Why Are You Tagging #KEEPEMWET ?

A quick search on Instagram and there's over 65,000 images with the KEEPEMWET hashtag

The overwhelming majority get it.   The point of Keep Em Wet is to encourage the angling public with better fish handling practices, lessening our overall impact on the resources if a release is in the cards

The three main principles of the initiative are well represented in most of the pictures, but there are a substantial amount that seem to be using for a popularity contest

Some fish are meant to be kept and consumed.   A quick hero shot out of the water isnt always out of the question.  But why are they using the tag beyond the attempt at gaining more likes or followers?

Weak Sauce. 

Way out of the water.  Up on the bank.  On the rocks.  Dead fish.  Fingers in gills

Completely counter to the reason #keepemwet exists.

So what to do?  Dont turn it into a shame show.  Educate, be kind.    For the very reason you see these pictures are edited to remove faces and names because that's not the point

The point comes back to what the tag is all about.  Have a great time, treat the quarry with respect and when you can, #keepemwet.

Action Vs Talk in Conservation

Wasting away one afternoon recently on the internets, I came across a thread on a message board that really got me thinking.

Are you spending your time talking, or acting on or being a part of the conservation of our outdoor resources.

The responses were quite interesting.   Some spoke of who they support, what groups they're members of, and who they contribute time to with boots on the ground effort on specific projects.

More telling, were the responses that were either truthful

"I'm not doing enough"  or  "I hope to get more involved soon" 

or the question seemed to hold a mirror up to folks who deep down knew they weren't giving back and they didn't like what they saw staring back at them.

A few days prior, there was an interesting article in Forbes about outdoor companies that actually contribute hard dollars or labor to conservation efforts.

The article and the message board conversation go hand in glove.

Are you giving, or are you just taking from our collective outdoor resources.

Are you investing for the future of hunting, fishing and outdoor endeavors, or are you just profiting from short term sales success?

So here's my ask of you....

Who are you supporting?  Who are you volunteering for?  Are you rewarding companies that support conservation with your wallet?

The time is WAY over for you to be standing on the sidelines and not be involved.

Love cold water fisheries like and or fish like steelhead, salmon or westslope cutthroat?  Get involved, here are a few for you to consider

Wild Steelhead Coalition
Wild Steelheaders United
Native Fish Society
Save Our Wild Salmon
Trout Unlimited

Dream 365 days a year about high mountain mule deer, elk or wild open spaces with chuckars and other upland game?  Get involved, maybe with these groups

Mule Deer Foundation
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Pheasants Forever
National Wild Turkey Federation


There are countless organizations that would be jumping for joy for your volunteer hours, groups like the Wild Steelhead Coalition that are almost entirely volunteer run, or up and coming groups like Backcountry Hunters and Anglers  and The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership who are battling public land access issues daily.

The biggest tip I can give you is join the group that best fits your passions.  Don't spread yourself thin, make the biggest impact with the organization that you believe in the most.    Own it, commit to it and be a part of the solution that gives our kids hope that what we love in the outdoors will be there for them when they're old enough to join us.

And if your an owner of a company that makes money off gear, trips, or collective outdoor resources, please take a look at how you can financially contribute back.   It's nothing but solid business sense to invest in the future of the sports that use your equipment and or services.

Its time.  Stop talking about it and put your plan into action

KEEPEMWET Goes Live...

Photo Credit-Brian Bennett

The official KeepEmWet site is now live.

The movement for better fish handling practices has been gaining momentum over the past couple of years.   The science proves that the more care we put in towards lessening air exposure,  the better the fish will fair after they are caught.

Truthfully, fishing is a blood sport and after it all stacks up, there will be some that dont live to fight another day.  But....if you intend to release a fish, why not do what you can to give it a fighting chance.  Pun intended.

Check out the 3 Guiding Principals as well as their overall Ethos.....hell why not check out the whole site.

Its not about not taking pictures.  It's not about casting stones on those who's pictures you dont agree with.  It's about a proactive approach to furthering ones conservation of the resource.

#keepemwet !!

Celebration of Wild Steelhead Ver 2.0

This year, it's going to be bigger.  Much Bigger.

September 13th and 14th at McCoy Park in Portland its on.    Soul River continues to bring more and more to our sport, especially when it comes to introducing more new faces to the crowd.

More info about the event

Once again, Soul River is delivering another fly fishing extravaganza to the city. Bring the Soul we'll bring the river to you. The Celebration of Wild Steelhead! Spreading knowledge of Mother Nature and the art of fly fishing to your community. Armed with the goal of introducing youth and veterans to the positive experience of fly fishing along with the funk and soul of Speaker Minds this will be an event that can't be missed.

