DUN Fall 2018

O Canada 5 Tips for successful travel

Taming Guidezilla Winging It

CAN YOU CHANGE AS FAST AS THE W E AT H ER ?

Our fishing-specific insulation is part of a versatile layering system that lets you easily adapt to shifting conditions.

Through long days of fishing, the only constant is change. But with the right layers in your kit, you can keep your own thermostat steady. Built for warmth and freedom of movement across a wide range of temperatures, our Tough Puff Hoody features a stretch-woven, highly abrasion-resistant face that holds off light precipitation and is durable enough to push through tangled cover. Stretchy and breathable insulation keeps the comfort level high, and streamlined cuffs with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish shed water on the release.

Jenn Love bat tles a sea-run cut throat and small-craf t advisories on a Pacific Nor thwest winter day. Puget Sound, Washington.

RICH CROWDER Š 2018 Patagonia, Inc.

Women’s Tough Puff Hoody

Fall 2018

Features ON THE COVER

67

Crossing the Border A trip across the border to experience the sights and sounds of Calgary.

83

The Ritual of Salmon Fishing Fishing for Atlantic salmon had its own set of rules, one of them was boys only, but not anymore.

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Labrador Many go to fish for large brook trout, but there are many other species, including large pike.

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Brook Trout & Blueberry Pie A 2,000 mile road trip with dad ends in family fun, trout fishing in the Adirondacks, and blueberry pie.

The Highwood River, near Calgary, Alberta Canada, shows major flood damage, but there appears to have been no impact to the quality of the trout fishing.

FEATURES

Fall 2018

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departments

From Every Angle

Kit and Kaboodle

CONSERVATION

GEAR

Casting Light

An unlikely alliance between beaver and trout

Jen's Must-Haves for Fall

17

Don't let the changing weather keep you inside

115

MEMORIES

FASHION

Ode to a Truck Dents and scratches tell a story

Get this Look

26

Outdoor gear to keep you warm and fashionable

120

GENEROSITY

An Unlikely Partnership

LUXURY

A beer company gives back to fight breast cancer

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Why It's Worth It It may cost more than your budget but here's why

130

SOLO

Taming Guidezilla

EQUIPMENT

Going solo doesn't have to be a nightmare

37

Getting You Out There Here is what you need to get to your destination

136

DIFFERENCE

Straight Outta Coeur d'Alene Meet Katlin Barnhart

Tuck In

42 COMMUNITY

HOMEMADE

The Juliana's Anglers Sporting Club

Muscadine Wine

An all women's fishing club in New York state

A southern American tradition you should make at home this fall

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28

CONQUER

Calm out of Chaos When work and play collide it can be stressful

50

In Every Edition

FUTURE

Life Choices

7 Letter From The Editor

The dream of becoming a guide is a reality for one young girl

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TRAVEL

Winging It Traveling to Rocky Mountain National Park

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47

11 We Hear You

139 REFRESHMENT

Apple Bourbon Bellini Our favorite fall drink

145

Foundation BASICS

12 Contributors

13 Janell's Five Tips

Backing up a Trailer A few helpful tips to backing up a trailer

124 Favorite Memories

135 Travel 146 At The End of The Day

14 PHOTOGRAPHY

Tips to Keepemwet How to capture that memory and keepemwet

122

Discover BOOK

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The Reel Sisters Vintage travel trailers and a river make one woman's passion come to life

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DESTINATION

No rod has ever silenced all the variables.

No engineer has ever found a way to transfer back cast energy directly into forward accuracy.

No angler has ever erased all the doubt from his or her mind.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

JEN RIPPLE Founder & Editor-In-Chief Jen@DUNmagazine.com Janell Fannin Managing Editor Grace Erin Associate Editor Hope Halla Copy Editor

ADVERTISING ads@DUNmagazine.com 224.532.9160

T. Daniel Frost Associate Editor Jessica Callihan Editorial Assistant

Meg Humphries Editorial Assistant

Mēgan Berns Editor at Large

Brandon Miller Staff Photographer

Rachael McClendon Special Assignment Editor

SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES editor@DUNmagazine.com 224.532.9160

GENERAL INQUIRIES editor@DUNmagazine.com 224.532.9160

SUBMISSIONS submissions@DUNmagazine.com 224.532.9160

CONTRIBUTORS Naoto Aoki Alanda Banks-MacLeod Bemidji State University Peter Breeden Nome Buckman Jud Cherry Meagan Cherry Sascha Clark Danylchuk Mal Crispo Michelle Cummings Jennifer de Graaf Brandon Healey Helaine Holbrook Corey Hunt Bryan Huskey Marian Jayne Kara Jordan Katie Kohler Paula Krugerud Kyla Kulp

Robert Lennox Lil D. Heide Mason Alex Anne Matthews Sarah Elizabeth Matthews Geri Meyer Tina Murray Josh Nugent Katie Pelnik Kathryn Renik Tucker Berta Sarkisian Teton Scenic Floats & Fly Fishing SweetWater Teresa Westberry Jess Westbrook Sara Westfall Winged Reel Cheyenne Yokeley Erika Zambello Dennis Zimmermann

 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/DUNmagazine

On The Cover Jen Ripple and a stunning brown trout photographed

by Naoto Aoki on the Bow River in Calgary Canada. See more photographs from this trip and learn more about Calgary in the article Crossing the Border page 65.

EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING OFFICE

100% RECYCLABLE

DUN Magazine 316 Hidden Valley Road Dover, TN 37058 DUNmagazine.com editor@DUNmagazine.com

i Green-Zine

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PUBLISHER Fly Squared Media 316 Hidden Valley Road Dover, TN 37058 p.224.532.9160

DUN Magazine ISSN #2573-3184 is published by Fly Squared Media, LLC, 316 Hidden Valley Road, Dover, TN 37058. The cover and contents of DUN Magazine are fully protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission. All rights reserved in all countries. DUN Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Submissions cannot be returned without a self-addressed envelope. ©2018 Fly Squared Media. Printed in the United States of America.

DESTINATION

LETTER from the EDITOR

photo by Brandon Miller Photography

Where do you want to go?

As

a little girl, my family and I would regularly pack up the motorhome and take to the road. As a small-town Wisconsinite, being able to drive through the Great Smoky Mountains in fall, the mountains alive with color, gave me a sense of my place in this world. It was a wake-up call that as a finite being, I lived in an infinite world; a gentle reminder that what I saw every day in my little hometown was just a tiny piece of the puzzle.

true. There is a whole glorious world out there, with different cultures and values, that needs to be explored, and embraced.

As I’ve grown and traveled the world, those first impressions hold

It is my hope that this edition will be a reminder today that while there

Fall reminds me that we live in a big, bright, and colorful world. There are so many places to visit. So many public spaces we are privileged to explore. Every day we should be creating memories that last a lifetime, be it at the fancy resort or in our own backyard.

are extravagant vacations that make incredible memories, sometimes the best memories, those that we cherish, come from the connections and moments that result from everyday life.

When I think back on my fondest memories, the ones I hold most dear, they are those that happened right in my own backyard. The memories of swimming on that small Wisconsin lake. The memories of those I no longer have the privilege of seeing — my grandparents. The memories of

football games with my high school friends, and hayrides at the pumpkin patch with my young children, before life rushed by and stole their youth. As cliché as it sounds, today is your day to live in the present, to make memories with those around you, whether you’re on a faraway island or in your own kitchen.

Today is your destination.

Jen@DUNmagazine.com @Jen_Ripple

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online

DUNmagazine.com

Visit our website to join the DUN community and learn more.

Experience

by Annie Jones I have been around fishing and the outdoors for my entire life. My dad has been fly fishing for as long as I can remember. When my brother and I turned about eight, our dad started teaching us how to fly fish. We have always adhered to the Catch and Release method. Drake, my brother, is a natural at it. I have been slowly improving my skills to feel confident at the age of 14. I can now cast without getting stuck every other cast, which is pretty awesome.

Despite my casting skills, I always have the best time on our yearly vacation to Ennis, Montana. Every summer, my family flies out to Ennis to go fly fishing. It’s one of the greatest experiences of my life and I’m so grateful and lucky that I get to experience it. photo by Richie Jones

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2 Large Salmon

Trash

by Allison Helen Hendricks

by Sylvie Malo-Clark We had completed our first and second day of fishing for the wild Atlantic salmon on the majestic Grand Cascapedia River and I was skunked. Peter, my husband and fishing partner for this trip, had landed a 15 pounder on a

They said, “it’s only trash.”

They said, “you’ll never catch anything in there.”

They said, “it’s not worth your time.”

However, I saw things very differently from photo by Stephanie Smith Munoz the moment I found my first ditch. I walked down a path behind the home where I was living at the time, only to find a fork in a bayou, and what I saw then changed me and started my journey into trashy waters. What I saw was a fish the length of my body. Not knowing what it was at the time, I started doing research on what fish, that large, could swim so far up into the middle of nowhere. I went back daily to watch him, observe him, even throw a fly at him, but never did catch him.

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photo by Sylvie Malo-Clark

Bomber and lost a large one on a wet fly on day two. Angling can be more challenging in August especially if the water levels are at rock bottom and warm. The salmon seek deeper and cooler waters. I ended both days thinking the scenery was spectacular and most people would give their eye teeth to be in my shoes.

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We Hear You I just picked up your Spring 2018 issue (my first copy) of DUN and I wanted to compliment you on such a well-constructed, well-written, and beautifully photographed magazine. I wasn't quite sure what I was in for when buying a "women's" fly fishing magazine or what angle (sorry for the pun) the magazine's content might take, but as far as I'm concerned, it's fly fishing, what could possibly go wrong? After reading through the issue, I wanted to say thank you for providing so much great "femaleoriented, but not male-alienating" content.

I've never given it much thought other than simply assuming being on the water in a common spirit is basically gender agnostic.

I grew up with a grandmother who always seemed to fish better than myself, and a sister who was as welcome as anyone else. So I was a little surprised to read the Bear Spray article and some of the accounts of patronizing/ intimidating behavior some women have experienced while out there casting. I cringed a little at some of the details. Apologies on behalf of my gender, ladies. That said, I was pleased to read the sense of proportion, balance, and fair perspective that closed out the article.

Keep up the great work there at DUN. I may not be your target demographic but I'll be back for more. After all, just like the experience of being on the water itself, when it comes to good content, gender seems like a superfluous detail that need not be a deterrent.

Regards, J. Eisenhood John, Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words of encouragement and for your support of women in our sport. It's men like you that help us break down the barriers and keep more women fishing.

Jen

I love the magazine! It is so well-written and presented. The articles are fun and engaging.

I seriously want to go to Oman. Thank you so much for creating this magazine, it's fantastic.

My husband couldn't keep his hands off of it! I can't wait to get the next one.

I attached a picture of a fun little guy I caught on The McKenzie today, just for fun.

Thank you! A. Malone

Got kids?

I am new to fly fishing. This week when some really bad news came my way, I told my husband, "I'm going fly tying." At that moment, I realized why I had driven to another state for my very first fly fishing in fast water trip.

I could fail and still be happy. I had such a great time, "Just because." In the moment. Just because I like to do it. So much of my life didn't allow for failure. If I failed at work? Someone might get hurt. If I failed as a mom? Well nobody wants to fail as a parent. Gone was the joy of failure. Stacking blocks. Knocking those blocks down. Gone was the joy of a kid. I don't feel the same with fly fishing or fly tying.

I have good teachers who remind me to enjoy.

One of them told me she'd been fishing 6 times before she caught her first fish. It's a process.

She's right.

Kind regards, C. Ford

We love to hear from our readers.

Contact us at editor@DUNmagazine.com

Know some kids?

Just a kid yourself?

Get hooked on Olive the Woolly Bugger!

Ask for ALL 3 books at your local fly shop or find them online!

olivethewoollybugger.com

Contributors

Kathryn Renik

photo courtesy of Bemidji State

grew up on a trout hatchery in Western Nebraska, sparking her interest in biology while working alongside her Author dad. She began as a dance major at the University of Wyoming but ultimately traded in her pointe shoes for a pair of waders and a degree in fisheries. After graduation, she worked at a salmon hatchery on a small island in Alaska, where she met her husband and kindred angler, Joe. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree at Bemidji State University, focusing on the effect of beaver on brook trout habitat. As an avid outdoorswoman who cherishes time spent with her family and friends fishing, she is excited about a career that will allow her to successfully manage the valued fisheries resource so that fellow anglers and future generations can enjoy those same experiences and memories.

Lil D.

photo by Meagan Cherry

is an elementary student whose favorite subject is science. She has fished longer than she can remember.

Author She loves tying flies and catching fish with them. Bass, trout, catfish, carp, buffalo, sunfish, she loves catching them all. She also rock climbs, kayaks, backpacks, camps, and paints. If it is an adventure, she is in. Her dad started an Instagram account for her to show her how many other women are out there fly fishing. She hopes that someday she can help people realize that if someone says “that’s just for boys” they can answer with “watch this.” In the meantime, she will be doing what she enjoys, fly fishing. Her adventures and misadventures can be followed @marchBrownEyeDun.

Marian Jayne

is co-owner of Beyond the Blue, an airboat and paddleboard bonefishing charter operation in the Turks & Caicos Author Islands. After 20 years of homeschooling her three sons and hosting clients at their lodge, she is expanding her skills as an independent angler who doesn’t always rely on her husband’s help. She enjoys empowering other women anglers, as well as young outdoorsmen, through her latest endeavor as an adventure life coach. You can find her online at beyondTheBlue.com.

Erika Zambello

grew up in Maine, and spent her summers swimming in chilly Atlantic Ocean waters, hiking fir-covered Author mountains, and rock-hopping within clear-running streams filled with trout. Quickly falling in love with the natural world, she has been hooked on outdoor exploration ever since. Currently, she is a writer and photographer living on the Emerald Coast of Florida. She has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment, where she specialized in Ecosystem Science and Conservation. She is a National Geographic Young Explorer, completing four trips to the Maine North Woods in each of the four seasons, Fall 2015-Summer 2016. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @a_day_in_the_landscape or at zambellophotography.com.

DESTINATION

Janell's Five Tips

for TRAVEL

by Janell Fannin

Travel Insurance: When someone suggests that I buy travel insurance, I am hit with the same eye roll urge I have when I hear warnings of not letting your gas gauge dip below the half tank mark, dramatic and probably a bit of overkill on the concern side. Typically, the travel insurance we see is only of value if there is a death or hospitalization, only then can you cancel or reschedule a trip — until I found that there is insurance that covers activities beyond our wildest imagination. Sure it covers fishing gear, personal effects, baggage, etc., but if you want to live your best Romancing the Stone moment, go ahead and do a Rickshaw Run in the Himalayas, drive off the cliff and you’re covered! Launch your prized Frisbee into the mouth of a lion in the Serengeti and you’ll have a replacement in no time. If nothing else, the list of activities challenges me to see how I can absolutely shred my new limited-edition Air Guitar (included activity). World Nomads has the most ridiculous and inspiring list of activities with some fairly substantial coverage at an affordable cost. You can also buy while traveling, so before you’re lowered down in the shark feeding cage make sure to have decent WiFi and request a quote.

Passport app: The last time I came back from Mexico, I must have heard the flight attendants suggest an App called Mobile Passport half a dozen times. I was one of three people who took heed. I know this because I was in the line with three people while the rest of my fellow passengers lined up 250 people deep and collectively whined. I was through customs with luggage in hand, jumping in a taxi, before anyone else on my flight could answer “purpose of your visit”.

