
Big Sugar's Quiet Move: The Rock Mine Threatening Everglades Restoration
The South Florida Water Management District gave the green light for this controversial project, which is being sold as a "water resources" project, but let’s be real—this mine is more about making a quick buck off crushed limestone than restoring the Everglades. What’s worse? The same companies behind the mine, like U.S. Sugar, are suing the Everglades Restoration project that’s already doing real work to protect our waters.

Legislative Push: BTT's Fight for Everglades Restoration and Fish Conservation
As Florida gears up for its 2025 legislative session, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) is working closely with Governor DeSantis and state legislators to secure funding and programs that will enhance water quality and fish habitats along the state’s coastlines. With the Everglades being key to Florida’s world-class fisheries, BTT is pushing for strong funding to continue Everglades restoration and water quality projects to protect coastal ecosystems and improve fishing conditions.

The Fight to Keep Oil and Gas Out of Nevada’s Pristine Ruby Mountains
The Ruby Mountains in Nevada are a fly fisher’s dream, offering pristine streams, high alpine lakes, and an impressive snowpack. With stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife, including the prized Lahontan cutthroat trout, it's no wonder anglers from all over the West make the trek to fish these iconic waters.

Saving Germany’s Rivers: A Fly Fisher’s Fight for Conservation
As a freshwater ecologist and hardcore fly angler, Frank sees the good, the bad, and the downright ugly when it comes to Germany’s rivers. He spends his days studying fish, fighting for conservation, and sneaking in a cast whenever he can. But it’s not all smooth sailing—between habitat loss, tricky fishing laws, and limited access, fly fishing in Germany is a whole different ballgame.

How Low-Tech Restoration is Reviving the Colorado River: A Nature-Based Solution
The National Forest Foundation (NFF) is leading the charge in restoring the vital Colorado River through innovative low-tech, nature-based restoration methods. Their efforts are headed by a team of passionate environmental stewards dedicated to improving forest and watershed health, with a special focus on reconnecting streams to their historical floodplains. Supported by the Walton Family Foundation, NFF is pushing forward with techniques like Zuni bowls, Zeedyk structures, and beaver dam analogs, all aimed at letting nature restore itself. These projects are crucial in ensuring the river’s health and sustaining the vital lifeline for millions across the West.

How Reducing Lake Okeechobee Discharges Can Help Fight Red Tide in Southwest Florida
A recent study highlights the connection between Lake Okeechobee discharges and the duration of red tide blooms in southwest Florida. Learn how reducing nutrient-heavy runoff can protect marine life, improve water quality, and support the local economy.

Eel River Revival: New Agreement Restores Salmon & Steelhead Habitat
The Eel River is getting a much-needed revival! After over a century of water battles that left its legendary salmon and steelhead runs struggling, a new agreement is paving the way for recovery. With PG&E removing the Potter Valley Project’s dams, fish will finally regain access to prime spawning grounds.

Spinning Fish Phenomenon in Florida Keys: Research Reveals Causes and Solutions
It looks like there’s some good news coming out of the Florida Keys: the mysterious "spinning fish" phenomenon seems to be on the decline this winter. This strange behavior, where fish lose balance and swim erratically, had been affecting over 80 species, including the endangered smalltooth sawfish. While the reports are fewer this year, scientists and researchers are still deep into figuring out the cause, and a big research push is underway with a hefty $1.75 million in funding.

How Salmon Habitat Restoration is Creating Jobs and Reviving California’s Rivers
With over .85 million in grants from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the NCCP is tackling priority restoration projects that will open up more habitat, improve fish passage, and boost struggling salmon populations. That’s great news for the fish, but it’s also a win for the community—this work supports at least 75 local jobs, from foresters to construction crews, proving that conservation isn’t just about fish; it’s about people, too.

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Honors Captain Tim Carlile and Dr. Roy Crabtree
The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) is set to induct two legends of the flats fishing world into its Circle of Honor on April 10, 2025, at the 12th Annual Florida Keys Dinner at Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada, Florida. Captain Tim Carlile, a Florida Keys guiding icon, and Dr. Roy Crabtree, a leading fisheries scientist, will be recognized for their immense contributions to conservation and the sport of fly fishing.

