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TROUT Tip – hopper dropper alternative
It’s terrestrial time, so leading your rig with a hopper (aka grasshopper) is a great idea. It not only is a big, tasty meal for a trout, but it serves as a great lead fly for a second fly. It is common to fish a hopper/dropper setup with a nymph, but have you ever tried…
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Photo of the week – idyllic scenery
Man, trout fishing sure takes you to beautiful spots. It’s been said a million times, fly fishing takes you to breathtaking locations, and that couldn’t be truer than in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. Spend a few minutes picturing yourself here, listening to the rush of the waterfall, the cool mist on your…
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This Land is Your Land: Amanda Monthei
Long before she moved west to join a wildfire fighting crew, Amanda Monthei grew up fishing, hiking, hunting and camping in Northern Michigan’s Pigeon River Country, a vast network of state public lands surrounding her rural hometown.
Our public lands are the foundation of healthy watersheds and strong communities. From remote trout streams to working forests and rangelands, these places provide clean water, vital trout habitat and public access for all Americans. But pressures like efforts to sell off and privatize public land threaten what makes them so valuable. This blog series…
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5 Rivers Q&A – Costa Rica
Just last month, three standout alumni from the TU Costa 5 Rivers program—Joseph Berney, Matteo Moretti and Heather Harkavy—found themselves together on a fishing trip in Costa Rica. What started as a shared love of fly fishing turned into an unexpected reunion of 5 Rivers leaders who are now shaping the industry in their own…
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Masking decline: Why Snake River wild salmon and steelhead can’t wait
Across the Snake River Basin, wild Chinook salmon and steelhead are in serious trouble. For decades, we've seen steady erosion in population abundance, genetic diversity and productivity. And yet—some still point to hatchery returns, favorable ocean years or isolated stream projects as signs of progress. Here’s the truth: we’re masking a long-term collapse with short-term…
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The True Cast – Wildfire
I hiked up to the top of the road where I live and paused to stare southward toward a plume of black smoke about 25 miles away. Another wildfire. Sure, wildfire is often a natural occurrence. It’s part of living in the West. The Southeast has its hurricanes. Tornado Alley has twisters. Seems like in…
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TROUT Tips – fishing terrestrials
Fishing terrestrials, grasshoppers, beetles and ants, is a joy this time of year, but it can be tricky with low and clear water to land it quietly and not spook the trout you’re targeting. Try this trick from Orvis to see if you can pick up a beastly brown like this with this technique. See…