By Kirk Deeter

Trout fishing as we know it in the U.S. would simply not exist if there were no "non-native" fish or unnatural environments like beneath hydroelectric dams. There would be no fabled Madison or Missouri River rainbows, and no world record brown trout in Milwaukee harbor. In fact, there wouldn't be any brown trout anywhere in America. Native to Europe, they were introduced to this country in the 1870s. Just like carp. So why do we not use the word "invasive" in the context of trout? [ Read Full Post ]

By Joe Cermele

In 2011, my wife and I moved to a new town. It’s not too far from my old home and fishing spots in New Jersey, but the address change gave me a reason to look for new water last summer and this spring. I’m not talking about the kind of water that requires packing a lunch and getting on the road before sunup, but rather those little ponds you hit on the way home from work, or between a dentist appointment and a stop at the post office. Often it’s these gems, nestled in manicured neighborhoods and tucked behind strip malls, that surprise you with bass, pickerel, crappies, and bluegills that are bigger and less pressured than those in the closest reservoir. Since you may never see such spots from main roads, the trick to finding them starts with some online sleuthing. [ Read Full Post ]

The winner of last week's Catchbook Photo Contest for the month of June is Michael Jager, who submitted this photo of a yelloweye rockfish.

And this week's winner is Cody Mcintyre, who took the prize with this big steelhead. Michael and Cody will each each get a PFG Blood and Guts™ Ball Cap from Columbia. Click here to learn how you can enter this contest. Click here for the official rules. [ Read Full Post ]

By Chad Love

2012 is shaping up to be a record year for sockeye salmon in the Pacific northwest as hundreds of thousands of fish are being counted. In fact, some daily salmon counts are higher than counts in past years for the entire season.

From this story on msnbc.com:
Record numbers of a once-waning population of sockeye salmon have been returning to the Northwest's Columbia Basin this summer, with thousands more crossing the river's dams in a single day than the total numbers seen in some previous years.
[ Read Full Post ]

By Jonathan Miles

When Jeff McInnis—the chef at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami Beach—isn’t cooking, he’s likely fishing. In this recipe, the Florida native combines his passions, creating a summertime symphony on the plate. At Yardbird, McInnis uses Arctic char, but any fresh fish will shine here, even a lunker bass. [ Read Full Post ]

By Keith McCafferty

The great bushcraftsman Mors Kochanski once told me that a man can survive in wilderness with only a knife—but carry an ax and he lives like a king. To complete the woodsman’s toolbox, I recommend adding a bow saw. By packing all three blades in your canoe duffel (or on your back, as their total weight shouldn’t exceed 4 pounds), you can carve, chop, and saw your way to a wilderness throne faster and without nearly as much chance of injury than if you leave one tool behind. Here are the three blades I carry and what I can do with them.

Pictured from left: Helle Temagami knife, Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Ax, 24-Inch Folding Bucksaw

Peel & Shave

As long as you pack an ax and saw for heavy work, a knife is best used for peeling and shaving sticks. Peeled sticks harden quickly, becoming tougher and lighter than bark-on sticks, and can be further shaped into tools like spears, bows, and arrows.

Peel a stick by holding one end and resting the other end against a stump. Keeping your knife arm straight, stroke away from you by moving your shoulder and body, rather... [ Read Full Post ]