WDFW examined whether declines in coastal steelhead survival can be linked to changing climate conditions and species interactions. (Brian Bennett photo)
June 17, 2025
By Lynn Burkhead, OSG Senior Digital Editor
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Don’t look now, but the summer solstice is approaching, Uncle Sam will soon celebrate America’s 249th birthday on Independence Day, and long summer evenings are setting up some of the best fly-fishing action of the year.
From summertime striped bass in New England to great summertime green drake hatches out West and even a good warm weather bite for the year’s biggest bluegills , the next several weeks are some of the best of the year.
In other words, it’s time to grab the fly rod and a box or two of flies and head for the water. But for those down moments when you’re not fly fishing, here is a collection of news briefs to keep you occupied:
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WDFW Updates on Coastal Steelhead Earlier this spring, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reported via a blog report that recent research by the agency has found important information on coastal steelhead survival.
Knowing that abundances of wild steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ) have declined across most of their range over the past 40 to 50 years, the study's abstract notes that WDFW examined whether declines in steelhead survival can be linked to changing climate conditions and species interactions.
To shed light on the link between the changing climate, ocean ecosystem conditions, and winter steelhead survival on the Washington coast, WDFW says that its scientists examined wild winter steelhead in rivers situated in the western Olympic Peninsula and flowing into Grays Harbor, including the Chehalis, Hoh, Humptulips, Queets, Quillayute, and Quinault.
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Utilizing data collected by biologists since the early 1980s, things like estimates of spawner abundance, harvest-related mortality, individual fish ages, and more were used to assess whether recent declines in multiple coastal steelhead populations were indeed connected with environmental changes.
What did the research discover? For one, that immature and adult steelhead survival rates had declined over time, with survival trends across steelhead populations strongly associated with these changing ocean conditions. Second, that summer sea surface temperatures and pink salmon abundance in the northern Pacific Ocean are negatively associated with steelhead survival, potentially because pink salmon and steelhead may compete for food. And third, that the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation, a broad-scale index that measures sea surface height variabilities, and correlates with fluctuations of salinity and nutrients, had a positive association with steelhead survival.
"Our team’s findings provide evidence that increased temperatures and intensified competition at sea have contributed to negative trends in survival for many steelhead populations, outside of freshwater factors that may affect individual populations,” said Jan Ohlberger, a WDFW research scientist and the study’s lead author. “The study adds to our understanding of why coastal steelhead survival rates have declined over the last five decades and highlights the potential impacts of climate and ecosystem change on salmon and steelhead populations.”
The variables studied certainly play a role in the wild steelhead numbers studied here, numbers that would be relatively stable over several decades worth of time if these variabilities didn't exist according to the WDFW scientists.
"Wild steelhead abundance has decreased across much of this species’ range over the past 40 to 50 years,” Ohlberger added. “Declines in abundance and life history diversity have led to several steelhead populations in Washington being listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Understanding whether environmental changes are shaping these trends is critical for well-informed conservation and management decisions.”
This effort required a lot of hard work by WDFW biologists, but it also has come about thanks to collaboration with and incorporated data from the Hoh Tribe, the Quileute Tribe, and the Quinault Indian Nation tribe.
"An indicator of ecosystem health, steelhead are important to recreational anglers, tribes, and local communities and economies,” Ohlberger noted. “WDFW is committed to conserving coastal steelhead while offering meaningful fishing opportunities.”
What's next? WDFW notes that it continues to operate under its Statewide Steelhead Management Plan , which requires the agency to prioritize the sustainability of wild coastal steelhead runs through focusing on healthy levels of abundance, productivity, diversity, and distribution. To learn more about the agency's work in managing its steelhead populations, visit here .
Colorado Tragedy Claims Life of University of Kentucky Fly Angler A fly fishing tragedy in Colorado late last week has claimed the life of a University of Kentucky student and fly angler according to news reports.
The student/angler, Noah Tinch, was reportedly one day shy of his 19th birthday when he died in Grand Mesa, Colorado on Thursday, June 12. According to Lexington, Kentucky news station WKYT , the Mesa County Sheriff's Office was called to an area of Sunset Lake due to a teenager having a medical emergency.
According to the TV news report, the teenage fly angler's father, Brett Tinch, the CEO of Special Olympics Kentucky, told the Lexington Herald Leader newspaper that his son's autopsy revealed that he had suffered a head injury and drowned. The accident apparently occurred when the teenager tried to retrieve a fishing fly that had become tangled, losing his balance, and falling. He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.