Baggage policies: Damn Print, you so fine. Baggage fees are part of the numbers game, but a freebie many people unknowingly under-utilize is taking advantage of the carrier's baggage policy. Many carriers comp fishing gear under their policy provided it’s declared. Some airlines charge one fee for all gear even if it’s in multiple pieces. Do your research when selecting an airline to fly or to frequent. How many rounds of drinks can you buy with the $100 worth of baggage fees you’ve saved?

What to pack, what to leave: I have gone out and purchased or gone to great lengths to borrow and carry gear that never even touched the water.

Talk to your guide ahead of time to see if they have a setup for you to use.

Do they provide everything but the fishing license and the banana for your guided trip? You may have a tried and true set up you want to bring and use, but I’ve found I would have saved time and money since I usually end up using a guide's setup anyway. At the same time, you may be married to your own gear and wouldn’t dare to be caught holding on to another. That’s reel love.

I’ve told you how to save time, money, stress, and restore your sense of adventure, but the most valuable traveler secret I can leave you with is an unconventional airport treasure hunt. Men eating ice cream cones.

Overwhelmingly, I’ve observed this dozens of times in airports and nowhere else. I’ve grown to really enjoy this inside secret observation, and have had no greater glee than when I see two unrelated men’s worlds colliding over mint chocolate chip and rocky road near the gate. It's like watching them spot a twin they didn’t know they had as they lock eyes over a double scoop. Now when you see this remember me. Snap a secret pic and we have an avantgarde coffee table book in our future. 

5 THINGS TO KNOW

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The Crazy Art of backing up a trailer

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For some, backing up a trailer seems as hard as brain surgery. Try out our tips to help you improve your backing up skills.

Position yourself for success. If you’re new to backing up a trailer, choose a time when the boat ramp is empty.

Saturday during the summer is probably not the best time to practice your backing up skills.

DESTINATION

The Do’s 1

See it

You have to be able to see the trailer to back it up. In the beginning, it can be helpful to open the tailgate or liftgate and lay down a seat or two to get a better view of where the trailer is going. Launch ramps are sometimes curved, and at times can be steep. Being able to look back and see exactly where the back of that trailer is headed helps a lot. Mirrors are fine once you're comfortable with the trailer, but don’t be afraid to open the back. You may get a few odd looks, but it’s better than the look you’ll get after bottoming out your trailer on the side of the ramp.

2

Position it If you can, start out with your vehicle and trailer in a straight line aimed down the ramp. Having to turn a trailer while backing is not hard once you get the hang of it, but it makes the process a whole lot easier if you start out in a straight line.

3

Steer it To get the trailer to move in the right direction, place your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel.

With your hand on the bottom of the wheel, it’s easier to remember which way to turn. Want the back of the trailer to turn right? Simply move your hand to the right. Want the back of the trailer to turn left?

Simply move your hand to the left.

4

Recognize it Ask for help when needed. A partner outside the vehicle may be super helpful. Instead of yelling, to each other, hand signals work well. As a standard rule of thumb, pointing to the left means the trailer needs to go left, pointing to the right means the trailer needs to go right. A fist means to stop, and waving forward or back lets you know it’s clear to keep moving in that direction.

It’s important to note that the shorter the wheelbase and the lighter the trailer, the harder it is to back up. Light trailers can bounce, causing them to move unexpectedly and veer off course. Trailers with a short wheelbase (think kayak and drift boat trailers) will be twitchy and won’t want to stay straight during the back-up process.

BASICS

5

Relax it Take your time. Unless you’re participating in some race, you don’t need to set a land speed record. Take your time and think about what you need to do to get the boat in the water.

6

Redo it Just like there are times to untangle your knots and times to cut your losses and tie a fresh leader, the same is true for backing up your trailer. Don’t be afraid to pull forward and begin again if the trailer is starting to move in the wrong direction. Trying to correct a wayward trailer can sometimes be a lot harder than just pulling forward. Pull forward just enough to get the trailer straightened out and begin again.

7

Practice it I would venture to say that very few of us were gifted with the backing-upa-trailer-gene. Practice makes perfect. Realizing that everyone starts out with a jackknifed trailer on the ramp at some point will make it easier to laugh at yourself when you have to start over … for the fifth time.

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from every

angle

Stories from extraordinary anglers like you

Casting Light on a century-old

controversy

The relationship between beaver and trout has been a topic of debate for as long as anyone can remember.

By Kathryn Renik

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from every angle

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DESTINATION

S

Since the early 1900s, people have quarreled over the beaver and trout relationship. Some fishermen are convinced that beaver are the ultimate villain, ruining pristine fishing spots, while others vow that beaver ponds accommodate some of the best fishing, yielding many prized catches.

Brook trout inhabit small headwater streams characterized by cooler water temperatures and riffle-run areas with rocky substrate. Beavers dam up a stream to create a pond, a refuge, in which they can construct their lodge and be protected from predators. But what happens when their habitats collide? What happens when the ecological engineer, aka the beaver, begins construction of it’s home and subconsciously changes a portion of the stream from lotic to lentic? Beaver tend to be harmful to trout in warmer, low altitude streams, with water sources consisting of lakes and precipitation that can result in lethally warmer temperatures. Streams in eastern regions of the United States tend to exhibit these characteristics.

Beaver dams are beneficial to trout in cold, mountainous or semi-arid areas, such as streams in the west, where the warming of temperatures expands habitat once too cold and produces a buffer against drought.

In the late 1940’s in Idaho, managers actually parachuted beavers from planes in hopes of improving trout habitat through beaver colonization. If beaver tend to be harmful out east but beneficial in western streams, what is the impact of beaver on brook trout habitat specifically on the North Shore of Lake Superior? That’s my cue to enter, and as a graduate student at Bemidji State University, I have been given this fascinating opportunity to investigate the effect of beaver activity on brook trout habitat in Northeastern Minnesota.

CONSERVATION

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During the summers of 2017 and 2018, I traveled and camped along the North Shore of Lake Superior with my technicians, Kylie and Adrianna. Over 100 days I lived in the University’s fish house, cooking over the campfire each night (becoming quite good at making a pizza in the dutch oven) and spending my evenings on the banks of the Baptism River. But my favorite days were those when my husband, Joe, and golden retriever, Leinie, would come to visit me. To begin casting light on the beaver and brook trout relationship in the region, data was collected in a 200-meter reach of brook trout streams

during July and August, the hottest months with the lowest flow. Sampling occurred in 82 stream sites and 21 beaver ponds during 2017 and 2018. Brook trout habitat variables measured at data points along transects throughout each stream site included stream velocity, depth, temperature, and substrate.

These measurements were later applied to a habitat suitability index (HSI) model that scored the data (0.0 unsuitable habitat, 1.0 good habitat) and allowed me to quantify the amount of suitable brook trout habitat in each site sampled. Drift nets were deployed to capture aquatic invertebrates that will

later be applied to a bioenergetics model, allowing for the determination of brook trout growth availability in each site. In addition to sampling brook trout streams, you could also find me paddling along transects in a float tube in beaver ponds. In beaver ponds, variables potentially affecting brook trout, such as dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature, were measured. I found sampling beaver ponds particularly challenging, often trudging through hip high muck, extracting leeches off of my arms, and battling black flies. But as with the stream sites, I also found a serenity of sort and appreciation for this unique ecosystem. Propelling millions of tadpoles into waves with my float tube in a beaver pond, unexpectedly discovering an enchanting waterfall, and spooking a large brook trout hiding inconspicuously in a quaint stream’s undercut bank are experiences that make me so incredibly grateful to have chosen fisheries as a career.

CONSERVATION

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CONSERVATION

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from every angle During the fall and winter, my months were busy with data analysis, setting the hook on the beaver and brook trout controversy.

Geographical information system (GIS) was used to create interpolated brook trout habitat maps for each stream and beaver pond site from the data collected. I have enjoyed each process of my research, but there’s something satisfying about seeing all your hard work in the field come together by visually seeing

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DESTINATION

calculated brook trout habitat represented in the streams and ponds. Using GIS and aerial photos, beaver variables were measured that might potentially affect brook trout habitat.

These included the number of upstream dams from the sampled site, the distance to the nearest beaver dam, and the area of the upstream beaver pond. Most recently, I have been diligently processing my invertebrate samples collected from the drift nets. And

even though the process of identifying and measuring each invertebrate has been daunting and seemingly everlasting, there is also an excitement and admiration for each one. You never know what you will find in your sample and each species is so uniquely different. My favorite is seeing all the different mayfly gills and caddisfly cases. Those creatures are truly amazing.

Preliminary results of my research indicated that the maximum tree line width of the nearest upstream beaver pond was a significant variable that could be potentially affecting the amount of suitable brook trout habitat. Specifically, a greater area of suitable brook trout habitat was achieved when the maximum tree line width of the nearest upstream beaver pond was less than 70 meters. Beaver actively cut trees for dam maintenance and food, and as they continue their harvest throughout time, they have to search farther and farther away from their pond to reach favorable trees. As the tree line width of a beaver pond increases, less riparian shade is provided for the stream reach, potentially increasing temperatures and providing less suitable brook trout habitat below. Preliminary results also indicated that there was suitable brook trout habitat (sometimes even better habitat than was calculated in any of the streams) in 13 of the 21 beaver ponds sampled.

The amount of dissolved oxygen was the limiting factor in determining if beaver ponds provided brook trout with suitable habitat.

I am still analyzing the invertebrate data for the bioenergetics model and therefore, do not have any preliminary results to share with you about beaver potentially affecting brook trout growth in the sampled streams. But what I do know (along with my choice of fly for fishing next summer), is that mayflies tend to be the dominant group of invertebrates, constituting of approximately 75% of many drift net samples. In one stream reach, mayfly numbers were over 450 in a sample of 550 invertebrates.

This project is funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

photo courtesy of Bemidji State University

CONSERVATION

Brook trout are a native species that remain highly desired by anglers, and results from this study will allow agencies to efficiently make management decisions when regarding brook trout and beaver in the North Shore, Lake Superior region of Minnesota. I enjoyed spending my summers in the streams among the brook trout and am excited to analyze my data, allowing for light to be casted on this century-old controversy. ď Ź

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from every angle

a o t Ode

acter. r a h c f o l l u les are f c i h e v e Green m e o h S t s a h c u names s They have ghtning . i L r o , e i b r e unt Machine, H

By Corey H

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DESTINATION

Our

K C U R T

beloved truck was named the Grey Goose, partly for its color and for the fact that no one else wanted it. We bought the truck three weeks after we were married.

My husband and I were living in Charleston, S.C. and our old truck died after a random downpour and high tide perfectly coincided. We took that opportunity to upgrade vehicles to one that would fit our outdoor lifestyle, preferably with four-wheel drive. Little did we know the adventures we were in for with the Grey Goose. If dents and scratches could tell stories, the Grey Goose could’ve written a book.

One such scratch was put there by a huge pine tree in North Carolina.

We decided one fourth of July to hike to a small stream to avoid crowds and round up a few wild trout. The road to the stream was so small we drove past it twice. Once we turned down the gravel road, we shifted into four-wheel drive and held our breath. The road was littered with holes and downed trees, and we didn’t get above five miles an hour. The Goose was steady and rolled over pine trees like a champ. After what seemed like an eternity, we made one last turn, which proved too narrow and our truck now had a scratch on the right passenger side door. I don’t remember how many fish we caught that weekend, but I will never forget that winding road or the truck that got us through it. But scratches weren’t all that infused the Goose with character.

Some smells take us back to a particular place or time in the past.

Whenever I smell a campfire, I think of the Goose. The Grey Goose never did have that new truck smell, or maybe we just couldn’t smell it. We were newlyweds living at the beach, which meant our truck’s interior was littered with sand, no matter the month. Although we loved Charleston, we longed for the trout we grew up catching in the mountains. Our weekends were filled with driving to the foothills, and since trout live in pretty areas, we camped. The new truck smell did not stand a chance after we accidentally left the windows down while making a campfire one night. We drove three hours with the windows down, but eventually we just gave in. The smell did fade, but every now and again we would be driving on a long highway and the smell of campfire smoke would cause us to reminisce.

The heart and soul of the Grey Goose’s character was found in its rearview mirror. Early on, the reflection was generally that of an 8 foot 5-weight fly rod, made for me by my husband. The Goose hauled that fly rod to and from so many streams and backroads, I have since lost count. A few years into the Grey Goose’s life, the mirror reflection changed to include a golden retriever pup and yellow lab pup. Those two put the interior of the Goose to the test with muddy paws, wet fur, and sharp teeth. Toward the end of our relationship with the truck, the reflection changed once again. This time the Goose would be entrusted to haul one of our most valuable possessions, a baby boy. The mirror now reflected a set of brilliant blue eyes, full of wonder, eager to explore his new world. Although the reflections in the mirror have aged slightly over time, like a good wine, they kept improving.

They say if you love someone, set them free. The Goose was set free when we found out we were about to have our second child. We had been pushing the limits of its capacity for several years, and we now have a larger truck with considerably less character. Although we continue to break it in with scratches and dents, it will never surpass the character of the Grey Goose. The Goose may be gone but will never be forgotten. 

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An Unlikely Partnership from every angle

By Tucker Berta Sarkisian Photos courtesy of Winged Reel

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In 1996,

Freddy Bensch was a recent graduate with an environmental science degree in his pocket, and big passions for craft beer and exploring the great outdoors. A road trip with his best friend, Kevin, and dog, Badger, took him eastbound. His truck broke down in Atlanta; arguably the most fortuitous inconvenience of his life.

This was during the 1996 Olympics, and Atlanta was positively humming with excitement. In addition to the southern ladies, Freddy was enamored by the city’s natural resources—the river and creeks, the proximity of the mountains. He also saw the challenges Atlanta had with protecting their waterways, and immediately started itching to help. Freddy knew this was where he needed to land and open a business—he’d spent college working at a Colorado brewery, and felt that he could succeed in delivering those West Coast style ales to the south.

From day one, Freddy’s passion for clean water and protecting natural habitats formed the business strategy—after long days of building the brewery, he’d take respite in paddling Sweetwater Creek, hence the brewing company’s name. He also got SweetWater involved with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, giving beer and volunteer power, plus any dollars he could scrape together, to their efforts.

As the brewery grew from a tiny start-up to the nation’s 15th largest craft brewery, so did SweetWater’s support of causes near and dear to their hearts. Consumers have likely seen their annual Save Our Water campaign, which donates $100,000 to conservation organizations every summer.

They may have seen SweetWater-wrapped fishing boats on The Hooch, or a SweetWater banner at one of the hundreds of habitat or river clean up events they support every year. It’s no secret that SweetWater loves to give back to good people who protect their passions of fishing, paddling, swimming, and just being out on the water—and it’s no secret that you can’t make good beer without clean water.

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from every angle

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from every angle

photo courtesy of SweetWater

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SweetWater is introducing a new philanthropic endeavor this October: The brewery is turning cans of their iconic “Blue” blueberry wheat ale from blue to pink, and donating a portion of sales of these specials cans to Casting for Recovery. This will be the first time in 21 years of brewing that SweetWater has altered the art on the “Blue” brand, which was one of the two original brews to flow from the brewery.

Casting for Recovery (CfR) provides healing fly fishing retreats for women with breast cancer at no cost to participants. CfR’s retreats offer opportunities for women to find inspiration, discover renewed energy for life, and experience powerful connections with other women and nature.

The retreats are open to women with breast cancer of all ages, in all stages of treatment and recovery.