Washington State Bans Open Net Pen Aquaculture: A Win for Wild Fish and Ecosystems
In a significant move on January 7, 2025, Washington state officially banned open net pen aquaculture in its waters, joining California and Alaska in protecting marine ecosystems. Open net pens, a controversial method of farming fish like Atlantic salmon, have been linked to a range of environmental issues, including fish escapes, habitat destruction, and the spread of disease. One infamous incident in 2017 saw 250,000 salmon escape from a collapsed net, highlighting the risks of this industry.

Trout Unlimited Secures $117 Million for Colorado River Conservation
Big news for anglers and conservationists alike—Trout Unlimited (TU) and partners have landed over 7 million in federal funding for conservation efforts across the Upper Colorado River Basin. This funding, part of a 8.3 million dollar initiative from the Bureau of Reclamation, will support crucial river projects in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming.

Cracking the Code: The Art and Science of Flats Craft Fly Design
Fall in Idaho and Montana marks a key time for migratory bull trout as they make their way through mountain lakes, rivers, and streams in search of cold, clean water to spawn. This iconic species is at the heart of conservation efforts, with agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) working hard to protect them for future generations.

Dam Removal Enhances Fishing on Mongaup Creek in the Catskills
In late 2020, New York state halted stocking on Mongaup Creek, officially designating it as wild trout water. This was a key step in boosting the health of the creek's fishery, which already boasted a thriving population of wild brook trout. The latest restoration project, which involved the removal of a dam near the creek’s entry to Willowemoc Creek, has taken things even further. This dam removal opens up over 15 miles of prime trout habitat, significantly enhancing the wild fishery.

Hurricane Storm Surge: A Surprising Benefit for Tarpon and Snook
Research from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) has shown that young tarpon and snook take advantage of storm surges to reach remote, semi-landlocked ponds. These ponds offer protection from larger predators like sharks and adult snook, allowing these juveniles to grow in a safer environment. Due to their ability to survive in low-oxygen waters, they are well-equipped to flourish until the next storm surge, when they can move to new habitats.

The Klamath River's Salmon and Steelhead Return: A New Chapter for Conservation
The removal of the Klamath River dams has led to a new era for salmon and steelhead, after years of restoration efforts, the fish are finally returning to their native habitats for the spawn.. This monumental moment in conservation was confirmed in August when the last barriers were taken down, and the first fall-run Chinook swam past the former Iron Gate dam site.

100,000 Mangroves and Counting: A Win for Bonefish Habitat in the Bahamas
If you love chasing bonefish in the Bahamas, here’s some good news—Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) and its partners just hit a major milestone: planting the 100,000th mangrove seedling since Hurricane Dorian. That’s a huge win for both the fishery and the coastal communities that depend on these vital ecosystems

Idaho's Steelhead Returns Soar: The Best in 7 Years
Steelhead returns in Idaho have reached over 97,000—marking the highest number in the past seven years. With expectations for a return surpassing 100,000, this year's steelhead migration is shaping up to be one of the best since 2015

Free falling –a Fly Fishing Documentary on Baltic Salmon in Sweden
Free falling is a spiritual sequel to Home rivers recycled, a documentary released by Undefined flyfishing project tellingthe success of the Baltic salmon. It was a classic comeback story on how the salmon went from being almost extinct to inhabit the northern rivers in such a way that the Torneälven was considered one of the most prolific Atlantic salmon River system in the world. Home rivers recycled ended with a pledge, to re-visit the story in 25 years but solely 2,5 years later it looks like the salmon populations in the Baltic Sea are free falling.

“The Fish Thief”: Uncovering the Great Lakes’ Biggest Mystery
A gripping new documentary, THE FISH THIEF: A Great Lakes Mystery, narrated by Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons, is set to premiere on January 31, 2025. This powerful film explores the near-catastrophic collapse of the Great Lakes fishery, the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world, and the relentless efforts to uncover and address its cause.