A rising sophomore at the University of Kentucky, Tinch was a 2024 gradate of Henry Clay High School in Lexington and played soccer and football for the high school. He was also a Special Olympics Kentucky volunteer according to the TV news report.
Plans are being made for a Celebration of Life at the University of Kentucky Student Center Saturday, June 21, from 2-5 p.m. Also, a GoFundMe page has been created for the late Noah Tinch. If you'd like to contribute to the fundraiser, you can do so at the "Support the Noah Tinch Legacy Fund."
2025 Jefferson Basin Trout Survey Results While most sections of these rivers remain below average, FWP notes that population estimates have improved somewhat, potentially because of the major contributing factor that better water flows brings along with other potential contributing factors. (Shutterstock/Tracy Grazley photo) The results are in for spring trout surveys on Montana's Upper Jefferson River Basin , and the news is a little better than it has been according to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
A part of a cooperative research effort that began last year, everything got started with this project when 2023 population estimates found numbers at or near historical lows for sections of the Big Hole, Beaverhead, and Ruby rivers. Add in observations of sick and dying trout, and concern levels went through the proverbial roof and immediate calls for action were issued as readers of flyfisherman.com might remember.
That led to FWP collaborating with Montana State University in three PhD studies, everyone looking at causes of mortality for adult trout, how the Jefferson River Basin tributaries contribute to mainstem trout populations, and ways to enhance proactive fish health monitoring.
Last year's effort found nearly all sampled trout in the area to be healthy with only less than 1 percent of captured fish showing signs of infection. While most sections of these rivers remain below average, FWP notes that population estimates have improved somewhat, potentially because of the major contributing factor that better water flows brings along with other potential contributing factors.
"We remain committed to managing for a healthy fishery in the upper Jefferson River basin, and these studies will help identify actionable steps for improvement,” said FWP’s Chief of Conservation Policy, Quentin Kujala, in the news release. “We appreciate anglers’ contributions to this important research.”
To see results from the annual spring population sampling, as well as interim reports, visit the FWP website .
Comprehensive New Plan Announced to Manage and Sustain Flats Fishery Turneffe Atoll is one of the premier flats fishing destinations anywhere, one of Belize's national treasures with backreef flats, creeks, channels, and two large lagoon systems. (Anna Purnell photo) Staying in the warm coastal waters that give fly anglers some amazing flats fishing options, Angling Trade recently reportedTurneffe Atoll .
That report notes that the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA) has unveiled an ambitious and unique "Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve Flats Fishing Management and Sustainability Plan" .
What's the purpose of the plan? In a nutshell, "The Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve Flats Fishery Management and Sustainability Plan provides a comprehensive understanding of the Atoll’s flats fishery and establishes a framework for its long-term sustainable management. It identifies threats to the fishery and provides plans for addressing them, including the protection of essential habitats to ensure a vibrant Turneffe Atoll flats fishery for the benefit of stakeholders, the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, and Belize. The principles and strategies outlined in this plan will inform other flats fishing areas in Belize and throughout the world about the sustainable management of flats fishing resources."
As Angling Trade notes, the Turneffe Atoll is one of the premier flats fishing destinations anywhere, one of Belize's national treasures with backreef flats, creeks, channels, and two large lagoon systems. Those waters lure fly anglers from around the globe seeking thrilling adventures casting flies at tarpon, permit, bonefish, and other species, all contributing to a flats fishery that is vital to Belize.
How vital? A 2022 economic analysis by Dr. Anthony Fedler found that in 2022, Dr. Fedler’s economic analysis revealed that "...Belize’s flats fishing industry has grown to BZ$246 million dollars annually – an increase of 400 percent since 2007. Flats fishing now accounts for 6.7 percent of Belize’s Gross Domestic Product contributing significantly to the national economy. Further, the industry now provides 6,000 quality full-time jobs for Belizeans."
If you'd like to read the management plan, see maps of the Atoll's fishery, discover legal and regulatory context, see interactions between the tourism and commercial fishing industries, what the Atoll's carry capacity and scientific needs are, see what the advocacy plan entails for funding and protecting Turneffe's unique flats fishery now and into the future, and more, please visit here .