For women who have had surgery or radiation as part of their breast cancer treatment, the gentle motion of fly casting can be good physical therapy for the upper body. Couple that with the emotional benefits of a day on the water, and you’ve got powerful medicine. CfR retreats are unconventional and described by many women as life-changing.

SweetWater chose to support Casting for Recovery because of their incredible work for women with, and recovering from, breast cancer— Freddy and the SweetWater employees love fly fishing as much as they love great beer, and can personally attest to the healing power of the cast.

They also have a personal connection—Casting for Recovery helped out their good friend and partner, Becca Klein, director of development for Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, during her battle with breast cancer.

Pick up a pink “Blue” can this October, maybe throw a few in your cooler, throw on your waders, and hit your favorite fishing hole—thank SweetWater for their support of this incredible organization, and for all they do to help keep our waters clean and natural habitats protected. 

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from every angle

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Taming

Guidezilla

By Marian Jayne

Going to a new place and hiring a guide can be daunting. Here is one woman's account of hiring a guide solo.

I sat alone

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on the hotel steps, backpack, lunch, and fly rod by my side, hoping my guide wasn’t going to stand me up. For the first time in my life I had the chance to see, if not catch, a Caribbean Grand Slam—a bonefish, tarpon and permit— and I feared Guidezilla (a pseudonym to protect the innocent) was going to blow my opportunity. Many online reviews said he was the best guide in the area—BUT potential clients should expect him to criticize their gear and fishing technique, and possibly even renege if a higher tipping client came along. Recalling his interrogation of me on the phone the night before over my ability to fish and tip him the required amount, I sat wrestling with my decision. Waiting and mulling, I thought I heard snickering from three fishermen descending the stairs on the heels of their more reputable guide.

Guidezilla did show up 20-minutes later, passing me on his way to grab ice from the hotel’s restaurant. He motioned for me to load into an overcrowded little car teeming with a motley crew of local guides and a hungover British client. Introducing myself, I sardined my way into the metal container, grinning through the awkward-as-hell moment because my Grand Slam was now within reach. Thirty-minutes of bilingual chitchat on women, booze, and fishing later, we arrived at our destination where more crew members were readying their boats. Among them was another younger British client with a “WTF have I gotten myself into” expression that I too was surely repressing. Looking around the compound of simple blue shacks, I pondered whether to relieve myself in the bushes before my 8-hour confinement with Guidezilla. After consulting my bladder, I decided I would only cross that bridge (or rather jump in that water) when it became absolutely necessary.

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In the safe fellowship of this animated cast of characters, I decided the time was right to quell my lurking anxiety over my guide’s questionable fame. With candid humor and tongue-firmly-incheek, I informed Guidezilla of five things:

1 I didn’t want him scaring me all day with his reputed machismo.

2 I usually fish with a husband that enables my incompetence.

3 I was here to have fun and focus on quality over quantity (i.e. I want to cast at all three Grand Slam species).

4 I didn’t want either one of us freaking out about limitations in

my casting ability (it was my charter, I can “cast like a girl” if I want to).

5 If he did a good job, I would help ruin his bad reputation by writing a positive review online.

My exuberant witnesses erupted in laughter, including Guidezilla, making jokes and diffusing any doubts about our looming compatibility on the water. A respectful yet whimsical rapport was now established and I was reassured my gamble on this guide was going to pay off.

While underway, my ever-spirited captain cracked off a few hysterical comments about staying on his best behavior, laughing in approval when I gave him the finger for offering his large knife to subdue the ponytail I was struggling to pull through the back of my hat. Killing the engine to pole us closer to an edge that was exploding with tailing bonefish, I asked if we could rehearse our technique before getting into the school. I only ever wade or paddleboard for bonefish so am unaccustomed to fishing from a boat, especially when it involves casting over the head of a guide who is poling from the bow.

He graciously accommodated a few practice casts as well as a slew of other requests I made throughout the day. Only on a few occasions did I have to remind him not to frantically repeat orders for how he wanted a particular cast or retrieval executed. Eventually he gave me time to adapt to his methodology, seeming genuinely relieved at not having to guide so intensely.

Consequently, our day was spent enjoying productive fishing and amusing banter.

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Guidezilla’s expertise as a guide was never more apparent and appreciated than in his ability to match my agenda and casting ability with the character and condition of the fishery. In Turks and Caicos, big bonefish are an everyday prospect, so after catching only 3-5 pounders, I wanted to target permit. Instead of poling me in an area where I would have to cast fast and against the wind to spooky fish, he anchored us in a small channel between two flats where smaller permit consistently grazed in and out with the bonefish. This scenario would not necessarily have been every client’s preference, but it was exactly mine because the setting allowed me a lot of opportunities to cast at permit. Guidezilla patiently coached me on how to differentiate a permit’s flash from a bonefish’s when fishing deeper water, helping me to tweak my cast and fly presentation to a permit’s liking. Along with many smaller bonefish, I was able to hook two of the coveted Trachinotus falcatus and, for the first time, experience their unique pull against my rod. Unfortunately, my immediate reaction was to fight as aggressively as I do a bonefish, which only resulted in me breaking off both times. Such is the learning curve of targeting a new species.

My shot at casting to a Grand Slam was complete when I threw my fly to a school of 60lb tarpon with another guide the next day. Though I didn’t hook up, I did turn one and get her to follow my fly all the way to the boat.

Another first for me, since I’d only ever fished for tarpon on a spinning rod.

I had met my goal of casting to all three species of the Caribbean Grand Slam and, by my standards, had an epic two days of guided fishing—not because my casting was epic, or the guiding epic, or because the fishery itself was epic (the new moon low tide definitely wasn’t great)—but because I had crossed a new personal milestone. A telltale grin bubbled across my smitten zinc-ed face.

When hiring a guide solo, I cannot emphasize enough the need to overtly communicate your objectives and preferences to your guide, reiterating your agenda as often as is necessary to get the most from your charter.

When asked to play nice, Guidezilla proved surprisingly tamable, and I suspect most guides would respond just as graciously. Taming your guide is as much about taming your own fears as it is about communicating your expectations. And, in case you’re wondering about that inevitable awkward moment feared by most women anglers, I never did need to jump overboard or ask to see a man about a dog on a nearby cay, despite having downed several liters of water in the boat that day. Guidezilla, on the other hand, had to relieve himself off the bow, warning me in advance not to turn around. When does that ever happen—the guy having to go and not the girl? The most rewarding opportunities lurk beyond our comfort zone, so push through any misgivings and awkwardness when hiring an unfamiliar local guide. I fell into the adventure of a lifetime because the experience was as much about pushing myself as a solo female angler as it was about the potential for a Caribbean Grand Slam. 

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from every angle

Straight Outta Coeur d'alene Many of us know and follow the awesome fly fishing women we see on social media, admiring their huge catches and the pristine scenery around them.

However, there are many women in fly fishing today that have helped to shape the entire industry, we just don’t know about them because they are not prevalent on social media. Earning them the title of “original fly fishing gangsters,” they were on the river long before it was cool. I am speaking of women like

Kaitlin Barnhart.

By Jess Westbrook in tribute Photos by Kyla Kulp

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These women are behind the scenes uplifting others. They are great instructors, admins on forums, article writers, and they pack up their goat and hike up in the Idaho mountains to chase trout – wait what? Yeah you read that right. When Kaitlin and her best friend had infants, instead of staying at home like many mothers with newborns, they would load up “Bridger” the pack goat with pack-n-plays, bottles, diapers, and the like, doing whatever it took to get on the river.

Kaitlin learned how to fly fish while working at a lodge in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska during college. After college she used her social work degree to help and uplift others in need. Those that Kaitlin has served in her professional career range from cancer patients to foster children.

No matter what the circumstances, she is able to connect and provide help and healing through fly fishing. There are three things that Kaitlin is passionate about: her family, her fly fishing, and her fly fishing family.

Kaitlin is Co-founder of The Mayfly Project, a nonprofit organization that mentors foster children through fly fishing. She is leading the charge in program development and implementation of chapters of The Mayfly Project across the United States. She is gathering data to quantify that mentoring foster children through fly fishing improves self-esteem, confidence, and mental health, and will have a long-lasting effect on our children in foster care.

Kaitlin is also a talented author and her writing has been in numerous publications. Her style tends to focus on life experiences we can all relate to. She loves to inspire others to get out on the water, even if that means your child is swimming in the river around you while you try to fish. (You get bonus points if your kid can spot the fish underwater and tell you where to cast!) Kaitlin always makes fly fishing a priority, no matter the stage of life.

Without a doubt Kaitlin Barnhart is changing lives and impacting the fly fishing industry with her work.

Next time you see Kaitlin or any other “original fly fishing gangster” on the river, be sure to grab them and thank them for doing the thankless, behind the scenes work that makes a difference. 

DIFFERENCE

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The Juliana’s Anglers Sporting Club

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hat’s what I said to Rachel Finn, a notorious Adirondack fly fishing guide, fine artist, and my friend, as we stood in the middle of the Ausable River throwing dry flies in pocket water, or maybe passing nymphs along boulders, outside of Lake Placid, New York in 1998. I was a city girl living temporarily in the North Country for work when I decided to take up fly fishing. Rachel was a guide at the Hungry Trout Fly Shop who spent something like half her time with her husband guiding in Alaska and the rest of the year in the Adirondacks. I’d look for her Toyota along the river whenever I could. If I spotted her truck, I’d walk through the woods and take a peek; if she didn’t have a client with her, I was always welcome to join her. I kept my waders and gear in the back of my SUV all the time, and would park on the roadside and change in the woods to grab a few minutes of angling whenever I could after work. Of course, there was that time I was half in my waders and lost my balance and fell over on my butt in the leaves when I heard the voices of some hikers near me as I changed … but you don’t need to hear about that.

from every angle

hh

A women’s fly fishing club? All women?

In New York City? Really?

By Heide Mason

I had no way of knowing how that offhand referral in the middle of a river would fit into the next 20 years of my life.

I returned to Brooklyn in the winter of 1999 and used that brand spanking new internet thing to look for Rachel’s friends, and there they were: Juliana’s Anglers. I sent an email enquiry to them, and Sara Low, the effusive club President, responded. Sara was working in advertising for Broadway back then and has since left the bright lights to make her living as a fly fishing guide, instructor, conservationist, and author. She warmly welcomed me and invited me to a meeting where I was delighted to find a wildly diverse group of women with one thing in common; fly fishing.

The club was formed almost 25 years ago in 1995 by Nancy Zakon and a few friends in midtown Manhattan, who wanted to create a club that allowed them the opportunity to fish with other women and share their knowledge of the sport in a comfortable environment. They named the club after Dame Juliana Berners, an English Prioress who was born in 1388, and wrote the first known book about fly fishing The Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle, which was originally published in 1496 and is still in print to this day.

In those days, the club held our Annual Fly Fishing School at the Connetquot River State Park Preserve on Long Island, a beautiful old estate on several hundred acres with an old lodge and a fish hatchery along a shallow, easy wading river.

The course staff and instructors were, and still are, club members and guests who find joy in simply sharing their knowledge, talent, and love of fly fishing with new anglers.

(That’s code for we don’t pay them, which helps us to keep the costs down.)

I vividly recall standing waist deep in the river with one of our mentors, whom we call the Fish Magnet, as I proudly displayed the flies in my new fly box. She’s a patient woman who taught special education; she looked at my flies, took a small breath, and kindly suggested I put my collection away for another time, before quietly tying one of her own flies on my line. I The Juliana’s Anglers Sporting Club was originally lost track of the number of trout I caught that founded in 1995, in the heart day, but, let me tell you, that Prince Nymph is of New York City, to create an still the most effective pattern on that river! atmosphere where women could engage in fly fishing We fondly return to the Connetquot from time in a safe, comfortable space. to time, and I always pause a moment to sit on the bench we placed there many years ago.

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from every angle My first trip with the Juliana’s after the school was to Roscoe NY, aka Fishtown USA, in the Catskills, where we stayed in a 1950’s era motel, and fished the Beaverkill and Willowemoc rivers. We had breakfast at the Roscoe Diner, and I remember getting lost in memories after noticing a painting of the Stepping Stones Lighthouse hanging on the wall. That little lighthouse was built in 1877, and sits on a pile of rocks in the Long Island Sound between Queens and the Bronx. I learned to fish as a little girl with a homemade drop line and sand worms (Oh, the pinchers on those things!) with my grandfather when he rowed out to the lighthouse from the Bronx in a fishing dory; but again, that’s a whole ‘nother story.

Although the Juliana’s regularly fish those Catskill waters, I remember a specific trip a few years later when I was delighted to watch the legendary Joan Wulff make the first cast of the season. I can’t claim that I know Joan myself, but I can honestly say that a few of our members do know her and are the better anglers for it. Not to drop names, but I was a participant (and truly least talented) in a club fly tying clinic with Catskill royalty: Mary Dette. The Dette Flies fly shop was started by Mary’s parents in 1928, and is the oldest family-owned and run fly shop in the country. The shop is located in the parlor of the Dette family home in Roscoe and Mary used to tie all the flies herself.

Although time has taken its toll, and her eyes are not what they used to be, their flies are still locally tied. Mary is now mostly retired, and her grandson Joe has taken the reins. I’m proud to say Mary’s daughter and granddaughter have fished with the Juliana’s.

It’s now 19 years later and much, and nothing, has changed. I recently retired and live a bit north of the city, but the Juliana’s are still a big part of my life. I’m proud to be a Board Member and Vice President of Juliana’s Anglers Sporting Club. The Club is still based in New York City, but we’ve spread out. We have members throughout the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) and as far away as Canada and Montana.

The Sporting Club appellation represents our recent interest in upland hunting, as well as sporting clays and archery. Our home turf still spans the local waters of the Croton Watershed, the classic waters of the Catskills, and the Housatonic and Farmington rivers in Connecticut. Now we tend to wander. Last year we ventured as far south as the Ken Lockwood Gorge in New Jersey; as far north as the Ausable River outside of Lake Placid in the Adirondacks; and out east to the Hamptons to fish for Striped Bass in the Great South Bay. Our membership is reflective of our location. We are young and old, and we have financiers, writers, programmers, law enforcement, nurses, scientists, bankers, professors, homemakers, artists, and teachers among our ranks.

Our membership is made up of women who have never lived or worked anywhere else, as well as out-of-towners. Some in our roster grew up enjoying outdoor adventures and some ventured out for the first time in their 50’s. Our current club President, Kat Rollin, joined the club shortly after it was formed. Kat was born and raised in Colorado, but moved to the city many years ago. She is an internationally recognized Salmon fly tier, a fishing guide, a wing shooter, and a tireless advocate for women in outdoor sports. I’m the only current board member who grew up near the city, and the rest are originally from places like Maryland, New Jersey, the Carolinas, and Connecticut.

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Left: Heide Mason with a Largemouth from Dutchess County, New York.

Above and below: The Juliana’s are a diverse group of women anglers from experts to first timers.

Our most recent club event was what we like to call “A Blast.” That is, a round of sporting clays followed by lunch at Orvis Sandanona in Millbrook, NY. When I joined the Juliana’s all those years ago, we primarily fished for trout. Although trout are still our number one, we also fish for bass in the hot weather and stripers in the salt. The past two years we’ve expanded our activities to include sporting clays, upland wing shooting, and archery (in Brooklyn no less). We’ve even put together a few Cast n’ Blasts where we split the day between fly fishing and shooting. We have paired up with our local chapter of G.R.I.T.S. (Girls Really Into Shooting) for a few events.

