AT News: Well, I’ll Be Dammed
Dam removal is a hot topic within fly-fishing and conservation circles these days, with very good reason.
Well, I’ll Be Dammed
Dam removal is a hot topic within fly-fishing and conservation circles these days, with very good reason.
Dams block fish passage. That’s bad for spawning and recruitment. In some places, dams that slow current flows cause water temperatures to rise. That’s bad for cold-water-loving trout and the insects they eat, especially in an era of climate change.
When you take out certain dams, the fish rebound can be dramatic and sometimes even immediate. The storyline is pretty simple: River historically supports a native fishery. Dam built in river, the fish go away. Dam taken out, the fish come back. No dam equals happy fish. Happy fish equals happy anglers.
We’ve seen this happen throughout the country, coast to coast, from the Elwha in Washington and more recently the Klamath in California/Oregon (the largest dam removal project to date) to the Edwards Dam in Maine in the late 1990s that restored miles of habitat for sea-run fish.
Today, nearly 50 percent of spawning habitat for salmon and steelhead in the Lower 48 U.S. states can be found in the Snake River drainage in Washington and Idaho. But four manmade dams in particular on the lower sections of the Snake River have decimated these native fish populations. Scientists say that without removing these dams, these salmon and steelhead could be wiped out entirely within 20-30 years. If you want native and wild fish, the dams must go. Otherwise, for any steelhead and salmon to exist in the system, it will become a weaker, sicker hatchery-based game.
Why not build more fish ladders and such to help the fish work around the dams? Well, the problem isn’t really with adult fish going upstream to spawn. The problem is the juvenile fish that float downstream at the whims of the currents, which get chewed up in the dam turbines. They’re not old enough, strong enough, nor smart enough to dictate how they get to the ocean. Fewer little fish headed downstream shortens the already very long odds (evading seals and orcas in the ocean, avoiding pollutants, etc.) of adults successfully returning to their natal habitat to spawn.
And that’s just the anadromous fish discussion. Throughout the country, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of obsolete Industrial Revolution-era dams that have outlived their usefulness. It’s very clear that if you remove them, the rivers would be healthier. But it’s not cheap to remove them, and some business interests are still looking for ways to eke out some sort of profit through their existence, the fish and anglers be, well… dammed.
All of this is pretty straightforward stuff, right? Simple as night and day.
Well, it would be, but for one little thing…
The North American fly-fishing world would not exist as we know it today, were it not for the presence of large, hydroelectric dams. That’s because these dams, that release water from well below the surfaces of the reservoirs they create, provide a steady source of cold, relatively clear water that trout thrive in. They’re veritable trout factories. They make what would otherwise be fair to average trout rivers “blue ribbon” and “gold medal.” Sometimes, they even make trout fishing possible in places that would not naturally sustain trout.
The Madison. The Bighorn. The Missouri. The Green. The Delaware. The Bow. The Holston. The San Juan. Lees Ferry. The Frying Pan. The Lower Arkansas, the White River…
The list goes on and on. That hefty fish that graces the cover of the fly-fishing magazine? Ninety percent chance it was caught within 20 miles of a tailwater dam.
So, can you argue that there are “good dams and bad dams”? Maybe not, unless you’re a trout angler who’s willing to accept the fact that this thinking is blatantly hypocritical.
You can put me in that camp.
I want to see many dams gone, and at the same time, I look forward to fishing downstream from others.
Dammit. It’s never easy, is it? – Kirk Deeter
Stu’s Superior Flies
Stu’s Superior Flies is a new partner. Stu Tripney is an artist, writer, fly-fishing guide, casting instructor, fly designer and founder of Stu’s Superior Flies from the South Island of New Zealand. He lives in Athol on the banks of the Mataura River, has dedicated his life to chasing brown trout and “loves to make people smile and laugh and tries his damndest to put the FUN back into fishing.” His recent book Trout Love is a freewheeling ode to the South Island’s reclusive backcountry brown trout and the Trout Bums who pursue them. Read the Flylab interview about Stu.
Flylab discount: 20% off all online orders with Flylab.
