Barry and Cathy are on their way home from New Zealand as I write the blog for this week. They report another week of beautiful summer weather at Owen River Lodge. The rivers are fishing well and the group has enjoyed a wonderful New Zealand fishing experience. They have fished a number of rivers on the South Island in the Murchison area, saw lots of beautiful New Zealand countryside and loved Owen River Lodge. The food, guides, accommodations and personal attention were exceptional. Everyone agreed that fishing doesn't get more technical or more rewarding than New Zealand! They are all coming home tired and happy.   

Also, we found a few interesting articles in the Angling Trade E-News last month that we wanted to share:

Sage Bolt Rod Review

Kirk Deeter reviews the new Sage Bolt rod in Angling Trade E-News. If you like a fast rod, this might be for you.

And,

In the same issue is a short clip of rising trout - actually a very hungry rising trout! Click here to view the issue.  Enjoy.

It's no secret that Barry and I feel very fortunate to be aligned with the Farbank companies, Sage, RIO, and Redington. Not only because we think the products are the best, but because the "brass" are really serious fishermen. These guys care about the sport, the resource, and the future. It's what they do on their days off, just ask Russ Miller, Far Bank Pro Site Supervisor, who is holding the beautiful steelhead in the picture. 

So, it doesn't surprise us to read that Travis Campbell, president and CEO at Farbank, began talks with TU brass earlier this year and has added Far Bank to the list of Wild Steelhead Initiative supporters. The Wild Steelhead Initiative
(WSI), will eventually encompass east and west, wild and stocked. The Great Lakes steelhead introduction program has been hugely successful and offers us easterners a place close to home to fish for magnificant steelhead. At the same time, no one can argue the value and sheer beauty of a wild, free, northwest steelhead, there is nothing like it. With organizations and people working together on both sides of the debate, maybe we can find common ground and move
forward - for the sake of the fish as well as the future of the sport.

And that brings us to two very good recent articles in our industry magazine, Angling Trade News, about wild steelhead, the WSI, the issues at hand, and the organizations and companies who are coming together to find that common ground.
Look for "Why Wild Matters" and the "Currents" column. It's good reading. Click here to read the current issue.