Resolutions in January are dumb. I really can’t get into making any sort of rule for myself when there’s only seven hours of daylight and simply getting the newspaper feels like an expedition across the arctic tundra. Leniency. Naps. Snacks. S weat pants. These are things I can get on board with in January. But…
The Trees for Tribs Program from New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation provides Trout Unlimited with bare root and potted trees to plant along trout streams. Being a stream guy, I had to take advantage of the offer, made possible by funding from the Arbor Day Foundation. Walking through the tree garden I had my…
Editor’s note: TU sent a handful of college students to the Pacific Northwest for this year’s TU Costa 5 Rivers Odyssey to study and fish in the Columbia River basin. Oregon’s Deschutes river has long been known as one of the West’s most legendary watersheds. Known for its prolific hatches and dry fly fishing, specifically…
By Jacob Fetterman Stretching from Manchester, Vt., to the Hudson River in New York state, the Battenkill River holds a firm place in fly fishing history. Beyond the river’s fame and beauty, it has become evident that, without proper stewardship, the wild trout fishery supported by the Battenkill could slip away due to the degradation of quality habitat through factors such as deforestation, sedimentation, channel modification,…
As age takes its toll, the memories become stronger By Drew Irby I was browsing through a collection of scanned photos the other day and came across a vintage pic from the family archives. I had been randomly thinking about what happened to certain friends from my college days in northern Arizona. Seeing this shot…
A few months into the global pandemic, I know that I’m not the only one disappointed by postponed or cancelled plans. While our team pivoted our organizing and communications work so we can still advocate for coldwater fisheries in Alaska, much of our summer programming is cancelled to protect the small villages and towns in the communities we work from COVID-19. Perhaps our most disappointing but necessary cancellation is the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide…
People all around Oregon woke on Sept. 8, 2020, to high winds, extensive power outages and lots of speculation by foresters that it could be the worst day of fires in Oregon’s history. That’s exactly what it turned out to be for Chrysten Lambert, TU’s Oregon director for Western Conservation, and many others when three wildfires whipped through the area in a split second…
In good news for healthy fish, streams and communities, administration vetoes congressional effort to weaken landmark water law Contacts: ARLINGTON, Va.—President Biden today vetoed a Congressional resolution to block a revised, clearer definition of the “Waters of the United States” that would restore federal Clean Water Act protections for millions of miles of small streams…
Every year has its big moments. The ones we vividly remember. The moments that stick out so much in your mind you don’t need a visual reminder of what it felt like when you were there. Those are the easy ones. I’m reminded of the moments in which I was in the Nevada desert, in…
Photos: Tim Toohey, West Denver Chapter By Jeff Florence The small creek along Herman Gulch in the mountains west of Denver may not seem like much, and in some places it’s no more than two feet wide. But it’s still able to maintain a strong ecosystem that allows cutthroat trout to survive. After much consideration…
Fishing the Uncompahgre River near Montrose, Colo. Film Tour. Montrose, Colo. This Saturday. Be There (If You Can). I always enjoy a chance to get to Montrose/Telluride area of Colorado, because that’s where I did a lot of fishing in my growing up years. It’s a special region, with a great fishing community, and more…
There was a time when I thought being a fishing guide would be about the coolest existence a guy could experience. That all changed one rainy Father’s Day weekend some 15 years ago when renowned guide Rod Patch floated me and my wife down the Cardiac Canyon reach of the Henry’s Fork. From bouncing the…
Soft-hackle fishing can be absolutely deadly, particularly for trout that are feeding higher in the water column, but not quite on top. These are the fish that are after emerging bugs, and soft-hackle flies very often draw strikes from these dialed-in fish. Video of How To Drift A Soft Hackle – Fly Fishing Video –…
Applying for Grants Grant funding accounts for 15% of all charitable giving in the U.S. and can be a great way for your chapter or council to tap into larger funding pools and take on larger and more complex projects. However, it is also a competitive area with many competing interests and organizations vying for…
I love old-school flies. I think it comes from my involvement, many years ago, with the Trout Unlimited chapter in Salida, Colo., when I was the news editor of the local paper there. After penetrating the initial crustiness of the “old timers” at the chapter meetings, I made some great friends there, and these guys…
Editor’s note: The following is excerpted from TU’s book, “Trout Tips,” available online for overnight delivery. The part of the world I fish most is full of small, clear and very tight spring creeks. To most, that means delicate presentations of small dry flies, and sometimes, I’ll do just that. More and more, however, I’ll…
Sinking and sink-tip lines are great for getting flies down deep in the water column where the big trout eat, but they can be a pain to cast and then recast. First, these lines are heavy—hundreds of grains, for the most part. Second, they don’t really allow for nimble fly casting. These lines are made…
We’ll be on Instagram live with Terry @troutunlimited on Friday, May 22, 2020 at 1 PM PDT to talk about fishing, travel and everything else!
There’s “Stihl” time for Driftless Area chapters to apply for a grant to purchase equipment from the forest and landscape equipment company. Stihl continues to be a great partner for TU’s work in the Driftless area, strengthening a collaboration that started several years ago. Under the partnership agreement, Stihl representatives from the Midwest region gather…
A fly fishing program at your camp! Engage campers in this meaningful sport that builds a lifelong connection to nature. This program makes implementing it simple, affordable, and fun. You only need access to fishable water. Benefits Fly fishing teaches motor skills, concentration and patience, and kids love it. But perhaps best of all, fly…
