the buzz on the flyfishing biz TM
TRADE
EW site N r u o t u Check o
om c . e d a r glingT
*An Inside
The Green Issue
Monte Burke’s Letort Reflection/Art in Your Shop/How Retailers Earn Green by Being Green/Pine Beetles/Good News-Bad News on Whirling Disease/Who’s Walkin’ the Eco Walk? June2008AnglingTrade.com
the buzz on the flyfishing biz
CONTENTS
TM
TRADE
Features
Departments
Editor
Kirk Deeter kirk@anglingtrade.com Managing Editor
26 The Next Burning Issue?
Pine beetle-killed forests now ranging from Canada to New Mexico are more than ugly. If they burn (and many will) the aftermath could dramatically alter many western rivers. By Will Rice, Photos by David Herasimschuk
6 Editor’s Column “It Is Easy Being Green” It doesn’t take much to make a positive environmental impact... and your business and this market depend on that happening.
8 Currents The latest news and trends that affect and influence the business side of fly angling.
Tim Romano tim@anglingtrade.com Editor-at-Large
Charlie Meyers charlie@anglingtrade.com Art Director
Tara Brouwer tara@brouwerdesign.com brouwerdesign.com Copy Editors
22 Essay
32 The Business of
Letort Reflection Monte Burke reminisces on a paradise lost at the hands of suburban sprawl.
Being Green
The ultimate win-win? Environmentalism isn’t just philanthropy... here’s how three retailers have turned having a “green” conscience into a profit platform.
Mabon Childs, Sarah Warner Contributing Editors
Tom Bie Ben Romans Andrew Steketee Greg Thomas Contributors
By Ben Romans
Monte Burke, Brian McClintock, Sarah McKenzie, Will Rice, Roy Tanami, Jeff Wagner, Bob White
38 Artwork in Your Fly Shop
Photos unless noted by Tim Romano
The art of selling should involve the selling of art... at least on some level. But how you go about it is a craft unto itself. By Bob White
30 Recommended Reading Something’s Fishy by Ted Williams Charlie Meyers reviews a poignant collection of works by one of the angling world’s most vigilant environmental voices.
45 Backcast Good News-Bad News on Whirling Disease. Good: Hofer strain reproducing; Bad: Cutthroats in serious jeopardy.
42 ECO-BUCKS... Who’s
Walkin’ the Walk? Which flyfishing companies are doing what to preserve and protect the vital resources this sport needs to thrive? By Greg Thomas
By Charlie Meyers
Angling Trade is published four times a year by Angling Trade, LLC. Author and photographic submissions should be sent electronically to editor@anglingtrade.com. Angling Trade is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and/or photo submissions. We ask that contributors send formal queries in advance of submissions. For editorial guidelines and calendar, please contact the editor via E-mail. Printed in the U.S.A. Advertising Contact: Tim Romano Telephone: 303-495-3967 Fax: 303-495-2454 tim@anglingtrade.com
Street Address: 3055 24th Street Boulder, CO 80304 AnglingTrade.com
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Mail Address: PO Box 17487 Boulder, CO 80308
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CONTRIBUTORS
Brian McClintock is the associate editor at Field & Stream, where he’s proud to be one of the leastskilled fly anglers on staff. He often manages to flee the streets of New York City for weekends in his native north-central Pennsylvania to catch some brook trout or hunt for anything that might be in season. Outside of F&S, his work has appeared in Men’s Health, Syracuse, and other small publications most people have never heard of. Sarah McKenzie was born in Connecticut in 1971
and grew up in New Jersey. She received her BA in Film Studies from Yale University and her MFA in Painting from the University of Michigan. After graduate school, she taught painting and drawing at the college level for eight years. She currently lives in Boulder, Colorado. McKenzie was the 2006 First-Place Winner of the National Young Painters Competition, hosted by Miami University. See www.sarahmckenzie.com.
Roy Tanami is a writer and photographer based in
Vancouver, British Columbia. He has fished and shot stories all over the world, run a fishing lodge in the Canadian Arctic, and guides steelhead in northern BC. His book, Angling the World, is on press with Lyons and will be available this fall.
Bob White is an artist whose work is truly an expression of his experiences. A professional guide and artist for two decades, he has spent countless hours researching sportsmen and women in action, from the wilderness of Alaska and his rural Minnesota home to the wide-reaching expanses of Argentina. His work hangs in the private and corporate collections of sportsmen on six continents. He recently celebrated his 100th collaboration with John Gierach for Fly Rod & Reel.
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
AnglingTrade
EDITOR’S COLUMN
It
Easy Being Green…
When presidential candidates campaign, you’re ultimately asked to decide: “Are you better off today than you were four or eight years ago?”
If we apply that same question to flyfishing, when you look back, say, 20 years, where is flyfishing better now than it was back then? I asked that very question to a number of guides and shop owners. I put it up as a discussion topic on Field & Stream’s “Fly Talk” weblog. I didn’t get many positive responses. We’ve all heard the same lines of patter: “Man, you should have been here back then. You could catch fish on dries all day long, and never see another person.” “I remember when the big, wild rainbows were in this canyon.” “The tarpon used to swim by this point by the thousands.” Sure, there are recent success stories—cases where rivers have been restored, dams that blocked migrating fish removed, net bans that have helped redfish populations in Texas, and so forth—but by and large, it’s hard to argue that the fishing is better in most places than it was. That’s why this issue of Angling Trade is focused on the environment, because resource quality affects this sport, and ultimately your bottom line. I, for one, think environment-related issues have more to do with the dip we’ve seen in this market than anything else… the lack of Hollywood movies, or high gas prices notwithstanding. If you build it, they will come. If it’s not there, they won’t.
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Take whirling disease as an example. Nobody’s fault. But has anyone really admitted what a devastating impact this issue has had? We now have almost no wild, reproducing rainbow trout in the West. Period. It’s amazing that we’ve been able to weather that storm as well as we have. The good news is, things are looking up. Good snowpack levels in the West and Great Lakes have given thirsty drainages much needed water. It even seems that wildlife officials may have turned the corner on whirling disease.
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The striped bass is now considered a “game fish,” a designation that includes vital protections. In many respects, I can honestly forecast that in 10 years, the fishing will be better in some places than it is today. But you must be vigilant to ensure that happens. The stories in this issue aren’t meant to scare you. But if they make you concerned, even angry to the point of action, I’ll be pleased. The fact is, there are many looming issues still at hand. Marsh depletion in the Mississippi Delta. Oil and gas drilling in the Wyoming wilderness. Low water in the Everglades. Massive beetle-killed forests in Colorado. And a proposed gold and copper mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed that could destroy the best wild salmon fishery in the world. Some of the companies you work with are “walking the walk” on the environmental front in ways and means you likely do not realize. Others are “talking the talk,” and it’s your job to hold them accountable. So what’s it going to be? A stance where the notion of “environmentalism” isn’t much more than flushing the toilet, or a concerted effort to save and protect the resources your business needs to survive? With all due respect to Kermit the Frog, I’m going to say that it is, in fact, easy being green… that is, having an environmental conscience, and backing this attitude with actions. Clean up a river. Fight polluters. Write to your senators and representatives, and let them know how you feel. Use your tackle responsibly. Encourage your customers to do the same. Guides, mandate that your customers fish clean. It all matters. If you want to call me a “greenie,” you can. You should be, too. And that has nothing to do with political persuasion; rather, it has everything to do about protecting, preserving, and improving the resources for anglers. Because in the end, it doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat, or a Republican… if you are a flyfishing capitalist, you’ll understand the importance of having an environmental conscience, and backing those thoughts with action. - Kirk Deeter, Editor
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
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CURRENTS
The Product Buzz Tight Loop Apparel Mixes Artistic Flair with Eco-Conscience
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Telluride, Colorado-based artist and angler Steve Cieciuch says it was a brush with death in an avalanche that inspired him to focus on mixing his creativity with his environmental conscience. The result is Tight Loop, a company that incorporates original trout artwork on shirts woven from bamboo and hemp (which are far less water intensive to produce than cotton). The bamboo is actually remarkably silky in texture (think bamboo rod action transposed to clothing). And Cieciuch (pronounced Chet-chu) donates 5% of earnings back to river restoration projects, determined by the retailer who sells Tight Loop products. For more information/dealer inquiries, contact tightloop@yahoo.com.
Live Eyewear Donates a Portion of Cocoons Pro Series Proceeds to The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation
Live Eyewear announced its partnership with the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) to promote and support the Anglers’ Legacy program. The new partnership was formed in conjunction with Live Eyewear’s release of the Cocoons Pro Series sunglass collection. A portion of the proceeds generated from the retail sales of the new Cocoons Pro Series sunglasses will be donated back to RBFF. RBFF is a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to increase participation in recreational angling and boating. The foundation helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs such as the Anglers’ Legacy and “Take Me Fishing” campaigns.
Kaenon Inspires with 2008 Collection
Kaenon Polarized, the Southern California-based source for advanced, high-performance optics unveiled its 2008 collection, which the company says, combines “superior optics and forwardthinking design to create the most fashionable sunglasses for sport performance available.” Kaenon’s ’08 collection includes eight original frames for men and women all wrapped around SR-91 polarized lens technology. Highlights include: KABIN— a simple, go-anywhere design with the universal, unisex frames; LEWI— a big style in a lightweight package;
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BATON— a compact and unisex design; SPINDLE— a less-is-more family of featherweight, retroinspired, semi-rimless metal frames; BURNY— a classic style with TR90 frames; LEILA—fashionable, Italian-crafted styles for women; CALAIS— an oversized design; and ZAZA— a “contemporary-vintage” model crafted in Italy for the fashion-conscious woman. The new designs are prescriptionadaptable. For pricing information, see www.kaenon.com.
Hatch Outdoors Goes Large Hatch Outdoors president & CEO John Torok just confirmed the release of a new reel by his company. At press time, the reel was still in the demo phases but the company did give us some insight into what we can expect in terms of size and capability. The reel will be roughly 5” in diameter, 1.4” wide and weigh approximately 15 ounces. “Like our 7 and 9 Plus models, this was designed for both saltwater and Spey use,” said Torok. “The reel will be capable of running 12-16 saltwater lines or for Spey rods 13’ and above in numerous configurations. We’ve spent a lot of time on this reel and listened to input from dealers and anglers alike on what would work best for both applications. We feel we nailed it!” Torok says the new Hatch reel will incorporate the same multi-disc set up that’s found in in his company’s other models, only bigger—much bigger. “This reel will set the bar for big game reels, and anglers can expect stopping power the likes of which they’ve never seen in a fly reel.” continued on next page...
