Redington and Trout Unlimited have teamed up to help educate new anglers on some conservation issues, and they develop a cool little Facebook application. Enter their site here, hit the ‘Enter to Win’ link , take the quiz, and 10 winners a day will receive hats, shirts, water bottles, etc. You can also just click on the ‘Take The Quiz’ button below. Then, after the quiz closes next Tuesday the 14th, one winner will be chosen to win an entire Redington fly-fishing setup, including a rod, reel, waders, and boots! You can’t beat that for a few minutes of your time.

Thanks again for Redington and Trout Unlimited for teaming up and creating awareness.

I made my way over to Trout’s Fly Fishing to visit Andros cohort Michael Gracie this past weekend. We rigged up my reels and spent a lot of time chatting about the upcoming trip to Andros South and FIBfest. While I was still a little concerned about my casting abilities, MG graciously took me across the street with a demo 8wt just to show me a few things. Yeah, this guy can cast without any effort. As for me, it appears again that I’m way too used to a 15ft wide creek and trout you can land without a net. My double haul was non existent, but I did feel I could cast quickly and accurately within 30 feet (and yes, there was a good breeze on that Colorado day).

While I don’t want to directly quote MG, it was something like, “Fucking trout guys”. Ha! Yes, I’m going to get a good lesson down in Andros next week, which will hopefully even further my skills when I get back to Colorado (though I have a feeling after that first bonefish, I’ll already be itching to get back). So, I’m taking a casting break every day this week with a loner 10wt and a target for the park. I also downloaded a great read from Deneki Outdoors, Bonefish 101. While I can read all I want, I really hope I don’t piss off too many of the guides down there.

Thanks again to Geoff Samples of Ross Reels/Ross Worldwide and Scientific Anglers, as well as Kara Armano at Backbone Media for helping me get the gear needed for the trip.

I’m really looking forward to getting a good lesson on fishing the flats on South Andros, but hey, even it doesn’t go so well, I can always look forward to everyone making fun of me each night at the bar.

There’s a new call to action out there against the proposed Pebble Mine. Trout Unlimited Alaska has setup a great page to easily get your message to the EPA in support to reject the mine. While the news last week about the EPA reviewing the mine proposals was fantastic, we still need to keep our voices loud and clear. Please join me in posting the image above on your site/blog and linking it to http://www.savebristolbay.org/takeaction. Please take a moment to comment on this post if you do link it to you site, and I’ll be sure to share with colleagues.

Here’s more information  you can share if you post this on your site:

The largest wild salmon fishery on the planet needs your help. Please take action today to protect Bristol Bay.

Now is the time to act. As wild salmon disappear around the globe, Bristol Bay, Alaska continues to produce healthy runs of salmon which contribute $400 million a year to the US economy, employ thousands of Americans, and provide a healthy food source for people around the world. Unfortunately, North America’s largest open-pit mine, called Pebble, is currently threatening all of this. If plans for the Pebble Mine are allowed to proceed, the mine will destroy fish, fishing jobs, and the way of life for Bristol Bay locals.  Contact the EPA today and ask them to protect Bristol Bay.

Photo: Erin McKittrick

Mine Site - Photo: Erin McKittrick

Got to run by the Colorado Trout Unlimited – Greenback photography benefit. One thing I noticed while walking in, was the photo above of small little leaches poking at a lower lip. While this was my prize in the room, I think others had their sites set on it and were not going to let it go. I’m not giving up though – I think I need a Vrtaric in the office.

Which one would you choose? And yes, I have a favorite.

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Great photography from Aleksandar Vrtaric – check it out on Suck My Fly.

There was nothing out there when I was a little kid. We could drive a mile outside of Pagosa Springs and be completely isolated. That’s changed over the years. Now, there’s a full resort west of town, and Pagosa itself has become a close tourist spot for Wolf Creek,  the San Juan River, and the Rio Grande River. The last time I visited our house was last summer, and I can still get lost on some of my secret spots and beyond near the town.

So now, there’s this Pagosa Reservoir, which in theory would support growth for more than 100 years. Don’t lecture me on money – I know. But this is just an example of how growth effects our river health, and sometimes memories and what you can share with future generations. I know where I want my ashes dumped, I know exactly where I caught my first trout on a fly, and I know where I want my family to continue to spend time together and enjoy the same places we’ve visited for over 20 years.

Trout Unlimited recently reached an agreement to limit the proposed Pagosa Reservoir from approximately 35,000 acres to 11,000 (Nicely done TU!). The agreement was reached after TU researched and showed how the reservoir could impact the San Juan Basin. While this is a victory for habitat and conservationists, it’s not so who think that growth is opportunity. I say, support growth by preserving, funding, and listening to your locals before presenting a plan to stop a river from flowing and possibly doing harm to the habitat some of us grew up with. Keep your people in mind. Thanks.