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The Biggest Environmental Win Ever for Trout Anglers?

This week saw the U.S. Congress pass legislation that may do more for the future of trout fishing than anything that has happened before–and very few in the fly-fishing industry are talking about it.

The “Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act” passed the House by voice vote, indicating near unanimous bipartisan support, on Tuesday. The effort was led by Representatives Celeste Maloy (R-UT) and Mary Peltola (D-AK). Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Jim Risch (R-ID) led the previous effort to have the bill pass the Senate on July 31, 2024. It now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

What this essentially does is create a pilot program that allows qualified and vetted conservation organizations (like Trout Unlimited) to undertake projects to clean up abandoned mine sites. Previously, these groups weren’t able to work on these sites because they would inherit risks of liability. This “you touch it, you own the problem” scenario effectively left many mine sites that were abandoned and supposedly capped years ago unfixed and leeching poisons like arsenic and cyanide into streams. This toxic legacy of “off-colored” rivers throughout the U.S. from Alaska to Colorado to Pennsylvania and elsewhere has made these streams hazards for humans and wildlife, some of which are completely devoid of life. There are over 30,000 of these sites nationwide, accounting for the leading causes of pollution on America’s public lands and headwater streams.

Now, there is hope that this program will eventually expand to clean up thousands of miles of the types of cold, clear streams that support trout and other species. In the context of viable fishable trout streams, it’s fair to say this has the potential of creating more habitat and access to fishable public water than any other legislation in our lifetime.

Many conservation organizations coalesced behind the effort including Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the National Wildlife Federation and others.

But it was Trout Unlimited that really led the vanguard and shouldered the load of this effort for many years to see it come to fruition.

“This was a classic TU win,” said TU president and CEO Chris Wood in a note to TU staff. “The path to our success was made possible by proving the concept that we can clean low risk abandoned mines. We can improve water quality. We can make our communities healthier.”

And TU will ultimately lead some of the boots-in-the-water projects that just might happen to make fishing better too.

It all flows downhill. Anglers of all walks, throughout the country, have legitimate reason to celebrate, be optimistic that good things can happen and be grateful.

Fly-fishing News: R.L. Winston Factory Tour, Tarpon in Cape Cod and The Design Process Behind Scott’s Swing Fly Rods

A fascinating tour inside the R.L. Winston fly rod factory in Twin Bridges, MT. “It’s no secret that Winston rods often exceed the $1000 mark, but the question is why?”

If you were undecided about climate change–tarpon have been showing up in Cape Cod. From The Wall Street Journal ($): “Tarpon are migrating north, startling fishermen and mystifying scientists…”

Jim Bartschi of Scott Fly Rods talks about anadromous fish and fly rod design of the Swing Series. “Delivering the tools for anadromous anglers…”

Field Mag reviews the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel: minimalist micro cabins at the gates of Yellowstone National Park. “The hotel is comprised of 21 cabins, a fishing pond and outdoor ‘wellness area’ with a communal sauna, hot tubs, and cold plunges sit in the middle of the property.”

From Flylords: The Complete Guide to Idaho Steelhead Fishing. “When fishing for steelhead, imagine yourself as the fish: you want to seek out resting spots sheltered from the main current. Deep troughs, boulders, and pockets of structure are ideal holding spots where steelhead can pause during their journey…”

Swimwell (fish spray) published a scientific case study and it had positive results: “Haematological analyses revealed that the treated group displayed reduced erythrocyte swelling and maintenance of red blood cell (RBC) counts, indicating reduced need for compensatory responses to hypoxia. Meanwhile, stress-related indicators, including cortisol, glucose, and lactate, remained unaffected by the treatment, suggesting no interference of spraying with the fish ability to launch a healthy stress response..”

Steelhead short: Lael Paul Johnson hunts for winter steelhead on the Olympic Peninsula with fellow angler Westley Allen. “The challenges of steelheading mirror life itself: persistence, adaptation and the mastery of difficult skillsets.”

Swedish filmmaker, Rolf Nylinder, with a new fly-fishing diary: “To Follow Rivers” part two. An arctic expedition with Markus Lemke, Håvard Stubö and Kristian Matsson to the Grytis river.

BONEDALE FISHING REPORT #21

THERE WILL NEVER BE AN END TO THIS DRONING OF THE SURF

Life is relentless. You get up every day, put on your game face and stumble forward, hoping to achieve something that lasts. Late in the season, I find it harder and harder to be enthusiastic about the fishing. I’m in the holiday business and people on holiday want to be in the company of someone who’s as enthusiastic about the outdoors as they are. But after seventy days of rain, snow, wind, hail and the Goddamned Colorado sun my idea of a good time is indoors. Every bone aches, your lips are split and you have to cut the callouses off your hands with a knife so they don’t tear away on the oars. Your gear is beat to shit and the last thing you want to do after ten hours on the water is get it shipshape. So you duct tape it and yourself together, and hope it will last another seventy days. Seventy days of racking your hands when the winch slips, falling on rocks, removing hooks from thrashing fish and trying not to dwell on the cumulative aches and pains. Come tomorrow I will stumble out at dawn, mack a four-pack of Red Bull and 800 mgs. of ibuprofen, fill the coolers with water and food, scratch together the gear and say to the touristas, “It’s going to be a great day of fishing!” The funny thing is, once we’re on the water, I’m grateful to be gliding across God’s creation, and I certainly have an easier time than the delicate creatures I’m hired to pursue.

Live from the WORLD HEADQUARTERS

Kea C. Hause esq.

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Castwork proofs, Gianinetti’s Spring Creeks, Carbondale, CO. Photo: Liz Steketee

Fly-fishing News: YETI Collab Backpack, Tim Schulz Book Review and Swinging Flies for Atlantic Salmon

From YETI and their new pack partner from Montana: “Meet our first collaboration with the pack experts of MYSTERY RANCH, the Bozeman™ 27L Backpack.”

Ken Baldwin of Sports Illustrated writes about Stocking Stuffers for Fly Anglers. “Stocking stuffers should not be a throw-away gift, but instead, well thought-out and useful to the fly angler in your life…”

Hatch Book review: Tim Schulz’s A Cast Away in Montana. “Schulz captures the seemingly small interactions between anglers that lead to large truths and insights. For example, in ‘Doing the Right Thing,’ Schulz finally makes it to Montana only to accidentally leave his credit card at the first fly shop he stops at…”

Great conversation with George Anderson, owner of Yellowstone Angler in Livingston, Montana, on the Mill House Podcast. “He is known for his success in competitive fly fishing, winning top honors at the Jackson Hole One-Fly in 1989 and 1990, setting records for the number of trout caught using his signature George’s Rubber Legged Brown Stone nymph…”

Flylab founder Kirk Deeter writes about the fate of the fly shop in the new world of direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing and commerce: “For some of the largest brands in fly fishing, the direct sales strategy can’t be hidden anymore.”

Some good tips about swinging for steelhead and how much water you should be covering, depending on the time of year: “a balance between being thorough and efficient.”

To celebrate Hooké’s 10th anniversary, founder Fred Campbell ventured to the Causapscal, Patapedia and Restigouche rivers in search of Canadian Atlantic salmon. “Everything has to align in Atlantic salmon fishing…”