Articles

Little Mountain, Big Threats

by Chad Shmukler - Thursday, May 15th, 2014

When one thinks about Wyoming fishing, it likely isn't Little Mountain that comes to mind. With famous fishing destinations like the Miracle Mile of the North Platte, the Snake River sitting in the shadow of the Tetons or the storied waters of Yellowstone, it is easy to understand why. The region's tiny creeks, most of which you can literally step across, aren't drawing anglers from across the globe.

But Little Mountain, which sits inconspicuously in southwest Wyoming near the borders it shares with Utah and Colorado, is home to some of the state's best, most intact habitat for wild fish. It is also one of the last shelters for the gravely threatened Colorado River cutthroat trout. The region's pristine habitat isn't only a bastion of wild, native fish, it is also offers up some of the most prized hunting grounds in the state. The Greater Little Mountain Coalition calls drawing a deer or elk tag in the region a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hunt some of the best populations of trophy big game in Wyoming."

And it's in trouble.

Farm Pond Reconsidered

by Steve Zakur - Wednesday, May 14th, 2014

I now have a chauffeur. It's an extravagant expense but I'm worth it. My eldest son got his driver's license last summer and now drives whenever we share the car. It's a nice break after more than a decade of being his chauffeur and it gives him time behind the wheel to hone his craft. Before long Sam will be taking his turn at the wheel and I'll be doing even more gazing at the countryside as it slides by.

Coming home from church last Sunday, I told Chris to stray from the usual route. Sam knew where we were going and before long Chris, a reluctant angler, let out a groan. He pulled the car over as instructed when we got to the pond.

Most of the farms in town long ago yielded to development but dotted across the landscape are the little ponds that once served them. These former sources of irrigation now serve little purpose beyond being the home to resident geese. And a medley of swimming creatures.

Those Spots in Front of Rocks

Fishing the hydraulic cushion

by Chad Shmukler - Tuesday, May 13th, 2014

The spots in front of rocks, like this one on the Yellowstone River, are some of the most productive spots on almost any river. This angler passed up a prime lie for an inferior one (photo: Chad Shmukler)

Rocks and boulders are a friend to even the most novice of anglers. Why? Because rocks make it easy to read the water, a task that can be particularly challenging for beginners but also one that remains complex for even the most seasoned of fly fishers.

Vedavoo to Offer Limited Quantities of 'No Pebble Mine' Packs and Accessories

by Ben Kryzinski - Monday, May 12th, 2014

Vedavoo and the Sportsmens' Alliance for Alaska are teaming up to offer a limited number of hand-built Vedavoo packs and accessories customized with the "No Pebble Mine" logo which displays support of the ongoing battle to prevent large-scale open-pit mining in the Bristol Bay, Alaska region. Proceeds from sales of the packs will go directly to efforts to stop mining Bristol Bay.

The line of packs and accessories was born of a custom, one-of-a-kind pack originally created by Vedavoo founder Scott Hunter at the request of the Sportsmens' Alliance for Alaska director Scott Hed. The Sportsmens' Alliance for Alaska has long been one of the groups leading the fight against the Pebble Limited Partnership and its efforts to develop a mine to extract the massive deposits of copper, gold and molybdenum that sits below Bristol Bay's pristine salmon habitat.

Eddie Bauer Fly Fishing Collection Now Available

by Ben Kryzinski - Friday, May 9th, 2014

The Eddie Bauer Adventurer Boat Bag.

Eddie Bauer made a bit of a splash last year when the nearly 100 year old retailer and manufacturer of outdoor gear and apparel announced it was getting back into the fly fishing business. The return of Eddie Bauer to fly fishing seems fall in line with other company actions -- such as the introduction of its very popular First Ascent line -- in recent years which are perceived to be part of an effort to return to its roots as a serious outdoor gear manufacturer, after languishing for the last couple of decades in more of fashion brand status.

After a long period of relative silence after its announced return to the world of fly fishing, Eddie Bauer recently made its full 2014 line of fly fishing products available in its Sport Shop, which also includes hunting and shooting apparel. The fly fishing line, at least for now, doesn't include the likes of rods and reels. The lineup of 14 products includes men's and women's apparel and the classically-styled Adventurer bag and pack series, which includes a boat bag, lumbar pack and chest pack.