We’re not static and we’re willing to try it all.

Upcoming activities include a First Aid course, fly tying classes, sporting clay blasts, and trips north, south, east and west.

Our Spring School morphed into a Spring School and Warm Up Weekend, which was held in May at a private club about an hour and a half north of the city with gourmet food, 3 ½ miles of reserved river, and a casting pond in Dutchess County, NY. I’ve proudly become one of those anglers who uses the school as an opportunity to share my knowledge and love of the sport with new anglers.

Being a member of the Juliana’s has given me some of my closest friends and warmest memories. The future of our club, and others like it, is assured if we remember that we can always find a way to laugh and cry together, and find common ground to discuss virtually everything while we fish, shoot, hunt, eat, drink, and just sit around the fire at night eating s’mores in the company of (mostly) likeminded women. 

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Calm out of

s h 0 C A

By Alex Anne Matthews Photos by Sarah Elizabeth Matthews

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his is not an action-packed fly fishing story. It has no plot progression that leaps into a thrashing battle between man versus beast, nor does it wrap up nicely with a tired smile and wet hands wrapped around The Fish of My Dreams. This is not a story about wrangling The White Whale—so please, don’t call me Ishmael.

I’m not sure why I expected the 1992 Buick from Bargain Auto Rental to have an aux cord. I scan every FM radio station twice through and hear nothing but static, so I wipe the sweat from my palms to look up the Mario Kart soundtrack on my phone and make a game of driving on the “wrong” side of the road. I am on my way to a small settlement on a small island in the Bahamas to meet Justin, one of the scientists for Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, a small non-profit fisheries conservation organization for which I am a writer. As the Bahamas Initiative Manager, Justin oversees all of the research and conservation projects we do across the island chain. That’s a tall order, considering the vastness of the area and the wealth of new information that continues to come out of the Bahamas research findings. But Justin isn’t the type to flaunt a full plate.

“Just drive north until you hit water,” his voice plays over in my head. I check the compass app on my

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phone for the fifteenth time. I can’t find a comfortable seated position atop the thin leather and stiff springs that comprise this gangster-low driver’s seat. As time on the dashboard clock marches on, my knee refuses to remain still, and I’m finding it more and more difficult to maintain a good speed on this onelane road. I ease off the gas as I approach a small settlement, but a woman in a long magenta dress gives me the “slow down” signal. You need to chill, I silently admonish myself.

Find calm in the chaos.

I stumble out of the Buick—15 minutes late, naturally— toting my rod tube, dry bag, two apples, and a twelvepack of Bahamian beer. Justin is holding the ferry dock, standing barefoot in his 13-foot skiff as if it’s an extension of his own body. He looks like he has held this position for longer than he’d like, but a gleaming smile from behind his sunglasses momentarily quells my guilt.

“First thing’s first,” he jokes, reaching for the twelvepack that hangs from my shaking fingers. I squeeze my fingers tightly. I search his face carefully for any curious expression.

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from every angle We finish stowing everything and push off the dock. I look forward to the ride; it is the last time I will be responsible solely for keeping my body in the boat and out of the Atlantic. But, as luck would have it, we reach our destination after a few short minutes and one right turn.

I lick the salt from my lips and brace the fly against the rod handle with my right middle and ring finger, and stretch the buff over my chin and nose with the left. Tucking it into my ball cap, I acknowledge the gift of muscle memory.

Funny how a simple string of gestures can feel like home.

Calm in this chaos.

“Alex Anne.” I hear Justin say behind me. He hits each syllable like a substitute teacher calling roll. The sound of my name ratchets me back to earth.

“Point your rod. More right.

More right. Stop. More left— Stop. Right there. See him?”

I answer by chucking the fly’s hook bend straight out and starting my cast. A breeze ripples the water and the air temperature drops as a cloud approaches overhead. Time is quickly running out, and in this moment, my only goal is to incite chaos.

The chaos has begun much sooner than I had expected.

I practice speaking kindly to myself: Okay, here we go with the Ready Position—rod in right hand, hook bend between left thumb and forefinger, clear some line from the reel—don’t step on it—make sure your leader is past the guides, try not to get too horribly sunburned. Cue the soundtrack from Top Gun. A woolen silence under the Bahamian sun. The usual Bow Buzz starts from my shoulder blades and make its way down to the insides of my wrist. I notice the weight of my skull, my brain, as thoughts whir and expand like water molecules in a pressure cooker. Between cloud cover, I squint across the flat for fish and curse the weight of this moment.

One would expect at least a sliver of calm from an angler with 15 years of saltwater time. But you must understand that for the past six months, nearly all my waking hours have been dedicated to the “big three” species of saltwater flats fishing—bonefish, tarpon, and permit. I wake up five mornings out of seven to write, read, post, hear, stress out, and dream about them. I can’t seem to swallow the sneaking anticipation of ending another day empty-handed. If every minuscule aspect of my fly presentation doesn’t fall perfectly in line and in time, I can consider myself a fraud and find another line of work. When written in words, and in retrospect, that train of thought feels overly dramatic and perhaps obsessive—but then again, every great angler worth their legacy seems to hide a touch of insanity just beneath the surface.

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The fly lands quietly on the water but is blown off course by the breeze, which is slowly gaining speed as I start to lose sunlight. Justin lets out a sigh. My face burns with sun and rage as I hear his glass bottle being lifted off the platform. I refuse to let this opportunity for chaos escape me.

I double haul the line in near desperation. I point my rod tip at the water and strip in the slack. Details of The Dance with this particular fish elude me, as they often do. I call it Angler’s Amnesia. My mind returns when I reel in enough line to look my White Whale in the eye.

This is the moment that matters—there’s no room for chaos when handling a bonefish.

As I watch its translucent tail glide away across the flat, I silently thank the fish and realize that I don’t need to search for other employment after all.

I thank my gracious guide with a high-five and let this feeling wash over me. It’s not achievement, but rather a proprietary sentiment that we as fly anglers chase: intimacy with the creatures that first evoked awe in us at the first twitch of a drugstore-bought combo rod. We’ve been chasing that same intimacy ever since. And we will continue to do so even after putting our faith in the next generation of catch-and-releasers.

If the tug is indeed the drug, then proper release is a way to prolong that high. Any fisherman realizes early on that this sport is not a question of man-versus-beast; it’s tradition built on a tradition of mutual respect.

Proper handling techniques epitomize that tradition. We find life in perpetuating life—in all its chaos and all its calm. 

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from every angle

Life Choices

By Katie Pelnik Photos by Cheyenne Yokeley

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love for fishing started on a dock in the Adirondacks. Every summer my family spent a week or two at my grandparents’ lake house and my older brother, Charlie, and I would sit out on the dock every day with a Styrofoam cup of worms catching sunfish. We sat out there from sunrise to sunset, excited over every fish we caught. I also fished with my other grandpa from the surf in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The first time I ever saw someone fly fishing was at a neighborhood pond during my freshman year at college. Sophomore year I decided to transfer to Appalachian State University. I had wanted to fly fish for a while and moving from the suburbs of Cary, North Carolina to the mountains of Boone, North Carolina seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Where I'm from, it's rare to see someone fly fishing. When I saw it I became mesmerized, and knew I had to learn, so for my 20th birthday I asked my parents for a fly rod. I found the closest delayed harvest spot near campus and stood out in the river for hours after class having not the slightest idea what I was doing. When I wasn't on the water, I was in the local fly shops asking whoever was working a million questions, or sitting in my dorm room watching YouTube video after video trying to figure it all out. It took about one month of getting caught in everything but a fish before I decided I wanted to be a guide.

I emailed every shop in the area. I might've been the worst fly angler in history at the time, but there was no one who wanted to learn more. I was lucky enough to hear back from one of the shops and be given a chance to learn, and I started going on scouting trips with another guide and picked it up quickly. Soon I became the guide apprentice, helping out where I could on guide trips and learning more and more every day. Later that summer, I became a guide.

I've been lucky to work with and be a part of a community of supportive individuals that have really helped me and encouraged me along on my fly fishing journey. The most exciting part of my journey has been guiding other women and seeing them become excited about fishing the way that I did not very long ago. It's only a matter of time before women are no longer in the minority of this amazing sport that I've loved from the moment I picked up a rod. I’m so excited to be a part of that growth. My advice to anyone, of any age, getting into fly fishing is to not be afraid to ask a million questions. Everyone starts out a beginner. 

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Winging It

By Erika Zambello

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from every angle There are two ways to experience fly fishing. Anglers can diligently research each proposed fishing location, painstakingly scrolling through site descriptions and reading up on local guidebooks and scheduling trips to local fly shops. The first day on the water, they are perfectly prepared, sporting the ideal fly, the proper technique, the best tackle.

Or, one can wing it.

My husband Brian and I definitely fit into the latter category as we pulled in through the gates at Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) for a day and a half of what we hoped would be successful fly fishing.

RMNP is famous for snow-capped peaks, alpine pools, and hiking trails, but also for the sought-after cutthroat trout swimming within clear streams and lakes. We had stopped at Kirks Flyshop in Estes Park to stock up on some feathered insect imitations … but that was about it.

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Day 1: Big Thompson River and Glacier Creek Someone had mentioned in passing that they saw anglers at the Moraine area’s Big Thompson River (which wasn’t big at all), winding up the very center of a bright meadow, surrounded by mountains on all sides.

I opted for photography duty, dazzled by the blue-purple ridgeline contrasting with the synchronized, undulating waves of emerald grasses swaying beneath afternoon sun. Standing at the edge of the creek we could plainly see the trout, darting in and out of eddies, sheltered from the current. The rocky stream bottom camouflaged the fish, but revealed their slender silhouettes.

Unfortunately, seeing the fish didn’t mean we could catch any of them.

Brian grew increasingly frustrated as we traced the curves of the creek, alternating between spooking the trout outright and watching them ignore every fly we had bought.

Swallows of multiple species seemed to mock our efforts as they zipped through the air above our heads, while hummingbirds zoomed among field flowers, and sparrows chirped in the bushes. The fish remained silent.

In our two hours of incessant casting with a four-weight rod, Brian had only successfully landed one small brook trout barely stretching the width of his hand. However, one fish meant we had avoided being skunked, and if nothing else came our way we could leave the park with heads held high.

My husband and I have both been fishing since we were kids. I grew up the daughter of an avid angler, now a Maine guide and author. I learned to cast as soon as I grew strong enough to hold a rod, and have been immersed in stories of triumphant fishing adventures. Unsurprisingly, I love telling fishing tales as much as I enjoy experiencing them for myself. Brian eats, sleeps, and breaths fishing. Introduced to the fly rod by my father when we started dating, he has now mastered both precision casting, fly tying, and reading the water.

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Given our long histories with the sport, I honestly don’t know why Brian and I are so bad at planning our fishing adventures before we arrive at a new destination. Perhaps we subconsciously feel that while winging it we can’t be blamed for poor outcomes. We have fished all over the country, but the only place we ever study tidal charts or water conditions remains our own Florida backyard, which, arguably, should take the least amount of planning. Maybe we just don’t like logistics.

Brian has another theory. “I like to figure out the waterways for myself, using maps and ecology,” he explained to me. “I like to see what’s out there and draw my own conclusions.”

From Moraine—an area we had largely to ourselves—we made our way to Bear Lake, packed with people screaming and singing while walking the shore’s nature trail. Seeking more watery solitude, Brian and I retreated up the road to Glacier Creek, enjoying the light of the Colorado summer sun until nearly 9 p.m. Once again, silence pervaded everything but the bubbling of the current and the scrunch of hiking boots.

We walked a short way to the creek bed, bordered on both sides by a wall of bushy trees that made casting a challenge. Tying on a #12 grasshopper, Brian climbed to the top of a tall rock, dangling his line into the ripples.

WHAM. An 8-inch rainbow trout catapulted out of the water to engulf his fly, landing with a big splash and fighting hard until Brian could scoop him up with the wood-handled net. Success!

Unlike Moraine, with no snag possibilities or shoreline scrambling, the fish at Glacier Creek experience less fishing pressure, and we reeled in seven brook trout and rainbows, small but wonderfully colorful.

Anglers out there know the satisfied feeling that comes from a successful day on the water. We had discovered productive fishing grounds on our own, leaving the crowds behind to do it. With every fish released back into the creek, we dreamed of the next one.

Day 2: Colorado River and Onahu Stream The highlights of our first afternoon sparked an intense hunger in my husband. Where he had first been content to catch trout of any species, he now yearned for a rare, pickier species: cutthroat.

We sought the Colorado Cutthroat, one of over a dozen subspecies spread across the western United States. Most biologists agree that the Colorado is the most colorful of these subspecies, with orange and red bellies belonging to the males. Colorado cutthroat once swam throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and even parts of New Mexico. Glacial retreat over millennia, as well as more recent stream blockages due to fire debris and human interference, in addition to non-native fish introductions, have contracted their range. Today, they live mostly within headwater streams, larger creaks, and some river areas.

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from every angle If I had let him, Brian would have returned to Glacier Creek—proven fishy—for the entirety of our second day in the national park. He tried to describe the internal exploration drive that pushes him to see around the next bend, and then the next and the next and the next until he reaches 14,000 feet up a glacier or a dead end. But I wasn’t having it, aching to see the park’s soaring skyline, the plunging valleys, and the tundra dotted with wildflowers as much as he ached for a cutthroat. So we compromised: taking the Trail Ridge Road on a winding route to the Colorado River on the other side of the Continental Divide.

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In national park lore, the Colorado River remains famous for carving out the Grand Canyon. Yet in RMNP, the waterway only stretches 12-15 feet across in upper elevations, eventually widening between shallow, sandy banks.

We pulled off at the Colorado River Trailhead, Brian wading in the small waves while I followed a moose trail at the water’s edge. Once again, we left people behind in the parking area and on the main trail to hike alone with the river.

I like seeing wildlife from a safe distance, but not in biting-vicinity, and I assume park visitors had been feeding this fox (DON’T FEED WILDLIFE). We stared. He stared. Eventually, we had to shoo him away from us, but such an unparalleled view of a fox will remain emblazoned in my memory. Still, I carried the rinsed-out can in my backpack, and found myself looking over our shoulders in case a bigger carnivore (ahem, a cougar) caught the scent of sausage.

Grassy banks alternated with forest stands, dotted here and there with active American Robins and Dark-eyed Juncos. In nearly every calm pocket of water trout lurked mostly brookies. But then, in a back eddy behind a log, Brian hooked something different.

As afternoon shifted toward evening, I began to yearn for new vistas once more. Eventually I dragged Brian off the river by sheer force of will, plus promising we could stop farther down the road where the Greenbelt Trailhead provided access to the Onahu Stream and a new stretch of the Colorado River. It was here that RMNP truly came alive for me.

We knew he had something unique almost immediately, catching a glimpse of a novel color pattern as the small trout broke the surface with an impressive froth. Holding the rod tightly in his right hand, line taut, Brian leaned forward like a fencer to scoop the fish up, gazing down at the first cutthroat we had ever seen. Beautiful.

We continued our slow plod upstream, quickly losing track of fish hooked and released, landing a second cutthroat of eight inches. We pulled on raincoats for a brief shower, then yanked them off again as the steamy sun returned, lighting up a nearby peak that watched over us like a mildly interested neighbor.

