TROUT September 2025

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Traveling by packraft, Thad Ferrell, Sarah Tescher and photographer Andrew Burr paddled 45 miles of Alaska’s remote Kongakut River. Deep in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the river’s wild Arctic char and grayling rarely see anglers. Photo: ANDREW BURR © 2025 Patagonia, Inc.

NEW LIGHT-LINE AND DRY FLY SPECIFIC RODS FROM WINSTON.

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28 Blue Lines Unsung BY

30 Bass with Bob BY JOHN GIERACH

BY

Voices from the River A Lesson Learned on the Battenkill BY SCOTT

38 When a 2-week Road Trip to Catch Bull Trout Becomes a Comedy of Errors BY CHRISTINE PETERSON

60 Be a Champion INTRO BY

BY

Preserving culture in New Mexico,, Abel reels and the end of the Cold War, protecting the Roadless Areas, Trout Myths and more. 77 Actionline West Virginia’s Elkhorn Creek, 5 Rivers Students planting trees after Helene, Streem Champion and Tools & Tips.

Miriam...

On the Cover: Stream work in Golden trout territory. Photo by Josh Duplecjian.

(ORIGINAL ART

BOB WHITE)

DAVID KINNEY, PROFILES

GREG FITZ, ZOE BOMMARITO, NICK GANN, TONER MITCHELL AND BEVERLY SMITH

Trout Unlimited Leadership

Board of Trustees

Chair of the Board

Terry Hyman, Washington, D.C.

President/Chief Executive Officer

Chris Wood, Washington , D.C.

Secretary

Jeff Witten, Columbia, mo./Elkins, W.Va.

Treasurer

Stewart Alsop, santE FE, n m

Chair of National Leadership Council

Rich Thomas, starlight, Pa

Secretary of the National Leadership Council

Paul McKay, WhEEling, W.Va

Trustees

Tony Brookfield, Park City, utah

John Burns, nEEDham, mass.

Amy Cordalis, ashlanD, orE

Josh Crumpton, WimbErlEy, tExas

Mac Cunningham, basalt, Colo

R. Joseph De Briyn, los angElEs, CaliF

Paul Doscher, WEarE, n h

Larry Finch, Wilson, Wyo

Larry Garlick, Palo alto, CaliF

Susan Geer, gilbErt, ariz

Peter Grua, boston, mass

Chris Hill, Washington, D.C./hainEs, alaska

Gregory McCrickard, toWson, mD

Phoebe Muzzy, houston, tExas

H. Stewart Parker, ChaPEl hill, n.C.

Al Perkinson, nEW smyrna bEaCh, Fla

Greg Placone, grEEnVillE, s.C.

Candice Price, kansas City, mo

Donald (Dwight) Scott, DariEn, Conn

Kathy Scott, norriDgEWoCk, mE

Judi Sittler, statE CollEgE, Pa

Joseph Swedish, silVErthornE, Colo

Blain Tomlinson, long bEaCh, CaliF

Terry Turner, glaDstonE, orE

Leslie Weldon, bEnD, orE

Geofrey Wyatt, santa barbara, CaliF

National Leadership Council Representatives

Chair

Rich Thomas

Secretary

Paul McKay

arizona, Tom Goodwin

arkansas, Ron Blackwelder

CaliFornia, Trevor Fagerskog

ColoraDo, Greg Hardy

ConnECtiCut, Beth Peterson

gEorgia, Steve Westmoreland

iDaho, M.E. Sorci

illinois, Hans Hintzen

ioWa, Tom Rhoads

mainE, Tammy Packie

massaChusEtts, Fred Jennings

miChigan, Greg Walz

miD-atlantiC, Noel Gollehon

minnEsota, Randy Brock

montana, Mark Peterson

nEW hamPshirE, John Bunker

nEW JErsEy, Peter Tovar

nEW mExiCo, Jeff Arterburn

nEW york, Jeff Plackis

north Carolina, Mike Mihalas

ohio, Matt Misicka

oklahoma, Levi Poe

orEgon, Peter Gray

ozark (ks/mo) Jeff Holzem

PEnnsylVania, Russ Collins

south Carolina, Mike Waddell

tEnnEssEE, Mark Spangler

tExas, Joe Filer

utah, Lynn Sheldon

VErmont, Travis Dezotell

Virginia, Tom Benzing

Washington, Andrew Kenefick

WEst Virginia, Paul McKay

WisConsin, Scott Allen

Wyoming, Jim Hissong

State Council Chairs

arizona, Alan Davis

arkansas, Michael Wingo

CaliFornia, Trevor Fagerskog

ColoraDo, Barbara Luneau

ConnECtiCut, Richard Mette

gEorgia, Rodney Tumlin

iDaho, Tyler Hallquist

illinois, Dan Postelnick

ioWa, Dave Klemme

kEntuCky, Mike Lubeach

Coldwater Conservation Fund Board of Directors 2025

President

Jeffrey Morgan, nEW york, n y

Executive Committee

Joseph Anscher, long bEaCh, n y

Philip Belling, nEWPort bEaCh, CaliF

Stephan Kiratsous, nEW york, n y

Stephen Moss, larChmont, n y

Directors

Peter and Lisa Baichtal, saCramEnto, CaliF

Bill Bell, atlanta, ga

Daniel Blackley, salt lakE City, utah

Douglas Bland, ChEsaPEakE City, mD

Stephen Bridgman, WEstFiElD, n.J.

Mark Carlquist, los gatos, CaliF

Gregory Case, PhilaDElPhia, Pa

Benjamin Clauss, grEEnVillE, s.C.

Bonnie Cohen, Washington, D.C.

James Connelly, nEWPort bEaCh, CaliF

Jeremy Croucher, oVErlanD Park, kan

Matthew Dumas, DariEn, Conn.

Rick Elefant and Diana Jacobs, bErkElEy, CaliF

Glenn Erikson, gloriEta, nm

Renee Faltings, kEtChum, iDaho

John Fraser, norWalk, Conn

Matthew Fremont-Smith, nEW york, n y

Bruce Gottlieb, brooklyn, n y

John Griffin, brooklyn, n y

Robert Halmi, Jr., nEW york, n y

William Heth, Eau ClairE, Wis

Kent and Theresa Heyborne, DEnVEr, Colo

Kent Hoffman, oklahoma City, okla

Frank Holleman, grEEnVillE, s.C.

Braden Hopkins, Park City utah

James Jackson, houston, tExas

Tony James, nEW york, n.y.

Jeffrey Johnsrud, nEWPort bEaCh, Cali

Jakobus Jordaan, san FranCisCo, CaliF

Matthew Kane, boulDEr, Colo

James Kelley, atlanta, ga

Peter Kellogg, nEW york, n y

Andrew Kenefick sEattlE, Wash

Steven King, Wayzata, minn

Lee Lewis, PhilaDElPhia, Pa

Cargill MacMillan, III, boulDEr, Colo

Ivan & Donna Marcotte, ashEVillE, n.C.

Michael Maroni, bainbriDgE islanD, Wash

Jeffrey Marshall, sCottsDalE, ariz.

Tim Martin, hEnDErson, nEV.

Heide Mason, yorktoWn hEights, n y

Paul McCreadie, ann arbor, miCh

Gregory McCrickard, toWson, mD

J. Thomas McMurray, JaCkson, Wyo

Daniel Miller, nEW york, n y

mainE, Matt Streeter

massaChusEtts, C. Josh Rownd

miChigan, Gabe Schneider

miD-atlantiC, Randy Dwyer

minnEsota, Brent Notbohm

montana, Lyle Courtnage

nEW hamPshirE, Michael Croteau

nEW JErsEy, Marsha Benovengo

nEW mExiCo, Marc Space

nEW york, Cal Curtice

north Carolina, Brian Esque

ohio, Scott Saluga

oklahoma, Bridget Kirk

orEgon, Mark Rogers

ozark (ks/mo) Bill Lamberson

PEnnsylVania, Lenny Lichvar

south Carolina, Tom Theus

tEnEssEE, Ryan Turgeon

tExas, Chris Johnson

utah, Scott Antonetti

VErmont, Jared Carpenter

Virginia, Jim Wilson

Washington, Pat Hesselgesser

WEst Virginia, Eugene Thorn

WisConsin, Myk Hranicka

Wyoming, Samantha Beard

Robert & Teresa Oden, Jr., hanoVEr, n h

Kenneth Olivier, sCottsDalE, ariz

H. Stewart Parker, ChaPEl hill, n.C.

Anne Pendergast, big horn, Wyo

Michael Polemis, olD Chatham, n y

Adam Raleigh, nEW york, n y

Margaret Reckling, houston, tx

John Redpath, austin, tExas

Brian Regan, nEW Canaan, Conn

Michael Rench, CinCinnati, ohio

Steven Ryan, Wilson, Wyo

Leigh Seippel, nEW york, n y

Paul Skydell, bath, mainE

Gary Smith, st louis, mo

Robert Strawbridge, III, Wilson, Wyo

Paul & Sandy Strong, lakEmont, ga

Daniel Seymour, stamForD, Conn

Margeret Taylor, shEriDan, Wyo

Robert Teufel, Emmaus, Pa

Andrew Tucker, larChmont, n.y.

Andrew Tucker, VEro bEaCh, Fla

Deacon Turner, DEnVEr, Colo

Jeff Walters, sCottsDalE, ariz

Maud and Jeff Welles, nEW york, n y

Tyler Wick, boston, mass

Geofrey & Laura Wyatt, santa barbara, CaliF

Daniel Zabrowski, oro VallEy, ariz

From the President

Every river needs a champion.

[ CHRIS WOO D ]

My home-water, the Potomac River, is far from trout country (although TU’s restoration work in the headwaters has anglers now catching native brook trout).

This spring, the Friends of Fletcher’s Cove hosted a day on the Potomac for kids from D.C. who had never been near the river, much less caught fish from it.

On her third cast, the special needs seventh grader I had in my boat caught her first American shad. A few minutes later she said, “this is the best day I have had in many years!” That day was not possible without champions such as Rob Catalanotto, Chris Campo and other members of the Friends of Fletcher’s Cove.

One of the worst TU board meetings I ever attended was when the Washington Council was thrown out of the organization because of their opposition to various TU policies. More than a dozen years later, the Washington Council won our Council of the Year award thanks to the leadership of Pat Hesselgesser and other volunteers. She made it her calling to increase volunteer participation and enthusiasm through conservation initiatives such as identifying culverts that blocked salmon passage and stopping suction dredge mining on salmon rivers in the state.

Sharon Lance was one of the first TU volunteers I ever met. She helped to start the Colorado Youth Camp and served on the Board of Trustees before winning the Mortenson award, TU’s highest volunteer honor. A few years ago, she said to me, “Some people fish all their lives and realize it is not the fish they are after. Well, I have not reached that point yet. I really do enjoy catching fish.”

Last week, I asked my friends, Todd Corayer and Glenn Place, to recommend a guide in Rhode Island for a longtime TU donor. Todd is a gifted outdoor writer and Glenn is the irrepressible president of Rhode Island Chapter 225. When the guide, Ed Lombardo, found the donor simply wanted to show his grandson the Wood River, he gifted the trip.

When Fran Smith returned from the Vietnam War, he was looking for volunteer opportunities when he wasn’t working as a master plumber. Fran and dozens of others took on the task of turning a cranberry bog back into a river. Decades later thanks to their efforts, the Quashnet River is flourishing with a healthy population of salter brook trout.

Champions for our rivers and streams are not all volunteers. Without the efforts of Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Jim Risch (R-ID), Congress would not have passed Good Samaritan legislation that makes it easier for organizations such as Trout Unlimited to clean up abandoned hard rock mines.

Being a champion can take many forms. I think of the attorneys at Sheppard Mullin who agreed to successfully represent TU in our litigation to stop the Pebble Mine in Alaska. I think of the quiet and tireless efforts of my friend, Bill Lamberson, who has built and donated more than 85 bamboo rods to support Trout Unlimited priorities. I think of other friends such as Tom Stoddard, Tony James and Richard Johnson who have made TU among their highest philanthropic priorities. This column would be incomplete without mentioning the contributions of Charles Gauvin, the CEO who built TU into a conservation powerhouse. Every employee of TU is a champion. Pat Byorth in Montana is the only person I know who became a biologist and then decided to get a law degree so he could better advocate for rivers. For more than 20 years, Sam Davidson has been a tireless advocate for California’s public lands, including playing a key role in the designation of the Sattitla Highlands National Monument. Holly Smith is more than a grant accountant. She is the conductor that helps keep all the trains on time in the eastern region of TU.

Even if I haven’t mentioned you, look in the mirror. What you see is a champion.

EDITOR

Kirk Deeter

DEPUTY EDITOR

Samantha Baldensperger

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Erin Block

Trout Unlimited 1700 N Moore Street Suite 2005

Arlington, VA 22209-2793

Ph: (800) 834-2419

trout@tu.org www.tu.org

DESIGN

grayHouse design jim@grayhousedesign.com

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Nick Halle nick.halle@tu.org (703) 284-9425

Trout Unlimited’s Mission: To conserve, protect and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.

TROUT (ISSN 0041-3364) is published four times a year in January, April, July and October by Trout Unlimited as a service to its members. Annual individual membership for U.S. residents is $35 Join or renew online at www.tu.org.

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TROUT Magazine

Trout Unlimited 1700 N Moore Street Suite 2005 Arlington, VA 22209-2793

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From the Editor

Being a Champion

[ KIRK DEETER ]

Years ago, I was a competitive athlete and the goal, naturally, was to become a champion. You won the finals race… you claimed the league title… amazing! And reaching the championship level, even if you didn’t win outright but were a legitimate contender, was satisfying, because it rewarded the hours, days and months of sweat, tears, the jubilant highs and perseverance in the face of soul-sucking failures you experienced along the way. Still, in competitive sports, at the end of it all, there is but one true champion. As I have matured and nestled into other life pursuits like parenting, writing, fishing and conservation, my mind opened to a wholly different and more meaningful definition of the word “champion.” It isn’t, after all, a winner-take-all deal. Champion has become a verb as much as a noun. To champion a cause can be more important than winning a title. For example, you might catch a “world record” fish, which marks you as both extremely fortunate and skilled. But the true champions are the people who fostered the habitat for that fish to exist in the first place. Caring alone is good, for sure, but that’s a participation trophy. Hashtags on social media posts are participation trophies. Being a champion is about endeavoring to make something better and pouring your soul and your guts into making it happen. And that’s why I’m so proud of this Trout Unlimited community. Every day, I find myself surrounded by champions. I may have won some trophies and even set some records years ago. But I’ve never felt more a part of a championship team, and I’ve never felt more surrounded by true champions than I am right now.

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NEWS BITS AND BYTES

Preserving Culture, One Kid at a Time

BY TONER MITCHELL

Between 1150 and 1600 CE, a community of ancestral Puebloan people made a living on the floor of the rugged Rio Frijoles canyon near modern day Los Alamos, New Mexico, cultivating squash, beans and other food and medicinal crops. They raised turkeys, wandered the surrounding mountains for game and fish (certainly for Rio Grande cutthroat trout). What made these people unique was the fact that caves were their homes. Carved easily into canyon walls composed of loose volcanic tuff, their shelters were 20 feet above the floor of the canyon where neither marauders nor a flooding Rio Frijoles could easily climb. Eventually, drought and resource shortages forced these Puebloans to abandon the canyon. They dispersed along the banks of the Rio Grande and found refuge with existing Puebloan communities like the Santa Clara Pueblo.

Santa Clara is located approximately 30 miles north of the Rio Frijoles cliff dwelling site, which was designated as Bandelier National Monument in 1916. Vidal Gonzales was raised there. In high school, he joined a historic preservation crew at Bandelier, where he voraciously consumed knowledge about the strategies his ancestors employed to survive in such unforgiving terrain. Eventually Vidal understood that this knowledge

was something less acquired than awakened within him, that his cultural past was incarnate.

Gonzales eventually became a Bandelier youth mentor, a job that enthralled him for seven years. Raised by his single mother and Pueblo elders, he speaks glowingly of expeditions with his great aunts to gather herbs and medicinal plants, and of the time-honored stories they told along the trails. The elders took

him hunting and fishing in the Santa Clara Canyon and surrounding mountains. They taught him that wisdom must be shared, that a whole village must raise its children and perhaps most of all, that exploring his ancestral landscape was fun.

Vidal continues to take these lessons seriously, especially in the wake of two existential shocks to his people. In 2011, the Las Conchas Fire burned through 156,000 acres of the Jemez Mountains, rendering Santa Clara’s hunting and fishing grounds into an erosive and flood-prone moonscape. As in tribal populations throughout the country, the 2020 Covid pandemic took a heavy toll on Santa Clara’s parents and grandparents. Compounding unhealed impacts from European colonization, the fire and Covid severed a generation of Santa Clara youth from their natural and cultural history.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Gonzales said, “Young people from Indigenous

communities have been at risk for too long, not to mention our Hispanic brothers and sisters.”

In response to the two blows, he founded The Uncivilized Outdoorsman in 2022—“uncivilized” being a wink at the racist stereotype once applied to Indigenous people—an outdoor adventure company dedicated to empowering Indigenous and Hispanic kids through fly fishing. For its first two summers, TUO organized three fishing camps for kids from New Mexico pueblos and villages. Gear was donated from fishing companies and local fly shops. Local and tribal food vendors supplied lunches, which were eaten at destinations considered sacred by New Mexican tribes and land grant communities for centuries. Vidal and his guide crew volunteered their time and expertise on ecology and ethnobotany. Otherwise, what wasn’t donated was paid for out of Vidal’s own pocket.

Gonzales soon realized he couldn’t sustain or scale his youth camps without a lot more material support. In 2023, he reached out to the New Mexico TU staff, who helped him secure a $50,000

grant from the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division’s Outdoor Equity Fund. He launched the Indigenous and Hispanic Youth Fly Fishing Camp the following summer. The grant covered

food and travel costs for 10 participants (some as young as 8 years old) and their families. Vidal’s guides and his business were compensated too.

Held at two high mountain lakes and the spectacular Valles Caldera National Preserve, each of the three 2024 outings began with a prayer from an elder representing a tribal or Spanish land grant community. Prayers exhorted camp participants to give thanks for the abundant blessings from the plants and birds and sky, the mountains in the distance and the butterflies up close… and, of course, the spotted and feisty gifts from the water.

A speaker from the Jemez Pueblo addressed the group on the second outing, which was the Valles Caldera, a crater of the Jemez super volcano that last blew its top 78,000 years ago. Long before coming under Park Service management, the grassy floor of the crater was the food pantry and medicine cabinet of the surrounding pueblos and land grant villages. The Jemez elder gave the camp participants a brief tutorial on how to weave turkey feathers into a blanket or cloak.

“I believe we are instilling in our students the responsibility to care for each other as the land takes care of them. They’re learning

what reciprocity means.”

— Vidal Gonzales

Thanks to another Outdoor Equity grant, The Uncivilized Outdoorsman’s 2025 program will host more camps and serve more kids and communities. A few of last year’s camp participants have expressed interest in becoming mentors to 2025’s group of aspiring anglers; TU’s Truchas Chapter hosted a benefit concert in January to raise money to pay them stipends.

All of which makes Vidal Gonzales cautiously optimistic.

“I was lucky to have had elders to educate me about my cultural landscape and its value to my people,” he said. “And, after all we’ve lost, it’s critical to defend our future through the children. I believe we are instilling in our students the responsibility to care for each other as the land takes care of them. They’re learning what reciprocity means.”

Pocket Water

TU, Abel Reels and the End of the Cold War

BY STEVE ABEL

Could the sport of fly fishing have helped trigger the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1989? Believe it or not, there are many who swear that the Abel fly reel was quietly behind the end of the Cold War.

Much of this transpired diplomatically between President Ronald Reagan, former Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze and U.S. Secretary of State James Baker.

Can it be true? The story starts in early 1988. I was in my machine shop making fly reel parts when I was called to my front office. Jim Taylor, my friend from Trout Unlimited, wanted to speak with me. Since I love and support Trout Unlimited, I took the call immediately. Jim began telling me about Trout Unlimited working with the USSR fly-fishing enthusiasts about a friendly fly-fishing exchange with their team coming to the U.S. and our team going there the following year. This was the

result of about two years of negotiations. Jim explained the Trout Unlimited plan for a spring flyfishing trip. The idea was for six to eight fly fishermen from the Soviet Union to fly to West Yellowstone, Montana, from Moscow, where Trout Unlimited fishermen would meet and greet them, exchange gifts, handshakes, take them to dinner and show them the fishing schedule for the following few days. Remember, at this time in history, it was the Cold War. Russia had satellite

countries… Poland, Ukraine, East Germany and several others surrounding their original borders, supposedly to buffer and protect it from the free world.

Taylor asked me if I would supply special, engraved reels to all anglers involved. I was happy to work with Trout Unlimited for this historic event and produced 20 special #1 reels engraved to commemorate this unprecedented occasion. Rod manufacturer Scott also provided 20 6-weight rods for the participants. Jim also asked me to be one of the U.S. team members. I was stoked and accepted. What an honor to be part of history.

For the first three days of fishing, both teams leap-frogged sections of the Yellowstone River, meeting up with our new friends as we fished. What a blast it was! Some of the U.S. team members were Jack Hemingway, Jack Dennis, Taylor, Earl Worsham, Bud Lilly and Charlie Meyers, the longtime outdoor writer from The Denver Pos t. What an amazing experience it was being part of this group of international fly fishermen. It was truly a once-in-alifetime fly-fishing experience.

After the final day of fishing, we loaded into vans and drove to the Gallatin Gateway Hotel for a dinner— with maybe a drink or two—celebration of this historic event.

A Secret Service agent introduced himself and told me a story about the Soviet Foreign Minister, Eduard Schevardnadze, getting off his jet in Washington, D.C. He walked down the stairs of the jet and his first words were, “I want Abel reel.”

The next day, we all headed home to our respective parts of the world, grateful for such a fabulous, successful celebration of fly-fishing.

Jump ahead a few months. I’m in my shop and again was called to the front office.

A Secret Service agent introduced himself and told me a story about

Continued on page 14

James Baker with Eduard Shevardnadze

Photo: Scott Morrison

Scott Fly Rod Company | Handcrafted in Montrose, Colorado

Pocket Water

Continued from page 12

the Soviet Foreign Minister, Eduard Schevardnadze, getting off his jet in Washington, D.C. He walked down the stairs of the jet and his first words were, “I want Abel reel.” All the media, agents and Americans greeting him asked, “What the hell is an Abel reel?” He went on to say, the minister and our Secretary of State Baker, were heading to Wyoming to have talks while on a fly-fishing trip, with Dennis as their guide. He told me that they contacted Jack at his fly shop in Jackson and asked him, “What is an Abel reel?” Jack then gave the Secret Service agent my phone number.

This agent went on to tell me that the U.S. Government wanted to get one of my reels for the minister, but were not able to purchase it and asked if I could donate a reel for him. I immediately agreed. The Secret Service agent gave me the shipping details and requested that it be sent overnight. So, I went into high gear and built a #1 reel. Luck was with me. As an experiment, I had coated the stainless-steel hardware with titanium nitrite, which gave the stainless steel parts the look of being gold plated, so I used them for this special reel. It was stunning. I packed it and shipped it overnight that day.

When I got to my shop in Camarillo the next morning, there were news vans on the street. I naturally wondered what was going on. Well, the story had gotten out and it was my 15 minutes of fame. Interview after interview with local TV reporters followed. The next day, I was surprised to learn of all the articles written in The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and The New York Times

“This is better than we can make our fighter jets. Between President Ronald Reagan and your reel, the USSR was brought to its knees.”

all of this on television and thinking to myself that it was world history in the making and I was lucky enough to watch it happen.

That is not the end of the story.

On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. Shortly thereafter, the USSR became Russia again and freed its satellite countries that it had captured in World War II. I remember seeing

Another few months later, I received yet another phone call from the Secret Service guy telling me a fantastic story. He said, “Steve, you don’t know what you did. I’m calling to tell you that when the Russian Prime Minister saw your reel, he was so impressed with the quality, he couldn’t believe it. He asked who made the product. Our reply was an American citizen in his own small factory.

There was shock and awe on his face and the Prime Minister told me, “This is better than we can make our fighter jets.” The agent went on to tell me, “Between President Ronald Reagan and your reel, the USSR was brought to its knees.”

The Cold War was over!

At that time in the Soviet Union, there was no private enterprise. Every person worked for the government. And the government didn’t make fly reels. We are so lucky to be Americans!

WHEN CLOUDS ROLL IN, TEMPERATURES DROP, AND WINDS BEGIN TO HOWL, ANGLERS WHO ARE TRULY PREPARED KNOW ONE THING — WEATHER DOESN'T DICTATE THE FISHING. YOU DO. FISH WITH YOUR HEART. DRESS WITH YOUR BRAIN. AFTER ALL, STAYING WARM, DRY, AND COMFORTABLE DOESN’T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

Pocket Water

Why Roadless?

