Articles

Trout Unlimited Issues Call to Action to Save Bristol Bay

by Ben Kryzinski - Friday, Mar 23rd, 2012

The shore of Bristol Bay near Naknek.

Since the active exploration of the proposed Pebble Mine area in Bristol Bay, Alaska began in 2002, the potential impacts and other issues surrounding the proposed mining project have been on the forefronts of minds across the country and across the globe. Discovered in 1986, the Pebble Mine area of Bristol Bay is home to one of the largest deposits of copper, gold, and molybdenum in the world. Bristol Bay also happens to be home to what is considered to be the largest wild salmon fishery in the world. Opponents to the proposed Pebble Mine project have warned for years about the potential disastrous consequences of the project, but the issue is likely to come to a head this year as the owner and driving force behind the exploratory project, Northern Dynasty, intends to file permit applications this year.

Northern Dynasty has already filed for water-use permits from the Upper Talarik Creek and the Koktuli River, in the amount of 35 billion gallons per year (about 4 times the annual water usage of the city of Anchorage). More permit applications are expected once Northern Dynasty completes its 91 million dollar pre-feasibility study some time this year. Proponents of the mining project argue that the revenue opportunities for the state of Alaska and the 1000-2000 jobs that the project is expected to create are too valuable to ignore. Northern Dynasty and its supporters also point out that the poor environmental record of mining operations similar to the proposed Pebble Mine project are the result of a lack of technology, a barrier which has since been removed.

Biologists Predict Possible Record Pacific Salmon Season

by Ben Kryzinski - Friday, Mar 9th, 2012

Record Salmon Season Predicted Klamath River

In a statement released yesterday, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council presented several alternatives to currently in-place management practices for the upcoming Chinook and Coho salmon season. According to the statement, a combination of good river conditions and excellent ocean conditions has led to what is expected to be above-average returns for most rivers in northern California and southern and central Oregon.

Returns of Chinook to the Sacramento, Rogue, and Klamath are expected to be "well above" last year's totals, with the Klamath expected to see four times as many returning salmon versus last year. When compared to totals from 2006, the forecasted returns for 2012 are expected to be an estimated 15 times greater. The current ocean population of Klamath Chinook is estimated at 1.6 million, one of the highest totals ever recorded.

Big Sky Country is Closer Than You Think

by Tom Buterbaugh - Friday, Mar 9th, 2012

Big Sky Country is Closer Than You Thnk

We have some great trout fishing here in the East; there is no doubt about that. However, once you spend some time trout fishing in Montana, it changes everything. However, I am consistently surprised by the number of fly fishermen that we talk to in our travels that say something like, “man, I’d like to fish Montana some year." Well, that year can be now. You're not getting any younger and anything can happen in life.

Like all trips, a fishing trip out west takes time and costs money. However, it is time and money well spent. Unfortunately, many people are wrongfully under the impression that the only way they can fish out west to go the guide + lodge route, complete with $3,000 price tag. This is not true. Others may be concerned about the skills needed to catch trout out west. If you catch trout in Pennsylvania and other Eastern states then you have more than enough skills to get it done out west, without doubt.

The biggest hurdle (and cost) to a trip to Big Sky Country is usually simply getting yourself there.

Drugs and fly fishing: Casting to big bonefish

by Chris Goldmark - Thursday, Mar 1st, 2012

For Annie, being in a high-risk demographic for glaucoma has its perks.

To get some background on where this is coming from, let alone where it is going, let's look a typical angler. Let's call our angler "Alfredo". Alfredo has a good cast, fairly tight, good rod position and better than average line management. Turn overs are decent and he has opposite side presentation ability. A dream of a client, really. That is, until you put Alfredo in front of a double digit bonefish tailing at 35 feet. Behold the transformation of our formally competent caster at the mere sight of a fish.

Simms to Sell Direct to Consumers: Who Benefits?

by George C Costa - Monday, Feb 27th, 2012

Will customers still venture in to their local shop for Simms products?

Last week, when Simms announced that it would begin selling direct to customers as well as placing stricter regulations on how existing retailers can sell Simms products online, it came as a surprise to much of the fly-fishing community. In an era where the fly fishing industry as a whole is said to be shrinking and local fly shops are disappearing from towns all across America on what often feels like a weekly basis, both shop owners and the customers that support them are understandably sensitive to issues such as this one.

As a result, Simms' decision has caused quite a stir. Many have taken flight to online forums to lambaste Simms for turning its back on the very shop owners whose dedication and loyalty were integral to building the Simms brand that exists today. Others have defended the move as inevitable and one destined to build a stronger Simms for the future.

In an interview with Kirk Deeter of Angling Trade, Simms CEO K.C. Walsh explained that Simms would begin selling direct to customers in August and that the company would also no longer allow its vendors to sell Simms products on eBay and Amazon. Simms believes that these decisions will ultimately support the specialty shop by growing the brand and leveling an unfair playing field created by online dealers that offer unauthorized discounts on Simms products.

In the interview, Walsh emphasized that “specialty matters most” to Simms and indicated that Simms plans to continue to focus on the companies and individuals with which they have spent years building relationships by prioritizing inventory for their authorized retailers (over Simms direct sales) and by providing support to maintain the quality and consistency in the Simms products most of us own or covet. After all, you know you're just dying to drop $700 on the G4's.