On one exposed sandy bank, we stopped for a brief snack of Vienna sausages from a pop-can, a drink, and a fly change. When fishing or hunting, Brian swears by these tiny hot-dogs encased in aluminum, though the mere sight of them makes me gag. They have been shuttered within their own juices, and, without a fork, Brian had to dig his fingers into the lukewarm meat to retrieve a bite. I tried a small piece before grimacing and shaking my head, walking off a few steps while he finished and mercifully rinsed out the odiferous can. He’s right, the Vienna sausages are easy to carry out into the field and an excellent source of protein, but I’ll garner my energy elsewhere thank you very much.

Brian began searching through his fly box for a new imitation. I stared off into space, lost in thought, when suddenly Brian elbowed my rib cage.

“Look,” he whispered.

Barely feet from where we stood lingered a fox, red as fire and staring directly back at us with chocolate-brown eyes. Far from afraid, he seemed interested in us, sniffing as he took a step closer through the grass.

Then another.

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Like Big Thompson River, the Onahu Stream makes its way through green meadows flanked by mountains, but because we had to hike down a narrow and dusty horse-track to get there, the fish remained relatively innocent of fly fishing techniques designed to trick them. Elk grazed nearby, including mother and calf. Woodpeckers and nuthatches twittered in the woods behind the path. We felt wild.

Following the Onahu, pulling up small brook trout as we went, Brian and I eventually reached the Colorado once more. The air itself vibrated with activity, from spotted sandpipers nosing along the shoreline, to hummingbirds skimming the top of the water, to violet green swallows flipping their way between pine stands along the river’s edge. Brian hooked the two largest fish of the trip, gorgeous brook trout reaching nearly a foot in length, shining orange and green in the waning evening.

Day 3: Leaving In all outdoor explorations, there comes a moment when you know time is up. Brian broke off his fly with the second brookie, and we took that—and the coming sunset—as our omens of departure. We stood for a moment to gaze across the landscape—the snow still sticking to the top of nearby slopes, the blue sky dotted with puffy clouds, the swaying trees and singing birds—and reflect for just a moment on how truly lucky we are.

And then we were off again. Winging a fishing adventure at RMNP paid off with multiple species of gorgeous trout in one of the most stunning watersheds we have ever seen. Are we likely to wing it again?

Definitely.

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OCanada DUN MAGAZINE'S DESTINATION EDITION

travel north as we explore three regions of Canada.

CROSSING THE BORDER Trout fishing in Calgary Alberta page 65

THE RITUAL OF SALMON FISHING The Traditions on the Restigouche River New Brunswick page 80 LABRADOR Fishing for big pike on the Atikonak River Labrador page 92 66

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Crossing the Border

Visiting my neighbors to the north proved to be more than I bargained for. This trip had it all - new and old friends, incredible food, heart-breaking fish, and a surprise ending.

photo by Brandon Healey

By Jen Ripple

A As I board the plane north, my suitcase full to the brim with clothes for cold weather, I’m already dreading the next morning’s early wake up call.

I’m landing late, and the weather tomorrow morning is supposed to be a balmy 42 degrees. Rod case draped over my shoulder, the only thing I know about Calgary is that every year the stampede comes to town. With the stampede already a distant memory for the year, Calgary is a mystery. Of course, I’ve heard of the Bow River, who hasn’t, but it has never been on my radar as a must-fish river. After all, guides refer to me as “the anti-trouter,” and this is trout country. I’ll be fishing three famous rivers; the Bow, Oldman, and Highwood. It’s my hope that this trip north changes my mind toward a species I’m supposed to love, and covet, as a fly angler.

Landing in Calgary, the first thing I realize is that everything they say about our northern neighbors is true. Sign in hand, I’m met by a white cowboy hatwearing woman who is so excited to see me at this late hour that I wonder if drugs are legal here. With her help I’m whisked through customs, and am soon at my downtown hotel, where they know my name the moment I get out of the cab. I’m impressed by Calgary already.

The morning comes too early. There are three of us here to experience Calgary -- Mal Crispo, Tom Bie from The Drake Magazine, and me. Today we hit the Oldman. This river flows west to east from the Rockies onto Grassy Lake, where it joins the Bow River. In total, it’s 225 miles in length. It contains rainbows, cutthroat, browns, bulls, and cuttbows, among others. My guide today is Brandon Healey from Topwater Fly Fishing and he shows up in his tricked out, right-hand drive Hilux. I can tell already this is going to be a great day.

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We had fun from the get go. Here, Mal added an 'O' to this can of Crisp Pils to spell her last name and pose for me.

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I couldn't help but coerce Tom into taking a photo with me and our respective magazine stickers on our guide's Hilux. photo by Brandon Healey

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photo by Mal Crispo

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The fishing was more than enough to keep use entertained all day, but Naoto and his one-liners made this day even more memorable. photo by Josh Nugent

The smoke from the BC fires obscures some of our view as we snake our way to the river. The mountains, smoky and ominous, are exquisite, and the water so clear we can see every boulder.

We stop to take a few photos, and spot hungry fish rising. It will be dry flies today, and I find myself anxious to get on the water.

It doesn’t take long to pull the first beautiful bow out of crystal-clear water. As the morning turns to afternoon, fire response helicopters fly over as the only evidence that we are not alone in this world. The Oldman produces bows, cutthroat, and cuttbows. Every fish is bright, beautiful, and strong from the rushing water that holds them. I marvel that we have spent the entire day on this beautiful river without seeing another angler.

As we leave the Oldman, I look back over the landscape. The smell of smoke lingers as I feel something awakening inside of me.

MUST BE HUNGER. CALGARY

Dinner is at Charbar, which I’m excited to learn has a female Executive Chef, Jessica Pelland, YYC’s first Chopped Canada Champion. This locally-relevant and globally-inspired restaurant showcases the culinary influence of Argentina and is known for its ultra-dry aged Alberta beef display and meandering ceviche raw bar.

The heart of the restaurant is a custom-made Argentinian wood-fired grill showcasing the art of asado. I’ve never been so happy to call myself a carnivore. The menu is pre-planned, and each course is better than the last. The paired wines go down smoothly, and before we know it, we are walking back to the hotel in the brisk Canadian air. The perfect end to our first perfect day.

I wake with a start and realize it’s only 2:00 am.

I have a habit of waking every hour the night before a big float in fear that I’ve overslept. After a fitful night’s sleep, it is finally morning and the Bow River calls. Our guides for the day are Josh Nugent, the owner of Out Fly Fishing, and

Naoto Aoki. Naoto has the unfortunate luck to row my butt down the river today, and I have the privilege of spending the day in the boat with Mal Crispo, a blogger from Nova Scotia that I’ve followed for some time now. Naoto clearly has no idea what’s about to hit him. I quickly inform him, for sake of full disclosure, that I’m not a trout angler, and Mal informs him it’s her first day in a drift boat. He counters back with a quick-witted one-liner.

LET THE FUN BEGIN. The Bow River is larger than I expect. It is, as expected, bordered on every side by huge pines with the Rockies setting the scene. The river’s source is the Bow Glacier. From there it winds through the Alberta foothills onto the prairies, and even runs through Calgary itself. In June of 2013, Calgary was hit with a 100-year flood and the riverbanks show remnants of the flood with huge downed trees dotting the landscape.

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Left: Poached rainbow trout from River Cafe Right: Buttermilk lemon bar from Char Bar Below: Avocado Bruschetta and Coal Roasted Beet Salad from Char Bar Opposite: Ultra Dry-Aged Porterhouse from Char Bar

The Calgary Scene The city of Calgary has done a great job making this town a world-class destination. No fishing trip is complete without great food. The diverse restaurants, breweries, and nightlife make Calgary an experience you should push to the top of your travel list.

Breakfast and Lunch Sidewalk Citizen Bakery

618 Confluence Way SE, Calgary AB - 403.457.2245 - SidewalkCitizenBakery.com Be sure to try the Chia Pudding for breakfast and have one of their sandwiches for lunch.

I had the Roasted Chicken Salad Sandwich. It was to die for.

Dinner Char Bar

618 Confluence Way SE, Calgary AB - 403.452.3115 - charBar.ca I recommend starting out with the Pistachio and Avocado Bruschetta. With a name like Char Bar you have to try something from the fire pit. We splurged on the Ultra Dry-Aged Porterhouse Steak, which was worth every penny.

River Cafe

25 Prince's Island Park, Calgary AB - 403.261.7670 - river-cafe.com We had a special menu prepared for our group but I love raw oysters and the Fresh Shucked Oysters would be my first choice. The Whole Roasted Kohlrabi would also be a go to for me, as I haven't had kohlrabi since I was a kid.

Brewery Dandy Brewing Company

2003 11th St SE, Calgary AB - 403.769.9399 - theDandyBrewingCompany.com This brewery provided us with every type of beer you could imagine for our days on the water. I prefer dark, malty beers and not a lot of hops. The Dandy Underworld was my favorite. My companions who like hoppy beers found the T2G - IPA to their liking.

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Everything about my day on the Bow was magical. This big, beautiful brown trout made everyone's heart skip a beat.

Captured on film by Naoto Aoki, this photo embodies the moment I began to appreciate trout.

Mal is a great angler and quickly gets the hang of fishing out of the boat.

She hooks and lands a beautiful brown, her excitement bubbling over her already bubbly personality. It’s fun to fish with another female angler in the boat, and I feel like I’ve already made a friend for life. Naoto is quick on the sticks and one hell of a guide. He’s also the brilliant photographer who took the cover photo of this magazine. (Go ahead, turn to the cover and look again.) I find him to be a closet comedian and it’s not long before my side hurts from his one-liner wizardry. As we float down the Bow, catching monsters from below, I can’t help but feel like one of the luckiest people on earth to have the opportunity to float this river with these fine folks. I feel a certain appreciation for trout coming to the surface of my subconscious. I try to suppress it.

As our day on the river comes to an end, I’m a little melancholy that our group needs to part ways. We’ve bonded over stories of porcupines, grizzly bears, and trout. Each of us left a big one in the river that will haunt our dreams. As we gather for a group selfie, I look around and know I will never be the same.

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photo by Naoto Aoki

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So many fish caught in our two days in Calgary, here are some of my favorites. photo by Naoto Aoki

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photo by Brandon Healey

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It's evident that the Highwood is wild and remote, even though it's a short drive from Calgary.

Dinner tonight is at River Café. The restaurant is warm and woodsy, and covered in large fish taxidermy and fishing memorabilia. River Café is dedicated to sourcing local ingredients that are in season, and works with ranchers, gardeners, and farmers, who are responsible stewards of the land. They’ve prepared a menu that centers around our fishing theme. There’s kale broth soup and even trout on the menu. I tend to think of fish as friends, not food, but I must admit, the trout is delicious. Another beautiful day on the books, I’m sad to say good-bye to the rest of my group who leave tomorrow morning. Fortunately for me, I have one more day left.

After a better night’s sleep, I meet up with Brandon from Topwater again, and hop in his truck for a trek to the Highwood River. Brandon has an easy nature about him, and the drive to his little secret spot goes by quickly. Today we are both going to fish and are specifically in search of bull trout in the backcountry. Here CALGARY

there are endless creeks to explore with hungry fish that see little to no pressure. As we don our waders, it doesn’t yet dawn on me how remote we are. Again, I am in awe at the sheer beauty that surrounds me, untouched and raw.

We amble along the river and I spot something in front of me that throws me just a bit off kilter. I ask Brandon what it is. It’s apparently an elk that was taken down by a grizzly or some other predator not too long ago. My senses are heightened, and I’m having a difficult time concentrating on fishing. Every noise has my head spinning around to search for an animal that could eat me. I can tell Brandon is also aware that the predator could be in the vicinity, although he doesn’t truly let on until we’re off the river. We fish our way up the river and I miss a monster in a deep hole. He came up on top of a flat rock, so we could see him in all his splendor, before disappearing again without my fly.

ANOTHER FISH THAT WILL HAUNT ME. Fortunately, we weren’t eaten by bears or cougars, so we leave this section of the Highwood to have lunch and head to another one of Brandon’s secret spots. We weave our way through the brambles and approach the river. As luck would have it, there’s a green drake hatch beginning as we approach, and the fish are responding. They’re splashing out of the water eating everything that lands. It’s one of those crazy days that reminds me why I love this sport.

We quickly get our flies in the water and it’s not long before we are catching and losing fish one right after another. I hook into my first bull, who ate a dry, but lose him. Fortunately for me, Brandon catches the next one and I get my first look at this beautiful, slate-colored fish. I feel like my trip is complete.

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photo by Brandon Healey

As the sun’s rays lengthen into gold strings, we make our way toward the Trolley 5 restaurant and brewery for a cold one. I’m exhausted, but don’t want the trip to end. I joke that maybe I’ll miss my plane and stay a few more days.

The next morning, I awaken early to pack and catch my 10 am flight. It doesn’t take long for me to realize my luck has run out when I can’t find my passport anywhere. In a state of panic, I tear my room apart to no avail. It’s 6:30 am and it slowly dawns on me that I’m not going home today. I should have been more careful

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what I wished for. Fortunately, I’m stranded in Canada where everyone is nice, and they speak English. In the off-chance that this ever happens to you, it’s good to know that you can fill out the paperwork for your emergency passport online and email it to the consulate. In this instance, the consulate is only two blocks from my hotel and I’m there when they open. After getting a passport photo and waiting for about two hours for the paperwork to be completed, I am back on my way to the airport, new emergency passport (with a photo that is not as good as the last one, I must admit) in hand.

As I wait in the airport, I have time to reflect on the trip. I smile as I realize that the friendships made over fish, food, and floats will last a lifetime. I came here on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but find myself already planning to come back.

MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT TROUT FISHING AFTER ALL.  DESTINATION

Bull trout are the official fish of Alberta.

Alberta is one of few places an angler can legally target this fish. Here, my guide, Brandon, poses with a strong bull caught on a dry fly.

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photo by Jennifer de Graaf

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The Ritual of Salmon Fishing New Brunswick, Canada

By Alanda Banks-MacLeod, Katie Kohler, and Geri Meyer

"The sun had almost set over the water of the Restigouche River, six years ago, when I said “just one more cast”. That cast resulted in hooking and landing my first Atlantic salmon. I was six months pregnant at the time. My son will forever have fishing in his blood." - Alanda Banks-MacLeod

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photo by Alanda Banks-MacLeod

"Perfect evenings were spent sitting on a gorgeous covered porch just yards away from the river, drink in hand, new friends shared stories, as old friends felt the comfort of simple commonalities.

This trip was perfect, and my new connection to this stunning water is priceless. The Restigouche has a hold on me, and I will be back." - Geri Meyer

photo by Alanda Banks-MacLeod

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photo by Jen Ripple

"The allure of fishing for Atlantic salmon is a huge draw to New Brunswick, but my love for fly fishing here goes so much deeper than the thrill of the catch. It’s a chance to make lifelong personal connections with like-minded companions in some of nature’s most incredible natural settings.

Blue skies, big trees, pristine pools, great conversation - it’s hard to go wrong with a week spent like this! And touching one? That’s just the icing on the cake." - Katie Kohler

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A River That Can Keep A Secret

The Restigouche River, a Canadian Heritage River in the Appalachian Mountains of New Brunswick, is on many a salmon angler’s bucket list. For generations the elusive Atlantic salmon has been providing the story for many an angler. Thirtypound fish are not an uncommon catch and some say the Restigouche is one of the top big-fish salmon rivers in North America. Not only are the fish big, but we have it on good authority that many a big business deal has happened in the canoes and lodges along the river. Royalty, prime ministers, and sports celebrities have fished this river that can keep a secret.