BY COREY FISHER

National Forests are home to some of the best hunting, fishing and wild trout waters left in the country, in large part thanks to a unique category of public lands called Inventoried Roadless Areas. Found in 39 states, 58.5 million acres of roadless areas are the in-between lands that make up 30 percent of our national forests. They are not the back of beyond wilderness that are best enjoyed on multiday backpacking or horseback trips. Neither are these roaded front-country lands where 370,000 miles of roads—nearly enough to circle the earth 15 times—bisect our national forests.

Roadless areas are the Rodney Dangerfields of our national forests— they “get no respect.” There are no nostalgic, brown and custard-painted signs welcoming you to roadless areas and maps don’t have any special colors to denote these public lands. But if you hunt and fish, they are irreplaceable, providing easy access, solitude and quality hunting and fishing opportunities found nowhere else.

Roadless areas provide these enduring values because they have been protected for nearly a quarter century by something called the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Promulgated during the Clinton Administration, the Roadless Rule is a regulation that generally prohibits new road construction and industrial-scale logging.

Other than that, the Roadless Rule doesn’t restrict the management of these

multiple-use public lands. All sorts of uses and activities occur in roadless areas, including OHV riding, firewood cutting, grazing, mining, hiking, camping and mountain biking, just to name a few uses. Importantly, the Roadless Rule allows for forest management activities to reduce the risk of wildfire. In fact, throughout the western U.S., one in five acres treated for hazardous fuel reduction since 2001 have been in roadless areas.

For fish and wildlife, the statistics are eye-popping. Seventy percent of roadless areas from Alaska to Maine are home to native trout. In Utah, 79 percent of Roadless Areas are designated as crucial habitat for mule deer and in Wyoming, 70 percent of these lands provide spring, summer and fall range. Across the country, healthy fish and wildlife populations depend on roadless areas continuing to provide healthy, intact habitat.

Despite over two decades of success providing balanced public land management, the Roadless Rule could be on the chopping block. On June 23, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its intent to rescind the Roadless Rule. If rescinded, new road construction and associated industrialscale logging could fragment fish and wildlife habitat, degrade water quality and reduce quality hunting and fishing opportunities on public lands.

In the coming months, the Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service will be providing a couple of key opportunities to speak up for the conservation of these public lands. America’s hunters and anglers recently spoke in a unified voice to prevent Congress from selling off public lands. Now we must do the same to uphold protections for Roadless Areas—our outdoor traditions depend on it.

*Please Stay tuned to TU’s “Trout Weekly” newsletter and social media channels to track the issue and know how/when to take action. Your voice is important!

Pocket Water

Clearing the Way  The BAT Program: Champions for Washington Rivers

BY GREG FITZ

Across Washington state, tens of thousands of undersized, damaged or perched culverts prevent migratory salmon, steelhead, lamprey and resident trout from reaching historic spawning and rearing habitat.

The Supreme Court has mandated that Washington is responsible for replacing the barriers on state roads, and a vast network of other agencies, conservation organizations and tribes are working to help open these critical migration corridors elsewhere.

However, a shortage of information about the culverts is a challenge for restoration. To raise funding, and work efficiently, project managers need to know which barriers pose the biggest problems for fish passage.

Steve Miller, conservation chair of the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited (and affectionately known as the “BAT man”) saw an opportunity to put “One TU” into action and help gather critical information.

Miller knew TU staff in Washington had deep technical experience evaluating and replacing culvert fish barriers, and that TU grassroots were committed to, and capable of, extensive long-term volunteer efforts. In that moment, the

Council’s “Barrier Assessment Team” (BAT) program was born.

Rigorous data is the key element of the work. Miller had to convince managers at resource agencies that the volunteers could correctly and consistently complete the data collection protocol. It took a few attempts at agencies, but once he had permission to proceed, he partnered with TU staff like Luke Kelly and Erin Eaten to teach volunteers how to properly assess a culvert and gather the data required for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) barrier database.

Today, multiple teams of TU volunteers work across the state with regional and federal agencies and alongside TU staff to identify and evaluate fish barrier culverts. The BAT program has evaluated over 300 culverts in Washington streams and anticipates assessing another 50 to 100 in the next two years.

Their work is already making a difference for Washington’s native fish. For example, the BAT program’s work with

staff at the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest helped identify the most impactful barriers for removal. Some of these culverts have already been replaced by the Forest Service. TU staff are planning to replace others as a part of the Snoquera Project, a landscape-scale restoration effort in South Puget Sound especially focused on reconnecting key headwater habitat for endangered spring Chinook salmon.

When TU volunteers and staff work together, incredible work gets done for rivers and fish. Interested in learning more? The BAT program was celebrated in the Washington Council’s recent film, “Clearing the Way.” You can watch the inspiring video at www. washingtontu.org

Pocket Water

Bugs with Mags: Why Aquatic Insects Deserve Conservation Attention

BY MAGGIE HEUMANN

My main advisor in graduate school at Colorado State University was Paul Opler. If you’ve ever used a Peterson Field Guide to butterflies, you’ve probably seen his name. Paul was a giant in entomology. But one of the most impactful things he did was become the first entomologist hired by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1974, shortly after the passage of the Endangered Species Act. His presence helped push insect conservation into the national spotlight—a radical idea at the time.

Fifty years later, we still mostly hear about endangered grizzly bears, eagles or native trout. Rarely do people picture mayflies, caddisflies, riffle beetles or midges when they think about wildlife protection. But these tiny, streamdwelling bugs are just as vital- and just as vulnerable.

Thankfully, that’s starting to change.

The Power of a Label

Every state and U.S. territory has a State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), which serves as a roadmap for conserving wildlife and habitat. Within these plans is a list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Historically, these lists focused on the “charismatic megafauna,” but that tide is shifting. More and more

aquatic insects are being added to the list, giving them a shot at survival before they vanish.

The SGCN label might sound bureaucratic, but for insects, it can mean everything. It brings funding opportunities, sparks research and gets these critters and their populations included in important restoration work and pre-project studies.

A Tiny Insect, A Big Red Flag

Take the Glacier Stonefly ( Zapada glacier), for example. This cold-waterloving insect is found only in glacierfed streams of Glacier National Park, the Beartooth Mountains and Grand Teton National Park. As climate change shrinks its icy habitat, the

stonefly is slipping toward extinction. After years of data collection and advocacy, the species is listed as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. It was one of the first aquatic insects ever protected this way—a major milestone. And the movement continues. In Utah, Trout Unlimited is working alongside the Salmonfly Project and they are pushing to get the Giant Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) recognized as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Anglers and biologists alike have seen a major decline in parts of the Provo and Logan Rivers. Surveys are now underway on the Ogden River. The presence of these western river icons is a sign of a thriving, cold-water stream, their decline indicates that something more is going on.

Why Aquatic Insects Matter

To reiterate one of the main points of this column, these bugs aren’t just fish food (though we fly anglers certainly

Glacier Stonefly (Zapada glacier)

Lots Available on

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love them for that part). They’re stream cleaners, nutrient-cyclers and water quality indicators. They keep the habitat thriving for the trout that we love to catch.

Aquatic insects:

• Break down leaf litter and organic matter.

• Feed fish, birds, bats, amphibians and more.

• Tell us whether a stream is healthy long before the fish disappear.

• And yet, they’re declining fast. In many cases, we lose them before we even learn their names.

What You Can Do

• Support your state’s SWAP: Encourage inclusion of aquatic invertebrates in your state’s conservation planning. All 50 states have one.

• Restore stream habitat: Volunteer for plantings, cleanups or stream surveys with your local TU chapter or conservation organization. Good habitat = more bugs.

• Become a bug nerd: Learn your local mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies. Awareness starts with curiosity. Knowledge is conservation.

• Push for funding: Tell your elected officials to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act—it helps fund protection for SGCNs, more importantly, for nongame species.

Conservation Starts Small

These little bugs tell big stories about water, climate and our shared ecosystems. By paying attention to them, we’re protecting more than just insects—we’re safeguarding streams, watersheds and the species (including humans) that depend on them.

After all, if we care for the bugs, we care for the stream. And when we care for the stream, we care for everything connected to it, including ourselves.

Want to help care for the bugs, too?

Join me and The Salmonfly Project by sharing your observations or

participating in their community surveys. Your time on the water can help fuel better conservation and restoration decisions across the West.

Learn more about The Salmonfly Project at salmonflyproject.org. Let’s get some boots in the water—and eyes on the bugs!

YOUR BOOKSHELF

Rivers Always Reach the Sea

BY MONTE BURKE

Pegasus Books, 2025

Monte Burke is one of the most respected writers in the angling world, best known for classics like Lords of the Fly and Sowbelly. Burke’s latest collection of stories, Rivers Always Reach the Sea, takes the reader along on epic fishing adventures in home waters and abroad, from big cities to tropical paradises.

Joining him are an eclectic and eccentric cast of characters, ranging from larger-than-life legends like Lefty Kreh, Nick Lyons and Andy Mill, to local legends who add their brand of wisdom and insight.

Burke approaches his tales about his lifelong fly-fishing journey with reverence, but also with humor and humility. In addition to his vivid sensory images and crisp writing, Burke’s self-deprecating sense of humor strikes with the precision of a perfectly placed cast. The reader will have an irresist ible desire to grab a fly rod and get out on the water after reading these stories.

Rivers Always Reach the Sea deserves a revered spot on the bookshelf among the best contemporary collections of fly-fishing literature. —Andrew J. Pegman

Pursuant to the provisions of Trout Unlimited’s bylaws, the 66th Annual Meeting of the members will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 8:00pm Eastern via live video-conference to elect and re-elect trustees and to take up any other business that comes up properly before the meeting. Accordingly, voting at the annual meeting will be restricted to active TU members only.

TROUT MYTHS

That trout

haunted me for years. It was a monstrous brown trout I saw in a bridge pool on the Cohocton River in upstate New York, lying in six feet of water in the deepest part of the pool, exactly where you’d expect a large brown trout to live. At first I thought it was a sucker, but as the whirls of current smoothed for a few seconds I could see its spots, as big as dimes. I had to catch that fish. At the ripe old age of 14, I had never caught a large brown trout but had read stories in the newspaper about the trophy trout in the Cohocton, so I bugged my father to drive me almost two hours to see what that river was like.

As a kid, I had learned from worm fishing a small brook trout stream in the suburbs, that trout live in the deepest water. I always found fish in the deepest parts of pools, close to thick cover, and assumed that’s where I would always

find trout. So this large brown was no exception. At first I tried a dry fly, a Gray Wulff (because I had read in a magazine that it was a killer fly for large browns), but the fish never wiggled. In my innocence and arrogance I thought that any trout worth its spots would suddenly rise to the surface to inhale my perfectly tied dry flies. No luck. I tried a streamer, probably a Mickey Finn in those days, and still the fish did not move from its position. Then a nymph with the same result. My father, never the paragon of patience, paced the bank while I flailed the water and finally announced that it was time to leave. I still get the same sinking feeling to this day when a guide says we are approaching the takeout and some days I even turn and say to the guide, “Just five more minutes, Dad?”

I’m sure you’ve been there as well, spotting trout at the bottom of a deep pool, or just drooling over deep water, knowing in your heart underneath that dark hole in the river there is the trout

of your dreams just waiting to pounce on your flies. So you flog the water, trying to get deep enough, and most likely come up blanked. You figure you used the wrong fly, or your presentation didn’t get a natural drift like all that food gliding past the fish. I have another answer for you.

If my father had been more patient, or if I had been old enough to drive and could stay until dark, I might have caught that big trout. But not in the deepest part of the pool. It’s more likely, if I had been lucky enough, I would have caught the fish rising to mayflies in the thin water at the tail of the pool, or maybe with a streamer as the fish toured the shallows hunting for blacknose dace or crayfish after dark or at first light. Why?

Trout will inhabit deep water. It’s a secure refuge, away from their most common predators. They are less vulnerable in deep water. Osprey can penetrate, at most, three feet of water, and eagles even less. Heron hunt in the shallows where they can creep up on fish and

Fish Deep Water for Big Trout

BY TOM ROSENBAUER

Even large brown trout like this one will leave their secure hiding place to feed in the shallows if food is abundant.

PHOTO

In small streams, you will usually find trout in the deeper pockets because it’s the only safe place.

frogs, spearing their prey with a beak at the end of a long neck. Even mergansers, although they swim fast under the surface and can easily dive to 15 feet, have a difficult time staying deep, and in a big wide pool a trout has the advantage of room to dodge and weave. Otters? Well nothing is safe from otters at any depth but luckily for the fish they aren’t as common as other predators and tend to move on to their next dining room in a hurry.

Yet for all the protection it offers, deep water is not an efficient place for feeding. Shallow riffles produce insects. Baitfish don’t live at the bottom of deep pools because they get eaten by the larger fish loafing in the depths, so they stay in the shallows where they can dart away from predators, and where they can find the tiny insects and daphnia they feed on. The depths are a bomb shelter but not a restaurant or grocery store, and when trout feed, they prefer water that is between two and four feet deep, places they can slide into when food is abundant.

This is a reason fly fishers are often disappointed in their results in big plunge pools below waterfalls. They walk up to the lip of current at the base

In larger rivers, resist the siren call of deep water. Explore the shallows first because trout prefer to feed in water that is two to four feet deep.

of the pool, throw their flies over the deep water at the base of the falls, and are surprised when their results are meager. If they were able to observe the pool from a distance, they’d see that most of the trout feeding in the plunge pool are at the skinny water in the tailout or off to the sides of the deep water. Trout will go to the deep water under the falls when they’re disturbed, but it’s more for security than food.

There is a physical as well as a biological and behavioral reason trout prefer to feed in shallow water. If a trout lies in 10 feet of water, it needs to hunt throughout the water column to find its food, yet most of the drifting food is in the mid to upper layers. There are two problems with feeding in deep water. One is that, close to the bottom, trout lie in a boundary layer of water that’s slower than the water above their heads because friction with the bottom slows down the flow. But if they need to dart into the upper layers to feed, they are suddenly swept into faster current, much like coming around the lee corner of a building on a windy day. They get pushed around and struggle to get back to that comfortable layer along the bottom. The second reason is they need to range through 10 feet of water to find their food. When trout slide into the shallows, all the drifting food that was dispersed through 10 vertical feet is constricted into a funnel that might be only two feet deep, plus they are less likely to encounter a vertical current stratification so they can tip up into the current with a subtle movement of their fins, anywhere from close to the bottom to the surface, without burning those precious calories that keeps their engine running. This is likely why, during a hatch, the best trout in a pool are often found at the tail, where all the food coming through the pool upstream is focused into a narrow band.

I started learning that trout, even large trout, prefer to feed in shallow water the hard way, often bumbling through the shallows with my eyes focused on deep water, like a tourist staring at the tops of tall buildings while tripping over manhole covers. It dawned

Pocket Water

on me when I began fishing larger rivers, with broad shallows available for feeding with the cover of deep water nearby. It really struck me on my early years fishing the wildly productive West Branch of the Delaware in New York State, before the era of drift boats when trout would glide into the margins of pools, not yet subject to the daily drift boat races or rafts twirling downstream. One misty day I discovered three trout well over 20 inches rising to small olive mayflies directly upstream of a deep, log-filled channel. While staring at the deep water in front of me, knowing the big trout I knew lived in that cut must be responding to the hatch, I happened to catch the flicker of a fin 20 yards upstream, in a shallow mud flat that didn’t look deep enough to even interest a polliwog. I glided upstream carefully, and when I got close enough noticed three trout over 20 inches rising steadily. I blew it on two of them, landing my fly line too close, but had a good angle on the third. When I hooked the fish, it steamed directly back to that deep slot below, thinking it was safe in its refuge. But I managed to lead it into my net after a few ticklish moments.

enough food available, trout balance their fear of predation to take the risk of moving into shallow water—even on bright days at high noon.

There is a great shallow bank on a popular eastern tailwater, on the opposite side of the river from a deep pool. One sunny morning I walked down to the tail of the pool to look for risers but didn’t find any. I decided to slowly wade back upstream and saw a decent brown trout lying in shallow water,

In summer, trout are always on the lookout for the occasional terrestrial insect and it’s easier to grab them in shallow water.

You won’t always find large trout in shallow water. Some kind of prey has to draw them out of their sanctuaries. It can be a mayfly or caddisfly hatch, a spinner fall, a swarm of flying ants or even the chance of a grasshopper or beetle on a windy day. It could be an abundance of mayfly or midge larvae drifting in the current. In dirty water, a large trout might hunt for frogs, baitfish or crayfish in water you’d typically use as a highway instead of a target. And they may even move into the shallows without a strong hatch or other food supply to draw them. In most rivers, after the sun sets and predators lose their ability to see, trout will slide into the shallows and just pick out whatever food is available. But don’t just wait for that magic hour we all love. If there is

busily nymphing on who-knows-what. But a size 18 Pheasant Tail nymph with no indicator did the trick, and as I continued along the bank I spotted several other fish. I might have even caught a couple more. This continues to be my go-to spot in the morning, but it has its perils. The pool is just below a popular lodge, and as soon as other anglers walk down to the bank, looking for risers on the deep side of the pool, they miss the trout right under their noses. And of course those trout slink back to the deep water on the opposite bank for the rest of the day as soon as they spot movement on the bank.

Aren’t trout in shallow water harder to catch? You might think they are more cautious with their exposed position, and they are, but as anglers we do have an advantage with shallower targets. As a trout gets into shallow water, its window on the outside world shrinks, making you less visible. So you can, surprisingly, get closer to a shallow fish if you’re careful not to push waves in the water and make your approach from directly below a fish (if possible). Trout can only catch you in their peripheral vision when you approach them from downstream, and because when they are shallow they

Cutthroat trout are especially fond of feeding in shallow water, but all trout species will slide into the shallows if food is present.

Plunge pools can be deceptive. Fish the shallow tailout and the shallows along the edges before you throw your flies into that tasty deep water.

can’t see much of your movement out of the corners of their eyes you can get much closer to them and make a short, accurate cast. Just be mindful, as always, not to false cast directly over their heads because they can still easily notice movement directly above them.

Another reason I believe trout in shallow water are easier to catch is that they are preoccupied with feeding or they would not be there in the first place. You’ve probably noticed that trout are much easier to approach when they’re actively feeding on a hatch than they are when they are just on alert, looking for the occasional snack. Trout don’t multi-task very well, or perhaps the opportunity of abundant food makes the risk of exposure worthwhile in their survival. When they are feeding heavily in shallow water you have everything in your favor. Don’t miss the opportunity.

You won’t find trout just anywhere or always in the shallows. First, there must be some kind of food. It could be scuds and sowbugs moving about early in the morning. There could be a mayfly or caddisfly hatch. Or it might be a windy afternoon when ants, beetles, hoppers or various flying insects could be blown into the water. Trout won’t risk exposing themselves without a compelling benefit. Observe where the foam lines

indicate where all the hatching insects and stuff that falls into the water are located. You can really peg a trout feeding spot when a foam line intersects a shallow spot on the edge of deep water. Third, look for what I call run-ups or run-outs.

Run-ups are where a shallow riffle dumps into deeper water. Trout slide up into these to feed and it’s typically during a hatch of aquatic insects because these bugs are produced in the riffles. A run-out is shallow water downstream or in the middle of deep water. It could be the tail of a pool, or just a gravel bar in the middle of the pool. It could also be a shallow bank adjacent to deeper

water. Trout slink downstream into these areas when there are just a few random insects hatching, during falls of fly ants or during spinner falls. If a lot of crippled mayflies or caddisflies are on the water, when it’s raining or on colder days, trout seem to prefer dropping down. Generally, trout stay within the same pool or run when they move shallow, so just look for shallow areas that a trout can get to without leaving a pool or navigating shallow water. A piece of shallow water not adjacent to an obvious sanctuary won’t usually be productive.

Guides who float the South Fork of the Snake in Idaho try to quickly float down to the best dry-fly spots during the summer PMD hatches. They jockey for the best locations, which are not over deep water but at the shallow riffles at the head of deep pools. Cutthroat trout especially are attracted to shallow water when food is abundant, and at times they’ll get so shallow in these riffles their dorsal fins poke above the surface.

The next time you head to the river, spend some time on the bank, relaxing, lowering your heart rate and observing before you stumble into the water. You may find some trout feeding before you even get your feet wet. I’m still learning about where and how trout feed, and I’m sure you’ll make some interesting discoveries on your own.

Trout must balance the ease of feeding in shallow water with the risk of predation by birds like these mergansers. But often they’ll take the risk.

Blue Lines

A handful of members of the White Mountain and San Carlos Apache and a federal fisheries team based in the r emote mountains of Arizona. A can-do Bureau of Land Management biologist connecting federal funding with on-the-ground restoration of a once-degraded and disconnected trout stream in southern Wyoming. A single Colorado game warden creating a grassroots movement to stop a federal plan to log and road pristine trout headwaters across millions of acres of national forest. A state employee in Montana figuring out a way to help a family farm achieve a conservation goal of adding pollinating insects to a landscape and its nearby trout stream. These, and many others, are the unknown champions of today’s fisheries and wildlife conservation, the very people who politicians would have us believe are overpaid, lazy and not worth their paychecks.

One would think that perhaps an angler, so used to tricking fish with feather and fur imitations, so used to setting a trap, so used to “baiting,” to being the “baiter,” would be less vulnerable to being baited. But anglers are human, able to be as deceived as the next person, believing what one hears or reads, rising to the drift of the lure on the current of the internet or the airwaves. One would think that we know better, but we do not.

Unsung

BY THOMAS REED

It has become vogue to sneer at government, at least if one reads the online news, or watches television or listens to podcasts. The message is clear: “Government bad, government wasteful. We are taxpayers and we’re not getting what we’re paying for. Government workers are overpaid and lazy.”

With immaculate timing this past spring, just as government-bashing was reaching its very zenith, the authoreditor Michael Lewis released Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service. Lewis, the author of such books as The Big Short, Moneyball and The Blind Side , pulled together some of the best talent in writing to tell stories of uncelebrated heroics within our American government. It is an eye-opening work for some, no doubt. But for those of us who have spent our lives out on public lands and waters, we knew this all along: talented people who work hard often work in government. It is the USFS trail crew leader, bending to the strenuous, hot work of sawing deadfall out of backcountry wilderness trails. It is the BLM employee cleaning the outhouses at our popular campgrounds across the nation. It is the river ranger checking permits, the fisheries biologist helping to restore native Colorado River cutthroat trout into high country waters. Or, as Lewis recounts, it is the dedicated employee of

the Bureau of Mines who spent a career determining how to prevent the roofs of underground coal mines from collapsing and then shared that information with as many mining companies as could be found. A life saver, in every sense of the word.

Tim and an assistant, Matt Rustin, a member of the San Carlos Apache, worked together with Zac Jackson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All government employees, all dedicated, all unheralded.

A few summers ago, my own brush with this kind of dedication came while spending a few days with the team responsible for getting the Apache trout removed from the Threatened and Endangered Species List. The Apache trout is one of the globe’s rarest and most beautiful fish, a trout that has swum in the headwaters of central Arizona’s White Mountains for thousands of years. But in the 1800s, a familiar tale: European immigrants arrived with an appetite for fish dinners, along with their own trout from other corners of the world. Into the streams of the White Mountains went a bucket of brook trout, or rainbow trout or brown trout. Into the bellies of the miners, ranchers, trappers and all other invaders of the White went platters heaped with Apache trout. By the time these fish were recognized as a different species from their nearby cousin, the Gila trout, the Apache was in deep trouble. Fortunately, the tribal government way back in 1955 had already stopped allowing fishing. That kept pressure off the remaining pure Apache trout, but it still wasn’t

enough. In 1973, the Apache became the first sport fish to be placed on the “List.” Almost immediately, government biologists worked to protect this unique coldwater gem forever. A goal was set: recover and protect Apache trout in more than 30 distinct waters across the mountain range. Here entered Tim Gatewood, working for the White Mountain Apache Game and Fish Department and a member of the White Mountain Apache. Tim and an assistant, Matt Rustin, a member of the San Carlos Apache, worked together with Zac Jackson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All government employees, all dedicated, all unheralded.

For years they led crews into remote, rough country working to remove

non-native fish through one method or another. They drove pickup trucks up tough trails, carried heavy equipment afoot into tiny backcountry streams. They helped create barriers to keep invasive trout away from pure Apache trout. Finally, in late 2024, after decades of hard work by unsung heroes, stretching all the way back to the tribal council that closed fishing in 1955, the Apache trout came off the Endangered Species List. It was the first-ever sport fish to achieve such a landmark.

