The Middle River Group, LLC

fly fishing, conservation and politics.

tenkara, conservation, communications, politics

Key grip and trout wrangler at the Middle River Group, LLC. Playing Doc Holliday to the Wyatt Earps of the fish and wildlife conservation world. Deputy Director, Marine Fish Conservation Network. Guide and instructor, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. Freelance outdoor writer.

The Abbey Doctrine

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In the last few years, trips to my doctor have had a way of shining a glaring spotlight on my mortality. This most recent visit was no exception. The blood pressure numbers were nothing to right home about.

I’m medicine adverse so, after a bit of back and forth with my doc, we decided to see if a life style change might work. I’ve got 90 days to see.

So it is back to meditation and very concerted effort to remove unnecessary stress.
Abbey’s words resonate in my mind

One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am – a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.”

I intend to do what I can to outlive the bastards.

Pebble Mine Update: What the Army Corps Did and Didn’t Do

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If you are following the saga of the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska, you would be forgiven if you thought recent action by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was the death knell for the proposed mine.

On August 24, the USACE released a letter to the Pebble Limited Partnership. The U.S. Army’s press office proclaimed, “Therefore, the Corps finds that the project, as currently proposed, cannot be permitted under section 404 of the Clean Water Act.”

In reality, the USACE essentially kicked the can down the road. The letter to the Pebble Limited Partnership informed them, “As part of the [Record of Decision] the [Alaska District of the USACE] made Clean Water Act Section 404(b) (1) factual determinations that discharges at the mine site would cause unavoidable adverse impacts to aquatic resources and, preliminarily, that those adverse impacts would result in significant degradation to those aquatic resources.” The Alaska District of the USACE determined that Pebble Limited Partnership would need mitigation measures within the Koktuli River Watershed, where the mine potentially will be located, for all direct and indirect impacts on aquatic resources caused by the mine’s discharges.

The letter went on to outline the ways those damages could be mitigated:

There are three approved mechanisms for providing compensatory mitigation, which include mitigation banks, in-lieu fee programs, and permittee-responsible mitigation with preference, in that order. Your mitigation plan may include a combination of means and mechanisms but must comply with all required components of Rule and be found sufficient to offset the unavoidable adverse impacts to the aquatic resources identified above.

Some reactions critics of the project from both sides of Capitol Hill were less than laudatory of the action. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) stated :

A mitigation plan to make up for unavoidable damage from the Pebble Mine is not enough. The Final Environmental Impact Statement for Pebble Mine did not assure me the pristine Bristol Bay region of Alaska, which is home to the world’s most productive salmon fishery, supports 14,000 jobs and generates $1.5 billion of revenue annually, would be sufficiently protected. I again urge the Administration to completely veto a Clean Water Act permit for this project.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) said :

Delaying the permit for the Pebble Mine is welcome news, but let’s be clear: the only reason this environmental atrocity came this close to happening is because the Trump administration is a favor factory for polluting industries. The previously rejected permit was revived and fast-tracked by this administration, and the only reason they finally hit the pause button is because – thankfully – some individuals close to President Trump made a personal appeal. We can welcome the outcome, but let’s not confuse any of this with environmental stewardship or good government.

This letter did not come as a surprise to the Pebble Limited Partnership. The company responded:

The letter we received today is a normal letter in the permitting process and we are well into an effort to present a mitigation plan to the USACE that complies with the requirements of their letter. A clear reading of the letter shows it is entirely unrelated to recent tweets about Pebble and one-sided news shows. The White House had nothing to do with the letter nor is it the show-stopper described by several in the news media over the weekend.

Now that dust has settled, let’s take a look at the facts included in the Corps’s letter, which should send chills down the spine of anyone who still thinks it is a good idea to permit this mine.

The letter tells us what is at stake:

Therefore, the District has determined that in-kind compensatory mitigation within the Koktuli River Watershed will be required to compensate for all direct and indirect impacts caused by discharges into aquatic resources at the mine site. Direct and indirect impacts at the mine site total 2,825 acres of wetlands, 132.5 acres of open waters, and 129.5 miles of streams.

