Tributes Continue for the Nation's First Fly Fisherman

With the arrival of the New Year, there is much hope and promise, especially for the fly angler looking at 12 months of possibilities with a fly rod in hand. With that, here is the last installment of Fly Fisherman’s News Digest for the year 2024:

Tributes Pour in for the Nation’s First Fly Fisherman

As you probably know by now, James Earl Carter, Jr., the 39th President of the United States, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29 at the age of 100 and after nearly two years in hospice care.

While the former President Jimmy Carter learned to fly fish later in life during his time in the Oval Office–former Fly Fisherman editor John Randolph and others instructed the President in the fine art of fly fishing at Camp David while Carter was serving in his only term–he would embrace the sport wholeheartedly. Described by Fly Fisherman editor and publisher Ross Purnell as "one of us," Carter fly fished well into his 90s and took various trips around the globe to embrace his new found outdoors passion.

A longtime public servant in his home state of Georgia and as the U.S. President in the late 1970s, Carter had a thorough passion for the sport and his commitment to the wild places that fly anglers love to wade. As something of the nation’s "First Fly Fisher," tributes to the former President have poured in concerning Carter's humble life, his public service legacy, and his love of fly fishing.

One such tribute came from the American Museum of Fly Fishing, headquartered in Manchester, Vermont and occupying significant exhibit space at Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri.

"AMFF is saddened at the loss of President Jimmy Carter at age 100," said an AMFF Facebook post. "President Jimmy Carter was a skilled fly fisherman and fly tyer, known for his extensive angling library. He was an admired conservation proponent and was responsible for the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation act in 1980, which protects more than 150 million acres of wild lands and scenic rivers. He and his wife Rosalynn fished throughout the world and The Carter Presidential Library devoted an exhibit to the sport of fly fishing. The Carter Center, established in 1982 in partnership with Emory University, is committed to advancing human rights and alleviating unnecessary human suffering."

Perhaps Mr. Carter said it best when he once referred to the fly anglers he had been privileged to meet in places ranging from the Green Drake hatch in Pennsylvania to the giant sea run brown trout on Tierra del Fuego's windy expanse. According to the AMFF, the former President said: "As you go through life, you meet different groups of people, but in politics you meet a different group of people all together. But there's a special group of people who I think without any doubt are superlative: the fellow fly fishers we've met around the world."

As the nation mourns the death of its 39th President, Carter's remains will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for several days, in repose at his presidential library in Atlanta, traveling by motorcade through his hometown in Plains, Georgia, and eventually return to Washington, D.C. where his state funeral will take place at Washington National Cathedral on January 9. 

Carter's remains will return to Georgia, where he will be buried next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, who passed away last year at the age of 96. When all of the crowds have faded away, the Carter's will rest in peace at their former family residence near a pond that they often fished upon. 

Rest in peace Mr. Carter, and here’s hoping that you’re already wetting a fly line on the other side.

Popovics Receives Posthumous Award

Bob Popovics, who passed away in the early morning hours of November 1 from injuries he sustained in an alleged hit-and-run accident at the end of September, was a legend in the saltwater fly-angling community scattered along the Eastern Seaboard.

Still making a sizable impact in the sport, Popovics will be posthumously honored with the American Museum of Fly Fishing's (AMFF) 2025 Izaak Walton Award in late January. 

"Bob Popovics, hailed by Lefty Kreh as the greatest fly tyer of all time, was an extraordinary innovator of saltwater flies whose designs inspired generations," noted an AMFF social media post. "Beyond his legacy as the creator of flies such as the Bucktail Deceiver, Surf Candy, and Beast Fleye, he was known to have a heart of gold and would share his knowledge and time with anyone who expressed an interest. His greatest joy, besides his family, was to foster a supportive sense of community among fly tyers."

Fittingly, the award, which will be accepted on behalf of the late Popovics by Lance Erwin, will come on January 25, 2025 at the Fly Fishing Show in Edison, New Jersey at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center. According to AMFF, the presentation–open to the public via the admission price being paid to gain access to the show floor–is from 5-6 p.m. and will feature a tribute film and several guest speakers at one of the late fly angling legend’s favorite annual events.

Wyoming Game and Fish Seeks Instream Flow Water Rights to Protect Native Trout

Native trout in the American West have been featured a good bit in 2024's news digests from Fly Fisherman, and once again, on the cusp of another spin through the annual calendar, they make some news yet again.

This time, it's because the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) is looking for instream flow water rights on segments of Dry Medicine Lodge Creek and North and South Beaver creeks, both creeks found in the Cowboy State's Bighorn County. With these spots being found entirely on public turf in the Cody region, WGFD says in a news release that "...the proposed water rights are important to maintaining populations of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in their native range."

WGFD also notes that such instream flow water rights serve as one of the tools that the agency can use to protect fish habitat and essential river functions, while trying to also ensure that water keeps flowing to the stream's fisheries benefit in addition to protecting existing water users and their real-life needs.

"Water is the most important part of fish habitat," said Del Lobb, a WGFD instream flow biologist, in the news release. "Maintaining adequate amounts of water in streams year-round is critical for maintaining and improving the long-term health of fish populations."

The biologist notes that WGFD performed similar procedures back in 2011 to help ascertain flows needed to maintain existing Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations on three creeks in the Cowboy State. 

The stream segments currently being sought are within the Yellowstone cutthroat's native range and would help protect flows in approximately eight miles of those creeks. To view the instream flow segments, visit the WGFD’s XStream Angler webpage.

“Securing the water rights means the streams will continue to provide critical habitat for spawning, passage and year-round survival of this species,” noted Lobb. “Protecting stream flows in these headwater streams will help conserve the remaining Wyoming populations of this species.”

To learn more about all of this work, visit either the WGFD website or the Wyoming Water Development Office's website.