There are many, many other unacknowledged workers in government, from county conservation districts and commissions, all the way up to federal employees enduring the machinations and lamentations of politicians and

pundits. There are people like Lydia Carpenter, DVM, who worked to keep African swine fever out of this country’s pork industry, saving billions of dollars and thousands of jobs in agriculture. There are the conservation district employees who help educate Montana school children on the importance of healthy rivers, perhaps inspiring a future fisheries biologist in the process. And millions more.

There’s a river I know in central Wyoming that flows out of a grand canyon of limestone, juniper and sagebrush. At the mouth of this canyon is a boat ramp and on one fine June day a few years ago, we launched our boat off into the river’s cold waters. In the bow, I took a long cast to a small eddy just downstream from a cattle gate that led into the water. The fly, a grasshopper imitation called a Fat Albert, floated high and dry, spinning life-like in the eddy. I gave the fly a twitch, attempting a bit of trickery that might make my offering appear like a real grasshopper kicking his way out of the river. Up came a brown trout not less than two feet long and probably closer to three feet. It looked like a salmon and I locked onto point like a setter on a bobwhite quail. The fish rose and rose and rose and I quivered. The trout gave the Fat Albert a long look and then turned away, not convinced. I wept.

Not everything that floats in on the river can be trusted, said Mr. Brown. Truly, there is much we humans can learn from wise old trout.

Thomas Reed is the editor of Mouthful of Feathers, Upland in America and the author of Give Me Mountains for My Horses and other titles. He lives with his family near public land on their ranch outside Pony, Montana.

PHOTOS BY JOSH

CUPLECHIAN

Zac Jackson, Tim Gatewood and Matt Rustin

WORDS BY JOHN GIERACH PAINTING BY BOB WHITE

Bass with Bob

When I mentioned to my friend Bob White that I hadn’t been bass fishing in a while and that I was starting to miss it, he said, “I’ll put a trip together.” The trip itself wouldn’t happen until late July, but that first conversation took place in mid-winter and plans that gestate during those cold Midwestern months can develop what amount to birth defects. That explains why Bob kept emailing the kind of revised itineraries that might have signaled an impending Chinese fire drill, but that were really just examples of his characteristic perfectionism, which he pursues even though, as a career guide, he knows better than most that aiming for the flawless fishing trip is an admirable goal, but a fool’s errand.

In fact, fishing is the prime example of the uncertainty that plagues the human condition and also makes it so endlessly fascinating. I remember footloose road trips with friends in the early days, living like stray dogs and chasing our own tails around the Rocky Mountains searching for trout. We caught fish, but also learned to savor the slow days as the absence that makes the heart grow fonder and makes the good days seem so much better by comparison. Even now, I sometimes toss my gear in the pickup without deciding where I’m going until I reach the twolane blacktop at the mouth of the valley and have to turn left or right, always thanking my younger self for settling in a place where there are trout streams in both directions.

Of course, when I referred to Bob as a career guide I was burying the lead. Most know him as

the sporting artist whose paintings and drawings we’ve seen everywhere—in magazines and books, hanging in galleries and in the homes and offices of collectors—for four decades. But he’s also worked as a guide for most, if not all, that time in Alaska and Argentina as well as closer to home.

Before I knew Bob and his wife, Lisa, I assumed that guiding was the day job that kept the art afloat because that’s how it so often happens, but apparently it was never that simple. It was at a lodge in Alaska years ago that I got my first real inkling of how it all fits together for Bob. He not only guided clients daily on the Agulapak River, but also served as the semi-official artist in residence, with the walls of the lodge covered in his paintings, some of which had been painted on site and all of which were for sale. I began to see how the art and the guiding had grown together symbiotically, with each providing essential nutrients to the other: not just inspiration and subject matter, but the day-to-day insight that sidesteps corniness, as well as the marketplace that allows a working artist to keep the lights on.

I confess that I allowed all those revised itineraries to go out of focus, so that six months later when I arrived at Bob and Lisa’s well cared for old house on a quiet street in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, I’d settled into the carefree role of just being along for the ride and the next morning that ride continued up the St. Croix above Grantsburg where we floated with Bob’s friend, John Edstrom.

The river through this stretch forms the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin (you can fish it with a license from either state) and it flows along sedately as befits an official political boundary. It’s also part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, so although we weren’t really that far as the crow flies from the nearest convenience store, much of it still looked, sounded and acted like a wild river. There was a nice moment early on when Bob

suggested I start with a swimming frog at the same moment I was already picking a swimming frog from my own fly box. We agreed that this venerable Dave Whitlock pattern is the Adams of bass bugs—the one to tie on first unless there’s a good reason not to—and a few casts later I was into my first smallmouth bass in six or seven years.

After a short tussle I lip-locked him at the boat and held him in the water for a minute to admire: a chunky fish of about 14 inches, heavier than most trout of that length would be, vaguely grainy to the touch, with barred camouflage in shades of olive and bronze. While trout often strike me as ethereal, bass always seem like they’re about to clock in for a shift at the factory. I wouldn’t be surprised to one day catch one that was wearing Carhart overalls and carrying a lunch box.

It seems completely natural now to use trout as the benchmark against

While trout often strike me as ethereal, bass always seem like they’re about to clock in for a shift at the factory. I wouldn’t be surprised to one day catch one that was wearing Carhart overalls and carrying a lunch box.

could have been anywhere) and within a few years I’d become the owner not only of a fiberglass rod fitted with a Pflueger level-wind reel, but a .22 caliber rifle, a 20-gauge shotgun and a 16-foot aluminum canoe. Becoming a bona fide junior sportsman was my first real rite of passage and it’s treated me kindlier over the long haul than some of the other rites of passage I got tangled up in as I got older.

When I moved to the Colorado Rockies after college in the late ‘60s I discovered trout and fly rods—both indescribably exotic at the time—became a devout convert and to this day believe this is my true and proper niche. But I wonder now if it wasn’t just an accident of proximity at an impressionable age; the urge toward subsistence that makes us fish for, and learn to love, whatever swims in our own backyards.

But whatever the reason, it’s now all about trout and their kin—Atlantic and Pacific salmon, steelhead, char, grayling, even mountain whitefish in a pinch (they’re good smoked or in cioppino) —but bass made such a deep early impression that I could never completely leave them behind.

which all other fish are compared, but it wasn’t always that way. I can clearly remember when my single ambition as a baby fisherman was to graduate from perch and bluegills on a cane pole and worms to bass on a proper rod, reel and plug just like the grownups.

I achieved that goal shortly after my father’s job at Sears transferred us from Illinois to Minnesota (a lucky break; it

So, when I learned that largemouths had been stocked in Colorado as early as the late 1870s, I began fly casting for them in some of the reservoirs and quarry ponds near home, first for old time’s sake and then as an act of defiance when I learned how many of my fancy new fly-fishing friends considered bass to be a species of trash fish. But Colorado wasn’t bass country, the fish tended toward the small side and always seemed weirdly out of place with snowcapped mountains on the horizon and cactus underfoot.

But bass were still the fish that bore the brunt of my early ambition and made me an angler in the first place, while the blue-collar society surrounding them helped shape me into whatever else I might be—still essentially Midwestern to the core, never mind that I left for good over half a century ago. Or maybe

it’s their association with my late father and a favorite uncle, the two men who, more than any others, tried their best to teach me how it was with fishing in particular and life in general, even if they often seemed in the dark themselves on both counts.

I heard there were bigger bass in the lakes on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in the Nebraska Sandhills that constituted the surface water of the Ogallala aquifer. It turned out there were and a friend and I took to towing

a johnboat out there once a year from Colorado to get our fix. We’d pole that flat-bottomed boat deep into the tules and cattails, fish the hidden potholes and catch bass in places where the uptown bass boats couldn’t or wouldn’t go. And as if that weren’t enough, we could still rent a cabin at Big Alkali Fish Camp that slept two, only cost $24 a night and was overseen by the delightfully cheerful wife of a local pig farmer.

That was a trip I might still be making except that as people continued to

sink wells into the already depleted aquifer without a thought for the consequences, the water table began to drop and the lakes started drying up. On our last trip we fished Rice Lake—one of our favorites—and found the flooded timber we used to fish standing bleached and lonely on dry land. We caught dozens of bass easily, but only because every fish in the lake was now crowded into what amounted to an oversized puddle. Then we drove home, knowing we wouldn’t be back.

The same friend and I cartopped a canoe to Texas to float the streams in the Hill Country north of San Antonio. They flowed through seriously private ranches, but we put in at public bridge crossings, camped on the islands that were considered no man’s land and caught Guadalupe bass. They’d eat the usual bugs and streamers, but could also sometimes be found rising to hatches of caddis and mayflies, a habit that had earned them the nickname Texas brook trout.

And there was that strange bass trip to Oklahoma where, during the week I was there, 80 tornados touched down and on our one eerily calm afternoon a water moccasin tried to climb onto my float tube and had to be beaten back with a 9-weight fly rod. The fishing was good and the countryside was lush and pretty with cuckoos calling tonelessly from the trees, but the nagging sense of having barely escaped with my life has kept me from ever going back.

Eventually I took to making annual pilgrimages back to Minnesota and the immediate neighborhood where things had changed some, but I found that if I squinted just right and avoided talking politics with the locals, it still seemed very much like the place where I grew up. By then they were floating rivers in McKenzie-style drift boats and getting nice smallmouths on streamers and deer-hair bugs. For a while this was an open secret among warm water fly fishers, while gear fishermen continued to approach us at gas stations to ask

about the odd-looking rowboat we were towing.

That became the bass trip for a while, until I watched one day as a large musky grabbed a bass Bob was playing, nearly bit it in half and then spit out the mangled corpse still with a death grip on his fly. Naturally, I was intrigued, just as I’d been years before on the Elk River in British Columbia when a yard-long bull trout did the same thing to a 15-inch West Slope cutthroat I was playing.

Muskies are known as the fish of a thousand casts—which may be a low estimate—so it took time to learn enough from my mistakes that, with the help of persistence and good guiding, I finally managed to land a few bruisers and got that particular itch scratched.

After that I retreated—as always—to my trout fishing happy place until I began to get the urge again to cast bass bugs that resembled cat toys on an

8-weight rod and mentioned it in passing to Bob, who said so matter-of-factly, “I’ll put a trip together.”

That first day on the St. Croix began with the kind of morning warmth you knew would turn hot early and it did. Bob knew the river as well as you’d expect of someone who guides it for a living and he put us into fish regularly through the morning, sometimes even taking the risk of calling his shots beforehand in unlikely-looking places. But when it got hot enough for the fish to lose their appetites, there wasn’t much we could do about it, so we ended the day with a pleasant float on a pretty river in the knowledge that full days of good fishing are extremely rare under any circumstances.

The next day was predicted to be even hotter, so we did a half day float with Bob Bickford on another stretch of the same river and as Bickford put

it later, “The weather was hot, but the fishing wasn’t.” By the time we took out around one o’clock, the day was stifling enough to remind me of the weather that had finally put me off saltwater fly fishing. After a few hours pouring sweat in that godawful tropical heat and humidity, the idea of hooking a bonefish or tarpon would begin to take a backseat to fantasies involving a frosty gin and tonic and air conditioning. During the planning stages of this trip, Bob had said, “The hotter the better for bass,” and when I reminded him of that he said, “Yeah, well, maybe not this hot.”

By the time we floated the Namekagon with Tony Stifter, there were some high clouds presaging weather and although the morning wasn’t exactly cool, at least it wasn’t as hot as recent mornings had been. I waited with the boat while Bob and Tony ran the shuttle and thought about

How many years of fishing has it taken me to be able to indulge in a few quiet, solitary moments like this before the main event begins?

making a few casts (there’s often a fat, neglected boat ramp fish just waiting to be caught) but instead decided to finish my lukewarm coffee and take it all in: the lush northern forest, wooden bridge, small river littered with the dead-wood structure bass are known to like and no sound beyond the whine of the odd mosquito and the river whispering in its own secret vocabulary. How many years of fishing has it taken me to be able to indulge in a few quiet, solitary moments like this before the main event begins?

The fish were in a funny mood that day. When we’d plop our deer hair frogs on the water, they’d swim over for a look, but wouldn’t eat, and when we’d go into the usual repertoire of bass-enticing twitches, wiggles and chugs, most would shrug and swim away. But when Bob suggested we try size 8 Fat Alberts fished on a dead drift, the fish started to come around. Sometimes a day on a river

A life in fishing has taught me to ignore these deprecating comments made while the fish are biting except when my own home water doesn’t show off like I think it should and I make them myself.

boils down to a single visual memory and that day the Namekagon consists of my Fat Albert sliding the length of a half-sunken log and washing into the downstream eddy where a nice bass sucked it in as quietly as a brown trout sipping a mayfly.

By the time we reached the confluence with the St. Croix, the clouds that had thickened throughout the day had lowered, darkened and begun to look apocalyptic, so we rowed toward the takeout. But before we got there, raindrops the size of marbles started hitting the water and the first crack of thunder was so loud and close the concussion jellied my insides. I was digging in the pack for my raincoat when Bob said, “Maybe you should take down your rod first.” My rod? It was propped in the forward casting brace; nine feet of graphite lightning rod pointing at the sky in the middle of a wide river during an electrical storm and yeah, better see to that first.

When we took out, two women I guessed as natives were wading the shallows at the boat-ramp gathering something fist-sized and heavy (freshwater mussels?) and putting them in burlap sacks. By then it was pounding rain and the three of us looked and acted like drowned rats, while these women went about their business smiling and unhurried, their long, wet hair glistening like otters.

The next day we drove farther north to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, a town roughly on the same latitude as Duluth, to fish the Upper Mississippi with Russ Gontarek. When I asked about the eponymous Grand Rapids, I was told that by all accounts they’d once been

something to see, but that back in the day the timber company had dredged them out to make rafting logs easier, but hadn’t bothered to rename the town Moderate Riffle, Minnesota.

We caught our biggest bass of the trip that morning, while Russ explained that the really big boys were being elusive, probably because the water was low and they were parked deep in the main channel instead of lurking in the bankside shallows. A life in fishing has taught me to ignore these deprecating comments made while the fish are biting except when my own home water doesn’t show off like I think it should and I make them myself.

That night we ate at a nearby restaurant that, rather than the vaguely formal “supper clubs” I remembered from my youth, turned out to be a honkytonk that, judging from its décor and juke box, either thought it was in Texas or wished it was. I ordered the beerbattered walleye special that’s usually a good bet in this part of the world and a high point of any sentimental journey back there, but what I got was a fillet covered with something resembling an overdone pancake that I scraped off to nibble on the greasy fish hidden inside. This wasn’t the first bad meal I’d eaten on a fishing trip and it wouldn’t be the last, but I still felt vaguely cheated by the changes wrought by time and age. In the Minnesota I remember, any restaurant that cooked walleye this poorly wouldn’t have lasted a month, but I was a lifetime away from the Minnesota I remember, in this not quite familiar place where memory is a friendly haunting from the past one minute and an exploding cigar the next.

Poor etiquette is tremendously annoying, but sharing observations in a cordial manner can make someone’s day or change their perspectives entirely. If more people on the river were like the man I met, I’d say the more the

A Lesson Learned on the Battenkill

BY SCOTT LOWE

My heart sank when I saw the car in the pull off. After six hours in the car and two failed attempts at finding a place to fish the fabled river, I was running out of time and options. Visiting my daughter at the University of Vermont was the main purpose of my trip, but the journey also presented the opportunity to stop at the Battenkill River, which is at the top of my list of storied waters to fish. This was my final researched spot to stop, so I pulled in and parked, hoping not to annoy the other angler.

I approached the fly fisher with a lump in my throat; he was still at his car. If he had just arrived, he would not have been happy to see me. I took a deep breath of relief as I realized he was packing up to leave.

“Did you have a good day?” I broke the ice with my gained confidence, knowing I wouldn’t be competing with him for space on the river.

“Oh man, I couldn’t catch a thing.” He poked his head around the hatch back, with a smiling face, framed by a trim beard a bit grayer than mine, and the accent of a New York transplant.

“Nothing going, huh? I am driving up from Maryland and was hoping to spend a little time on the river.”

“Wow, long drive. Unfortunately, you’ve come at a bad time. We’ve had such little rain, and we just had a cold snap. I didn’t even spook a fish.”

We introduced ourselves, and quickly realized we were both Trout Unlimited members. He is a member of the Southwestern Vermont Chapter, and he mentioned the hundreds of tree plantings and stream habitat improvements and stabilization efforts the chapter had undertaken along the Battenkill. As a member of the Maryland Chapter of Trout Unlimited, restoration projects like these are exactly what we are striving to implement in the Gunpowder watershed.

We talked through the flies he fished, and he enthusiastically answered my questions. He went on to describe the best features to fish in the reaches upstream and downstream of the parking spot. Several times he mentioned small caddis larvae are the best nymphs to use. Laying out distances to walk and describing optimal casting positions, he gave me a playbook for the hour I had before I needed to make my way north.

With a “good luck” and “nice meeting you,” we went our separate ways. I put on my waders and rigged up my rod. What started as a nervous encounter ended as the most welcoming interaction I’ve ever had fishing. All his descriptions proved accurate, and his hospitality kept me in a good mood even though I did not catch a fish. I held onto all the fishing advice, but unfortunately, I was so selfishly fishing-focused, I forgot his name.

The uplift I felt from my 10-minute conversation carried with me all weekend. There is power in positivity. With more people fishing, there are lots of complaints about crowds on the rivers, no open parking areas and spot burning. Poor etiquette is tremendously annoying, but sharing observations in a cordial manner can make someone’s day or change their perspectives entirely. If more people on the river were like the man I met, I’d say the more the merrier.

I thought back through my past interactions on the stream and in parking areas. Too often I am stingy or impatient and say as little as possible to people I meet. I try not to be rude, but I can’t imagine I made an impact on anyone the way the man I met on the Battenkill had on me. In many ways, it was the ideal fishing conversation. He was informative, encouraging, funny and humble. His willingness to talk with me may have been because I was from far away or a fellow member of Trout Unlimited, but my instinct was that he is kind to everyone.

My lesson learned on the Battenkill had nothing to do with fishing and everything to do with being a generous person. Thank you to the angler I met on the Battenkill River. You left me with more than fishing advice.

When a 2-week Road Trip to Catch Bull BecomesTrout a Comedy of Errors

At what point do you give in and head home in the face of thousands of miles of driving, wildfires, full campsites, wrong directions and poison ivy?

BY CHRISTINE PETERSON

Discovering a gaping hole

on the front of my young Labrador’s leg where stitches used to be at 8 p.m. on the side of a river in rural Montana could have been a sign.

Driving through wildfire smoke so thick it obscured highway signs could have been, well, a sign. Our decided lack of planning and almost no idea where we are going to try and catch a notoriously hard fish to find could also have been a sign, but my stubbornness supersedes my ability to see the future.

This nearly 3,000-mile road trip ostensibly has a point: Catch bull trout. Also have fun with our 7-year-old daughter. Also celebrate my 40th birthday (something that is feeling increasingly less like a birthday and more like an existential crisis). Lastly, not abandon our very lovable, very birdy, very energetic and very moronic 18-month-old dog at a no-kill shelter somewhere in British Columbia. And so we are damned well going to have fun, even if the signs, the universe, the stars, the tea leaves, whatever it is we’re supposed to notice for hints about our future, seem to think we should turn around. Which is why I am forcing deep breaths as Finn the Labrador pulls me up and over every downed tree in a recent burn on the way to a river he isn’t supposed to swim in because two weeks prior he’d cut his leg on who-knows-what at my husband’s childhood ranch and already chewed the stitches out once.

“That looks like a good hole,” Josh says, holding both our rods, looking back at me. I brace my feet, mutter something at the dog I wouldn’t want my daughter repeating, and ask Finn to please, please just stop pulling for a second. “Go ahead,” I tell him.

“You should try,” he responds. It’s the first really promising spot we’ve seen in a few days.

“No, you go,” I bite back, gritting my teeth through my martyrdom.

This is supposed to be fun. We won’t go back home because we’re having fun. Someone needs to catch a bull trout. And I need to not kill the dog.

Some fish have the ability to make people do stupid things, like creep for hours up rutted, narrow roads, hike miles through downed timber with a first grader and cone-headed neurotic dog and ask anyone from campground hosts to biologists to fly shop owners for advice. Bull trout are one of those species.

The cold-water denizens originally lived in glacier-fed rivers along a western swath of North America from Northern California to Montana up to Alaska. They’re strong and silver with a tail that’s more like a slab. Despite its name, it’s not actually a trout but a char, almost indistinguishable from Dolly Varden and closely related to lake and brook trout. Its populations keep shrinking, largely because of warming waters, pollution, dams, logging, nonnative species and over-fishing. They’re listed as a threatened species in the U.S., and they’re floundering in Alberta. British Columbia remains one of their strongholds.

“This is our top predator fish, and they’re a long lived, old fish that gets really, really big,” says Kevin Heidt, a fisheries biologist with British Columbia’s Ministry of Forests.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE PETERSON

“I’ve had many occasions where I catch a Westslope cutthroat trout and have a bull trout annihilate them on my hook.”

Even the guard at the Canadian border has thoughts in breathless stream-ofconsciousness when we tell him our query.

“They will smash your line. It’s great. I ice fish and only fish for bull trout. I’ll be fishing in 80 feet of water, and they don’t just tap, tap the line, they hit it hard.

They’re also one of those secret fish that live increasingly in secret places (at least that aren’t closed to fishing). A fly shop owner I talk to stopped telling people where to find them years ago. A Canadian fisheries biologist says, mincing no words, that he will not tell me or anyone where else to find bull trout.

Should we have done a better job planning ahead? Yes. Should we have called around and looked up information before packing our dog and daughter in our vehicle and heading north? Sure. If we’d planned ahead could we have hired a guide? Yep. But planning, like reading tea leaves, isn’t always one of our strengths. We’re better at throwing everything in the car and hoping for the best.

Fortunately, Heidt gives us a few pointers on where to try even though we’re too late for spring migration and too early for fall. Sitting on the side of the road somewhere in southern B.C., we now have a plan. Sort of.

Hundreds of miles later, we stare into the sky in a Real Canadian Superstore parking lot with a few days’ worth of groceries and watch as a bright yellow fixed-wing flies above with the word FIRE emblazoned underneath. It’s one of British Columbia’s worst fire seasons in recorded history. Conifers and salmon berry bushes lining the sides of dirt roads turn gray from dust. Days and then weeks have gone by with no rain and temperatures regularly in the 90s.

Most of the rivers remain cold, fed by glacier and snowfield runoff, but climate change has hit British Columbia hard. We head in the direction of the fork

In spite of poison ivy (Miriam managed to avoid the worst of it) and wildfires, stitches (a dear friend from college stitched Finn up in northern Montana) and cones, wrong roads and mysterious fish, we stayed the course and did what we set out to do: We had fun (most of the time).

of the river Heidt told us to try. Google provides directions with a quick check in our brittle, apparently aging Rand McNally Road atlas.

Hours of creeping up a rutted onelane dirt road we come face to face with a converted 80-passenger travel bus.

“Where are you headed?” the guy with his Instagram handle blazoned on the side of his bus asks us.

We tell him. He looks confused, then disappears. Moments later he reappears outside his bus as if the location we say we were headed is so strange he has to get a better look at us.

“Oh, you’re going to take this road all the way over the top?! Damn! You’re braver than I am! Go to the hot springs on the way!” (He and the border guard share the same enthusiasm for life.)

What the hell, we figure. Finn could use some time outside his crate, and our daughter has been a real sport about all the aimless driving.

After hiking miles up a long-closed logging road (which we realize is the road the Atlas and Google thinks we should be driving), we find those beautiful, remote hot springs, declare at least one part of

the day a success, and then stare with gaping mouths at a lush, three-leaved viny plant growing, everywhere. The secret hot springs hours up the wrong dirt road is surrounded by poison ivy.

We are here to have fun though. And if that means carrying a dog and a child around patches of poison ivy so the child can soak in a natural hot spring few people will ever see, then so be it.

At what point, we wonder, do we call it? We’ve already caught plenty of Westslope cutthroat trout. The trip isn’t an abject failure. These fires aren’t getting better. We’re pretty sure our daughter got into the poison ivy despite our best efforts to avoid it. It’s 95 degrees and our dog is starting to be as irritated with us as we are with him. Do we go back home?

No. We’ll keep driving. And we’ll enjoy ourselves.

Josh reaches that hole on that arm of that river no one talks about and can see a bull trout holding in shallow water on the back of a shelf. He casts a big, black streamer he tied a few weeks ago and hasn’t yet given a catchy name.

The fly swings in front of its nose.

That’s all it takes. The bull trout strikes, not so much a slam, as a decisive chomp, like a fish that believes grabbing and running is beneath it.

Then the thrashing starts.

It dives toward the bottom of a hole and its big, flat paddle of a tail splashes up out of the water. After a couple more runs, Josh brings him to shore. I tie Finn to a tree, snap a quick picture and off it swims.