The District has also determined that compensatory mitigation is required for unavoidable adverse impacts to aquatic resources from discharges associated with the transportation corridor and the port site. Direct and indirect impacts associated with the transportation corridor and port site total 460 acres of wetlands, 231.7 acres of open waters, and 55.5 miles of streams.

Let me help you with the math. Here are the totals for what’s at risk:

  • 3,285 acres of wetlands
  • 364 acres of open waters
  • 185 miles of streams

So somewhere, somehow, the Pebble Limited Partnership is going to mitigate all that damage. As they said, “We will share more details of our initial plan as they become more defined.”

They have until November 20 to do that, although they seem to think it may happen sooner. “Based on our understanding of the substance of the letter, our discussions with the state, our substantial work in the field and our discussions with the USACE we believe our final Comprehensive Management Plan submission will be submitted within weeks and will satisfy all of the requirements of the letter.”

We shall see.

Here’s the rub. Bristol Bay is unique. How will that uniqueness be mitigated? How do you mitigate the loss of the world’s best salmon run?

On August 31, a letter from Representatives Huffman and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and signed by 31 of their colleagues to EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler, made the point, “There is no level of compensatory mitigation that would be sufficient to address the mine’s irreversible harm to the pristine environment that exists in Bristol Bay.”

The letter went on to ask “that the EPA exercise its authority under the Clean Water Act and oppose the flawed Environmental Impact Statement.”

Let’s hope the administration comes to realize that, as the late Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska said, “This is the wrong mine in the wrong place,” and vetoes the Clean Water Act permit. If the USACE and Environmental Protection Agency don’t see the light, hopeful Congress will make them feel the heat.

UPDATE (Oct 30, 2020): Tim Sohn writing in Outside Online, gives a terrific, recap, analysis and update on the state of play in Bristol Bay.
https://www.outsideonline.com/2418304/pebble-mine-tapes-election-explainer.

Your comments questions and other witty repartee are welcome around the Campfire.

Note: This article (pre update) originally appeared on the Marine Fish Conservation Network’s From the Waterfront blog.

Sportsmen and Women for Biden

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A new political action committee (PAC) stepped into the presidential campaign arena with the launch of Sportsmen and Women for Biden. Recognizing the American outdoors cannot survive another four years of Donald Trump, this PAC is mobilizing sportsmen and women across the country to end this era of unprecedented destruction and forge a brighter future for the American outdoors by electing Joe Biden.

In 2016 America’s sportsmen and women helped swing the presidential election, and in doing so ushered in the most anti-outdoor administration in U.S. history. In key state after key state, sportsmen and women went to the ballot box and cast a vote for a candidate who was clearly not aligned with our outdoor interests. Unsurprisingly, the last four years have illuminated this reality as Donald Trump and his administration have unraveled the fabric of America’s outdoor heritage by dismantling dozens of keystone conservation laws and destroying some of America’s most important outdoor resources.

This November, American sportsmen and women have a choice. We can usher in a great era for the American outdoors by electing Joe Biden, or we can give the most anti-outdoor president in American history another four years to further his unparalleled record of devastation,” said Brian Bennett. “I created Sportsmen and Women for Biden to ensure that America’s sportsmen and women make the right choice in 2020 by sending Joe Biden back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Donald Trump back to Mar-a-Lago.

There is no precedent for Donald Trump’s legacy of outdoor destruction. No president – Republican or Democrat – has ever demonstrated such blatant disregard for America’s sportsmen and women as Donald Trump. No president – Republican or Democrat – has ever done even close to the damage in eight years that Donald Trump has done in his first four years in the oval office. And no presidential candidate – Republican or Democrat – has ever been so committed and prepared to unleash a wake of outdoor destruction as Donald Trump is right now.

