A Bug's Life...

A poke around the house while doing some yard work found a few tasty morsels for those fish. Ever since they redid the highway upstream, I've noticed an increase in abundance and diversity of emergent macroinvertebrate life. Proof that installing storm water retention systems for impervious surface runoff does make a difference. The bonus? I've finally started observing a few species of mayflies over the past year that are only found in clean coldwater environments. While the Pelican River that runs through my backyard isn't what you'd classify a trout stream, it does support the same macroinvertebrate life that you'd expect in a blue ribbon trout stream.

A New Hope

Been working on a restoration project over the past few days. It's a great sign of encouragement to find this guy emerging from the bottom of a ditch. This restored reach will be reconnected in July.


Just like the good old days...

the GreenFish movement

I was recently added to the GreenFish Ambassador Team, joining the likes of other industry notables like Conway Bowman, Dr. Zeb Hogan, Teeg Stouffer, Eric Wallace, Dave McCoy, and Kirk Werner to name just a few. Why should you care about GreenFish? Because they support the resource. Sustainable fishing is important to us all, regardless of if you are a commercial or recreational fisherman. Without the resource, we will have nothing to fish. GreenFish supports clean angling techniques and promotes the proper way to catch and release fish. They are pro resource, understanding that harvest can be a beneficial means towards a sustainable fishery. Better yet, through the sales of their apparel line, GreenFish donates 5% of all revenues to a select group of organizations that share their mission of protecting recreational fishing, promoting responsible fishing and rebuilding our fisheries and marine environments. GreenFish supports groups that are pro-fishing and also pro-fish. Every time you purchase one of their products, you can choose which organization you'd like to support with 5% of the purchase price through their GreenFish Gives program.


Besides, their clothes just look good!

Rise Fishing Co.

WHO:

Rise Fishing Co.
Founders Amanda Switzer and Steve Bechard are a combination of hard working fishing guides and fly casting instructors who had a vision to create fly rods that are best suited for the majority of fly fishermen. Having the background of working with many different types of fly fishermen gives Rise the advantage in understanding what most people need in a fly rod. These guys are about as fishy as you can get; they can school just about anyone on the water. Steve is a carper, and oh yeah, Amanda was a little TV show called Guide House. They've both earned the title of brownliner in my book.

WHAT:

Fly Fishing guides Amanda Switzer and Steve Bechard set out to create the best fly rod possible at a price that doesn’t discriminate. "No one is harder on gear then guides, so we work with world class fly fishing guides who help sculpt our rods and put them to the true test of fishing them hard!" Rise currently has two rod lines on the market now, the In-Stream Series, freshwater fly rods, and the Level Series, salt water fly rods. While the In-Stream rods will make a great trout rod, the Level Series is what should grab your attention. The Rise Level Series Saltwater Fly Rods are made from IM-8 and IM-10 Graphite. The reel seats are a heavy duty saltwater safe up locking seat and the guides are all titanium carbide. The fighting butts are standard size on the 6 – 9wts and are over sized on the 10 – 14wts. The color of the Rise Level series rods are a rich blue with black wraps. All Level Series Fly Rods come with extra tip, rod sock and case.

Of particular interest is the 9 foot 7 weight rod. The four-piece 7 weight rod will perform short casts with tight loops yet has enough backbone to punch flies in to the wind with accuracy. This fast action rod will be just the ticket for sight casting to carp and some topwater action for smallmouth bass. At $249, the rod is a steal. All rods are backed by a Lifetime Guarantee and a $25/$50 replacement section/rod fee. With the supplied extra rod tip, you already have a mulligan.

WHY:

Although making high quality fly rods is the main objective of Rise Fishing Co., conservation and preserving the future of our sport is high on their agenda. Led by Amanda Switzer, Rise Fishing Co. pledged to set a new standard in the industry by donating 20% of proceed to conservation and getting new people in to our sport through organizations like Recycled Fish and fishy kid. Their hope is that other companies follow in their foot steps to make sure that there is a fishery to enjoy for generations to come. Learn more about how they donate their 20% on the Donate page.

Word on the street is that Rise Fishing Co. is developing a carp rod and a long rod for nymphing in the 10 foot range. This is exciting news for the roughfisher in all of us.

WHERE:

Rise Fishing Co.
PO BOX 3282
East Hampton, NY 11937

info@risefishing.com

Call Rise Fishing Co. toll free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1.800.399.0712.

Stay tuned in on all the latest news and happenings on the Rise Fishing blog.