Recent News
Former Outside editor Chris Keyes and founder of Re:Public on the ongoing war against public lands by the extraction industry: A rule buried in a busy news week just made it a lot harder for ordinary people to stop a mine, a road, or a drilling lease on public land. “On Monday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum finalized a rule gutting more than 80 percent of the agency’s regulations implementing NEPA, the 1970 law ensuring the government studies environmental impacts before approving big projects on public lands. OK, what does ‘gutting 80 percent’ actually look like? Imagine your city moved most of its building code into an internal memo that employees were encouraged to follow, but that nobody could sue them over if they didn’t. That’s essentially what happened. Most of NEPA’s procedural rules have been yanked out of binding federal law and relocated to a ‘Departmental NEPA Handbook’–an internal document designed to give Interior ‘greater flexibility.’ Flexibility could be translated here as ‘harder to challenge in court.’”
Montana Republican Ryan Zinke announces retirement. A thorn in the side of public lands advocates has decided to step away from public service. “The former Interior secretary said in a letter to constituents that health issues motivated his decision to leave Washington. Zinke said he’s undergone ‘multiple surgeries’ since returning to Congress in 2023 to correct injuries sustained during his time as a Navy SEAL.”
Big hat, no cattle. More on Zinke (and his fly-fishing skills) from Wes Siler: “When my colleague Elliot Woods profiled Zinke for Outside in late 2017, his article ended with this paragraph: ‘As Zinke and I casted over the ice-cold water, I noticed something funny about his setup. He kept struggling to strip line out of the bottom of the reel. For a while, I thought he was simply having trouble concentrating on our conversation while casting. No, there was something wrong, and when I asked him to stand for a portrait, I finally saw what the problem was. He had rigged his reel backward, so that the line was coming out of the top of the reel. Every so often when he went to strip line out, he would grasp air where the line should’ve been. Seems like an inconsequential thing, but in Montana, it’s everything.’” In many ways, this probably sums up his legacy as a politician, public lands advocate and outdoorsman.
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), yet another thorn in the side of public lands advocates, also announces his retirement. “Daines’ announcement makes him the sixth Republican senator to choose not to seek reelection in this fall’s midterm elections, joining a list that includes North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced his decision last year, and Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor instead of seeking a second term. Sens. Joni Ernst, Cynthia Lummis, and Mitch McConnell, a former Senate majority leader, also announced they won’t seek reelection this cycle.” And more on Daines’ potential successors: “He also endorsed U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Kurt Alme, who filed to run for Daines’ Senate seat as a Republican after Daines withdrew from the race and just minutes before the deadline closed on Tuesday evening. Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar also filed to run for the seat as an independent on Wednesday morning. Bodnar, who resigned from his role leading the university in January, served as an executive at General Electric and served in the U.S. Army.” Another interesting race to watch in Montana.
And finally, your Montana congressional yardsale trifecta: Montana Republican Tim Sheehy voted to scrap solar tax credits after installing panels and battery storage at his Bozeman home. “Images available on Google Earth show that Sheehy’s rooftop panels were installed sometime between March 2020 and June 2021, a period during which federal tax law allowed homeowners to recoup 26 percent of the cost of solar and battery storage systems.” Attack the tax credits in public, use them to your advantage when no one’s looking–the oldest grift in politics.
Fly industry proxy for tariff challenges: Vipe Desai, the executive director of the Surf Industry Members Association (SIMA), says the surfing business environment is “chaos,” and that Businesses Are Still Reeling Under Tariffs. “According to Desai, brands are now searching for creative ways to stay profitable–diversifying supply chains to countries hit less hard by tariffs or establishing entirely new manufacturing routes. He describes the industry’s response as unfolding in three phases: first, absorbing costs while trying to understand the situation; second, interrupted budgets and early cost-cutting; and now, a third phase marked by deep cuts…”
Specialty retailer traffic: How Brick-and-Mortar Stores Can Win in a Marketplace World. “Your website is your storefront. For many shoppers, the decision to visit a store happens before they leave home. Approximately 38% of respondents said they want physical stores to offer real-time inventory updates online. Blurry images and missing product descriptions are red flags that can stop a visit before it starts. The right tech helps retailers compete on convenience and win on experience. From mobile checkout apps that reduce wait times to AI assistants that surface inventory insights in plain English, connected tools free up time and help staff deliver the kind of service that keeps customers coming back…”
Patagonia has opened a store in Queenstown, New Zealand to support the local fly-fishing community. From the brand: “Queenstown sits at the headwaters of some of New Zealand’s most iconic rivers and has long been a gathering place for anglers. Fly-tying nights, casting clinics and time spent on the water help people connect, share knowledge, build relationships and strengthen the community’s ties to its rivers.”