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We’re curious. Those of you who have a chance to check it out, please hit us with your feedback. For more information, see www.hatchoutdoors.com or call 877-634-4343.
Magnetic Appeal from William Joseph
The “Thinking Outside the Box” Pick
Abel Makes “No Pebble Mine” Reel to Aid Alaskan Conservation
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Opponents of the potentially environmentally devastating Pebble Mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region will benefit from an Abel Super 5N trout reel designed to support the anti-mine cause. Abel will produce a limited edition—numbered 1 to 100—of engraved reels in a specially anodized red color, symbolic of both the area’s sockeye or red salmon and the “No Pebble Mine” campaign, whose conduit to the flyfishing industry has been the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska. The Sportsman’s Alliance will be given Reel #1 for sale, raffle or auction and $200 per reel on all others sold, Patterson said. Total value of Abel’s contributions is expected to be in excess of $20,000. 10
Picture yourself standing hip deep in a river, rod tucked under your arm trying to force open a jammed zipper. The frustration mounts as you drop your rod in the water because of the battle you are waging with a fouled zipper. Now picture yourself in the same situation as you casually reach down and pop open your pack with a simple pull of one hand. Slide what you need out of the pack. And with a simple push to close, you are back in action. After years of development, the ZipNo closure from William Joseph tackles this specific challenge and is ready for release. This patentpending technology utilizes a system to extrude rare earth magnets, thus allowing them to be sewn completely around all openings on a fishing pack, and eliminating the need for zippers. This provides all the functionality of a zippered opening without any of the hangups (no pun intended). The closure is impervious to corrosion and damage from debris and provides a near watertight seal. The new William Joseph with ZipNo System is available in the William Joseph products Mag Series. More products with ZipNo technology are in the works for a Fall 2008 release.
Our favorite flyfishing-applicable product pick this issue from a traditionally non-flyfishing company comes from Nite Ize, the Boulder, Colorado-based manufacturer of flashlight accessories and related products. The S-Biner series of patentpending “S”-shaped clips fasten easily to any fishing vest, and can carry a variety of fishing accessories, from tippet on a string to hemos, to floatant. And the price per unit ranges from $1.99 upward. In any case, an inexpensive and effective option for the resourceful angler. See www.niteize.com.
Guideline Polarized Eyegear Launches the Mantis Bifocal
Guideline Polarized Eyegear has launched the Mantis Bifocal. Featuring a semi-rimless frame, the glasses provide for an even lower-placed magnifier. The company claims this bifocal fishing glass offers the largest unobstructed field of polarized vision with convenient magnification on the market. Guideline Polarized Eyegear offers the new Mantis Bifocal in two lens tints (gray and brown) and three magnifying powers (+1.50, +2.00, +2.50). MSRP is $89.95 and includes a protective neoprene case.
People News Gary Loomis Retires from G.Loomis
Kudos and best wishes to a bona fide conservation hero, Gary Loomis, who recently announced his retirement from the company he founded. Since selling his fishing rod company in 1997 to Shimano American Corporation, Loomis spent the last 11 years in a promotional capacity and assisting when needed on new rod designs. Now, Loomis has decided to move on and focus on other interests, including several conservation projects in which he’s involved. He founded Fish First, a group dedicated to restoring salmon runs in his home state of Washington in 1995, and was the driving force in bringing the first chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association to the West Coast.
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
“I have nothing but many great memories and a lot of pride in our achievements here at G.Loomis,” said an emotional Loomis, as he addressed all of his employees at a recent company-wide meeting in the Woodland, Washington, facility to announce his retirement. “I probably should have left a long time ago, but I really love the company and the people here so it seemed like the best thing for me to do. Other interests along with Fish First and the CCA have all been competing for my time. I spent continued on next page...
CURRENTS
the past 11 years helping promote G.Loomis. It carries my name and means a lot to me. I’ll always be a part of the team. G.Loomis is in good hands and headed in the right direction. As hard as this decision was, I know it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life. With all of these other projects on my plate, I feel it’s in my best interest as well as G.Loomis’ to leave at this time.” Loomis has been inducted into the International Game Fish Association’s Hall of Fame, and was named one the top 25 ‘people who have changed the face of hunting and fishing’ by Outdoor Life. Field & Stream recognized Loomis’ work with Fish First with its ‘Heroes of Conservation’ honor. In 2005, he received the ‘Future of Fishing’ award, one of the highest honors bestowed by the American Sportfishing Association.
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Chris Hess Joins G.Loomis as New Marketing Manager In other G.Loomis news, Chris Hess has joined the company as its new marketing manager. Hess joins G.Loomis from the International Game Fish Association in Dania Beach, Fla., where he served in operations and brand marketing for IGFA and the International Fishing Hall of Fame for the past three years. Hess will be responsible for business and market development, market research and planning, and provide strategic direction for G.Loomis’ promotions, advertising and public relation efforts. Prior to his stint at IGFA, Hess managed the outdoors marketing platform for Chevrolet in its southeast
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region, and also worked in sales for Callaway Golf after graduating from Kansas State University.
Abel Automatics, Inc. Names Distributor in UK Wellard & Scott Ltd., Devon (U.K.), has been named the distributor of Abel Automatics, Inc. products in the United Kingdom. The new distributor’s territories include England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wellard & Scott will be representing Abel at consumer and dealer shows throughout their distribution areas.
Jean-Claude Bel Appointed as EFTTA’s First Ever Full-Time CEO Jean-Claude Bel will become the first full-time CEO of the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA), effective October 2008. He brings with him more than 30 years industry experience. Bel who lives in Rennes, France, has held senior positions with some of Europe’s biggest tackle companies, including Rapala, Mepps, Mustad, Mitchell SA/Garcia Europe SA (now Pure Fishing), and Freetime Group France. From 1997 to 2007 he was the chairman of Rapala France SAS, which includes the Ragot, Water Queen, Normark-Nautisme and Guigo Marine Shop companies.
Jim Bartschi Resigns From Scott Fly Rod Company Jim Bartschi announced his resignation as president of the Scott Fly Rod Company in April. Bartschi will remain with Scott in a consulting role in the coming months. Golden Fillmore has been promoted to serve as the company’s general manager.
What’s New Anglingtrade.com Expands Angling Trade is proud to announce the expansion and update of its website, www.anglingtrade.com. Our revamped website includes several new features designed to serve people in the flyfishing business. Foremost among them will be a new “ATBlog” forum, where flyfishing industry insiders can exchange dialogue on topics of interest. For example, if you have questions about a certain product, company, lodge, whatever, and want unfiltered feedback from a peer in the business, this forum is where the retailer in Florida exchanges ideas with the retailer in Montana, and vice versa. If you have a freshwater client who is
planning a redfish trip, and you want to facilitate with good advice, here’s one place to get the straight scoop. We also have a new section of the website that includes the latest manufacturer product news and information as it happens. Now you can check for updates that transpire between the quarterly print dates of Angling Trade. We also plan to launch a comprehensive online directory of products and companies on the site in the fourth quarter of 2008. Existing site features include back issues of the magazine. Lost your copy? No problem, it’s all there– every story and every advertisement– at anglingtrade.com. And advertisers can still find our ad rates, as well as a summary of who we are and what we do at the site. So please check it out, and send us your feedback.
AT Expands Reach in Partnership with Fly Rod & Reel
Angling Trade is also proud to be working with Fly Rod & Reel on a regular column in that magazine called the “Angling Trade Report.” The column includes the latest business trends and news items from the flyfishing industry. Working together with FR&R, we’re now able to expand Angling Trade’s reach, and provide insights on the business of flyfishing to FR&R’s audience of dedicated and influential anglers.
After a thorough search process involving over 60 potential candidates, the American Fly Fishing Trade Association has found its man: Gary Berlin, formerly the head of the International Hunter Education Association, and before that an official with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, will serve as the trade organization’s next president. Berlin brings with him the exact qualifications AFFTA board chairman Alan Gnann said the organization was looking for, namely, a track record of running an outdoorrelated trade group, strong industry and government contacts, and a fundamental understanding of the flyfishing arena. “I can’t tell you what an exhaustive effort it was to (find and hire the new AFFTA president),” said Gnann. “This is an extremely important time for this industry, and we had to find the best possible candidate. We did.”
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Gnann noted that Berlin was hired after a unanimous vote by the AFFTA board, each member having traveled to the National Casting Call in Washington, D.C., along with three finalist candidates, for personal interviews. Berlin said he is eager to jump into the new challenge.
Rogue Bifocal
Concurrent with the announcement of Berlin’s hiring, AFFTA confirmed that its headquarters would move to Colorado (Berlin is a Broomfield, Colorado, resident). “It is clearly a hub for the flyfishing industry, and we (AFFTA) will have our headquarters located in the greater Denver area,” said Gnann.
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
“Consumers want views into the business side of flyfishing—into the trends and happenings that shape their favorite sport. Angling Trade will deliver just that to our readers,” said Joe Healy, FR&R associate publisher.
AFFTA Hires New President, Will Relocate HQ to Colorado
1/28/08 10:01:46 AM
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Editor’s note: Look for a detailed profile on “The New AFFTA” and its president in the next (Sept. ‘08/FFR) issue of Angling Trade.
AFFTA Conducts National Casting Call By Brian McClintock The only way shad darts got wet at this year’s National Casting Call, hosted by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, was from the rain, which meant the entire focus was on conservation.
to learn about flyfishing and hook a large amount of easy-to-catch sunfish. Also on display were educational exhibits about local conservation organizations and projects, such as shad fry rearing and the restoration of sturgeon in the Potomac.
AFFTA and ISE to Join Forces in Two Locations
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
People packed under the tents at Fletcher’s Boat House in Washington, D.C., for the presentation of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin’s awards. Six Washington, D.C., area teachers were honored for their participation, along with their students, in the American Shad Restoration Project. With no one reeling in shad, the highlight of the day was the National Fish Habitat Action Plan’s (NFHAP) progress report. The action plan calls for the creation of at least 12 fish habitat partnerships by 2010 to help identify the causes of habitat decline and implement corrective initiatives for aquatic conservation and restoration. Also, the NFHAP released their “10 Waters to Watch” list. This list profiles streams, rivers, shorelines, and creeks that anglers are actively trying to improve. They range from reestablishing native brook trout habitat in Maryland, to stabilizing largemouth and striper waters in Georgia, to removing salmon barriers in Alaska. For a complete list of the Waters to Watch and more information of the plan, visit fishhabitat.org. The Casting Call officially kicked off with the Family and Youth Day. This day provided area children a chance
The American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) and International Sportsmen’s Expositions (ISE) will be partnering in two locations to expand flyfishing exhibits and educational opportunities at ISE’s consumer events. Starting in January 2009 and for at least three years, AFFTA will become a sponsor of the ISE events in San Mateo, California, and Denver, Colorado. The two organizations completed the agreement in late April at AFFTA’s board meeting and annual National Casting Call event in Washington, D.C. “AFFTA’s primary strategic objective is to support our members by growing consumer demand for flyfishing products and services,” said Alan Gnann, AFFTA chairman. “This agreement with ISE, producers of the largest and longest-running outdoor consumer events in the marketplace, creates the most powerful promotional and educational platform our members have
ever had. The highly regarded show concept showcased at our January 2008 consumer Expo in Denver will be used as the model for our collaborative efforts with ISE to produce the finest flyfishing events in the country.” “This is a great opportunity to expand ISE’s product offering of flyfishing manufacturers and retailers,” said Brian J. Layng, ISE president and CEO. “The lodges and outfitters that have participated in our shows for the past 32 years will be thrilled to see the support and commitment from the flyfishing industry. Many AFFTA members are among the more than 1,600 active accounts that exhibit in the ISE shows, and we look forward to expanding the number of companies that promote flyfishing.”
