X-Mas Leftovers Are Fish Friendly
In addition to bonfires and launching them off the balcony (into the neighbor’s backyard), aquatic habitat projects have become increasingly popular destinations for leftover Christmas trees.
Drake Magazine Daily Fly Fishing News and Blog
Chef Ramsay is a Super Sleuth
From what we’ve seen of Gordon Ramsay’s TV antics, there’s no limits to the douchebaggery of Britain’s top cooking nitwit. The chef was recently doused in gasoline and held at gunpoint while “investigating” illegal shark fishing in Costa Rica. We’re just surprised no one’s tried to kill him sooner.
Surface Film
The Greenbacks, a newly formed group of young, passionate Colorado TU members, are hosting the Surface Film photography exhibit through the month of February 2011 in the heart of downtown Denver’s Santa Fe Art District.
Tailwater Weekends: Pueblo Dam
Winter is tailwater time in Colorado. Today’s Denver Post explores the Arkansas river below Pueblo Dam, where it finds a mix of risers amidst habitat improvements sparked by the Pueblo Arkansas River Corridor Legacy Project.
Resolution #142: Less Gas
Forced to choose, we’d rather ride a Prius than a sheep. (You know what they say, What happens in New Zealand….) Thanks to an Israeli ad for the Toyota Prius, we’re told that its emissions produce markedly less ozone eaters (GHGs) than nature’s wooly buggers and their methane toxic “exhausts.”
Adventure: Lost its Cojones?
By and by contemporary adventure has fallen victim to marketing hype and pricey handheld pursuits dressed up in the guise of doing something dangerous. Time to man up, man. In this case that means more life, death and, perhaps, loincloths.
NatGeo Does Bristol
The December issue of National Geographic magazine has a 25-page feature on Bristol Bay and the Pebble Mine controversy titled “Alaska’s Choice: Salmon or Gold”. On the page facing the table of contents, Tiffany & Co. placed this full-page ad stating the company’s thoughts about Bristol Bay. “All that the American West once was, Alaska still is.…
Snow Proves Hazardous For Idiots
With passengers still stranded after Chersnowbyl buried New York City airports and other Eastern hubs earlier this week, here’s a lesson to all the idiots out there.
The Haul Hits Literary Speed Bump
Author David James Duncan (The River Why) recently joined forces with the All Against the Haul campaign—a grassroots, four-state effort working to stop the construction of a permanent industrial corridor for oversized loads to the Alberta Tar Sands through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. All proceeds from his new book The Heart of the Monster,…
Drinking Olympics: Rules
If you find yourself lonely and sober over the holiday season, Esquire Magazine has the remedy. Its simple yet satisfying drinking game for drinking’s sake requires little more than you, a bottle, and a warm seat at your favorite local establishment.
Top 10 Adventure: 2010
Outside Magazine recently listed its top-ten adventure stories of the year. Highlights include the heists, high times, and eventual capture of the Barefoot Bandit, Colton Harris-Moore, as well as the tragic death of South African kayaker, Hendrik “Hendri”
Fishing the Dirty Dishwater
New York animator Jared D. Weiss is among many things a “Cartoonist. Animator. Graphic Artist. Writer. Nerd. Detective. Comedian?” For his latest assignment he looks to the bowels of the kitchen sink to tackle fly fishing from a highly literal perspective.
Read This
In addition to rocking turtlenecks and stroking hot toddys by the fire, ’tis the season for some good winter reading. Field & Stream’s Joe Cermele runs down a handful of favorites, including Sowbelly by regular Drake contributor Monte Burke, and David Kinney’s excellent exposé The Big One chronicling conspiracy and intrigue at
River be a River Again
SEATTLE—The Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, built on a tributary of the Wenatchee River, has bolstered artificial spawning grounds for salmon, while simultaneously endangering the remaining bull trout population in Icicle Creek. Kurt Beardslee, executive director of the Wild Fish Conservancy, who recently filed a lawsuit, says his group
“Secluded” Lot 4 Sale
Since kooky Harvard–trained mathematician/Unabomber Ted Kaczynski moved from Lincoln, MT to his plush digs at a maximum-security prison in Colorado, he’s lost his cabin to a museum. But his prime Montana land, within striking distance of the Missouri and Big Blackfoot rivers, could be yours for $69,500.
Drake Passage is Gnarly
We’ve been called a lot: Dreamy, cute and cuddly, macho, buff… and humble. But the Drake Passage is evidently mean-spirited and ugly. Earlier this week Arctic cruise ship the Clelia II was traveling through the Southern Ocean when it lost an engine, as well as
More Evidence: Amber Heard is Shocking
Actress Amber Heard—from the critically (un)acclaimed screen adaptation of The River Why—has officially exited the closet, stage left. We’re still weighing our emotions on this one. Conflicted, perhaps, as in
Surf’s Up—Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, not your typical surfing mecca, recently delivered some shred-worthy waves as the result of blowing gusts up to 60+ mph. Photog Grant Kaye was there to capture the action. Neoprene. Mandatory. From the Adventure Journal
In Focus: Fall
Memories. I remember fall. It was like two weeks ago here on the Frontstrange… before we started hoarding wood and foraging berries for winter hibernation. Field & Stream photog and Drake contributor Tim
Opinion: Utah Stream Laws
Everyone’s got an opinion in the fight over Utah stream access. The Salt Lake Tribune chimes in with a recent editorial addressing short- and long-term solutions in the wake of the new lawsuit recently filed by flyfishers and river runners.
More Evidence: Bacon is Omnipresent
With Turkey Day officially over, we’re switching back over to bacon. Bacon—as a golden rule—is delicious with breakfast (and almost every other meal you can throw at it). But drinking the porky goodness is another story all together. The brave and carnivorous crew at Esquire Magazine today put
Pebble Opposition: Terrorism or Patriotism?
ANCHORAGE—In perhaps a poor choice of words, legal opposition to Pebble Mine—according to recent remarks from Pebble Partnership CEO John Shively—has become akin to wading a jihadist thicket. Shively is being lambasted for labeling the due process, designed to safeguard AK
Black Friday Specials: “James Bond Boat”
Facing estate foreclosures, Prince William envy, and a bleak British economy, international espionage expert James Bond is liquidating all assets. In addition to booby-trapped attaché cases and Aston Martins, 007 recently listed his boat on Craigslist. For 800 bucks OBO (plus $150, for tuxedo
“Las Vegas” Invades NY’s Neversink
Proponents of Las Vegas-style development have their sites set on NY’s storied Neversink drainage. Governor Paterson’s plan has been deemed a frivolous dice roll, rife with legal hurdles and environmental
Nat Geo Spoofs Zebra Migration
Who knew? Nat Geo is funny? National Geographic’s seven-part mini series, Great Migrations, premiers tonight. But you can catch a sneak peek of some “epic” urban zebra assaults before tasting the main event. “The Great Migrations team traveled to all seven continents, covered 420,000 miles and spanned this over two and a half years to get…
Provo Bros: Seasonal Inspiration
With another Rocky Mountain winter on the brink of reality, you might be thinking about retiring rods this week for some turns. In this southern Utah edit, the Provo Bros (photographer Ian Provo and crew) get it done with some
Manufacturers Take Aim at Gore Reign
Gore-Tex has (mostly) dominated the waterproof-breathable market for the past three decades. But the competition is stepping up its game. We recently read about Columbia’s new Omni-Dry release for Spring 2011. Turns out several other rivals are poised to enter the mix: “For the past 30 years, the waterproof-breathable market could be summed up in two…