This event will not only celebrate the iconic wild steelhead of the Pacific Northwest, but also build upon strong community ties and raise awareness of conservation, fly fishing, and local arts in an all ages, accessible, friendly atmosphere. Like always, this event is FREE and along with our sponsors, we will be giving out 200 free fly rod packages to the first 200 youth in attendance. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy the experience, and embrace the Celebration of Wild Steelhead!

Come learn.  Come cast.  Come tell lies like fishermen do. 

Come learn about conservation.  Most of all, come have fun.

Learn more about the event HERE.

Blast From Conservation's Past

Down in a dusty basement of a second hand book store, I found this gem of steelhead conservation's past

The book, Fly Fishing for Steelhead was written in 1982 by Bill Stinson, was more of a how to guide but you can see that even back then people understood that there was trouble on the horizon.

Asking around through the network of steelheaders I know, this poster was first used in the early 80's on the Washougal and Wind Rivers in SW Washington and created by Bill McMillian, Clark Skamania Fly Fishers and WDFW.

It must have been so counter culture to stick your neck out and promote conservation like this back then.    Good on them for starting the fight.

Steelhead Summit Coming April 18th...

Interested in learning about the state of Steelhead, especially in regards to the Skagit River Basin and it's current recovery?  Then make plans to be at the  April 18th Steelhead Summit in Seattle at  the Center for Uban Horticulture building 

The Wild Steelhead Coalition, Wild Steelheaders United and The  Wild Fish Conservancy will be on hand along with noted speakers and biologists John McMillen, Dick Burge Bill McMillen and many more.

The focus will be on the continued recovery of the Skagit River and it's Steelhead stocks.

Get more info on the days agenda by clicking HERE

Devil's Club and Blazes by SWCC

It's well over 2 years since I visited Skeena Country and it's memory stays strong inside me.  The place is pure magic

Here's a great video the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition put together way back in 2009 as they began their journey of helping to map the native cultural areas in the upper watershed.  

To me, their group is an inspiration of what normal folks can do to stand up and defeat giants.  Good on them for all the great work they do.

Enjoy the show!

Calling Bullshit....

I received quite the email today.  What a steaming pile it was.

The Environmental Policy Alliance (cough...shell company....cough) has released a video that claims that groups like The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, The Isaak Walton League and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers are just green decoys, groups masquerading around as fronts for massive anti sportsman, anti gun, liberal organizations

Hold on a second there,  It takes all of about 3 seconds of typing on google to get a feel as to the Environmental Policy Alliance and their work.

This group is a front for  DC lobbyist Rick Berman of Berman and Co.   .

Take a peek at this this Huff Post article that details this organization

Rather than attack this farce of a video, rather than attack The Environmental Policy Alliance, ask yourself this;

Do you really think that these three organizations, with all their employees, all their volunteers, all their time on the ground protecting our open spaces, our rights as outdoor men and women would risk all that they have done because they are trying to push "liberal agenda"

Take the TRCP for instance.  Their mission is to "Guarantee you a place to place to hunt and fish." Spend five minutes on their web site and go ahead and find something other than hard working people pushing their mission to keep our public lands open and available to use

The Issak Walton League was founded in 1922, hell of a long time to be be on the take right?

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers....hell I've been to their events in person and I can personally tell you I would have had a hell of a time anti gun non hunter in the bunch, trust me.

I openly wonder if these three groups are being attacked in such a manner because they prevent development and energy extraction on public lands.  Hmmmmmm.

So back to the other EPA.  If they're claiming these organizations are green decoys, then what are the companies that are funding this PR firm

Just as a sneak peak, from the Huff post article above, on some of the quality initiatives the parent company has taken on

"Berman & Co. has previously attacked organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and campaigned against minimum-wage increases and unionization."

This video is meant to piss people off.  It's meant to be divisive.  

Let it piss you off into action, and here's what I propose:

Support these groups that they're attacking.  Make a donation.  Help them in their efforts to keep our lands open for enjoyment.  Our outdoor culture depends on wide open spaces of public land.  

Volunteer your time.  Put your boots in the dirt and do something to help

And for the other guys.  Meh, dont waste your time.

Give for Wild Steelhead

Looking for a place to make a year end donation?  How about the Wild Steelhead Coalition..

