Latest Blog Posts

Public lands and talking heads: Same as it ever was

Too often, when we discuss real issues, our positions are supplied to us
Photo: Chad Love.

“I do not understand, myself, what the necessity is for the government entering into the show business in the Yellowstone National Park. I should be very glad myself to see it surveyed and sold to private enterprise.”

— Senator John James Engalls (R-Kansas), 1883

“Same as it ever was, same as it ever was, same as it ever way, same as it ever was.”

— The Talking Heads, 1981

Sick fishing

Cigars, I told myself. It’s just the cigars.
Photo: Chad Shmukler

That first ominous little tickle in the back of my throat came on the morning after a fairly raucous evening of hand-rolled cigars, butter-smooth rum and, of all things, the hideous mixture of vodka and Red Bull. It was one of those nights that, at my age, you only endure on a far-flung fishing trip away from the steady influence of someone who has your best interests at heart. I remember looking around the dark balcony of the flashy, noisy and generally chaotic nightclub and thinking to myself, “What the hell am I doing here?”

Can fly fishing for trout change your life?

Why do 7 million anglers pick up a fly rod and go fishing every year?
Angler Chris Elbow on an Oregon spring creek (photo: Jeremy Roberts / Conservation Media).

As 2025 gathers speed, the media is awash in stories about our favorite sports and activities. And yet in spite of its popularity with celebrities, and its ubiquity in television commercials, fly fishing receives relatively little attention. So why do more than 7 million Americans pick up a fly rod and go fishing every year? What’s so appealing about the sport? Let’s delve a little deeper.

Faster isn't always better, even on the flats

Rods that bend have benefits, almost anywhere you fish
Photo: Chad Shmukler

As I get ready for an upcoming saltwater trip, I’ve been enduring the challenges most right-brained thinkers deal with when it comes to organization and preparation. For me, it generally starts with unpacking my duffle from my last big trip. That means I have several notable organizational obstacles. First, I need to remove everything “trouty” from my bag. Yes, I’m a procrastinator — I’ve embraced this trait and have come to grips with the fact that I tend to work best in short bursts and on a deadline.

Utah's public lands battle shows the power of political contributions

Public lands advocates have limited options to counter the power of industry influence
Photo: BLM.

Years ago, when I was working to protect public lands in the West from any number of extractive industrial activities, I was fond of telling the generally conservative hunters and anglers that I came into contact with on a daily basis, “You don’t have to be a left-wing radical to engage thoughtfully in conservation. You just have to be pragmatic and understand what it is you’re fighting for.”

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