Eat, Fish, Repeat.

With the rich history of any sport comes the ‘ritual’ that has developed over many decades. A day at a New Brunswick fishing lodge is a full one. An early morning with a hearty breakfast, and high expectations for the day. Stories of the morning catch over big lunches are followed by afternoons spent strategizing on the porch overlooking the river or catnapping, while the Atlantic salmon typically take a break from the humans. Jumping back in late afternoon until sundown, gives one last shot at the king of game fish until morning.

Things are Changing

For centuries the Restigouche River was mainly open to only the privileged guests of the private water leases, and it was mostly men fishing for the elusive fish. Women were part of this exclusive club as the ‘unspoken’ guest. We do have stories about this, but we’ll save that for another issue. Things are changing. Recently a few private lodges have opened commercially to allow anyone a chance to hook the infamous Atlantic salmon. The number of women anglers known to throw a tight line over these waters is increasing, and why wouldn’t they? Women are great at breaking tradition. Not to mention, women also appreciate the beauty, wellness, and community of the sport as much as (or even more than) some men we’ve met on the water. So, c’mon ladies. 

photo by Alanda Banks-MacLeod

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photo by Jennifer de Graaf

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L Labrador

“The Big Land„ is synonymous with large brook trout, but the villainous other half of that watery marriage is, shhhhhhh—PIKE. Unlike most anglers, I went to Labrador specifically to target these far northern predators.

By Nome Buckman

My destination for this trip is the Atikonak River in Labrador, Canada, which is a rugged, vast, unspoiled, and completely untapped watershed. Located 100 miles due east and slightly south of the city of Wabush, the only way in is a 45-minute floatplane ride. The numerous rivers connected to lakes connect to what is called string bogs, which are impenetrable and go on for miles. Every now and again you see dark red water which is caused by iron.

Rocks in southern Labrador are so rich in iron that most of the country’s iron ore is mined along a small section of the Labrador-Quebec border.

My stay is at the Riverkeep Lodge, which is a family business run by Steven and Cathy Murray. Along with their teenage son and daughter, the Murray’s have owned and operated the lodge for the past 10 years. It’s impressive and heartwarming to see this family in action. Their way of life inevitably spills over to every client. By the end of the stay you aren’t saying goodbye to strangers you met a week ago, but to a new branch of the family.

This lodge is the only outfitter on the Atikonak watershed which stretches for over 50 miles. Only 25 anglers a year are lucky enough to fish here. This is a catch and release, debarbed, fly fishing only lodge that offers fishing for five different species: Brook Trout, landlocked Atlantic Salmon, Lake Trout, rubenesque Whitefish, and my favorite, Northern Pike.

Pike are considered a nuisance in Labrador by visiting anglers looking to chase big brookies or landlocked salmon. Lodge owners have even been told that “the fishing would be fantastic if you killed all the pike.” I find there is a lot of angler animosity for this misunderstood predator in the states, particularly back in my home state of Maine.

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—

The red tint to the water, shows the richness of iron in the area.

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I arrived in Labrador with only state-side pike fishing experience. I normally describe fishing for pike as “oh, shiny—eat it” regardless of color, shape, or size. Which is exactly what I thought would be the case in Labrador, especially given they have little to no fishing pressure.

The most surprising revelation for me, however, was that Labrador pike acted just like musky.

Normally, pike aggressively attack a fly that comes into their feeding area. Most Labrador pike would follow the fly back to the boat and, if the fly paused, the pike would just stop a few feet away and stare at the fly as to say, “well, ya gonna run?” On occasion, fish were willing to eat further out, but most followed the fly to the boat. The eats boatside came with a sharp change in direction of the fly.

One of the easiest ways to accomplish this was what’s known as a figure 8, where you place the tip of the rod in the water moving the fly in a Figure 8 pattern. This keeps the fly moving and constantly changing directions. This was key to enticing an eat in Labrador, especially with the larger fish.

So not the case.

Pike key in on what is plentiful, and each species has its own area of preferred water. Knowing where the different species live will allow you to “match the hatch.” Fast, rocky water is where the trout and land-locked salmon are. Deep water is where lake trout dwell. Whitefish, which possess one of the highest food values in this fish-eating-fish pecking order, frequent all these zones and are the unfortunate main course. Look for pike sitting in the slow, shallow water adjacent to all of these water types and base your fly on what species will most likely be near this area. Labrador pike are not as easy as I expected, especially the larger fish in the 15+ pound range.

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they sent DNA samples to be tested to make sure musky had not been introduced. They are, in fact, native pike that have evolved with clear green sides. Pretty wild to see up close, the evolution continues.

I tried many fly color combinations during this trip -- olive, black and red, all black, yellow, and white, with white being the top color choice. Pike did not respond to olive at all; they showed an instant hate for it. I used Reel North Flies, and each of the shredded flies you see caught many pike. Surface flies had a different response. I tried aggressive poppers without success. The best producing surface fly was a lemming swimming on the surface only. They went bananas for it. The way they would breach like sharks, mouth wide open to inhale a six-inch lemming imitation is forever etched in my mind.

I landed more fish than I could possibly count.

Not only did these pike act like musky, some of them had greener sides that looked like northern musky. When these fish were first caught in this system a number of years ago,

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The three of us landed all five species during the trip.

We all came close to a grand slam, landing all five on the same day, but the brook trout were challenging due to the late spring.

Tina admires her whitefish

Nome with a colorful brook trout

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photos by Tina Murray

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A beautiful lake trout

Donna with one of her first landlocked salmon

LABRADOR

photos by Tina Murray

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Labrador has massive caddis and salmon fly hatches which bring the fish to the surface. I love to streamer fish, but the hatch was something I couldn’t ignore. It’s interesting to see all five species in a single area interacting.

In huge back eddies the whitefish try to hide in the foam, sucking down trapped caddis, while landlocked salmon and brookies pick around the edges of the foam. Constantly on the move and below are lake trout and pike, waiting to eat someone who made a wrong turn.

One thing I can absolutely guarantee is you won’t go hungry at this lodge!

The “Lunch Bar” is an elongated peninsula of gravel in the middle of our fishing grounds where a wood fire lunch is prepared daily. With the cool weather in Labrador, everyone is extremely grateful for hot food and drinks.

Breakfast is lumberjack hearty, enough to keep you until lunch, and when it’s dinner time at 6 p.m. you are shocked at how hungry you are until you LABRADOR

remember how many hours you have been fishing. The Murrays are all about quality comfort food and everyone’s belly is always smiling.

My pike horizons have expanded exponentially with being able to concentrate on them for most of the week in Labrador. Usually pike are a bycatch and I never really take a close look at them. I’m now very curious to know how different it would be to fish for pike all over the world. What other species have pike had a direct influence on shaping?

With five different species to fish for, surrounded by stunning raw wilderness, amazingly wonderful people to keep you safe, warm, dry, and well fed, it’s really, really difficult to be disappointed with Labrador and Riverkeep Lodge. A winning combination that makes a bucket list fishing destination live up to anglers’ expectations.  Fall 2018

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r o o k Tr o u t &

B L U E B ER R Y P I E

By Lil D Photos Jud & Meagan Cherry

I a m e i gh t y e a r s o l d .

I l i v e i n Te x a s, a n d I f l y f i sh w i t h m y d a d . I d i dn ’ t re a l i z e h o w ra re t h a t w a s u n t i l I t r i e d to f i n d s o m e o n e m y a g e to f i sh w i t h . N o t e a s y .

I s t a r te d f i sh i n g w i t h a s p i n c a s t ro d a n d a p pa re n t l y c a u gh t m y f i r s t b a s s a t t h e a g e o f t w o. I do n ’ t re m e m b e r t h a t , b u t I h a v e a ph o to. Da d , m e , p i g t a i l s , a n d a l a rg e m o u t h . I p i c k e d u p m y f i r s t f l y ro d a t t h e a g e o f fo u r.

Fo r a fe w y e a r s m y da d w o u l d c a r r y a s p i n n i n g ro d a n d a f l y ro d fo r m e. Wh e n I w a s s i x , I c a u gh t a l a rg e c a t f i sh , 37 po u n ds, w h i c h i s a n o t h e r s to r y . It w a s a l m o s t a s b i g a s m e . S o o n I h a d h u n g m y s p i n n i n g ro d i n t h e g a ra g e a n d I h a v e b e e n f l y f i sh i n g e v e r s i n c e .

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It

seems like everyone in my family fly fishes. I learned to fly fish in Texas, but my favorite place to fish is a small stream in the Adirondacks where my dad grew up. I have been told that my parents put a jar of garnets from the trail to Hooper Mine under the bed in the delivery room so my dad could always say I was born over Adirondack soil. Every summer I visit my grandparents’ home on top of an Adirondack mountain with my dad. This is where he taught me to catch brook trout and grandma taught me to make wild blueberry pie. In the past, blueberries were always in season while we were visiting.

Fly fishing in the Adirondacks is a family event.

Everyone gathers on the large front porch to plan the day over blueberry pancakes and coffee (I drink milk or orange juice). Grandpa makes maple syrup every spring, and breakfast there is a good enough reason to make the 2,000-mile trip. We are never hungry, but the fish are, and flies are how we catch them.

Grandpa enjoys making maple syrup and pancakes, and I enjoy tying flies. I started with woolly buggers and streamers, and now I tie nymphs too. One day maybe I’ll tie dry flies.

My dad has plenty of dries for this trip, so I can focus on the fishing. This year we are there earlier than our past trips. Because we are earlier, we brought flies we wouldn’t normally use, but will need at this time of the year.

Finding ripe wild blueberries is the challenge.

Fortunately, we have enough from last year in the freezer if we need them.

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This would be the first place on our list to fish.

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Our journey north was long, but fly fishing helped me learn patience, so I got through it.

We arrived early in the morning just before sunrise. I fell asleep, but dad snuck away to scout the action in a nearby beaver pond full of rainbows. This would be the first place on our list to fish.

My dad tied two dozen cream cahills of his own design and the very first cast fooled a hungry trout. I was sad when I lost it during the fight.

But, as dad reminded me, there would be a lot more fish lost than we bring to the net. The rainbows in this stretch of water are so hungry that as my second cast hit the water, another rainbow slammed my fly. After several leaps and runs, he was safely in the net. We caught 11 trout that day. They were all rainbows.

The next day grandma pulled a bag of blueberries out of the freezer and we made our pie while we waited for my cousin to arrive. I don’t see her often, so I was very excited. The pie was cooling when she arrived, so we had time to go to my favorite creek. The hike in to the creek is tough, but the fishing is worth it.

This creek is full of brook trout, and boulders the size of trucks. We hopped from stone to stone catching brookies. The trees above us grow together from both sides, and this creek is always in the shade. The fast-moving water is cold and the trout love it. We ended the day with 13 brookies caught and released.

The blueberry pie was delicious.

One day, we decided to spend a day exploring new waters. I wanted to see the garnet mine, so Dad put together a loop on the map that would allow us to fish four new places on our way to the mine. Our first stop was a steep bouldery creek full of brown trout. We caught four, but I lost a hopper-dropper in a nasty tangle. On our way to our next creek, we stopped by the Blue Heron Fly Shop where we were given info on our next spot and I refilled my fly box. They have a fly called Maple Syrup that I am excited to try back in Texas. We didn’t catch any fish at our second stop, but it was fun to try.

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Our last two stops were where a creek and river come together. This is called a confluence. There were fish there, but we were running out of daylight and I really wanted to see the garnet mine before dark and gather some garnets of my own. We zoomed up the hill on the road following the creek. Somewhere up there was the trailhead to the mine. I found some beautiful stones and headed home for dinner.

Our last river of the trip was a larger one with fast current and deep pools. I didn’t think I would like this one at first. It was wide and fast, and the rocks were slick. Some places were very deep and scary. Dad took me up the bank and showed me the water from above. He showed me that water doesn’t always flow down stream. We fished this river three times while we were there, caught three types of trout, and caught three smallmouth bass. On our last day there, we brought a big group with us. My cousin, uncle, grandma, dad, and me. We had a great day together fishing. I gave one cousin her first casting lesson, while another snapped away on her camera. As I climbed back up the bank and sat in a patch of blueberry bushes, I pulled out my journal to log about the fish I had caught and write about the day. I looked down at the clumps of green berries waiting to blue and thought to myself—

I’m not ready to leave just yet. 

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Kit and Kaboodle

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Cooler temperatures don't mean you have to be cold. Enjoy fall with a few of my must-haves

1 Prana - Oberlie Hoodie My most comfortable travel sweater. MSRP - $99.00

prana.com

2 AquaTech - AxisGO Helping me get those keepemwet photos. MSRP - $199.00

aquaTech.net

3 Tesalate - Bohemian Beach Towel Perfect to keep in the car in case I fall in. MSRP - $59.00

tesalate.com

4 Growler Werks - uKeg128 Copper On tap beer while on the go, need I say more? MSRP - $229.00

growlerWerks.com

5 Coalatree - Trailhead Pants Wearing eco-minded clothes is good karma. MSRP - $89.00

coalatree.com

6 Voormi - Women's High-E Hoodie This is the warmest sweater I have ever worn. MSRP - $229.00

voormi.com

7 Yeti - Lowlands Blanket I love the waterproof underside and the soft top. MSRP - $199.99

7

GEAR

yeti.com

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for FALL

Have a Story To Tell?

Jen's Must-Haves

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discover

The Reel Sisters crossing paths with Bestselling author Michelle Cummings When I heard of a new book on shelves involving a group of women fly anglers, I just had to read it.

While the book itself is well worth the read, the story behind the story is the true inspiration. Join me as we discover dreams, inspiration, tragedy, and lessons well-learned. by Jen Ripple

JEN: Where do you live?

I grew up on a farm in Norton, Kansas and currently live in Littleton, Colorado with my husband and two boys.

JEN: Writing a book is a big undertaking. What made you want to write a book in the first place?

I’m in a book club where eight of us get together once a month and discuss a novel, drink wine, and support each other through life’s ups and downs. One month we read the book The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. One of our members went onto Kate’s website a few days prior to our get together to download discussion questions. Once there, she saw a button that said, ‘Click here if you want Kate to call into your book club.’ Naturally she did, and Kate happened to have our date and time open on her calendar. We put her on speaker phone, and we got to interview her about the characters, the process, the storyline, and anything else that came to mind. It was so inspiring!

Here was this New York Times bestselling author calling US! During the call, I read through her bio and the last line read, ‘This is her first novel …’ In that moment, it became attainable to me. As soon as we hung up the call I announced, ‘I think I could do this. I’m going to write a novel.’ If you ask any

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of my friends, they’d probably tell you I’m a pretty good storyteller. And truth be told, I’m a successful author in my professional career, so I know I’m a pretty good writer also. But I had never written fiction or had to create characters and storylines, and somehow make it all come together. I knew it would challenge my traditional writing style, tap into my creative brain, and push me outside my comfort zone.

Game on!

Jen: Can people schedule you to join their book clubs now?

Absolutely! Since that was the spark that planted the seed, it’s an emphatic Yes! I love connecting with readers and hearing the personal connections they make with the story.

There’s a button on The Reel Sisters Facebook page and on the website as well. Last summer I was actually flown out to a book club group in Austin, Texas, where we sat on the side of the river bank for a live author chat. It was so fun! After the discussion we had a few local fly fishing guides show up and teach everyone to fly fish. Some of these women even went on to continue fly fishing!

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Vintage travel trailers - A key component that encouraged me to finish this book was my 1968 Red Dale Trailer dubbed ‘fly girl’.