A few years ago I made it a point to find a way to get involved in conservation.  It was an overwhelming feeling that I couldnt just keep taking from the resource and do nothing to help ensure that our sport would be there for my children.    Fast forward to now I am a proud board member of the WSC we've had another great year working to help in the conservation and recovery of wild steelhead.  Here are a few of the highlights of this year's work

--As part of the WDFW workgroup, played an integral part in establishing Region 5 Wild Steelhead Management Zones (WSMZs) that include the Wind, East Fork of Lewis and North Fork Toutle and Green Rivers

--Organized an eight-city West Coast tour of the wild steelhead documentary film “Wild Reverence” to advocate and deliver attention to the plight of wild steelhead to a wider audience and eventually the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)

--Continued participation and partnership in the Elwha River lawsuit to end hatchery plants in the newly restored Elwha River basin

--Researched and formulated six rule proposals to WDFW, which were recommended as part of the lower Columbia Basin stream strategy to enhance wild steelhead recovery

--Successful inclusion of arm hook squid—a main staple of steelhead diet—into the PEW Foundation’s forage fish initiative, based on WSC-sponsored research

--Participated in the Steelhead Cutthroat Policy Advisory Group (SCPAG), as well as continued engagement with WDFW and presence at Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission hearings commenting and arguing for progressive measures to recover wild steelhead

--Secured grants for habitat restoration of Skagit River watershed, targeted for Barnaby Slough restoration and Lyle Creek restoration

We did this with well over 3,000 volunteer hours in 2014 from board and committee members

The organization is 100% volunteer run we greatly appreciate any tax deductible donation you'd like to contribute.  We strive to put as much of your donated money direction into conservation efforts as possible.

Click HERE to make your donation and thank you very much from all of us at the Wild Steelhead Coalition.

Tip The Big Hole...

The Big Hole River is one hell of a place

Come participate in a very unique event designed to help keep it that way

The Big Hole Watershed Committee on June 22nd will be holding the first annual "Tip the Big Hole" event

Guides throughout Southwest Montana will be pledging their tip money from that day's trip in the effort to support the BHWC's goal of retaining water in the river, multi-party stewardship, fish habitat restoration and good land use planning.

The smart fellers who sign up for the event get a T shirt, a sweet schwag bag, a massive dinner and entry into the grand prize raffle containing gear from companies like Winston, Scott, Simms, Rising and others.

The event will be hosted in Melrose at the Sunrise Fly Shop on the 22nd, and events start rolling at 3pm.

It's open to the public, and you dont have to be a guide to donate.  Also, cant be there?  The BHWC has a handy dandy link that allows you to securely give wherever you may be.

The times I have fished the Big Hole it's exactly what you'd expect it to be.

Wild.  Bugs galore.  Amazing Fish.

It's one of those places that on every cast, you feel like you're going to catch the fish of a lifetime.  The whole experience is everything fly fishing should be.

Help keep it that way and support this event.

Learn more about this event from the organizer, Joe from Evolution Anglers as the June 22nd comes closer

Whiskey For Wild Steelhead...

Want more of these guys swimming around for year's to come?

and do you dig top shelf food from on of the top restaurants in the Northwest?

and love some of the finest spirits in all the land?

Then you belong at what I think is the most unique culinary event this spring in Spokane.

The Dry Fly Dinner at Sante Restaurant to benefit The Wild Steelhead Coalition. April 21st and 22nd in Spokane.

Chef Jeremy Hansen and crew are producing on hell of an event, taking their spin on "bar food done better"

From the event web site:

Dry Fly Distillery and Sante Restaurant are proud to announce an event dinner benefitting the Wild Steelhead Coalition.  Come enjoy an evening of Bar Food Done Better, while supporting on of the great conservation grous in our state

The two night event will feature a four-course dinner prepared by Sante’s Chef/Owner Jeremy Hansen and the entire crew at Sante.  Each course will be paired with a custom Dry Fly cocktail

This event will take place on Sunday April 21^st and Monday, April 22^nd.  Each night has a limited number of tickets available, so purchase yours today to ensure your seat.  Tickets are $60

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Grab your seat at this much talked about event by clicking HERE and buying your tickets today.

A portion of the proceeds of this dinner will go directly to help wild steelhead conservation efforts through the good work of the Wild Steelhead Coalition

See you there!

Crazy Big List O' Schwag...

Want Some?  Come join us this Tuesday at the Lincoln Center in Spokane and you just might win some gear

Here's the list of what's up for grabs in 2 days.  