WHEN:

Visit the Rise Fishing Co. site NOW and enter their contest for a free Rise fly rod and guided trip! All you need to do is sign the petition to Stop the Pebble Mine and register on the Rise Fishing Co. website to enter. Winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Enter by 2/21/11. Winner announced on 2/22/11.

Orders are currently being taken and will ship on February 1st, 2011. What are you waiting for?

The Stink: Hope For Denver's South Platte

The horror stories began long before I arrived. Rumors of fishing mutated sumo-sized carp among abandoned shopping carts and skateboards downstream of the water treatment plant were standard fare. Advisories issued from the Environmental Health Department warning of elevated levels of heavy metals, ammonia, and fecal coliform only confirmed the fact that the city uses this stream as its dumpster. It wasn't until I sat down for a beer with some of Denver's seediest fly fishing characters that the truth really came out. Brazen missions of fishing antiquated cemetery settling ponds were told in such a cavalier manner that I don't doubt for a minute that these guys fish for Nemo inside porcelain thrones. These guys were live.




When I finally strapped my boots on and hit the DSP, my initial suspicions were confirmed; garbage everywhere. From cigarette butts to snakeskins and cotton ponies, litter lined the banks. The ultimate find was the epitome of yuppie trash, a solitary Keen sandal strewn amongst the driftwood and cocktail bottles, the pièce de résistance. You really had to watch your step around the concrete rubble or else a rebar snake would strike at you, making you wonder when you had your last tetanus shot, or for that matter, if you remembered to get the last few hepatitis boosters. Urban warfare at its finest.




After peeking under the surface film however, glimmers of hope began to rise from the bottom. Freshwater mussels were everywhere, and so were crawfish, thousands of them. Countless schools of smallmouth bass and white suckers filled the shallows. I bore witness to a trico hatch and caddis were everywhere. Recent reports of PMDs hatching are bringing much needed hope for this stream. Coupled with a surprise catch of the occasional trout on the South Platte, perhaps this river isn't in as bad of health as once thought.




Carp are an obvious catch in an urban stream. Those things can survive in utter filth. In fact, the only things that will survive the apocalypse are twinkies, roaches, rats, and carp. What holds the most promise, though, is the burgeoning smallmouth fishery that is beginning to take hold on the South Platte. The urban jungle is the perfect environs for the smallmouth. Concrete slabs and boulders provide essential cover for those bellicose bronzebacks, while providing enough water hazards to keep guys like me in business selling you flies. I know I had a hell of a time keeping the red-eyes away from my carp flies on The Stink; those little bastards. In fact, one of them saved me from a skunk, providing me with some much needed relief after losing several hooked carp. While smallmouth bass are not native to Colorado, neither are carp, but they both provide a fantastic fishery on the DSP.


Maybe there is hope for the DSP after all...

Blazing Stars and Bluestem

Once covering the great expanse of the Glacial Lake Aggassiz basin, the eastern tallgrass prairie is now merely a shadow of its former self. Bisected by rowcrops of corn, soybean and sugarbeets, interspersed with beds of sunflowers and amber waves of wheat, the once blazing prairie fell victim to the blade of the plow. What's left is merely a pittance of a once prodigious parcel.

The following is a brief glimpse into one of the largest sections of virgin prairie remaining in Minnesota, and one of the highest quality prairie sites in the U.S.

Suburban Blue Lines

In the middle of a sprawling suburban landscape lies a little gem, home to trophy browns and corpulent pike. Venture on a bit downstream and you'll find yourself in carp country. Thanks to a few keen fellows with insight (almost a rarity these days), this treasure is being cherished and preserved, rather than developed.

Click the photo for a larger version

Thanks to you guys who have helped keep this gem sparkling. You know who you are.

Throwing Stones

Fuck you BP, fuck you corporate America, and fuck you all you fucking fucks who have sold the environment short just to make a fucking buck. FUCK YOU.

Picture a bright blue ball, just spinning, spinnin free,
Dizzy with eternity.
Paint it with a skin of sky,
Brush in some clouds and sea,
Call it home for you and me.
A peaceful place or so it looks from space,
A closer look reveals the human race.
Full of hope, full of grace
Is the human face,
But afraid we may lay our home to waste.

There's a fear down here we can't forget.
Hasn't got a name just yet.
Always awake, always around,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down.

Now watch as the ball revolves
And the nighttime falls.
Again the hunt begins,
Again the bloodwind calls.
By and by, the morning sun will rise,
But the darkness never goes
From some men's eyes.
It strolls the sidewalks and it rolls the streets,
Staking turf, dividing up meat.
Nightmare spook, piece of heat,
It's you and me.
You and me.

