AT News: Low Country Redfish, Blue River Controversy, End of Year Gear
Angler versus landowner conflicts are nothing new in the state of Colorado...
There Are No Shortcuts In Salt Water
I’ve been trout fishing for most of my life. Trout are why I took up fly fishing. Trout are the reason I ended up marrying my wife (another story, some of you know it already). I grew up in the “Trout Belt” states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. I moved to Colorado because I wanted the ability to catch large trout year-round. Ninety percent of the fly-fishing gear I own is trout-centric (no surprise, since at least 75 percent of product SKUs these days are focused on trout fishing). I fully acknowledge that trout fishing is the gateway to fly fishing, and if nobody fished for trout with flies, fly fishing (as we know it) would collapse and die.
Heck, I’m even the editor-in-chief of TROUT magazine.
So, why do I now love saltwater fly fishing so much more than fly fishing for trout?
Wait, let me back that up a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I still very much love fly fishing for trout. And if you asked me to describe my ultimate fly-fishing experience, it would be on a trout river, where everything lined up just perfectly–the hatch is on, the fish are willing, the water is clear, I’m looking at shadows and sipping heads and my dog is watching patiently on the bank. (That happens about once a year–not bad.)
On the other hand, if you asked me where I would go fly fishing tomorrow if I could go fly fishing anywhere (no promises), it would be somewhere saltwater fly fishing.
As a matter of fact, as you read this, I will be saltwater fishing for redfish in the Low Country of South Carolina. Not a coincidence.
I’ve thought about this long and hard over the years and have come up with a slate of answers to the riddle.
For starters, familiarity breeds contempt, I guess. If fly fishing is really about puzzle solving and climbing a learning curve, I’m a helluva lot greener in the saltwater world than I am in the trout fishing world. By deduction, that means I feel a helluva lot younger when I’m on the bow of a skiff or wading some saltwater flat than I feel when I slither into a pair of waders and plod my way through a river, or bomb casts from a dory.
Then there are the fish themselves. There’s just something you have to respect about fish that are so aggressive and predatory, be they blitzing stripers or a snook charging out of mangrove roots. A tarpon I cast at might still be older than I am. Intersecting the deliberate pattern of a bonefish or permit while going undetected is a supreme challenge. And watching a “crawler” bull redfish ooze over the mudflat gets me “jazzed” more than any riff that ever came out of New Orleans.
It’s very true that “trout don’t tend to live in ugly places,” but I’d say the same for most saltwater fish, especially those of the tropical or sub-tropical variety. And there’s definitely something to be said for wearing flip-flops, shorts and a thin hoodie and coming in at the end of the day to enjoy a cold Mai Tai or Mojito versus bracing in a sideways sleet storm and looking forward to standing in a hot shower for a half hour before enjoying an IPA. No offense meant to my steelhead aficionado friends.
At the end of the day, however, I think it boils down to the fact that there are no shortcuts to be had while saltwater fly fishing. You must be able to make a cast. You need to pick out a good fly and then know how to present it naturally. When you do connect, you must know how to fight the fish. Sometimes the fish kicks your ass. That’s perfectly okay. (At least it seems more acceptable to have your ass kicked by an 80-pound tarpon than a 14-inch rainbow trout.) Again, no offense meant to my steelhead and salmon friends, because I’ve had my ass kicked plenty by steelhead, Atlantic and Pacific salmon also.
What I really mean to say with all of this is that it’s ALL GOOD. Borrowing from Robert Earl Keen, “The Road Goes on Forever, and the Party Never Ends.” Often, that party leads to the salt, and if you feel the invitation, you should accept it.