Then I try. Days and many miles later, I’m still trying.

I’m starting to give up. Our timing is bad. Our situation isn’t ideal. Maybe I should just call it. But maybe not until I fish one more riffle that pours into a deep hole.

I wade out onto a shallow sandbar and

cast into the riffle, my streamer drifts into the hole and swings. Nothing.

I try again. Nothing.

One more time.

My fly swings, covering just a little more ground. White clouds gather lazily above us. The sun beats down and Finn curls up in the shade of a tree after we gave him a frigid river bath holding one leg out of the water. I watch the river, already thinking about where else to go.

Then something grabs my fly. My reel buzzes as line strips out.

“I have one on! Bring the net!” I scream at my family much louder than necessary but at this point who cares.

Josh and our daughter run toward me with the net. A minute later I’m looking at one of the biggest freshwater fish I’ve caught on a fly. It’s

gorgeous—silvery-green with a pale orange belly and stout, hooked jaw. I stare in admiration, then seconds later let it go to swim away, flicking its powerful tail and disappearing back into its hole.

We switch back to dry flies for the rest of the day, looking for cutthroat trout and helping our daughter cast. I found one bull trout, that’s enough. The smoke feels lighter, the sun not quite as harsh. We leave tomorrow, and instead of relief, we each wish for just a few more days.

In spite of poison ivy (Miriam managed to avoid the worst of it) and wildfires, stitches (a dear friend from college stitched Finn up in northern Montana) and cones, wrong roads and mysterious fish, we stayed the course and did what we set out to do: We had fun (most of the time).

his happened a long time ago, at the very end of a summer.

The trout of Wisconsin’s magnificent Driftless filled my youth. In that lake-challenged country, and with a father who loved the creeks and cold water best anyway, trout fishing was always one staple of many in our outdoor year.

But now, in my early 20s, trout had become a passion.

We owned an old fly rod, which I had found and claimed on the banks of the Wisconsin River one warm summer evening when I was 13 or 14 and we were having a dalliance with smallmouth and redhorse in some of the fast-water side channels that scour the banks of all that ribbony water between Prairies du Sac and du Chien.

But the old bamboo rod and Shakespeare reel mostly occupied a slot in our makeshift rod rack behind the furnace downstairs, for we were mostly bait fishermen then.

Still, catch-and-release was an ethic. Smasheddown barbs and quick hooksets preserved fish, and my journal shows I caught 283 trout that summer. Sure, we ate a few. But even then, already evolving away from the bloodthirstiness of youth and starting to soften in the ways one does, most all of the fish made it back to reproduce and be caught again. —————

I had first raised the trout on Memorial Day weekend, in a creek of the hill country’s rolling eastern side.

It was a classic and perfect May day in the trout fishing sense: warm, cloudy-gray sky, a few drizzles. The fish could be, and were, feeding hard anywhere the water was moving good. And that limestone water was just a little cloudy from rain the night before.

I approached a long and trouty run in the pasture creek, working it carefully from the tail of the pool, up through the head and into the run, and finally into the exceptionally long riffle above.

Toward the very top of the riffle, where I might usually think too shallow and quit for the next spot,

AUGUST BROWN

I for some reason thought, what the hell, and baited up with a fresh, prime fronthalf of a nightcrawler, army-crawled a bit farther through emerald-green grass and flipped a long cast upstream.

I felt an unexpected whomp as I saw the flash of a big fish and instinctively set the hook. She tore out line, bulldogged with the current, rolled on top long enough for my heart to jump, and was off.

Of course that heart sunk. Badly. But now I knew: the stretch of stream in which she lived; one of her favorite feeding hides at the very front of the riffle, and that I would be back.

She was the biggest trout I had ever hooked.

—————

Summer goes both fast and slow at any age, as long as you do it right.

Working full shifts at our town cemetery until school started again in fall. Bars and girls. Bow shooting. Working our dogs. And always a couple evenings a week fishing somewhere on our milk run of local creeks, plus usually a weekend day trip to farther-away waters that were challenging to get to after a weeknight supper.

The latter was the class of stream in which the big fish lived.

I tried for her three times amongst our June and July forays. Dad knew the mission I was up to, and always graciously yielded that prime stretch of stream to me.

One time we got up at 4:30 a.m. and I went right to the run-and-riffle when we arrived at the creek at dawn. Another time, we fished the evening, and I lollygagged it for two hours to time it to be at her secluded home water at the alpenglow after dusk.

No go.

—————

August arrived. Several factors had conspired to dwindle our trout fishing activity, led by the facts that our nightcrawler supply (always picked by me on rainy nights) dwindled and then disappeared, and that dry weather offered no opportunities to pick a new batch.

Then the last bittersweet weeks were upon me—of carefree life at home before one final year of college and the unknowns beyond—and of opportunity to catch that fish that season.

Then, as with most good ideas, it hit me by chance.

As bait fishermen, we always thought bait, like religion, is something you get raised in until you decide for yourself.

One afternoon I noticed our minnow net in the garage. Ping!

—————

That evening I was on a small creek a couple miles south of our house, old drop net and breadcrumbs and ancient metal minnow bucket in hand. It was a nice little creek, and is even nicer now than it was then, with grasslands replacing plowed ground near the headwater springs these days, cress lining feeder rivulets and downstream pastures ungrazed.

I bet the creek could hold trout now. It didn’t then. So I threw out the little lift-net, chummed the pool, waited a few minutes and pulled up. In short order and with some sorting, I had a dozen perfect-sized minnows: shiners

about three inches long each, which I deemed the perfect size—not too big, not too small—for the big trout’s maw.

The chief challenge, which Dad said would be the case, was keeping the minnows alive, which I did via frequent water changes in my grandma’s old copper wash tub in a corner of our garage.

A couple days later after work, I ate a sandwich in the car for supper as I made the long drive to her creek. In the shorter evening of August’s final days, there would be maybe an hour of fishing time as compared to the heydays of June, but no matter: I was angling for the last light anyway.

When those minutes arrived, so did I, from downstream. She would be feeding hard, and with the lower water, I figured

runs for an oaken rootwad before I somehow turned her.

She gave up in the backwash of the pool’s chute. I waded in with net out, and knelt as if in a cathedral.

She shimmered gold on the flanks and silver-blue on her shoulders, and spots the size of nickels and the color of the coming night wavered across her flanks.

With the rod held next to her, she stretched from the butt of the handle to beyond the first guide up.

She finned off into the depths of the pool. —————

I never measured that distance on the rod. Now it is long gone.

But the memories and meanings of that evening are not.

I NEVER MEASURED THAT DISTANCE ON THE ROD. NOW IT IS LONG GONE. BUT THE MEMORIES AND MEANINGS OF THAT EVENING ARE NOT.

the very head of the riffle, where I had encountered her in May, couldn’t hold her now.

The air was cool. Sumac blazed red on the hillsides. The land already smelled of fall. But the creek still smelled of summer. Mint. Beebalm. Cress. Wisps of fog rose from the water.

It only took one poke.

I crept up, gave a shiner minnow a gentle but long pendulum swing-toss as far as I could above where I thought the fish would be, and peeked over grass to watch my offering flash and struggle into the gut of the riffle.

A torpedo flashed and slashed out from below overhanging grasses and I set the hook.

I followed her as she wallowed down the riffle, into the deeper run and then into the pool, where she made bulldog

I think often of things August brown: the fish of course, but also the time and place. Warm land and cold water. The bittersweet end of the final summer of my youth. Leaving the simple for the complex. All the unknowns. The living moments, like this one, that would serve as soft ballast in hard times and still do.

Crickets chirped as I walked out in the dark with sweet wafts of springwater and wild mint filling my nose. Far above, unknown galaxies spiderwebbed across the firmament on a moonless night, their faint light casting the softest of shadows on sere grasses crunching underfoot.

A true son of the Driftless, Tom Carpenter now finds his home waters in Minnesota’s hill country, but he still finds time to trout-fish and soul-search on the other side of the Mississippi.

Fin & Feather:

Meet the Two-Man Show Filming a Conservation Series Between Country Music Tour Stops

BY FRANCESCA KREMPA

When 18-year-old Ben Dunning first pointed his camera at Colby Acuff onstage, he didn’t know he was capturing the start of something much bigger. Years later, the two friends are touring the country not just to share music, but to spotlight the unsung heroes of conservation—guides, anglers and hunters who dedicate their lives to preserving the lands and waters they love. Their YouTube series, Fin & Feather, weaves together story, song and wilderness to remind us that protecting wild spaces isn’t just a cause—it’s a calling.

Dunning and Acuff met at the University of Idaho when Dunning was a freshman and Acuff was a senior. Dunning, an aspiring videographer, had just gotten his first decent camera and heard Acuff, then an aspiring singer-songwriter, was playing a gig at a local coffee shop. Eager to try his hand at filming live music, Dunning approached him and asked if he could shoot his show for free.

“Colby said, ‘Well, how would you do it for 50 bucks?’ And at that point, that was the highest-paying job that I had landed with my camera,” recalls Dunning.

Years later, Acuff graduated from college and, also a lifelong angler, became a fly-fishing guide to supplement his dreams of becoming a country musician. In 2023, his music career

BEN DUNNING

Colby Acuff

Ben Dunning

finally took off: he signed with Sony Music Nashville, debuted at the iconic Grand Ole Opry, and toured the U.S. with some of country music’s most popular artists. And who did he call to shoot his concerts? Ben Dunning, who had been busy carving a successful path of his own in action-sports cinematography.

Where story meets stewardship

Fast forward to a late-night conversation at an Airbnb in Vancouver, where the two friends were discussing career dreams after a show. “Colby asked me what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” says Dunning. He responded with a simple answer: “I want to be a filmmaker.” Specifically, he wanted

But this isn’t your typical highoctane, hot-blooded “fish porn.” Both Acuff and Dunning emphasize that the series isn’t about catching trophy fish— it’s about highlighting the real stories of our lands and waters and the people who know them intimately. It’s about the connection to America’s wild places and inspiring a responsible, regenerative relationship with the resource.

“This is not a big fish show,” says Acuff. “[Most creators] are like, ‘I put a big fish in the boat and I get a lot of views.’ But it just can’t be about that.”

Instead, the first half of each episode focuses on the individuals behind the adventure, while the second half immerses viewers in action-packed fishing and hunting footage, highlighting the importance of conserving these

Through Fin & Feather, the duo has built a platform for stewardship, one that invites us all to care a little deeper and give a little more back to the places we love.

to make films that left behind a legacy while invoking emotion. Not Instagram Reels set to trending audio, but poignant, creative films that would outlive him.

“And Colby looked at me and said— I’ll never forget it—‘Dude, you are already a filmmaker,’” recalls Dunning. And then: “‘Now, let’s make a film.’”

And that’s how Fin & Feather was born. The two got to work on a passion project that would highlight their shared adoration for the outdoors. In between playing and filming shows on Acuff’s 2025 tour, the duo would head outside to fish, hunt and spotlight local guides who are doing the work to protect wild places. Each 10-minute episode is filmed wherever the tour bus stops, creating a raw, moving portrait of the American outdoors.

special places for future generations. And it’s filmed and edited entirely by Dunning. There’s no glitzy production crew, no crew of chase boats, no bigbudget screenplay. Nothing is scripted (aside from the standardized set of interview questions they ask their guides). The duo simply shows up, interviews the local outfitters about their experience, and then hits the boat or the duck blind together.

“I want the guides and the outfitters that we’re featuring—the experts on the place that we’re at—to be the main characters,” says Acuff. “I want them to tell their story of their resource.”

The real trophy: a healthy resource

The first episode of Fin & Feather dropped on YouTube in late June,

“There’s a romance to it. There’s an art to being a steward, and a lot of it comes with some kind of self-awareness and some discipline.”—Colby Acuff

kicking off a rolling cadence of new episodes shot throughout the season. The premiere takes place on Arkansas’s iconic White River, where Acuff joins local guides to chase trout and dig into conservation concerns facing the river today, like water management, fishing pressure and catch-and-keep regulations. It’s loaded with videos of stunning, hard-fighting browns and rainbows that would make any serious angler dream about booking a trip. But more beautiful than these fish is the message, one that transcends all videos in the series, regardless of the species: stewardship matters, especially as sports like fly fishing continue to grow in popularity.

To Acuff, this means not just getting out there for the biggest catch, but really learning the sport, like knowing how to properly handle fish so that they swim back strong, or understanding how river conditions impact trout health.

“If you want the knowledge, the stewardship will come very easily,” he says. “There’s a romance to it. There’s an art to being a steward, and a lot of it comes with some kind of self-awareness and some discipline.”

Dunning agrees, and hopes the series will act as a steward in and of itself: “If we can bring in a population of people that care deeply about the resource, then we’re actually doing it a favor,” he adds. “If [Fin & Feather] can help people adjust their ‘why’... I think it can make a really big difference.”

Through Fin & Feather, the duo has built a platform for stewardship, one that invites us all to care a little deeper and give a little more back to the places we love. In a world obsessed with the next big catch, they remind us that the real legacy isn’t the fish—it’s the way we choose to protect the waters they call home.

A Shining Success in Wisconsin

BY WILLIAM ROBICHAUD

In December 1936, architect Frank Lloyd Wright suffered a severe bout of pneumonia at his home and studio, Taliesin, just outside Spring Green, Wisconsin. For weeks, it was touch and go. When the fever finally broke, Wright’s relieved daughter, Iovanna, wrote to friends with the good news that her father was feeling better and, in fact, had asked for “a meal of speckled trout and champagne.” Aha… it seems someone was catching brook trout for Wright in the stream near the house, Lowery Creek. Wild char as medicine. I like that.

In the decades that followed Wright’s convalescent meal, brookies in Lowery Creek took two hits: siltation from coarse agricultural practices along the banks and, starting in 1973, stocking of the stream with brown trout. Surveys in the 1960s and ‘70s by Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) found only browns. Any surviving brookies had retreated, undetected, to the headwaters or the ribbons of two small tributaries.

Flash forward to December 2014, and a gathering of neighbors around mugs of coffee at the Spring Green General Store. They came together through a shared love of the hilly, unglaciated Driftless Area around Spring Green and a desire to foster better stewardship of the land. They sought to define the ‘where, who, what’ that could give shape to this vision. For the ‘where’ they soon settled on Lowery Creek and the Jones Valley it flows through (the valley is named after Wright’s immigrant Welsh ancestors, mother’s side, who settled here in 1863). And with that the “Lowery Creek Watershed Initiative,” LCWI, was born. The group soon found a supportive admin home in a local conservation organization, the Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC).

Taliesin

JACK WHALEY

They came together through a shared love of the hilly, unglaciated Driftless Area around Spring Green and a desire to foster better stewardship of the land. They sought to define the ‘where, who, what’ that could give shape to this vision. For the ‘where’ they soon settled on Lowery Creek and the Jones Valley it flows through.

Conservation of the brook trout wasn’t an initial draw for the LCWI founders. That would come later. Mike Degen lives along one of the stream’s wee tributaries and was at that first meeting. He’s a retired DNR biologist who now works as a landscape ecologist for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which owns Taliesin and 800 surrounding acres. He recalls, “We brought together interests that were diverse, but which could mutually support one another. And important to me, we were working toward something consistent with Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision.” The central theme of all of Wright’s work was using architecture to unite humans with nature, rather than separate us from it. Wright did this in myriad, sublime ways with Taliesin, and the house is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taliesin is Welsh for ‘shining brow,’ and the house emerges from the brow of a hill overlooking Lowery Creek and the valley, just a few hundred yards before the stream meets the Wisconsin River. LCWI enlisted students in

conservation planning at the University of Wisconsin to help develop a plan. Under the guidance of DALC’s Barb Barzen, another LCWI founder at that first coffee meeting, the students’ planning process helped define LCWI’s ‘who’ and ‘what.’ It would be to work with valley residents to develop more watershedfriendly agricultural practices. And with that, the Cates Family Farm enthusiastically came on board and soon became among LCWI’s most active members.

Richard (Dick) Cates is a fit, upbeat man in his early 70s, who exudes positivity and connection. His family’s farm is key, because they own the longest stretch of land along Lowery Creek, 3-1/2 miles of streamside cattle pastures, just upstream from Taliesin. His parents, who lived in Madison and knew nothing of farming, bought the farm in 1968, when Dick was 15. In the years that followed, Dick and his siblings and parents spent many weekends and school breaks at the farm, figuring out, through hard work, sweat, intermittent curses and small

The through-line of their efforts was constantly trying to learn to be not just farmers, but land conservationists and stewards.

victories, how to farm. Their trials and tribulations are wonderfully retold in a book by Cates, A Creek Runs Through This Driftless Land: A Farm Family’s Journey Toward a Land Ethic (Little Creek Press, 2024).

The book’s subtitle is a nod to another great Wisconsin nature lover and a contemporary of Wright, Aldo Leopold, who described the urgent need for a “land ethic” in his classic book, A Sand County Almanac. Leopold and Wright each did their most important work only about 50 miles apart, on opposite banks of the same Wisconsin River, work that endeavored to profoundly connect humans in relationship with land. Leopold penned his book at his weekend shack near the river, and today, like Taliesin, it is open for public visits. There’s something in the water here besides brook trout.

A few years after purchasing the farm, Dick’s father gave him A Sand County Almanac for Christmas, and reading it changed Dick’s life. He already knew that among his siblings he felt the strongest call to the farming life. And now he knew the kind of farmer he wanted to be—one who didn’t simply use land, but lived in respectful, reciprocal relationship with it. In 1990, Dick and his wife, Kim, bought the farm from his parents and, with their three kids, more years of work, frustrations and some gradual, increasing success followed. The through-line of their efforts was constantly trying to learn to be not just farmers, but land conservationists and stewards.

The result is Cates Family Farm, today run mainly by son, Eric, and his wife, Kiley, who live in the next farmhouse over from Dick and Kim. The operation is beef cattle, and rotational grazing. Each day the cattle are moved to one of more than 30 patches in a large, subdivided pasture along Lowery Creek. Consequently, each section of grass and clover is grazed only about one day per month, and so never gets chewed down to erodible nubbins or lets in grasses with shallower roots. “You have to let nature be your teacher,” explains Dick. “And we know from large

Eric Cates

JONNAH PERKINS

“We brought together interests that were diverse, but which could mutually support one another. And important to me, we were working toward something consistent with Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision.”—Mike

Degen

JACK WHALEY

The brookies weren’t just holding their own, they were taking over. And the DNR confirmed in 2016 that genetically these brookies are native stock, not hatchery descended.

wild herbivores that the key to sustainable grasslands is movement. So that’s what we do with our cattle.”

Many years of commitment to conservation by the Cates and neighbors like Joe Stapleton upstream have steadily reduced siltation, improved water clarity and thus lowered stream temperatures. The phantom brookies responded, further helped by the DNR’s suspension after 2013 of stocking brown trout in Lowery. In 1997, the DNR found an encouraging, albeit paltry (at least for the Driftless Area), population of 230 brook trout/mile in Lowery. By 2013 the count was 418 brookies/mile, versus just 48 browns/ mile. The brookies weren’t just holding their own, they were taking over. And the DNR confirmed in 2016 that genetically these brookies are native stock, not hatchery descended.

In 2018, Barb Barzen contacted the DNR’s new fish manager for the county, Justin Haglund, to probe DNR interest in working with LCWI to protect Lowery Creek. Haglund was all in, and started with a new assessment survey by shocking, and got shocking results—10 times as many brookies as previously, now 4,200/mile.

Lowery Creek is a native trout success story. In 2021, for the first time in the stream’s history, the DNR designated Lowery Creek a Class 1 trout stream. And given its pristine brookie genetics, it’s now one of the source streams where Haglund and DNR colleagues from the Nevin State Fish Hatchery periodically collect eggs and milt to rear brookies for stocking into other Driftless streams.

Two local TU chapters have joined in to help sustain the success. The Harry and Laura Nohr and Southern Wisconsin chapters have been clearing the banks of raggedy trees such as box elders, and replanting with longer-lived, shadier species, such as swamp white oak. The goal is long-term maintenance, as the planet warms, of cool water, vital to brookies. To keep tabs on the water, 10 ‘citizen science’ monitoring stations have been established in the valley. Each month

“If they want to fish, we welcome them. It’s a joy for us, because our family doesn’t really own this land. We’re just the latest stewards.”

—Dick Cates

residents such as Degen and the Cates family test for the likes of clarity and dissolved oxygen, with the results fed into the state’s water quality database.

“The DNR can’t manage this resource alone,” notes Haglund. “We need help, and that’s where LCWI and members like the Cates family come in, and DALC, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and TU. This is a partnership, neighbors working together, and it works.”

Last year the Cates Family Farm granted the DNR a public easement along Lowery Creek, so trout anglers can enjoy the success story. “My family loves that

the public is interested in this landscape and these trout,” explains Dick. “If they want to fish, we welcome them. It’s a joy for us, because our family doesn’t really own this land. People have lived in this small valley for at least 10,000 years, we’ve found projectile points that show this. We’re just the latest stewards.”

So, the next time you’re in Wisconsin, take a tour of Taliesin, then head to the Lowery Creek easement along the Cates property. Give a wave to Dick, Kim, Eric or Kiley if you see them, and have a try at catching some native trout. You’ll be welcome at this special place.

JONNAH

INTRO BY DAVID KINNEY, PROFILES BY GREG FITZ, ZOE BOMMARITO, NICK GANN, TONER MITCHELL AND BEVERLY SMITH

CHAMPION BE A

Trout Unlimited has a new tagline: “Every River Needs a Champion.”

And while we would like to think it describes an organization that has grown from one grassroots chapter in Michigan to a national operation with outsize impact on conservation, really the tagline is about the people of TU, all the hundreds of thousands of advocates, volunteers, supporters and allies making a difference in ways great and small.

The stories in the handful of pages to follow—and in fact all the best stories we tell about the people of TU—travel the same path.

Part 1: The protagonist falls in love with a river, a stream, a pond. Maybe it happens with a trout at the end of their line. Or maybe not: The same passion could emerge during an epic float trip through public lands, or on a quiet hike along a stream.

Part 2: They see a problem. A fragile fishery degraded by pollution. A salmon run blocked by dams. A misguided development proposal on a cherished water.

Then comes Part 3: the transformation. Having seen something go wrong, they decide to do something about it. They act.

That’s the route to becoming a champion.

It’s worth taking a moment to think about what it means to “do something about it.”

Yes, you could be a U.S. senator who works to protect public lands and the waters that flow through them, or a retired Navy commander who sets your sights on a dam wreaking havoc on Maine’s Penobscot River. But you could just as likely be working quietly on a stream few people know about, collecting water quality samples or planting trees along the banks. You could be writing letters and meeting with staffers in your local lawmaker’s office. You could be signing a petition or writing a check so organizations like TU can keep doing what they do year after year and decade after decade.

The point is, not every action will land you on the Mount Rushmore of conservation. But small acts matter. They add up.

So take TU’s tagline as inspiration, invitation, exhortation—and a challenge: How will you be a champion for the water and the fish we care so much about?

The Snake River has always been at the heart of Kayeloni Scott’s life, work and family.

Scott grew up in Lewiston, Idaho, at the confluence of the Clearwater and the Lower Snake Rivers. She is an enrolled member of the Spokane Tribe with direct Nez Perce lineage. Today, after years working in communications and advocacy for the Nez Perce Tribe and American Rivers, she now leads the Columbia Snake River Campaign, a coalition of organizations working to restore a freeflowing Lower Snake River.

She played a key role in producing and sharing the inspiring film “Covenant of the Salmon People,” and TU members will remember her powerful conversation on stage with TU’s Eric Crawford following a screening at CX3 in Spokane two years ago.

Her leadership is built on an expansive, restorative vision for the watershed’s future.

“Dam removal can be a tough issue, but we have solutions,” Scott explains. “The Nez Perce opposed the

“THE NEZ PERCE OPPOSED THE DAMS  EVEN BEFORE THEY WERE BUILT, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTOOD THE IMPACTS THEY WOULD HAVE. TODAY, A BROAD NETWORK OF PARTNERS LIKE TROUT UNLIMITED—WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE FIGHT FOR DECADES— ARE WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A  FUTURE  WHERE COMMUNITIES  AND SALMON CAN THRIVE.”

KAYELONI SCOTT

dams even before they were built, because we understood the impacts they would have. Today, a broad network of partners like Trout Unlimited—who have been in the fight for decades—are working together toward a future where communities and salmon can thrive.”

“We aren’t working to create winners and losers. We know change is needed and we want the entire nation to understand that we see ways forward that will support abundant salmon, clean power and thriving farms,” she says.

Scott reminds us that we know what the alternative looks like. She has listened to the stories of tribes and communities who have already lost their salmon because of dams with impassable barriers. She knows what it means for cultures and ecosystems to lose keystone, iconic species.

