John, 70, and Vickie Fourshee, 69, were on their grand adventure for the summer with a few friends to celebrate their anniversary when tragedy struck. As John was wading across the Moyie River in Idaho, he slipped filling his waders and was quickly swept downstream with his head below the water. After seeing her husband struggling, Vickie bolted into the water to attempt to save her husband, when she was also caught in the current filling her waders.Â
The couple’s friends rushed to the water to do their best to help, but by the time they pulled the pair from the water, it was too late. Both John and Vickie drowned and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Kentucky couple was beloved in their hometown, where Vickie was a heralded educator and John helped run Fourshee Building Supply in Cadiz, KY.
Accidents like these can be easily avoided if you pay extra attention to how and where you’re wading, especially when high, fast-moving water and low water temperatures create a deadly combination for anyone who finds themselves in the water. Floatation devices, emergency knives, and wading belts all can help prevent accidents like these from befalling you on the water.
Michigan Congresswoman, Debbie Dingell, and Nebraska Congressman, Jeff Fortenberry, have re-introduced the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) to Congress earlier this spring. This bipartisan bill would redirect $1.4 billion in annual funding to state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies. These resources would be used towards monitoring and restoring habitat for over 12,000 at-risk species classified in the Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN).
Fish -Â Over 40% of freshwater fish are considered at risk.
Amphibians -Â 42% of toad, frog, and salamander species are threatened or severely declining.
Reptiles -Â 33% of turtles are threatened while 5% of other reptiles share the same classification.
Birds – 1/3 of bird species are classified as needing urgent conservation action.
Freshwater Mussels – 70% of freshwater mussels species are already extinct or jeopardized.
“America’s wildlife are in crisis. One-third of all species in the country currently face a heightened risk of extinction. This bill represents a bold, bipartisan vision for how we can recover wildlife and create jobs in every state across the nation,†said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “There is important work just waiting to be done restoring habitat, removing invasive species, stopping wildlife diseases, reducing water pollution, and mitigating the harm from climate change. This bill will put people to work today protecting our wildlife heritage for tomorrow.”
Preventative, Not Reactive
States, territories, and tribes will be able to invest proactively in local species conservancy before drastic action would need to be enacted under the Endangered Species Act. This would allow for preventative measures to be taken for at-risk species in a more cost and time-effective manner.
Taking measures to protect the natural biodiversity of the United States benefits everyone. Healthy ecosystems allow native flora and fauna to thrive and find balance. This balance is what allows us anglers and outdoor enthusiasts to keep coming back to and discovering our favorite spots. A healthy environment also ensures that the outdoor economy (hunting, fishing, viewing) can continue to operate in a sustainable manner. Future generations of anglers, hunters, and wildland stewards rely on us to keep common species common.
Funding
Currently, funding for most local conservation efforts comes from the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants. It is the only program that supports states directly in preventative measures keeping species from becoming threatened or endangered. RAWA would not require any tax increase, as the bill redirects current funds.
To urge Congress to support Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, click here.
Over the past couple of weeks, fish kills and terrible water quality conditions invaded Tampa Bay, Florida. Chances are you saw the environmental carnage making the rounds on social media over the weekend. Well, if you didn’t, it wasn’t pretty–excavators scooping thousands of pounds of dead fish, dead tarpon, high concentrations of red tide, and it’s all likely to worsen as water temperatures keep rising and the rainy season progresses.
500+ tons of dead marine life picked up in St. Petersburg as of July 14, according to the Tampa Bay Times
Hurricane Elsa made landfall in Florida last Wednesday, dumping almost 11 inches of rain in some regions of Florida. Elsa’s high winds and heavy rains were a recipe for disaster and created the perfect conditions for the devastating fish kills and red tides we’re now witnessing. You may remember an article earlier this summer,Florida Water Quality Outlook 2021: Brace For Impact, where we spoke with the folks over at Captains for Clean Water. “What we have now ,†said Daniel Andrews back at the end of May, “is a dining room table with a bunch of breakable plates and glasses, and someone is getting ready to do the tablecloth trick. Sure, it could end well; but more than likely, most of the items will be shattered.â€
A dead Dolphin washed up
By the looks of it, the party trick was not successful, and things may get a lot worse. Whenever there is a big rain, and storm surge for that matter, large amounts of nutrient pollution enter waterways. Those excess nutrients are a big component of the ongoing Tampa Bay situation. The nutrients fuel red tide (karenia brevis) and other harmful algal blooms, which in turn lead to fish kills and have serious human impacts, as well.
Currently, Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg have the highest red tide concentrations on Florida’s west coast. That may or may not be a coincidence. Back in April, more than 200 million gallons of nutrient laden industrial wastewater was pumped directly into Tampa Bay, in an attempt to avert a full collapse of the containment reservoir. The Piney Point event brought national attention and outrage to Florida’s water crisis, but little substantive action was taken and authorities and the state began the waiting game.
