From dry fly fishing to euro nymphing, fly fishing can be incredibly complex and learning each new method is often a steep learning curve for even the most experienced of fly fishermen. Spey fishing, however, takes the cake for being the most ridiculous. T-18 sink tips, versileaders, polyleaders, running line, scandi and skagit shooting heads, and the inordinate number of different spey casting techniques are virtually guaranteed to cause confusion for anyone getting into spey fishing.
We all have the “spey” face.
We’re not going to go over the nuances and intricacies of spey fishing in this article; that’s another story entirely. However, we’re here to go over what we believe to be the most essential spey fishing tips for beginners: things we wish we would’ve known when we started spey fishing.
Tip 1. Focus on the swing, not the cast
When getting into spey fishing, it’s hard to ignore the number of casting techniques that are all over YouTube and the internet. However, remember this: the fish don’t see the cast, they see the swing. Put simply, the fish does not know nor care whether you had a perfectly executed, aesthetically beautiful cast. The only thing the fish will see is the fly and your presentation of that fly. Learning spey fishing gets a lot easier when you aren’t focused entirely on the cast. Instead of wasting time on the water practicing casting, learn how to manage your fly on a swing. The casting will come naturally.
2. Don’t be afraid to be unconventional
The team here at Fly Fever Magazine was on the lower Deschutes river last weekend, swinging for steelhead. What did we see? Spey fisherman after spey fisherman, all fishing floating or intermediate lines with classic hair-wing style spey flies. The number of green butt skunk and purple peril patterns we saw was dizzying. Truth is, Deschutes River steelhead are just as eager to eat an egg-sucking leech or a heavy intruder as they are a classically-styled fly. The Deschutes river example can be used on nearly any body of water; don’t be afraid to switch up your setup, be different, and catch fish.
3. Expand your idea of “swinging waterâ€
Spey fishermen often have a very specific type of water in mind: slower, walking-pace tailouts and runs that are three to five feet deep, and generally are on the seam of a rapid or faster water. Ninety-nine percent of the time, you’ll see spey fishermen congregated in this type of traditional swinging water, completely ignoring all of the smaller, craggly water that a lot of fish will hold in. Sure, swinging traditional water will pick you up a fish here or there, but being willing to explore some of the non-traditional and unfished water will sometimes be far more productive. Take your preconceived notions of swinging water and throw them out the window. You can thank us later.
4. Invest in high quality materials
Whether you buy flies for spey fishing or tie your own, it’s very important to make sure your flies (and especially hooks) are of the highest quality, particularly for bigger fish like steelhead and salmon. Paying an extra dollar for higher quality hooks is always worth it when targeting bigger fish. Oftentimes, hook sharpness and quality will make the difference between landing or losing the fish of a lifetime.
We hope you enjoyed our tips for spey fishing for beginners. These are all certainly things we wish we’d known when getting into spey fishing, and maybe it’ll be able to help some fly fishermen who are new to the technique. Thanks for reading, and if you enjoyed the article be sure to check out my website, Fly Fever Magazine.
Fall is a season often welcomed by fly fishermen, particularly those fond of throwing streamers to aggressive fish. As the leaves begin to change color, so do some of our favorite fish like brown and brook trout in preparation for spawning season, which makes these fish aggressive and more willing to chase a big chunk of meat floating by. Streamer fishing requires practice, technique, and proper gear. Our streamer fishing guide will help you hit the water with the proper gear to successfully target large, predatory fish this fall.Â
Rods
Fishing streamers on lighter weight rods is feasible if you want to throw smaller patterns but you’ll likely need the added power of a 6 to 9wt to throw large articulated patterns. The tactics and patterns you employ are an important consideration. You’ll want enough backbone to throw a large fly (or even two flies) into a stiff wind. Another aspect to consider when choosing a streamer rod is the type of line you’ll be using (more on that shortly). If you fish a weighted, full-sink line, you’ll need a rod that can easily carry the heavy line to accurately deliver your fly. Â
New for 2020, the Scott Centric replaced the Radian as the manufacturer’s flagship trout rod.
