Articles

No worse place for a mine

North America’s biggest wilderness and best inland fishery is endangered by the continent’s most toxic industry

by Ted Williams - Thursday, May 14th, 2020

Photo: Toshi Higashi

Sulfide-ore mining for copper, nickel and other metals in the United States has a flawless environmental record—meaning that a perfect 14-of-14 operating mines (representing 89 percent of U.S. copper production) were found to have released toxic contaminants via accidental releases such as pipeline failures, tailings dam spills, water treatment failures and seepage into groundwater supply.

If you head out, practice #ResponsibleRecreation

Those of us returning to the water and the woods must continue safe, responsible behavior

by Chris Wood - Tuesday, May 12th, 2020

Angler Earl Harper doing what so many of us do when we head to the water—finding space and solitude (photo: Chad Shmukler).

As the ongoing pandemic evolves and stay-at-home orders and shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift around the country, anglers everywhere are itching to get outside and go fishing.

Iconic outdoor brands Patagonia and Columbia support lawsuit to block Trump’s environmental rollbacks

And call on Congress and the courts to stop attempts to gut the Clean Water Act

by Chad Shmukler - Friday, May 8th, 2020

Photo: BLM

While most of the country is consumed with all things coronavirus, environmental groups, watchdog organizations and other environmental advocates have issued repeated warnings about the Trump administration’s continued efforts to roll back environmental regulations under cover of the viral pandemic.

Get your gear ready for trout season

Tips for making your gear last through this season and beyond

by Chris Hunt - Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

Photo: Chad Shmukler

One quick glance at the high peaks of the Caribous is all any backcountry trout angler in my neck of the woods needs to come to the realization that it’s going to be a while.

Snow cornices still grace the tops of Red Ridge, and Fall Creek is running dirty. Getting up high to the cutthroat water is weeks away. And I’m sure I’m not alone as I struggle with my impatience. Backcountry trout anglers all over the West are fighting itchy trigger fingers, just like they do almost every year at this time. Winter hangs on in the Rockies. It’s a fact of life, and all we can do is wait.

Steelhead mornings

Back in my steelheading days, I walked on the wild side

by Tom Davis - Tuesday, May 5th, 2020

Photo: Eric Fisher

Long before dawn on a chilly April morning, with just enough grainy light to see by, my friend Adrian Webber and I found ourselves where we so often did in those days: prowling the serpentine banks of Riebolt’s Creek in northern Door County—a.k.a. Wisconsin’s “thumb”—fishing for steelhead.