The Wild Steelhead Coalition emphasizes that British Columbia’s fisheries are irreplaceable, not only for Canada but for the global angling community. (Shutterstock/SnapTPhotography photo)
January 06, 2026
By Fly Fisherman Staff
Canada Federal Budget Bad for Salmon and Steelhead The Canadian federal government’s recent budget announcement has sparked alarm among conservationists and anglers alike. Cuts totaling $500 million to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) over the next four years will severely reduce the agency’s ability to monitor salmon and steelhead populations. SkeenaWild Conservation Trust warns that escapement monitoring–already at historic lows–could collapse entirely, leaving fisheries managers blind to the health of runs that sustain both ecosystems and communities.
The Skeena River , one of the last great strongholds for wild steelhead, is particularly vulnerable. The Wild Steelhead Coalition emphasizes that British Columbia’s fisheries are irreplaceable, not only for Canada but for the global angling community. Without robust monitoring and science, Canada risks repeating the mistakes seen in U.S. rivers, where inadequate oversight led to devastating collapses of once-thriving runs.
“Carney’s cuts will have devastating consequences for salmon, economies, and communities across Canada, including right here in the Skeena,” said Julia Hill, Executive Director of SkeenaWild. “It shows a stunning lack of regard for our region and the things people here value.”
Beyond the ecological consequences, these cuts threaten cultural and economic lifelines. Indigenous communities, commercial fishers, and recreational anglers all depend on healthy salmon and steelhead populations. Conservation groups argue that the budget undermines Canada’s international reputation as a steward of wild fisheries, jeopardizing both biodiversity and livelihoods.
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More information is available here .
Miracle Mile in Trouble Known for its trophy rainbow and brown trout, the Miracle Mile has long been a pilgrimage site for fly-fishers seeking wild, challenging waters. (Shutterstock/HenryBrown912 photo) Wyoming’s famed Miracle Mile, a legendary stretch of the North Platte River, faces new threats from the proposed Seminoe Pumped Storage Project, which could alter flows, increase water temperatures, reduce oxygen levels, and introduce sedimentation–all of which would degrade the popular blue-ribbon trout fishery.
"If you start messing around with the water that goes into the Miracle Mile as far as dissolved oxygen, turbidity, sediments, temperature, especially temperature—trout are divas, they like specific things," said attorney John Masterson at a recent Casper city council meeting, as reported in a K2 Radio article . "Will it happen? I don't know, but there's a risk."
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The Miracle Mile is a landmark for anglers across the West. Known for its trophy rainbow and brown trout, the river has long been a pilgrimage site for fly-fishers seeking wild, challenging waters. Any disruption to its balance would ripple across Wyoming’s angling economy.
Beyond fisheries, the project poses risks to wildlife, including Wyoming’s only disease-free bighorn sheep herd and critical sage grouse habitat. Conservation groups argue that the proposal reflects a broader tension between energy development and natural resource protection. The fate of the Miracle Mile will test whether iconic fisheries can withstand industrial pressures in the modern era.
Check out this video for an explanation of how “pumped hydro” power generation works:
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Bighorn Trout in Good Shape The Bighorn River Alliance has released its 2025 population estimates, showing that trout numbers in the Bighorn remain strong despite fluctuating water conditions. According to the Alliance , the upper 13 miles of river continue to support “one of the most robust wild-trout fisheries in the country,” with population trends holding steady across multiple survey sites.
Montana FWP trout per-mile estimates for trout longer than 7 inches on the upper section of the Bighorn River. (Courtesy of the Bighorn River Alliance) Brown trout numbers remain particularly healthy, with several reaches showing increases over 2024 counts. Rainbow trout populations also appear stable, supported by consistent year‑class strength and favorable overwinter survival. Biologists noted that improved flows in 2023-24 helped maintain habitat complexity and food availability.
The Alliance emphasized that long‑term monitoring is essential for understanding how water management, climate variability, and angler pressure affect the river. Their report highlights ongoing concerns about aquatic vegetation, sediment transport, and the need for adaptive management.
Montana FWP trout per-mile estimates for trout longer than 7 inches on the lower section of the Bighorn River. (Courtesy of the Bighorn River Alliance) Despite these challenges, the 2025 assessment paints a positive picture for anglers. With stable trout numbers and strong recruitment, the Bighorn is positioned for another productive season.
Comment Period Open on Proposed Chehalis River Dam The Washington Department of Ecology will use public input to determine next steps as it evaluates whether the proposed Chehalis River structure aligns with state environmental and fisheries-protection goals. (Shutterstock/John T Callery photo) The Washington Department of Ecology is accepting public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed flood‑reduction projects in the Chehalis Basin, including a controversial water retention structure on the upper Chehalis River. The EIS evaluates potential impacts on fish, habitat, and downstream communities.
