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The Middlebury backstory
The tale of two Chrises: Chris Wood, above, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited; and Chris Santella, decorated outdoor writer. Both are alums of Vermont's Middlebury College. By Kirk Deeter There’s always a backstory. Someday, I’m going to write a book, called “Backstory” or “Deep Into the Backing,” or something like that, where I spill…
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Keeping a fish factory intact
Caption: Lynn Finley alongside the Encampment By Chris Wood I met Lynn Finley last week when Beth and Bruce White hosted a fundraiser for Trout Unlimited’s North Platte restoration work. Lynn is a small, fire-cracker of a woman who runs a lodge in Riverside, Wyo. We were sitting in her kitchen overlooking the Encampment River,…
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Five Rivers Odyssey: The role of commercial fishing in the Tongass
When people think of Alaska, they often think of large commercial fishing boats raking in their piece of the fortune that salmon bring to the waters off the coast of Alaska. Commercial fishing has shaped Alaska's economy and culture, and it has provided job opportunities in places where they might not normally exist. In Southeast…
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Saying ‘no’ to risky mines
Public meetings aren't usually the stuff of great entertainment. But this spring a seemingly mundane exchange between bureaucrats underscored an big problem in Montana -- one TU and a whole pile of other Montanans are working to fix. Yes on 186 from Trout Unlimited on Vimeo. The Yes for Responsible Mining Initiative, I-186 would require…
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How TU defines success in the Klamath River basin
TU's Tim Frahm swinging on the Klamath River near Weitchpec. The legendary Klamath River is the third most productive watershed for salmon and steelhead on the West Coast, after only the Columbia and Sacramento Rivers systems. The Klamath is also Ground Zero for one of the most challenging water conflicts in U.S. history. Trout Unlimited’s…
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Gear test: Filson Feather Cloth shirt
When I think of what makes a great shirt for spending the day on a river, the first attributes that I look for are functionality, fit and color. Functionality, because I want pockets that accommodate fly boxes, fit because I want sleeves with adequate length, and color because I have a hard-enough time not alerting…
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How I’ll be celebrating Alaska Wild Salmon Day
Heidi and a Bear Trail Lodge client with a nice Bristol Bay rainbow. Photo courtesy of Heidi Wild Re-posted from the Peninsula Clarion. By: Heidi Wild In 2018, Bristol Bay broke the record of returning wild sockeye salmon. As the rest of the state closes to salmon fishing, Bristol Bay is breaking records. I’m stunned…
