News On The Fly

The fight to save the salmon of Bristol Bay could take a big step forward if the EPA invokes the Clean Water Act.
Photo by Pat Clayton

Today, Trout Unlimited sent out an action alert to its members, calling on them to send an email or letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, asking her to start a Clean Water Act 404(c) process in Bristol Bay immediately. Sending the email is ridiculously easy: All you have to do is. . .

The post TU Asks Anglers to Tell the EPA to Protect Bristol Bay appeared first on Orvis News.

From TRCP:

A bill introduced this afternoon in the U.S. Senate would continue a successful federal partnership with states, Indian tribes and other water users that promotes water conservation and improves water use efficiency, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announced today.

The SECURE Water Amendment Act of 2014 (S. 2019), introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz, is cosponsored by Sens. Martin Heinrich, Mazie Hirono, Mark Udall, Tom Udall and Ron Wyden.

“Sportsmen rely on healthy watersheds for access to quality hunting and fishing opportunities,” said TRCP Center for Water Resources Director Jimmy Hague. “This bill will improve aquatic habitat throughout the West and make our water resources more resilient to drought and climate change. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership commends

Wild brook trout are well worth the hike in to headwaters streams.
All photos by Mike Jennette

Reader Mike Jennette caught this sweet, 9.5-inch wild brook trout last month in Mitchell County, North Carolina. He was casting a size 10 Olive Woolly Bugger in a crystal-clear, upper-elevation tributary of the. . .

The post Photos: Zen and the Art of <em>Salvelinus Fontinalis</em> appeared first on Orvis News.

What could be more fun than watching a puppy explore its world? Here's a great homemade video of Sydney, a 9-week-old Westie (West Highland White Terrier, that is).

The post Classic Video: 46 Seconds of Sydney appeared first on Orvis News.

Stripped peacock quills create beautiful segmented bodies on a variety of fly patterns.

Instead of a step-by-step lesson that teaches you how to tie a specific pattern, this week's video from Tightline Productions shows you how to make your own stripped peacock quills, which you can use to create a variety of patterns, such as the. . .

The post Video: How to Strip Peacock Quills Faster and Easier appeared first on Orvis News.

The problem of fake service dogs has a profound effect on people with actual service dogs.
Photo via kcra.com

We posted last summer about the growing problem of "fake" service dogs muddying the waters for actual, certified service and comfort dogs. This practice puts businesses in a. . .

The post California Plans to Crack Down on “Fake” Service Dogs appeared first on Orvis News.

Among the 2014 line up of new styles from Costa Sunglasses are three styles designed specifically for women: the Isla, Blenny and Goby. All feature Costa’s patented 580™ 100 percent polarized lens technology.

Read more in the press release below.

Applicants are actively being sought for the John H. Daniels Fellowship and The National Sporting Library & Museum. The fellowship supports researchers in the areas of equestrian, angling and field sports, and applications are being accepted through March 15, 2014.

Read more in the press release below.

A veteran of the publishing industry, Patrick McGann has recently been announced as new editor of the Salmon & Steelhead Journal. McGann will take on editing responsibilities from former editor Pat Hoglund, who will continue to serve as publisher and executive editor.

Read more in the press release below. 

The team that brought us GEOFISH is back with a new adventure, the aptly titled. . .

The post Video: Pretty Epic Trailer for GEOBASS appeared first on Orvis News.

One of Will Long's self-shot images, which set off this discussion.
Photo by Will Long

Last week, we posted a how-to story on taking photos of your fish when you're alone on the river, and this generated enough debate that we created a poll. We asked the simple question, . . .

The post The Results of Our “Selfie” Poll and Our Prize Winners appeared first on Orvis News.

Here's a wonderful story about a Black Labrador Retriever named Pesto, who seemed well on his way to becoming a service dog for a disabled person. But something strange happened along the way, . . .

The post Video: “Failed” Service Dog Finds A New Destiny appeared first on Orvis News.

