I like mountain biking almost as much as I enjoy hunting and fishing. And there are times when I really wish I had a mountain bike when I’m doing exactly that in designated wilderness, or when I’m other places where bikes are banned, such as the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. But there’s something to be said about hiking a trail where you aren’t worried about what’s coming around the corner at Mach III. That’s why I’m not too surprised or upset that today Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, located in Missoula, Montana, has come out against a bill that would allow bikes into designated wilderness areas. If the bill were to win, a lot of wild game Continue reading
Backcountry Opposes Bikes in Wilderness
Posted in Conservation, Northern Rockies, Uncategorized
Tagged Mountain biking in wilderness
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Giant ‘bows, big bulls on Field & Stream’s Hook Shots
I started working with Joe Cermele and Hook Shots earlier this summer and you really should get over to FB Hook Shots to check it out. I have two videos placed on Hook Shots, one of some big rainbows being taken on tiny Tricos, and the other focussing on bull trout in Narnia. You’ll see. Both of Continue reading
Fall Fly Rod & Reel Cover
Took a great trip to Alberta, Canada in early August and came away with a slew of great images, including this scenic that we selected as Fly Rod & Reel’s 2016 fall cover.
I don’t think you can look at this image and not say, “I’d like to fish there,” and based on my experience north of the border, you do want to fish there. A friend and myself caught scads of cutthroat, a couple bull trout, and some really stunning rainbows. Along the way, as you likely saw in a previous post, I was able to shoot some landscapes. Alberta is big and beautiful for sure. Continue reading
Posted in CANADA, Culture, Northern Rockies, Travel
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Yeti’s New “Brick” Bottle Opener
For those of you who have it all, meaning total gearheads like me, you might want to pick up the new Yeti Brick bottle opener which, if you add wheels, can double as a personal defense tank if we ever get invaded. To get one, however, you have to wait until tomorrow, when they officially go on sale.
This thing is solid, overbuilt for sure, but that brings on the possibilities. Constructed of cast stainless steel, and weighing 3/4th Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Gear
Tagged best bottle openers ever, Yeti Brick, Yeti Coolers, Yeti products
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Redington’s Find Your Water: High Mountain Lake Heaven
Old days, with the Mooseman, Wind Rivers, Wyoming
If you watch this video and you’ve fished high-mountain lakes in past years, you’re going to say one thing at the end: I should do that but my window is running short. And by saying that, you’d be right.
High-mountain lake fishing—meaning the entire experience—is vastly overlooked. The fishing can be phenomenal, the exercise and hiking are great, camping out and cooking in the mountains is a fun challenge, and the scenery is unbeatable. Period.
It’s also an outing that’s restricted by spring, fall and winter weather, meaning your only windows are during summer and early fall. And even in early fall you can get shut out. That happened to me one year Continue reading
Do Fish Feel Pain? Come on Man.
I love this debate, which is back in the forefront with an article from Outside magazine (see below): Do fish feel pain?
Come on. I ‘ve heard this nonsense, over the years, that fish don’t feel the sting of a hook. And I’ve always responded to that declaration with this: Then, why do they jump so high?
I am a big Nirvana fan, but Cobain had it wrong when he screeched, “It’s ok to eat fish because they don’t have any feelings.” Fish feel pain. That’s clear. You ever see how they react when you nick one with a gaff? They go batshit crazy. To me, the argument isn’t whether fish feel pain or not. The point is, it doesn’t matter if they feel pain or not because without anglers pursing them they wouldn’t even exist. There’d be no economic advantage allowing the politicians I vote for to stave off consumptive interests that would bulldoze and pave every inch of a riverbank for the development of subdivisions and personal Continue reading
Fishing Trip Gone Alberta Landscape
I can’t ignore landscape. I’m even impressed when driving through the “holes” that other people can’t stand, including eastern Washington, eastern Montana, all of North Dakota, and southern Manitoba. All beautiful in my eyes, as long as you use your eyes to pick out the particulars of each place.
That’s what I was doing in Alberta this past Continue reading
Review: Yeti Rambler Lowball Drink Cups
I’m not one to let a drink sit long, and rarely will a Tonic get warm when I’m on the watch, but these new Yeti Rambler Lowball cups are pretty sweat. I tried them out over the weekend on Montana’s Rock Creek (um, no, I didn’t see any spruce moths on the water, why would you even ask?), in sweltering heat and I can now report that they’ll keep rum, whiskey, vodka and gin as cold as can be for as long as it might take you to swill your drink. And you’ll have plenty of time to Continue reading
Posted in Gear, Industry
Tagged Best drink cups, Best insulated cups, Is Yeti the best, Yeti Rambler
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New Feature in Big Sky Journal
I think most of you know that Angler’s Tonic and Fly Rod & Reel aren’t my only gigs. In fact, I write for many publications, a few being the New York Times, Sporting Goods Business and, recently, the Boone and Crocket Club. But one of my longest standing relationships has been with Big Sky Journal, a beautiful, glossy regional that finds its way into Montana’s finest homes. And it gets most of the state’s best writers to contribute. Whether I Continue reading
Posted in Absinthe Lounge, Culture, Flies
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Kamchatka Steelhead Project
Put yourself in the final scene of this vid and you’ll see why I placed it here for you to see. Again, it’s almost August, these fish are moving in soon. This is another reminder to get those shooting heads in order and organize your tips.