From Skwala’s head of marketing, Rich Hohne: Buy The Damn Ticket (to New Zealand). “I met up with Miles Nolte, who works with us at Skwala, at his home in Wellington. The following morning, we drove north on State Highway 1. Viewed from a car window, the Capital City transforms with surprising speed into forested hillsides and then emerald pastures. We followed wide, agricultural floodplains north toward mountains that still shelter wilderness–both of us excited in that restrained way that comes from not wanting to jinx what’s ahead. Miles has a steady, grounded presence. He’s the kind of person you want beside you as you hurtle toward uncertain plans, and the road stretches farther than expected…”
Lindsay Kocka writes about the allure of Yellowstone National Park. “In 2025, I decided to stop vaguely talking about fishing the park and just begin. I picked up a copy of The Yellowstone Fly-Fishing Guide by Craig Mathews, using his detailed field notes–often edged with wry humor and wit, as my general orientation to the parks waters. I didn’t approach it as a checklist of the ‘best’ spots, and I didn’t treat it as a strategic manual for chasing the biggest fish. I used it as a starting point–a way to begin demystifying the park and to connect with someone else’s lived experiences. My approach was simple by design. I didn’t get overly distracted by the idea of maximizing numbers or size (okay, I had my moments here and there), and I wasn’t trying to optimize every single decision on any given visit. I really just wanted to start exploring with some degree of direction while, at the same time, enjoying the pursuit and experiencing the ecosystem as a whole…”
Foster Huntington is thinking about new cultural ideas and how they grow, particularly in the context of the internet and modern connectivity. “Now, distinct styles and dialects aren’t geographical but exist in tranches of the internet like gaming, Reddit, fashion, and 4Chan. Ideas are immediately compared to millions of other ones, with new creations often getting discarded in favor of older, more established. Things move faster; memes and neo-internet vernacular spread like viruses. In order to engage in the conversation, artists and creatives are forced to learn the new dialect and alter their art to fit in. Short-form content, vlogs, TikToks, and selfies–these forms of self-expression have replaced others because this is what the algorithm likes. Not engaging in this cycle is the geographic equivalent of leaving the hustle and bustle of the big city and moving to Wyoming…” What does this mean for creativity? Foster supposes “the value of the human intellect in the next few decades will be in creativity away from the hive mind…” We agree.
The Henry’s Fork Foundation is concerned about Idaho Senate Bill 1300 (SB 1300) and its potential implications for how Idaho manages fish, wildlife and parks. “Senate Bill 1300 would change how the directors of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) are appointed, shifting that authority from their independent commission and board to the Governor. This proposal also raises a specific legal concern for Harriman State Park, one of Idaho’s most iconic conservation landscapes. Harriman was donated to the state under conditions intended to ensure professional, merit-based management insulated from political influence. Changes that place the leadership of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation into a more overtly political appointment process could raise legal questions about whether the state continues to meet the terms and intent of that gift. In short, SB 1300 could expose Idaho to legal conflict and uncertainty regarding the future management of Harriman State Park.” Share your ideas, concerns with the Idaho House State Affairs Committee: hstaf@house.idaho.gov.
Joe Wolthuis, marketing manager for Scientific Anglers, has passed away. “Since 2018 he has been the Marketing Manager for Scientific Angler in Midland, Michigan, traveling all over the country supervising trade shows and building his fly-fishing network. A highlight of his career in the last year or so was a fishing trip on the Amazon with fellow fly fisherman–a special breed.”
More on Joe from Fly Fisherman Magazine: “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Joe Wolthuis, to his co-workers @scientificanglers, his peers throughout the fly-fishing industry, his many ambassadors and advisors, and all the consumers he influenced through his many years at shows and consumer events across the country. Joe was everywhere. He was respected and appreciated even by his competitors, and loved by everyone who had the chance to fish or work alongside him. He will be missed.”
