There is a good chance that if you’re reading this, you enjoy National Parks. These special tracts of land feature some of the most breathtaking and unique natural treasures across the country. Consequently, in 2021, the National Park Service saw nearly 300 million visits. If you’re looking for quiet or solitude, that number and what …
Tag: Conservation
Podcast Ep. 206: Tiger Tiger, Hybrid Trout
They’ve been around for at least 75 years, but Tiger Trout have experienced a surge in popularity over the past decade. But what is a tiger trout? In this episode, I briefly talk about what makes a tiger a tiger, why we’re in the business of putting them in rivers, and how we should think …
Ms. May & Trout Calendars
For over 20 years I’ve been surprised when I open the mailbox on a random day in October. Why? Because sometime in early autumn the next year’s Trout Unlimited calendar shows up. While hardly an informal holiday, it is a pleasant event to receiving mail that doesn’t make an immediate trip to the recycling bin. …
Rusty Flybox: Maine
I am in Maine.* *When this post is released, I will be/will have been in Maine. The Pine Tree State is a spectacular spot for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts. That is why my family and I are planning on catching some late-season hiking while camping in and amongst the changing foliage of northern New …
Podcast Ep. 203: Finding Trout Just Hanging On
There are so many trout out there. Why care about one particular population of trout? One of the most interesting aspects of conservation work is the cataloging, investigation, and protection of individual fish populations. Acknowledging species and subspecies demonstrates the understanding of a fish’s unique adaptations for it’s native watershed. There are also the benefits …
Greenbacks are Back: Trout in the News
If you’ve been even mildly aware of the greater fly fishing culture over the past few decades, you’ve inevitably seen plenty about the greenback cutthroat trout. Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias has been the subject of countless articles, initiatives, and debates at the local and national level. Because we all thought it was extinct. Historically, the greenback …
Podcast Ep. 202: Concentric Circles of Conservation
Everyone says that conservation matters. But how can you show that you mean it? You don’t need to dynamite a dam in the PNW or be the lawyer that puts Pebble Mine down for good. You can just be a guy with a bag of trash, a Saturday devoted to counting fish in a ladder, …
Killing Fish to Save Fish
The Colorado River and its surrounding lands are known for natural beauty and abundant outdoor activities. About 50 miles upstream from Grand Canyon National Park, the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area encompasses Lake Powell in Utah and the water below the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona. The winding river, with countless channels, coves, and tributaries, …
Podcast Ep. 194: What to do with Low Water
It might have been last month, it might be today, or it might be next week: eventually you’re going to experience dry, low-water conditions where you live and fish. Today on the podcast, I’m not going to delve into the science (or politics) of the conditions. What I do want to explore is how fish …
Podcast Ep. 193: Trash Fish?
We’re living in a pretty sensitive day and age. So please know that I’m using the term “trash fish” in the most respectful and endearing way possible. (But fish can’t read, so I shouldn’t be too concerned about offending any of them.) Chances are, if you fish for some of the less desirable and non-traditional …