AT News: Small Water, Gutting the Clean Water Act, Patagonia’s Work in Progress Report
Small rivers, streams and wetlands are literally the lifeblood of all aquatic ecosystems...
Small Water: Where it All Begins…
I’ve spent a good part of the past month fishing in saltwater in the Low Country of South Carolina. There’s something special about fishing in the salt, particularly for redfish. Not so much in the open ocean, rather, back in the marshes and flats. Fishing in the backcountry in channels carved by tides is like push-poling around Mother Nature’s own handprint.
Fishing small water really puts the angler in touch with the ecosystem. It’s here where you see nature in full balance. Watching shrimp popping might draw your attention to an egret wading the mud shore by the oyster bed. And if you look just close enough, you might see a push of nervous water nearby, or if you’re lucky enough, even that blue-hued tail slicing just a tick above the surface. Then you know you have a “crawler” red drum working up the flat, and you have seconds to make a cast that drops a shrimp or crab fly in its path.
The thing is, everything changes in real time with the tide. It won’t be the same shot in 10 minutes. In another few hours, all of this will be completely submerged, and several hours after that, there won’t be hardly any water in here at all.
But just because there’s little water doesn’t mean there’s little life. In my experience, quite the opposite is true.
I feel that way about small trout streams also. Sometimes the smallest water is the most abundant, yet at the same time, the most challenging to fish. Anyone who has ever tied into a salmon that barreled into a small spate river on the back of a spring storm–or maybe has hooked a fish that ran up from one of the Great Lakes in a creek that you can lay a fly rod across–will know what I’m talking about.
Small rivers, streams and wetlands are literally the lifeblood of all aquatic ecosystems. Yes, they are where big fish make little fish. These are the life factories. The most precious of all water resources.
But it’s not just about fishing. Not by a long shot. When it comes to small freshwater streams, wetlands and such, it’s about bigger things…like the water you, your family, your friends and neighbors and community all drink.
It’s waters like this that deserve the absolute most attention and respect. We need to be more vigilant, not less. And if you fish, you’re the watchdog. You should care, whether you want to or not. Because everything flows forth from small water. The effects of what you do to the source are felt miles and miles downstream.
Pollute it here…drink it there. Maybe fish it in between.
The choice is yours, of course, but I’m paying particularly close attention these days to what my government is saying about–and the amount of respect given to–small waterways in America. I’m also paying attention to what the conservation organizations I support have to say about rolling back Waters of the United States (WOTUS) protections.
Seems to me that the potential for more pollution in headwaters certainly isn’t something worth celebrating. And it’s also not worth ignoring.
This is something we need to be talking about.
Voice up and be heard. – Kirk Deeter
Recent News
The EPA Is Gutting the Clean Water Act. “The Environmental Protection Agency announced changes to the Clean Water Act that sportsmen’s organizations say could set us back 50 years to a time when rivers lit on fire and fish went belly up. ‘This isn’t a little deal, this is a big deal,’ says Chris Wood, CEO of Trout Unlimited. ‘It means that, in a worst-case scenario, the protections of the Clean Water Act, which meant that you couldn’t store chemicals in ephemeral streams, and you couldn’t have manure lagoons in intermittent streams, those protections could be gone.’” Can you amend and streamline the current regulatory structure to be more thoughtful and efficient? Of course. But like everything in this divided body politic, the sitting power brokers feel enabled to take a chainsaw to sensible resource protection. The housing, manufacturing, farming, AI data center and oil and gas industries think this is a great idea. Hunters, anglers and anyone who cares about clean water and the nation’s wetlands and streams think this is an alarming and short-sighted policy maneuver. In a world of bad ideas, this one is particularly regrettable.
Take action over the Clean Water Act with TU: “Clean water is the lifeblood of healthy fisheries, wildlife habitat, and strong communities. But right now, Congress is considering H.R. 3898, the ‘Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act’ (PERMIT Act)–a bill that would severely weaken core protections under the Clean Water Act.” More from TU: “The announcement will trigger a 45-day comment period, which has not yet opened. Stay tuned for updates and, until the comment period opens, tell your members of Congress to safeguard clean water.” Make your voice heard.