Jen: Rumor has it you didn’t fly fish before the writing of The Reel Sisters. Why fly fishing as a theme?

When I got home from book club that night and told my husband I was going to write a novel, he initially rolled his eyes at me. I have one of those creative, entrepreneurial brains and I swear I’ve created 47 new businesses in my mind. Only three of them have come to fruition, so he’s used to me brainstorming new ideas out loud knowing that some of them stick and most of them don’t. This one however, I just couldn’t get my mind off of. My husband and I have a code phrase that we use whenever I need to get something out of my head and into the world. I ask him, “Will you go into inquiry with me?” What that means is, he asks me question after question after question about whatever topic is at hand. He doesn’t offer his opinion or add to the topic, he just asks a multitude of questions. “Why do you want to write a novel?” “Who is the intended audience?” “What do you want the book to do in the world?”

When it came down to it, I wanted to craft a story that would encourage women to step outside of their day to day routines and try something new in the outdoors. I firmly believe that the outdoors is the best teacher, and that many people do not take advantage of the wonderful life lessons we can learn by stepping outside our comfort zones and trying something new. So if I was going to ask other women to do it, I had to do it first. I narrowed down the outdoor sports to my top three that I had always wanted to try. We sat for three hours that night for this inquiry session, and by the end I chose fly fishing as my central theme, picked my five characters and named them, and I hadn’t even picked up a fly rod yet.

THE REEL SISTERS

Jen: Why did you think fly fishing would make a good premise for your book?

Before I started fly fishing, the words I would have used to describe the sport would have been: beautiful, graceful, fun, challenging, serene, and adventurous. Now that I am a fly angler, those are still the words I would use.

Coincidentally, those are also the words I would use to describe women. I have been blessed with amazing women friendships in my life, so crafting characters that support each other through thick and thin was not a stretch for me. Marrying the topics of fishing and friends together was a dream! Little did I know the impact fly fishing would have on my life, and the amazing women I would meet along the way as I wrote the novel.

JEN: It is my understanding that you wrote the book and then realized the similarities between your characters and the fly rod. What do you think the importance of that is?

Once I started fly fishing and realized there were five main components to a complete fly fishing setup, I knew I had to tweak my characters’ personalities to reflect these same components. It was just too metaphorically rich to ignore! I wanted to create relatable characters that readers could either find similarities to in themselves or in someone they know in real life. Once I started seeing common traits between the fly fishing components and my characters, I just couldn’t help myself.

Here’s a glimpse into the characters:

Rod: Rose — Rose is an older character in the book, and acts much like the rod in a fly fishing outfit. The rod is the traditional symbol of the sport. The long, slender and graceful fly rod is second only to the fly line in importance. The fly rod transfers energy and control from the

fly angler to the line, leader, and the fly. Rose is the support system for The Reel Sisters, much like the rod supports all the other working parts. She owns the cabin in the mountains right on the river where the girls often have their fly fishing adventures.

Reel: Sophie — Sophie is well-versed in taking care of everyone else’s needs but her own. She is metaphorically represented by the eel in the story. The primary function of a fly reel is to contain the backing, the fly line, and to retrieve line and aid in fighting fish.

While you are fighting a fish, the reel provides a variable degree of resistance (called drag) that helps tire a strong-swimming fish as it pulls line off the reel. Sophie does a lot to help Amanda and Veronica in their fishing skills and life in general. She is a great angler and passes down her knowledge to these two in particular.

Leader: Veronica — Veronica is a leader in her daily life, and is represented by the leader in the fly fishing outfit. The leader is a light, nearly invisible extension of the heavy, highly visible fly line, which aids in presenting and manipulating the fly. The leader also assists the fly line’s front taper in casting and presenting the fly and letting the fly float, swim, or sink in the most natural manner. Veronica, in her profession, is a definite leader. She will have a distinct role in helping Melody—hence, letting the fly float, sink or swim.

Fly Line: Amanda — Amanda is bright on the outside with a level, braided core on the inside.

This perfectly describes who Amanda is in the story. The fly line, with its linear casting weight, is the key component of the fly-tackle system.

The core gives the fly line most of its strength.

The fly line appears to the user of other casting methods to be unusually thick. Amanda is beautiful on the outside and courageous and tough to her core.

Flies: Melody — Melody will, no doubt, be our most colorful character in the book. Fly fishing flies can be very colorful and barbed. Melody is covered with piercings and tattoos, and has a colorful lifestyle. She is a little rough around the edges, much like a fly.

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discover Jen: A lot of people have started writing a book and a lot of people never finish. How did you push yourself to complete this story?

Jen: Some of my favorite people belong to the group Sisters on the Fly. I know you’re a member of the group. Tell me how that came about and why.

When I started doing my research on women in fly fishing, two groups initially emerged: The Colorado Women Flyfishers club and Sisters On the Fly. I immediately joined both groups hoping to connect with other women that loved this sport. It was through CWF that I took my first fly fishing clinic and caught my first fish. I have learned so much by attending the monthly meetings and clinics put on by these passionate women fly anglers.

Sisters On the Fly has been such a fun group to belong to. I’m Sister #2204, am now the proud owner of a vintage travel trailer I named Fly Girl (a 1968 Red Dale), and a new tribe of women that have quickly become some of the best friends I have in life. I have hosted several trips myself, and I love this group of sassy, adventurous women. Maurrie Sussman, Sister #1 and Becky Clarke, Sister #2 are real-life sisters who grew up camping with their mom Mazie, Sister #0. I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to become friends with them, and I love the vision they have for providing an opportunity for women to do adventurous things together. Not all of the members are fly anglers, but there are many who are and there are multiple fly fishing trips you can sign up for each year. After joining, I wrote most of The Reel Sisters in Fly Girl nestled right next to the river. If I ever got stuck in the writing process, I would wader up and let the river tell me what would happen next in the story.

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I began writing the book in 2011 with hopes of finishing it in 2013. Then my dad passed away and it sucked the life right out of me. It was a level of grief I didn’t know was even humanly possible. I was actually on a Sisters On the Fly fishing trip when I received the call about his passing. It was snowing so hard I couldn’t leave the campground until the next day. It was the longest, coldest night of my life.

I shelved the project for several years. I didn’t have a creative spark left in me for a long time.

Then in January of 2017, when my husband, boys and I were setting our personal and professional goals for the year, I decided it was time to dust off my keyboard and get the novel finished. That same week I attended the Fly Fishing Show in Denver, and it was the first year they had decided to have a Women’s Showcase that featured businesses that catered to women in fly fishing. I saw a dramatic difference from the first show I attended in 2009, and was motivated more than ever to get the story finished.

I immediately enlisted eight close girlfriends to read what I had written so far, and I invited them to a writer’s retreat at the same campground where I learned I had lost my dad. I had a few gaps in my storyline and needed some collective ideas to help get me to the finish line. Within six hours of brainstorming I had all I needed to finish the story. All I had to do was sit down and write it.

That brainstorming retreat was April 25, 2017.

I finished the novel on July 4, 2017 and it was published on November 3, 2017.

Jen: Do you think that having the forced hiatus created a different book than it would have had you wrote it all at one time?

I think so, although I had decided the ending early on in the process. When I figured out the storm, I wanted it to show metaphorically that we all face storms in our lives and we weather them very differently – some come out unscathed and others are leveled by them. Going through major grief for a couple years after the death of my dad gave me a perspective I may not have had before. I didn’t write that section of the book until I came back to it, so if the grief feels real, it was. I think it brought more emotion into the serious and tragic parts of the book.

DESTINATION

Jen: where is your favorite place to fish?

I love the Arkansas River in Colorado. It will always have a very special place in my heart.

My favorite time of year to fish it is in late April and early May for the caddis hatch. This is where I was when I found out my dad died.

It was the first Sisters on the Fly event I had decided to host and we had hit the hatch. I got there, set everything up, heard my dad died, and had to leave. I now go every year not only to try and catch the hatch, but also to spend some good healing and reflection time by myself. The river has healing properties in so many ways. I love watching the hatch and it’s only about 2-1/2 hours away from my home.

Jen: What is the biggest piece of advice someone gave you while you were writing the book?

Since this is my first novel, I had a pretty steep learning curve. There was so much I didn’t know about the ins and outs of the publishing

world. I had no idea that you had to have an agent in order to get looked at by a publisher.

I submitted the manuscript to 18 different agencies and was turned down by all of them. I ended up self-publishing because it was more important for me to get the story out into the world rather than wait for someone to pave the path for me. I’m still hoping that someone will decide to represent me and get it formally published through a publisher. The advice I received late in the game was to find an agent before you finish writing the manuscript.

Jen: What advice would you give someone who is struggling to write their story?

I learned so many lessons along the way!

Create a space that is free of distractions to help you stay focused. Having my vintage travel trailer provided me with a mobile office I could pull anywhere I wanted. Try and block out time on your calendar to dedicate to

writing and ask others to respect the space.

Join a writer’s group or enlist a group of trusted friends to help brainstorm ideas with you. Their perspectives are so different than yours, and they are not as tied to the outcome as you are.

Jen: The ending left me curious about the future of the characters. Will there be a sequel?

I intentionally left some breadcrumbs at the end for the possibility of continuing the journey of these awesome women! I have been brainstorming the sequel, but have not yet started writing it. I’m pretty sure I know the direction I want to go with each character, but don’t have a timeline in mind just yet. It’s important to me that I richly formulate each character in the next phase of their lives, and I don’t want to rush it. I’ve had many readers beg me for a sequel, so I love that the first book has had such a great impact on people. 

Get your Copy on Amazon

THE REEL SISTERS

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Get This Look

photo by Brandon Miller Photography

With the cooler weather, fall is the perfect time to get out and explore in your backyard. Stumbling across this piece of history provided the perfect place to take a break and enjoy the sites and sounds of an Indian summer afternoon.

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DESTINATION

5

2 1

6

3

4

7

8 photo by Brandon Miller Photography

1. Sterling Brooke - "Scales" Double-Hinged wine opener The fun fish shape design of this easy to use cork screw is perfect on the water, on the trail, or at home. MSRP $42.00 - SterlingBrooke.com // 2. Tufts & Batson - Enamel Coffee Mug From the makers of fine bamboo fly rods comes our favorite enamel coffee mug. Made in Europe of thick enamel steel, this 12oz mug is great for your favorite beverage. MSRP $16.00 - tuftsAndBatson.com // 3. Rumpl - Original Puffy Blanket Light and packable, this blanket is perfect to keep in the car for emergencies, for a camping trip along the river, or a day hike. MSRP $99.00 - rumpl.com // 4. Patagonia - Fjord Flannel Shirt This comfy shirt is a must for fall. We've been big fans of Patagonia for many years and love this shirt as much as we love what they stand for. MSRP $89.00 - patagonia.com // 5. Conner - Arizona Wool Gambler Made from 100% Australian wool, this waterproof hat has gotten a lot of compliments both on the water and off. It's definitely time to retire that beat up trucker cap. Use coupon code Angler20 at checkout. MSRP $58.00 - connerHats.com // 6. Diamond Brand - Double Take Gear Bag This waxed cotton durable bag has a removable liner that makes the perfect lunch sack. There are multiple attachment points so you can attach it to just about anything. MSRP $69.00 - diamondBrandGear.com // 7. Kicker - Bullfrog BF200 Packed with power and built to be on the water, this speaker has been in and out of our boat, tossed in the sand, and ridden around the country with us. MSRP $249.95 - kicker.com

//

8. DUN Magazine - Extremely Limited Edition 20oz Yeti Tumbler Only available for a limited time, the name says it all. $65.00 - DUNmagazine.com/tumbler

FASHION

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Tips to ‘KeepEmWet’

By Sascha Clark Danylchuk

Have you ever thought “I saw my fish swim away so it must be fine”?

Unfortunately some of the catchand-release science is showing that this isn’t always the case.

photo Robert Lennox

T

ropical flats are my happy place. I love nothing more than wading and looking for bonefish, or any other flats species for that matter.

While catching a fish is the ultimate goal, a big part of my career has also been spent studying what happens to fish that are released. It doesn’t take a genius to know that releasing fish (as opposed to keeping them) means more fish to be caught another day, but the science of studying the specific fate and health of fish that have been released has only gained momentum in last several decades. The work, however, has grown rapidly and there are now over 400 studies published on catch-and-release. Many of these studies are full of insight and tips that the average angler could use, but the information is locked away in documents that are expensive to access and written in a technical language that even puts many scientists to sleep.

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One of the big goals of Keepemwet Fishing is to unlock that science and make it more accessible to anglers. Think of Keepemwet Fishing as a bridge between the fisheries science and the angling communities. What’s also important to this movement is that communication and information sharing goes both ways - anglers learn more about fisheries science, and scientist learn about the issues that matter most to anglers, which, in turn, helps inform future catch-and-release research. We see anglers as being on the front lines of fish conservation. Every time you catch a fish, it’s an opportunity to put conservation into practice by using science-based best handling techniques, and give your fish the best chance of survival and a healthy life after you release it.

DESTINATION

Sascha’s 7 Tips for

photo Bryan Huskey

Better Fish-Friendly Photos photo Dennis Zimmermann

We have distilled the principles for best practices down to three short phrases that can help anglers remember what to do. Our principles encompass actions that create the best outcomes for fish that are caught-and-released.

Eliminate contact with dry and hard surfaces

Minimize Air Exposure

Reduce handling time

Fish need oxygen just like us, but they get it from the water, not air. Air exposure is much more detrimental to bigger fish, and at higher water temperatures.

Handling is the time from landing to release, including how the fish is restrained (i.e. in your hands or a net). Multiple studies have shown that longer handling times can lead to poorer outcomes after release.

“

Getting in the water (when possible) makes it much easier to take a fishfriendly photo.

„

PHOTOGRAPHY

Fish need their slime the same way we need our skin. Dry, rough, and hard surfaces remove the slime from fish and can also remove scales and damage fins.

None of this is rocket science; each of these principles are simple and doable by any angler no matter their skill level or the fishing situation. Most importantly, each one is backed by science and will make a difference to the fish that you catch-and-release. 

1

Keep the fish in the water.

A fish photographed in the water or dripping wet often looks more realistic and less like the dead slab photos your grandfather used to show you.

2

Get everything set up.

Whether you plan to do an in water or above water shot, make sure the photographer has the everything ready to go before you lift the fish.

3

Limit air exposure.

Hold your breath when you take the fish out of the water; when you need to breathe the fish probably does too. Don’t let your fish drip dry. Water dripping off a fish adds life and dimension to the photo.

4

Consider all the angles.

Sometimes the best photos don’t look like the classic ‘grip and grin’. Fish angled diagonally look great. Also, try getting your camera as close to the water as possible.

5

Purchase a waterproof case.

Not only will this case keep your camera and phone safe, it will allow you to take underwater as well as partially submerged photos.

6

Break out the selfie stick.

While shunned in many places, selfie sticks are great for taking photos of fish, especially from a boat. Professional photographers often use selfie sticks to get interesting shots.

7

Go it alone.

Hold your fish by the tail or keep it in the net with the camera angle low to get a good shot.

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destination

f av o r i t e M em ories You don't always have to leave your backyard to create your favorite fishing memories.

The unveiling of the Nissan Titan Surfcamp is a memory I won't forget any time soon. This event in Vero Beach, FL was certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet people whose paths I would've never crossed otherwise.

