Southern West Virginia chapter volunteers gather after the 20th Annual Elkhorn Creek Cleanup on April 15 in the community of Northfork, in McDowell County, W.Va. By Rob Shane When I was young, maybe 6 or 7, I had a tendency to act like a total brat — usually upset about not getting some toy that…
Trout Unlimited began organizing sportsmen and women in a coordinated manner in 2001–largely in response to my observation when I worked at the Forest Service that the voice of hunters and anglers was largely missing from the development of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule—an initiative that protected nearly 60 million acres of some of the…
Jessica Strickland and her daughter Vida, project managing in the Sequoia National Forest backcountry. By Jessica Strickland Working with Trout Unlimited really is just NOT boring. What we do as field staff is so diverse that I have become a woman of many hats. A recent weekend was a great example of how what we…
When organizing a day on the water, you spend time planning to maximize your enjoyment. You get on the water and enjoy the trip and upon your return, you rinse, dry and organize gear while reflecting on your experience to improve the next opportunity. Just like a fishing outing is more than simply getting on the water, attending a conference is more than attendance. Learn more about how to maximize your attendance now that you are home and the most important aspect of the educational process is about to start.
The Prince Nymph squares off with the Elk-hair Caddis, and the Adams goes up against the Woolly Bugger
They say “patience is a virtue” and I’ve never encountered any situation in this world that better fosters patience than fly fishing for trout.
There’s so much I want to say about the video below, but it’s best to just see it for yourself. Video of Farquhar Bird Fly I’ve seen giant trevally chasing birds in the surf thanks to footage captured by the cinematographic pros at Blue Planet, but I’ve never seen anything quite like this, and I’m…
It’s public lands month at Trout Unlimited. It’s also photo/video contest time! During the month of September, post a picture or short video on Instagram featuring America’s public lands, use the hashtag #publiclandsmonth and tag @troutunlimited for a chance to win. Winners will be chosen at random each Saturday and we’ll be awarding our exclusive…
Over the weekend, I had a tough time finding fish in a river I’ve fished regularly over the past few summers.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to hit small creeks for great end-of-summer fishing. They don’t hold the biggest fish, but the fish are generally plentiful and beautiful. Plus, the waters are often cooler than bigger rivers, which is a quality to adhere to when temperatures rise. Tom Rosenbauer, of Orvis fame, tells…
Fall means trying to do a little bit of everything before the snow flies: the last mountain bike rides on dirt, climbing peaks to glass for elk, leaf peeping before they turn brown and litter the ground and of course, the last warm days of fishing. I celebrate this time of year and find great joy and happiness exploring…
By Mark Taylor I probably shouldn’t have been surprised. The first truck was parked just past the “Special Regulations Trout Water” sign. A few hundred yards farther up the gravel Forest Service road I met an SUV coming my way. Two friends from my local Trout Unlimited chapter were in it. We rolled down our…
Vote and win great fly-tying gear
For me, a good pair of forceps has become a requirement on the water, particularly during summer when I’m fishing more frequently and, subsequently, catching more fish (hopefully!). Forceps or hemostats are great multi-purpose tools — they help with hook removal, they mash barbs down and they can even be helpful when untying knots. But,…
How can we ensure a brighter future for our public lands? We have spent much of the past month reflecting on the role public lands play in our lives. But now is the time to make a plan. Safeguarding our outdoor traditions takes more than one month of celebrating public lands. The challenges are many: from habitat threats, to transfer of…
If you need a pick-me-up, this is it. It is with great excitement that we share the short film, “Return to Us: Restoring Alaska’s Eklutna River,” with you. As of today, it is available free of charge online for all to enjoy. Return to Us chronicles the historic effort spearheaded by Eklutna, Inc. and The…
I get asked this question “off the record” all the time. What’s the very best thing you can give as a gift to someone who really digs fly fishing?
Daughters. I have watched my husband happily announce that I was expecting a girl twice in our marriage. Mouths smile, but eyes squint, and brows furrow, and comments range from “Another one?” to “Well, maybe number 3 will be a boy” or “you are going to try for a boy, right?” There isn’t going to…
Longtime advocate for fishing and hunting and TU grassroots leader Geoff Malloway re-opens the Central Coast Fly Fishing shop. By Sam Davidson To Geoff Malloway, inaction, and its frequent companion inertia, are like poaching. They are a violation of the sportsmen’s code. He can’t abide them. You can see it in his face at meetings…
“It is crucial that as a community and a nation we take care of the land and river that acts as an oasis for this prize fish because if we don’t, we are at risk of losing one of the most beautiful and complex ecosystems. While many rivers have seen a loss in native cutthroat, the Snake watershed has managed to remain as a native cutthroat dominated river, and that is something worth protecting.”