Phishing Email Scams: Scott Doty, Director of Sales for Korkers, is raising awareness for fly-fishing dealers around phishing attempts during the holidays. Be aware of this current scam: “Here’s a screenshot of an email that some of our dealers received. Looks pretty legit, as they duplicated the exact name and email signature of one of our longtime customer service reps. However, note the email domain is “korrkers”. They are sending links to payments from emails like “korkerrs.com” (two r’s).” Fly shops: double check your emails.
Astral Undergoes Layoffs, Raises Prices to Offset Tariffs. “Astral Designs announced that it was streamlining its operations, reducing its full-time staff by 14 percent and increasing prices on average by 10 percent at the start of 2026, to offset the impact of tariffs. News of the changes was announced in a social media post by Philip Curry, Astral’s CEO, who founded the business in 2002. Based in Astral, NC, Astral makes footwear, apparel and life jackets.” Read the post from Philip Curry, founder and CEO.
New report: “Outdoor Recreation on Federal Public Lands & Waters: A Valuable American Asset”. The analysis, conducted by Southwick Associates, underscores that conserving and maintaining access to America’s natural resources for recreation is a good for business imperative and consistent, high-return investment for health and economic growth. “Outdoor recreation on America’s public lands and waters isn’t just about life-changing experiences; it contributes to our economy in a major way and is one of our greatest investments in people and communities. When we care for these special places and keep them public, they give back tenfold, fueling local economies, strengthening rural businesses, improving public health, and connecting us to our shared outdoor heritage.”
Montana’s answer to Citizens United (a 2010 Supreme Court case that ruled corporations could spend unlimited sums in order to influence elections). “Where Citizens United ruled that lawmakers could not regulate a corporation’s ‘right’ to spend unlimited sums on elections, The Montana Plan seeks to render that problem irrelevant by turning instead to each state’s right to decide which powers it chooses to grant to corporations…”
Wyoming’s Miracle Mile is at risk. Friends of the North Platte River is trying to give the river a voice by protecting its waters, wildlife and communities. The new Seminoe Pumped Storage project is raising concerns: “This project poses a significant threat to the health of our precious ecosystems, endangering vital species such as fish, deer, sheep and sage grouse. The potential harm to their habitats could lead to devastating consequences for biodiversity and local wildlife populations.” Read more and leave a comment for WY’s elected officials.
Patagonia’s Work in Progress Report provides the most comprehensive view of the Ventura-based outdoor apparel company’s business impact, ownership structure and environmental giving that it has ever released. “The pursuit of short-term profit and mindless consumption are destroying the planet, and it is bad for most businesses. To put it into perspective, when Patagonia was founded in 1973, the average lifespan of an American company on the S&P 500 was around 30 years. Today, it’s less than 18. More companies are being bought up or hollowed out, and the population of billionaires is climbing. Entrepreneurial success went from building a durable business to selling it off to the highest bidder. It is not sustainable, yet it does not show signs of stopping any time soon. Coupled with an attack on science undoing decades’ worth of progress on climate change, any company interested in long-term survival should consider changing its primary purpose to saving our home planet unless it has a way to make money on a dead one.” – Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia Founder and Ex-Owner
Kyle Frost on the Patagonia Work in Progress report: The [outdoor] industry needs Patagonia to keep pushing, experimenting and showing what is possible. But even Patagonia cannot build the future alone. The report is a “stark acknowledgement of the contradictory role Patagonia plays in a global system built on extraction. But the report also offers a detailed map of what is working and what is not, even when you are trying harder than almost anyone else in the industry. You could read this report in a number of ways, and given the amount of press Patagonia generates, you’ll probably see a variety of takes. Some as a celebration of progress, others a critique of ambitions that are currently falling short. Both readings would be accurate. Both would be incomplete. The outdoor industry has spent years putting Patagonia on a pedestal as proof that a different kind of capitalism is possible. But I think this feels like the first time they’ve more directly acknowledged the true scale of the walls standing in the way of success…”
Stopping Didymo from Southflyfisher: Essential biosecurity for Patagonia anglers. “Didymo cells cling to anything that stays damp–waders, felt soles, boots, nets, leaders, anchor ropes, boat bilges, even gravel stuck in tyre treads. A single drop of contaminated water can start a new outbreak. The southern Andes are vast, but the pathways between river systems are short. One wet pair of boots can connect entire watersheds.”
Fly-fishing Media
Hunter Leavine interviews saltwater fishing guide Steve Huff: Lessons from a Lifetime on the Water. “You’re limited only by your imagination and your will. It doesn’t mean you’ll succeed, but if you don’t pursue it to the best of your ability, you have no chance at all.”
From Christopher Schaberg, a review of Monte Burke’s Rivers Always Reach the Sea: Angling Stories. “I found myself wondering if the book could have been organized differently, perhaps chronologically. As it is, the pieces–which span the past 25 years–kind of meander through time, from 2004, up to 2016, then 2020, back to 2012, and so on. It’s a little bizarre. Would the book feel more organic if the reader watched Monte Burke evolve as a writer (and a person) over time? And if so, would the reader get the critical buildup of ecological consciousness that he seems to develop–if in a quiet, rather low-grade way?”
Field & Stream Launching Television Network. “The media company announced that it’s partnering with Outdoor America to launch a 24/7 television network. The move is the latest part of Field & Stream’s growth strategy since it relaunched in 2024, with the help of big-name investors like Eric Church and Morgan Wallen.” In a highly saturated outdoor media market–launching another television network? Everyone is already on YouTube or other short-form video platforms, unfortunately. Good luck.
Editorial fail: Hunting Nazi Birds from Field Ethos. It’s not often that I read something and my revulsion for a writer and editorial brand metastasizes in under three minutes, but this is a first. The poorly researched story starts with an anecdote about UK war pigeons being used behind enemy lines (the United Kingdom used about 250,000 homing pigeons during World War II for intel collection, communication etc. through their Air Ministry Pigeon Section), and the equally interesting response by the Germans: employ falcons to intercept these carrier pigeons. Both the Axis (Germans) and the Allies (specifically the British MI5 and the US military) trained falcons–particularly peregrine falcons due to their speed–to intercept and capture enemy messenger pigeons, which is all fascinating. The MI5 also created a Falcon Destruction Unit, with the explicit job of “hunt[ing] the falcons and kill[ing] them on designated areas of coast to protect the pigeons coming back from Europe.” Somewhere near the end of the blog post, the FE writer leaves the reader with this gratuitous image: “If the Falcon Destruction Unit ever does make a comeback, and they’re looking for recruits, I know a lot of people in Arkansas, Kansas, and Mississippi who will jump at the opportunity–including myself. Just so long as I can bring my A5 and some TSS 9 shot.” You sit around dreaming about taking potshots at a bird that was once on the endangered species list? The Falcon Destruction Unit was trying to win a World War, not find something to do with guns on the weekend. Understand the very basic difference. If you actually want to learn more about this fascinating bird history, read Operation Columba–The Secret Pigeon Service by Gordon Corera. – Andrew
Back to some real writing: The Flyfish Journal has rolled out a new website. Check it out.
E. Donnall Thomas Jr. in BSJ with an ode to brown trout. “While it’s hard to grasp the concept of intelligence in fish, the consensus among anglers holds that browns are somehow smarter than other trout. Though an impression rather than an objective fact, the opinion is so widely shared among experienced anglers that there must be something to it. During a busy mayfly hatch, most of us have seen rainbows strike any good imitation while the browns next to them rise halfway to the same fly pattern, study the artificial, and drop back down to the streambed without striking. Why value fish that are hard to catch? After landing–and hopefully releasing–countless trout, meeting a challenge often becomes more important than wrangling another fish into the net.”