Throwing streamers all day can be tiresome so choosing a fast action rod that’s lightweight is your best bet. Some great options to consider for streamer rods are the G-Loomis IMX-PRO, Sage Payload, Orvis Helios 3D, or the BRAND NEW Scott Centric. Lastly, The Sage Igniter is a purpose-built rod for ultra-technical conditions and can carry large amounts of line, perfect for casting full sink lines streamers with into stiff headwinds. Most rods in the 6-8wt category will have the option of a fighting butt which is a worthwhile feature to have on any streamer rod. Pair a fast action rod with one of the reels below and you’ll be ready to chuck meat all day to aggressive buck browns.Â
Reels
Fly reels and drag are an increasingly important aspect of your fishing set up as you begin to target larger fish with bigger fly patterns. Having a reel with a strong, smooth drag will help you play large fish quickly and with confidence yet still protect lighter tippets when called upon. If you’re new to streamer fishing, or always looking for an excuse to pick up some new gear, consider adding one of the following reels to upgrade your streamer kit.Â
The fully ported San Miguel in the 5/6 Model is a go-to reel for streamer rigs.
The new flagship model from Ross Reels, the San Miguel, is a thing of beauty and comes with a sealed carbon/stainless drag system. Pair the San Miguel with the new Scott Centric fast action rod for a world-class setup. If you’re interested in the San Miguel, check out our full breakdown HERE.
The Evo LTX is a reliable reel for every situation. Photo: @vailvalleyanglers
The Ross Reels LTX is no stranger to big fish and is capable of both fresh and saltwater applications. If you’re looking for a great trout reel for streamer season that you can also take to the bonefish flats, look no further.Â
The Vaya 5/6 getting it down on the Colorado River.
The Abel Vaya is another great option for anglers that want a reel that can cross between fresh and saltwater applications. Available in 4/5, 5/6, and 7/8, there’s a reel to meet the needs of any multi-species angler. We recently took a trip to the Mayfly Headquarters in Montrose, CO to see just how this beautiful reel is made, click HERE for more information and photos from the tour. If you’re considering a Vaya or any other Abel reel for that matter, be sure to check out the new Casey Underwood Edition Reels that have some epic artwork on them.Â
Fly Lines for Streamer Fishing
Streamer fishing provides an opportunity to use a wide variety of fly lines. Anglers can opt for a floating line, intermediate sinking line, or full sink line in varying weights depending on the fishing scenario and application.Â
Floating Lines
The Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX is perfect for turning over streamer patterns.
In smaller streams or slower moving water, anglers can use a weight forward floating line with or without a removable 7-9’ polyleader. An added benefit is that polyleaders can be easily removed and you can switch to nymph rigs or dry flies with relative ease. Tom Rosenbauer opts for floating lines for a majority of streamer fishing scenarios so I wouldn’t scoff at the idea! Two options to consider would be the Airflo Kelly Galloup Streamer Floating Fly Line or the Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX Taper. These two lines are designed with compact heads that allow you to easily turn over larger patterns and maintain all the line control benefits of a full floating line.Â
Intermediate Lines
Intermediate lines are designed to sink (at a rate slower than full sinking lines) and come in two primary forms: Intermediate Sink Tips and Full Intermediate Lines. An intermediate sink tip has a sinking head with a floating running line. This allows your flies to get deeper than a floating line while still maintaining the ability to easily cast and mend the lighter running line. Consider the Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan Taper Intermediate Fly Line if you’re looking to pick up an intermediate sink tip line.Â
Airflo Sixth Sense Intermediate Fly Line
Full intermediate lines are more useful in deep, fast-moving water when you need to keep your fly at the proper depth throughout your retrieve. The Airflo Sixth Sense Slow Intermediate Fly Line is a full intermediate line that’s great for rivers and stillwaters alike.Â
Sinking Lines
If fast water is your norm and getting your flies down as fast as possible is the goal, then you’ll want to opt for a full sinking fly line. Rivers and stillwaters can require different lines: “uniform†full sink for rivers and a “parabolic†sinking lines designed for still waters.
