian as they would be the only filling menu item. I guess I have more learning to do.…