By Kirk Deeter

HR1 is a bill in Congress right now that would slash funding for a number of important conservation programs that impact fly fishing from coast to coast. I don't care what your political persuasion is...if you're a fly fisher, this should concern you, because any threat to habitat is a threat to opportunity. And in many cases, once a resource is gone, it's gone.

Here is an action alert from Trout Unlimited that details just how the bill could ruin your fishing opportunities.

One amendment to the bill proposes defunding the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation—this is the granting body that provides matching grants to Trout Unlimited and a host of other important organizations to conduct habitat improvement in trout and salmon watersheds. For example, this funding is used to screen irrigation ditches, reconnect spawning tributaries to mainstem rivers and return streams to their natural courses. TU has used that money throughout the West, and considers that funding vital to keep heritage populations of trout and salmon alive and well.

By Kirk Deeter

by Kirk Deeter

I'm an "aggressive wader." I drive like a little old man, but when it comes to stomping around in the river, sometimes I get in (literally) over my head. I'm starting to mellow out with age, but I go swimming pretty often. Fortunately, I've learned a new trick from my guide friend Katy Melo in Argentina, who took a digger on Rio Quillen the other day. When you fill your waders, instead of sloshing around all day, or going to the trouble of taking off your boots, emptying everything out, and and starting over...

Simply find a big boulder in the middle of the river, and do a headstand for a minute or so, until all the water drains out (or at least most of it). You won't get all the water out, but you won't waste a lot of valuable casting time.

No problemo...

By Kirk Deeter