Captain Kyle Schaefer from Soul Fly Outfitters talks about striped bass conservation and the role that the American Saltwater Guides Association helps play in these efforts.
Montana’s bipartisan pushback on the proposed sale of federally owned lands.
Gear Buzz
Scott Fly Rod Company Announces New GT Series Fly Rods. From Scott: “New GT rods are lighter and sportier than their predecessors, yet they still possess smooth progressive actions, tremendous feedback, and incredible tippet protection that have kept dedicated anglers fishing the previous three versions of these rods for almost 50 years. GT rods feature innovations that push them to the forefront of performance while retaining the most cherished attributes of G Series rods.”
Deeter reviews the new Scott GT fly rods. “I was actually a bit skeptical when GT arrived a couple months ago. But I’ve been fishing it in different environments–from a dory, walk wading small streams, lake fishing with float tubes… fishing in Michigan, Idaho and Colorado for fish of various sizes. This is what won me over. It feels lighter, though the reel you choose makes or breaks that factor. Out of the tube, you’ll sense a difference. That’s because the manufacturing process for the new GT allows for thinner-walled blanks (the thinnest Scott has ever made). The ferrule connections shed bulk to the point that a four-piece rod feels like a one-piece rod.” Find a new Scott GT at the Madison River Fishing Company.
From Nick Parish and Current Flow State: Understanding fly fishing’s arcane measurements. “With rods and lines the measurement is simple: The bigger the number, the bigger the thing. The rating system goes from 1, the lightest, to 14, the heaviest. This originated in fly lines, and is based on the weight of the first 30’ of line outside the rod tip. Here’s where this gets foggy. The standard authored by the now-defunct American Fishing Tackle Manufacturer’s Association (AFTMA; now AFFTA) was meant to help ensure every 5-weight line matches every 5-weight rod. Prior to this, it was a crap shoot. Everyone used different designations for everything. ‘HDG’ or ‘000’ or other codenames and numbers were even harder to decipher.”
12 Days of Skwala Deals is back. “We’ll announce deals on specific Skwala gear starting November 21st. Each Skwala Day will feature a different product or collection of products at 15% off standard price. Skwala will also donate 5% of the retail price from the entire sale to Trout Unlimited and the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.”
The Best Websites To Buy Online Flies from House of Fly (lots of Flylab partners in the roundup where you can save). “Nothing replaces a strong local fly shop. If you live close to one, at least for your local fishing needs, that’s always Option #1. That’s because it’s difficult to replace the sense of community, local knowledge and relationships you form at a local fly shop (or even a strong department store with local anglers working in the department). But, that’s not an option for lots of people in many parts of the country.”
Best GPS Hiking Watch Guide: 9 Gear Tester Standouts of 2025. “I have been using a GPS watch for hiking, running, biking, and living for over a decade now and have tested dozens of them in my decades-long career as an outdoor journalist and gear tester. For this specific test, I researched eight watches that I thought could be the best hiking watch–based on my past experience–and my team and I tested them for the past four months to create this gear review that will hopefully help you pick the best one for you.”
Benchmade Ended My Long Search for the Best All-Around Kitchen Knife. “The tip is what makes this knife so versatile. It gives me control and enough finesse for detailed work–it is small and sharp, allowing me to get into corners and tight spots. It performs well with the smaller prep tasks: chopping veggies, taking meat off the bone, slicing fruit.”
Everyone is running a Black Friday sale: Madison River Fishing Company has piles of stuff on sale; 3BIRD has a big holiday sale (up to 40% off); Trident Fly Fishing–save up to 40% on select fly rods from Winston and Sage; From House of Fly–25% Off All Apparel, Wading and Accessories, Grundens’ Black Friday sale, Epic Fly Rods have great Fly Rod & Reel Combos with awesome savings, J Stockard Black Friday / Cyber Monday Fly Tying Material Sale (20% off site-wide).