The Airflo Streamer Max Line has a long head to keep your flies down.
Uniform lines sink at the same rate throughout the length of the line, in order to quickly drag your flies to the depths where larger fish lurk. A great option to consider would be the Airflo Kelly Galloup Streamer Max Long Fly Line. This line is designed to keep flies in the zone even after aggressive strips.
Parabolic sinking lines, on the other hand, have more weight in the “belly†of the line to help form a “U†shape underwater. The end result of fishing a parabolic sinking line is that your fly will “hover†just above the bottom, avoiding snags while staying in the prime strike zone. Additionally, when retrieving lines, the weight profile of parabolic fly lines imparts a unique action on flies.
Grain Weights
Full sinking lines come in a variety of grain weights that are designed to be paired with a rod of the corresponding weight. The heavier the grain weight, the faster the line will sink. Many sinking lines will come a weight or two heavy i.e. the equivalent of a 7wt grain equivalent will be marketed as a 5 or 6wt to compensate for modern fast action rods and to help quickly sink your fly. A good rule of thumb for choosing the correct weight of streamer rod and a line is the bigger the fly the heavier rod and line you’ll need.Â
Leaders
Scientific Anglers Absolute Streamer Leaders come in ready to use 4′ lengths.
The last piece of gear to consider when streamer fishing is your leader. Many streamer fishermen prefer short, stout leaders, of uniform diameter. To make your own leader, simply cut 3-5 feet of 10-20lb fluorocarbon and attach it to your fly line with a perfection loop and a non-slip mono loop to your fly. Some anglers prefer to cut back a 2 or 3x fluorocarbon leader to a 4ft section, leaving you with a similar result. Check out the new spools of Scientific Anglers Absolute Fluorocarbon Tippet and Absolute Streamer Leaders that come in ready to use 4’ lengths. Streamer leader formulas vary so find one that works for you!
Photo: Dan Zaz
The clock is ticking…
Spawning season is quickly approaching for brown trout and our time to target predatory fish has arrived. Please be mindful to leave spawning fish and their redds alone throughout the season. Lastly, for more tips and techniques for effectively fishing streamers this fall, check out our complete guide to Fly Fishing Streamers. We break down when and where to fish, how to effectively cast large bulky flies, and even how to pick an effective fly pattern. While there’s no substitute for casting practice and proper technique, proper gear can really enhance your time spent on the water.Â
Article by Evan Garda, he is on the Content Team here at Fly Lords. He can be found chasing trout throughout the west with his trusty fly rod. Check out his adventures at @evangarda.
In this week’s segment, we take a look back at Will Phelp’s short film called “The Away Game”. The focus is on more than just chasing bull trout it’s encompassing the idea of doing it yourself. Sometimes you get outdated information or just straight up bad info. There’s a beauty in itself when you take the time to figure it out yourself, its something that just makes it feel so much sweeter.
In this case, we catch up with Will and Erika on their trip out of the country in unfamiliar territory chasing a fish that is a complete unknown variable to both of them. In all terms of having the home-field advantage, these bulls really made Will and Erika work through the blood, sweat, and many miles to come away from the field feeling like they won the away game.
2020 will always be known as the year COVID-19 turned everything upside creating change and new forms of the word “normal.” One new formality that we have all experienced is the use of masks on a daily basis. After recently launching the Filter Mask, BUFF has transitioned this technology to the famous BUFF tube model.
The Filter Tube BUFF feels and fits just like your typical neck gaiter but now includes a 3 – Layer replaceable filter system that blocks with 98% bacterial filtration efficiency. Made of 95% recycled REPREVE fabric, this product features a 4-way Ultra Stretch fit, easily covering your nose and mouth.
The species of salmon native to the Pacific Coast are no strangers to fire. For millennia they have been making their annual spawning runs upstream, regardless of what is happening on the river banks. Recently, they have become a sign of hope along the McKenzie River in Oregon where the Holiday Farm Fire devastated the region.