The Florida Boat Sweepstakes The top prize package starts with a Floyd Skiff 6WT, a lightweight technical poling skiff that looks the part for a classic skiff designed to enter skinny water country for tarpon, permit and bonefish flats found throughout coastal Florida and the Keys. There’s more vital conservation work being conducted on behalf of flats fisheries where the Gulf and Atlantic collide. And there’s a chance for flats fisheries aficionados to get involved in a unique fundraising effort.
In fact, it's the perfect combination for a seasoned saltwater fly fisher, the chance to enter and win epic prize packages of shallow-water skiffs, fly rods, fly reels, and more in Bonefish & Tarpon Trust's epic Florida Boat Sweepstakes and a chance to help the renowned conservation organinzation to spearhead even more hard work into conserving flats fisheries and the habitat that tarpon, bonefish, permit and more rely on all year long.
The top prize package starts with a Floyd Skiff 6WT, a lightweight technical poling skiff that looks the part for a classic skiff designed to enter skinny water country for tarpon, permit and bonefish flats found throughout coastal Florida and the Keys. It is 16' in length, 72 inches in its beam, drafts 5 to 7 inches, comes with a Yamaha F70 outboard motor, a Magic Tilt aluminum trailer, and also comes with a Marquesa Marine small diameter push pole.
The top skiff prize package also comes loaded with fly fishing and lifestyle gear that includes a Sage SALT R8 8-weight fly rod, an Enforcer 7/8 fly reel , and a RIO Premier Flats Clear Floater fly line . Add in Cody Richardson original tarpon artwork featuring a BTT Florida license plate, a Simms Fishing package (pliers, dry bags and gear pouches, and a Dry Creek roll-top backpack) , a YETI Tundra 45L hard cooler and YETI Loadout GoBox , Bajio sunglasses , a pair of Turtlebox Two Gen 3 waterproof speakers , Danco Premio 6.5-inch pliers, Costa sunglasses , and more, and this is the ultimate prize package for a saltwater aficionado who wants to fish for and support the conservation of our precious flats species.
But wait, there's even more to win because there's also a Matecumbe Skiffs 169 skiff prize package (with assorted fly fishing and lifestyle gear similar to the above prize package) a G3 Boats Jon Boat (and yes, even another prize package of fly rods, sunglasses, and more).
The three skiff prize packages are incredible for sure, but the best part of all is that this Florida Boat Sweepstakes fundraising effort helps conserve the sportfish that saltwater fly anglers love throughout Florida and the critical habitat that those same piscatorial critters need for living, breeding, and surviving in an increasingly hostile world. This includes work for all of Florida's interconnected fisheries, including the Sunshine State's reefs, seagrass meadows, offshore spawning habitat, mangrove lined creeks, coastlines, and even the flow of vital fresh water through the Everglades and into Florida Bay.
If you'd like to enter the Florida Boat Sweepstakes 2025 and help BTT's "Bringing Science to the Fight” work, you can purchase sweepstakes tickets here . Incidentally, the sweepstakes drawings for these three skiff prize packages will take place on November 8 at BTT's 8th International Science Symposium .
And if you'd like to learn more about BTT's ongoing work on behalf of healthy flats fisheries and clean water and habitat needs, please visit here .
OMTU’s 2nd Annual Iron Fly Competition Coming in July Imagine a fly-tying battle meeting up with Iron Chef food expertise and you're heading in the right direction for this battle of bobbin skills and making ultimate fish snacks from a mystery set of ingredients. Once America celebrates its big 249th birthday on the Fourth of July, the next can't miss party on the agenda just might be the Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited's Iron Fly Competition in Bluff City, Tennessee.
What is the second annual Iron Fly competition, you might ask? Imagine a fly-tying battle meeting up with Iron Chef food expertise and you're heading in the right direction for this battle of bobbin skills and making ultimate fish snacks from a mystery set of ingredients. There will also be some great snack foods, main course fare, and beverages for the event that will be held at the South Fork Tap House, located at 4189 Bluff City Highway in Bluff City.
The competition will be small teams of fly tiers divided up by experience level, meaning no experience is necessary. All equipment and materials will be provided and there will be prizes to boot.
