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21 Articles

FLY-FISHING CONUNDRUM

“The rivers and fish need friends, and I think you have to connect with the rivers and the fish to be a friend.”–Tom Derry, from the film TOM presented by Patagonia IF YOU’RE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO JUST READS THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, AND DOESN’T GET DOWN INTO THE DETAILS, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THIS ISSUE OF FLY FISHERMAN IS FILLED WITH CONTRADICTIONS. BUT IT’S NOT. On our cover, you’ve seen the photo of a gloriously wild, native brook trout from Western Maine. It’s America’s best place to catch these spectacular char in their native habitat. Yes, you should go and see the Rapid, Magalloway, and Kennebago rivers, or discover the more than 1,200 brook trout lakes and ponds Maine is known for (see page 54). They are something to celebrate. But…

FLY-FISHING CONUNDRUM

WHITLOCK MEMORIES In 2005 I was an active member of the Mid-South Fly Fishers club in Memphis, Tennessee. For our annual fundraiser I was charged with finding donations for the auction. I thought a dinner with Dave Whitlock and John Wilson would be a great item for the auction. At the time John Wilson was a famous guide on the White River in Arkansas and Dave was . . . Dave. Of course currently, John is the president of Cortland Line Co. and Dave is sorely missed. We had dinner with our two auction winners at a restaurant in Mountain Home, Arkansas and Dave proceeded to make everyone feel like they were the only ones in the room. We were all excited and impressed by Dave’s energy and stories. Dave took the time…

SAVING LIVES IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS

THE FIRST TIME I HEARD A LOON CALL I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD, AND WITH MY FATHER IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS. THE CALL WAS LOUD AND LONELY ON THE BIG LAKE; IT WAS A SOUND SO UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAD EVER HEARD. TUCKED AWAY FROM THE CHILLY JULY NIGHT IN MY SLEEPING BAG, I HEARD THE LOON’S CALL ECHOING ACROSS THE LAKE AND PERMEATING OUR SMALL TENT. THAT FIRST TRIP INTO THE BOUNDARY WATERS WAS BY MANY STANDARDS UNEVENTFUL. WE PADDLED INTO DEEP INTO THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST WITH HOPES OF SEEING WOLVES, MOOSE, BEARS, AND GIANT NORTHERN PIKE THAT COULD TAKE A BOY’S ARM OFF. Instead, I caught zero fish for five days, saw no wolves, bears, or moose, and was eaten alive by mosquitoes and other…

SAVING LIVES IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS

DISCOVERING A “NEW” REDBAND SUBSPECIES

LOCAL ANGLERS HAVE LONG VALUED THE BIG WOOD’S WILD TROUT, BUT NEW EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THEY’RE EVEN MORE SPECIAL: THEY LIKELY REPRESENT A UNIQUE LINEAGE OF NATIVE REDBANDS. The Big Wood River flows through 137 miles of south-central Idaho, originating in the stunning Sawtooth Mountains and flowing through the resort towns of Ketchum, Sun Valley, and Bellevue. A Western freestone river, it offers excellent dry-fly fishing for rainbows. The headwaters offer classic small stream habitat, with many eager fish willing to hit attractors. The main stem offers excellent opportunities to match the hatch, especially in the summer and fall. The entire watershed has excellent public access, even when it flows through resort neighborhoods in Ketchum and Hailey. For many anglers, a couple of days on the Big Wood can save a trip after…

DISCOVERING A “NEW” REDBAND SUBSPECIES

THE BATTLE FOR THE BIG HOLE

EVERY SPRING, MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS (FWP) CONDUCTS AN ELECTROSHOCKING POPULATION SURVEY OF THE BIG HOLE RIVER BETWEEN JERRY CREEK BRIDGE AND BROWNS BRIDGE. IN SOME YEARS, THE RIVER HERE HAS MORE THAN 2,000 ADULT TROUT PER MILE. ON AVERAGE, THE RIVER HAS ABOUT 1,500 TROUT PER MILE BUT THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN DROPPING IN RECENT YEARS, AND THE RESULTS IN 2023 WERE THE WORST SINCE THEY STARTED SURVEYING IN 1969, WITH FEWER THAN 500 TROUT PER MILE. THE NUMBERS REPRESENT A DECLINE OF 61 PERCENT OVER THE PAST DECADE. In May 2023, FWP released these grim statistics at a time when anglers were seeing dead, fungus-covered trout carcasses in the shallows; catching still-alive trout with strange lesions, open sores, and moldy rotting fins; and other deformities. Even the whitefish…