Fly-fishing Media
Cliff Watson reviews the King of Fish by David R. Montgomery: Salmon are a symbol of our time, icons of the Northwest, and an indicator of environmental quality–a river full of salmon is a healthy river. “Every author needs to help the reader understand the stakes. With this single sentence, Montgomery does just that. In the places they exist, salmon are the Jenga block holding up the entire ecosystem. People rely on them. Culture is shaped by them. And every single living creature reacts to them. Remove salmon, and the entire system crumbles…”
Patagonia Part One: Christiaan Pretorius travels to southern Patagonia (Argentina) with Tres Amigos Outfitters, searching for king salmon at the Río Guanaco, then Estancia Río Pelke for spring creek trout.
From Josh Crumpton’s The Field Standard podcast, where he covers hunting, fishing, conservation news and every now and then, a good recipe: “This episode explores the hidden blueprints of American conservation and the modern policy shifts affecting every hunter and angler in the field today.”
From Hunter Leavine, Soul Fly Charleston: Something Cool Happening in the Lowcountry (May 16th, The Refinery, Charleston, SC). “Let’s get real–fly fishing can feel a little intimidating from the outside. Expensive gear. Technical language. Unspoken hierarchies. You get what I am saying. The approach of Soul Fly Co. is the opposite of that. They’re creating hands-on activities and experiences where someone who has fished their whole life and someone who has never picked up a rod can stand next to each other and have a good time.” Find out more.
From ASA: Lefty Kreh’s 2026 Tie Fest is back. “In the spirit of fly fishing’s most renowned torchbearers, the iconic Lefty Kreh’s Tie Fest will return in 2026 to Vero Beach, Florida. Tie Fest unites legends of the sport and industry leaders with the community to pass on expertise and inspire stewardship in the next generation.” Featuring tying demos (Carter Andrews, Blane Chocklett, Jason Taylor), casting instruction and a YETI catered dinner.
Gear Buzz
Flylab and the J. Stockard team break down the differences between tungsten and brass beads. “The brass-versus-tungsten question isn’t really a materials question–it’s a depth-and-current question, which means the answer changes every time you move to a different stretch of river. Understanding the difference (not just in terms of weight, but in terms of how each material affects fly behavior) is one of those small adjustments that pays disproportionate dividends on the water.”
Deeter on Deck Boots: A New Niche in Fishing. “‘Deck boots’ have, for whatever reason, become a niche trend in fishing, and even fashion from London to New York, Milan to LA and beyond–maybe it’s the seemingly endless array of men’s and women’s Chelsea boots on the market. But I now receive a pitch to write about deck boots from some company at least once every other week. It’s kind of weird.”
Yellow Dog Flyfishing has rolled out their 2026 Saltwater Invitational: 8-Weight Bonefish Course. “This is a detailed, performance-driven evaluation of modern saltwater fly rods including 8, 9, and 11-weight rods. With nearly every major manufacturer represented and participating in this event, we set out to create something that was considerably more detailed and precise than traditional saltwater rod reviews that have–in the past–simply ranked rods based on pure distance and the opinions or preferences of one or two evaluators.”
Yellow Dog winners: The G. Loomis Asquith (Gen II) 9-foot 8-weight ($1,635) was the 2026 Saltwater Invitational top rod: “The overall winner of the 8-weight course, this rod distinguished itself with incredibly tight loops and precision. Time and again, it produced identical, controlled loops and exceptionally high line speed–particularly from 40 feet and beyond–where its fast action and ample power truly separated it from the field. At length, it was simply impressive: efficient, authoritative, and capable of carrying serious line without feeling bulky.” The Scott Sector 9-foot 8-weight ($1,095) also stood out: “This was one of the standout rods at 30 feet. It loads beautifully, allowing you to slow down and feather the fly with control and precision. Through the mid-range, it remained buttery smooth and never felt clunky, and at 60 feet it was consistently ‘on the money.’ The rod responded evenly to input–whatever you put into it, it gave back in kind–creating a very connected, confidence-inspiring feel.” The Echo Boost Blue 9-foot 8-Weight ($399) was a top choice for mid-priced (“economical”) rods: “While the rod did the job in close at 30 to 40 feet and remained consistently functional, it really starts to shine at longer distances. From 50 to 80 feet, this rod truly separates itself–tracking well and delivering line efficiently with authority, which makes sense given that Echo describes it as a rod designed for anglers who have aggressive strokes and like fast line speed.”
Hatch Magazine has been testing some gear they like: Patagonia’s Swiftcurrent Expedition Zip-Front Waders (“They are literally the finest waders I’ve ever worn and they are also made without added PFAS, which makes me feel a little bit better as well”), Rocky Talkie’s GMRS Expedition Radios (“Stupid easy to use and packed with features–like IP67 waterproofing, bombproof construction, dual channel monitoring, repeater capability, and multi-antenna compatibility–the Rocky Talkie Expedition Radios offer a compelling package you might not find in any other radios on the market”) and the Simms’ Flyweight Stockingfoot Waders (“They’re made for guys like me to have to match or beat airline or charter flight weight limits, or for folks who backpack into the woods and don’t want to walk miles in a pair of waders”).
Grundéns has launched a new wading boot: the Rock Armor Wading Boot ($330). “A molded wear resistant Rock Armor shield protects your feet from stone bruising and abrasion, while corrosive-resistant hook-and-lace hardware ensures a secure fit that stands up to the harshest river conditions. Finished with a high-grip gum rubber outsole and a rubber sidewall wrap in high-wear zones, Rock Armor delivers unshakable traction, all-day support and superior durability.” We’ll be testing these during the spring.
From Field Mag: What If Wool Wasn’t the Miracle Material the Outdoor Industry Says It Is? “In the outdoor industry, marketing performance apparel made of wool as a sustainable and responsible choice is the widespread norm. Not only do these products perform better, but they’re better for the planet, too. But are these brands just pulling the wool over our eyes, so to speak? The answer is complicated. Many brands partner with Woolmark, an Australian company that ensures the 60,000 wool growers within its network meet a certain standard of quality, or they use wool that has a Responsible Wool Standard certification, which ensures the wool is traceable to farms that meet specific standards of animal welfare, land management, and social responsibility. In 2016, Patagonia developed their own Patagonia Wool Standard that relies upon RWS-certified farms but has even stricter animal welfare standards…”
Also From Field Mag, the Jetboil TrailCook Review (the TrailCook vs Flash comparison). “If you’re already a ‘Jethead’ or are considering a conversion to the FluxRing lifestyle, deciding between the TrailCook and Flash systems is your first consideration. Purely in it for the most fuel-efficient, high-speed water boiling system for dehydrated meals? The Flash is for you. With the TrailCook, however, you still get plenty-fast boils, but with the added burner control to dial in your cook temps for a variety of fresh ingredients. It adds a degree of flexibility in the meal planning. Need to run the mess hall for your entire base camp? Grab a double burner Genesis Basecamp System, or two–you can link all four burners together by a hose and fuel them with a single propane bottle.”
The Jensens (Jensen Fly Fishing) evaluate some fly rods for stalking big, wary trout with short casts and long (15+ feet) leaders–the “perfect” rod can’t be too stiff (a broom handle), or flex too deeply (like most fiberglass). You aren’t carrying 50-feet of fly line in these circumstances; more often than not, it’s 3- to 10-feet of fly line and long leaders.
Andrew Harding over at the Manic Tackle Project reviews the Airflo Superflo Max fly line. “Durability is another area where Superflo Max separates itself from the pack. The microspheres create a reinforced internal structure, improving core bonding and eliminating the delamination issues that have plagued some fly lines over the years. After repeated days on the river, the line shows no signs of cracking, drying out, or surface degradation. This inspires confidence, particularly for anglers who fish hard and expect their gear to last more than a season.” The Airflo Superflo Max Universal Taper (best all-around), Power Taper (big flies, fast rods) and Tactical Taper (spooky fish)–should cover most of your trout fishing scenarios.
Andrew Harding also reviews the Simms Access Boot. “After wearing these boots across several trips locally across varied terrain, it’s obvious that the Access Boot continues to sit comfortably among the most capable and confidence-inspiring wading boots in the Simms line-up. As someone who has battled with a lifetime of Achilles pain–I found these boots exceptionally comfortable for long days on the river with excellent ankle and innersole support.” The Simms Access Boots ($300) is marketed as providing “superior slip resistance and durability.”
From The Saltwater Edge: Big Baits Fly Tying Class with Captain Ben Whalley (March 15th, 2026). “An advanced fly-tying class focused on hollow tying and building big bucktail profiles for striped bass. Captain Ben Whalley is a master fly tyer and guide best known for his exceptional work with bucktail. Fishing the Gulf of Maine, Ben spends much of his season sight fishing for large striped bass in the backwaters and on the flats.”