This, from the “troutiest of trout guys” you’ll find anywhere in the world. – Kirk Deeter
Blue River Controversy
Ben McCormick, the owner of Cutthroat Anglers in Silverthorne, CO, is asking, What’s Wrong with Colorado’s Blue River? “The giant stocked and fed fish, as well as the social media attraction that creates unwanted angling pressure, are not in discussion. The fish are dying after a fight because they are obese, unnatural, and should not be in the river. We just had a customer come into the shop who volunteers for the ranch hatchery. He claims the ranch is developing a new strain of rainbow that will grow 13 inches a year. He was told we may have 40-45-inch trout in 2-3 years. Imagine what a 45-inch fish could do to the wild fish population. Have we considered the impact of these fish on wild species in general?”
There’s a lot to unpack with the Blue River saga, but here’s a start:
The tailwater section of river embroiled in the controversy flows from the base of the Green Mountain Dam down through a very large private land holding (the Jones Ranch), so it’s not technically a “natural” (free-flowing) river.
Blue Valley Ranch, a 25,000-acre estate owned by hedge-fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones, has been altering the lower river section for decades with weirs, side channels, bank and in-stream structures etc. to maintain habitat, stabilize erosion, but also create a personal trout-fishing playground called “Jurassic Park.”
The moniker “Jurassic Park” comes from the large (and often unhealthy) Hofer rainbows they’ve been planting in the river for decades, as well as growing with a pellet feeding program. Whether the whole planting/feeding practice is “ethical” is anyone’s guess, though it’s currently legal in the state of Colorado. The BVR home page ethos statement of being “committed to healthy ecosystems” is particularly galling, given the long history of river alterations and species introductions. If you’re genuinely interested in a healthy Blue River ecosystem, step one, obviously, would be to curtail, or end altogether, the long history of human manipulation (stocking, fish feeding, river alterations) and let the fishery readjust on its own.
Permit proposal: this is where the story gets particularly interesting–Friends Of The Lower Blue River (FOLBR), a non-profit organization focused on the Lower Blue River Valley (and backed by Jones and his consultants), is authoring a narrative that the river and its fish are in trouble and a proposed “10-year pilot permit system” (for floating anglers) is the way to fix the problem. The non-profit is providing its own river health and river use data to back up the proposal, and claiming “fish populations are declining, and the river’s world-class trout fishery is quietly slipping away.” There’s, obviously, no way to know if this statement is verifiably true without independent assessment by the state and credible data collection from unaffiliated biologists. And what if the Blue Valley Ranch stocking program (infected fish, pellets in the river) and long history of river alterations are some of the many (and primary) culprits of declining fish populations and river health? This is a question a lot of serious people are asking as this story unfolds.
Also, buried in all of this is the fairly transparent attempt to curb the public’s use of the river. FOLBR is claiming an average of “1,400 recreational users per 120-day season” and “30-45 boats per day,” but not unlike the river heath data, there’s very little veracity to these claims. Even in a world where these numbers were accurate, it’s a hard case to make that 30 boats a day on 15 miles of water is overloading the river’s “carrying capacity.” The most troubling aspect of this story is the non-profit’s attempt to link a small but dedicated group of local floating anglers to the river’s decline, while simultaneously ignoring years and years of human interference in the system–no one has impacted the river’s hydrology or trout populations more than Blue Valley Ranch.
From the FOLBR’s Executive Summary and threat assessment: “The Lower Blue River is verifiably at risk of losing its defining qualities–clean water, abundant wildlife, solitude, thriving trout populations, and pristine beauty–unless changes are made to manage its carrying capacity.” If the word “solitude” doesn’t stick out to you, it should. The nuance and messaging here are unavoidable: public anglers (legally) floating through the lower river are ruining the landowners’ wilderness experience.
Angler versus landowner conflicts are nothing new in the state of Colorado, and it’s pretty hard not to view this permit proposal as a fairly subtle attempt to limit the public’s use of a federally navigable waterway. You’re a billionaire and liked it better when no one was fishing “your” curated river and posting farmed fish photos up on Instagram. We get it. Unfortunately, it’s a public river.
This is a story worth keeping an eye on, and if and when the “10-year pilot permit system” proposal goes to a public comment phase, the pushback should be vigorous. – Andrew Steketee
Recent News
Ben McCormick, the owner of Cutthroat Anglers, has also started a petition to raise angler awareness about the risks of fish feeding: “Please join me in demanding that the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission outlaw the feeding of free-flowing rivers of the state and regulate what domesticated fish are stocked into public waterways. Join us in our fight to restore the Blue River by joining the petition here.”
More on the Blue River controversy: A billionaire, a land swap, gold medal fishing, “dinosaur” trout and a permit proposal anglers are calling a “bait and switch” in Colorado. “Colorado Parks and Wildlife public information officer Rachael Gonzales declined to comment on the Friends of the Lower Blue River and Blue Valley Ranch’s analysis of the health of the Lower Blue River. But in a statement, Gonzales said determining the health of a river ‘is not as simple as saying, ‘There are a certain number of fish in the river, so it must be healthy.’ Understanding a river’s health involves evaluating multiple factors, such as the number of fish and macroinvertebrates, water quality indicators, like dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature, and the habitat within the river, Gonzales said. Conditions can also vary from healthy to unhealthy over the length of the river.”
From Deeter on the evolution of Simms and Revelyst: A Cautionary Tale of Fly Fishing and Venture Capital. “What the venture capitalists (Strategic Value Partners) who acquired Revelyst from Vista Outdoor seemingly failed to realize when the company sent out a press release extolling how the Simms HQ had been converted to an ‘innovation center’ was that the announcement would go over within the fly-fishing world like a lead balloon. When they lowered the Simms logo and set it in-line with a handful of good-but-not-great brands on the façade of the building, the fishing world thought that was like parking LeBron James on the bench with the junior varsity...”
A Great profile on Dick Cheney from Matt Labash. Once you get beyond politics and talk with individuals, there’s usually a fellow outdoorsman (or woman) with unique life experiences and perspectives worth considering. “But spend eight hours on the water with a man, and you learn some things about him. And I learned that day that Cheney, whatever my objection to his policies, was a fine fisherman, a gentleman, a master smack-talker, and a guy who wasn’t bothered by what people think of him…”
Fishing Allowed: A Fly Project Initiative. “On a recent trip to Miami, Florida, where House of Fly filmed a short film on fishing peacock bass, which are everywhere in the city, we noticed the No Fishing signs, and began to feel as if fishing is a ‘criminal’ act. Every HOA, city park, and neighborhood has a sign saying, ‘No Fishing’. We did go fishing, though, as you can see in the video, and while it is not illegal to fish where we did, there were patrols that kicked us out everywhere we went…” LET THE BOY FISH.
Salmon seen in Upper Klamath Basin for first time in a century after historic Northern California dam removal. “In late September, a Chinook salmon was seen on video ascending a fish ladder at Keno Dam, one of the Klamath’s two remaining dams in the upper basin southwest of Klamath Falls. Since then, cameras and radio tags have confirmed the presence of salmon at various locations further upstream, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced on Oct. 17. This marks the salmon’s first return to the Upper Klamath Basin since the dams were built in the early 20th century.”
ASGA Needs your Support: Action for Menhaden Reform. “A new assessment shows Atlantic menhaden natural mortality was inaccurately estimated for years, causing quotas set over 275 million pounds too high. A significant, immediate reduction is necessary to align with science-driven management and right the course of a critical forage fish. The Atlantic fishery needs to ‘take the cut’, and the industrial reduction fleet needs to front a majority of that reduction…”
Ryan Callaghan of MeatEater is named the incoming President and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “Callaghan has built a reputation as one of the most trusted advocates in the conservation space. From his years guiding, hunting and fishing in the West to his leadership at MeatEater, and prior to that helping shape First Lite’s origin story and creating its conservation ethos. As the brand’s first non-founder employee, Callaghan embodies the values of access, stewardship and fair chase that are central to BHA’s mission.”
Stio, the Jackson Hole, Wyoming-based mountain lifestyle brand, plans to open its newest Mountain Studio in Stowe, Vermont. “‘We’re thrilled to join the Stowe community and open our doors in such a meaningful, historic location,’ said Kris Nelson, retail director of Stio.”
Not catching fish? Move your feet. “In a situation like the one we were experiencing, the Rio Grande’s browns weren’t being terribly shy. A full-throated, midsummer caddis hatch was under way, and the fish were dialed in. I didn’t need to launch 50-foot hero casts with my 4-weight fly rod–what I needed was a spot-on 25-foot cast that gave me better line control to combat the river’s conflicting currents. Mending 20 to 25 feet of line is a hell of a lot easier than trying to throw a belly into a line that’s headed right at you at different speeds…”
The Mission Issue 54 is out: “We’re not really the kind of magazine that does themes, but if we had to give this year-end banger a theme it would be the road trip. Our cover feature sees rock-hopping Aussie salmon frother Jackson Murray and filmmakers Gareth Shrubb and Jesse Wallace pouring over Google Earth and Navionics looking for fishable conditions amid big swell and heavy rips while shooting their new film, Grasshopper.”
Fill out the University of Massachusetts Amherst “Threats to Freshwater Recreational Fisheries” Survey and be entered to win a Patagonia Guidewater Backpack. The survey is intended to “understand what perceptions recreational anglers have about potential threats to their target species, and how such threats impact their fishing experience and overall satisfaction.”
Fly-fishing Media
From Trout Unlimited: Every River Needs A Champion. “Healthy fish need healthy water. We all do. But today, our waters are at risk…”
Huckberry’s DIRT Uncovered with Kate West and Cole Heilborn of the Backcountry Marketing Podcast. Kate is the director and producer of Huckberry Presents and discusses the DIRT series. “They explore the evolution of episodic content, the importance of understanding the audience and the unique point of view that Huckberry brings to the outdoor industry. Kate shares insights on building trust and community, the significance of authentic storytelling, and the hard work that goes into creating successful content.”
Check out a classic, DIRT Colorado, if you haven’t already: “cosmic” land stewardship, “geek agriculturalists” and food on the western slope. Also, some carp fly fishing in Denver…
A trip down memory lane with Captain Paul Dixon, legendary East End striper guide.
Gear Buzz
We review the Skwala Sol Wading Pant, Sage R8 Core 696 Fly Rod, Ombraz Sunglasses and more. “I was skeptical when told about a pair of ‘armless’ sunglasses. The first thing you’ll notice is they don’t have arms. Think of your current pair of sunglasses, but with a tailless sunglass retainer like these from CHUMS as the only thing holding them to your face.” Read the full reviews.
Podcast host Avery Trufelman on How the Military Influences Outdoor Gear. “On the new season of the Articles of Interest, titled ‘Gear,’ Trufelman explores the relationship between the U.S. military and the outdoor industry. The relationship is beyond superficial: plenty of outdoor gear makers developed equipment for the military in their early days. Many, like Arc’teryx, Outdoor Research, Danner, and Mystery Ranch, still actively seek military contracts or produce tactical gear for Special Operations forces. And many fabrics outdoor enthusiasts seek out were developed for military use prior to trickling into consumer apparel.”
Jason Rolfe of The Flyfish Journal goes deep on RIO’s new fly lines: the Elite Gold XP and Elite Gold Max. “Fly line designers are probably an overlooked member of this coterie of experts. Let’s admit it: lines aren’t nearly as sexy as rods, reels or flies; what subtle differences exist between one line and another are not likely to be seen (outside of colors) and maybe not even likely to be felt by many anglers. And yet, it’s in those subtle differences that an argument might be made for the supremacy of the line in the line-rod-reel triangle. Don’t get me wrong–aesthetics are a worthwhile consideration, and I can appreciate the pleasure that comes from sticking a shiny, finely turned fly reel on a well-appointed rod. But at the end of the day, for many fishing situations, the reel is mainly there to hold the line, without which the rod is meaningless.”