Getting the permit to the boat first was a great kickoff to a memorable day.
All photos courtesy Tom Gordon

Australian reader Tom Gordon sent in the three pictures that capture his recent Belize saltwater Grand Slam, along with a note: "Wind has been blowing a gale all week, but we decided to roll the dice and go out today in 20 knots and plenty of. . .

The post Photos: A Travelin’ Man’s Belize Grand Slam appeared first on Orvis News.

What a great fish to find in shallow water!
Photo courtesy Kelvin Leenheer

Via Facebook message, Kelvin Leenheer sent this photo and a message: . . .

The post Photo of the Day: Shallow-Water Pike in Spring-Like Conditions appeared first on Orvis News.

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy pets Hank, a stray dog who has become the team's new mascot.
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, via sports.yahoo.com

When a stray dog, who looked to be in rough shape, wandered into the Milwaukee Brewers' spring-training complex in Arizona last week, no one got upset. Instead, team employees took the. . .

The post Stray Dog Becomes Big Hit in Milwaukee Brewers’ Camp appeared first on Orvis News.

Dawson may be just nine years old, but he can throw a fly line.

The double haul is a cast that every angler wants to master, but some people struggle with the concept, the timing, or the motion. (Or, of course, any combination of the three.) It's no coincidence that Pete Kutzer's. . .

The post Tuesday Tip from a 9-Year Old: How to Double Haul appeared first on Orvis News.

Anyone who has ever searched online for something—a house, a car, a dog—knows how important a photo can be. When you see something that catches your eye, you get excited and want to know more, but there are

The post How One Picture Can Save a Dog’s Life appeared first on Orvis News.

Social Media Helps

We received some disturbing pictures from a friend of Patagonia living in Bend, Oregon of a massive fish kill due to improperly regulated water flows on the Deschutes River. We, as well as some others, helped spread the word that the ODFW needed to take a closer look at this issue and initiate discussions with corresponding agencies like ORWD.  The results:

Hi there,

I wanted to circle back around with all of you, because you were part of the original e-mails about the fish kill on the Deschutes this past October.  Your efforts to spread the word helped to elevate this issue greatly.

Through this event I was able to become connected with many others in Bend who are also passionate about impacting some change so that this does not again happen in the future. I’ve met some truly amazing people and am confident that even if nothing were done to change the flow rates, there would not again be the same kind of killing that happened last year.  Collectively, we have raised the community in support of coming to the river with buckets en masse whenever it might be needed again.  But more importantly,  irrigation districts have sat down together at the table with conservation groups and water management officials to talk about solutions and ways to mitigate the need for such low flows in our river.

The attached, is a Forest Service study that was just released.  (I’m so excited that they actually did this study!)  We are beginning to gain a better understanding of the flow rates needed in order to sustain the side channel so that fish don’t get stranded or die.  From here we are working backwards to find out if there might be ways to work with ORWD to target flow rates that will better sustain this channel, and life in the river in general.  ORWD sent us a note last week indicating that they were going to begin to release water from Wickiup Reservoir as a result of the recent heavy snows and melts, they indicated that they would release in 50cfs increments if needed, in order for us to better understand how/when the side channel fills.  Communication channels between everyone involved in the river are more open now, and for that alone I am so thankful!

The week before the fish kill I had been talking with a friend who was telling me just how “f'd” our planet is and that she couldn’t understand how I had such a positive attitude about it, she laughed when I told her, “don’t give up, even one person can make a difference.”  A week after the fish kill we had a huge laugh when she told me that I had clearly proved my point.  I wanted to thank you all, for helping so much to spread the word and elevate the issue.  I don’t want to hear, “this happens every year, ” ever again.

Sending the very best, filled with love for great river and all of its creatures.

photo and words by Kim Brannock

PovoDog hopes to find families for the stray dogs of Sochi.
Photo via lifewithdogs.tv

If you are a regular reader, you will know we've been following the story of the Sochi dogs closely. Now, Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska has opened a shelter called PovoDog...