Two New Publications Worth Checking Out… The flyfishing world needs new magazines about as much as the country now needs a few more primary elections. But here are two unique publications very worthy of checking out, because they involve a fresh approach and some exceptionally interesting content:
First, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has produced a polished and insightful publication called Eddies. If you haven’t seen the hard copy, you can view the issue online at continued on next page...
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www.fws.gov/eddies. Eddies is the brainchild of Dr. Stuart Leon, chief of the National Fish Hatchery System, and is edited by Albuquerque-based fish biologist and journalist Craig Springer. It includes a wide smattering of stories on topics ranging from Gila trout recovery, to redfish recruitment, to hatchery profiles, to poignant conversations on policy. In the context of fisheries conservation, it’s an über-pub. “The FWS is 137 years old, and the inspiration for this publication is that we felt a need to communicate the work we do,” said Springer. “This puts a face on a 137-year-old fisheries management heritage.” {This Issue}
Tasmania * India * Alaska * Bahamas * Canada * Louisiana * Argentina
Traveling Sportsman: Fishing and Hunting Destinations
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{This Issue} Tasmania * India * Alaska * Bahamas * Canada * Louisiana * Argentina SUMMER 2008 Vol. I, No. I
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Also take time to check out Traveling Sportsman, a new quarterly edited by former Bonefish and Tarpon Unlimited executive director Doug Kelly (www.travelingsportsmanmag. com). This magazine highlights the best exotic (and domestic) hunting and fishing locales for outdoor enthusiasts. Traveling Sportsman is distinguished by its A-list of contributors (founding directors include the likes of Lefty Kreh, Stu Apte, and Mark Sosin). From Ketchikan to Key West, Moscow to Madagascar, Traveling Sportsman gets gritty with details and entertains. Traveling Sportsman subscription rates are $19.95 per year, two years for $34.95, and three years at $44.95.
production requires vast plantings of corn, which wipe out fish and wildlife by destroying habitat and polluting air, soil, and water. Of all crops grown in the United States, corn demands the most massive fixes of herbicides, insecticides, and chemical fertilizers, while creating the most soil erosion. Ted Williams, from Audubon
”
Industry News Those of you who haven’t seen “Why Fly Fishing,” the 31-minute video by Miracle Productions, should. Show it to friends and customers. It cuts straight to the essence of this sport with remarkable candor and emotion. And the majority of the purchase price ($30) is a tax-deductible donation to the American Museum of Fly Fishing. Copies are available at www.thebookmailer.com. Here’s what the media are saying about the video:
PLUS: Alaska’s Amazing Salmon Sharks
Display Until Sept. 1, 2008
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And a Video Worth Checking Out…
“Must be the most competent, professionally produced piece of fly-fishing film since Robert Redford was handed three Academy Award nominations.” Big Sky Journal “(We) were frankly blown away by the quality of the production and the care with which its content was assembled.” Midcurrent
Imperial Headwear Expands Distribution Channels with Acquisition of Merge Left Imperial Headwear recently announced that it acquired Californiabased Merge Left, a headwear marketer and distributor to the growing collegiate and military markets. Merge Left founder and president, Jon Saferstein, will remain with the company and continue to lead the business in these important distribution channels. Merge Left, founded in 1994 and located in Los Angeles, holds licenses with all the significant colleges and universities directly or through their licensing agencies.
Beyond Coastal and Chums-Chisco Merge
The ethanol industry has “ transmogrified into a sacrosanct, pork-
Beyond Coastal Sun Care and Chums-Chisco, have announced a merger. Beyond Coastal, an all natural, sun care product, was started when founder Shawn Biega began to see a variety of his friends in their early 30s diagnosed with skin cancer. After numerous years of testing, he partnered with a small lab in California and developed a sunscreen that not only works in the most challenging conditions, but is also good for the body.
swilling behemoth that gets bigger and hungrier with each feeding. Ethanol dirties the air more than it cleans it. Its
Chums-Chisco supplies customers worldwide with high quality eyewear retainers, optical accessories,
“It is the most eloquent short film ever done that goes right to the heart of why we fish. And its creation is indeed a minor miracle.” Fish & Fly
Quote-worthy
fitness products, watchbands, keychains, wallets, purses, lanyards, ski products, and a whole host of other cool action sport accessories.
Eco-Issues A Steelheader’s Nightmare: Coal Bed Methane in northern British Columbia By Roy Tanami Think of every legendary, northern British Columbia steelhead dream stream you’ve ever heard of— the Kispiox, Babine, Sustut, Bulkley, Morice, Copper… and the list goes on. Now consider the fact they are all under serious potential threat from a massive, proposed coal bed methane development by Royal Dutch Shell, planned to occur in the highly sensitive and pristine headwaters of three of BC’s largest, most important, steelhead and salmon bearing wild rivers: the Skeena, Nass, and Stikine, to which all of the above are tributaries. Unthinkable, right? Well, think again.
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Coal bed methane is exactly what killed those proverbial “canaries in the coalmine” back in the day. Modern extraction of coal bed methane as fuel involves removing massive amounts of toxic, saline water trapped in the coal bed in order to release the methane. This process can deplete aquifers, and disposal of the tainted water can devastate surrounding environments and rivers. One average CBM well pumps out 6.2 million gallons of water per year. The Royal Dutch Shell plan in the Sacred Headwaters region of northern BC anticipates the
CURRENTS
development of 1500 to 6000 wells. You do the math. Scary? You bet. It’s like staring down the Pebble Mine in Alaska and drilling in the ANWR all at once.
“Clearly, access and water quality issues are of considerable concern to today’s anglers,” said Rob Southwick, who designed the survey.
If you have ever fished, or even dreamed of fishing for steelhead and salmon in the storied waters of northern BC, this is a waking nightmare. Learn more about how you can help protect one of the last great wilderness areas and steelhead and salmon resources in the world by visiting the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition (skeenawatershed.com/info@skeenawatershed.com), and donate to the cause.
Other threats to their sport cited by surveyed anglers included “too expensive” (15%); “invasive species” (13%); “not enough fish” (just under 12%); and “too many anglers” (just over 4%).
Contact: Shannon McPhail at Shannon@kispioxriver.com, director (and 4th generation Kispiox resident), Jim Allen at kispioxfishingco@hotmail.com (Shannon’s brother, owner of Kispiox Fishing Co. and international flyfishing guide), or Kateri Clay at kateri@skeenawatershed.com (Kispiox guide and Spey-O-Rama 2007 women’s casting champion)
Anglers Cite Access and Water Quality as Greatest Problems Facing Fishing
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Access and water quality concerns are the biggest problems facing sport fishing today, according to a recent survey. In an April 2008 survey of more than 2,000 anglers, over 42% named access to water or water quality as the greatest threat to their sport. (Stay tuned for the November “Access” issue of Angling Trade for in-depth coverage of the topic.) Specifically, 24% of anglers surveyed cited access to water as the chief problem facing fishing, while 18% named water quality problems as the greatest threat. 18
Rising Fuel Costs Fail to Dampen Anglers’ Enthusiasm for Fishing Away from Home Despite gasoline costs expected to approach $4 per gallon this spring and summer, nearly six out of 10 U.S. anglers are planning an out-of-state fishing trip in the next 12 months, according to a recent survey. In a poll of almost 2,000 anglers by AnglerSurvey.com, respondents were asked if they are planning a fishing trip outside their home state within the next year. A clear majority (59.4%) answered in the affirmative. Another 806 anglers surveyed (40.6%) said they are not planning to fish outside their home state. Clearly, many anglers remain willing to pay the increased cost of traveling out of state to wet a line. Many people plan to go on vacation and fish during that time, but knowing that many well-intentioned plans never happen, we hope that a majority still get to fish out-of-state, given the recent increases in travel costs.
National Fish Habitat Board Awards “Fish Habitat Partnership” Status to the Western Native Trout Initiative and Endorses $600,000 to Fund Native Trout Habitat Projects The National Fish Habitat Board, the guiding body for implementa-
tion of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP), officially recognized the Western Native Trout Initiative as a “Fish Habitat Partnership.” The national recognition is an important next step for the Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI), which received endorsement from 12 western state fish and wildlife agency directors in early January and is also endorsed and supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partner federal agencies. The WNTI is a collaborative planning and project implementation effort among member agencies and organizations that will enhance and speed-up the conservation of western native trout to improve their overall population and habitat status, and provide for potential recreational fishing opportunities. The national board, which oversees the implementation of the NFHAP is a nationwide effort with the goal: “To conserve (protect, restore, and enhance) the habitats of the nation’s marine and freshwater fish populations, to support a broad natural diversity of fish and other aquatic species, to promote self-sustaining fish populations and to provide successful fishing opportunities.” In a related action, the board also endorsed funding of $2.4 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for fishery habitat projects proposed by the five recognized Fish Habitat Partnerships. Of this $2.4 million, $600,000 is slated to be invested in fish habitat projects across the West that benefit native trout. The $600,000 in Fish and Wildlife Service funds will be matched with more than $800,000 in local and state government, tribal, private, non-profit, and other federal funds or in-kind services to support 17 native trout restoration projects.
Hardy & Greys Sets Up U.S. Operation Hardy & Greys Ltd. recently announced the establishment of a
U.S. subsidiary. It is H&G’s second international subsidiary, following the successful launch of its German operation in 2007. This new subsidiary company, based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, will support the company’s expansion into the Unites States market. The company also announced the appointment of Jim Murphy as president of Hardy North America Ltd. Hardy & Greys would like to thank personally all the staff and management at the Cortland Line Company who has very successfully acted as distributor for the company’s products over the past seven years. Commenting on this change managing director, Richard Sanderson said: “We are very grateful for the fantastic support we have received over the years from Cortland, and although these are exciting times for Hardy & Greys we are sad to be ending this successful relationship.”