Now that water temperatures are nearing 90 degrees and rainfall runoff is increasing, Tampa and its surrounding areas are bracing for the full effect of poor water quality, and many are already calling it the worst it’s ever been.
A Emergency Response manager with the city of St. Pete, Florida, provided an update on the current situation last Friday: “As far as what I’m hearing, we’re seeing larger fish kills than what we saw in 2018. But it seems to be concentrated in the St. Petersburg area.” The 2018 red tide season was particularly devastating for the entire state of Florida–that red tide inflicted more than $8 million in business losses and killed more than 200 tons of marine life.
Tampa Bay fly fishing guide, Captain Dustin Pack, said that he’s “never experienced a fish kill to this magnitude in Tampa Bay. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen it.” What’s particularly concerning with this red tide event are the type of fish dying. In the past couple of days, Dustin received pictures of a 5′ hammerhead shark and a Cobia floating dead–those are strong fish that normally do not succumb to red tide. In addition, “if tarpon are dying it’s bad. If they can’t withstand the water quality by breathing air, it’s really bad.”
Dead Cobia, a first for Capt. Dustin Pack
None of this is new. Red tide is naturally occurring. However, it’s greatly intensified by human-caused factors, mainly nutrient pollution. For this reason, Dustin added “I believe calling it red tide gives the entities responsible (i.e. Piney Point, the state of Florida, golf courses, over fertilized yards) a scape goat.”
In addition to being a full time fly fishing guide, Dustin is a board member for Tampa Bay Water Keeper, and “[they’re] working hard to make sure those who are responsible are held accountable.” Unfortunately, nothing can be done in the short-term; you can’t just clean billions of gallons of estuary water. You have to fix it at the source, which means addressing the nutrients entering the waterways and restoring the natural flow of water. The reality is that nothing can be done to avoid whatever is going to happen at this point. But, Dustin is hoping that these jarring images produce some national attention to bring more awareness and advocacy to fixing these long-term issues. One way you can help achieve that is by calling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (800-636-0511) and bring more attention to this ongoing issue. Ultimately, if FWC doesn’t get involved, none of this is getting to Governor DeSantis.
In this Video of the Week, we take a look back at Chase and Aimee’s (@tightloopsfly) series called Notes From the Road. These short films are Audio Visual Diaries featuring  B-roll from their Feature-length film “Journey on“. Entry 3 takes a look at their time spent in and around Yellowstone National Park. Their 1985 Westfalia named Bullwinkle decides to have engine problems in the park forcing Chase and Aimee to think on their feet. So sit down and enjoy the serenity that encapsulates the eat of a Yellowstone cutthroat to the bellowing grunt of a Buffalo.
Aimee and Chase are @TightLoopsFly and live full time in their 1985 Westfalia Van. From fly fishing, videography, and storytelling you won’t want to miss their adventures! Be sure to check them out on Instagram and Youtube as well as keep your eye out for their newest Project “For Wild’s Sake: The Rare Trout Chronicles.”
North Alabama is the southernmost extent of the native smallmouth range in the U.S. (Here is a helpful resource for finding where smallmouth live). Growing up here I have heard every misconception that’s ever been said about smallmouth. Like: they don’t live here, the water isn’t cold enough for them, and they live in ugly places.
I didn’t know much about them when I started, but what I did know is that seemingly randomly when I was fishing on the river, I’d end up catching a bass that fought way harder than the bream, and the other bass I would catch (Largemouth). It was at that point my obsession started. Trying to put rhyme or reason to that bass eating my flies became all I could think about on the rivers. I started researching the bass and even reading scientific studies (that were way out of my reading level at the time) about smallmouth bass and what made them eat.
Fast forward a few years when I was working in a fly shop. Again, I heard every misconception you could imagine about smallmouth, the most common being that you can’t target them with a fly rod. How did fly fishing culture miss bass fishing with flies? Was it because Brad Pitt hasn’t done a movie where he’s catching bass on a fly? Unlike unlocking the knowledge to catch a smallmouth, I don’t think I’ll ever figure this one out.
These misconceptions were largely our motivators for making our most recent film series, Backyard Bronze. We want to showcase that bass are a worthy adversary with a fly rod. They require everything that trout fishing does to catch a good fish. Time on the water, knowledge of rivers, matching the hatch, and presentation.
The objective for our first day on the water was to figure out where the fish were holding. It was a cool spring this year, we were fishing in the 80’s instead of the 100’s that time of year. That 20-degree difference is enough for the fish to notice and sit in a different area of the river.
Generally, we would be finding fish in faster water when feeding. The fish had not yet pushed up into the faster water but were instead sitting in the deeper pools below the runs. Once we knew where the fish were sitting, we were then able to target them in that water more effectively and knew what water to spend our time focusing on.
