Conservation

News broke this week that the United States Supreme Court declined to overturn a ruling that allows anglers in New Mexico to walk on stream beds that flow through private property. It's a similar law to what's in place in Montana and Idaho. Attempts to pass similar legislation are ongoing in Colorado, as well. You can read more about this ruling, and what...

A proposed bill in the Montana state legislature could potentially threaten public access to rivers and streams in the state. The bill in question is vague, but it essentially allows for private landowners to lobby for - and receive - permission to restrict public access to public waters. You can read more about the bill - and learn how to contact Montana...

John McDaneil posted a recap of his 2022 season guiding and fishing on the Harriman Ranch section of the Henry's Fork. He comes to some startling conclusions, particularly that the fishery in this famed section of river might actually be declining in quality. The post is long, but worth reading in its entirety, which you can do here.

Most of the American West is struggling through a drought that's been nearly three decades long, and is the worst drought in 1,200 years in the region. But this winter's fantastic snowpack offers a respite, if not a complete reprieve, from the drought conditions. You can learn exactly what that looks like - and what it will take for this drought to end - in...

If you've ever wanted to catch marlin or sailfish on the fly, you're not alone. Tons of anglers have this dream too, and we've certainly seen interest in landing these massive fish on the fly increase in recent years. But how do these fish fare in catch-and-release fishing? A new study actually dug into this question, to help us get a better idea of our...

If you've ever had an interest in the steelheading out in Kamchatka, Russia, then you need to read this story from John Sherman in Fly Fisherman Magazine. Sherman had the chance of a lifetime to fish steelhead in Kamchatka with the Kamchatka Steelhead Project, a research initiative to help protect and conserve this valuable resource of fish. You can read...

A new study by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Coastal Cutthroat Coalition has been released. This study sheds new light on coastal cutthroat trout behavior and life cycle, which is data the scientific community currently lacks on this fish. You can read more about the study here.

The EPA blocked the Pebble project by citing a rule under its Clean Water Act that allows the agency to ban the disposal of mining waste in parts of the Bristol Bay watershed. This effectively blocks the mine from ever happening, should the EPA decision hold. The Bristol Bay area is home to the world's largest runs of sockeye salmon, and it supports an...

A final decision on the fate of the Pebble mine is expected soon, according to Isabelle Ross from KYUK Alaska. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to formally ban mining in the Bristol Bay watershed, effectively killing the Pebble mine - and any others like it. To learn more about this expected announcement, click here.

In an announcement last week, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed an order halting federal mineral leases on over 225,000 acres within the Rainy River Watershed. The Boundary Waters make up a significant sporting and ecologically important area in northern Minnesota. The order Haaland signed removes over 225,000 acres from federal mineral leasing...