Click flash blade in ghetto night,
Rudies looking for a fight.
Rat cat alley, roll them bones.
Need that cash to feed that jones.
And the politicians throwin' stones,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down.

Commissars and pin-stripe bosses
Roll the dice.
Any way they fall,
Guess who gets to pay the price.
Money green or proletarian gray,
Selling guns 'stead of food today.

So the kids they dance
And shake their bones,
And the politicians throwin' stones,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down.

Heartless powers try to tell us
What to think.
If the spirit's sleeping,
Then the flesh is ink
History's page will thus be carved in stone.
And we are here, and we are on our own
On our own.
On our own.
On our own.

If the game is lost,
Then we're all the same.
No one left to place or take the blame.
We can leave this place and empty stone
Or that shinin' ball we used to call our home.

So the kids they dance
And shake their bones,
And the politicians throwin' stones,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down.

Shipping powders back and forth
Singing black goes south and white comes north.
In a whole world full of petty wars
Singing I got mine and you got yours.
And the current fashion sets the pace,
Lose your step, fall out of grace.
And the radical, he rant and rage,
Singing someone's got to turn the page.
And the rich man in his summer home,
Singing just leave well enough alone.
But his pants are down, his cover's blown...

And the politicians throwin' stones,
So the kids they dance
And shake their bones,
And it's all too clear we're on our own.
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down.

Picture a bright blue ball,
Just spinnin', spinnin, free.
Dizzy with the possibilities.

"Throwing Stones" Words by John Perry Barlow; music by Bob Weir. Copyright Ice Nine Publishing.

the brownline 2010.04.22

Earth Day edition:

• Why you should care: an environmental introspective by Alex of 40 Rivers to Freedom. Speaking his mind and the truth.

• Controversy abounds: Two northern Ojibwe bands say it's their turn on treaty rights. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and White Earth Band of Chippewa both have announced their intentions to fish before the legal Minnesota fishing opener, in a plan to reassert hunting and fishing rights they believe are protected by federal treaties from the 1800s. Obviously, there is some opposition expressed by Sportsman's groups. This is going to be a hot-button issue across the state.

• The Nuge calls it like he see's it: gut piles and self sustainability. Thanks to Switters B for the reference. The original transcript can be found over at *gasp* GlennBeck.com.

• Man butt, Fat Guy Fly Fishing style. Pinup Simon Graham in a full layout sporting his finest Jägermeister wearable. You'll need to a few shots down the ice luge after viewing this one.

the brownline 2010.01.07

• Drowning the Beaver. Another AMFF/Cheneyesque type controversy? The boys over at Buster's discover that Donny Beaver's Spring Ridge Club was selected by an independent panel of judges as a finalist in the Investing in Nature program in the Ecotourism category from The Nature Conservancy. In another move of brilliance, Cathy Beck pimps some chrome on their newsletter, then gets thrown under the bus.


• More bullshit news from the home front: The Obama administration Tuesday opposed Michigan and other states that want to close shipping locks near Chicago to prevent ravenous Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes.

"In a host of ways, the federal government has demonstrated its commitment to protecting the Great Lakes from the expansion of Asian carp," she said in a written memo. "Nothing in federal law warrants second-guessing its expert judgment that the best information available today does not yet justify the dramatic steps Michigan demands."

Except for the fact that you've dropped the ball with your head up your ass for the last decade, preventing the spread of these fish from downstream. Different regime in the White House, same bullshit policies. It's obvious that the Feds and the State of Illinois both don't care about the devastation of the Great Lakes' native fish populations and the region's $7 billion fishing and tourism industries.


• More anti-coal sentiment hits the blogosphere over at The FlyFish Journal. Good to see my brothers in arms not afraid to speak their minds on the ravages of coal generated electricity. Thanks for joining the fight. It's apparent the "clean" coal lobby won't rest until we and our children and our children's children are all dead from the ingestion of toxins and heavy metals and lung disease.


• Major flooding possible in the Red River Valley this spring, AGAIN. The most recent forecast issued by the National Weather Service gives the Fargo/Moorhead area of the Red River of the North a 49 percent chance of major flooding and an 80 percent chance of moderate flooding, with near-certainty of minor flooding. I think the solutions to this problem are more ditches, more dams, more tiling and wetland draining, unsustainable development and new construction in a floodplain, and a massive pork barrel proposal to construct a huge non-eco friendly river diversion complex to bypass the cities of Fargo and Moorhead. Oh wait, that's what they've already been doing, and you can see how well that's been treating them the past few years. #FAIL

If the fish are gone, burn the country.