Jason also reviews the Nam Rods Vor Single Hander. “With the VOR 4-piece single-hander, NAM is looking to offer a rod at entry-level price point. Entry-level means different things to different folks, of course, but at $450 MSRP, I’d say it sits right in the sweet spot I remember from my days working in a fly shop. Cheaper rods could be found, though the drop in quality started to be noticeable when you dipped below the $400 mark, whereas those rods in the $400-500 range seemed capable of holding their own against rods that were double the price.”
Pflueger is building on its long-standing reputation for quality and performance with the introduction of the President Fly Combo and President XT Fly Combo. “Designed to provide anglers with complete, ready-to-fish packages, these fly combos combine Pflueger’s proven craftsmanship with features that deliver dependable performance whether anglers are pursuing trophy Trout or their first bass or panfish on the fly.”
From GearJunkie: 90% of Knife Makers Say Tariffs Will Increase Costs. “The AKTI survey included responses from 50 U.S. brands making knives and/or multitools. Brand names were kept anonymous, but most of them are medium- and small-sized businesses. They include a mix of knife importers as well as brands conducting at least some of their manufacturing in the U.S.”
Flylords Gear of the Year Awards. “Each winning product had to meet one requirement–it had to be the best piece of gear for that category. A rod could be a middle-priced rod, and cast better than premium rods nearly double the price–if that were the case, the more affordable rod wins the category. In other words, the products we chose to win each category were the best of the best, regardless of price, warranty, and other factors.”
It’s that time of year when every fly-fishing brand is putting gear on sale: Simms fall stuff, Madison River Fishing Company is running an awesome Fly Line Sale, Fly Sale (by the dozen) and Fly Rod Sale (some cool Winstons), Epic Fly Rods have great Fly Rod & Reel Combos with awesome savings, BOTE SUP deals, Grundens End of Summer Sale, 3Bird Summer Sale, Stio Warehouse Sale.
Boats
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 Fly-fishing options this week:
Electric Boat Motor Range Explained: Battery Life, Speed, Distance. “The range of an electric boat on a single charge can vary significantly based on several factors. These factors include the battery capacity, the boat’s efficiency, speed, conditions and other variables. Here’s a breakdown of the key factors that influence the range of an electric boat motor…”
From Outside: The Best Fly-Fishing Gear of 2025 with a bunch of boating gear recommendations. “The newest fly-fishing gear reviewed here is equally versatile in or out of a boat, giving you the option of all-day backcountry jaunts or those days spent close to the cooler, feet kicked up on the bow, lofting big dry flies to eager trout and bass, and anything else that eats a fly on a warm summer or fall day.”
Fly-fishing Jobs
Saltwater Angler: Fly Shop Team. “The Saltwater Angler, Key West’s premier destination fly shop, is looking for enthusiastic and customer-focused team members to join our crew.”
Asheville Fly Fishing Company: Fly-fishing Guide “Seeking full-time and part-time trout wade & float guides that meet the following requirements: 1. Minimum 5+ years guiding experience 2. Drift boat, raft or both 3. Professionals only 4. First-aid/cpr certified.”
Music
Fontaines D.C. songs worth listening to from 2024’s Romance: In The Modern World, Starburster, Motorcycle Boy and many more. Pitchfork review: “On Fontaines D.C.’s panic-attack-inspired 2024 single ‘Starburster,’ frontman Grian Chatten searches desperately for unfiltered certainty. ‘I wanna take the truth without a lens on it/My god-given insanity depends on it,’ he sings, buried amid crunchy boom-bap beats and wheezing Mellotron. The song’s cryptic video–and its ominous parade of gimp masks, albuterol hits, and reconstructive surgery–only underscores the sense that the Irish group, once famous for its studied cool, might be going off the rails.” At least we can hope…
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This article comes at such an opportune time. Your insights on the evolution of passion are excellent; one might even suggest it's more an expansion of an existing affinty.