THE BATTLE FOR THE BIG HOLE

SIMMS CONFLUENCE STOCKINGFOOT WADER The new Confluence Stockingfoot Wader ($549.95, simmsfishing.com) is where athletic mobility, comfort, breathability, and slick storage systems all come together. The first thing you notice about this new wader from Simms is the integrated neoprene knee panels. Not external knee pads, but integrated 7 mm neoprene knee panels with four-way stretch that allow you to more easily high-step, kneel, clamber over rocks and logs, or crawl like a trout ninja. The panel is attached through a triple-gluing process and survived extensive testing in the Simms lab including 158,000 cycles of simulated knee flexing, 5,000 “kneels” into gravel with 123 pounds-force applied to a simulated knee with a pneumatic actuator, environmental testing with wash/freeze/heat cycles that amounted to 410 hours of freezing, 350 hours at 150 degrees, and 80…

TOM TOM a film by Asher Koles & Chase White presented by Patagonia Films and Native Fish Society. 15 minutes, available at patagonia.com or YouTube.com. Some people have a passion for something that becomes so deeply ingrained in them that it becomes part of who they are. That’s the story of Tom Derry, the engaging personality at the center of the new film presented by Patagonia titled simply TOM. The portrait by filmmakers Asher Koles and Chase White shares the lifetime journey of a an Oregon-born adventurer who discovered fishing at a young age and dedicated a great portion of his life to chasing steelhead, and more importantly, working to preserve them. Asher Koles is a filmmaker and photographer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has directed films with brands like Patagonia, YETI,…

FOO FIGHTERS HELP RAISE $500K FOR RIVERS

The Wildlands Music Festival August 4-6 in Big Sky, Montana raised more than $513,000 for American Rivers and the Gallatin River Task Force. Both organizations have similar missions of protecting rivers. “The Wildlands Festival was billed as the largest event to ever be held in support of conserving the Gallatin River and rivers across the country, and it totally lived up to it,” American Rivers Northern Rockies Director Scott Bosse said. “What transpired over those three days was simply magical. It was a dream come true.” The event featured an impressive lineup including the Foo Fighters, Lord Huron, James McMurtry, and many other musicians and comedians over three days. Emmy-award-winning actor Tom Skerritt spoke on a panel on the first day of the event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film A…

FOO FIGHTERS HELP RAISE $500K FOR RIVERS

“TITANIC VICTORY” FOR LOUISIANA REDFISH

In July, a crucial decision was made regarding the future of Louisiana’s redfish. The American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA) helped get a proposal on the table that would reduce sportfishing harvest by 55%. However, there is still a public comment period before the proposal becomes law. According to the 2022 Stock Assessment, the Louisiana redfish population is declining at an alarming rate due to overfishing. In 2009, estimates put the redfish population at slightly over 21 million. By 2021, that number dwindled to 8.7 million. Prior to a July 6 meeting of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the state was proposing a new slot limit of 16 to 27 inches and a daily limit of three fish. Those changes would have represented a 35% harvest reduction that would lead…

“TITANIC VICTORY” FOR LOUISIANA REDFISH

NEW JERSEY NIRVANA

HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY BIG STRIPED BASS IN MY LIFE.” THIS IS WHAT I HEARD ALMOST DAILY DURING THE FALL OF 2022, AS THE SEASON WENT DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS AS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST NEW JERSEY STRIPER SEASON ANYONE ALIVE HAS EVER SEEN. Beginning in mid-October and through the end of November, we had striped bass and bait around the boat every day. Many days were simply magical as schools of big bass corralled either adult bunker or peanut bunker, churning through them at the surface and putting on a visual display that put our senses on overload. Constant hook-ups were the norm, often with two or three rods hooked up at a time. In my chartering area out of Manasquan Inlet, New Jersey, it was the best anyone has…

NEW JERSEY NIRVANA

THE FUTURE OF STRIPED BASS

There is no discussion: striped bass are the most important fish in the Atlantic for fishermen from all walks of life. The species supports the most trips, the largest economy, and a fanatical following second to no other Atlantic fish. They are genuinely every man’s fish. You can catch them any way imaginable. They are in trouble and need your help. In fact, we can’t save them without you. We need to start this discussion with a clean slate and dispel some common striper myths. First, Canada’s stock causing conflicts with Atlantic salmon is a different genetic stock from our migratory striped bass. That has been proved time and time again through genetic research. Furthermore, the historic exploitation of striped bass in Canada resulted in a 13-year moratorium in those waters…

