Welcome to The Bonefish Flat

There's a stiff wind in your face as you squint in the sun trying to see what the guide sees. "Bonefish at 12 o'clock about 90 feet, do you see it, mon?" You don't and keep squinting, your hat pulled low to keep the sun out of your eyes. "Bonefish at 11 o'clock 70 feet out. Come on man, do you see it?" As the guide is calmly shifting the skiff into position, this time you spot the fish, "I got, it," you reply.

"OK, Mon, Bonefish 50 feet at 10 o'clock. Cast when you're ready."

Cast when you're ready. And with that you drop your fly, roll out a cast, false cast once, and then...

Welcome to the bonefish flat.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

1,000 Mile Campaign

I had an opportunity today to listen in on a new joint project happening now to help improve some really great fishing streams.  Orvis and Trout Unlimited have partnered up to form the 1,000 Mile Campaign.  According to an Orvis/TU press release,

The two entities hope to open up 1,000 miles of new coldwater habitat to trout and salmon all over America. Many streams with spawning and rearing potential—and fishing potential—are now blocked by faulty culverts and other man-made barriers. The campaign’s goals include not only increasing overall trout habitat from coast to coast, but improving fishing opportunity resulting from stream improvements. 



“Culverts are significant impediments to fish passage and survival – just as significant as a major dam – but the solution is dramatically simpler, costs less, and the overall benefits to many watersheds is profound,” said Dave Perkins, Vice Chairman of Orvis. “By removing these impediments, we not only add vital habitat for fish, but we also open many miles of fishable waters for anglers. We’re proud to partner with TU in this effort to engage the fly-fishing community in support of this often overlooked opportunity to dramatically improve fish habitat across the country.”



This is really a cool project.  Usually when you hear about things coming down on a river, you hear about dams.  The truth is that dams are really expensive to remove and take a long time.  Culverts can be removed for relatively little money and quickly.

I was excited to see a stream in Virginia on the list for culvert removal.

I have to say that Orvis has really stepped up on conservation issues and has done a lot to make sure that our sport grows and we have a place to fish.  TU is doing a ton on the grassroots level to make sure that my kids have a place to go fishing.  Seeing these two groups team up is really cool to see.

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