Television network TLC launched its reality show, Sarah Palin’s Alaska, last week, providing a revealing glimpse into the former vice-presidential candidate’s prowess in the field. Seems the Brits aren’t too impressed, equating Palin’s “embellished” fishing skills to a ruddy pile of rubbish: “On 21 seconds, you will see Palin allegedly trying to catch salmon. Close examination…
The convoluted twists of Utah stream access rights are back in the press—and potentially courts. Last Friday, the Utah Stream Access Coalition, a nonprofit with a mission to preserve public access to the state’s waterways, filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Public Waters Access Act passed by the Legislature earlier this year. According…
It’s pretty much common knowledge that spin classes, hot yoga, squats, lunges, one-handed chin-ups, et cetera, equate to better flyfishing fitness. You can now add jazzercise to the list. Jackson Hole shred and Powder Magazine’s female skier of the year goes Jane Fonda with her pre-winter training regime—perfect for the crossover athlete in all of…
SOUTH FLORIDA—Results from October’s South Florida bonefish census show plummeting numbers, the Miami Herald reports. “About 60 guides and anglers who poled across the flats from Biscayne Bay to the Marquesas Keys west of Key West on Oct. 23 counted about 200,000 bonefish—way down from the mean estimate of 339,595 over the past eight years.…
In a move that will break the hearts of 3-year-olds across the city, San Francisco’s board of joykilling supervisors voted to ban most of McDonald’s Happy Meals as they are now served in the restaurants. The ordinance would forbid restaurants from offering a free toy with meals that contain more than a set level of calories, sugar, and…
We received an e-mail from Felt Soul Media’s Travis Rummel this morning relaying some good news from Canada. Eastern Rises, Felt Soul’s Bigfoot baiting, Hog Johnson-chasing Kamchatka documentary featuring veteran flyfishers, Frank Smethurst, and Ryan Peterson, captured Best Film on Mountain Sport at the 2010 Banff Mountain Film Festival. Rummel says, “We just won an…
NORFOLK—A private conservation organization has offered to buy three miles of Nebraska’s “blue-ribbon” Snake River, with the intent of transferring ownership to the state. “The scenic river in the Sandhills, the best trout stream in the state and arguably one of the best in the country, is a genuine treasure. The plan by the Conservation Fund would…
Since Colorado’s rivers are clearly such heinous eyesores, it’s refreshing to know that genius Bulgarian “artist” Christo has some big beautification plans. Christo’s “Over the River” project targets the tragically ugly Arkansas River, and would suspend almost 7 tons of translucent, polypropylene-fabric panels across 6 miles as it courses through Bighorn Sheep Canyon, parallel to U.S.…
Yeah, yeah, it’s been beat to death in the media for weeks now, but Oprah and Gayle’s Yosemite flyfishing escapades—Part II, cooking by the campfire and riding mules, included—is airing today. Daytime soap fan and Field & Stream Editor-At-Large Kirk Deeter says he’ll be tuning in: “One way or the other, I’d suggest to you…
Whether your aspirations are YouTube or feature-length, former National Geographic Television Associate Producer, J. J. Kelley, offers 5 tips for making better documentary films. From the “compelling” clip Kelley provides, he may also want to add “Include three dudes holding each other close on a motorcycle” as number 6.Source Link
Seasoned photography duo Barry and Cathy Beck recently ran a poll asking fans and friends to reveal their favorite flyfishing magazine—online or paper. According to Cathy’s Facebook page: “I was in on a discussion about flyfishing magazines. A company I know did a survey of 250 flyshop employees asking what was their favorite American fly fishing…
FAIRBANKS, AK—Love them or loathe them, there’s little denying that whitefish are delicious straight out of the smoker. Alaska’s Chatanika River whitefish season is open until Oct. 24. Time to get out and sharpen your spears. “Granted, prehistoric man didn’t have the luxury of neoprene chest waders and chopper mitts to combat the cold or a…
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MT—Climate change and the rapidly retreating ice fields of GNP have a new poster child. Meet, Lednia tumana—a rare aquatic stonefly about to be listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. According to reports “although the fly lacks the polar bear’s force of personality and is unlikely to capture hearts and minds with the same…
According to a recent article in northwestern B.C.’s Houston-Today, UFO activity has been sadly slow in the Bulkley Valley as of late. “The region from Vanderhoof to Prince Rupert was once known as the UFO capital for Canada, Vike said, due to a sharp increase in activity from 2002-2003.” The good news is there seems to…
