Simms’ Pro Dry Raingear—a thorough review

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Greg Thomas

I’ve been trying to get my hands on a set of these Simms Pro Dry raingear for a couple years but haven’t been able to secure them and give them a fair test. But I know someone who has and they have posted a great review on the Oregon Fly Fishing Blog.

Read a little about them here and if you want to read more, more really solid, thorough information, jump on over and support those boys with a visit. Sounds like these are as good as they get and I’m thinking they would be awesome for Continue reading →

Posted in Gear, Northwest | Leave a comment

Willie’s Handcrafted Montana Moonshine

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Greg Thomas

Just as I was leaving Ennis, Montana, after seven years, my neighbors sank their teeth into a big-time project—to finance and build a craft distillery in little old Ennis, right next to the banks of the Madison River. They got their financing and have weathered a series of challenges that come along with the liquor business in Montana. And I think they’d tell you it was worth it—just a couple weeks ago those friends, Robin and Willie Blazer, announced the availability of their first product, Willie’s Hand Crafted Montana Moonshine. They tout their offering as an unaged whiskey that can be used to Continue reading →

Posted in Absinthe Lounge, Cocktails, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Fly Rod & Reel’s New Issue

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Greg Thomas

Back from an extended trip to Seattle with my daughters. Ran around constantly with them, sometimes taking the Washington State Ferry here or there, sometimes running alongside them as they practiced their balance on new Razors, lots of time spent walking with them or breaking up fights when they both went down the slide at the same time. I wanted to throw a line in the salt but never could break away. I’m back in Missoula now, cranking away on Fly Rod & Reel duties and the blog. You should see a steady stream of posts in 2013 as I’m planning to ramp up coverage of specific waters. Let me know what you’re interested in and I’ll do my best to cover it for all of you.

In the meantime, get over to the newsstand and look for the new issue of FRR. I think this one is pretty damn Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, Travel | Tagged | 7 Comments

Pay Heed to This Sign

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Greg Thomas

I have, like, 50,000 images in my library. When looking for specific shots I often come across others I’d forgotten about. That’s what happened today and I thought I’d share. I shot this sign on northern Vancouver Island along the Marble River, just before a friend and I started our long hike through the old-growth to fish for Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, Northwest, Photography, Travel | Tagged | 1 Comment

Upper Stikine and Nass—the Sacred Headwaters—Now Protected

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Greg Thomas

This is huge news out of Canada. This may preserve some of the finest and most remote steelhead and salmon water in the world. It’s been a big issue for a long time, and it deals with wild place close to my heart, so this takes some pressure off my mind. Read on and be happy.

VICTORIA — The B.C. government has banned oil and gas exploration in an area of northern B.C. that was the scene of anti-development protests by First Nations members seven years ago.

The province has announced a deal with Shell Canada and the Tahltan Central Council under which Shell is withdrawing plans to explore for natural gas in a region Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, British Columbia, CANADA, Conservation, Northwest | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Public Meetings May Determine Fate of Bear River Bonneville Cutthroats

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Greg Thomas

The Bear River, which flows through portions of Idaho, Utah and Wyoming, is one of the last bastions for the Bonneville cutthroat, making a round of scheduled public meetings paramount for the species. At stake are numerous conservation easements along portions of the Bear River, all possibly available, at a cost of $745 million. Yep, it’s a big deal. Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

ThermaCELL’S Heated Insoles

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Greg Thomas

I think I’ve been waiting for these all of my life. Where in the heck were these when I was young, standing in a muddy duck blind in uninsulated green rubber boots (yes, the ones with those yellow laces)? Check it out. Great late Christmas gift. Here’s my address … just kidding. But I may request a pair of these to review.

Here’s the dirt: ThermaCELL Heated Insoles are the only cordless, remote controlled, rechargeable Continue reading →

Posted in Gear | 2 Comments

The Seattle Times on Idaho’s Salmon River Sockeye

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Greg Thomas

If you have five minutes, it’s worth reading this story from the Seattle Times about all the efforts made to keep Idaho’s sockeye salmon from going extinct. As you’ll read, each sockeye that returns to the Salmon River and, eventually, Redfish Lake, costs taxpayers $9,000. Wouldn’t it be easier to just blow Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Idaho, Northern Rockies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Planned Logging Could Jeopardize Alberta Bull Trout

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Greg Thomas

A quick follow up on a story I provided earlier this week. Looks like there will be fights to come as Alberta struggles with consumptive industry versus saving their provincial fish, the bull trout. Here’s the story Continue reading →

Posted in CANADA, Conservation, Northern Rockies | Leave a comment

Grouse and Antler Hunting in Montana

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Greg Thomas

Got an invite from a friend to spend some time in the mountains looking for antlers. He’s a dedicated antler hunter and had done some serious research to find spots that could be productive. So we took off yesterday and hiked our tails off, from the absolute bottom of a canyon to nearly the top of the mountains. It was a tough, tough climb and I’m paying Continue reading →

Posted in Hunting, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments