Conservation Organizations You Should Support

Conservation Organizations You Should Support

It’s the time of year to follow your angling conscience...

This is when the nonprofits are all looking for your year-end donations. I’m sure you’ve seen the texts and emails, social media blurbs and even stuff in your mailbox. But is it worth it, and if so, which ones to choose?

The answer to part one is “of course it is.” Fly fishing is a game of conscience, and people should put back more than the fish they catch. It’s a fragile sport that depends on natural resources. It’s a sport that can change lives. I figure if I can shell out money to buy flies and gear, maybe take a trip to fish and make sure I have the right licenses to do all that, the least I can do is support a cause that serves the greater good.

As an angler, I look for causes that will make a difference, and have proven the ability to do so. Some focus on advocacy and others actually roll up their sleeves and do work. It’s all important.

There are more good causes than I can count, and I think it’s important to find those that you feel a personal connection with. If you are a veteran, or someone in your family is on active duty, or you just feel compelled to honor those who serve, Project Healing Waters is worthy in all regards. If you’re recovering from illness, or know someone who is, or you or loved ones are facing a health challenge, you might consider a group like Casting for Recovery, which provides healing retreats for women dealing with breast cancer. If you’re into mentoring youth and making a difference for young people, you might help The Mayfly Project and/or Cast Hope.

And then there are the conservation groups that make fishing possible in the first place. Nobody catches fish if these organizations didn’t do what they do.

The fly fishing world revolves on an axis of trout. More than 75% of fly fishing is focused on trout. And for 65 years, nobody has done more to keep rivers and streams healthy and support habitat for naturally reproducing trout (and salmon) than Trout Unlimited. The organization now plows nearly $100 million a year into science, projects and campaigns that make rivers better. So whether you donate to your local chapter to support the home river, or the national organization to bring about big wins like this one, you’ll know you’re keeping the heart of the fly-fishing world beating.

The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust basically does the same thing for saltwater fly fishing. What sets this organization apart is its leading science. We’ve learned more in a generation about bonefish, permit, tarpon and how to help them thrive in recent years than we’ve ever known–and that’s mostly due to the diligent work of BTT.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is all about advocacy, and most of that is focused on maintaining Americans’ access to public lands. Whenever there’s a fight over your right to fish on a stretch of public water, or hunt on public lands, BHA is usually the first to take up the cause. If equitable land access is your deal, this is your group.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is also an important one that most anglers are just learning about. Those marine sanctuaries don’t mean “no fishing.” In fact, if you’re fishing in places like the Florida Keys, or certain parts of the Great Lakes, you’re in them.

That’s just my list. There are many more worthy groups. Please just find one and make whatever difference you can afford, and the fishing/karma gods will smile on you in the year ahead. – Kirk Deeter

More great groups to consider: Captains for Clean Water, Henry’s Fork Foundation, American Saltwater Guides Association.

Castwork Profile: Dennis Breer

On the water, it is not hard to sense the camaraderie among the full-time guides of the Green, and realize that Denny is a respected figure among local rivermen. He explains that Dutch John is a close-knit community, everyone knowing each other whether they like it or not. Daggett County, which encompasses the Flaming Gorge region, is home to only 700 or so full-time residents, and they depend on each other during winter (for transportation and emergencies) and in the summer (when “bootlegger” fishing guides and an onslaught of 1.5 million tourists pass through the area).

They also have had to become allies in the face of threats to this remarkable fishery. Endangered fish studies by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamation (who originally dammed the river) have dramatically altered flow regimes from the dam, in an effort to recreate “historic river flows,” and in hopes of reestablishing habitat for Colorado River pikeminnows, razorback suckers, bonytail chubs, and humpback chubs. Although the new flows as yet have not had a dramatic negative impact on the trout fishery, they have not been a panacea for the endangered species either.