THE FUTURE OF STRIPED BASS

YAMPA SWEET TEA

I WADED TOWARD AN UPSTREAM LIE, PICKING MY STEPS CAREFULLY UNDER THE HIGH AFTERNOON SUN. THE REFLECTION ON THE RIVER’S SURFACE WAS A BLINDING MIRROR THAT DANCED TO THE RHYTHM OF THE RIVER. A SMALL SEAM CREATED FROM SUBMERGED ROCKS COMPRESSED THE WATER INTO A NERVOUS RIFFLE AND FOAM LINE THAT LAZILY SWIRLED DOWNSTREAM IN THE SHADE OF AN OVERHANGING COTTONWOOD. The tree offered some respite from the sun’s wrath as Charles B. Smith Outfitters guide Torre Saterstrom, coached my approach. “That’s the spot, do you see the seam from the rocks along the edge of the shade line?” said the wiry, and easygoing Norwegian. The Colorado sun in July at 6,700 feet above sea level is a force to contend with for a lowland angler like myself, let alone the…

YAMPA SWEET TEA

FRIENDS OF THE YAMPA

Founded in 1981, Friends of the Yampa (FOTY), friendsoftheyampa.com, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) group focused on the preservation, conservation, and community engagement for the Yampa River. They strive to keep the Yampa wild and available for the public and for future generations. “A healthy river serves everyone,” said Lindsey Marlow, Executive Director. “You don’t really know a river until you float it. You have to care about it before you want to do something to protect it,” she added. The FOTY Yampa River Scorecard Project is a long-term health and evaluation program for the Yampa River watershed. It conducts tests on water quality, examines geomorphology, riparian ecosystems, habitat connectivity for species, and surveys the public for recreational data and education. “We try and engage the community as much as possible. We host a…

FRIENDS OF THE YAMPA

ALPINE MOUNTAIN RANCH & CLUB

A 10-minute drive from downtown brings you to a luxury ranch community with some of the West’s most stunning homes. Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club, alpinemountainranch.com, contains 63 luxury homesites on a 1,216-acre ranch bordering Steamboat Ski Resort, a private golf club, and Routt National Forest. Each homesite is five acres, and 900 acres of the ranch is a dedicated wildlife preserve. Equestrian facilities, an owners’ lodge, guest cabins, concierge services, Nordic skiing, a private backcountry cabin, and private access fly fishing on the Yampa River are just some of the amenities. There are currently 17 remaining homesites, and a finished mountain-contemporary home available for purchase. “More than ever before, luxury buyers are viewing Steamboat as the resort community to design and build a home,” said Suzanne Schlicht, SVP and director…

ALPINE MOUNTAIN RANCH & CLUB

MAINE SQUARENTAILS

THE PHRASE “AS MAINE GOES, SO GOES THE NATION” WAS COINED TO DENOTE THE IMPORTANT ROLE THE STATE ONCE PLAYED IN REGARD TO NATIONAL POLITICS. AT THE TIME, MAINE WAS CONSIDERED THE BELLWETHER FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, WITH THE PARTY THAT WON MAINE’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WINNING THE NATIONAL ELECTION 22 OUT OF 29 TIMES FROM 1820 THROUGH 1932. You could say the same thing about Maine in regard to wild native brook trout: “As Maine goes, so goes brook trout.” Maine is home to 90 percent of several life history strategies of brook trout, including large river-, lake- and pond-dwelling, and sea-run brook trout. While it’s not Maine’s official state fish—landlocked salmon (Salmo salar sebago) are—no fish is more associated with Maine than brook trout, and no state is more associated with brook…

MAINE SQUARENTAILS

STATUS, THREATS, AND CONSERVATION

Although Maine now has more wild, native brook trout than any other state, it has experienced notable losses. And while some states have stopped the bleeding, and even regained lost ground, Maine continues to lose native brook trout populations at an alarming rate. While habitat degradation is the number one threat to wild brook trout throughout much of their native range, and climate change is negatively impacting them in other areas, these are not the biggest threats to brook trout in Maine, at least right now. The number one threat today, and historically, is nonnative fish introductions. Nothing has negatively impacted Maine’s brook trout more than the spread of nonnative fish. The threat posed by nonnative fish became real for me when I caught my first bass from the upper Kennebec River in…