From the Holiday Farm Fire Facebook Page:
“The McKenzie River is the flowing heart of the McKenzie River Corridor. Its crystalline waters are home to important populations of salmon, steelhead, and bull trout making it a regional fly fishing destination. The McKenzie River fishery is integral to the local economy.
When the Holiday Farm Fire roared through the river corridor many wondered how the damage would impact the river. Would the river turn into a muddy mess? Would the fish come back?
Joe Moll, Executive Director and Daniel Dietz, Conservation Director for the McKenzie River Trust, visited parts of the river to see how the Holiday Farm Fire impacted salmon spawning habitat. The pair were pleased to note that the river was running clear and cold despite the surrounding damage done by the fire. Several spring Chinook salmon swam upstream to spawn, completing the life cycle of the iconic species.
‘Seeing Chinook salmon spawning again in an area where the fire had just run through was a very powerful sign of hope,’ said Joe Moll, executive director of the McKenzie River Trust.
The Trust is one of several organizations that have been working together to improve salmon habitat in the river corridor. Moll says that incorporating the river’s recovery from the fire will be important to future conversations about salmon habitat.
‘We’re going to have to step back and see how the river and forest respond and incorporate that information into how the community responds to the fire,’ said Moll.”
Check out our previous coverage of the Chinook’s comeback on the McKenzie:
“For nearly 70 years, most fly lines have been made from PVC – a material historically known to be incredibly toxic and one that even today, remains environmentally problematic. Here’s why:
PVC is naturally rigid. So, PVC line manufacturers must use plasticizers to make their lines supple enough to be cast. Unfortunately, these plasticizers contain chemicals that are known environmental toxins. And from the moment the line is produced, these plasticizers begin to leach into the environment – contaminating you and the waters you fish. Once the line has shed enough of these plasticizers, it becomes stiff and prone to cracking, even failure. What’s more, PVC is known to release lethal, bio-accumulating toxins called Dioxin as it breaks down – rendering PVC lines impossible to safely recycle or even dispose of.
We’ve never used PVC to produce our fly lines. And we never will. You see, since 1984, Airflo lines have been made from Polyurethane. PU is far less harmful to the environment, is chemically inert, is naturally supple, and doesn’t require the use of any plasticizers whatsoever. And because PU is a true thermoplastic, it can be safely reheated and reused/recycled multiple times.
Airflo lines enjoy some of the most sophisticated, best casting tapers in the business. Our welded loops are the strongest in the industry. And thanks to the unique qualities of PU, we can infinitely vary both the density and suppleness of a line across its entire length – allowing us to produce lines with an incredibly wide range of performance characteristics.
With all of these benefits, and none of the environmental drawbacks of PVC, isn’t it time you switch to Airflo? They’ll perform better for you and the environment.”
In this installment of our “Behind the Brand” series, we had a chance to sit down with David Jacobson, one of the founders and operators of Outdoor Professionals, or better known as O’pros Fly Fishing. Here, we had a chance to explore just what needs O’pros is trying to address in the fly-fishing space, and discuss the journey of a small business in the fly-fishing industry.
Flylords: What is O’pros?
David: We are 3 bearded brothers from Wisconsin, Mike, David, and Aaron; just trying to make some kickass fly fishing gear to help everyone have a better experience in the outdoors. Possibly, it will even help you catch more fish.
O’Pros is short for Outdoor Professionals. Growing up playing hockey, we always wanted to be the best and play in the pros. Similar to professional athletes, the outdoor professional is always improving and looking for new ways to help them have a better experience. No matter the activity, fishing, hunting, backpacking, camping etc. an outdoor professional is anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.
Flylords: When and where did O’pros start?
David: O’Pros started in 2016 when we traded in our hockey sticks for fishing rods and a new obsession began. O’Pros Bro David was cooking up the ideas of the name brand and products while playing semi-professional hockey in Illinois. Trying to decide between 5 or 6 different brand names, Outdoor Professionals came up. Shortly after, he opened a fortune cookie that said move forward with your current plans. So we did.