To stop the spread of nuisance species, anglers and all recreational enthusiasts are urged to check their gear, clean their gear, and dry their gear after every excursion. “Anglers and fishing groups have historically fought the good fight to conserve and improve our nation’s waterways,” said K.C. Walsh, president of Simms. “Every angler has a responsibility to the resource to do whatever can be done to stop the spread of invasive species.” Simms, is a partner in the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers project sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, recommends that anglers clean their gear (waders, boots, wading staffs and nets) after each use.
Not all attempts at disinfection may wipe out all invasive species. Anglers are urged to check with state fish and wildlife agencies for specific cleaning instructions. Anglers are reminded to report any suspected discoveries of invasive species to their local wildlife agencies as soon as possible. *Source: Stop Aquatics Hitchhikers campaign, www.protectourwaters.net
Bass Fishing Tournaments: Harbingers of Industry Growth? By Jeff Wagner April 4 and 5, 2008, may have marked the humble beginning of a new “revitalizing” era in flyfishing as bass anglers from throughout the West headed for continued on next page...
Cortland will continue to distribute Hardy products in the United States until the end of October 2008. Hardy & Greys intends to announce the details of the 2009 dealer program at the Fly Fishing Retailer Show in Denver this September.
Simms Urges Vigilance in Fight Against Aquatic Invaders
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Simms Fishing Products reminds anglers to be aware of their critical role in the fight against the spread of aquatic nuisance species. Many of the country’s outstanding recreational fisheries are under assault from aquatic invaders. Insipid organisms like didymo (or “rock snot”), whirling disease, and New Zealand mud snails threaten the biodiversity of numerous treasured natural resources. Collectively, invasive species (both terrestrial and aquatic) cost our country over $100 billion in damages every year.*
CURRENTS
Lake Pleasant, Arizona, for the first annual flyfishing-only bass tournament, the Bass on Fly Tournament. The event was coordinated by Ben Koller and John New Sr., co-owners of The Hookup Outfitters, a guiding service in Arizona that caters to warmwater fly anglers. The concept earned strong manufacturer support, including: Sage, G.Loomis, Hatch, Teeny, Orvis, Simms, Outcast, Mercury, Arizona Fly Fishing, Redington, Umpqua, and Ranger. Event proceeds benefited the United Arizona Anglers Association, an organization committed to improving Arizona’s warmwater fishing. Event rules were similar to FLW bass tournament rules: two competitors per boat each fully outfitted with sonar, GPS, aerated live wells, and more. Of course, only fly rods, reels, lines, and flies were allowed. Tournament rules mandated that fish be kept alive; a combined weight total from both days, allowing both largemouth and smallmouth bass, dictated the final standings.
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Adverse weather and tough fishing conditions limited participation below expectations; however, the tournament marked a successful milestone, and plans are underway for several more tournaments next year with an event at Lake Pleasant in the fall of 2008, Lake Havasu in 2009, and Lake Roosevelt in 2010. On May 30, the “Bass-n-Fly” tournament based in Stockton, California, proved to be another important showcase. Steve Potter and Chuck Sterni won top honors of the 32-team field, claiming just under $2000 in prize money. Jerry Siem, Sage rod designer and casting icon, manufacturers representative John Sherman, and guides Kevin Doran, Ken Hanley, and Keith Kaneko organized the event. (Editor’s note: As this event took place at press time, we urge readers to visit bassnfly. com for more details.) 20
Call to Action The following is an excerpt from a letter received from Craig Hayes, Turneffe Flats, requesting help protecting bonefish, tarpon and tarpon in Belize. Recently, Friends of Turneffe Atoll, Inc., a non-profit company initiated by Turneffe Flats, funded a major study entitled “Economic Impact of Recreational Fishing for Bonefish Permit and Tarpon in Belize for 2007.” The study provides decision makers in Belize with the information needed to proceed with the best possible policy for Belize regarding these species. Many of us in Belize, including Belize River Lodge, El Pescador, Jim Scott and others, have been working to get these three species protected and feel, at this point, that protection should take the form of designating bonefish, permit and tarpon as catch-and-release species only. Belize’s minister of tourism, Minister Heredia and the minister of agriculture and fisheries, Minister Montero declared support for this approach and we are quite hopeful that the process will continue to move forward. Legislation to designate bonefish, permit and tarpon as sportfish, for catch and release only, was recently drafted. (Please write a letter in support and include these points.) 1. As you know, Belize has been a leader in protecting their natural habitat. Compliments for these efforts as well as suggestions that further leadership regarding bonefish, permit and tarpon would be worthwhile. In particular, compliments to the ministers for their foresight and assistance are in order.
2. If applicable, a rough estimate of the number of people traveling through your business to all destinations around the world to fish for bonefish, permit and tarpon and the rough percentage of those going to Belize. We are aware that this information may be a bit sensitive, but it will allow the decision makers to understand the potential economic impact as well as the current impact. 3. Emphasize that sport fishermen traveling to Belize do so for the chance to fish for all of these species and that there are not many places in the world with this kind of variety. 4. Note that Belize is (arguably) known as the permit fishing capital of the world and it is very important to include this species. If possible, please send a hard copy of your letter to P.O. Box 10670, Bozeman, MT 59719 (ASAP) and also return one to me via email: craig@tflats.com. This is moving along quickly and the next important meeting is scheduled for June 24th. at
Coming Soon to Your Shop?
The “Undercover Angler” …is on hiatus this issue, as we conduct a detailed investigation on the issue of “grey market” selling. Stay tuned for a full report in the September issue of Angling Trade.
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essay
Letort Reflection
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Written by Monte Burke
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My first glimpse of the Letort Spring Run was at 80 miles-anhour, while passing over a tall but very short bridge on highway I-81 as it enters Carlisle, Pennsylvania. I only got a quick shot—just a blur of emerald meadow grasses and a slash of creek silvered by the sun. I’ve never been able to resist checking out water under bridges from a speeding car. Moments later I pulled off the highway onto a winding two-laner that took me to a grassy parking lot on the Letort. I got out of my car and walked up to a plaque memorializing the late, great Vincent Marinaro, the one-time dean of the Letort who used this spring creek as his own private laboratory for experiments with terrestrial flies and the art of fishing “the fine and far-off.” The inscription beneath his irascible, worrylined face—forever bronzed—was a quote from A Modern Dry Fly Code, his seminal work. It read: “The Letort is a hard taskmaster and does not treat lightly any violation of the dry fly technique… the penalty is absolute and total failure.” It’s a fair warning for this difficult water, akin to Dante’s “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.”
I was just out of college then and was (and remain to this day) a geek for flyfishing history and literature. And with this part of south central Pennsylvania within an easy day trip of my apartment in Washington, DC, the lore of the Letort became my particular passion. I rigged up my rod, then walked through an opening in the thick riverside canopy and finally took my first proper look at this small spring creek I’d read so much about, at the section known as “Marinaro’s Meadow.” I was awed. (That may sound corny, but just for a moment, think back to the first time you visited one of the “cathedrals” of flyfishing, of how it made you feel. It’s one of those almost ineffable things about this sport that makes it so cool.) The spring-fed water moved at a lazy pace, as clear and thick-looking as baby oil, the surface etched with the microcurrents about which Marinaro had cautioned. Bright green watercress swayed rhythmically underwater. Weeping willows leaned over the creek, dabbing the surface with the tips of their branches. And the chest-high grasses lining the banks seem to hide it all from the outside world, giving the sense that you alone had wandered into this secret spot. The whole scene encompassed the pastoral ideal, something humans have sought and written about (Walton, anyone?) for ages. There was one problem, though. That damned highway bridge, maybe 100 yards away from the top of the meadow. The continuous passing of cars wasn’t too hard to get used to, sounding, as it did, like the white-noise of a waterfall. But those tractor-trailers, with their deep-throated downshifts as they neared Carlisle, threatened to shatter the idyll.
I fished the Letort like a madman for the next five years. During peak Sulphur season, I would leave work in DC at 6:00 pm and make the three-hour round trip drive just to fish for a magical 30 minutes. That pastoral ideal, the connectedness of the mayflies, birds and trout, was something I craved. That there was an interesting history attached to the place made it even more alluring. The Letort became the place where I really learned how to flyfish. And it’s where I learned to really love flyfishing. A few years later an old Letort fishing friend called me to tell me that the Home Depot had announced that they were building a new store in Carlisle… right on the banks of the Letort. More precisely, they were building it right across from Marinaro’s Meadow. Apparently, the home improvement giant selected that location because of its proximity to I-81, the Letort be dammed. The town, with visions of tax dollars dancing in its head, embraced the development. The Cumberland County Trout Unlimited, with visions of a ruined creek, did not. To try to satisfy the TU chapter, the Home Depot promised some sort of method of “treating” the water that would inevitably run off the parking lot into the Letort. The TU fought like hell, but never really came close to stopping the Home Depot. I wrote a check to the TU. I wrote a few letters to Home Depot. That was the extent of my participation and protest. Two years ago I went back to the Letort, the first time I’d been there since 2001. I had one evening to fish and was pretty excited to visit an old friend. I walked by the stony gaze of Marinaro to his meadow. I was shocked at what I saw. Silt covered the entire creek bottom, choking out the watercress. And the Home Depot was there, very visible through the trees, its parking lot lights ablaze. The meadow grasses, still defiantly tall, no longer possessed the power to block out the unnatural world. The place was irrevocably changed, damaged even. Once again I sat on the banks of the Letort and didn’t cast, this time for a different reason. Later that evening I ran into a man who I used to see often on the Letort, a fellow fisherman. Pointedly, he was walking his dog and not fishing, though this was prime Sulphur season. continued on next page...
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
But I didn’t allow for the intrusion. I sat down next to the creek for hours without making a cast, just watching the water, the white-winged mayflies, the swallows and the geese. The highway noise receded into the background. In the gloaming, the water started to dimple with feeding trout. A light mist hung over the creek. Eventually I made some casts to some rising fish, but didn’t catch a thing that night, committing many violations of the dry fly technique. But I was hooked. Gut-hooked. And that highway? In some weird
way, it made the Letort even more special, more precious and beautiful—a small, defiant stand against faceless, paved Man.