Good gear idea of the week: Line ID Wrap 3-packs from Cheeky ($15). Keep your lines organized: “The Line ID Wrap keeps your lines straight and the gel print surface allows you to write down line weights, type of line or whatever you want. Never confuse your lines again.”
SITKA Gear, an industry leader in hunting apparel, has announced its brand footprint is expanding into the fishing category (SITKA Fish): “We approached our all-new line of fishing gear with the same intensity, insight, and intuition we earned through decades of perfecting hunting gear. Engineered for every type of angler, each piece of gear is designed to work in harmony as part of a complete fishing system that knows no bounds. Simply put, it’s built to keep you out there, come rain, shine, hell, or high waters.” We’ll be reviewing waders (CrossCurrent Zip GTX Wader, CrossCurrent GTX Wader), boots (CrossCurrent Wading Boot) and jackets (CAT-5 Jacket, Stormfront Jacket).
Overlanding
For the better part of the last decade I’ve been using the Goal Zero Yeti 1400 Lithium Portable Power Station (no longer available). It’s been with me on photo shoots, tethered to a solar panel in my Four Wheel Camper on extended and overnight road trips and more than once at home during power outages–running everything from the fridge to fans and lights.
It’s been rock solid and performed admirably, but it’s starting to show its age with a few broken buttons and the usual wear and tear. Since then, Goal Zero has released five updated versions of the 1500 power station that replaced the one I own. Today they’re unveiling the sixth generation, with upgraded power, super-fast recharging (up to 10X faster), improved weather resistance and the one feature I value more than anything else: internal components that are vibration-tested to withstand miles of washboard roads and engineered to maintain reliable discharge performance in extreme temperatures (-4°F to 140°F).
Some of the specs are below, and we’re looking forward to getting our hands on the new Yeti 1500 Portable Power Station ($1,500) soon to see what we like–and what we don’t–before sharing our thoughts with readers.
From Goal Zero on the new power station: “The Yeti 1500 delivers 2,000 watts of continuous power and 3,600 watts of surge capacity, enabling it to run high-draw tools and appliances simultaneously. Using new Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery cell chemistry, the Yeti 1500 rapidly charges from 0% to 80% in under 1 hour via AC power. For off-grid refills, the unit supports up to 900 Watts of solar input, allowing it to be recharged in less than 2 hours. In addition, the updated LiFePO4 battery extends the hardware’s functional life to approximately a decade of daily use. Rated for 4,000 charge cycles, the Yeti 1500 6G is designed for long-term ownership and a dependable power source for years to come.” – Tim Romano
Job Seekers
Charlie Steketee. Born and raised in Colorado, he spends the bulk of his free time in the outdoors: skiing, fly-fishing and chasing the northern lights. He’s lived in London and Chicago, and started his career in finance, honing technical modeling and data analysis skills in the banking sector. Recently, he’s shifted into the impact-focused world of health-tech, bringing that experience to operations and growth initiatives at start-ups like Family Care Center and Cricket Health (now part of Interwell Health). After finishing a Master’s in health economics at The London School of Economics and studying U.S. reimbursement systems, he’s spent the past year as a strategic operations consultant, managing market entries and clinical implementations. Focus: full-time strategy, operations or chief of staff roles at health-tech start-ups.
Boating News
Small Craft Sales is the go-to marketplace for buying and selling small boats and other specialty watercraft. Looking to buy or sell a small boat? Check out the brand-new used boat marketplace: modern, searchable, community-driven platform built for anglers, paddlers, rowers, tinkerers, outboard junkies and anyone dreaming of their next waterborne adventure.
Best SCS fishing options this week:
A sweet little 13-foot Mahogany fishing dory by builder Pete Wallis. Super gorgeous, tiny little drift boat with what looks to be impeccable craftsmanship. Comes with four oars and a trailer.
A 2022 Pavati Helium with custom front leg brace with extra storage, brand new seats, removable floor, tackle storage box, seat covers, travel bra and trailer ($20k).
Brand new 2026 Boulder Boat Works - Low Side Dory with a substantial price reduction ($21,700). BBW’s “Low Side” is the sportscar of the fleet with the Gradient Hybrid model being an adaptation of their signature Legacy dory–providing a full white ash interior, walkaround front seating position (with a cooler or dry box) and a single rod tray that provides clean/flat rod storage and additional workspace.
