ACTION IS THE CURE

No doubt, these are challenging times. But, while many who love wild places, wild and native fish and wildlife, and public land sit on their couches, mope and complain and let their conservation compass spin out of control, I find action is the cure.

Some question whether advocacy is dead, others complain they are losing their wealth during the pandemic and can no longer help fund the conservation programs they used to. Others point to figures like John Muir and Aldo Leopold and say these men were “dinosaurs”, and, “their conservation ethic is no longer found in society today”.

I ask these folks, “who created the grassroots advocacy and activism we’ve seen in the past”. The advocacy that created our nation’s wilderness areas and protects wild places, wildlife and public lands. That advocacy that keeps these places and their wildlife in the public trust in face of mounting pressure to open public lands to harmful development and activity.

So, who was it, you ask? It’s NOT Leopold or Muir. It is the tiny grassroot advocacy and activist organizations that organize bake sales, and raise money and awareness, and fight for the public trust, wildlife, wild and native trout and wild places. Organizations like Montana Trout Unlimited, Madison River Foundation, Mountain Journal, Western River Conservancy, Montana Sportsman’s Alliance, and Trust for Public Land. These well-run, effective and efficient groups are not the bloated national organizations that owe favors to dark money funding groups. They get the conservation job done for all of us who love wild and native trout, wildlife and wilderness. Please consider supporting these organizations, today in these troubling times they need our help more than ever.

This week Jackie and I met with Cottonwood Environmental Law Center to discuss their continued work keeping the Gallatin River’s water free from the potential negative impacts of Big Sky’s wastewater pollution. We also discussed bighorn sheep restoration in the Gravelly Mountain Range, a program we’ve worked hard to support and raise awareness of. Stay tuned.

Jackie has come out of retirement to join Mountain Journal’s Board of Directors. If you love Yellowstone country and its wilderness, wildlife and wild-native trout go to their website and sign up to receive their award winning and free email newsletters. Stay informed. Remember, MoJo believes science should lead the discussions and decision of the conservation and environmental issues facing Yellowstone country today and into the future. Support MoJo with an important donation too! It will keep awesome Yellowstone wildlife stories, science and informed decision making coming to your door

In mid-September I look forward to being a part of a 30-minute video podcast aired on Earth X Television called “Round the Fire”. Myself and Trevor Neilson, Co-Founder and CEO of 1X Investments will discuss climate change and other important conservation and environmental issues from a fishing and hunting perspective. I’ll keep you posted once the exact date and time is announced.

This week we explored a few small streams in Yellowstone country. You’ll see photos of our fishing junkets here. I enjoy these small streams and some large trout that can inhabit them.

In my little guidebook, The Yellowstone Fly-Fishing Guide, I discuss dozens of smaller waters in Yellowstone detailing what kinds of trout inhabit them, hatches and best flies and times to fish them and much more. The book discusses all Yellowstone waters. I am proud to donate proceeds from the sale of this book to the “Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Program in the Park”. For more information on this program go to “Yellowstone Forever” and click on the link. The book is available by going to Blue Ribbon Flies website as well as on Amazon. Order from Blue Ribbon Flies and I’ll autograph it!

Thanks from Yellowstone’s native Yellowstone Cutthroat trout for your support.

Thank you for reading my report and blog, stay tuned here for more to follow soon.

And, have a great time enjoying and exploring Yellowstone country rivers, lakes and streams. They offer incredible wilderness fly fishing experiences that last a lifetime.

Coatimundi, winter midges, bird dogs and conservation on the border

Gorgeous pristine grasslands near Patagonia, Arizona.

Jackie, the dogs and I decided to visit friends on the Arizona-Mexican border this week. We met Ron and Char at their camp near Patagonia, Az and proceeded to nearby grasslands, some of the last remaining unfragmented grassland ecosystem between California and Texas. Here Arizona white and Emory oak trees dot the nearby canyons, washes and vast grasslands.

We stopped to admire the views, let the dogs run and talk about a huge coatimundi we’d seen along the way. While enjoying the quiet open vistas a pickup truck drove up and the driver popped out to visit. It turned out the driver, Gooch, owned the ranchland we sat on. Sensing good-karma we discussed his ranch, preserving this incredible grassland ecosystem, conservation easements and protecting clean water and air. It turns out Gooch works with the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance, a grassroots non-profit Alliance committed to preserving and protecting this area. Gooch explained this citizen watchdog organization monitors the activities of nearby mining companies as well as ensuring government agencies due diligence to make sure their activities have long term sustainable benefits to public lands, water and the small town of Patagonia, Az. I encouraged Gooch to have his organization contact 1% for the Planet to make sure they become part of the long list of research and approved conservation causes to receive donations from 1% members. Please take a moment and enjoy PARA’s website attached here and if you visit the area stop in for a visit. Too, if you have a few extra bucks send a donation to this fine group of people working so hard to make sure we’ll forever have this valuable grassland and its wildlife, protecting this ecosystem’s clean water and air for future generations to enjoy.

Dozer points covey of quail near Patagonia, Arizona.

Next we stopped at a seasonal stream. Here we have lunch, lean back on the warm bank and grab a short knap. I look up and become homesick as clouds of midges swarmed overhead. I could not help think about missing winter midge fishing on the Madison, Henry’s Fork and Livingston’s spring creeks.

I daydream about big wild trout rising to tiny, emerging midges. Rainbow and brown trout coming up for #22-24 midge emergers, their heads poking straight up, completely out of the water like a porpoise nosing a ball.

United States/Mexico border.

I sneak close to rising fish being extra careful, trout feeding on midges do so in shallow water and spook easily. I approach from downstream keeping in mind fish rising to midges do so in very narrow feeding lanes and I must deliver a pinpoint accurate presentation. There are often many fish rising, I can’t flock shoot and spray casts or I’ll put the risers down. Instead I pick a good fish and present my pattern a foot or two above it allowing the fly to drift naturally without drag.

I’ll use three feet of 6x tippet, knotting on a Scotty’s or Improved Zelon Midge, both patterns imitate an emerging midge stuck in its pupal shuck, unable to escape the surface film and one trout key on and recognize as easy prey since it cannot readily fly off the water.

I smile knowing we’ll be back in snowy Montana soon and I’ll be fishing midge times on the river. Today though we’ll continue our drive and tour near Sierra Vista and Hereford, Az enjoying warm sun and friends.

Craig and Jackie at United States of America and Mexico border.

Stay tuned here for winter midge fishing reports, new fly pattern and tying material ideas and thoughts on fishing gear- new products, fly-fishing etiquette and much more to follow soon. Thanks for reading!