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
essay
He described the Letort as “nothing more now than a glorified drainage ditch.” I felt unbelievably sad and angry, McGuane’s great line about smashing the state if the trout are lost twirling through my head. But more than anything, I felt disappointed in myself.
had now shrunk considerably. Strip malls and those cookie-cutter housing tracts— which I’ve always thought look like zippered scars from a window seat in an airplane—had taken their place. Sadder still was the older strip malls and housing developments, the ones I remembered
advised method for flood control. The New York Interregional Connector wants to build a massive chain of powerlines down the Delaware River corridor—right next to the river. And just last year vast reserves of cheap natural gas were found on the same river. The corporate entities involved,
Had I really believed that writing a check and few letters would solve the problem? Or had I taken the easy way out? Sometimes when we turn a blind eye and hope that problems go away, they actually do. But other times those problems come back to haunt us, forever, and fill us with an ugly sense of regret.
from years back. Some were now abandoned, their shops shuttered. They had become suburban ghettos. Once you pave paradise, you can never go back.
of course, have promised to keep the ecosystem in mind as they progress with their projects. But the environment is not their primary concern. And I have to keep reminding myself that once you leave Eden (or its approximation), there is no going back.
On my drive home from the Letort I realized that the problem was bigger than I imagined. I saw that what had once been farmland and woodlands in this once fairly rural part of Pennsylvania 24
The Catskills are a more rural spot than the area around the Letort. But the region faces its own dire threats. Massive floods in the past five years have destroyed property and lives, and resulted in the channeling of nearly every tributary of the Beaverkill and Upper Delaware rivers, not a good outcome for trout trying to spawn and, arguably, an ill-
In my most pessimistic moments, I feel powerless. Commerce and money always seem to win out in the end. Those powerlines, lighting the apartments in New York (including mine) and Philadelphia, will be built,
right? And what right do I have to tell some struggling farmer in upstate New York to not sell his land for $1200 an acre for natural gas drilling rights? And that Home Depot sits on the banks of the Letort. But then I always eventually talk myself off the ledge. And I think about all of the good deeds fishermen and hunters have done on behalf of the environment, the largely unnoticed (at least by most of the world) work in saving critical woodlands and waters. The folks at PETA, by focusing on the supposed pain that fish feel, have missed their mark, badly. I am against cruelty to animals. And yes, catch-and-release fishing is a moral question that all fishermen have to work out on their own. But fishermen and hunters are the greatest caretakers of the land and water inhabited by their favorite game. What’s crueler? To catch and release a fish or allow its habitat to be completely wiped out? Without the vigilance of sportsmen’s groups, much would have already been lost. That said, I know I could do more. Wendell Berry, the Kentucky poet/ farmer, wrote that the environmental movement boils down to a test of individual character, bridging the gap “between what we think and what we do.” In other words, I need to do more than just write a check. And next time, I will.
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
The fight for me, on its most basic level, is to ensure that my offspring will have the same options I have: that they will have the opportunity to fall in love with this sport, find something enriching within it, even become a geek about it if they so choose. And I always need to keep this lesson in mind, one I learned the hard way: They are making new Home Depots. They are not making new Letorts. I have many rivers yet to cross on this journey. I want to make sure they will always be worth a look. at
feature
The Next
Burning Issue?
Written by Will Rice
“We can’t stop the bark beetle, so all we can do is try to mitigate the effects and damages in some of the higher value areas…” Clint Kyhl, incident commander, U.S. Forest Service.
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
A natural disaster looming in North America stretches from Arizona to the border of British Columbia and beyond. It is a phenomenon that is moving at exponential speeds and is literally and figuratively changing the landscape that surrounds some of the most prolific western trout fisheries. At its root is a bug smaller then your thumbnail called the mountain pine beetle (MPB). The infestation of lodgepole pines by the mountain pine beetle has reached epidemic levels in Colorado and Wyoming and is being felt in other states like California, Utah, Montana, Idaho—the same geography that overlaps some of the great western trout rivers and tributaries. The MPB problem is threatening not only natural resources but business interests of all kinds. How and if this fast 26
Photo by David Herasimschuk
moving infestation impacts the surrounding fisheries and the businesses that depend on them has yet to be fully explored—and Mother Nature has yet to show her hand. Colorado is especially hard hit. Although beetle kill is not necessarily a new or foreign phenomenon in the Rockies, the pace at which the devastation is moving has caught the attention of those at the highest levels of local and state government. “Colorado’s forests are vital to our environment, to our communities, to our economy and to our overall quality of life,” Governor Bill Ritter said in February 2008. “But our forests are at risk, and one of the biggest risks is the mountain pine beetle. This epidemic has decimated more than 1.5 million acres of mature lodgepole pines over the past decade and could wipe them out in another three to five years.” So what happens to an entire forest that has been infested and killed by the mountain pine beetle? Is a massive forest burn inevitable? Or is this entire epidemic just nature following its normal course of forest regeneration?
The scientific, fire prevention, and forestry community seem to have mixed opinions. Most agree, however, that the MPB will raise the likelihood and change the behavior of both forest crown fires and ground fires that could impact watersheds in the short to mid term.
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In a worst case scenario, after a large scale ground fire, all rain becomes torrential, dumping mud and sediment into streams, creeks, and rivers. Without roots systems and other ground cover future rains exaggerate this problem. Without a strong aquatic food source and poor water quality environment fish populations could quickly decline. “A very hot burning ground fire can have an immediate and direct effect on a fishery—the temperature of the fire will heat the water and kill the fish,” said Kris Sexton, forest and fisheries biologist with the U.S. Forest Service. “Ash, sediment and other debris that comes off the land covers insect and other habitat. Once the food source is inhibited the fish habitat changes—usually for the worse.”
“If you look at some of the aerial maps where we have done recent surveys, it looks like more then continued on next page...
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To witness the severity of this issue, one only needs to drive 90 minutes from Denver into the heart of Grand County, Colorado. Grand Lake in particular is sometimes referred to as ‘ground zero’ for the mountain pine beetle epidemic in Colorado. Trees beside the roadway and miles deep into forests are turning a brownish red color and falling down everywhere. What were once lush green ridgelines surrounding Lake Granby and Grand Lake are now the color of purple rust—the visual effect is surreal.
feature
50% of the forest has been affected in Grand County. And the affected areas have about a 90% mortality rate,” said Mike Long, chief of the Grand Lake Fire Protection District. “On the ground it feels like that number is growing.”
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Long believes that the real hazard lies not in the short term, but 12 to 14 years from now when the infected lodgepoles fall to the ground if they are not removed. A ground fire, in his opinion, can have longer term effects on the surrounding ecosystem.
As documented in the Hayman Fire Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (BAER) Report, 44,000 acres of forest burned at ‘high severity’ and the effects of this fire are still being felt today. The Hayman fire demonstrated what a large magnitude fire can do to a rich and fertile fishery and the businesses that depend on it.
“When ground fires really get bad they will actually sterilize the soil if they burn hot enough. If we can make it through the next 2 to 3 years without a ‘pyroclysmic’
“The Hayman fire killed my guiding business. I’d estimate that we probably lost 40% of the trout population in the first year and we had a 75% drop in business during the two years immediately following the fire,” said Danny Brennan owner of Flies and Lies fly shop and the South Platte Outfitters guiding service. “We went down to literally booking no trips.
event we’ll be better off then where we are today. What is dead is dead and once the needles fall off the dead trees the danger actually goes down. We can then remove the ground fuels to some degree, and in time, we’ll see the new stands of lodgepole begin to arrive.”
“I ultimately had to pack it up and close the business. I was lucky enough to land a contract for a year in Hawaii and now I’m back running the shop and the guiding service. Six years later things look promising but you never know with the monsoon rains and the runoff out of the mountains.”
What is certain is that fire is clearly a natural event in a forest’s lifecycle and at some point, when the right conditions converge, these infested and dead lodgepole stands can act like powder kegs awaiting an errant match or random lightning strike to set them off.
Grant Rollo, owner and manager of the Estes Angler in Estes Park, Colorado, is concerned about the general aesthetic impacts on the forest by the mountain pine beetle as well as the increase in potential fire danger.
In 2002, the Hayman fire, near Deckers, Colorado, burned 138,000 acres over the course of three weeks. 28
“It is something I worry about. People come to the Rocky Mountains for the scenery and they don’t want to see fall colors year round,” Rollo said. “Anytime there is an increase
Blue River. According to Mike Bittner, manager of the plant, a risk could be imminent with the river’s stonefly population, which is especially susceptible to the chemical agent.
“It’s a food chain thing,” Bittner told the Daily. “You kill the stone flies—and that’s what the trout eat.”
in fire danger I’m concerned about our business. We have what we call ‘100 days of business’ and if we have a significant fire during that time it is going to severely effect our entire year.” For other areas not yet completely decimated, there are some signs that mitigation and preventive steps can work. Preventive steps to halt the pine beetle include forest management to create diversity in the forests, forest thinning, spraying unaffected trees with pesticides, and manual bark exposure for trees that are in the early stages of infestation. The punch line to all of these potential controls: they are all time consuming, resource intensive and expensive. The real irony is that many believe that our historic ability to control and suppress fires is one of the key elements to why some of our forests are now so susceptible to the mountain pine beetle—they are all old, big, and weak.
Mountain Pine Beetle Attack Although there is some debate amongst the scientific community as to forensically what is killing the trees, here is a high level description of what is happening to the lodgepole population in the western United States according to Mary Ann Chambers, U.S. Forest Service and Ingrid Aguayo, entomologist with the Colorado State Forest Service: a) Mountain pine beetles bore into the bark of the lodgepole pine trees. b) Once buried, the beetles feed, mate, and lay eggs within the tree. c) As they burrow into the tree, the females beetles release a pheromone which attracts more beetles and speeds the attack and infestation. d) In defense, the lodgepole that is under siege releases a resin to fight off the beetle; the beetle also carries a blue stain fungi spore into the tree. This fungi will ultimately reduce the ability for the tree to transport water and other nutrients. e) Within a year the tree is damaged enough where the flow of water and other life-sustaining nutrients are diminished. f) Ultimately the tree starves to death. 29
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
To add insult to injury, recent testing in Colorado shows a possible connection between the chemicals used to protect lodgepole forests from MPB and contaminated water supplies in surrounding rivers. According to an article published in the Vail Daily, recent testing at a water treatment plant in Silverthorne, Colorado, showed levels of carbaryl, which is sprayed topically on lodgepoles, may be killing insect life in the
If Colorado is the canary in the proverbial coal mine with respect to the mountain pine beetle, how this drama is played out over the next few years should prove insightful for other areas in the country—not only for fishing and outdoor enthusiasts, but business owners as well. Now, more than ever, it is incumbent upon shops to urge extreme fire caution among their guides and customers. Their businesses and waters may literally hang in the balance. at
RECOMMENDED READING
Written by Ted Williams, $24.95 in hardback (Skyhorse Publishing Inc. 2007). Foreword by Paul Guernsey. Written by Charlie Meyers
hard-core ecological warriors in that he also is, perhaps foremost, a manic fisherman. His logic therefore tends to blend well with those in the industry who realize that, ultimately, resource protection serves as a directional arrow to bottom-line profitability. The book follows a wandering current that flows from the longago extirpation of Atlantic salmon from the once-prolific waters of the Northeast to the present threat to Pacific salmon and rainbow trout stocks from the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed. In between, a reader finds enough reason for indignation, and hope, to keep the pages turning. Williams refuses to play favorites. He gives the back of his hand to shortsighted angler types who can’t think beyond the next tug on the line or, worse, go ballistic whenever they spot an environmentalist through 10X binoculars.