After the brand name was established, it was time to work on our products. I reached out to a local university engineering program and asked if I could use their 3d printers to prototype the original belt clip rod holder.  After getting to know some of the professors and students, I was soon in the facilities as much as the students and asking every question I could to figure out how to turn my idea into reality. I do not have any formal background in product design, engineering, or manufacturing. I just figured it out along the way.
Flylords: What was the first step in getting the O’pros brand started?
David: The first step for us was for me, David, to convince my brothers that this would be a good idea. It honestly did not take too much convincing, but I had to sell them on the long-term benefits knowing that it would be a grind in the beginning. All I had to do then was figure out how to design and manufacture the products.
Flylords: What was the first product you guys rolled out? What was the inspiration behind that?
David: Our first product, we actually do not even sell anymore, was the first version of our belt clip rod holder. This grew from pure necessity of needing a spot to hold our rod as we stood knee-deep in the middle of a rushing river trying to change up a fly to catch smallmouth bass. The old under the armpit, forcing you to have T-Rex arms, trying to dig your gear out of the back of a waist pack was simply not ideal. We started by tying a mount for a bike tire pump to our packs. It was about the same diameter, and it held in there okay, if you didn’t move at all while using it, but it was enough to prove the concept and get our brains going on how we can make it better.
Flylords: So, what is the issue in the fly-fishing space O’pros plans to address?
David: Our products are all focused around efficiency and providing the angler with a better experience. Fly fishing can be challenging, that is part of the reason we all love it, but some things are just more difficult than they need to be. We try to think of simple solutions to the problems anglers face on every trip out. The rod holder for example; We have all been there, in the middle of a river, trying to keep our balance, untangling a nasty knot in our line as we watch rising fish within casting distance. It is already frustrating enough. The rod holder will free up both of your hands to give you the best chance to quickly get your gear sorted out and back to catching fish.
Flylords: What has been one of the most difficult aspects of being a small business in the fly-fishing space?
David: Playing with the big boys! Trying to weasel into an industry as the new guys is no easy task and a good product idea is not enough, at least for us. We started regional and grew from there learning along the way. After year 1, we encountered 2 replica products being sold in the market from competitors that had better distribution. This was a big blow to the gut as we had to figure out a way forward with stagnant cash flow. We went back to the drawing board, listened to our customers’ feedback, came up with some new ideas, and utilized the wonderful world of crowdfunding to launch a better version of the rod holder!
Flylords: Where have been some of the coolest places you’ve seen one of your products pop up?
David: It has been crazy watching this small product snowball into the hands of some awesome anglers around the world! Seeing the rod holder in more and more fly fishing publications has been a good sign that we are growing in the industry, but our favorite is seeing customers send us pictures of them using their O’Pros gear, catching fish, and absolutely loving it!
Flylords: How much of your own fly-fishing experiences have you found slip into the brand?
David: “Made by family, fished with friends” is what we are all about. We were born and raised in Wisconsin, and this is where we fish and hand assemble our products. Our focus starting out was to grow support in our communities first and then expand. Most companies have ambassadors to help promote their brand and products, we just have a group of buddies from the Midwest that we fish with to help test products, create content, and even help name products. Some of our new products coming out soon have direct Midwest ties to the names, inspired by this group and where we fish.
Flylords: Are there any non-profits O’pros is partnered with?
David: We currently partner with Back Country Hunters and Anglers, as well as 1% for the Planet. As we grow, we will be eager to focus more on conservation efforts and growing the sport of fly fishing.
Flylords: Are there any new upcoming product launches you can give us a sneak peek of?
David: Absolutely! Our entire basis at O’Pros is around continuous innovation and new products. We are launching a line of landing nets this fall and have a few more products in the works for early 2021. The nets have a custom hockey stick handle (carbon fiber composite), aluminum net frame, a custom carrying bag that doubles as a reusable shipper, and a lifetime warranty. These nets are lightweight, durable, and look awesome! We are excited to bring them to you.
Flylords: What’s the best way for someone to get their hands on some O’pros gear and support the brand?