Colorado Trout Unlimited is collecting signatures for a bill to create the Protect Our Rivers license plate. Plate production requires TU collecting 3,000 signatures from members and friends. “The plate will be available to all CO residents through a tax-deductible contribution of $25 to Colorado Trout Unlimited and 100% of the funds will be used locally to protect, conserve…
If your typical travel-to-river MO involves rides such as rollerblades or the crash-prone Segway (see Mall Cop for details), wait till you get a load of this. Focus Design’s SBU version 2.0 unicycle promises a sleeker look, safer ride, and more power. Get yours today for $1,499. “Essentially a one-wheeled Segway, the SBU 2.0 puts…
OLYMPIC PENINSULA, WA—Let this be a (tragic) lesson to all you goat hazers out there: “Now, the rangers weren’t simply being a-holes without cause—they were evidently attempting to instill into the goats a fear of humans with the painful harassment. The hazing was intended to intimidate the goat, to make it less aggressive. The approach, however,…
The Salt Lake Tribune sits down with wordsmith Thomas McGuane to discuss his days as a Stanford creative-writing student, the finer points of sentence structure, and the state of contemporary literature. To the latter, he suggests we might need to lighten up a little: “I’ve really been longing for a lighter heart in American literature. Dickens,…
Back in 2008, Chanel dazzled the flyfishing community with its bargain-priced $20,000 fly-rod outfits. Designed for the “ponciest angler on the planet” the kit featured rod, reel, monochrome fly set, and an S&M-esque leather-and-chain carrying case. This season Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel go snow, keeping it ultra-shred with its signature snowboard—complete with bindings placed on backwards.…
MISSOULA—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expanded the designated “critical habitat” for threatened bull trout in Montana and other states on Tuesday. Montana Trout Unlimited says it’s a start but still not enough: “The group’s executive director, Bruce Farling, says while habitat is important and improvements are welcome, most Montana habitat is already perfect –…
MANCHESTER, VT—Orvis has joined the online outdoors fray with today’s launch of OrvisNews.com. Former American Angler editor and MidCurrent staffer Phil Monahan heads the team of fishing content producers. The site includes daily updates on topics such as fishing, hunting, dog training, conservation “and even insider information related to Orvis. Orvis has taken the collective experience…
ScienceDaily is reporting results from a recent study indicating that the mighty whale turd, rich in nutrients, significantly heightens the productivity of ocean fisheries. “These countries argue that whales compete with their commercial fisheries. ‘Our study flips that idea on its head,’ Roman says, ‘Not only is that competition small or non-existent, but actually the…
SPOKANE, WA—Dogs have no shame when it comes to eating practically anything—including what comes out the other end. It turns out Deborah Carlson’s German shepherd, Frieda, is obsessed with chowing bugs. Carlson recently returned home to a box full of missing dry flies evidently knocked off the counter by her savvy canine. “The scans showed 15…
As part of its “Gulf Crisis Week” coverage, Patagonia Inc. has partnered with Louisiana Bucket Brigade (LABB) to track ongoing environmental impacts stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of Spring 2010. In its latest installment, Denise Schutte talks to local business owners and reports on birds dropping from the sky and toxic tar collected…
We’ve been wary of dingos ever since Lindy Chamberlain lost her kid in a campground heist close to Ayers Rock, in Central Australia. But we’re now adding baby stealing monkeys to the list of sneaky little bastards to avoid. According to the UK’s Daily Telegraph, Malaysian authorities have been battling soaring macaque populations in cities.…
About to embark on his first playoff run, Phillies pinch-hitter Mike Sweeney contemplates good—but losing—times back in Kansas City, and a second start as a flyfishing guide in Montana. “Usually by now, Sweeney is flyfishing or making plans to go flyfishing. Montana is gorgeous this time of year. Sometimes, Sweeney thinks he’ll spend his retirement…
The country’s fifth most populous state, with close to 95-percent of lands held in private hands, just received a $500,000+ boost toward public access. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has collected a $525,250 federal grant earmarked to provide public access to private lands for hunting and fishing. The state’s Recreational Access Program will start…