She is dedicated to not letting that continue in the mighty Columbia and Snake Basins.

When Congress is out of session, you’ll find Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) stalking bull elk in the greater Gila or fly fishing for wild browns in the Valles Caldera National Preserve. A longtime hunter and angler, Heinrich brings this experience to his new role as the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee—and his leadership style reflects a deep personal commitment to defending public lands and waters in bold and innovative ways.

As Ranking Member, Heinrich has used his platform to elevate public lands at the highest levels, including leading the charge against a recent budget provision that would have opened millions of acres of National Forest and BLM land to sale.

“I live in the West. I don’t need a poll to tell me that public lands are popular,” said Heinrich. “Attempts to sell them off are out of touch with our values. No one should have been surprised when hunters and anglers from Idaho to New Mexico took to the streets and flooded Congress with calls. We are defending our way of life.”

In New Mexico, public lands are more than policy— they’re part of the culture. Outdoor recreation supports 68,000 jobs and generates over $613 million annually from hunters and anglers alone. As Heinrich puts it, “Our public lands hold our shared identity: they are where we gather, fish, hunt and hike. These lands house our collective history, support jobs and sustain our rural economies.”

In Washington, Heinrich is known as a pragmatic dealmaker. In 2024, he authored and spearheaded the passage of the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act with Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), allowing groups like Trout Unlimited to clean up toxic mine sites without long-term liability—a major win for coldwater habitat restoration. He was also instrumental in permanently reauthorizing and fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund.  Looking ahead, Heinrich is working with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) to reintroduce the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, investing in proactive, state-led conservation efforts nationwide.

Whether in Congress or the backcountry, Heinrich is charting a new course for public lands—rooted in stewardship, access and lasting legacy.

SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH

“I

LIVE IN THE WEST. I DON’T NEED A POLL TO TELL ME THAT PUBLIC LANDS ARE POPULAR. ATTEMPTS TO SELL THEM OFF ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH OUR VALUES.”

Meet TU’s river doctor, Dr. Sara Porterfield. With a PhD in the transnational history of the Colorado River Basin and a background as a rafting guide with the Colorado Outward Bound School, Sara brings a unique perspective to both the high-level policy discussions happening about the future of this watershed and the impacts of the historically low water levels on communities across the Basin’s seven states.

The accelerating aridification of the West, which is hitting the Colorado River Basin particularly hard, means that there’s less and less water for those who rely on the river, including tribes, agriculture, rural communities, municipalities, wildlife and fish. This has also caused increasingly hotter and more unpredictable wildfires, further impacting these populations.

DR. SARA PORTERFIELD

COLORADO RIVER PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND WESTERN WATER POLICY ADVISOR AT TROUT UNLIMITED

To mitigate these impacts and present policymakers with examples and options for how best to make the most use out of every drop of water in the Basin, Sara’s work focuses on connecting TU’s on-the-ground projects to federal policies and programs, such as the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART grant programs, and using TU’s project work to inform our advocacy on water policy in the West.

This often means bringing together different groups— ranging from ranchers, industry and other representatives of the 40 million people who rely on this watershed—to identify where they can work together at this critical juncture in the Colorado River’s history.

As someone who has had “some of the most beautiful and the most terrible experiences of my life in the Colorado River Basin,” both her personal and professional experiences keep her committed to this special place. Quite simply, there’s no one better to help navigate what’s ahead.

THE ACCELERATING ARIDIFICATION OF THE

WEST, WHICH IS HITTING THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN PARTICULARLY HARD, MEANS THAT THERE’S LESS AND LESS WATER FOR THOSE WHO RELY ON THE RIVER,INCLUDING TRIBES, AGRICULTURE, RURAL COMMUNITIES, MUNICIPALITIES, WILDLIFE AND FISH.

For Barbara Luneau, conservation is about people.

Her TU journey began over a decade ago in Colorado’s South Platte basin, where she found meaning in the community of volunteers working together to care for their home waters. She dove in headfirst, leading chapter

BARBARA LUNEAU

programs, mentoring new volunteers and eventually directing Colorado TU’s signature River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp for teens.

Now, as CTU Council President, Barbara helps chapters and volunteers succeed by ensuring they have what they need to thrive. Her leadership style is inclusive and empowering. She’s a connector, mentor and champion for shared goals and local voices. Whether it’s a statewide initiative or a streamside planting, Barbara’s presence has a way of making others feel valued.

A hallmark of her leadership is the belief that engaging youth is a long-term investment in TU’s future. Her vision helped shape CTU’s “Stream of Engagement” strategy, which gives young people multiple, connected entry points into the TU community. And it’s working. Many former campers now return as camp volunteers or take on leadership roles in their chapters, evidence of a leadership pipeline nurtured by trust and belonging.

That same ethic of preparation showed up in dramatic fashion this summer. When a wildfire forced a sudden evacuation of TU’s youth camp, Barbara’s calm leadership kept campers and volunteers safe. The group had run a drill just hours earlier—a direct result of the detailed planning she and others put in place long before the week began.

Barbara’s impact goes beyond youth programs. She’s strengthened CTU’s planning, governance and leadership development statewide. And nationally, she’s a trusted partner, always ready to test a new idea, build a coalition or connect someone new to the work.

Barbara Luneau leads with heart, intention and an enduring belief in people.

PHOTOS BY JOSH

STEVE HEINZ

As a retired Navy Commander, Steve Heinz is no stranger to hard fought battles, bureaucracy and persistence in the face of adversity. After he retired, Steve turned his passion for fishing and the outdoors into action, removing small dams and replacing culverts in

AS FERC ACTION COORDINATOR FOR TROUT UNLIMITED’S MAINE COUNCIL, STEVE USES HIS SKILLSET—NAVIGATING COMPLEX PROCESSES, COLLABORATING WITH MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS AND POWERING THROUGH POLITICS—TO MAKE PROGRESS ON RELICENSING AND DECOMMISSIONING PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

some of southern Maine’s best brook trout strongholds. But he noticed that there was a missing piece in the conservation puzzle: big dams in Maine were dewatering and diminishing habitat for native fish. Someone needed to hold hydropower operators accountable for the smallwater projects to have a significant effect.

Steve got to work and leveraged the skills to fight for the fish. As FERC Action Coordinator for Trout Unlimited’s Maine Council, Steve uses his skillset—navigating complex processes, collaborating with multiple stakeholders and powering through politics—to make progress on relicensing and decommissioning projects throughout the state. With licenses for these big dams lasting up to 50 years, Steve knows how important it is to stand up for the resource. These dams must ensure healthy flows and stability for fragile river ecosystems for decades to come. The key to his success: “put in the work, deal with bureaucracy and stay at it.”

While these efforts take time and effort, Steve finds optimism in greater awareness within the conservation community. Last year, when Ripogenus Dam on the West Branch of the Penobscot River lost power and then stopped releasing water, Steve was contacted by rafting guides and other local folks and together, they sprang into action to hold hydropower accountable. “It’s never over,” he said, “but now, we have a bunch of people paying attention and willing to take action.”

When he’s not playing ball with big hydropower, Steve enjoys fishing for native brook trout, smallmouth bass and shad, depending on the season. Maybe the 13-inch blueback trout he caught last year is symbolic of Steve’s spirit and his impact in Trout Unlimited’s community— rare, legendary, resilient—or maybe it simply means he’s good at what he does.

Atireless volunteer from Pennsylvania’s Doc Fritchey Chapter, Russ Collins is as comfortable leading a complex stream restoration project as he is moderating a national panel on climate change.

Russ’s journey into coldwater conservation began on the water, with a rod in hand and a deep appreciation for wild places. But it didn’t take long before he found a calling beyond fishing: caring for and recovering the streams he loved.

His commitment to Pennsylvania’s coldwater resources, and the trout that rely on them, proved infallible. As chapter president, Russ helped secure more than $4 million in project funding—one of the largest and most impactful conservation portfolios in TU’s grassroots network. Under his leadership, the chapter removed obsolete dams, restored streambanks, added in-stream structure and fenced out livestock. These efforts reconnected, cooled and deepened streams, creating resilient habitat for native trout. Even when pipeline construction severely damaged the chapter’s beloved Snitz Creek, Russ stepped up, holding polluters accountable while rallying recovery efforts.

Beyond the field, Russ has become one of TU’s most trusted national-level voices. As co-chair of both the Climate Change and Communications Workgroups of the TU National Leadership Council, he fosters collaboration across the

RUSS COLLINS

UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE CHAPTER REMOVED OBSOLETE DAMS, RESTORED STREAMBANKS, ADDED IN-STREAM STRUCTURE AND FENCED OUT LIVESTOCK.

THESE EFFORTS RECONNECTED, COOLED AND DEEPENED STREAMS, CREATING RESILIENT HABITAT FOR NATIVE TROUT.

organization. His leadership has helped TU navigate difficult terrain, bringing together volunteer advocates to focus on common ground where TU can make a lasting impact. He has organized national panels, built partnerships and elevated bipartisan conversations around climate and conservation.

“Russ Collins is an everyman champion of conservation,” said TU President and CEO Chris Wood. “He has been a stalwart on climate change education and awareness. He singlehandedly wrote a petition to convince the state of PA to protect wild brown trout. Russ is a happy warrior for TU!”

All in all, Russ models the collaborative One TU concept in all that he does, never shy to share a win with others and always ready to help. A true gentleman, respected, collaborative and deeply dedicated, Russ Collins is helping chart a hopeful future for trout streams and the communities that cherish them.

NICK STREIT

In New Mexico and, increasingly, around the western U.S., Nick Streit’s fly-fishing reputation precedes him. This is in part due to his father, Taylor, a New Mexico legend in his own right who explored the state’s waters with a fly rod throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s and committed his adventures to the pages of several books. Nick started early along the guiding path, leading fishing trips before he was old enough to legally drive to the river. He guided with his father throughout North and South America, and at the ripe old age of 17, Nick was a member of the U.S. youth team that placed second in the World Fly Fishing Championships held in Wales. In 2004, he reopened the Taos Fly Shop (which Taylor had founded in the 1980s) with the support of his wife Chrissy and their children Taylor and Christian.

Nick Streit has leveraged his fly-fishing life as an effective conservationist, establishing himself as a home-grown champion of New Mexico’s rivers and public lands. He has lent his voice to successful campaigns to protect the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Area, and Valles Caldera National Preserve. He played a

prominent role in the designation of the spectacular Rio Grande del Norte National Monument and is currently serving as the director of the friends group engaging in community outreach and advancing conservation objectives related to the monument.

When president of TU’s Enchanted Circle Chapter in Taos, Nick spearheaded the restoration of the Red River in Questa, a stream that had been impacted by decades of mining. Nick’s Red River work set an informal standard for TU’s approach to community engagement in New Mexico: steward the communities that steward the trout. True to this mantra, Nick has joined other conservation leaders in opposition to a proposed mine in the headwaters of the Pecos River, which provides clean water and recreation to dozens of small towns and villages like the ones where Nick spent his childhood.

NICK’S RED RIVER WORK SET AN INFORMAL STANDARD FOR TU’S APPROACH TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN NEW MEXICO: STEWARD THE COMMUNITIES THAT STEWARD THE TROUT.

Healthy fish need healthy water. We all do.

The same free-flowing rivers that sustain trout and salmon bring clean water into our homes, give life to vibrant communities and feed a passion for angling and the outdoors. Today our fisheries and our rivers face enormous challenges.

At Trout Unlimited, we are doing something about it.

Whether you are passionate about wild and native fish, inspired by the wonder of rivers or dedicated to clean water, we invite you into our community of committed optimists.

Be a champion for the rivers and the fish we love and help unlock the unlimited power of conservation.

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Nick Fiorini and Stephen Douglas in the moment. Photo: Anthony Swentosky

Actionline

Christmas Lights & Brown Trout

The Untold Story of West Virginia’s Elkhorn Creek. pg 72

5 Rivers Students Unite in Western North Carolina Elk River recieves 4,000 trees after Hurricane Helene. pg 75

Stream Champion

Tom Brennan investing in kids. pg 76

Tools & Tips

STEM Education Program Regional Rendezvous, River Chapions and more. pg 78

Christmas Lights & Brown Trout: The Untold Story of

West Virginia’s Elkhorn

BY BEAU BEASLEY

It’s not quite 9a.m. on a cool Saturday morning in September, but the parking lot at the Elkhorn Post Office in McDowel County, W.V., is jam packed. Cars, vans and pickup trucks from across the state squeeze themselves into whatever space they can find. Out-of-state plates are also on hand from places like Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Ohio. The restless crowd crosses nearly every employment status from coal miners, and a registered nurse, to state and

Creek

local government employees as well as local citizens. Rounding out the crowd are college students from the Virginia Tech Fly Fishing Club, as well as active and retired police officers, fire fighters and veterans. Not all present are die-hard fly anglers, heck, some don’t even fish but they’re all here for the same reason. Every volunteer wants to help ensure a healthy future for Elkhorn Creek.

A young man with a clipboard in his hand steps forward and addresses the

crowd in a loud voice. “OK folks let’s get started,” he stops speaking for a moment as the crowd steps in closer to hear what he has to say. “My name is Bronson Brown and I’m the VP of the Southern West Virginia Chapter of Trout Unlimited.” A few boisterous members in the crown begin to hoot and holler at this announcement as if cheering for Brown and he quickly turns three shades of red before shouting back “OK you guys, knock it off!” He grins trying to regain his composure. “I want to thank you all for coming and donating your Saturday to helping us clean this special place.”

Bronson makes a few more comments before turning things over to fellow TU member Chris Mullens. Mullens, a lanky man with more than 30 years under his belt as a coal miner, has a distinctive southern accent with a bit of a drawl. He speaks like someone who is used to being listened to when addressing the crowd. It’s not the voice of arrogance; instead, like the voice of someone who had a great deal of experience with both leading people and someone who loves the river. Mullens has fished in this creek hundreds of hours and spent still more cleaning it as well. “Like Bronson said, we all appreciate you coming out to help us, because frankly we need the help. As usual there’s a lot of trash in the river, but safety is the number one priority today. Please use these,” Mullens says while holding up a pair of chartreuse colored gloves with one hand. In the other, he clutches a series of pale green trash bags with the word REAP emblazoned on the side which stands for Regional Environmental Action Plan. The bags are provided at no cost by the West Virginia Dept of Environmental Protection.

Mullens then breaks the large crowd of 65 or more volunteers into smaller teams of seven or eight. Now it’s Brown’s turn again and he weighs in assigning each team a certain section of the river. Each section corresponds with locations on his tightly held clipboard, which indicates which sections of the creek need the most attention. In less than 15 minutes team members, many of whom have never met before, make quick introductions and then head off to their assignments. To an outside observer and first timer like me, the whole process seems quite impressive and operates with near military precision.

RUSSEL

How

it all began.

The Elkhorn Creek cleanup is not a slap dash effort. In fact, TU members have been leading this charge for more than 25 years. Originally the cleanup was initiated by the Kanawha Valley Chapter of TU, which is now called the Ernie Nester Chapter in honor of its founding member. Nester was a professor and served as the Dean of Engineering at West Virginia Institute of Technology. Because of his forward thinking on conservation and his interest in West Virginia trout, he earned the respect of his peers statewide, which echoes to this day. This clean-up is just one effort among many others that Nestor helped lead in West Virginia before his passing in 2013. McDowell County was named for then Virginia Governor James McDowell in 1858

Records from 2023 indicate McDowell County has a total median household income of just $29,800. With such a meager income, most families are just barely making ends meet today.

prior to the Civil War. At that time West Virginia had not yet become its own state. McDowell and nearby Mingo County have a long history with the coal industry and the area was once an economic powerhouse. The coal fields provided thousands of jobs for the coal miners and then came the railroad companies and all the other businesses that supported the mines. The owners of the coal mines became so wealthy in the 1930s and 1940s at one time, rumor has it there were as many millionaires in this area of West Virgina as there were in New York City. Welch, the county seat, was bristling with business. Eventually, however, the mines closed, and nearly all the ancillary business along with them all with the jobs. Records from 2023 indicate McDowell County has a total median household income of just $29,800. With such a meager income, most families are just barely making ends meet today.

Wendell Hatfield, a direct descendant of the famed Hatfields and McCoy’s feud, works for the McDowell County Solid Waste Authority. He’s on hand at each cleanup to

provide support in moving the voluminous bags of trash and other heavier items on hand once they’ve been removed from the river by volunteers. Hatfield seems overjoyed by the prospect of taking so much trash out of the river. “Sadly, many of our citizens simply can’t afford to pay for trash removal and it doesn’t take long for things to get out of hand.” In some yards there are signs of trash being burned in old oil drums. A casual glace reveals bags of trash piled up behind many houses and some near the river. During high water events, these bags are simply swept downstream.

Starting from the ground up. It’s not uncommon to stand in a single location and in a matter of a few feet pick up an entire bag’s worth of trash. Soda cans and beer bottles are trapped in small eddies or seemingly lodged themselves everywhere the river’s path changes direction. Paper plates and other food containers are strewn along the banks and in some areas so thick they look like snow. High water levels from the spring season’s floods have caused plastic bags to be swept into streamside brush, festooning their branches like some demonic Christmas Tree. For reasons I can’t comprehend, you’ll find various children’s toys, sections of garden hose, shirts, pants, hats, gloves and even bikes in the river. One of the most discouraging things you’ll find is dirty diapers stuffed in those ubiquitous plastic shopping bags with the ends tied together. Other items like work boots, pillows, various tools, even brake pads can be found and of course there are always

Welch, West Virginia, 1946. This part of West Virginia was referred to by locals as "Little New York".

“I remember the very first clean up I attended; we collected 27 pickup truck loads out of the creek that wasn’t much longer than a football field. It simply blew my mind. I’m happy to say, however, things are improving.”

— Bubba Holt

those discarded car tires. The oddest item I collected was a large strand of decorative Christmas lights complete with bulbs. While no doubt some of this trash is either blown or swept into the river by wind or rain, it’s painfully obvious that some of the trash is placed there through deliberate effort.

I’d been invited to the cleanup by my friend Bubba Holt, a native West Virginian and a die-hard fly angler. Holt is what you’d call “a fishy guy.” What Holt doesn’t know about fly fishing in West Virginia probably isn’t worth knowing. His knowledge of the state, its people and the state’s fishery are

born from thousands of days spent streamside. Holt has been attending this cleanup for over a decade and often acts as the main cook, grilling chicken and short ribs for hours at a time to feed the volunteers. “The improvement I’ve seen because of these clean-ups is nothing short of remarkable,” says Holt. “I remember the very first clean up I attended; we collected 27 pickup truck loads out of the creek that wasn’t much longer than a football field. It simply blew my mind. I’m happy to say, however, things

are improving.” Thanks to a generous grant provided by American Electric Power, these volunteers have removed a staggering 45 tons of trash in the past three years alone. The clean-ups have proven so successful that multiple sections of the river are cleaned each year. Some volunteers even stay a day longer and clean other nearby tributaries as well.

A diamond in the rough.

On top of the river’s struggles with trash, water quality is also an issue. Many of the homes near the river lack septic tanks and white pipes can be seen emptying directly into the river from some houses. While this makes the river a place you would never want to go without wearing waders, the bug life is simply incredible. Flows from the Elkhorn come from abandoned mine runoff and has a very steady flow for most of the year. Adding to this is a constant supply of 55-degree water year-round. This combination of factors makes the Elkhorn excellent for wild reproducing fish, and it often produces trout over 25 inches.

One of the best things about the Elkhorn River cleanup is the camaraderie and sense of common purpose among the volunteers. Because of the grant from American Electric Power meals and along with housing costs are covered. Sam’s Guest House, a locally owned business, provides a very generous discount which allows for overnight stays for out-of-state volunteers. This fall I plan to go back like the other volunteers and do my part to help a creek that really needs it. I’ll be looking forward to seeing like-minded people who want to make a difference and know good leadership and a worthy cause when they see it. The sort of people who aren’t afraid of working hard and even getting dirty if that’s what it takes. I’ve just got to remember to bring a larger net.

Beau Beasley is an investigative outdoor writer and Director of the Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival. His latest book, Healing Waters: Veterans’ Stories of Recovery in Their Own Words, was recently released.

Helene Recovery: 5 Rivers Students Unite

in Western North Carolina

Tucked into the misty mountains of western North Carolina, the LeesMcRae campus in Banner Elk transformed into a powerful venue this April. The 2025 TU Costa 5 Rivers Southeast Rendezvous brought the campus to life, as over 70 conservation-minded college anglers from 13 schools across the South converged on the banks of the Elk River. Their mission? Help a beloved trout stream recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene—and have a damn good time doing it.

Students rolled into town Friday afternoon, greeted by mountain fog that covered everything with a produce-aisle mist. As tents popped up, gear was unpacked and rods built, the buzz in the air brought warmth to the 30-degree valley. The weekend kicked off with a showing of the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) and a fly-tying night at the local shop, 828 Flies. Inside, students and community members tied woolly buggers and elk hair caddis flies, while outside, campfires crackled and laughter echoed into the night. When the films began, folks huddled under blankets and cheered from the lawn. Afterward, it was back to camp, where guitars came out, fire pits appeared and the valley filled with stories and songs late into the night.

Saturday morning brought a sense of purpose. With help from Lees-McRae staff, 5 Rivers students got to work restoring the Elk River. They hauled out massive debris left behind by the flood—enough to fill two full-sized dumpsters—and then got their hands dirty with live staking, a river restoration method where cuttings from native trees are planted directly into streambanks to take root. One day, the 4,000

trees planted by 5 Rivers students will stabilize the riverbank, cool the water and shade trout from the harsh summer sun.

By late afternoon, the restoration was complete, and rods were rigged. Students spread out across the region in search of trout, with some venturing as far as Tennessee to chase native brookies.

brewed, tents were packed and waders were pulled on one last time. After a few parting words, students made their way back into the hills, fishing their way home to campuses across the Southeast.

These 5 Rivers gatherings are more than weekend meetups—they’re the future of Trout Unlimited, coldwater conservation and the fisheries we all hold dear. At the Southeast Rendezvous, you’d find beginners and seasoned anglers, business majors and future wildlife biologists, all united by their love of fish and wild places. Across the country, TU Costa 5 Rivers clubs are doing the same thing—bringing the TU mission to life for more than 4,500 college students.

One day, the 4,000 trees planted by 5 Rivers students will stabilize the riverbank, cool the water and shade trout from the harsh summer sun.

That evening, everyone regrouped on campus for a shared dinner and fireside festivities. The air was slightly warmer, and the wind calmed down. Like the night before, students remained awake into the early morning hours, swapping fish stories, sharing fly patterns and talking about their dreams for a better future.

Sunday morning brought golden light and well-earned grogginess. Coffee was

These efforts wouldn’t be possible without the support of Trout Unlimited and Costa Sunglasses, who equip students with the tools, connections and confidence to turn passion into action. To them and the countless other supporters of the program, 5 Rivers is incredibly grateful. Additionally, the 2025 Southeast Rendezvous was made possible thanks to a generous grant from the J.B. Fuqua Foundation, whose investment helped bring this community together.

Want to get involved or learn more? Reach out to Cliff Watson at clifford.watson@tu.org.

STREAM CHAMPION

Tom Brennan

Creating the Next Generation of Conservation Stewards

BY SAMANTHA BALDENSPERGER

Stream Champions aren’t always working 9 to 5 in the fishing or conservation sector, some of them are like Tom Brennan, who started a school outfitting business and found himself with a front row seat to learning what kids need to become the next generation of conservation warriors. While working to supply school furniture in his Ohio community, philanthropy became a natural next step for Brennan. As an angler

since the days his father taught him to fly fish as a boy, Tom was drawn to conservation philanthropy.

“My wife and I have been lucky in our business, so we have been able to invest in youth programs involving the outdoors, the arts and early learning. We chose philanthropy because we are lucky enough to do it,” Brennan said. “I am investing in kids. Kids are the future. If they don’t care, sooner or later no one will care.”

In early 2020, Tom joined the Headwaters Advisory Board, then moved into the chair roll about two years ago. As stated on tu.org, “the Headwaters Youth Program is the nexus for all youth outreach at TU, blending science, technology, recreation, engineering, art and math (STREAM)-based lessons in watershed health with flyfishing instruction and trout education.”

Brennan feels lucky to have had a father who introduced him to fishing as well as the camaraderie in the fishing community. Coupling that early love of fishing with his years of work supporting classrooms, he has had the unique vantage point of seeing what kids are doing and what they need. “I want kids to have the same great experience I had growing up. It can change lives. Sometimes it is just an interesting experience and other times it becomes a passion.”

Brennan and the board are hard at work to revamp the Headwaters Advisory Board to model more like the Coldwater Conservation Fund Board. As is the nature of the organization with extensive restricted funds, they have planned an aggressive five year plan to fund and support the various young people programs.