David: Our gear can be found in many fly shops across the U.S. and other countries. Stop in and ask to check it out. If your local shop does not carry our gear, you can find us at www.oprosgear.com.
It’s getting to that time of year again, the nights cool and the kids go back to school, but with everything going on, this year will be different. One thing that will not be different is the salmon running up the Great Lakes tributaries to make their annual spawning migration. The amount of fish and timing varies from year to year, however, they always show up. Chinooks show up first in early September or sometimes even late August, and later, the Coho’s show up to give angler consistent fishing into October. The sheer power and veracity of these fish to take a fly or should I say destroy a fly is prominent. The Chinooks are the largest of the Salmon species in the lake and can weigh well over 30 lbs. and put up an awesome fight for the fly angler. The Cohos, though smaller than their cousins, might even fight harder than Chinooks. They will defiantly test you and your gear. We are very fortunate in the Great Lakes Region to have some amazing migratory species like the Chinooks, Cohos, Pinks, the mighty Atlantic Salmon, Steelhead, and Brown Trout of epic proportions. Let this be your cursory guide to finding, hooking and landing these incredible species around the Great Lakes.
How to ID the Salmon & Trout of the Great Lakes
Gearing up
Gear for Great Lake’s Salmon varies by what technique you choose to target them; Spey, single hand, indicator, free-drifting your fly downstream or stripping your streamer. The rods needed to fight these fish and enjoy the ride is in the 8wt to 10wts, leaning on the heavier side for fresh fish or areas with bigger than average salmon. A quality 9wt is a good all-around choice, as these fish are known for destroying gear and you will be hooking lots of fish in a day, by using heavier gear you will be helping the fish by landing it as quickly as possible so they can continue doing their thing, plus, you won’t kill your arms. After hooking and landing double-digit fish you will be thankful you brought the big sticks. Nothing fights like a fresh 30lb King in a small tributary, full of testosterone. It’s all you can do to hold on and either land it or enjoy the battle. The hook up to landed ratio is low, depending on your waterbody. Imagine your favorite trout stream, now put a 30 lbs fish in it and try to land it in all those log jams.
Jacob Adams with an awesome male Coho Salmon
When the water is clear, the need for a premium tippet is required and as low as 3X to try to hook these fish. If you’re fishing an indicator, a 9 or 10ft leader will do in most cases. Fighting them is all about technique and endurance, the use of the drunken driver approach is required, the fish goes left you to pull right and vice versa. The fish will make long runs and if they head downstream, a large arbor reel with plenty of backing is key, so you can catch up while you chase them . A large net will aid in landing these powerful fish. For most anglers, this may be the best time of year to land the biggest fish of your life.
Flies
Flies can be as complex or as basic as you want. Popular patterns are woolly buggers in black, olive, and purple. Egg-sucking leeches with the same body colors but with a chart, orange, red and pink hotspot by using either a bead or a dubbing head. Woolly worms in brown and black, as well as stoneflies, caddis, and hares ear nymph to name a few.
Jacob Adams with the Atlantic’s
Bigger patterns for swinging include; intruders or temple dog style, tied on shanks and tubes. A larger hook size 4 to 1/0 will work for most fish. In chartreuse, red, orange, black, and blue being the top producers.
The most popular patterns would be the egg fly, either in yarn or the controversial and famous beads. Love them or hate them beads catch fish. They produce a wide variety of fish at this time of year. Just like other types of fishing, it is matching the hatch at its greatest. Carrying a traditional plastic and weighted beads will help you in most water conditions. A few natural colors and few bright colors and in various sizes 8mm to 14mm will cover the gamet of the water conditions in the tributaries. Also, by carrying beads you can instantly add color or weight to a fly-by adding a bead without retying, by using the bands to secure instead of a peg.
The author with Chinook salmon
This is the best time of year to be on the water and target the salmon family. The leaves are starting to turn, the bugs are far and few between and the days are just the right temperature to not over-heat in your waders, some days the fish are a bonus. The fish are the fresh, look awesome with their varying colors and hooked jaws. And best of all, they put up an epic fight on their way upstream to make the next generation.