The post Shelter Opens for Sochi Dogs appeared first on Orvis News.

Ruby, who loves kids and belly rubs, is considered a "Restricted Dog."
Photo via bumpyroadtobubba.com

Here is a frustrating story out of Australia that demonstrates misunderstanding around the Pit Bull breed occurs outside The US as well...

The post Ruby’s “Restricted Dog” Story appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: Dave Hosler

Fritz knows when it's time to get out of the house and away from all the minor frustrations that live there.
All photos by Dave Hosler

Dave Hosler lives in Indiana and writes a blog called Pilecast, about fly fishing, Fritz the dog, and his beloved Subaru. Here's his latest dog post. . .

The post Photo Essay: The Dog Knows Best appeared first on Orvis News.

Apart from its massive proportions, that brown is also simply gorgeous and obviously healthy.
Photo courtesy

John Herzer, from Blackfoot River Outfitters in Missoula, Montana, sent us this great photo, along with an explanatory note: . . .

The post Photo of the Day: New Zealand Monster appeared first on Orvis News.

Check out this cool trailer for the film "Liquid Gold," produced by Keith Brauneis for CalTrout. The film premiers in San Francisco tonight.

The post Video: “Liquid Gold” Trailer appeared first on Orvis News.

This film features the scientists and fly fishers in Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula who aim to understand and protect Asia’s only population of steelhead trout.

Last month I touched on building a network to help you cross-promote your online activity. Having readers market your business via their social media channels is one of the cornerstones of a successful social media campaign. One strategy to engage your social media followers is the 80/20 rule. The premise is simple, use 20 percent of your postings to promote your brand and devote 80 percent to content that interests your audience and encourage them to engage with you.

Creating post after post about your brand and your specials only annoys your fans. Your content strategy should be about building a relationship with your followers. Following the 80/20 rule will:

1. Relieve the burden of creating new content every day. Just share an interesting article you find while browsing.

2. Build your network and expand your reach by engaging in similar businesses by sharing their content.

3. Diversify your content avoiding the pitfalls of promoting your brand post after post.

How to share 80% of your space with interesting content.

There’s been quite a bit happening on the industry job front lately.  (Is that a sign of further improving health for the fly-fishing market?)  Several organizations are looking to fill positions, and at least one high-profile hire has been made.  Here are links to some of the highlights.

For the past 28^th years Orvis has held a Guide Rendezvous, an event for Orvis-endorsed guides to network and compare notes. A plethora of seminars and workshops take place over the course of the three-day gathering, covering topics from CPR, to boat and vehicle safety,  habitat protection to social media and casting instruction workshops.

This year Orvis is throwing the gates wide-open and all professional guides, Orvis-endorsed or not, are welcome to attend the seminars and Guide Olympics, taking place April 3-5, 2014 in Missoula, Montana.

For the record, Simms will not be hosting its Ice-Out Event this year.  Angling Trade editors Kirk Deeter and Tim Romano will be at this year’s event, and we look forward to meeting with our guide “sources” and gathering insights and ideas that help shape our editorial work at AT, in TROUT magazine, with Field & Stream’s “FlyTalk” blog, on MidCurrent, and elsewhere.

From the Orvis announcement:

As you know, Angling Trade has been supportive of the effort to safeguard stream access for anglers in the state of Utah.  Here’s where things stand as of last Thursday, February 20th.

From the Utah Stream Access Coalition…

This beautiful short by filmmaker Henry Harrison examines the indefinable draw of fly fishing and what the sport is all about, drawing upon observations from behind the camera.

Preacher’s Daughter

From down in the LC, we get some wintertime red fishing action. Close proximity casting and fly management wearing less-than-normal attire for that region… must be having a cold winter down there, huh guys? 

original content Doug Roland, LC Journal