The board helps with programs like Trout in the Classroom, 5 Rivers college chapters, camps and teen summit. “We need to build capacity with this aggressive five year plan. We intend to quadruple the amount of kids from 125,000 a year to over 500,000 per year. To do that we need money, so the idea is we are revamping the board to still be a board but to also be a support and activity board , so we are responsible for the money they have to use. We also want to grow the board from 15 to 30 people to 80 to 100 if we can,” Brennan said. While funds are always welcome and a goal, money isn’t always something

people have in surplus to offer. Success in the five-year plan is to become a fund to sustain the youth programs with regular donations, but members are valuable in experience and expertise they can share with the young people across TU’s programs.

“We like to say we are creating the next generation of conservation stewards. And I have met a lot of guides, and a lot of them are there because they got started early in TU Programs and activities,” Brennan said.

With the hopeful success of their long-term plan, the board will be able to help support, fund and advise the programs throughout TU so that the

“I am investing in kids. Kids are the future. If they don’t care, sooner or later no one will care.”

leaders of those programs can focus on engaging these young people.

Personally, Brennan has set his own goal of recruiting five new people by the end of the year to the board and a wider goal of 10 to 15 new people recruited by the board as a whole. With additional members of the board and at least a two-year commitment of donated funds, they will be able to help the programs hire more staff and boost the outreach of those programs.

Brennan said, “We have got to get the money and get it committed for 2 years so we can add the staff so we can do curriculum and outreach, that is what I am most excited about. We [the board] are morphing to fundraising from advising. There is advising work to do but we aren’t fiduciary for the programs. To me the work is about attracting kids not the pats on the back and thank yous. We are active in connecting the mission of conservation to the real world, it is about everything, it is ostensibly about fishing, but it is about life too.”

Send us a 300-500 word write up on your projects and events along with a photo or two and you could see your chapter in the pages of TROUT. Send your submission to Samantha. Baldensperger@tu.org.

BY JEFF YATES

Director of Volunteer Operations

TU High School Curriculum

New STEM Education Program Inspires the Next Generation

One of the most important ways Trout Unlimited drives our mission is by inspiring and empowering the next generation of conservation stewards. TU’s Headwaters Youth Program is excited to launch an all-new Watershed Curriculum.

Aligned with NGSS, AP Environmental Science and the updated IB Biology and IB Environmental Systems & Society courses, this curriculum blends classroom learning with hands-on and field-based activities that engage students in real-world data collection, analysis and environmental inquiry. Each lesson is adaptable and can be taught individually or in sequence, with opportunities to bring students into the field.

Explore online at  www.troutintheclassroom.org and select Watershed Curriculum from the «Lessons» dropdown menu. Contact our Headwaters staff for more information at www.tu.org/headwaters

Every River Needs A Champion

Step Up and Volunteer with Your Local TU Community

Be a champion for the rivers you love in your own backyard!

Each year, TU members like you contribute more than 650,000 volunteer hours working together to make local streams cleaner, colder and healthier. The best way for you to step up in your community is by connecting with your local TU chapter.

Whether you’d like to help by planting trees or picking up trash, conducting important community science and monitoring projects, advocating for state and local policies, or joining your chapter on a committee or the board, there are many opportunities to make a difference.

Reach out to your local chapter at  www.tu.org/chapters or contact TU’s Engagement Department and our Volunteer Operations team at www.tu.org/volops-staff.

Regional Rendezvous Events

Connect with us near Asheville, N.C., Missoula, Mont., Grayling, Mich. and Roscoe, NY

TURegional Rendezvous are exciting weekends packed with conversations, camaraderie and networking. Whether you come for the full weekend, one day or an event, you’re sure to have a great time, learn something new and meet like-minded people. Save the dates and start planning to attend an event near you—or cross the country to a Rendezvous in a place you’ve always wanted to visit!

Southeast Rendezvous – March 13-15, 2026

Join us just outside Asheville, North Carolina, where we will meet perched in the beautiful Black Mountains, offering a peaceful but purposeful space surrounded by a landscape still recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Helene. Early spring will find the insects beginning to stir and the wild mountain trout eagerly looking up.

Northeast Regional Rendezvous - April 10-12

Providing sessions that are as dynamic as the mountain landscapes around you, our Rendezvous in the Roscoe region of New York’s Catskill Mountains will deliver inspiring discussions and hands-on training—coupled with fun early season time on the water in the “Birthplace of American Flyfishing.”

Western Rendezvous – April 16-18, 2026

Come be part of a powerful gathering of fly-fishing conservationists in Missoula, Montana, timed to meet the Skwala hatch on area rivers and gather the most passionate stewards of rivers in the West.

Upper Midwest Rendezvous – May 1-3, 2026

Just minutes from the founding location of TU on the banks of the Au Sable River in Grayling, Michigan, we’re gathering at the historic Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center on Higgins Lake. This isn’t just a pretty place to fish—it’s the cradle of flyfishing conservation where you walk in the footsteps of those who sparked our national movement to protect wild trout and cold, clean water.

The best way to attend a Rendezvous is with friends from your local community or chapter, so start planning now to join us as a group this spring! Full details online at www.tu.org/regionals

Find A TU Event Near You

Our Online Calendar is Always Up to Date

Whether you’re looking to find a fishing trip close to home, hoping to volunteer for a river restoration project or simply interested in connecting with TU supporters like you, our online calendar  www.tu.org/events is a great place to start! Even better, if you’re planning a trip and want to connect with the TU community, the calendar offers a fast and easy way to search for events in every state.

Save the Date

CX3 Twin Cities Sept. 23-27, 2026

Save the date and plan to join us for CX3 Twin Cities in St. Paul, Minnesota, Sept. 23-27, 2026, for fishing opportunities, a special conservation tour, great events, discussions and additional activities. This multi-day event has something for everyone. Details at cx3.tu.org

Dear Miriam...

IFinding Your Joy

BY CHRISTINE PETERSON

t feels lately like all we hear is bad news.

Heat waves scorch trout in drought-stricken waters. Thousands of biologists and land managers, those tasked with caring for what we hold most dear, lost their jobs. The president wants to divest our national parks, and the Senate wants to sell our public lands.

Each day I write more about the future we all feared but prayed wouldn’t come.

Each day I worry more about our future, your future.

Then I worry that my worry isn’t moving the needle. It isn’t solving climate change or convincing our politicians to care more about clean water. So we do what we can—we pick up litter and talk with friends and family, we help in our local community and think critically about what we use.

And then we focus on what we still do have.

Because the problem with focusing entirely on what we’re losing, is we also risk losing the will to save what’s left. If we decide we’re already doomed, whether through biodiversity loss or a climate apocalypse, then why do anything?

If we still go outside and see the wonders that surround us, though, if we really see how much abundance there still is, then we know what to fight to keep. And that means finding joy.

But what does finding joy outside look like? It’s fiery red sunsets and cool mountain air, sure. It’s also much, much more. So I asked a handful of people who love the outdoors as much or more than I

do, including you, what moves them. And it’s in these answers that I find hope.

Emily Stone, our dear friend and author of the book series, Natural Connections, finds her joy in the new and unexpected. Emily already knows most of the bird, mammal, plant and tree species in her area, so the unexpected comes from taking a closer look. A much closer look. “I mean, how often have you walked past this stump at this campsite?” she said, pointing to a nearby tree stump in the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area. “If we investigated it with a magnifying glass, we’re going to find so many cool, tiny

If we still go outside and see the wonders that surround us, though, if we really see how much abundance there still is, then we know what to fight to keep. And that means finding joy.

discoveries. And that reminds me how much depth there is to life on Earth. I like feeling surrounded by all that life.”

Her partner, Kevin Friedman, once found his joy in summiting peaks and hiking long distances like the Appalachian Trail. Then he realized that nature had become nothing more than wallpaper, something pretty to look at on the way to somewhere else. He finds peace now in connecting with what once was just wallpaper. He identifies the birds around him, smiling

at their calls like the incessant “hereI-am, in-the-tree, look-up-here” of the red-eyed vireo. “Just being out there, thinking what is the name of this tree? Or what is this fish? Being able to know what you’re seeing and appreciate what you’re seeing is really the gateway to joy in nature, rather than the individualistic man against nature.”

Your Dad’s solace comes from how nature forces us to live in each moment. When he’s fishing, he’s not thinking about work emails or tests he needs to grade. He watches how water moves around rocks; he scans for deep pools, and he analyzes insects. He’s trying to think like a fish, and as a result, think outside himself. “It’s about slowing things down.”

You thought for a minute when I asked you where you find your joy, then told me it’s in climbing trees and in using natural materials like sticks, leaves and pine needles to watercolor. It’s “hanging out with friends and family in the quiet peacefulness of nature,” and it’s in catching bigger fish than your Dad.

Emily then passed along a quote from Joanna Macy, a Buddhist philosopher of ecology, who encapsulated it all: “There’s absolutely no excuse for making our passionate love for our world dependent on what we think of its degree of health, whether we think it’s going to go on forever. This moment, you’re alive! You can dial up the magic of that at any time.”  So go outside, find those places that make your heart sing or quiet your mind, and rest, at least for a moment, in those.

Love, Mom

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FLY ROD RULER Measure your catch with a Rodrule. The micro-thin Rodrule adheres to your rods without hampering the action or finish. Guide approved! Order at: www.rodrule.com

BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

Tributaries: Fly-fishing Sojourns to the Less Traveled Streams: “We’re recommending it because we think it’s the coolest concentration of Pennsylvania- (and a bit Catskill-) centric short essays we’ve read.”—TROUT magazine. Visit www. coastforkpress.com

Advertise in TROUT Classifieds

Reach more than 150,000 anglers for just $2.25/word ($2.05/word for members). Send text of ad and payment to:

TROUT Classifieds

1700 N Moore Street Suite 2005

Arlington, Virginia 22209-2793

Ads may be faxed to (703)284-9400 or e-mailed to Samantha.Baldensperger@tu.org

Classifieds must be prepaid. Count phone number, fax number, ZIP code, street number, abbreviations and email or website address as one word each.

December Deadline: October 15, 2025. To request a media kit for display advertising, call (703)284-9422

Ernest Schwiebert Prints

With your purchase – you are making a difference! We are now offering Salmon and Trout Prints.

All proceeds from the sale of these prints will go directly towards the Chapter’s mission of protecting our streams, conservation programs that engage the community, and sponsoring angler-based organizations like Heroes On The Water and Casting for Recovery.

To view available prints please visit: WWW.ESCTU.ORG or Scan this QR code

+ SNAG THIS SHIRT!

Support Trout Unlimited’s Business Members

Trout Unlimited Business members are TU ambassadors in protecting, restoring, reconnecting and sustaining North America’s coldwater fisheries. To become a TU

Business Member, contact Maggie Heumann at (256) 996-2241 or maggie.heumann@tu.org.

Outfitters Guides Lodges

ALASKA

Alaskan Angling Adventures LLC.

Mike Adams Cooper Landing, AK 99572 (907) 595-3336 alaskananglingadventures@gmail.com www.AlaskanAnglingAdventures.com

Alaska Drift Away Fishing

Jeremy Anderson Sterling, AK 99672 (907) 529-8776 info@guidekenairiver.com www.guidekenairiver.com

Alaska Fly Fishing Goods

Bradley Elfers Juneau, AK 99801 (907) 586-1550

brad@alaskaflyfishinggoods.com www.alaskaflyfishinggoods.com

Alaska Kingfishers

Rob Fuentes Dillingham, TX 99576 fish@alaskakingfishers.com www.alaskakingfishers.com

Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge

Brian Kraft Kvichak River – Lake Iliamna, AK (907) 227-8719

brian@fishasl.com www.fishasl.com

Alaska Trout Guides

Josh Hayes Sterling, AK 99672 (907) 598-1899

josh@alaskatroutguides.com www.alaskatroutguides.com

Alaska Troutfitters

Billy Coulliette Cooper Landing, AK 99572 (907) 595-1212 info@aktroutfitters.com www.aktroutfitters.com

GOLD LEVEL

Alaska Wild Caught Seafood

Matthew Luck

Ketchum, ID 83340 (208) 720-4226

matt@alaskawildcaughtseafood.net www.alaskawildcaughtseafood.net

Aleutian Rivers Angling

Dan, Jeff & Pat Vermillion Livingston, MT 59047 (888) 347-4286 pat@sweetwatertravel.com www.sweetwatertravel.com

GOLD LEVEL

Bear Trail Lodge

Nanci Morris Lyon King Salmon, AK 99613 Lodge: (907) 246-2327

Cell: (907) 469-0622 gofish@bristolbay.com www.fishasl.com/naknek/

Bristol Bay Lodge

Steve Laurent Bristol Bay, AK Office: (509) 964-2094 Cell: (509) 899-0734 slaurent@bristolbaylodge.com www.fishasl.com

Chasing Tales Alaska

Shawn Coe Sterling, AK 99672 (907) 741-7944 chasingtales.alaska@gmail.com www.chasingtalesalaska.com

Classic Casting Adventures

Tad Kisaka Sitka, AK 99835 (907) 738-2737 tadkisaka@hotmail.com www.flyfishsitka.com

Cooper Landing Fishing Guide, LLC

David Lisi

Cooper Landing, AK 99572 cooperlandingguide@gmail.com www.cooperlandingfishingguide.com

Copper River Lodge

Pat Vermillion Iliamna, AK 99606 (406) 222-0624 info@copperriverlodge.com www.copperriverlodge.com

Crystal Creek Lodge

Dan Michels King Salmon, AK 99613 (907) 357-3153 www.crystalcreeklodge.com info@crystalcreeklodge.com

Deneki Outdoors

James Kim Anchorage, AK 99503 (800) 344-3628 info@deneki.com www.deneki.com

EPIC Angling & Adventure

Don Mutert

Alaska Peninsula, AK (512) 656-2736 don@epicaaa.com www.epicaaa.com

Equinox

Cameo Padilla & Brooks Areson Sitka, AK 99835 (907) 738-4736 info@equinoxalaska.com www.equinoxalaska.com @equinoxalaska

Lakeview Outfitters

Phil Hilbruner

Cooper Landing, AK 99572 (907) 440-4338

info@lakeviewoutfitters.com www.lakeviewoutfitters.com

Lost Boys Fishing LLC

Drew Petrie Anchorage, AK 99502 (907) 202-6422 fishguide@kenaineverland.com www.kenaineverland.com

Mister Kenai Sportfishing

Jack Mister Sterling, AK 99672 (301) 752-3551 misterkenaisportfishing@gmail.com

No See Um Lodge

Expedition Broker

Greg Schlachter Haines, AK 99827 (907) 766-3977 (877) 406.1320 travel@expeditionbroker.com www.expeditionbroker.com

Explore Kenai Dallas Voss Soldotna, AK 99669 (907) 690-6477

Contact@explorekenai.net www.explorekenai.net

Fish Em, LLC

Travis Price Alaska (907) 317-4706 Travis@fishem.net www.fishem.net

Fishe Wear

Linda Leary Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 854-4775 linda@fishewear.com www.fishewear.com

Frontier River Guides of Alaska

Marty Decker Anchorage, AK 99523 info@frontierriverguides.com www.frontierriverguides.com

Grizzly Skins of Alaska

Rochelle Harrison and Phil Shoemaker

King Salmon, AK 99613 (907) 376-2234 info@grizzlyskinsofalaska.com www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com

Kenai River Drifters Lodge

Jonathan Hulcher

Cooper Landing, AK 99572 (336) 354-9582 info@drifters.com www.drifterslodge.com

Kenai River Trout Anglers

Josiah Brown Cooper Landing, AK 99572 (907) 599-0086

Kenairivertroutanglers@gmail.com www.kenairivertroutanglers.com

Kenai Riverside Fishing Cooper Landing, AK (800) 478-4100

info@kenairiversidefishing.com www.kenairiversidefishing.com

Kenaiflyfish

Ian McDonald Sterling, AK 99672 (907) 301-6957

Kenaiflyfish@gmail.com www.Kenaiflyfish.com

AZ Fly Shop

Chris Rich Phoenix, AZ 85032 (602) 354-8881 info@azflyshop.com www.azflyshop.com

Destinations Fly Fish

Steve Berry Phoenix, AZ 85020 (480) 223-3117 steve@destinationsflyfish.com www.destinationsflyfish.com

Financial Planning First, LLC. Matthew Sullivan Tucson, AZ 85718 info@fpftucson.com www.financialplanningfirst.com

Imus Investment Partners

John Holman King Salmon, AK 99613 (907) 232-0729 fish@noseeumlodge.com www.noseeumlodge.com

Outer Coast Charters

Captain Christopher Paul Jones Sitka, AK 99835 (907) 623-8290 contact@outercoastcharters.com www.outercoastcharters.com

Outgoing Angling

Jordan Carter Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 830-9545 jcarterflyfishing@gmail.com www.outgoingangling.com

GOLD LEVEL

Pride of Bristol Bay

Steve and Jenn Kurian Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 387-0550 contact@prideofbristolbay.com www.prideofbristolbay.com

Rainbow King Lodge Iliamna, AK 99606 800-458-6539 info@rainbowking.com www.rainbowking.com

Royal Coachman Lodge Pat Vermillion Dillingham, AK 99576 (406) 222-0624 info@royalcoachmanlodge.com www.royalcoachmanlodge.com

Tikchik Narrows Lodge Bud Hodson Anchorage, AK 99522 (907) 243-8450 info@tikchik.com www.tikchiklodge.com

Undisclosed Excursions, LLC Ethan Welch Juneau, AK 99801 (907) 982-9674 undisclosedexcursions@gmail.com www.flyfishjuneau.com

Wilderness Place Lodge

Jason Rockvam/Cory Wendt Anchorage, AK 99519 (907) 733-2051 wildernessplacelodge@gmail.com www.wildernessplacelodge.com

ARIZONA

Arizona Flycasters Gene Hechler Phoenix, AZ 85016 (520) 203-4140 president@azflycasters.org www.azflycasters.org

The White River Inn Steven Sonnamaker Cotter, AR 72626 (870) 430-2233 info@thewhiteriverinn.com www.thewhiteriverinn.com

Two Rivers Fly Shop

Dru Zametto Norfork, AR 72658 tworiversflyshop@gmail.com

White River Trout Lodge

Jo Anna Smith Cotter, AR 72626 (870) 430-5229 info@whiteriverlodge.com www.whiteriverlodge.com

CALIFORNIA

Gary Imus Tucson, AZ 85718

Direct: (877) 813-4985 or (520) 314-1301 Fax (520) 529-4031 Cell (520) 991-5317 gary@imusinvestmentpartners.com www.imusinvestmentpartners.com

Lees Ferry Anglers Marble Canyon, AZ 86036 (800) 962-9755 anglers@leesferry.com www.leesferry.com

Oxbow Ecological Engineering, LLC

George Cathey Flagstaff, AZ 86005 (928) 266-6192 george@oxbow-eco-eng.com www. oxbow-eco-eng.com

Spiral Creative Services Graphic Design

Susan Geer Gilbert, AZ 85234 (602) 284-2515 Susan@spiral-creative.com www.spiral-creative.com

GOLD LEVEL

Wilkinson Wealth Management

Eb Wilkinson Tucson, AZ 85715 (520) 777-1911 (877) 813-4985 eb@wilkinsonwealthmgmt.com www.wilkinsonwealthmgmt.com

ARKANSAS

Dally’s Ozark Fly Fisher

Steve Dally Cotter, AR 72626 (870) 435-6166 info@theozarkflyfisher.com www.theozarkflyfisher.com

Freedom Fire Pro Michael Cormier Rogers, AR 72756 (479) 631-6363 mcormier@freefirepro.com www.freefirepro.com

Natural State Fly Shop Jane Hatchet Cotter, AR 72626 (870) 471-9111 (870) 321-2792 (Cell) flyfishcotter@gmail.com www.naturalstateflyshop.com

Peglar Real Estate Group Matt Hershberger Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 405-4144 matt@peglarrealestate.com www.peglarrealestate.com

Bix Restaurant and Supper Club Douglas Biederbeck San Francisco, CA 94133 info@bixrestaurant.com www.bixrestaurant.com

Catch America Abdul Masri San Rafael, CA 94901 abdul@catchamerica.com www.catchamerica.com

Confluence Outfitters

Andrew Harris Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530) 632-3465 andrew@confluenceoutfitters.com www.confluenceoutfitters.com

FishMammoth

Jim Elias Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (760) 582-2195 jim@fishmammoth.com www.fishmammoth.com

Fly Fishers Club of Orange County

Brian Mayer Santa Ana, CA 92711-3005 (562) 619-9169 bdmayer@hotmail.com www.ffcoc.org

GOLD LEVEL

The Fly Shop

Terry Jepsen Redding, CA 96002 (530) 222-3555 terry@theflyshop.com www.theflyshop.com

Merriam Vineyards Peter Merriam Healdsburg, CA 95448 peter@merriamvineyards.com www.merriamvineyards.com

Mountain Hardware and Sports Bran Nylund Truckee, CA 96160 (530) 587-4844 Brian.nylund@yahoo.com www.mountainhardwareandsports.com

Trout Creek Outfitters

Miles Zimmerman & Scotty Koper Truckee, CA 96161 (530)563-5119 info@troutcreekoutfitters.com www.troutcreekoutfitters.com

COLORADO

5280 Angler Jay Baichi Arvada, CO 80004 (720) 450-7291 info@5280angler.com www.5280angler.com

Support Trout Unlimited’s Business Members

8200 Mountain Sports

Joel Condren

South Fork, CO 81154 (719) 873-1977 (800) 873-1977

info@8200sports.com www.8200mountainsports.com

Abel Reels

Jeff Patterson Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-0606 info@abelreels.com www.abelreels.com

AGORA Search Group

Rob Lauer

Colorado Springs, CO 80919 (719) 219-0360 info@agorasearchgroup.com www.agorasearchgroup.com

Alpacka Raft Mancos, CO 81328 (970) 533-7119 workshop@alpackaraft.com www.alpackaraft.com

Alpine Bank Battlement Mesa

Anne Kellerby Parachute, CO 81635 annekellerby@alpinebank.com

An Angler’s Bookcase

Craig and Catherine Douglass South Fork, CO 81154 (719) 221-9027 books@ananglersbookcase.com www.aabks.com

Anglers All Littleton, CO 80120 (303) 794-1104 (800) 327-5014 info@anglersall.com www.anglersall.com

GOLD LEVEL

Angler’s Covey

David Leinweber

Colorado Springs, CO 80904 (719) 471-2984 info@anglerscovey.com www.anglerscovey.com

Angling Trade Magazine

Tim Romano Boulder, CO 80304 (303) 495-3967

tim@anglingtrade.com www.anglingtrade.com

Aspen Outfitting Company

Jarrod Hollinger Aspen, CO 81611 (970) 925-3406 contact@aspenoutfitting.com www.aspenoutfitting.com

AvidMax

Cory Anderson Centennial, CO 80112 (866) 454-5523 customerservice@avidmax.com www.avidmax.com

Big Trout Brewing Company

Tom and Emily Caldwell Winter Park, CO 80482 (970) 363-7362 bigtroutbrewing@gmail.com www.bigtroutbrewing.com

Black Canyon Anglers

Matt Bruns Austin, CO 81410 (970) 835-5050 info@blackcanyonanglers.com www.blackcanyonanglers.com

The Broadmoor Fly Fishing Camp

Scott Tarrant

Colorado Springs, CO 80906 (719) 476-6800 rbabas@broadmoor.com www.broadmoor.com

Black Canyon Anglers

Matthew Bruns Austin, CO 81410 (970) 835-5050 info@blackcanyonanglers.com www.blackcanyonanglers.com

Budge’s Wilderness Lodge Ryan McSparran Gypsum, CO 81637 Lodge: 970-422-1311 (July - October) howdy@budgeslodge.com www.budgeslodge.com

C. Gualdoni Bamboo Rods LLC

Chuck Goldone Littleton, CO 80126 chuck-g@comcast.net www.cgbamboorods.com

GOLD LEVEL Cutthroat Anglers Ben McCormick Silverthorne, CO 80498 (970) 262-2878 anglers@fishcolorado.com www.fishcolorado.com

GOLD LEVEL

DiscountFlies

Chris Nielsen Castle Rock, CO 80108 (303) 741-4221 support@discountflies.com www.discountflies.com

Drifthook Fly Fishing

Matthew Bernhardt Westminster, CO 80021 (773) 359-3474 info@drifthook.com www.drifthook.com

Durango Fly Fishing

Thomas Schaefer Durango, CO 81301 (970) 501-5355 info@dgoflyfishing.com

Ed's Fly Shop

Ed LeViness Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 301-1272 ed@edsflyshop.com www.edsflyshop.com Fishpond, Inc. Ben Kurtz Denver, CO 80223-1346 (303) 534-3474 benkurtz@fishpondusa www.fishpondusa.com

GOLD LEVEL

Freestone Aquatics, Inc.

