Articles

Strip Mining for Bass

by Steve Zakur - Wednesday, Sep 10th, 2014

Dugger, Indiana

As an angler it's easy to get down on the coal industry. What they've done to water and air quality over the centuries is a crime. The industry continues to enjoy the protection of both parties at all levels of government. I suppose that's because we like what happens when we throw a light switch but there's clearly room for improvement in how things get done. Of course, in every cloud there is a silver lining and I may have found one in coal.

West Virginia is the place I most associate with coal mining. I'm not sure why that is. I was going to blame it on A Coal Miner's Daughter but it turns out Loretta Lynn is from Kentucky. It also turns out West Virginia isn't at the top of the list. Wyoming produces more than three times the coal of West Virginia; 388 million tons in 2013 down from 457 million tons in 2008.

Indiana is also in the top ten. As America has sought energy independence all manner of taxpayer funded incentives have been lavished on the industry. As a result, Indiana's coal production has increased over the past few years reaching an all time high in 2013 at 39 million tons.

Tenkara USA Offering $30 Portable Water Filtration System

by Ben Kryzinski - Tuesday, Sep 9th, 2014

Tenkara USA is now offering a very affordable, effortlessly portable water filtration system aimed at fisherman that are looking to dump weight by not having to carry bottles of water for long days on the water. The total solution, which is comprised of a Tenkara USA branded Playtpus water bag and a cylindrical Aquamira filter, weighs in at a paltry 2.8 ounces. The filter is a no-pump, gravity-based filter that can be used standalone or with the included bottle.

Tenkara USA's Daniel Galhardo calls the solution the best portable water filtration solution he's found over many years of searching for a way to travel lighter and faster on the stream by shedding bulky water bottles. The Aquamira filter that drives the system is known elsewhere as the Frontier Pro and has been well-loved by backpackers and hikers for many years now. Aquamira states that the Frontier Pro removes of 99.9% of Cryptosporidium, Giardia.

Jurassic roots

Bowfin are impressive survivors—able to breathe both in the water and out

by Chad Shmukler - Monday, Sep 8th, 2014

The mighty mighty bowfin (photo: Chad Shmukler).

The floor of the boat is littered with carcasses. My focus should be on our quarry but, despite my best efforts, I’m swiping at my feet in an effort to produce some relief from the relentless attacks. The slow Lake Champlain backwater where guide Drew Price has paddled and poled our canoe is rich with lily pads and weeds, bullfrogs and bass. And biting flies. Lots of flies. It is also rife with bowfin.

Review: SPOT Gen3 GPS Messenger

by Mike Sepelak - Friday, Sep 5th, 2014

SPOT Gen3 GPS Messenger in the wild.

My wife worries about me, and justifiably so, because remote trout waters and reliable cellular coverage rarely overlap. It’s both a blessing and a curse. I need to get away from the ringing phone, the sounds of cars, and the din of mankind, yet she needs to know that I’m safe. The needs, I’m afraid, are at odds.

At odds, that is, until now. I have my SPOT.

The plan was a bit loose for our ten-day tour of Montana and British Columbia; fly into Missoula, drive to Fernie for four days, then see where the rivers would take us. Keeping in touch with home from the western slopes and rolling Montana farmland would be problematic, at best. It’s not like I needed to share every detail, but rather to be able to show a direction and send an “all’s well.” I’d grab snippets of cellular bandwidth when they appeared, but most of the time a simple “sign of life” would suffice. My SPOT G3 did that, and more.

Endless Limited Choices

by Steve Zakur - Thursday, Sep 4th, 2014

Endless Limited Choices

Like you, I have too many fly boxes. This could mean I carry too many flies but I doubt it. In fact, I probably have just enough of a selection to always have the right fly. My primary challenge is to recall a specific fly's existence at the right moment and then find the damned thing.

Most of the fly boxes I own are the new type with foam slots. While they're easier to use than the old style boxes, they invite chaos. I can put nymphs next to dries and midges next to Hendricksons. If you were to look at my "streamer" box you would also find a dozen bass poppers, some damsel fly nymphs and a couple of big honking dry flies among classic and contemporary streamers. Strangely, you would not find a half dozen purple woolly buggers tied last month that should be here but are living in sin elsewhere.