Nice looking 1982 Boston Whaler Newport with a 2000 Honda 90hp engine. It was recently serviced last year and has a brand-new bottom paint job.
The ultimate flats weapon: a Fully Rebuilt 2004 Maverick HPX 17 Kevlar Skiff taken down to a true hull-only rebuild and reassembled with modern, top-tier components throughout. Every detail was carefully selected with performance, durability and aesthetics in mind.
An interview with John McMillan of Ro Drift Boats of Bozeman, Montana on the Sawyer On-Water Podcast. “This episode features John McMillan of Ro Drift Boats, discussing the history, manufacturing and future of fiberglass drift boats in Montana. We discuss boat design, materials and the role of American craftsmanship in fly-fishing and river adventures.”
Gringo Boatworks: Some people learn to fix boats because they love tinkering. Others learn because they put a hole in one and need to make it disappear fast. For Michael Reed of Gringo Boatworks, it was a little of both. Based south of Houston, Reed specializes in bringing tired skiffs back to life–everything from fiberglass and gelcoat repair to rewires, custom rigging and the occasional one-off idea. Small Craft Sales caught up with him to talk about the origin of the name, learning the hard way in a Galveston boat yard and why fixing boats is still very much real work.
Boating bullets: Northwest River Supplies (NRS) purchases Down River Equipment. One of the more recognizable names in the river-running world just announced a notable partnership. Colorado-based Down River Equipment, known for its custom frames and decades of river gear craftsmanship has entered into an agreement with employee-owned Northwest River Supplies (NRS). Read the press release here. Newport launches the NK HD Series, a “next-generation evolution of its flagship electric kayak motors,” aimed at anglers and small-craft tinkerers looking for a little more quiet electric push on the water. In the human powered department, Sawyer Paddles and Oars also gets the spotlight treatment on All Access with Andy Garcia, offering a closer look at one of the most respected names in oars and paddles. Back in Colorado, donations to the Colorado Stream Access Coalition are currently being matched as part of an effort to secure legal public access to the state’s rivers through an ongoing legislative campaign. Meanwhile in Montana, the Flathead National Forest has released a draft Flathead River Management Plan, and boaters are encouraged to submit public comments before the March 13th deadline. Over in gear-nerd territory, The Gear Garage goes deep on the always-debated topic of river knife storage on PFDs–one of those personal-preference safety topics that always sparks opinions. And for the boat builders among us, Lost Art Press has released a new book, Euclid’s Door, an illustrated journey through the ancient tools that still underpin how we build everything today–including boats. You can download an excerpt here or grab a copy through the WoodenBoat Store.
Music
Buck Meek, of Big Thief acclaim, releases his fourth solo album, The Mirror, with songs that often can remind you of Texas singer-songwriter ballads juxtaposed against the sonic dissonance of Stephen Malkmus’ Pavement or the Silver Jews. How does it turn out? In the hands of a child prodigy guitarist–deftly and with some “added electronica.” Songs worth listening to: Gasoline, Can I mend It?, Soul Feeling, Demon, God Knows Why. The Pitchfork write-up, “The Mirror is more about fresh adornments than drastic reinvention. And that’s OK because the album still showcases many of the best qualities Meek has been pursuing outside of his main band (Big Thief). Leading a group of seasoned musicians that includes guitarist Adam Brisbin and harp player Mary Lattimore, and working once again with Krivchenia as his producer, Meek continues to revel in the role of traditional troubadour of mid-tempo laments with heavy gestures to Buffalo Springfield. The fundamentals are self-evident, the sound is timeless, and the atmosphere is easy to embrace. Meek happily moves through a laundry-list of country music requirements: twangy guitars, broken hearts, Biblical imagery, even a song titled ‘Ring of Fire…’” – Andrew Steketee
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Taking the dam issue one step further, in his book Eager Ben Goldfarb talks about what many of our prized trout waters looked pre-settlement thanks to the abundance of beaver dams. We’d all be fishing 2-3ft. Tenkara rods!
Dams are indeed a tricky one. They also provide cleaner energy via hydroelectricity over fossil fuels. If you believe climate change is even sorta responsible for cooking our rivers every summer and thus resulting in hoot owl regs, then using cleaner sources of energy may help reduce/delay a climate catastrophe.