Luca's Blog

Winding Down

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 22:11:24 -0500

Well, that�s the last official blog entry of the 2006 season. It�s snowing hard here in Montana and I�m gearing up for another winter in the mountains�

Jersey Trout

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:42:28 -0500

I associate �New Jersey� with chemical plants, crowded beaches, and gridlocked traffic. So I was glad to visit the northwestern corner of the state where rolling hills and secluded forests are still the norm. TUers here are doing big things for their trout and I visited with them on one of their prettiest streams�

TU volunteers electrofishing in Ken Lockwood Gorge, NJ

Bogs and Brookies

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:21:16 -0500

No time to stop for breakfast. I ate dried cranberries and sipped motel coffee on the drive to Plymouth. Little did I know that I�d learn a lot about where those tasty �Craisins� came from�

A Red Brook Salter Brook Trout

Good Water

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:13:36 -0500

Three months ago, Charlie Shadan fulfilled a long-time dream and opened a fly shop in Pepperell, MA. Through the business, Charlie hopes to attract new members to the Squan-a-tissit Chapter of Trout Unlimited�

TU information displayed at The Evening Sun Fly Shop

The Batten Kill: Past, Present, and Future

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:26:09 -0500

Manchester, Vermont is ensconced in trout angling history. The quaint town is home to Orvis, the American Museum of Fly Fishing, and the renowned Batten Kill. Unfortunately, the Batten Kill�s celebrated wild brown trout population has declined severely. Restoration efforts are in the works, but the state�s plan to stock the river threatens these efforts and the health of the fishery. I made a pilgrimage to the Batten Kill to meet with the local TUers, learn about the recovery plan, and try my luck in the famous river�

Angling the Batten Kill, VT

The Candlewood Valley Chapter

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:56:23 -0500

The Candlewood Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited is a little chapter doing big things to protect and restore their local trout waters. With only eight self-sustaining, �Class 1� wild trout fisheries left in Connecticut, the chapter�s work is both timely and important�

A Connecticut Brook Trout

Secret Brooks

Sat, 23 Sep 2006 20:27:26 -0500

What�s more fun than fishing? Searching for an undocumented population of native trout in a mountain stream just might be. Trout Unlimited�s Kirt Mayland wondered if a beautiful creek near his house held brookies. He called Mike Humphreys, Connecticut�s wild trout biologist, and we hit the woods to find out�

A small Connecticut stream

Back East

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:35:14 -0500

From large tailwater rivers to small backwoods ponds, the Northeast has something for every trout angler. Unfortunately, a long legacy of disturbance has greatly reduced native trout and salmon populations. The constant threat of poorly planned land development confounds the situation. In the face of these challenges, TUers are doing great things for their trout and their communities�

Autumn on a CT Stream

The Big Blackfoot

Sat, 16 Sep 2006 23:34:44 -0500

A 10� cutthroat attacked Jeremiah�s hopper. The fish dove for the bottom, its brilliant flanks matched the pastel gravel. Suddenly, the trout turned towards the angler, but it was too late. A bull trout exceeding 3 feet in length inhaled the cutthroat, hopper and all�

a large bull trout guards its redd

Trueblood TU

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:17:47 -0500

The Ted Trueblood chapter of Trout Unlimited is one of the most active chapters in the nation. In recent years, the chapter has focused their efforts in the Boise River Watershed, a river system that offers fine angling close to Idaho�s capital. I journeyed to Boise where a few of the chapter�s most active members showed me their fine conservation work and introduced me to some of the local trout�

A lone angler on the Owyhee River

The Land of Salmon and Wine

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:57:05 -0500

The rolling hills now known as �wine country� were once salmon country. Trout Unlimited is working with land owners to restore the coho salmon runs�

The North Coast, California

Unfinished Business

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:16:54 -0500

I�ve left runners on base in Oregon. I simply couldn�t cover it all in my first two posts. Well, the clean-up batter is warmed up and it�s the bottom of the 9th, so read on about TU in Oregon�

Mt Jefferson looms over the Metolius River

TU's Rogue Steelheaders

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 00:03:53 -0500

I watched a giant chinook porpoise in the day�s first light. The salmon�s exposed back revealed its enormous size before it returned to the dark depths of the Rogue River�

The Rogue River, OR

Oregon Steelhead

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:25:02 -0500

Tying into a steelhead was my number one goal while in Oregon. I had never fished for these powerful sea-run rainbows and I was eager to make the most of my time on the water. Well I guess the photo ruins the suspense of this story, but keep reading and I�ll spill the details of my steelheading experience as well as share what I learned about some fine conservation efforts in the Beaver State�

Deschutes River Summer Steelhead

Frequently Asked Questions

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:57:13 -0500

As I�ve traveled the country, I�ve been asked a range of questions. I tend to get these five the most...

Question #5 is about eating