Hosted by OMTU, Tailwaters Fly Company, and the South Fork Tap House, this event promises to be a unique gathering for those interested in crazy rules, strange material boxes, and ludicrous fly patterns getting spun out of red-hot fly-tying vises during the Thursday, July 10 competition. If you're interested in this unique event, along with helping rivers and streams in northeastern Tennessee, then plan on being there on July 10 at 7:30 p.m.
For more information on this event and river and stream conservation work supported by this Trout Unlimited chapter, visit the OMTU website here or the OMTU Instagram page here . And to learn more about Trout Unlimited’s work on a national scale, visit here .
Skwala Fishing Establishes National Sales Team As Skwala's brand presence continues to grow, the Bozeman, Montana company has recently announced the formal creation of its outside sales team. A major investment in the brand's retail partnerships and a big step forward in the company's wholesale growth strategy, this move will help deepen retail partnerships in Skwala's wholesale growth.
These three newly appointed representatives, all possessing deep backgrounds in fly fishing and industry sales, include Eric Neufeld of Raging River Sales (in the Washington, Oregon and Alaska regions), Scott Harkins of Five Ocean Sales (in the Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico corridor), and Kurt Kruger of KGK Sales (in the Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming region).
Coming on the heels of Skwala's recently introduced RS Boot and Carbon Boot lineups, the brand's entry into the fly-fishing footwear market, these moves are designed to help fans of Skwala find the brand on more and more fly shop and box store retail shelves.
“Our goal is simple: to support our retail partners in more meaningful ways as the brand grows," said Kevin Sloan, the founder and CEO of Skwala.
"Our retailers are the frontline storytellers of this brand,” he added. “These hires are not a shift away from direct connection — they’re a way to scale that connection with intention, trust, and the kind of support that only comes from boots-on-the-ground experience."
To learn more about Skwala, visit here .
New Alabama Bass Fly Record Caught in Georgia Fly angler Pamela Moss caught this record setting Alabama bass while fishing at Lake Lanier with guide Dillon Lancaster. (Photo courtesy of the IGFA News Release / Social Media Reports) Yup, in one of the ironies of record keeping, the International Game Fish Association has reported that a new Tippet Class World Record has been set by fly angler Pamela Moss.
According to an IGFA news release , Moss was fishing in Gainesville, Georgia at Lake Lanier on March 13 when she landed a 1.72-kilogram (3-pound, 13-ounce) Alabama bass on an unidentified fly.
With this Georgia catch, Moss's big Alabama bass sets the IGFA Women’s 3-kg (6-lb.) Tippet Class World Record benchmark for the species. Fishing with Guide Dillon Lancaster, the bass was weighed on Moss's certified scale and she was able to safely release the fish afterwards.
Similar to the spotted bass in appearance, the IGFA announced last year at this time that it was introducing the Alabama bass as a new species eligible for line class, tippet class, junior, and length record categories. The change, which came after the publishing of a scientific paper early in 2024.
"In February 2024, IGFA staff and biologist Dr. Andrew Taylor of the University of North Georgia co-authored a scientific article in the American Fisheries Society journal Fisheries , titled “Updating Angling Records to Advance Sport Fish Conservation: A Case Study of IGFA’s Black Bass World Records.” This groundbreaking study reviewed the current science related to black bass genetics to update IGFA record keeping for this important species group.
"The research highlighted several key findings, particularly concerning the spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus ) and its close relative, the Alabama bass (Micropterus henshalli). The study confirmed that many records previously attributed to spotted bass were, in fact, Alabama bass. Consequently, the IGFA has corrected these records to reflect accurate species identification.
"Additionally, the study revealed the distinct identities of the Florida bass (Micropterus salmoides ) and the largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans ), species that were often indistinguishable without genetic testing."
Given that news, the IGFA made adjustments to its previous largemouth bass and its spotted bass categories. Today, the IGFA's newly published 2025 World Record Game Fishes record book, there are separate categories now for Largemouth Bass and Florida Bass categories, along with separate categories for Alabama Bass and Spotted Bass.
For the record, and the pun is intended, the current All Tackle World Record for an Alabama Bass is an 11 pounds, 4 ounces specimen caught on February 12, 2017 at New Bullards Bar Reservoir in California by angler Nick Dulleck. And currently, Moss's Tippet Class World Record is listed as the IGFA’s largest fly rod caught specimen of any Alabama bass caught to date. Moss's Alabama bass is also tied for the All Tackle (Length) World Record for the species in the Fly Tackle category.
