They sit in a forgotten drawer in my tying desk, intermingling with odd-sized hooks, old fly boxes, and other ephemera that have eddied into this backwater over time. Some are bright and cartoonish, others stately and serious. All remain unused and will probably end up in the trash someday soon.

Let’s keep this as simple as possible. There are millions of fly fishers here in the United States. Many of us are passionate anglers who care deeply about our sport. If we want productive fisheries in the future, then we need clean water and robust landscapes. Healthy ecosystems are an absolute prerequisite for healthy fisheries. Unfortunately, America’s waters are currently faced with any number of serious threats, including habitat destruction, invasive species and pollution.