Adding to their spectacular collection of custom finishes and artist collaborations, Abel Reels and Casey Underwood have knocked their latest creation out of the park. You can ready our quick interview with the artist below and check out a full gallery of the reels, below!
“Every now and then, we come across an artist whose work naturally fits Abel’s palette of custom finishes. This time, that artist is Casey Underwood. Each of these original designs was created to correspond with a specific model in the Abel lineup. Individually laser engraved, and put through a proprietary polishing/texturizing process, these reels feature an innovative, first of its kind finish. Though complicated, the process requires less time than our hand-anodized graphic finishes, allowing for a Base Price + $200 premium on gloss black, or + $300 on any solid color gloss finish reel.”
Interview with the Artist: Casey Underwood
Flylords: While they’re all incredible to behold, which of the reel designs is your favorite?
Casey: Oh man, that’s a tough one. I really do love them all… While my favorite is probably “Ridge Risers†or “Moondanceâ€, “Slammin†was definitely the most challenging and I’m really happy with how it turned out.
Flylords: How did you go about designing pieces that would fit on the round reel face?
Casey:With individual intentionality. Some of the models offered a full solid reel face to work with, others like the Vaya and TR only offered a portion of the reel face. It was important to consider the space that I had for each reel before even beginning to conceptualize design ideas.
Flylords: How long did each design take from start to finish?
Casey:Hard to say! I was working on them all at the same time, switching back and forth little by little. Oftentimes the process of nailing down what the artwork will actually look like is what takes the most time. Once I’ve gotten to that point, the rest is pretty straightforward.
Flylords: What is your favorite Abel reel to take out fishing?
Casey:I’m a big fan of click pawl reels so I’d have to say the TR!
A final environmental impact statement released today indicates the Forest Service plans to exempt the Tongass National Forest from the Roadless Rule despite the overwhelming public comment in support of the rule and its long-standing protections for fish and wildlife.
If finalized, the rule change would repeal conservation measures for more than 9 million acres of the forest, making currently protected lands available for expanded industrial clear-cut logging of old-growth trees and construction of expensive and highly subsidized logging roads.
“This is the wrong call for the Tongass,†said Austin Williams, Alaska Director of Law and Policy for Trout Unlimited. “It’s clear the State of Alaska, the old-growth clear-cut logging industry, and others behind this short-sighted new rule want a return to the days of reckless clear-cut logging that sacrifices our fish, wildlife and forests without regard for the costs to Southeast Alaska’s fishing and tourism economy, subsistence users, recreationists, or the long-term health of the region. It’s far past time we recognize fish, wildlife, tourism, subsistence, and recreation are the most valuable uses for the Tongass.â€
The Tongass produces more salmon than all other national forests combined, and the fishing and tourism industry supported by the intact forest account for more than 26 percent of local jobs in the region. Science shows clear-cut logging pollutes streams, and harms salmon and deer populations.
Every single project (more than 80 in total) proposed in a roadless area in Alaska has been granted an exemption and allowed to move forward, typically within a matter of weeks. These projects include mining projects, energy and utility projects, transportation roads, and community infrastructure development.
“We should conserve our remaining roadless areas instead of rolling back the protections for fish and wildlife that make businesses like mine possible,†said Keegan McCarthy, owner of Coastal Alaska Adventures and Custom Alaska Cruises. “Our livelihoods and the future of our families depend on this forest. Sacrificing more of the Tongass to expanded and unsustainable clear-cut logging ignores the economic and social realities of today, and threatens to destroy thousands of jobs and hundreds of businesses just like mine.â€
A statewide 2019 poll commissioned by Trout Unlimited found a majority of likely voters in Alaska opposed efforts to repeal the Roadless Rule and strongly supported efforts to protect salmon, the salmon industry, and high-value salmon streams in the Tongass such as those included in the Tongass 77. 96 percent of all public comments submitted to the Forest Service supported keeping the Roadless Rule.”