Our first day was a long float through one of our favorite stretches and as the sun began to set, we hit the motors and took off to the takeout. Taking what we learned from that first day, we now had a better sense of the water we needed to target for the rest of the week.
Day 2:
From day 1 we learned that these fish had not yet moved into their summer, shallow water, holding patterns. They were still deep in the pools. On our first day, drop-offs and tailors were the tickets for us. We wanted to try some new water so we planned a float on a nearby river that is a tributary to the Tennessee River. Picking a river close to the main/big water would give us deeper pockets to fish and better chances of finding Smallies pushing upriver. In theory, there would be more water and more fish. But as usual, our plans got ruined when we got to the takeout to leave a truck for our shuttle. The privately-owned land at the takeout had been recently closed off to public traffic.
We see this in the South East all too frequently; a landowner allows people to put in and take out at their land but revokes that privilege because some ne’er-do-wells leave trash and abuse it. So, just another example of why it’s so important to respect the land, we get to fish on and always do our part picking up trash along the river. Especially, at boat ramps. That sad realization made us call an audible. We would have to float down into the main river which added nearly 5 miles to our float.
We ran the shuttle to a boat launch for bass boats on the main river and headed back up to the launch. We had not charged the battery in the trolling motor or gassed up the outboard as we had not planned to be on any stillwater. Well, that was a mistake, and Stephen as he often is was ornery. But, we made it out and found some good fish.
Our thought process that morning was right as we found some good fish holding in deeper runs throughout the day. Our new MeeMaw fly was finding fish consistently. The dumbbell eyes allowed it to get deeper to those fish and it still has an awesome jigging action that worked well.
We got some local intel from a bait shop in the area that said they were bumping some sort of “Crawfish soft plastic thing.†A proven point that even a local bait shop may give you some good intel that you can translate to a fly.
White had been working our previous day but we tied on the Olive and Orange MeeMaw and went for it. You can work the MeeMaw like a craw or a baitfish and I think that’s a secret to its success. Heavy sinking Airflo lines were able to get our flies down to the fish and the Red Beers gave us the energy needed to strip the fly in.
It turned out to be a good day and we ended the day by doubling up on smallmouth in a big hole. It was the perfect way to wrap up the day and we were looking forward to a different stretch of water the next day.
I guess the moral of the story is to clean up trash you see lying around and charge your trolling motor battery every night whether you need it or not. Stay tuned for an inside look at our final episode of Backyard Bronze, coming soon…
Once a year we all gather around the family flat screen to watch Shark Week. Epitomized in films and pop culture, this week on Discovery Channel it’s all sharks all the time. And if you’re anything like us, you might be wondering how you can catch one of these apex predators on the fly!
Swift and energetic piscivores, blacktip sharks are known to make spinning leaps out of the water while attacking schools of small fish – making them a blast to hook on a fly rod….Read more.
The Bonnet ate, ran a bunch of drag, and then the hooked popped out. It turned, around and charged straight for the boat again, eating the same fly again about 5 feet from the boat…Read more.
The ocean flattened out, massive flats started to form and we began spotting fish after fish cruising the surf. Sharks of all sizes ranging from ten to easily over eighty pounds cruising in around a foot or two of water…Read more.
Once I had their attention it was a blast when they ate the fly. I was throwing a 10wt in these pictures and then went back out for sunset with a 5wt that was even more fun…Read more.
After the fish was hooked it put up a great battle, even for the 12 weight rod we were throwing. The line wrapped around the push pole and the angler (BTT’s Ross Bucek) decided to jump in the water to avoid breaking the fish off…Read more.Â
A few minutes later we are poling along the mangrove shoreline as I’m basically just flipping the fly into the water waiting on Marcos to call out a fish when I see little Mr. bull pop up again. This time he nailed the fly and it was on from there…Read more.
And that’s when he showed up. Roughly a hundred and twenty pounds of pure muscle, he easily tripled the size of the last shark. And he wasn’t alone. While this particular shark did ten-foot leaps into the distance, another entered the slick. And then another…Read more.
The section of the Colorado River between the Colorado Highway 9 bridge in Kremmling downstream to the Colorado Highway 13 bridge in Rifle is now under a Voluntary Fishing Closure effective July 7th, 2021. The voluntary closure will remain in effect until further notice, with a possibility of a mandatory emergency closure to all fishing if conditions worsen.
The closure is a result of dwindling flows from the ongoing drought, which has caused the river’s temperatures to rise to levels dangerous to trout.
Before you fish anywhere in Colorado this summer, especially on the Western Slope, please take a look at this CPW River Conditions Guide that is updated regularly regarding fishing closures and water temperatures.