Photo by Charlie Meyers
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Before cracking open a book with a title that begs to be weighed with a Boga Grip, it’s important for readers to take a peek at their own personal dip sticks to determine how much outrage and anger we’re prepared to imbibe. If the gauge measures about a quart low, then saddle up for what promises to be a wild, and largely infuriating, ride. That you’ll also be entertained, educated and stuffed with altered opinions costs nothing extra. Most of you already know Ted Williams (The environmentalist, not the cryogenic Hall of Fame baseball player—although the confusion festers with the fact that both carry considerable reputations as fly fishers and both made home base in the Boston area). You’ve probably read Williams’ regular column in Fly Rod & Reel or maybe even some of his longer essays in Audubon; the book is a collection of these, chosen for variety and impact. It first must be said that Williams is a riveting writer whose tenacity for digging straight to bedrock knows few bounds. Further, he is a rarity among 30
Thus we find a vignette involving the restoration of Atlantics in Lake Ontario, where they once swam so densely that horses often killed them while crossing tributary streams. A replenishing process, once thought impossible, has succeeded to a point where savvy anglers in upstate New York now catch more, and sometimes larger, Atlantics than they might on an expensive excursion to the Gaspé. While achieving this, biologists found their greatest opposition among anglers and charter captains who foolishly believe that a modest return of Atlantic salmon somehow might
displace the millions of chinooks, cohos, steelhead, rainbow or brown trout exotics that now prowl the big lake. One misguided Salmon River (named for those original, glorious Atlantic runs) guide proclaimed that he would kill every Atlantic he could lay his hands on. Such nonsense first ignores an opportunity to regain a link with a resource once thought long lost, but more practically fails to grasp an economic opportunity that might soar past all expectation. While a vast majority of Lake Ontario fishermen continue to seek the more available Pacific varieties, it’s not difficult to project a lucrative boutique fishery developing around this “King of Fishes” perched virtually on the doorstep of several million people. Yet Williams often reserves his best blows for myopic enviros who flunk basic common sense and cooperation. Nowhere is this better revealed than in a chapter titled, “Environmentalists vs. Native Trout.” His preamble sets the stage well enough: “Having been an environmental activist for most of my life and having worked for and with environmental organizations for thirty years, it grieves me to report that the biggest, and in many cases, only impediment to recovery of vanishing native trout is the environmental community.” He further writes: “Enviros tend not to see, handle or understand fish and to distrust the motives of agencies dedicated to their recovery.” This leads to situations where otherwise well-meaning protectionists actively oppose native salmonid recovery
projects for no other reason than the plans allow us dirty old fishermen to catch them. Always, Williams’ thrust is for inclusion and balance: “In healthy, native ecosystems the acts of hunting and fishing take on
new meaning and significance; the sportsman becomes a true participant in nature instead of just another interloper in a ruined system.” The book sometimes elevates, often makes us angry. But in every case, it causes us to think. at
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The Business of Being Green Written by Ben Romans
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
From left to right: Craig Matthews, Jim Cox, Sandy Moret
NBC’s series My Name is Earl hit the nail on the head: “Do good things and good things will happen. Do bad things and it will come back to haunt you.” This doesn’t mean that if you help an old lady cross the street you’ll be rewarded with dozens of ignorant, rising trout the next time you visit the water. But it’s nice to dream. Nevertheless, most good deeds don’t go unnoticed or unrewarded. There are exceptions, but the point to drive home is giving back is good for business. The following is an example of what I’m talking about—short anecdotes and examples from three different retailers that are giving back their time and money to the very resources they depend on, and how their philanthropy has sometimes returned to their businesses twofold.
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sports Craig Matthews Blue Ribbon Flies Unless you’ve been living with your head in a hole, it’s been hard to miss the largely positive reaction to the One Percent for the Planet program. Spearheaded by Patagonia clothing founder Yvon Chouinard and Blue Ribbon Flies owner Craig Matthews, this organization has swelled from a small core membership into a worldwide organization within a handful of years. What’s more it’s proved that a little goes a long way in the name of conservation and environmental stewardship. But those involved in One Percent (which includes manufacturers, retailers, entrepreneurs, and even musicians from all walks of life) are finding the benefits of the program aren’t a one-way street. No one knows this better than Matthews. Before formally creating the program he and his wife made it a private, personal priority to earmark a percentage of their shop’s profits each month for conservation projects. When his good deeds became public, customers and would-be clients took note and in turn rewarded him with their patronage.
the easy part, and keeping up with inquiries and membership requests the difficult task. “We understand no matter how small the percentage; money is hard for some to relinquish—especially for the small retailer. But in many cases once a participating business publicizes their involvement, sales jump enough that it’s easy for a manager or owner to justify their participation,” Matthews said. “But more important than that, what I think outweighs the fact that they’re bringing in more business, is that they’re doing the right thing.” I heard Yvon and Craig speak about the One Percent program in 2005 at a downtown Denver Patagonia store as part of an after-show social. After a brief overview of the program,
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Initially Matthews and Chouinard thought the program was a “no brainer.” That retailers, services, and manufacturers would have no misgivings about donating a small portion of their sales back to preserve or enhance the very resources that support their industry. Instead they found it doesn’t matter if a business has a little or a lot of it cycling through their operation— money is hard to part with. Once the snowball began to roll, however, finding members willing to do more than simply “talk the talk” became
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Matthews took the soapbox and somewhere in his emotional delivery offered an anecdote of a customer he otherwise may have never had contact with were it not for the program. A story he repeats at nearly all the One Percent for the Planet “kickoff ” events he attends. “A few years ago a new customer who got wind of the One Percent for the Planet program and the philosophy behind it contacted me. After talking for a while about what we were trying to accomplish and where we planned to allocate the money, he ended up purchasing thousands of dollars of merchandise in a single order. Then, to top it all off, he flew up here and picked it up in person instead of having it shipped,” Matthews said.
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
While this story is the exception and not the rule, Matthews has noticed an increase in every aspect of his operation’s sales— especially online orders. “These days we get at least one person a day that walks into the shop, recognizes the One Percent for the Planet banner and logo we have hanging here in the store, commend us on our participation, and purchase something,” he says. “There’s a buzz about what we’re doing and customers want to participate because they can share in the feeling that they’re doing something good; that a portion of their money is going towards a good cause.” There are currently just over 800 One Percent for the Planet members worldwide with an average of one 34
member a day joining the ranks, each one allowed to select their own cause. In 2007 the organization generated $11 million worldwide for various conservation and environmental projects. But these numbers are concentrated outside the realm of flyfishing and outdoor pursuits. Musician Jack Johnson and the famous New Belgium Brewing Company (makers of my new favorite beer, Fat Tire) are both solid One Percent for the Planet supporters. Want to get involved?
ol’ days.” My guess is it will be within the first ten seconds of the conversation. Sandy Moret is one just one of those legendary fishermen. But while others were still discovering this saltwater mecca, Moret concerned himself with the future of these valuable resources. He became a man of vision and set his sights on protecting the waters, flats, and estuaries that would later become one of the most heavily fished locales in the United States. “Back in the late 70s, long before I was in the business side of this sport, I could see that the popularity of the Keys and south Florida could also be its undoing,” Moret says. “So I became involved in any way possible— something I continue to do to this day.”
“The best advice I could give anyone interested in becoming a part of One Percent would be to visit the website for more information and talk with other members,” Matthews says. More information on the One Percent for the Planet’s mission, how to participate, and a list of members are available at www.onepercentfortheplanet.com. Sandy Moret Florida Keys Outfitters South Florida has earned its place in flyfishing lore. Mention it to any guide, outfitter, or flyfishing bum who combed the shorelines of the Everglades or Keys in the late 60s or 70s and count how many seconds it takes them to use the phrase “good
Moret’s environmental and conservation resume sets a shining example. At one time the president of the Everglades Protection Association, he was also a founding member of Bonefish & Tarpon Unlimited, served at the appointment of former Florida governor Bob Graham on the Everglades National Park Advisory Council, assists in organizing and administering annual bonefish census studies in the Keys, and most recently organized an ad-hoc committee of residents, outfitters, business owners, and outdoor enthusiasts. This group formally submitted a proposal to protect the saltwater channels and shallowwater edges of the Everglades from prop scars.
“There is no other place in the world like the Everglades. Our group put a few plans together that can protect the shallows and fragile turtle-grass fringes of the area from boats without sacrificing angler access or the experience of other users like kayakers and canoeists. There are still other problems to tackle like water-quality issues, but the fact that the federal government is listening to us is a step in the right direction,” he says. Bonefish and Tarpon Unlimited’s annual bonefish census (in its fifth year) is another event Moret dedicates a significant amount of his time and effort towards. Twice a year volunteer anglers, outfitters, and guides assigned to specific ranges along the Keys take a visual count of bonefish. The data is shared with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine Biology and Atmospheric Science in the hope of establishing a population baseline to compare future counts, ecosystem health, and any supportive conservation efforts.
projects we’ve been involved with, but to what degree I don’t have a clue,” he says. “Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of people that know and understand the fragility of this region and can identify with what we’re trying to do. I just don’t want to create the impression they’re flocking in droves through our front door, but there’s enough here-andthere that it’s noteworthy.”
solutions—things like access issues, privatization, urban sprawl, and a list of other things I’m not thinking of,” Moret says. “But if you’re not out there making sure it’s going to be around for many years to come, then what’s left for you to build a business on?” Jim Cox Kingfisher Fly Shop
Moret says the motivation to him is stronger than the lure of the almighty dollar. It’s a personal philosophy that’s as fervent as when he first decided to get involved many years ago; long before he decided to make his living in the flyfishing industry.
Change is never easy. But if you want to make the world a better place, begin with the person in the mirror. That’s Jim Cox’s philosophy anyhow. It’s been his mantra since he and friend Matt Potter opened the doors of the Kingfisher Fly Shop in Missoula, Montana, more than a decade ago.
