Category Archives: Ecology
Trout Deformities
I SPOTTED THIS LITTLE GUY IN A HATCHERY SUPPORTED STREAM IN NORTH CAROLINA AND FISHED TO HIM UNTIL I CAUGHT HIM SO I COULD GET A PHOTO. While not common exactly, deformities like this are not unusual in either hatcheries or in the wild but you...
Big Trouble in Little Mountain
"I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING," STEVE TELLS ME. "I CAME ALL THE WAY TO WYOMING FOR THIS?" I look down from the deep head cut at the trickle of water below. It's, maybe, eighteen inches wide and no more than six deep. The red earth stream...
You Can’t Go Home
William S. Burroughs, in his essay "Dinosaurs" wrote, "biologically speaking the one direction you can't go is back". He was, of course, making a social comment but I was reminded of that idea while fishing the other day with a good friend. Joel Dickey was up...
Don’t Tread on my Redd
THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN TROUT, AS WELL AS OTHER COLD WATER FISH, PUT ON THEIR BARRY WHITE RECORDS, OPEN A BOTTLE OF COURVOISIER AND GET BUSY. Brown trout and brook trout spawn in the fall and rainbow and cutthroats in the spring. Exact...
The Toughest Water in Wyoming
"HOW WAS YOUR DAY?" ASKED THE GUY AT THE FLY SHOP COUNTER. "WELL," I ANSWERED, "I FISHED THE TOUGHEST WATER IN WYOMING." Everyone rolled their eyes. This was exactly the response I expected. Working at a fly shop in Jackson hole, I imagine, you get to listen...