Fisheries

A collection of 24 posts

Newsletter

Restoring Biodiversity - 3/25/2025

How to spot trout in deep water. Buffalo return to Indigenous lands. The noble mission of Tom Opre. And more….

Fisheries

California Dam Demolitions a Victory for Some, Devastation for Others

"When people and their livelihoods are given equal weight with environmental outcomes, are dam removals good or bad?"

Fisheries

With Dams Removed, Salmon Will Have the Run of a Western River

The nation’s largest dam removal project is nearly complete after a lengthy campaign by Native tribes to restore the river at the California-Oregon border.

Fisheries

Fishing Limit Will Increase Ahead of Lake Poisonings

The war on wildlife continues, with a new front opening in Utah.

Fisheries

Salmon Farms in Patagonia Face Growing Opposition

Salmon farming as practiced is rife with environmental problems, as discussed below.

"Invasion Biology"

The War on Lake Trout

Lake trout, native to the Great Lakes and the boreal lakes of Canada and Alaska, were first “discovered” in Yellowstone Lake in 1994. Their appearance was likely the result of introduction from nearby Lewis or Shoshone lakes, where the fish were intentionally stocked more than 100 years ago.   It is

"Invasion Biology"

Fishing and Managing Idaho Alpine Lakes

Very few high mountain lakes had fish before stocking began in the 1940s.     NOTE: this post originally was published to this site on December 29, 2020

Conservation

‘Momentous:’ US Advances Largest Dam Demolition in History

“Many people don’t realize that dams wear out, and dam reservoirs silt in. Often, dam reconstruction is not economically justified, as explained below.   NOTE: this article was originally published to APNews.com on November 17, 2022. It was written by Gillian Flaccus.     PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — U.S. regulators approved

Fisheries

Bootleggers and Baptists in ‘Yellowstone’

Many environmental lawsuits are not intended to help the environment, habitat, or wildlife

Conservation

The Rise of Aquaculture and the Threat of Floating Feedlots

Aquaculture was once thought to be the key to saving wild fish stocks. As discussed in the article below, it turns out to be fraught with unintended consequences.   NOTE: this post was originally sent by email by The Regeneration Weekly on June 13, 2021. It was written by Parker Hughes.

Fisheries

Flats Fly Fishing at Tarpon Caye Lodge in Belize

Yellowstone trout fishermen take note: Of all the species that can be taken on fly, permit is the most challenging. And, you can’t go wrong with The Fly Shop.       Flats Fly Fishing at Tarpon Caye Lodge in Belize from The Fly Shop on Vimeo.

Fish Crossing

Fish Crossing - Sweetwater Texas (?!)

Someone is pulling our leg about the location.   You have to love his comment however: “Now we know something besides chickens and crawdads cross the road to get to the other side.” <

coho salmon

Why Do at Least Half of All Adult Coho Salmon Returning to Urban Streams in the Seattle Area Die Each Fall Before Spawning?

According to the article below, a chemical used to stabilize automobile tires is washing into streams where silver salmon spawn, and killing them.   Many of the chemicals, fertilizers, hormones and other additives that are routinely used in food production also wind up in these marine systems, where they also cause

dam demolition

Deal Revives Plan for Largest US Dam Demolition

“This project will have a very beneficial effect on water quality and salmon.   Moreover, removals are inevitable. These dams are worn out. Because they are economic losers, there is no economic case for spending the vast sums needed to make them safe again.   NOTE: this article was originally published to

Biodiversity

The Elwha Dams Are Gone and Chinook Are Surging Back, But Why Are So Few Reaching the Upper River?

“As reported below, King Salmon recovery on the Elwha River is going slowly. It will require that wild sea-run fish find their way back into the river, spawn, and then after several years, return to spawn again. The spawn-to-spawn time for the really big (100-pound) salmon once common in the

brown trout

Fishing the Firehole in Yellowstone with Laura and Nichole

Fishing the Firehole, northwest of Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park. Fishing the Firehole In Yellowstone Park from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.

Aleutian Islands

When the Otters Vanished, Everything Else Started to Crumble

Quoting the authors of the article below, “In the Aleutian’s delicate seascape, otters hold the entire ecosystem together. As they have disappeared, the rest of the local food web has started to crumble. NOTE: this article was originally published to NYTimes.com on September 10, 2020. It was written

2020

Happy July 4, 2020 from Pitchstone Waters Ranch

July 4, 2020 at Pitchstone Waters Ranch in Idaho. July 4th Fishing Picnic at Pitchstone Waters from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.

Fall River

Late 2019 Fall River Fish Numbers Available

Fish populations in the upper Fall River, above and below Pitchstone Waters Ranch, were surveyed in the summer of 2019, as reported below.   NOTE: this article was originally published to idfg.idaho.gov on September 6, 2019. It was written by James Brower, Regional Communications Manager.   Fall River Population Estimates

Bio-Diversity

The Elwha’s Living Laboratory: Lessons From the World’s Largest Dam-removal Project

“Quoting the article below: “A river can be restored. They are resilient and we know what they need.”   NOTE: this article was originally published to The Revelator on October 1, 2018. It was written by Tara Lohan.   Two dams removed from Washington’s Elwha River were branded as salmon-restoration projects,

carbon-sequestration

How Long Before These Salmon Are Gone? ‘Maybe 20 Years’

The eight dams discussed in the article below are artifacts of a well-intentioned, big-government mega-project that backfired. On the Columbia and Snake rivers, this mindset wiped out a 60-million fish salmon run. This massive run included the largest king salmon in the world with many weighing more than100 pounds apiece,

Fisheries

Fall River Trout. 32 Pounds - not Inches

Just kidding. This is an early-run king salmon taken June 6, 2019, way out on the Alaska Peninsula, Caught on a barbless single-hook, then, released to make babies. There’s nothing better than swinging a fly on dime-bright kings.

Beaver

To Restore Salmon, Think Like a Beaver

When Europeans arrived in North America about 500 years ago, it is estimated there were 300 million beavers and 50 million acres of beaver ponds. Within 200 years, 98 percent of this was destroyed, profoundly harming the hydrology of what is now the United States.   In much of the United

"Invasion Biology"

Needed: A Safer Way to Fight Wildfire

Recently I was touring ranches near Ruidosa, New Mexico, and learned that toxic chemicals contained in fire-retardants like these had washed into their river systems, killing the fisheries which they are now trying to detoxify and restock. For over 100 years we have been using poisonous chemicals on fires, weeds,