“People just have to get out there and do something. I know there are more problems out there than
Since then they’ve seen droughts, floods, overuse, abuse, and change— including the current dismantling
“Of course we don’t present this as a concrete number, but for the sake of argument it is giving us a picture of bonefish numbers on a yearly basis. This is something we haven’t really had before,” he says. “From what we can see, populations are remaining stagnant, hovering around or above the 300,000 mark.”
“There’s no question there is name recognition and word-of-mouth marketing resulting from the
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
And while all the attention his efforts have brought him and his shop over the years in the form of newspaper articles, magazine interviews, and newsletter updates—he downplays the effect it has on business.
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of the Milltown Dam and rejoining of the Clark Fork River—affect their home waters and consequently their business. And while some are quick to form committees, boards, and advisory panels intent on finding one-size-fitsall solutions, Cox says he’s relied on brutal honesty and the shop’s constant desire for “self-improvement” to aid the area’s waters, and the environment as a whole. “There are things you do for ‘advertising’ like community events or charitable donations, and there are things you do to keep a business ‘healthy,’” Cox says. “Both are noble and can help you generate business, but for us the extra steps we take ‘behind-the-scenes’ so to speak have done more for us than most donations.” For Cox, making a difference meant starting with the shop’s daily operations—measures that individually may seem trite, but as a whole make a substantial impact, both for the environment and on the business’ bottom line. “We recycle and buy recycled paper, refill and reuse all our ink cartridges, use energy efficient lighting, and switched to small recyclable paper cups for flies. We got tired of seeing plastic cups and lids strewn out along
the rivers and boat ramps and said we don’t want to contribute to that,” Cox says. “A lot of the things we did had a high upfront cost, like having the power company certify the building is energy efficient. But in the long run the expenses even out.” Cox is also quick to point out that Mother Nature has been tough on Montana the past few years, and while it has hurt their business’ immediate outfitting revenue, they’re known for turning away clients when conditions are stressing the health of the fisheries. “When the temps are tough on trout, we don’t want to be on the water and we’ll turn down spontaneous bookings and call pre-booked clients to let them know the situation. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they appreciate our honesty. They don’t want to fish if conditions aren’t optimal either and they’ll usually reschedule their trip and sometimes become a lifelong customer. It’s something we do on our own accord and don’t wait for the state to issue water restrictions or closures. At times we’ve been chewed out by our competition for ‘scaring away’ business but
if you depend on these resources, is it really worth jeopardizing them just to make a buck that day? The way I see it you can be honest, protect the rivers and trout when they’re stressed, and gain the trust of a client at the same time,” he says. That’s not to say the Kingfisher’s environmental record is restricted to the shop. They play a role in an array of local rehabilitation projects, conservation efforts, and fundraising events like Trout Unlimited banquets. Nonetheless they find contributing sweat instead of dollars carries more weight—both personally and professionally. “After our first few years we learned to develop a focus because you can’t be all things to all people. We are solicited for contributions every-other day so picking and choosing is important—especially with those that have a tendency to be ‘bureaucratic.’ For me, a place like the Blackfoot River holds a special place in my heart. So twice a year we take part in the river cleanup and ask many of our guides to take part as well. Truth be told though, we also carry extra garbage sacks in our
boats to pick up items whenever we’re on the water. People see us, they know who we are, and it gives the shop a good name in the community.” Cox’s personal contribution to the river cleanups is somewhat unique however compared to the volunteers that walk the banks scavenging for garbage. To get “down-and-dirty” Cox dons his scuba gear and retrieves the sunken “treasures.” “We do this on the Bitterroot too, but something about the Blackfoot makes the event more special to me,” he says. “We find bottles, cans, sunglasses, cell phones, shoes, and a bunch of other junk. Plus you get to see some of the huge fish you’re missing on their home turf.” In a town where hard-news events are sometimes few-andfar between, affairs like river cleanups are a good public relations vehicle with coverage often finding prominent space in the newspaper. In the end Cox realizes he won’t win conservationist of the year, but his efforts and those of his crew are enough to turn heads. And when you are doing business in one of the most famous Western flyfishing towns, with competition around every corner, that’s never a bad thing. at
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Artwork in Your Fly Shop Written by Bob White
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Part One—Making the Decision As a painter who produces a fair amount of flyfishing art, I’ve always been fascinated that some fly shops are able to sell artwork, while others seem to have no interest in even trying. This was especially puzzling to me, since the profit from a print sale would bring tears of joy to the average shop owner’s eyes. Add to this, I naively reasoned, that in the case of consigned artwork, the shop incurs no expense or risk, and it made me shake my head in wonderment. 38
Then, I offered to write this article, and began contacting some of the shop owners that actually sell the artwork that I, and my contemporaries, produce. These business people taught me a lot. Here’s some of what I’ve learned. The location of a fly shop plays an enormous role in whether or not there’s a potential for art sales... just ask Dick Greene, Sandy Moret, or Terry Ring. Those lucky enough to own destination shops
know, that for the most part, any fishermen that walks through their doors has the means to travel, hire one of their guides, and they just might pull the trigger on a piece of artwork as a memento of their trip. These business owners recognize that their customer’s passion for flyfishing can often translate into a sale of artwork. It’s much easier for a customer to get emotional about a memorable day on the water than say, a few dozen flies or even a new rod. Sure, the customer needs most of what is offered in the shop to catch the fish in the first place... but once they’ve released it, they may also want a way to remember the experience. Why not offer them both? Before Sandy Moret moved Florida Keys Outfitters to its new location adjacent to the Redbone Gallery, he had an outstanding art gallery in his shop, and sold prints and note cards with regularity, sometimes selling original work at $6000 to $8000 a pop. “Knowing that we’re in a destination where life-changing angling memories are made,” he said, “we figured that visitors would like to have those memories recorded on canvas.” Still, there are a number of fly shops that I don’t think of as destinations, and they consistently sell a fair amount of artwork. When I called Wendy Williamson and Larry Mann, who own the Hayward Fly Fishing Company, in Hayward, Wisconsin, and asked them how they manage to sell artwork without being a destination shop, the line went silent for several seconds. “Bob,” Larry finally said, “Any fly shop that manages to stay in business these days has to be a destination. Some destinations are just bigger than others.” “How do you do it?” I asked.
Some owners of smaller shops appreciate that selling artwork offers them something beyond the ordinary. They make their shops a destination because of the artwork.
Larry Mann and Wendy Williamson, have decided to host an artist’s reception in their shop this summer, inviting their customers and the community to a formal opening with refreshments, as a way of creating a buzz and getting more people into the Hayward Fly Fishing Company to see what it’s all about. Here is one thing that every shop owner (big or small) who wants to sell artwork should understand: Fly shops that successfully sell artwork, display it in a manner that’s both decorative and promotional; their customers know it’s for sale. Dick Greene, the owner of Bud Lilly’s Trout Shop in West Yellowstone, feels that the most important aspect of selling artwork (and gifts) is to have an area dedicated to these products. “When you just hang some prints on the walls in the shop, most people don’t know they’re for sale,” he told me. To this end he’s remodeled his gallery space and invested in a gallery hanging system that offers more flexibility for displaying framed art. Terry Ring feels that to successfully sell artwork, it needs to be presented at eye level. He displays his artwork in a gallery setting, and fills in around it with other merchandise to create a lodge-like atmosphere at Silver Creek Outfitters, in Ketchum, Idaho. As the general manager at the Orvis Flagship Store in Manchester, Vermont, Dan Ovington feels that the key to selling artwork lies in training his employees to think of artwork as any other piece of merchandise in the store. “They have to be comfortable discussing it with our customers,” he says. “We train our flyfishing associates to show the art as they would a new reel, a vest, or the latest rod.” Offering both framed and unframed artwork is important. Some customers prefer to purchase framed art, and avoid the hassle of visiting their framer, while continued on next page... 39
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
“The same way that the larger destination shops do; we treat the artwork like any other product in our store; we become knowledgeable about it, we merchandise it well, we manage our inventory wisely, we anticipate the questions our customers will ask, and we have thoughtful answers ready for them. Most importantly, we consider what factors might kill a sale and we mitigate them.”
Bamboo rod maker, Mike Clark, who owns South Creek Ltd., in Lyons, Colorado, has turned his shop into a virtual gallery of flyfishing fine art and gifts. He feels that “all business is personal business,” and he promotes this belief by placing a small, framed biography of the artists near their displayed work.
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AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
Greene told me that 95% of the artwork he sells is shipped to his walk-in customers.
others prefer to be part of that process. Whether the artwork is framed or not, almost everyone feels that offering their customers 40
the convenience of shipping is a key factor in making the sale. People don’t want to travel with a fragile piece of artwork. Dick
Before I wrote this article, I erroneously believed that a fly shop incurs neither expense nor risk by hanging and trying to sell consigned artwork. I’ve learned from those who do it successfully, however, that the space and placement needed to sell artwork is sometimes the most valuable area in their business, and that doing it right takes a lot of creative thought and effort. I’ve also learned that
for those businesses that are willing to risk the space and expend the effort, selling artwork can earn worthwhile dividends. If this sounds interesting to you... read the follow-up article in the next issue of Angling Trade and learn more about finding and working with artists, choosing images with which your customers will connect, how to manage an inventory of artwork, consignment agreements, your responsibilities, and much more. at For any other questions or more detailed information relating to selling artwork in your shop, contact Bob White at 651-433-4168 or visit his website at www.whitefishstudio.com.
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Who Is Walking the Eco-Walk? Written by Greg Thomas
Leading the way is the Orvis Company of Manchester, Vermont, which quietly became the conservation example beginning in the 1960s. By 1997 Perk Perkins put his stamp on the company and set the industry standard by committing five percent of its pre-tax earnings to conservation, an unheard of contribution at that time and an equally commendable and unmatched allotment today. Each year, Orvis parts with nearly $750,000 to the benefit of anglers and conservationists around the globe. Orvis focuses one of its major annual conservation efforts directly on an angling issue. Numerous lesser initiatives also target projects that advance the interests of fish and fishermen.