Clint Packo Littleton, CO 80127 (303) 807-7805 clint@freestoneaquatics.com www.freestoneaquatics.com

The Guide Network

Ethan Whitson Golden, CO 80401 ethan@theguidenetwork.com www.theguidenetwork.com

Home Team Builders, LLC. Matthew Templin Telluride, CO 81435 matt@hometeambuilderstelluride.com www.hometeambuilderstelluride.com

JHL Constructors

Charles Bisbee

Englewood, CO 80112 cbisbee@jhlconstructors.com www.jhlconstructors.com

JP Fly Fishing Specialties

James Pushchak (719) 275-7637

Canon City, CO, 81212 jamespushchak@gmail.com www.jpflyfish.com

Kebler Corner - RV Resort Somerset, CO 81434 (970) 929-5029 info@keblercorner.com www.keblercorner.com

L4 Construction

Matt Lamar

Greeley and Lyons, CO 80540 (970) 628-0047 mlamar@l4construction.com www.l4construction.com

Monic Fly Lines

Martha Britton Boulder, CO 80301 info@monic.com www.monic.com

North Fork Ranch

Hayley Horner Shawnee, CO 80475 (303) 838-9873 info@northforkranch.com www.northforkranch.com

North Fork Ranch Guide Service

Jeff Poole Shawnee, CO 80475 (303) 478-1349 info@nfrgs.com www.northforkranchguideservice.com

onWater Fly Fishing

Patrick Straub Louisville, CO 80027 team@onwaterapp.com www.onwaterapp.com

QuietKat, Inc.

Logan Holtz Eagle, CO 81631 logan@quietkat.com www.quietkat.com

GOLD LEVEL RepYourWater

Garrison and Corinne Doctor Erie, CO 80516 (303) 717-0267 customerservice@repyourwater.com www.repyourwater.com

RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-4460 info@fishrigs.com www.fishrigs.com

RockyTalkie

Erin Moeller 4990 Nome St Unit A Denver, CO 80239 Rockytalkie.com Erin@rockytalkie.com

Ross Reels

Jeff Patterson Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-0606 customersupport@rossreels.com www.rossreels.com

Scheels All Sports Johnstown, CO 80534 (970) 663-7800 communitycolorado@scheels.com www.scheels.com/johnstown

She’s Fly Ft. Collins, CO 80524 (970) 682-4704 info@shesfly.com www.shesfly.com

St. Peter’s Fly Shop –South Ft. Collins, CO 80524 (970) 498-8968 shop@stpetes.com www.stpetes.com

Scott Fly Rods Montrose, CO 81401-6302 (970) 249-3180 info@scottflyrod.com www.scottflyrod.com

Seek Outside

Dennis Poirier

Grand Junction, CO 81504 (970) 208-8108 info@seekoutside.com www.seekoutside.com

Telluride Angler

John Duncan Telluride, CO 81435 (970) 728-3895 fun@tellurideoutside.com www.tellurideoutside.com

TRUE NORTH Surveying and Mapping, LLC.

William Buntrock Littleton, CO 80125 billb@truenorthsurvey.com www.truenorthsurvey.com

Umpqua Russ Miller Louisville, CO 80027 (303) 567-6696 Umpqua@umpqua.com www.umpqua.com

Uncompahgre River RV Park

Mark Hillier Olathe, CO 81425 (970) 323-8706 info@urrvp.com www.urrvp.com

UpRiver Fly Fishing

Andrew Maddox Buena Vista, CO 81211 (719) 395-9227 shop@upriverflyfishing.com www.upriverflyfishing.com

GOLD LEVEL

Upslope Brewing Henry Wood Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 396-1898 henry@upslopebrewing.com www.upslopebrewing.com

Volpe Law LLC

Ben Volpe Parker, CO 80138 (720) 257-9982 info@volpelawllc.com www.volpelawllc.com

Western Anglers

Ned Mayers Grand Junction, CO 81501 (970) 244-8658 info@westernanglers.com www.westernanglers.com

Willowfly Anglers Three Rivers Resort Almont, CO 81210 (970) 641-1303 fish@3riversresort.com www.3riversresort.com

Zen Tenkara/Zen Fly Fishing Gear

Karin Miller Loveland, CO 80538 (970) 412-8392 (844) TENKARA zenflyfishingear@gmail.com www.zenflyfishinggear.com www.zentenkara.com

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Interior Federal Credit Union Washington, DC 20240 Reston, VA 20192 (800) 914-8619 info@interiorfcu.org www.interiorfcu.org

CONNECTICUT

Acme Monaco Corporation Lucas Karabin New Britain, CT 06052 (860) 224-1349 acmecorp@acmemonaco.com www.acmemonaco.com

F. F. Hitchcock Company, Inc. John Bowman Cheshire, CT 06410 john@ffhitchcock.com www.ffhitchcock.com

J. Stockard Fly Fishing Kent, CT 06757 (877) 359-8946 service@jsflyfishing.com www.jsflyfishing.com

FLORIDA

Fish Nation Myakka City, FL 34251 (307) 637-5495 info@fish-nation.com www.fish-nation.com

Outpost On The Nush

Dave Pishko Bonita Springs, FL 34134 info@outpostonthenush.com www.outpostonthenush.com

GEORGIA

GOLD LEVEL

Alpharetta Outfitters

Jeff Wright Alpharetta, GA 30009 (678) 762-0027 shop@alpharettaoutfitters.com www.alpharettaoutfitters.com

GOLD LEVEL

Atlanta Fly Fishing School

Mack Martin Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 889-5638 mack@mackmartin.com www.atlantaflyfishingschool.com

Blue Ridge Fly Fishing School

David and Rebecca Hulsey Blue Ridge, GA 30513 (770) 639-4001 (706) 838-4252 info@hulseyflyfishing.com www.hulseyflyfishing.com

Escape to Blue Ridge LLC, Blue Ridge, GA

Pamela Miracle Alpharetta, GA 30023 (866) 618-2521 (706) 413-5321 pamela@escapetoblueridge.com www.EscapetoBlueRidge.com

NGI Trenchless Pipe & Sewer Repair Canton, GA 30114 www.northgeorgiapipelining.com

Noontootla Creek Farms

Emily Owenby

Blue Ridge, GA 30513 (706) 838-0585 (voice) (706) 809-6055 (text) emily@ncfga.com www.ncfga.net

Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods

William Oyster Blue Ridge, GA 30513 (706) 897-1298 shannen@oysterbamboo.com www.oysterbamboo.com

GOLD LEVEL

Redd's Flies

Jordan Redd Atlanta, GA 30305 jordanredd590@gmail.com www.reddsflies.com

River Through Atlanta Guide Service

Chris Scalley Roswell, GA 30075 (770) 650-8630 chrisscalley@bellsouth.net www.riverthroughatlanta.com

GOLD LEVEL

Unicoi Outfitters

Jake Darling Helen, GA 30545 (706) 878-3083 flyfish@unicoioutfitters.com www.unicoioutfitters.com

Unicoi Outfitters General Store

Jake Darling Clarkesville, GA 30523 (706) 754-0203 flyfish@unicoioutfitters.com www.unicoioutfitters.com

HAWAII

Alagnak Lodge Anthony Behm Honolulu, HI 96825 (808) 227-9301 tonybehm@alagnaklodge.com www.AlagnakLodge.com

IDAHO

GOLD LEVEL

Alaska Wild Caught Seafood

Matthew Luck Ketchum, ID 83340 (208) 720-4226 matt@alaskawildcaughtseafood.net www.alaskawildcaughtseafood.net

The Bent Rod Outdoors

Greg and Cheri Webster Challis, ID 83226 (208) 879-2500 thebentrod@custertel.net www.thebentrod.com

Elevate Fly Fishing

Trevor Sheehan Boise, ID 83703 (208) 514-7788 trevor@elevateflyfishing.com www.elevateflyfishing.com

Henry’s Fork Lodge

Jamie Short Island Park, ID 83429 (208) 558-7953 info@henrysforklodge.com www.henrysforklodge.com

Support Trout Unlimited’s Business Members

The Lodge at Palisades Creek

Justin Hays Irwin, ID 83428 (866) 393-1613

palisades@tlapc.com www.tlapc.com

The McCall Angler

Reba Brinkman McCall, ID 83638 (208) 315-6445

info@themccallangler.com www.themccallangler.com

Northwest River Supplies, Inc. (NRS)

Mark Deming Moscow, ID 83843 (877) 677-4327 service@nrs.com

www.nrs.com

QRS Consulting, LLC Boise, ID 83705 (208) 342-0091 cchristensen@qrs-llc.com www.qrs-llc.com

RIO Products

Idaho Falls, ID 83402 (800) 553-0838 rio@rioproducts.com www.rioproducts.com

River Retreat Lodge

Elizabeth Douville Irwin, ID 83428 liz.douville@riverretreatlodge.com www.riverretreatlodge.com

RIVHAB Engineering Design

Jeanne McFall Eagle, ID 83616 (208) 401-6129 jeanne@rivhab.net www.rivhab.net

Silver Creek Outfitters

Terry Ring Ketchum, ID 83340 (208) 726-5282 office@silver-creek.com www.silver-creek.com

South Fork Lodge & Outfitters

Zach Peyton / Guide Manager Swan Valley, ID 83449 (208) 483-2112 fish@southforklodge.com www.southforklodge.com

GOLD LEVEL

WorldCast Anglers

Mike Dawkins Victor, ID 83455 (800) 654-0676 gofish@worldcastanglers.com www.worldcastanglers.com

ILLINOIS

GetOut Networking

Spencer Kaehler Winnetka, IL 60093 spencer@getout.network www.getout.network

IOWA

Pescador on the Fly

Jeff Ditsworth West Des Moines, IA 50266 (515) 240-6774

info@pescadoronthefly.com www.pescadoronthefly.com

Wilderness Lite LLC

Phillip Hayes Maurice, IA 51036 wildernesslite@gmail.com www.wildernesslitefloattubes.com

KANSAS

Great Blue Heron Outdoors

Robert Marsh Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 856-5656 info@gbh-outdoors.com www.greatblueheronoutdoors.com

MAINE

Appalachian Mountain Club

Maine Woods Initiative

Carolyn Ziegra Greenville, ME 04441 (207) 695-3085 cziegra@outdoors.org www.outdoors.org

Chandler Lake Camps and Lodge

Jason and Sherry Bouchard North Maine Woods, ME 04732 (207) 731-8938 info@chandlerlakecamps.com www.chandlerlakecamps.com

HMH Vises

Jon Larrabee Biddeford, ME 04005 T: (207) 729-5200 F: (207) 729-5292 jon@hmhvises.com www.hmhvises.com

Sam Lambert Keller Williams Realty Brunswick, ME 04011 (207) 522-7728 samlambertrealestate@gmail.com

L.L.Bean Inc. Mac McKeever Freeport, ME 04033-0002 (207) 865-4761 www.llbean.com

Rangeley Region Sports Shop

Brett Damm Rangeley, ME 04970 (207) 864-5615 rangeleyflyshop@gmail.com www.rangeleyflyshop.com

Western Maine Yurts, Inc Bethel, ME 04217 stay@westernmaineyurts.com

MARYLAND

Boatyard Bar & Grill

Dick Franyo Annapolis, MD 21403 (410) 267-0145 dick@boatyardbarandgrill.com www.boatyardbarandgrill.com

Rich Dennison Fly Fishing

Rich Dennison Parkville, MD 21234 (443) 668-3535 richdennisonflyfishing@gmail.com www.richdennisonflyfishing.com

Resource Restoration Group, LLC Tracys Landing, MD 20779 info@rrgroup.us www.rrgroup.us

MASSACHUSETTS

Cheeky Fishiing

Ted Upton (339) 707-3017 North Adams, MA 01247 getcheeky@cheekyfishing.com www.cheekyfishing.com

High Hook Oregon Wines

T. Mark Seymour Leverett, MA 01054 (413) 218-0638

mark@fishhookvineyards.com www.fishhookvineyards.com

Krag Silversmith

Wendy O’Neil

Stockbridge, MA 01262 wendy@kragsilversmith.com www.kragsilversmith.com

Postfly

Brian Runnals

Newbury, MA 01951 brian@postflybox.com www.postflybox.com

Recur Outdoors, Inc.

Brian Runnals

Newbury, MA 01951 brunnals@recuroutdoors.com www.recuroutdoors.com

Swift River Fly Fishing

Rick Taupier

New Salem, MA 01355 (413) 230-1262 swiftriverflyfishing@earthlink.com www.swiftriverflyfishing.com

Wild Soul River, LLC

Justin Adkins Williamstown, MA 01267 (413) 597-1172 info@wildsoulriver.com www. wildsoulriver.com

Wingo Outdoors

Ted Upton (339) 707-3017 North Adams, MA 01247 info@wingooutdoors.com www.wingooutdoors.com

The Wooden Fly Bart Estes Easthampton, MA 01027 (413) 588-1125 bartestes42@yahoo.com www.etsy.com/shop/TheWoodenFly

MICHIGAN

Au Sable River Guide Service

Captain Tom Quail Lake Orion, MI 48360 (248) 495-2615 ausableriverguideservice@gmail. com www.ausableriverguideservice.com

CastBack

Justin Sivils Saline, MI 48176 angler-j@castback.com www.castback.com

Diem Investments, Inc. Grand Rapids, MI 49503 The Gremel Group

Andrew Gremel Belmont, MI 49306 (616) 874-2200 andy@gremelgroup.com www.gremelgroup.com

HFF Custom Rods Steven Haywood Taylor, MI 48180 stevenh@hffcustomrods.com www.hffcustomrods.com

HomeWaters Real Estate

Chad Brown Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 258-5309 chad@homewaters.net www.homewaters.net

Indigo Guide Service

Kevin Morlock Branch, MI 49402 (231) 613-5099 indigoguidekevin@gmail.com www.indigoguideservice.com

Iron Fish Distillery

Troy Anderson Thompsonville, MI 49683 troy@ironfishdistillery.com www.ironfishdistillery.com

J. A. Henry Rod and Reel Company

Andrew Mitchell Rockford, MI 49341 j.a.henryusa@gmail.com www.jahenryusa.com

MothBear Outfitters

Tylor Witulski Alpena, MI 49707 (989) 884-3288 www.mothbear.com support@mothbear.com

North Rivers Lodge

Joe Neumann Luther, MI 49656 (231) 266-6014 northriverslodge@gmail.com www.northriverslodge.com

Northern Lights Guide Service

John and Trish Kluesing Baldwin, MI 49304 (231) 745-3792 jtkluesing@gmail.com

Oshki

Jackson Riegler Muskegon, MI 49441 (231) 955-1392 jackson@oshki.us www.oshki.us

Red Moose Lodge Cast Away Guide Service

Clint and Debi Anderson Baldwin, MI 49304 (231) 745-6667 info@redmooselodge.com www.redmooselodge.com www.castawayguideservice.com

Salmo Java Roasters Fred Taber Kalamazoo, MI 49048 (269) 806-6829 salmojava@gmail.com https://salmojavaroasters.com/ Upper Peninsula Concrete Pipe Co. Craig Vanderstelt Escanaba, MI 49829 (906) 786-0934 cvanderstelt@upconcretepipe.net www.upconcretepipe.net

MINNESOTA

Rose Creek Anglers

Rich Femling Roseville, MN 55113 (763) 807-5878 rich@rose-creek.com www.rose-creek.com

Solid Rock Masonry Eric Moshier Duluth, MN 55803 (218) 343-2978 info@solidrockmasonry.com www.solidrockmasonry.com

Trout Buddy Driftless Guides

Mike Warren La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 792-2521 mjw54601@icloud.com www.TroutBuddy.com TroutRoutes Zachary Pope Columbia Heights, MN 55421 (612) 965-8039 zpope@troutinsights.com www.troutinsights.com

Bob White Studio

Bob White Marine on Saint Croix, MN 55047 (651) 433-4168 bob@bobwhitestudio.com www.bobwhitestudio.com

MISSOURI

Jim Rogers Fly Fishing School

Jim Rogers Lebanon, MO 65536 (417) 532-4307 ext. 2 www.jimrogersflyfishing.com

MONTANA

Alpine Foot and Ankle Clinic

Dr. Gregg Neibauer Missoula, MT 59801 (406) 721-4007 www.alpinefoot.com

Angler's West Fly Fishing Outfitters

Matson Rogers Emigrant, MT 59027 (406) 333-4401 info@montanaflyfishers.com www.montanaflyfishers.com

Dan Bailey’s Outdoor Company

Dale Sexton Livingston, MT 59047 (406) 222-1673 info@danbaileys.com www.danbaileys.com

Bauer Fly Reels

Jeff Evans Twin Bridges, MT 59754 (406) 684-5674 jevans@winstonrods.com www.bauerflyreel.com

Beartooth Flyfishing

Dan and Nancy Delekta Cameron, MT 59720 (406) 682-7525 info@beartoothflyfishing.com www.beartoothflyfishing.com

Big Hole Lodge

Craig Fellin Wise River, MT 59762 (406) 832-3252 info@bigholelodge.com www.bigholelodge.com

Bighorn Fly and Tackle Shop

Duane Schreiner Fort Smith, MT 59035 (888) 665-1321 bighornfly@gmail.com www.bighornfly.com

Big Sky Anglers

Justin Spence West Yellowstone, MT 59758 (406) 646-7801 info@bigskyanglers.com www.bigskyanglers.com

GOLD LEVEL

Blackfoot River

Outfitters, Inc.

John Herzer and Terri Raugland Missoula, MT 59808 (406) 542-7411 trout@blackfootriver.com www.blackfootriver.com

Casting for Recovery, Inc.

Faye Nelson Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 624-6583 www.castingforrecovery.org info@castingforrecovery.org

CrossCurrents Fly Shop

Chris Strainer Helena, MT 59601 (406) 449-2292 crosscurrentsflyshop@gmail.com www.crosscurrents.com

Donaldson Bros. Ready Mix Charles Donaldson Hamilton, MT 59840 charles@donaldsonbros.com www.donaldsonbros.com

ERA Landmark Real Estate

Kelly Bresnahan Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 586-1321 kelly@eralandmark.com www.eralandmark.com

Fay Ranches

Greg Fay Bozeman, MT 59715 406-586-4001 info@fayranches.com www.fayranches.com

Gallatin River Guides

Mike Donaldson Big Sky, MT 59716 (406) 995-2290 gallatinriverguides@gmail.com www.montanaflyfishing.com

Glacier Anglers

Mike Cooney West Glacier, MT 59936 (406) 888-5454 info@glacierraftco.com www.glacieranglers.net

GOLD LEVEL

Glacier Excavating

Bob Cuffe Eureka, MT 59917 (406) 297-3155 glacierexcavating@hotmail.com www.glacierexcavating.com

GOLD LEVEL

Healing Waters Lodge

Steve Mackey Twin Bridges, MT 59754 (406) 684-5960 steve.mackey@hwlodge.com www.hwlodge.com

Hubbard’s Yellowstone Lodge Nancy Hubbard Emigrant, MT 59027 (406) 848-7755 nancy@hubya.com www.hubbardslodge.com

Lakestream Fly Shop Whitefish, MT 59937 info@lakestream.com www.lakestreamflyshop.com

GOLD LEVEL

Linehan Outfitting Company

Tim Linehan Troy, MT 59935 (800) 596-0034 info@fishmontana.com www.fishmontana.com

Long Outfitting

Matthew A. Long Livingston, MT 59047 (406) 220-6775 info@longoutfitting.com www.longoutfitting.com

Madison Valley Ranch, LLC

Manu Redmond Ennis, MT 59729 (800) 891-6158 mvr@3rivers.net www.madisonvalleyranch.com

Support Trout Unlimited’s Business Members

LV Wood

James and Tara Caroll Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 624-7273

west@lvwood.com

www.lvwood.com

Denny Menholt Honda

Matt Smith Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 587-0761 matts@dennymenholthonda.com www.dennymenholthonda.com

Montana Angler Fly Fishing

Brian McGeehan Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 522-9854 business (406) 570-0453 cell brian@montanaangler.com www.montanaangler.com

Montana Angling Company

Max Yzaguirre Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 579-9553 info@montanaanglingco.com www.montanaanglingco.com

Montana Fishing Outfitters

Garrett Munson Helena, MT 59601 (406) 431-5089

heymfo@montanafishingoutfitters.com www.montanafishingoutfitters.com

Montana Fly Company

Jake Chutz Columbia Falls, MT 59912 (406) 892-9112 jake@montanafly.com www.montanafly.com

Montana Fly Fishing Lodge

Lincoln Powers Billings, MT 59106 (406) 780-0015

info@montanaflyfishinglodge.com www.montanaflyfishinglodge.com

Montana Trout Stalkers

Joe Dilschneider Ennis, MT 59729 (406) 581-5150 joe@montanatrout.com www.montanatrout.com

Mountain Prairie Outfitters

Taylor Todd Helena, MT 59624

taylor@mountainprairieoutfitters.com www.mountainprairieoutfitters.com

Parks’ Fly Shop

Kody Marr Gardiner, MT 59030 kody@parksflyshop.com www.parksflyshop.com

P3 Properties

Patrick Pozzi Missoula, MT 59808 pozzi.patrick@gmail.com

PRO Outfitters

Brandon Boedecker Helena, MT 59624 (406) 442-5489 pro@prooutfitters.com www.prooutfitters.com

Realty ONE Group Peak

Bryan Atwell Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 579-7616

bryan@bryanatwell.com www.bozemanrealtyone.com

Royal Bighorn Club

Dan Vermillion Livingston, MT 59047 (888) 347-4286 dan@sweetwatertravel.com www.sweetwatertravel.com

Ruby Springs Lodge Paul Moseley Sheridan, MT 59749 (406) 842-5250 info@rubyspringslodge.com www.rubyspringslodge.com

GOLD LEVEL

Dan Rust State Farm

Insurance

Dan Rust Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 587-8287 dan.rust.b60w@statefarm.com

School of Trout

Todd Tanner Bigfork, MT 59911 (406) 792-5545 finn@schooloftrout.com www.schooloftrout.com

Simms Diane Bristol Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 585-3557 info@simms.com www.simmsfishing.com

Skwala Fishing Rich Hohne Bozeman, MT 59715 (833) 523-1500 rich@skwalafishing.com www.skwalafishing.com

Stillwater Anglers, LLC. Chris Fleck Columbus, MT 59019 (406) 321-0564 chris@stillwateranglers.com

Stockman Bank – Bozeman Paul Pahut Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 556-4100 paul.pahut@stockmanbank.com www.stockmanbank.com

Stockman Bank – Missoula

Bob Burns Missoula, MT 59801 (406) 258-1401 bburns@stockmanbank.com www.stockmanbank.com

Sweetwater Travel Company

Dan, Jeff & Pat Vermillion Livingston, MT 59047 (888) 347-4286 dan@sweetwatertravel.com www.sweetwatertravel.com

Toyota of Bozeman Jayden Schaap Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 551-6642 marketing@resslermotors.com www.toyotaofbozemancom

Trail Head & Trail Head River Sports

Todd Frank Missoula, MT 59807 (406)543-6966 tfrank@trailheadmontana.net www.trailheadmontana.net

Triple-M-Outfitters Mark Faroni Dixon, MT 59831 (406) 246-3249 mark@triplemoutfitters.com www.triplemoutfitters.com

TroutRoutes

Zachary Pope Columbia Heights, MN 55421 (612) 965-8039 zpope@troutinsights.com www.troutinsights.com

Trout On The Fly

Nate Stevane Outfitter #8533

4467 Ethan Way Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 580-7370 nate@montanatroutonthefly.com www.montanatroutonthefly.com

Trout Scapes River Restoration, LLC

Brian Cowden Bozeman, MT 59715 (201) 230-3383 bcowden@troutscapes.com www.troutscapes.com

Trout Tales Fly Fishing

Ian Secrest Bozeman, MT 59718 (406)539-4327 ian@trouttalesflyfishing.com www.trouttalesflyfishing.com

Wild Montana Anglers

Mark Fuller Martin City, MT 59926 (406) 261-4343 mark@wildmontanaanglers.com www.wildmontanaanglers.com

Wild Trout Outfitters, Inc. J.D. Bingman Big Sky, MT 59716 (406) 995-2975 fish@wildtroutoutfitters.com www.wildtroutoutfitters.com

Yellowstone Country Fly Fishing

Walter Wiese Livingston, MT 59047 ycflyfishing@gmail.com www.flyfishmontana.biz

Yellowstone Fly Fishing Co.