Donated Guided Trips

Grande Ronde River—Rick Hedding

SW Montana Trout —Joe Willauer, Evolution Anglers

North Oregon Coast Steelhead—Justin Crump, Frigate Adventure Travel

Vancouver Island Steelhead—Yos Gladstone, Chrome Chasers BC

Clearwater River Steelhead—Adam Kusler, CW Steelhead Syndicate

N. Umpqua River Steelhead—Mark Stangleand, N. Umpqua Fly Guides

Klickitat River Steelhead—CJ Emerson, The Evening Hatch

Five Dollar Raffle

Redington Sonic-Pro Waders

Korkers KGB Boots                              

Allen FF Fishing Rod/Reel Combo       

Sage Kenektok Pullover                        

Filson Messenger Bag                           

Home Energy Audit                             

2 tickets to Sante Dinner

Christina Dubel Print

Filson Vest

Redington Practice Rod

Rising Hip Pack

Simms Pant Waders

One Dollar Raffle

Olive the Woolly Bugger Books         

Deneki T-shirts/Hat                              

Fly Lines                                                      

Loon Hats/Shirts                                    

Promont Outdoor Apparel                  

Sacred Headwaters DVD/Shirts       

Hatch Hats/T Shirts                               

Ibex Base Layers                                     

Filson Reel Cover/Flask/Gloves       

Alaska TU Bristol Bay Sweatshirt     

Fishpimp Hats/Shirts                           

Flying Goat Gift Certificates/Hoodies

Sasquatch Hoodies-Lateral Line Media

NW Outfitters Donations

Denny Charles Custom Net

Felt Soul Media DVDs

Stripin FlyWear Shirts

Film Tour Hats

Simms Key Chains

Free Fly Sun Masks/Hats

Fiberglass Manifesto Gear

Cheeky Hat/T Shirts

Custom Tied Flies

Fishpond Chest Pack

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Hope to see you all there, doors at 6pm, Low and Clear starts at 7pm ish...or whenever we stop BS'ing to hit the play button

More info available HERE

The Sacred Headwaters Are Safe!!!

Oh happy day.  The good guys won, and won big.

I have only spent a week in that area of the world but was deeply touched by the rugged beauty of the land and rivers that encompass the Skeena Watershed.  Fishing aside, there's a quality and richness about it that is undeniable.

I awoke this morning with emails coming from my host on the Skeena, Shannon Mcphail with the announcement that a decision had come down and she and all that have worked tirelessly to stand up to Dutch Royal Shell all had their dancing shoes on.

The Sacred Headwaters are now protected into perpetuity.

This is the culmination of a decade of defiance of government and a MAJOR gas and oil company by as Shannon puts it "a rag tag bunch of hooligans"  It's inspiring to hear the news, it's inspiring to get to know the people who really in no uncertain terms, did the unthinkable.

I would be remiss to mention that non of this could have happened without the coordinated efforts of the Tahltan Nation.  The Sacred Headwaters is the birthplace of their clan and tribes, and without their rock solid stance...nothing would have gone as far as it did

This decision gets me thinking.....

Could this be the precedence that is needed to shut down the proposed Pebble Mine, as well as the Enbridge Pipeline?

We need gas.  We need oil.  But there are places that should be left alone, forever.  

Learn more about this decision at www.skeenawatershed.com

Strong Work--The Big Hole Watershed Committee

I have two distinct memories of the Big Hole.

First was of our first major Montana Fly Fishing trip in 2004.  We rented a cabin, trucked across three states, tried our hands at rowing a hard boat down the river in August (terrible idea btw, especially as rookies on the sticks) for 3 days and literally got our asses handed to us.

Sure a few fish were caught, but clearly we had some learning to do.  In any case, I knew I couldn't wait to get back

For the second memory, fast forward a few years and my good buddy the Vanilla Gorilla was kind enough to invite us to his wedding on the banks of that glorious river.   After a few days of kicking around Twin Bridges fishing the holy waters that collide there, we joined the wedding party in setting up for the wedding on a private ranch with a mile's worth of Big Hole access.

Those 4 hours before the wedding were pure magic.  The Big Hole showed me a glimpse of what a world class trout river is all about

Rainbows and browns crushed the phat bugs we chucked and just before the wedding began, a special surprise and the representation of what the Big Hole Watershed Committee is working for....

The Big Hole Watershed Committee is the leader in watershed restoration in the Big Hole Valley. 

Water is gold in SW Montana, and there are many that put in claims on the water.  Ranchers, Farmers, Fishermen and Women, Homeowners, and the list goes on.

In 1988, the Big Hole ran dry for 35 days and caused fish stocks to suffer dearly, including the famous yet small population of Grayling.  Water rights conflict and drought brought the river system to it's collective knees.

For the river system to remain viable for decades to come, it all comes down to adequate flows and a good management plan.  That's where the BHWC comes in, and if you're searching for a place for where your money can do some actual kick ass boots on the ground work, here it is.

If you've ever dropped a line into the water, or hope to someday in the future and want to know it's protected, donate to the BHWC.

Learn more as they're in a fundraising push and need everyone's help.

Visit the BHWC web site and donate NOW.

The fish, the ranchers, the fisherman and the entire Big Hole Valley will thank you.