Ivy O’Guinn is an Alaskan woman of many talents, she is a commercial fisher, a high school track coach, a fly fishing guide, and a taxidermist. (What doesn’t this awesome gal do?!) She is an Aleut, Alaskan native. Read below to learn more about Ivy’s fish skin crafting, commercial fishing, and artistic interests.
Tell us about your artistic background – how did you become interested in art?
Growing up in a small Alaskan village exposed me to some awesome artwork. Before I was old enough to fish, I would spend time at the community center with other kids and do arts and crafts. That experience gave me an interest later on in pursuing Alaska native art. I can be quite a hobbyist and when I get into an art project or idea, I go with it. I’ve dwindled in wood carving, jewelry making, and as of late fish skin crafting!
How did you start fish skin crafting?
As a commercial fisherwoman, using the entire fish to its fullest is very important to me. I’d heard about people turning fish skin into art and I thought it sounded intriguing. I started talking to different people and researching how to fish skin craft. I came across a European book that was super informational. I actually used a translator online to read it, and it helped me to learn the dynamics of the art. It has been very rewarding to use salmon skin to create unique and beautiful art.
When did you begin crafting with fish skin?
During COVID I had some extra time and I decided to play with using fish skin for different things. I tried using a fish brain tanning method, but it was pretty complex to get the brains out of all the fish. I found that egg yolk and vegetable oils had the same protein as the brain material. It worked well and I feel like I have it down fairly well. I’ve made earrings, baskets, and am currently upholstering some cowboy boots with king salmon skin.
How has fishing played a role in your life so far?
Fishing has always been in my life, I grew up around it in Bristol Bay and now I live near one of the most popular rivers in Alaska (Kenai River). I still spend around 4 months in Bristol Bay commercial fishing, but I love coming back and fly fishing for steelhead. I think fishing will always be a special part of my life, there is just something about being outdoors in such a beautiful place.
Do you see yourself commercial fishing for years to come?
That’s a good question… I think commercial fishing is similar to farming. You’re investing in a resource and you just have to hope it’s done sustainably and will continue to be good in the future. It’s just something you can’t bet on being good, but I really enjoy it. Bristol Bay has been a second home for me since I was a baby and it’s definitely special to me.
What is your favorite part about fishing in Alaska?
Fishing in Alaska is so special and I love the variety it brings. Fishing for salmon in Bristol Bay is such a different experience from fishing for trout on the Kenai River. The landscape also alters so much here, certain places are rolling tundra while others have huge mountains and trees. As someone who doesn’t sit still very often, Alaska is the perfect playground for fishing and more.
What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue art in the outdoor/ fishing space?
Get creative, so many odd materials and items can be used to create useful art. Talking to people that are very wise in their art form is a great way to learn more about it. I think the best part about art is that you can make it how you want, there are no restrictions to your creativity. If you want to stick some salmon skin on cowboy boots or a plant pot, go for it!
Follow Ivy on Instagram @ivyo for more awesome Alaskan content 🙂
In this week’s “How to Tie†video feature, Charlie’s Fly Box gives us a great tutorial on how to tie the Comparadun.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
The Comparadun is a dry fly similar to others in the How to Tie series through its simplicity, extremely effectiveness, and versatility. The lack of hackle allows this fly to ride low on the surface of the water but stay buoyant due to the implementation of deer hair for the wing. The Comparadun can imitate a wide variety of mayflies from Green Drakes to Pale Morning Duns by simply changing the hook size and dubbing used for the body.
During the spring and summer months the Comparadun will be the most effective. Depending on where you are and the time of year, take some time to determine if mayflies are hatching, and if yes try to remember the size and color for your next session on the vise. Casting the Comparadun is a true joy due to the lighter materials used to construct the fly, which also allows for delicate presentations.
Similar to many dry flies, it pays to carry a wide selection of Comparaduns in your box. As mentioned earlier, by changing ingredients this fly can take on many different identities. Having a few different colors and sizes, you can target that big brown crushing Green Drakes or that finicky rainbow sipping size 18 PMDs. Matching the hatch can be the key for trout during those thick spring and summer hatches, and by carrying Comparaduns in your fly box you are doing yourself a favor.
According to some new research coming from the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, trout can become addicted to methamphetamine that leaches into the water. Perhaps this explains why so many big trout like to sit right outside the water treatment plant. They’re not waiting for food, they’re jonesing for their next hit of the good stuff.
“40 brown trout in a tank of water, containing a level of methamphetamine that has been found in freshwater rivers, for a period of eight weeks, before transferring them to a clean tank.
Then every other day the researchers checked whether the trout were suffering from methamphetamine withdrawal by giving them a choice between water containing the drug or water without. A further 40 trout were used as a control group.”
The researchers found that trout that were subjected to the meth-laced water, suffered withdrawal symptoms and immediately sought out more meth when it became available.
We can’t imagine what kind of fight a methed-out trout would put up once you hooked him. On a separate note, does anyone have any good meth-imitation flies?