James Pappas Livingston, MT 59047 yellowstonefishingco@gmail.com www.yellowstoneflyfishingco.com

Yellowstone River Outfitters

Brogan Ballard Livingston, MT 59047 (406) 531-1838 yellowstoneriveroutfitters@gmail.com www.yellowstoneriveroutfitters.com

NEVADA

Outlaw Rod Company

Anthony Saling Sparks, NV 89431 (775) 636-2945 anthony_saling@yahoo.com www.outlawrodco.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE

American Fly Outfitters

Dan Tilton Winham, NH 03087 info@americanflyoutiffters.com www.americanflyoutfitters.com

Hobbs Brewing Company Ossipee, NH 03814 (603) 539-3795 info@hobbsbeer.com www.hobbsbeer.com

Schilling Beer Company

Jeff Cozzens Littleton, NH 03561 (603) 444-4800

jeff@schillingbeer.com www.schillingbeer.com

Stone River Outfitters

1 State Route 101A, Unit 1 Amherst, NH 03031 (603) 472-3191 (800) 331-8558

sales@stoneriveroutfitters.com www.stoneriveroutfitters.com

NEW JERSEY

Keystone Reclamation Fuel Management LLC Morristown, NJ 07960

oakpool

Alex Ford Jersey City, NJ 07302 (908) 642-8930 alex@fordhamilton.com www.oakpool.xyz

Ramsey Outdoor

Marty Brennan Succasunna, NJ 07876 (973) 584-7798 mbrennan@ramseyoutdoor.com www.ramseyoutdoor.com

RoxStar Fishing

Mike James Howell, New Jersey 07731 (973) 704-1323 mike@roxstarfishing.com www.roxstarfishing.com

South Branch Outfitters

Abraham and Lindsey Beates Califon, NJ 07830 (908) 867-8067 info@sboutfitters.com www.sboutfitters.com

Suburban Fly Fishers Tim Glynn Maplewood, NJ 07040 (973) 220-3031 timothyglynn@verizon.net www.suburbanflyfishers.com

Tightline Productions Tim and Joan Flagler Califon, NJ 07830 (908) 832-6677 tightlineproductions@comcast.net www.tightlinevideo.com

NEW MEXICO

Chama Trails Motel Austin and Karlee Phippen Chama, NM 87520 (575) 756-2156 chamatrails@windstream.net www.chamatrailsmotel.com

Fly Fishing Outpost Santa Fe, NM 87506 (505) 629-5688 trout@loeflyfishing.com www.flyfishingoutpost.com Land of Enchantment Guides

Noah Parker Velarde, NM 87582 (505) 629-5688 trout@loeflyfishing.com www.loeflyfishing.com

Questa Economic Development Fund

Lindsay Mapes (575) 586-2149 lindsay@questaedf.com

Rezo Systems

Marc Harell Taos, NM 87571 (505) 603-1342 info@rezosystems.com www.rezosystems.com

Rocky MTN Tenkara

Casey Canfield Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87124 (505) 252-1667 contact@rockymtntenkara.com www.rockymtntenkara.com

A. Rubey Rod Company

Andy Rubey Corrales, NM 87048 (614) 546-7828 andy@rubeyrods.com www.rubeyrods.com

GOLD LEVEL

Taos Fly Shop

Nick Streit Taos, NM 87571 (575) 751-1312 info@taosflyshop.com www.taosflyshop.com

NEW YORK

Black Dog Outdoor Sports

Target Sports

Steve Borst

Glenville, New York 12302 (518) 355-8923 www.blackdogsports.com

Douglas Outdoors

David Barclay Phoenix, NY 13135 (315) 695-2000 info@douglasoutdoors.com www.douglasoutdoors.com

Evans Group Global Real Estate

Asset Management Trust

Emmet Evans New York, NY 10021

FlyEnthusiast.com

Robert Park Rochester, NY 14610 robsflyshop@gmail.com www.flyenthusiast.com

Fly on the Water Allen Rupp New York, NY 10023 (872) 205-9211 allen@flyonthewater.com www.flyonthewater.com

Fly Shack, Inc. Michael Bokan Gloversville, NY 12078 (800) 801-2318 info@flyshack.com www.flyshack.com

High Peaks Adirondack Outfitters

Brian and Karen Delaney Lake Placid, NY 12946 (518) 532-3764 info@highpeakscyclery.com www.highpeakscyclery.com

Tailwater Lodge

Brian Benner Altmar, NY 13302 (315) 298-3435 bbenner@tailwaterlodge.com www.tailwaterlodge.com

West Kill Brewing

Michael Barcone West Kill, NY 12492 info@westkillbrewing.com www.westkillbrewing.com

NORTH CAROLINA

Brookings Anglers

Matt Canter Cashiers, NC 28717 (828) 743-3768 info@brookingsonline.com www.brookingsonline.com

Coastal Cottages

Mark Milby Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 obxcottageplans@gmail.com

Creel Lodge at Middle Creek

Keith Foster Otto, NC 28763 keith@creellodge.com www.creellodge.com

Hunter Banks Company Frank Smith Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 252-3005 staff@hunterbanks.com www.hunterbanks.com

Nantahala River Lodge Mickey and Annette Youmans Topton, NC 28781 (912) 596-4360 mickey@nantahalariverlodge.net www.nantahalariverlodge.net

Pesca Muerta Winston Salem, NC 27104 (336) 355-4561 info@pescamuerta.com www.pescamuerta.com

Pisgah Outdoors

Heath Cartee Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 (828) 577-3277 heath@pisgahoutdoors.com www.pisgahoutdoors.com

Primavera Leathers

Evenlight Eagles Blowing Rock, NC 28605 evenlighteagles@gmail.com www.primaveraleathers.com

Whitetail Fly Tieing Supplies

Nancy Richardson Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (630) 294-2947 nancy.richardson55@gmail.com www.whitetailflytieing.com

OHIO

Time Timer, LLC

David Rogers Cincinnati, OH 45243 (877) 771-8463 dave@timetimer.com www.timetimer.com

OKLAHOMA

K R Parker Holdings, LLC

Ken Parker Tulsa, OK 74137 krprkr@gmail.com

OREGON

Alpine Archery and Fly John Appleton La Grande, OR 97850 (541) 963-4671 alpinearcheryllc@gmail.com www.alpinearcheryandfly.com

GOLD LEVEL

The Caddis Fly Angling Shop

Chris Daughters Eugene, OR 97401 (541) 505-8061 caddiseug@yahoo.com www.caddisflyshop.com

Creative Resource Strategies, LLC

Lisa DeBruyckere Salem, OR 97317 (503) 371-5939 lisad@createstrat.com www.createstrat.com

The Fly Fishing Shop

Mark Bachmann Welches, OR 97067 (503) 781-6468 flyfish@flyfishusa.com www.flyfishusa.com

Support Trout Unlimited’s Business Members

The Fly Fishing Place

Nick Nickens

Summerville, OR 97876

editors@theflyfishingplace.com www.theflyfishingplace.com

Fly Water Travel

Ashland, OR 97520 (800) 552-2729

info@flywatertravel.com www.flywatertravel.com

Loon Outdoors

Brett Zundel

Alan Peterson Ashland, OR 97520 (800) 580-3811 service@loonoutdoors.com www.loonoutdoors.us

Minam Store Outfitters

Grant Richie Wallowa, OR 97885 (541) 431-1111 grant.minam@gmail.com www.minamstore.com

Paul’s Pipes

Paul Menard Bend, OR 97703 info@paulspipes.com www.paulspipes.com

The Rogue Angler

Mark Koenig Eugene, OR 97402 (800) 949-5163 customerservice@therogueangler.com www.therogueangler.com

Royal Treatment Fly Fishing

Joel La Follette West Linn, OR 97068 (503) 850-4397 joel@royaltreatmentflyfishing.com www.royaltreatmentflyfishing.com

PENNSYLVANIA

ARIPPA

Jaret Gibbons & Cristy Sweeney Camp Hill, PA 17011 (717) 763-7635 jgibbons@arippa.org csweeney@arippa.org www.arippa.org

Arnot Sportsmen’s Assoc., Inc Ron Signor Arnot, PA 16911 (570) 638-2985 sms2333@PTD.NET

Creamton Fly Fishing Club Bethlehem, PA 18015 jms1701@gmail.com www.creamtonflyfishingclub.com

GOLD LEVEL

Cross Current Guide Service and Outfitters

Joe Demalderis Starlight, PA 18461 (914) 475-6779 crosscurrent@optonline.net www.crosscurrentguideservice.com

The Fly Fishing Show Ben Furimsky Somerset, PA 15501 (814) 443-3638 ben@flyfishingshow.com www.flyfishingshow.com

Flyway Excavating, Inc.

Brad Clubb Mount Joy, PA 17552 (717) 560-0731 bclubb@flywayexcavating.com www.flywayexcavating.com

The Forest Lake Club Colleen Van Horn Hawley, PA 18428 (570) 685-7171 gm@forestlakeclub.net www.forestlakeclub.net

Gleim Environmental Group

Stephanie Rider Carlisle, PA 17013 (717) 258-4630 srider@jwgleim.com www.jwgleim.com

Jim’s Sports Center Terry Malloy Clearfield, PA 16830 (814) 765-3582 terry@jimssports.com www.jimssports.com

Gorski Engineering Jerry Gorski Collegeville, PA 19426 (610) 489-9131 jgorski@gorskiengineering.com www.gorskiengineering.com

The Lodge at Glendorn

Shane Appleby Bradford, PA 16701 (814) 362-6511 sappleby@glendorn.com www.glendorn.com

The Lodge at Woodloch Josh Heath Hawley, PA 18428 (800) 966-3562 jheath@thelodgeatwoodloch.com www.thelodgeatwoodloch.com

Milestone Financial Associates

David S. Coult, CFP® Macungie, PA 18062 (610) 421-8777 dcoult@milestonefa.com www.milestonefa.com PA Fly Company Doug Yocabet Mount Pleasant, PA 15666 (724) 322-0037 doug@paflyco.net www.paflyco.net PA Troutfitters Bill Nolan Slatedale, PA 18079 (717) 875-7426 patroutfitters@gmail.com www.patroutfitters.fish

Papillon & Moyer Excavating & Paving, LLC

Dave Moyer Stroudsburg, PA 18360 (570) 421-5020 dave.moyer@papillon-moyer.com www.papillon-moyer.com

Perfect Hatch Fly Fishing

Tony Grubb Lansdale, PA 19446 (800) 523-6644 tony@rayrumpf.com www.perfecthatch.com

GOLD LEVEL

Pride of Bristol Bay

Steve and Jenn Kurian Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 317-2200

contact@prideofbristolbay.com www.prideofbristolbay.com

Robindale Energy Services, Inc.

James Panaro Ebensburg, PA 15931 (814) 322-2294 jim.panaro@resfuel.com www.robindale.energy

GOLD LEVEL

Sky Blue Outfitters

Rick Nyles Fleetwood, PA 19522 (610) 987-0073

rick@skyblueoutfitters.com www.skyblueoutfitters.com

That Fish Place-That Pet Place

Stephanie Welsh Lancaster, PA 17603 (717) 345-4671 swelsh@thatpetplace.com www.thatpetplace.com

Thomas Spinning Lures, Inc.

Peter Ridd Hawley, PA 18428 (800) 724-6768 info@thomaslures.com www.thomaslures.com

Troutman Wealth Management, LLC

Steve Troutman Malvern, PA 19355 (877) 393-9660 steve@troutmanwealth.com www.troutmanwealth.com

Wild East Outfitters

Nick Raftas Coatesville, PA 19320 (610) 500-3147 wildeastoutfitters@outlook.com www.wildeastoutfitters.com

Wild for Salmon

Steve Kurian Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 387-0550 info@wildforsalmon.com www.wildforsalmon.com

RHODE ISLAND

EA Engineering

Sal DeCarli Warwick, RI 02886 sdecarli@eaest.com www.eaest.com

SOUTH CAROLINA

Fenwick

Jim Murphy Columbia, SC 29203 (800) 334-9105 info@purefishing.com www.purefishing.com

Free Fly Apparel

Lillian Frances 711 Meeting St Charleston, SC 29403 (843) 817-3232

Lillian@freeflyapparel.com www.freefly.com

Hardy Fly Fishing

Jim Murphy Columbia, SC 29203 (800) 334-9105 info@purefishing.com www.purefishing.com

Hellbender Nets

Bailly & JD Wagner Easley, SC 29640 hellbendernets@gmail.com www.hellbendernets.com

GOLD LEVEL

Rambler Angler & Blade Co.

Caleb Snead Spartanburg, SC 29303 caleb@rambler.co www.rambler.co

TENNESSEE

The Lodge at Green Cove Green Angler Store

Jason McConkey Tellico Plains, TN 37385 (423) 252-4014 greencoveangler@gmail.com www.greencoveangler.com

Smoky Mountain Angler

Harold Thompson Gatlinburg, TN 37738 (865) 436-8746 info@smokymountainangler.com www.smokymountainangler.com

Smoky Mountain Spinnery Frederick Thompson Gatlinburg, TN 37738 nancy@smokymountainspinnery.com www.smokymountainspinnery.com

TEXAS

Action Angler

Chris Jackson New Braunfels, TX 78132 (830) 708-3474 info@actionangler.net www.actionangler.net

GOLD LEVEL

Gruene Outfitters

Tiffany Yeates New Braunfels, TX 78130 (830) 660-4400 tiffany@grueneoutfitters.com www.gueneoutfitters.com

HB Systems Inc. Corey Allen Plano, TX 75023 www.hbsystemsinc.com

GOLD LEVEL

Living Waters Fly Fishing Round Rock, TX 78664 (512) 828-3474 chris@livingwatersflyfishing.com www.livingwatersflyfishing.com

Yeti Coolers

Jake Drees Austin, TX 78735 (512) 394-9384 info@yeti.com www.yeti.com

UTAH

Park City Outfitters

Brandon Bertagnole Park City, UT 84098 (866) 649-3337 bbertagnole@hotmail.com www.parkcityoutfitters.com

Utah Whitewater Gear

Clinton Monson Midvale, UT 84047 clinton@utahwhitewatergear.com www.utahwhitewatergear.com

VERMONT

Three Rivers Equine Veterinary Service

Tyler McGill Barnet, VT 05821 tmcgillvt@gmail.com www.threeriversequinevet.com

VIRGINIA

Atlantic Bulk Carrier Corporation

Mark Short Providence Forge, VA 23140 mshort@atlanticbulk.com www.atlanticbulk.com

beag+haus | creative + modern small home design

Marc O'Grady Ashburn, VA 20147 (888) 984-1853 contact@beaghaus.com www.beaghaus.com

Beaverdam Falls, LLC

Beau Bryan Covington, VA 24426 info@beaverdamfalls.com www.beaverdamfalls.com

Ecosystem Services, LLC

Kip Mumaw Charlottesville, VA 22903 (540) 239-1428 kip@ecosystemservices.us www.ecosystemservices.us

Hutton Fly Expeditionary Fly Fishing Travel

Derek Hutton Lexington, VA 24450 (208) 399-1888 info@huttonfly.com www.huttonfly.com

Interior Federal Credit Union Washington, DC 20240 Reston, VA 20192 (800) 914-8619 www.interiorfcu.org

GOLD LEVEL

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing

Colby Trow Harrisonburg, VA 22801 (540) 434-2444 store@mossycreekflyfishing.com www.mossycreekflyfishing.com/

New River Fly Fishing

Mike Smith Willis, VA 24380 (540) 250-1340 msmith@swva.net www.newriverflyfish.com

Potts Creek Outfitters

Daniel Walsh Paint Bank, VA 24131 (540) 897-5555 pco@pottscreekoutfitters.com www.pottscreekoutfitters.com

Roanoke Angler

Jay Waide Roanoke, VA 24015 jay@roanokeangler.com www.roanokeangler.com

South River Fly Shop

Tommy Lawhorne

Kevin Little Waynesboro, VA 22980 (540) 942-5566 shop@southriverflyshop.com southriverflyshop.com

Stonegate–An Elegant Guest House

Margaret Hutton Lexington, VA 24450 (208) 399-1887 hutton@stonegatevirginia.com www. stonegatevirginia.com

Virginia River Guides

Derek Hutton Lexington, VA 24450 (208) 399-1888 trips@VirginiaRiverGuides.com www.VirginiaRiverGuides.com

WASHINGTON

DRYFT

Sam Thompson and Nick Satushek Bellingham, WA 98229 (360) 818- 4047 contact@dryftfishing.com www.dryftfishing.com

Redington Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 (800) 253-2538 info@redington.com www.redington.com

Red’s Fly Shop

Joe Rotter Ellensburg, WA 98926 (509) 933-2300 staff@redsflyshop.com www.redsflyshop.com

Sage Fly Fishing

Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 (206) 842-6608 (800) 553-3004 sage@sageflyfish.com www.sageflyfish.com

Silver Bow Fly Fishing

Sean Visintainer Spokane Valley, WA 99216 (509) 924-9998 flyfish@silverbowflyshop.com www.silverbowflyshop.com

WEST VIRGINIA

Angler’s Xstream Parkersburg, WV 26101 (877) 909-6911 fishing@anglersxstream.com www.anglersxstream.com

Fife Street Brewing

Josh Dodd Charleston, WV 25302 (304) 941-8269 josh@fifestreetbrewing.com www.fifestreetbrewing.com

WISCONSIN

Alongi Santas Insurance Agency, Inc.

Mark Santas Beloit, WI 53511 www.alongiinsurance.com

The Green Earth Company Andrew Busse New Holstein, WI 53061 (800) 528-1922 info@thegreenearthco.com www.greenicemelt.com

Lund's Fly Shop

Brian Smolinski River Falls, WI 54022 (715) 425-2415 brian@lundsflyshop.com www.lundsflyshop.com

Trout Buddy Driftless Guides

Mike Warren La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 792-2521 Mike@TroutBuddy.com www.TroutBuddy.com

WYOMING

Arrow Land and Water, LLC

Chad Espenscheid Big Piney, WY 83113 (307) 231-2389 chadespen@gmail.com

Dunoir Fishing Adventures, LLC

Jeramie Prine

Lander, WY 82520 (307) 349-3331 jlprine@gmail.com www.dunoirfishing.com

Fish the Fly Guide Service & Travel

Jason Balogh Jackson, WY 83001 (307) 690-1139 jb@fishthefly.com www.fishthefly.com

Grand Teton Fly Fishing

Scott Smith and Mark Fuller Jackson, WY 83002 307-690-4347 ssflyfish@rocketmail.com markwfuller@gmail.com www.grandtetonflyfishing.com

GOLD LEVEL JD High Country Outfitters

Jackson, WY 83001 (307) 733-7210 scott@jdhcoutfitters.com www.highcountryflies.com

Live Water Properties

Macye Maher Jackson, WY 83002 (866) 734-6100 macye@livewaterproperties.com www.livewaterproperties.com

Sweetwater Fishing Expeditions, LLC

George H. Hunker III

Lander, WY 82520 (307) 332-3986 phunker@wyoming.com www.sweetwaterfishing.com

Tactical Fly Fisher, LLC Devin Olsen Lander, WY 82520 info@tacticalflyfisher.com www.tacticalflyfisher.com

Thermopolis Fly Shop

Dan Pass

GOLD LEVEL

Wind River Outdoor Company

Ron Hansen Lander, WY 82520 (307) 332-7864 ron@windriveroutdoor company.com www.windriveroutdoorcompany.com

INTERNATIONAL

BAHAMAS

CANADA

3 Rivers Steelhead Expeditions

Dan, Jeff & Pat Vermillion Livingston, MT 59047 (888) 347-4286 jeff@sweetwatertravel.com www.sweetwatertravel.com

Lower Dean River Lodge Dan, Jeff & Pat Vermillion Livingston, MT 59047 (888) 347-4286 jeff@sweetwatertravel.com www.sweetwatertravel.com

MONGOLIA

Mongolia Taimen Camps Dan, Jeff & Pat Vermillion Livingston, MT 59047 (888) 347-4286 dan@sweetwatertravel.com www.sweetwatertravel.com

UK

WALES

Llyn Guides

J. Noel Hulmston Nefyn, PWLLHELI LL53 6LF T Int + (0)1758 721654 C Int + (0)7774 610600 llynguides@dnetw.co.uk www.llynguides.co.uk Make

North Fork Anglers Blair Van Antwerp Cody, WY 82414 (307) 527-7274 hello@northforkanglers.com www.northforkanglers.com

Graylight Outfitters

David Collom Elsinore, UT 84724 (435) 720-7440 graylightoutfitters@gmail.com www.graylightoutfitters.com

Park County Glass Cody, WY 82414 (307) 587-9303 pcg@bresnan.net www.parkcountyglass.com

Rock Creek Anglers

Clark Smyth Sheridan, WY 82801 (307) 672-6894 rockcreekanglers@wyoming.com www.anglingdestinations.com/ rock-creek-anglers

Thermopolis, WY 82443 thermopolisflyshop@gmail.com www.thermopolisflyshop.com

TyOutdoors

Ty Hallock Casper, WY 82609 (307) 315-8287 ty@tyoutdoors.com www.tyoutdoors.com

Westbank Anglers

Michael Dawes Wilson, WY 83014 (307) 733-6483 info@westbankanglers.com www.westbankanglers.com

Mangrove Cay Club

Dan, Jeff & Pat Vermillion Livingston, MT 59047 (888) 347-4286

dan@sweetwatertravel.com www.sweetwatertravel.com

BRAZIL

Agua Boa Lodge

Dan, Jeff & Pat Vermillion Livingston, MT 59047 (888) 347-4286 dan@sweetwatertravel.com www.sweetwatertravel.com

Steelhead Valhalla Lodge Dan, Jeff & Pat Vermillion Livingston, MT 59047 (888) 347-4286 jeff@sweetwatertravel.com www.sweetwatertravel.com

ROD MISHAPS

How To Break a Fly Rod

BY PAUL BRUUN

Unlike incendiary-tempered golfers whose catastrophic play incites snapped clubs, fly fishers disgusted after losing a trophy or tumbling into icy water rarely break a favorite fly rod on purpose.

I’m not saying fly anglers don’t accidentally dispatch gear. Most fly rod wreckage results from silly slip-ups. Some examples follow.

Long time acquaintance John Bailey is notable for introducing consistency in fly rod punishment. Johnny continued Montana’s fly shop landmark after his memorable parents, Dan and Helen, passed. Owning a wellstocked Livingston tackle business was beneficial due to sudden launches by Johnny’s spirited retrievers from his driftboat. Rigged fly gear around eager pets in boats or elsewhere is predictable broken rod opportunity.

Travelers literally run into the world’s most efficient rod pulverization devices: tropical ceiling fans. Despite warnings before arrival at hot weather hotels and camps, guests rarely escape a sudden ceiling fan-meets-rod-moment! Tim Landwehr, a veteran tropical travel host and Wisconsin outfitter, recalls carrying three test fly rods into his room. Tim joined me and hundreds more unfortunates in discovering how ceiling fans excel at re-making uneven and unusable multi-piece fly rods!

Other non-warranty crimes include pet chewings and losing or driving over rods and gear forgotten on vehicle roofs. Scott Rod chief Jim Bartschi describes the arrival of an elaborate 9-foot crate containing an original G-Series Scott, attached English-made CFO reel, line and guides. Forgotten on a roof, this intact disaster exhibited I-80 pancake flattened reel, guides and rod! That Montrose factory wall spectacle sat alongside a gnawed cork rod thrown by a client at an attacking wild animal. Who knew marmots were viscious?

Snapping a tip section during rod-line stringing is extremely disturbing. Upon threading a doubled fly line through the final guides and tip, hurrying encourages this error. Instead of gently pulling remaining slack line straight away from the tip, impatiently tugging line down the rod guarantees a sickening SNAP Warranty repaired fly rods are magnets to more damage. I was bonefishing during a Bahamas visit with several buddies when one, new to the flats, announced, “There’s a giant blue crab.” Damage was over before we yelled simultaneously: “Don’t poke it it will snap that rod tip! ”

Broken fly rods define carelessness. Avoid these damage award winners: Home and vehicle doors, electric windows, trunks, tailgates and hatch lids. Lifting a rod tip too high above a heavy fish or snag and using rod tips to free snagged flies break rods regularly. It’s open (broken) season on fly rods rigidly racked inside drift boats during trailering. Never put an unrigged, multi-piece rod into any enclosed boat storage tubes. Retrieving a stuck and ultimately disconnected tip section requires Houdini! Stumbles and falls while walking and wading are pardonable but costly.

My favorite “worst broken rod” memory came after the reward of a brand new 5-weight graphite from the Jackson Hole One Fly. I eagerly rigged this handsome outfit in my living room. Heading outside I absent-mindedly smashed it, tip-first, into the wall beside the door!

Jerry Siem’s lengthy Sage rod-building leadership provided excessive tackle fiasco exposures. A request for the most destructive example helped Jerry to recall one skiff ride in the northern Coral Sea. “Our fly rods were standing up and fastened to the center console when the Aussie guide made a home run teaser cast with his big spinning rod. After profanity eventually dimmed, he apologized for wiping out the tops of our six rods, his included!”