According to Ecology, the Chehalis Basin is “the second‑largest river basin in Washington state without salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act,” making its protection a priority. Critics argue that the proposed dam could harm spring Chinook, steelhead, and other native species by altering flows and blocking habitat.
The EIS outlines alternatives such as levee improvements, floodplain restoration, and non‑structural flood‑mitigation strategies. Tribal nations, conservation groups, and fisheries scientists have raised concerns about the long‑term ecological costs of a permanent dam.
Supporters of the project emphasize the need to protect communities from increasingly severe flood events. The basin has experienced multiple major floods in recent decades, causing extensive damage to homes, farms, and infrastructure.
Ecology will use public input to determine next steps as it evaluates whether the proposed structure aligns with state environmental and fisheries‑protection goals.
Read more or comment on the proposal here .
Steve Huff Receives Izaak Walton Award VIDEO
Legendary Florida Keys guide Steve Huff has been honored with the American Museum of Fly Fishing's prestigious Izaak Walton Award, recognizing his decades of influence on saltwater fly fishing. As MidCurrent reports , Huff is widely regarded as one of the most skilled and respected guides in the sport’s history.
The award celebrates individuals who embody the spirit of angling ethics, conservation, and mentorship. Huff’s career spans more than 50 years, during which he guided some of the most accomplished anglers in the world and helped pioneer modern tarpon and permit techniques.
According to the award announcement, Huff’s contributions extend beyond the skiff. He is known for his humility, deep respect for the resource, and commitment to teaching. Many of today’s top guides credit him as a formative influence.
The Izaak Walton Award committee noted that Huff “set the standard for professionalism and sportsmanship” in the flats‑fishing community. His legacy includes not only technical mastery but also a conservation‑minded approach to guiding.
Huff joins a distinguished list of past recipients who have shaped the future of fly fishing through stewardship and leadership.
Bill to Modernize Federal Mapping Systems En Route to President The MAPWaters Act provides for a multi-year process of updating and publishing standardized digital access maps for public use. (Shutterstock/BEST-BACKGROUNDS photo) The MAPWaters Act –bipartisan legislation aimed at improving public access information for America’s waterways–is headed to the president’s desk (as of this writing) after passing both chambers of Congress. According to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP), the bill will modernize federal mapping systems to help anglers, hunters, and boaters understand where they can legally recreate.
The act requires federal agencies to digitize and standardize access data, including boat launches, easements, and navigable waters. TRCP notes that “outdated or incomplete maps often prevent the public from using places they already have the right to access,” creating confusion and limiting outdoor participation.
By consolidating information across agencies, the MAPWaters Act aims to reduce conflicts, improve safety, and support rural economies that depend on outdoor recreation. The bill has been praised by sporting groups for its practical, non‑controversial approach to expanding access.
The legislation builds on previous mapping initiatives such as MAPLand, which focused on land‑based access. MAPWaters extends the concept to rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.
Once signed, agencies will begin a multi‑year process of updating and publishing standardized digital access maps for public use.
Wild Coho Found in Upper Russian Basin for First Time in 34 Years The adults that produced these juveniles likely migrated more than 90 miles from the Pacific Ocean into Ackerman Creek during December 2024. (Photo courtesy of CDFW) For the first time since 1991, naturally reproduced juvenile Coho salmon have been documented in the upper Russian River basin. The discovery came in June when Pinoleville Pomo Nation water specialist Dakota Perez Gonzalez spotted young Coho while snorkeling in an isolated pool on Ackerman Creek north of Ukiah. Governor Gavin Newsom called the finding “a new win in our strategy to preserve a healthy and sustainable future for all.”
The fish were stranded in a drying pool alongside juvenile steelhead and Chinook, prompting a joint rescue effort by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Pinoleville Pomo Nation.
“We honor Mother Earth by protecting the sustainability of our natural resources,” Pinoleville Pomo Nation Vice Chairperson Angela James said. Crews recovered two Coho, three Chinook, 146 steelhead, and hundreds of other fish. The rescued Coho were transferred to the Warm Springs Fish Hatchery, where a captive‑breeding program has supported Russian River Coho since 2001.
“Coho likely would have disappeared from the Russian River basin by 2004 if not for the Coho captive breeding program,” said CDFW’s Corinne Gray. The juveniles are the first evidence in more than 34 years that adult Coho have successfully spawned in the upper basin.
The adults that produced these juveniles likely migrated more than 90 miles from the Pacific Ocean into Ackerman Creek during December 2024. Their return aligns with broader regional gains: in the winter of 2024–25, Coho returned in record numbers to coastal watersheds from Marin County to the Sinkyone Wilderness.
Statewide restoration efforts–including improved fish passage projects and the Salmon Habitat Restoration Priorities (SHaRP) initiative–are reopening historic habitat and boosting adult returns. As these projects expand, CDFW and tribal partners hope to see more naturally reproduced Coho reoccupying the Russian River’s upper tributaries.
Read more here .