Flyfishing’s industry icons ramp up the conservation push…
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
It’s completely chic to be green these days and the flyfishing industry is grasping that trend. In fact, flyfishing’s top brass believes that what’s good for the environment is good for business, not only at a philanthropic level, but at the checkout lane, too. Regardless of motive, it’s safe to say that the flyfishing community is donating more money to conservation, and more volunteer time, than ever before. That trend isn’t unique to the angling community. According to the Giving USA Foundation, philanthropic gifting in the United States grew to $260.28 billion in 2006. While the angling industry’s portion of that gift pie might be miniscule compared to the donations of major corporations, most angling-side charity goes straight to conservation and those efforts are paying direct dividends to our fisheries. 42
Among these is a $30,000 grant in 2004 to California Trout Unlimited for its efforts to restore and recover California golden trout in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In 2005 Orvis donated $30,000 to the Henry’s Fork Foundation to secure access on the Henry’s Fork River, one of the West’s quintessential trout streams. In 2006 another $30,000 went to Trout Unlimited for its work on Colorado’s South Platte River; in 2007 Orvis donated another $30,000 to various groups, including Friends of the Teton River, to restore Teton Creek to a productive spawning tributary for native cutthroat. In each of
Orvis also promotes a key grass roots plan that matches donations from its own customers. This personal involvement by thousands of individuals extends far beyond the impact from mere accumulation of money to be donated to its conservation partners. A “Roundup for Conservation” program encourages patrons to round out their online purchases to the next dollar, ten dollars, twenty dollars, even a hundred dollars or more if a customer chooses.
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In addition, Orvis led the way in raising $91,000 for an ongoing attempt to save native Arctic grayling in Montana’s Big Hole River; it’s currently raising $100,000 to increase flows for spawning steelhead and salmon on Oregon’s Rogue River; it contributed heavily to the purchase of property and the securing of public access at Three Dollar Bridge on Montana’s Madison River; and it worked with the National Wildlife Federation and Montana Trout Unlimited to restore flows on the beleaguered Jefferson River. If successful, that project would bump trout populations from a paltry 150 a mile to nearly 1,500 a mile and place the Jefferson in the same category as other famous southwest Montana rivers, such as the Beaverhead, Big Hole and Madison. Recently, Orvis contributed $10,000, plus free advertising in a newsletter that reaches 200,000 people several times a year, to assist in protecting Alaska’s Bristol Bay from a proposed gold mine.
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those cases, matching grants by various organizations—often the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation—raised donations to $90,000 or more.
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www.anglersbooksupply.com owner of Simms Fishing Products. “What those guys are doing is pretty incredible and they don’t even draw attention to it. They just do it because they know it’s right.”
driving hippie,” said Jeff Wogoman, marketing director for Cloudveil. “Conservation is a global issue now and anyone who doesn’t recognize that has their head stuck in the sand.”
Walsh’s company doesn’t sit idle on the conservation front. In fact, it’s leading the fight against invasive species such as didymo, New Zealand mud snails and whirling disease. That effort includes education and design of products that lessen the invasive impact.
“As a small company we decided that joining The Conservation Alliance and pooling our resources with like-minded companies could be more effective than trying to fund everything on our own,” Wogoman said of a $10,000 annual contribution. “We donate a lot locally, but our big effort is to the Alliance. That contribution teams up with the donations from 130 other member-companies. All of a sudden you’ve raised $400,000 or $500,000 that allows conservation to battle consumptive interests.”
“I’d really like Simms to be the leading company on the aquatic nuisance species issue and I believe we are right now,” Walsh said. “We’re just getting started with our effort, but the best way we can possibly lead is to build products that aren’t prone to spread disease.” Orvis and Simms stand as prominent examples of an industry-wide awareness that taking care of the environment is just plain good business.
“Orvis probably puts more money into conservation than the rest of the industry combined,” said K.C. Walsh,
“I think there used to be an attitude that conservationist was a term to describe the fanatical, Birkenstock-wearing, VW-
Recent Alliance grants were directed toward protection of the Wyoming Range from oil and gas development, Wild and Scenic River designation for the Snake River and opposition to the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay drainage. continued on next page...
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Performed without fanfare, these efforts don’t go unnoticed in the flyfishing community.
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Several companies have answered the call to alarm for Bristol Bay, including Seattle-based Far Bank, which owns Sage, Rio and Redington. Sage’s donation of $10,000 helped Felt Sole Media create the signature film, “Red Gold,” which highlights the dangers of open-pit mining and explains the threats that such an operation would create for regional fisheries. In addition, Sage built 300 rod/reel/line/case outfits and offered them for $600. For each sale, Sage donated $200 to the Red Gold project, and just recently presented TU with a check for $60,000. While many companies focus on specific projects, others use the scattergun approach, doling out as much as they can to local and national interests. The Jarden Corporation, which owns such major brands as Berkley, Abu Garcia, Shakespeare, Penn and Pflueger, developed an
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internal conservation arm called The Berkley Conservation Institute. Jim Martin, conservation director for the institute and a former fisheries manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, heads a program that contributes about $200,000 annually. “Each year we produce a conservation agenda focusing on the most significant issues,” Martin said. “Our feeling is that we have an obligation to protect and enhance the environment and that comes from 70 years of history. Berkley Bedell founded this company when he was in high school, tying flies. He showed his dedication to conservation early on and then Tom Bedell took over and carried on that tradition. The new leadership is Jarden and it is completely committed to outdoor recreation and conservation.” Martin said that BCI’s 2008/2009 agenda includes contributions to many groups and a pact with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, which will support legislation to strengthen the beleaguered Clean Water Act. In addition, Martin will work closely with sportsman’s organizations and environmental advocates to implement long-term recovery for Pacific salmon. While established companies have the resource to organize their own agendas, ample opportunity exists for smaller business through partnerships. “I don’t think anyone is too small to contribute to conservation,” Martin said. “The scope of each company offers different levels of opportunity. What every person in the industry needs to do is get knowledgeable and spread the word.” Which brings up this question: if everyone is obligated to support conservation, how much is enough support and how much is too much for a small retailer or manufacturer to bear? The One
Percent for The Planet Program, which began as part of Patagonia’s conservation campaign, invites businesses large and small to participate. Today, the One Percent Program solicits members of the angling community for a fee of $200. So far, just 27 small companies have signed on under the specific “fishing” heading. Total contributions from those fishing companies, including Patagonia’s own donation, were not made available by One Percent for The Planet. The program does generate considerable buzz, but also raises some eyebrows. One financial adviser, who handles several flyfishing related businesses and serves on the board of an angling-specific non-profit explained: “I wouldn’t consider telling a single business under my wings to join a program like that. It’s not one percent of profit you’re giving up, it’s one percent of sales. After all the deductions and expenses there may not be much profit in your business. In reality that one percent is more like 10 to 15 percent of your profit.” And, according to Walsh at Simms: “If I’m going to support a one percent program it’s going to be one percent for the fly shop owners. I mean, if you are really struggling to make a five percent profit, which is the case for most of us, how can you give away 15 or 20 percent or more of that?” Walsh asked. “We’ll do what we can for the environment, personally and politically,” Walsh added. “And that’s what other companies, especially the smaller ones, can do, too. This is a tough business to make a living in and the mom and pop retailers have a lot of drains on their money, especially now. But each of us has time and a voice and getting your employees involved in conservation is something we can all do. Overall, I think the angling community is doing a good job of that. A lot of people in this industry really care.” at
BACKCAST
So what, one might wonder, does all this whoop-de-do over invasive critters have to do with your shop and the price of flies in China? After all, things like mud snails, gill lice and zebra mussels—even that long-running favorite, whirling disease— seem strange words over a far horizon to most fisher folk.
The area around Yellowstone Lake, the river inside the park and, more important, that wonderland upstream from Livingston, Mt., called Paradise Valley, stands among the truly important places in the broad panoply of American angling. When Dick Vincent, principal researcher for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks delivered a landmark paper at the February conference of the Whirling Disease Foundation, he caught most observers by surprise at the severity of the problem: Two-thirds of the Yellowstone River tributaries are infected with WD. The same is true for certain key spawning creeks that feed the lake, already whipsawed by a bucket-brigade infusion of predatory lake trout. Vincent further revealed studies showing Yellowstone cutts up to seven times more vulnerable than rainbow trout, the previous problem child. “Given the susceptibility level, that’s scary,” Vincent said. “It’s a lot worse scenario than with rainbows.” In Yellowstone country, this is chilling stuff indeed. The impact for the continent’s most famous spring creeks, along with the many shops, guides, lodges and landowners along Paradise Valley—a place that soon may fit the name for scenic value only—could be profound. Thing is, there’s not a thing at this point anyone can do about it.
Horrors like the northern snakehead, a specter from a really bad Sci-fi flick, haven’t even begun to register yet. Apparitions like didymo, better known as rock snot, barely get mentioned in more polite circles. But when one comes to consider all this in the context of our highly mobile and affluent society, or perhaps because of it, it’s time to rethink the issues.
Now that the rainbow, already a much-manipulated species, is back on track to prosperity, we find a much greater trauma with cutthroat. All native trout species apparently suffer this same high susceptibility to WD. The thing with cutts is there can be no similar salvation through hybridization. One ray of hope, still dim, shines on a novel Colorado program that plays to the fact that among 45
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
All this came careening painfully close to home recently with the revelation that Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the big lake, the river and its tributaries are suffering severe effects of the oldest and least glamorous of these maladies, whirling disease. Nearly everyone who counts himself a serious fisherman either has made a pilgrimage to the Yellowstone country or has one hatching in the hope chest.
Ironically, a sort of back-door solution to the rainbow dilemma has emerged with the so-called Hofer rainbow strain, which developed a high level of WD resistance during a 125-year hiatus in Germany. Researchers crossed this domestic import with existing Rocky Mountain strains to obtain a progeny both resistant and wild; more recently, Colorado biologists achieved spawning success and survival with hybrid fish planted in highly infected natural environments.
BACKCAST
the five types of native tubifex worms, only one serves as host to the spore that causes WD. Early evidence shows that “good” worms, given the opportunity, actually outcompete the bad. This prompted the Colorado Division of Wildlife to establish an aquatic worm farm with intent to distribute.
The anticipation on the cutthroat front is that these willing worms someday can be used to ensure a safe environment, particularly for those subspecies balanced on a tightrope of extinction. Closer inspection reveals yet another side to this invasive species issue.
At a well-attended symposium at last September’s Fly Fishing Retailer show, certain disclosures stood out. One is that $137 billion, yes, with a “B”, is spent annually to control invasive species. Much of that involves vegetation clogging waterways or domestic water supplies, but a significant amount otherwise might be spent on other aspects of ecological advancement beneficial to fishing. Another point of emphasis concerns the way these organisms are transported and the role fisherman can play, for either good or bad. Much can be done to limit the spread, primarily by disinfecting our gear before moving to a new body of water. That’s where you make the scene. Shop owners wield influence beyond anything an angler might hear from a wildlife official or read in any publication. With that comes a certain responsibility. It’s time we take these resource issues to heart by posting advisories or through serious conversation with our clientele. Else the next Yellowstone cutthroat catastrophe just might land squarely on your very own doorstep. at
AnglingTrade.com / June 2008
For more information on invasive species, consult the following: www.protectyourwaters.net www.habitattitude.net www.100thmeridian.org www.invasivespecies.gov
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