STATUS, THREATS, AND CONSERVATION

AS DAWN BROKE OVER THE MOUNTAINS, WE WALKED DOWN A SMALL STREAM CALLED ARROYO DE LA INDIA. TREE LIMBS LADEN WITH MOSS AND BROMELIADS AND ORCHIDS SHAPED THE SUNLIGHT INTO SHARP SHAFTS AND POOLS OF LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATED THE SANDY CREEK BOTTOM. THE ONLY SOUND THAT BROKE THE SILENCE—ASIDE FROM THE PERSISTENT HUM OF CICADAS—WAS THE CALL OF A BIRD I DID NOT RECOGNIZE. My wife Christine was beside me, as was our friend, José Caparrós. We’d been walking for nearly an hour through the jungle. We were carrying fly rods and food for the day. There was a palpable sense of anticipation building among us. Out ahead was Agustín García Bastons. He was walking at a brisk pace, passing in and out of the light and smoking a hand-rolled cigarette. Wafts…

GEARING UP FOR Río Dorado

Fishing Río Dorado is not for the faint of heart, and that’s part of the appeal. You are fishing in the jungle on foot, sight casting to dorados. You’ll be covering a lot of ground, up to 20 kilometers a day. River crossings are frequent. Stealth and a reasonable level of fitness are necessary. Choosing the right gear for fishing Río Dorado means packing only what is essential. Smart gear choices can aid in angling success and comfort on the water. Simms makes a BugStopper SolarFlex Hoody ($95) with UPF 50 sun protection and a camouflage pattern ideal for stalking dorados. The fabric is treated to ward away insects, which helps to keep the no-see-ums at bay. These shirts breathe well, dry quickly, and are just about perfect for the needs…

GEARING UP FOR Río Dorado

Tuku Hunting & Fishing (tukulodge.com) operates San Fernando Lodge and provides exclusive access to the upper Río Dorado. The lodge hosts a maximum of six anglers. There are four beats for anglers to explore, three on the Río Dorado and one on the Río Seco, a spectacular dorado fishery in its own right. San Fernando Lodge is rustic, but comfortable. What it lacks in luxury it more than makes up for in warmth and character. Meals feature classic Argentine cuisine and regional wines that are sure to hit the spot after a long day on the water. Anglers will arrive in Argentina at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires. After clearing customs, they’ll need to transfer to Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport for the flight to Salta. Traffic in Buenos Aires can…

HARROP’S FLYING ANT

I’VE BEEN ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS DURING TYING DEMOS AND CLASSES OVER THE YEARS, AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE GOOD. THE BEST QUESTIONS ARE OFTEN SOME VARIATION OF “WHOSE FLIES DO YOU ADMIRE?” This one always gets my brain racing. It used to be that the list was pretty short, but these days there are just so many good tiers it’s hard to form a succinct answer. As I think about this question over the years, I can tell you one particular tier who has been on that list for decades and it is none other than the fantastic Idaho tier, René Harrop. I know I am not alone in my reverence for Harrop’s flies, as he is simply one of the best fly tiers to have ever wrapped…

HARROP’S FLYING ANT

LIFE AND DEATH ON THE AGULOWAK

IT’S 5:40 A.M., AND I WOKE UP WITH ALASKA IN MY DREAMS. ALASKA IS LIKE THAT. IT HANGS IN MY WAKING THOUGHTS AND CALLS TO ME IN MY SLEEP. I REMEMBER EVERY DETAIL. LIKE HOW THE ALDERS AND SPRUCES EMBRACED THE EDGES OF ITS COLD, CLEAN WATERS AND HOW THE SALMON, CHAR, TROUT, AND GRAYLING VANISHED INTO ITS DEEPEST HOLES. I REMEMBER THE SENSATION OF FLOATING ON CURRENTS OF AIR AS THE 1957 DE HAVILLAND BEAVER CARRIED ME OVER FORESTS AND TUNDRA—AND THEN FLOATING ON THE CURRENTS OF ITS RIVERS WHILE CASTING AND CONNECTING TO THE MANY BEATING HEARTS THAT SWAM WITHIN THEM. I RECALL THE PRIMAL GAZE OF BROWN BEARS AND HOW THAT MOMENT OF EYE CONTACT GROUNDED ME IN THE CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT IN THE WILDERNESS, I’M SIMPLY…

LIFE AND DEATH ON THE AGULOWAK

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