Wisconsin DNR Launches Brook Trout Reserves Program

Biologists in the Rocky Mountains aren’t the only ones interested in preserving native trout species here in the U.S. Among other locations in the Lower 48 seeking to do so, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is also looking at preserving its native brook trout population.

Thanks to a new initiative in the Badger State, the Wisconsin DNR is aiming to do just that with the implementation of its Brook Trout Reserves program, a new effort that seeks to protect the state's native brook trout population from changing environmental conditions that have the potential to impact cold water streams.

With Wisconsin having some 22,000 miles of water stream habitat suitable for brookies to call home, a DNR news release indicates that in some 30 years, as much as two out of every three miles of this brookie habitat will be too warm to support the species if current trends continue.

To help combat that fearsome possibility, DNR biologists are utilizing survey and environmental data to identify cold water streams in some 205 sub watersheds in the state that are likely to persist in the future, even in the face of climate change. 

Each one of these important watersheds within the Brook Trout Reserves program contains self-sustaining bookie populations; above-average abundance of brook trout (exceeding the abundance levels of non-native trout and salmon species); limited or no stocking at all of brown trout; and more than two stream miles of brook trout habitat that is projected to remain in place by the year 2050.

While some projects like this don't offer a way for interested fly anglers to put some boot leather down on the ground and get involved at a hands-on level, this project does so. Landowners can enroll their properties through the DNR's Streambank Easement Program, volunteers can help resource managers with forest and fish habitat management projects within the state, trees can be planted along stream corridors (for shade restoration and keeping the water cold), work on healthy land use practices and projects (including identifying and fixing stream crossing impairments associated with roads), and joining local conservation or watershed groups among the various possibilities.

If you'd like to learn more about the Wisconsin DNR's Brook Trout Reserves program, you can visit the webpage dedicated to the effort along with the agency's Story Maps presentation.

Ross Launches Cimarron Casting for Recovery Fly Reel

If Santa forgot to leave a fly reel under the tree this Christmas holiday season, one good solution is the limited edition Casting for Recovery Cimarron 5-weight fly reel from Ross Reels in Montrose, Colorado.

Described by Ross Reels as a tribute to the strength and resilience of women who have been courageously pushing forward after a breast cancer diagnosis, each reel sold will see Ross donate $50 to Casting for Recovery, a non-profit that introduces women fighting the deadly disease through fly fishing and free, nature-based wellness retreats.

Not only is this reel supporting a great cause, but it's a great reel and a stylish one too featuring artwork by Colorado-based artist and angler Piper Nunn. Showcasing the beauty of trout and the environment they call home, the reel's drag knob also displays the CFR fly logo in an anodized pink finish that is precisely laser-cut through the white ceramic-coated surface. This emphasizes the intricate fly pattern thanks to a new and innovative process that is exclusive to Ross Reels.

If you'd like to learn more about the limited edition reel, or to add one to your fly fishing arsenal while supporting an incredibly worthy cause, visit the Ross Reels website to learn more.

MidCurrent Hires Industry Veteran Phil Monahan as Editor-in-Chief

If you've been following fly fishing for any length of time, odds are that you've encountered the name and superb work of Phil Monahan as the Vermont resident has served as editor of the former American Angler magazine and the Orvis Fly Fishing Blog in addition to work on such titles as Saltwater Fly Fishing, Warmwater Fly Fishing, and Fly Tyer.

According to MidCurrent, the New Hampshire native and masters recipient from the University of New Hampshire has also contributed freelance work to numerous other titles, including Game and Fish Magazine, an Outdoor Sportsman Group sister-publication to Fly Fisherman.

With the corporate restructuring announced by Orvis in October, Monahan's position was eliminated, ending a 14-year run with the Manchester, Vermont-based company. But after more than 10,000 posts on the Orvis site and important work on conservation projects around the country, it didn't take long for the prolific editor, freelance writer, and former fly fishing guide to find a new platform to continue his excellent work.

As MidCurrent notes, it’s indeed a home-coming for Monahan, who authored MidCurrent's popular "Ask the Experts" column from 2009-2010. Work on Phil's actual PhD never got finished because fly fishing always seems to have gotten in the way, giving Monahan a different kind of doctorate in understanding fly fishing about as well as anyone does.

“I was able to fish with anglers of all skill levels and in all kinds of situations—surrounded by brown bears in Alaska, surrounded by Winnebagos in Yellowstone National Park, and surrounded by incredibly finicky trout on the spring creeks of Paradise Valley," said Monahan in a MidCurrent announcement about his hiring. "Best of all, I got to be on the water almost all the time, in some of the most beautiful settings on the planet, and I got to hang out with fellow fly fishermen.” 

Congrats Phil!

13-Year-Old Fly Tier Donates $1,232 to Veterans' Organization

Owen Edgar, a 13-year-old entrepreneur from Big Sky, Montana, has donated $1,232 to Warriors & Quiet Waters (WQW), a nonprofit that provides outdoor experiences for veterans. Edgar, who runs a fly-tying business called "The Fly Box," earned the money through sales at the Big Sky Farmers Market, according to Explore Big Sky.

Edgar began tying flies during the COVID-19 pandemic and quickly developed a passion for the craft. He started selling his flies at the market in 2021 and has since expanded his business to include custom orders.

Brian Gilman, CEO of WQW, praised Edgar's generosity, stating that his donation significantly helps the organization meet its budget needs. WQW plans to continue working with Edgar and share his inspiring story with the community.

WQW is Bozeman-based organization formed more than 17 years ago that seeks to empower post-9/11 combat veterans to thrive in civilian life through experiences in nature–often fly-fishing, meaningful relationships and a sense of community.

Edgar’s flies can be ordered through his email, theflybox5@gmail.com.

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