“Many of these endangered species are very tough and beautiful fish, but they’re also highly migratory. All the dams have made it hard for these guys to survive. I’m not sure if we can bring them back or not, but I do know if we keep playing with the flows that we could hurt the trout fishery.”

Read the entire essay from Castwork: Reflections of Fly Fishing Guides and the American West (2002). Denny Breer passed away in 2008 from a construction (racing pigeon coop) accident at his home. 

Product Buzz

We review the Lone Bison “The Heritage” Fly Tying Table. From Hatch: Gear We Love Right Now–the Hedgehog Dryer is a great find. From Flylords: The Ten Best Drift Boat Accessories. Monte Burke’s Holiday Gift Guide 2024: The Best Fly-Fishing Gear. Field Mag reviews the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel: minimalist micro cabins at the gates of Yellowstone National Park. A fascinating tour inside the R.L. Winston fly rod factory in Twin Bridges, MT–“It’s no secret that Winston rods often exceed the $1000 mark, but the question is why?” Jim Bartschi of Scott Fly Rods talks about anadromous fish and fly rod design of the Swing Series–“Delivering the tools for anadromous anglers…”

Fly-fishing News

Check out the BONEDALE FISHING REPORTS twenty-one and twenty-two, featuring legendary guide, Kea Hause, from Colorado’s Roaring Fork valley. Last week saw the U.S. Congress pass legislation that may do more for the future of trout fishing than anything that has happened before. The results from a recent study about catch & release fishing and the sustainability of fisheries is worth digesting: the Hidden Consequences of Catch-and-Release Sport Fishing. Hatch Book review: Tim Schulz’s A Cast Away in Montana. “Schulz captures the seemingly small interactions between anglers that lead to large truths and insights.” A great conversation with George Anderson, owner of Yellowstone Angler in Livingston, Montana, on the Mill House Podcast. If you were undecided about climate change–tarpon have been showing up in Cape Cod. From The Wall Street Journal ($): “Tarpon are migrating north, startling fishermen and mystifying scientists…”

Recent Press

On the Castwork chapters we’ve been running: “I bought that book 20+ years ago. So damn good…” – Cameron, The Fiberglass Manifesto

“Love what you guys are doing by passing along savings to the consumer–prices for gear are getting expensive and every little bit helps.” – Brian, Flylab Fan

“I hope you guys build out your lodge and outfitting partners–travel recommendations and incentives are where it’s at. The gear deals are cool, but experiences are what fly fishing is all about…” – Kristen, Flylab Fan

We’re always looking for Flylab feedback–send any comments, thoughts, suggestions, and we’d love to hear from you.

Scouting Report

We’re hard at work hunting down the coolest new products, brands and partners you’ve never heard of.

The Best of The Wild

The Best of The Wild is a well-respected travel provider and fly-fishing outfitter, offering destination programs to the most remote locations in the world: Alaska (rainbows, salmon), the Bahamas (bonefish, tarpon), Brazil (peacock bass) and Kamchatka (rainbows). Founder and owner Will Blair has spent the past 30 years working at the most remote locations on the planet. He and his team have the first-hand knowledge, travel insights and dedication to provide truly unique angling experiences. 

Flylab discount: 10% off destination travel packages.

Partner Spotlight

Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.

Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co. is a full-service fly shop and e-commerce provider from Madison, WI, specializing in the warmwater fisheries of the upper Midwest. They offer a complete lineup of fly-fishing gear and fly tying materials for musky, bass, trout and other warmwater species. Anglers spend countless hours on the water and can’t have gear that doesn’t keep up.

Flylab discount: 10% off all fly shop and website purchases.

If you’re a fly shop, outfitter, fishing lodge or outdoor brand and interested in becoming a new Flylab partner, learn more about our program here. Join the best partner network in fly fishing.

Swedish filmmaker Rolf Nylinder with a new fly-fishing diary: an arctic expedition with Markus Lemke, Håvard Stubö and Kristian Matsson to a small lake near the Grytis river.