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 Fishing options this week:
Cool drift boat product of the week: “The Fish Ladder” from the troutboatcapn–a trailer mounted gear rack. “The fish ladder provides a super stable place to carry your oars and mount any over-the-counter rod rack securely on your boat trailer. The oar shelf is lined with Seadek for cushioning underneath oars snugly tied down through welded on loops. The rod rack shelf will accommodate any over-the-counter rod holder that you may already own or intend to purchase.” Check out the rest of his custom rower cooler seats on the Trout Boat Cap’n website.
We review the Yeti GoBox 15: “I treat the GoBox as ‘home base for the important stuff.’ Camera, headlamp, sunscreen, meds, lighter, spare batteries, gloves, beanie–basically the items you’d be miserable without. It moves with me from boat to tent pad to whatever craft I hitch a ride on next. Small enough to stash almost anywhere, big enough to hold the essentials, and built with tie-down slots that actually work with cam straps (you can even open the lid while it’s strapped down). The flip handle stows flat, which sounds minor until you’re trying to pack efficiently.”
TrackFly Industry Trends
TrackFly is a data aggregation and analytics platform, connecting specialty retailers, brands and sales professionals. They are helping Flylab track key industry trends.
In the fly fishing specialty channel, October is never the biggest sell-through month. But this past October, compared against October 2024, generated the highest YOY growth we have seen all year: up +12% in dollar-sales across all product categories combined.
Of course, that sounds great, but there are some notes to consider…
October sales growth was generally driven more by increases in ASP (Average Selling Price) than by unit-sales growth. Given the tariff situation the outdoor industry has been navigating this year, it stands to reason that those ASP increases are being caused more by tariffs than by either (a) anglers buying up into more premium product choices, or (b) brands and retailers strategically offering a more premium mix of products. Ultimately, it amounts to inflation. So in general, people are paying more, but they are not buying more.
The fly rods category absolutely blew up in October. During the first half of 2025, it was down significantly versus prior year, and it was the last product category to begin catching up to last year’s sell-through trends, but in October it was up more than +40% in dollar-sales over prior October. But there were two close-out rods partly responsible for the phenomenon. An unusually large number of Scott Fly Rod G-Series units moved through the channel, just in October; and an even larger number of Winston Pure rods (the original Pure, not Pure 2) moved through a relatively small number of retailers. All those G-Series and Pure rods sold for close-out prices and undoubtedly drew fishing consumers to the category.
That said, several other rod models also sold well in October, and overall the fly rods category showed strength.
Most other product categories also did well in October, but again, we now see much of dollar-sales growth being caused by increasing ASP’s, more so than growth in unit-sales. In this instance, as opposed to a classic inflationary scenario, it’s not being driven by increasing demand or increasing incomes so much as by tariffs. So, unfortunately, anglers’ dollars are not buying as much, and brands and retailers are not necessarily putting more to the bottom line.
We expect this tariff-driven ASP growth to continue through Q4 and 2026.
TrackFly: “You have to make business decisions every day; why not do it with real data and insights on your side?”
TrackFly is now building custom analytics, designed to answer your specific questions about angler/consumer behavior, across all categories and all brands. Call us.
Music
Jason Isbell songs worth listening to from 2025’s Foxes in the Snow: Ride to Robert’s, Gravelweed, True Believer, Wind Behind the Rain–hell, the whole album. He’s come a long way since the Drive-By Truckers days, and those weren’t bad either. No Depression review: “Recorded as leanly as possible at New York City’s iconic Electric Lady Studios, Foxes in the Snow is all clean production and no frills. The warmth of Isbell’s guitar and the heft of his rasp are all the tools he needs to deliver devastatingly sad stunners like ‘True Believer’ and ‘Good While it Lasted.’ These are hearty, adult breakup songs. Any bit of spite feels truly earned and the lessons are the kind you can only really learn when you’ve gotten some life experience under your belt.”
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Zero surprise that Field Ethos - run by the son of a fascist wannabe dictator - is publishing content about “Nazi birds.”