- Jen Ripple

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teresaW E S T B E R R Y A 25th wedding anniversary gift turns into much more My husband Stuart and I were fly fishing for rainbow trout in Hazel Creek in Proctor, NC. Proctor was abandoned when Fontana Dam was built, and the surrounding area was flooded to create Fontana Lake. It's full of great history and fishing. The historical Calhoun House, which is still there though falling into disrepair is a must see.

The area is remote and beautiful, with no cell service.

The only way in and out is by boat.

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destination

Pa u l a K R U G E R U D Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing at the Freedom Ranch for Heroes

Veterans from all over the U.S. and walks of life come to fly fish in this small, quiet, slow-paced, spot-in-theroad, Montana. They come for fishing, they go home with incredible stories and memories. Being a part of this group as the photographer rocked my world in four short days. There are no words to express the emotions that well up when I see these shots of that day. Following them down to the river was quite the experience to say the least. It was an honor for me, and something I’ll never forget. There are too many stories within just this one day.

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DESTINATION

HelaineH O L B R O O K Catching one on your own fly is magical My favorite memory is fly fishing in southeastern Oklahoma. Yes, Beaver’s Bend, Oklahoma. There is something about the awesome feeling of catching your first rainbow trout on a fly you made on your own.

photo by Peter Breeden

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destination

saraW E S T FA L L The first fish on a special rod

I was part of an all women's fishing clinic. Women of all skill levels were present. One woman, new to the sport, had a very special rod handmade by her late husband.

We were with the guide (also a woman) who showed her the perfect location and presentation. She hooked into her first fish with that rod and the smile she had was like no other. Tears in our group starting flowing just like the creek. I’ll never forget it. Fly fishing has taught me so much about life and the connection with others.

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DESTINATION

karaJ O R D A N

Falling head over heels for a cutbow Catching this monster cutbow on the Green River in Wyoming is my favorite memory. Once I hooked it, it made a run directly under the drift boat. In an effort to keep tension on the line, I lost my balance backward and fell, landing with my head and shoulders out of the boat. My guide grabbed me and between both of our adrenaline rushes, I got back up, and much to our surprise, the fish was still on my line. I landed it, took pictures, and then had a good laugh, and a celebratory cold one.

photo by Teton Scenic Floats & Fly Fishing

CONSERVATION

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Why It's Worth It

by DUN

The Garden Table at Copal Tree Lodge in Punta Gorda, Belize

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DESTINATION

Copal Tree Lodge is our favorite place to stay in Belize. The lodge is committed to conservation, local economic development, and actively engages in practices to minimize their carbon footprint.

From the moment you arrive, the extra effort the staff puts in is why this lodge is worth it. From the handwritten welcome notes, to the luxurious accommodations, and pristine natural surroundings Copal Tree Lodge makes you feel like a treasured guest.

Copal Tree is the perfect place to try for that elusive grand slam. Start your day searching for tarpon and snook along the mangroves, move out before the tide changes to find that permit, and finish the day surrounded by white sand beaches chasing bones.

After fishing, enjoy a cocktail made from ingredients grown in the cocktail garden with rum from the lodge's own distillery located on the premises. For dinner, treat yourself to an unforgettable farm-totable meal. About 70% of the ingredients the lodge uses are sourced from the lodge grounds. After dinner, retire to your canopy suite, and fall asleep bathed in the sounds of the jungle.

Starting at $9,275 for 7 nights/6 days guided fishing peak season January 5th - April 30th copalTreeLodge.com

Fishing the saltwater flats can be challenging.

The wind, long casts and line carry, and the need to be perfectly accurate have caused more than one angler the fish of a lifetime.

The right combination of rod, reel, and line can make all the difference.

The new Sage Igniter was made for technical conditions like these. The ultra-fast action allows you to pick up and hammer out a cast without having to false cast in the wind. The rod comes in 6-10 weights and is worth its weight in tarpon silver.

MSRP - $900.00 sageFlyFish.com

Pair this rod with the Abel SDS fly reel.

Powerful, smooth, and reliable, this large arbor reel was made for fighting large fish in the saltwater. The multi-disk drag has enough breaking power to stop big tarpon but can be dialed back for the light tippet needed for bones. The drag system is completely sealed protecting it from the harsh elements that saltwater brings. What really makes this reel worth it is the custom finish.

As shown - $2,325.00 abelReels.com

Spool this reel with the RIO DirectCore Flats Pro fly line. This line is worth it for so many reasons. First, the multi-colored line takes the guess work out of how much line you have in the air or at your feet, so you won't come up short when that permit shows. Second, the front taper loads the rod quickly and easily to deliver a quick shot to tailing bonefish. Finally, the DirectCore core reduces stretch when setting the hook on that monster tarpon.

MSRP - $119.99 RIOproducts.com

LUXURY

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WHAT WAS

YOUR FIRST

ON THE

FISH FLY?

“Take care of the fish and the fishing will take care of itself.” Join TU: www.tu.org

QUIT WISHIN’ & GET FISHIN’!

See our complete line of

Travel

Destinations we think you should see. by DUN

Calgary, Alberta CANADA

Eldon, New Brunswick CANADA

photo Katie Kohler

Calgary is a city brimming with excitement. This gentrified city has beautiful hotels, boutique shopping, world-class dining, and the Bow, Highwood, and Oldman rivers within easy reach of downtown. As if the above isn’t enough for you to plan your next trip north, maybe the giant rainbows lurking just below the surface will.

The traditions of New Brunswick’s Atlantic salmon rivers run as deep as the pools on the Restigouche River. The pristine water and vast, expansive wilderness draw you in the moment you arrive. You can rest assured a trip to New Brunswick will forever alter the way you look at the history of the sport we love.

DUNmagazine.com/calgary-ca

DUNmagazine.com/eldon

Atikonak River, Labrador CANADA

Adirondack Mountains, New York USA

photo Nome Buckman

photo Meagan Cherry

For years anglers have flocked to Labrador to target large brook trout.

Now, this rustic fishery is also a destination for those who love toothy critters. Giant pike, eager to crush a fly, lurk in shallow waters. While many areas are accessible only by float plane, the accommodations are comfortable enough for even the pickiest traveler.

Situated just a few hours north of New York City, the Adirondack Mountains offer the angler an outdoor paradise. Representing the largest protected area in the continuous US, the Adirondacks offer more than 2,000 miles of hiking trails, over 3,000 lakes and ponds, and 1,200 miles of rivers.

DUNmagazine.com/labrador

DUNmagazine.com/adirondacks

TRAVEL

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A beautiful Cumberland River Rainbow Trout

getting you out there I live near the Cumberland River, which is a 688-mile-long river which drains almost 18,000 square miles of southern Kentucky and northcentral Tennessee. A series of dams along the river create impoundments and tailwater fisheries. Despite all of this water, shore fishing options are surprisingly limited due to industry, periodically dry river beds, and landowner rights. Without a motorboat, my fishing time would be limited to when I travel. Fortunately, there are a lot of good options available to get me on the water.

Like other river systems, the Cumberland has a bottom that varies greatly in depth. Being able to see any debris or shallow shoals ahead is imperative.

The Sportsman 17 SS allows me to sit higher in the water than a traditional john or bass boat and gives me a lot of extra room for gear. In addition, this lightweight boat requires a smaller outboard to power it safely, which saves me a lot in gas money, and it can be pulled with my everyday SUV. My current Highlander has over 375,000 miles on it and I know it will get me on the water for many years to come.

Like getting the perfect oars for your drift boat to accommodate your size and body style, the right trolling motor is key. I’m not the most coordinated person, so using a foot pedal trolling motor and fly casting at the same time is brutal. The i-Pilot Link allows me to be able to do all the above without tangling on the foot pedal or feeling like I’m about to fall out of the boat.

by Jen Ripple

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Living near the water has some advantages including amazing sunsets

DESTINATION

Terrova

by Minn Kota If you think double hauling is hard, try operating a foot pedal trolling motor while trying to double haul. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the best trolling motor operator on the planet, so I love using the Terrova with the i-Pilot GPS trolling system. With i-Pilot I can choose to use the foot pedal, remote or Minn Kota App, allowing me to hold the boat in place with the touch of a button (instead of a foot on the pedal), or better yet, pre-program the course I want to fish, letting the motor do all the work.

How’s that for simplifying your day on the water? minnkotamotors.com starting at: $969.99

Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum

by Toyota I currently drive a 2006 Highlander Hybrid with 377,692 miles and counting. I love it. I find that a midsized SUV is a great vehicle for everyday driving and for towing my boats. This model has a 5,000lb towing capacity and a ton of cargo room, so I can tow my boat anywhere while keeping my gear safe and dry inside the cabin. The in-dash navigation is helpful when I’m fishing areas with no cell service, and because I’m not the best at backing up a trailer, the backup camera is a must. toyota.com starting at: $48,480

Sportsman 17 SS

by G3 Boats

Also available in two Mossy Oak® patterns; Break-Up® or Shadowgrass®

One of the largest space grabbers in a motor boat is the console. The Sportsman 17 SS uses a joystick-like steering system allowing me to sit up front and safely navigate a river system while eliminating the tiller handle, which always manages to catch my line. As an added bonus, the lockable storage compartments securely stow away all my safety equipment and provide a nice casting platform. g3boats.com starting at : $17,995.00 with a Yamaha F25 motor

EQUIPMENT

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tuck

IN

Taking the time to enjoy the good things

Muscadine Wine A southern American tradition that is as synonymous with the south as moonshine, biscuits and gravy, and country ham. Learn how to make your own country wine. It's easier than you think. By Jen Ripple

photo by Brandon Miller Photography

LOCATION

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What comes to mind when you hear muscadine wine? Does it remind you of the lyrics in a country song? A syrupy sweet drink?

Small town USA? Muscadine grapes can be found growing wild throughout the southeastern and south-central United States and have an unforgettable flavor. Some say they have a hint of honeysuckle or orange blossom, but to me, the taste is truly unique and unlike anything I've ever tasted. The wine made from muscadine grapes tends to be sweeter than the European-style wines most are familiar with.

If you don't like sweet wines, try this. After dinner, add a huge ice cube to your favorite Old Fashioned glass and pour over some muscadine wine. Find a place to sit, sip, and enjoy as you would any other digestif. Thinking about this wine as a digestif will help turn off your wine brain and allow you to enjoy this beverage.

Ingredients

Makes 3 gallons of wine 18 lbs of muscadine grapes 2.25 lbs of sugar 4 quarts of water 1 tsp pectic enzyme 1 tsp yeast nutrient 3 Campden tablets 1 package of Champagne yeast 1/8 tsp potassium metabisulphite

Equipment

5 gallon food-safe bucket with lid and airlock Carboy with airlock Large food-safe spoon Wine siphon 15 Empty wine bottles with corks Wine corker Food-safe mesh bag

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Optional

Sanitizing solution Grape crusher Bottling wand Hydrometer Unused spray bottle

photo by Brandon Miller Photography

DESTINATION

HOMEMADE

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Steps 1.

Clean and destem the grapes.

2.

Bring the water to a boil and add the sugar.

3.

Crush the grapes.

4.

Sanitize everything.

5.

Combine the ingredients.

6.

Seal the bucket.

7.

Add the pectic enzyme.

8.

Add the yeast.

9.

Wait.

10.

Stir the wine.

11.

Remove the grapes and discard.

12.

Rack the wine.

13.

Rack again.

14.

Stabilize the wine.

15.

Sanitize everything again.

16.

Bottle.

17.

Age the wine.

18.

Enjoy.

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Stir the water and sugar until combined and remove from heat.

We used a heavy-duty potato masher. If you plan to make a lot of wine, you can use a grape crusher. Or, you can do the old Italian thing and stomp on them. They do squirt so watch out.

Sanitizing is the most important part of wine making. Use a food-safe sanitizer or a 10% bleach solution. Make sure to get the bucket, lid, airlock, mesh bag, and spoon. Reserve some sanitizing solution in a spray bottle.

Put the mesh bag in the bucket with the mouth up and fill the bag with the crushed grapes, including skins and juice. Close the bag, and add the sugar water to the bucket. Add the Campden tablets and yeast nutrient. Gently stir to combine.

Attach the lid. Fill the airlock with water to fill line and wait 12 hours.

Stir the wine with a sanitized spoon. Cover the bucket and wait 12 more hours.

At this time, you can check the specific gravity (how sweet the juice is) using the hydrometer. The hydrometer should read 1.090 or higher. If your reading is low, add more sugar water until you reach 1.090.

After 24 hours, stir with a sanitized spoon and sprinkle the yeast on top of the liquid. Do not stir the yeast into the liquid.

After 12 hours you will start seeing bubbles coming through the airlock. Stir the mixture and press the bag of grapes back down into the liquid.

Stir every 12 hours for 5-7 days. You will know it's time to move on when the number of bubbles coming through the airlock has slowed considerably.

Squeeze as much of the juice from the bag as you can. Siphon the wine from the bucket into the carboy using the siphon tube. There will be a lot of sediment on the bottom of the bucket. Make sure not to suck the sediment into the carboy. Attach the airlock and move the carboy to a cool, dark place.

Let rest for 30 days.

After 30 days, remove the wine from the sediment in the bottom of the carboy and return the wine to a clean and sanitized carboy. This is called racking. If you have multiple carboys, this is easy. If not, move the wine to the re-sanitized food-grade bucket, clean and sanitize the original carboy, and return the wine.

Rack every 30 days until the wine has cleared. Be sure to leave as much sediment behind as possible.

Add the potassium metabisulphite and rack again. This will kill any active yeast in the wine, preventing the bottles from pushing the cork out or exploding as they age.

After 30 days, clean and sanitize the wine bottles, and sample the wine.

Traditionally this wine is on the sweeter side. If the wine is still too dry for your liking, you can back sweeten it by adding a little sugar water solution to taste.

Fill the bottles until the wine reaches the neck of the bottle and cork. You can use a funnel and measuring cup, but a bottle filling wand makes this much easier and cleaner.

Store the wine on its side for at least 30 days before trying. Aging the wine for 18-20 months will yield a smoother wine.

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photo by Brandon Miller Photography

DESTINATION

HOMEMADE

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DESTINATION

Apple Bourbon Bellini Makes 4 drinks

Ingredients 1 1 tsp 1 tsp 1/4 tsp 1/8 tsp 1/2 tsp 4 onces 1 bottle

Apple, cored and cut into wedges Water Granulated sugar Cinnamon Ground dried ginger Fresh squeezed lemon juice Bourbon Prosecco or Champagne

garnish Thinly sliced apple Cinnamon stick Fresh ground nutmeg

Instructions Combine apple, water, sugar, lemon juice, and spices in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Place a heaping tablespoon of the apple puree into the bottom of each champagne flute.

Add 1 once of bourbon to each flute.

Top with Prosecco and garnish.

REFRESHMENT

photo by Brandon Miller Photography

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end of the day

At the end of the day, I believe that the world is a stunningly beautiful place that should be protected for future generations to enjoy. I believe that clean water should be a basic human right. I believe in kindness, in truth, and in forgiveness. I believe in moving forward, instead of living in the past. I believe the world is a troubled enough place, and the last place we should be fighting with each other is on a river, a lake, or a stream.

I believe it is easy to surf the net and get caught up in the wave of negativity. I believe we have bigger and better fights to win in today’s world.

I believe in authenticity, being real, and owning who you are.

I believe our fights are much more important than what you wear on the water.

At the end of the day, this is fishing. And fishing is fun.

Now, go say something nice.

Jen

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photo by Brandon Miller Photography

DESTINATION

®

www.FisheWear.com