Mount Rainier is an iconic aspect of any skyline shot of Washington State, perhaps only rivalled by Seattle’s Space Needle. At over fourteen thousand feet this active volcano towers over the surrounding wilderness. With its top covered by glacial ice and its bottom blanketed by thick coniferous forests, Rainier has been impressing people as long …
For nearly 15 years, Idaho Fish and Game has encouraged anglers to kill trout. Ads have been placed. Limits have been eliminated. And, most interesting, cash prizes have been offered. All so that rainbow trout can be killed as efficiently as possible in the South Fork Snake River. Of course, the reason behind the initiative …
There have been countless ecological missteps taken by those attempting to protect fish because of errors in identification. Some were understandable, given the technology at the time. Others, including those of the last few generations, really stem from relying on hasty or superficial investigation. Anglers, who are not only the beneficiaries of conservation efforts but …
This past week I had the privilege of being a guest on the Guy Jeans podcast. Guy and I talked about brook trout, smallmouth bass, and fly shops. Guy Jeans owns and guides out of the Kern River Fly Shop in Kernville, California. At about 3,000 miles away, you can’t get too much farther from …
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 …
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 …
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, …
“Headwaters.” Dylan Tomine said the name of his book. I asked him why he chose that title. He repeated headwaters out loud not because he was thinking of an answer, but because the title and the word have meaning. “Headwaters to me is all about tracing the beginning of something. The book is not so …
Although it is certainly not the most wild place in the west, Rocky Mountain National Park provides plenty of fantastic fly fishing opportunities. Rocky Mountain is one of the most visited national parks in the country on an annual basis. It boasts numerous visitor centers, hundreds of miles of trails, and most of the iconic …
“Montana iconic.” This is how Allyson Earnest, co-owner of Whiskey Leatherworks, describes their Cutthroat Belt. “It features the intricate pattern of the fish, but also the precision that goes into the way we work the leather. It is the perfect kind of thing to wear in Missoula… or anywhere else!” The pattern is eye-catching. Underneath …