In a desperate attempt to hoodwink America’s sportswomen and women and shore up electoral support for himself and several endangered Republican senators, Donald Trump is temporarily reversing course on a few important outdoor issues,” Bennett said. “America’s sportsmen and women must not be fooled by this charade. Donald Trump is a con artist, not a conservationist. He does not care about outdoor issues beyond this election, something the last four years make abundantly clear.

With all of the chaos surrounding the 2020 election, the ballots sportswomen and women will cast this November may very well determine this election, just as they did four years ago. We cannot afford to let America’s sportsmen and women once again facilitate the demise of our outdoor heritage and future by returning Donald Trump to the White House.

It is time for America’s sportsmen and women to stand up and put a swift and abrupt end to this despicable administration. Four years of Donald Trump was four years too many. Another four years of his malfeasance must not happen. Sportsmen and women across the country must join together and fight tirelessly to send Joe Biden back to the White House.

More information about Sportsmen and Women for Biden, can be found on their website and Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages. A YouTube channels will follow shortly.

To learn how you can help us spread the word, sign up here. To support this pivotal effort, please make a donation (not tax-deductible) here.

Sportsmen and Women for Biden is a registered independent political action committee and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee

The rod of my dreams

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In 2019, I decided to treat myself to a bamboo fly rod to mark my 65th birth year. I’ve inherited three bamboo rods from my grandfather and father. Now I contemplated having a rod of my own as I approached this milestone in life.

My first call was to Jerry Kustich at Sweetgrass Rods. I knew Jerry as one of the renowned “boo boys” and a dedicated conservationist. When it came time to buy a handcrafted, custom made rod, the choice was obvious.

On the phone, Jerry walked me through the process, and we talked about what kind of rod he could build. My home waters are the spring creeks and mountain streams in and around the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. While I knew I might be hoping for the impossible, having a rod suitable for both was my dream. The more I talked with Jerry, the more hopeful I became. We met up at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival in January of this year, where I had a chance to cast some different rods.

After casting a few rods, I began to zero in on a model that appealed to me. Like a bespoke suit, the fit and feel were subjective. I wanted a rod that worked with me and fit my casting style. As I tried the rods, I began to understand why people speak of bamboo rods as if they are alive. It’s uncanny. The feel is like nothing else I’ve experienced.

Over the years, my preference for slower rods has increased. Much of that comes from fishing longer, more flexible tenkara rods for the last 10 years. My casting style reflects it as well. Because I wanted a rod for our spring creeks, where the fish are bigger, I needed a rod with some muscle but still soft enough to load quickly for short cast in mountain streams.

With Jerry’s excellent guidance, we settled on a Sweetgrass 7’9″ Pent (five strip) for a four or five weight line. As Jerry noted, “a 4-weight with a bit of backbone.” Jerry would build the rod, and Glenn would add the finishing touches, including an inscription with my name and my 65th birthday date. 

In late June, when the word came from Butte that the rod was headed my way, I could barely contain my excitement. When it arrived, I was struck by the beauty of the craftsmanship, the cane’s warm colors, the richness of the cocobolo reel seat, and the sparkle of the nickel silver Bellinger components. This was an elegant tool; I couldn’t wait to fish with it.

Fortune shines

As the Fourth of July holiday approached, I checked with Colby at Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, where I guide. As luck would have it, a beat on our spring creek water was open the morning of July 4. After more than 90 days without a chance to fish, this would genuinely be an Independence Day celebration. As a bonus, my stepson Matt was free that morning and joined me. We arrived at Mossy and rigged up. As I cast the rod, I re-experienced that magical feel of a bamboo rod. I felt the rod load not only in my arm; it felt alive in my hand. Words don’t do justice to the experience.

Because of my foray into the tenkara world, how well a rod tracks has become a touchstone. Tenkara rods track exceptionally well because the lines are so light. I have become very accustomed to that accuracy. With this rod, “laser-like” doesn’t overstate it. I noticed it right off the bat and was surprised how spot on it was. Because of my tenkara adapted casting stroke, the smoothly loading rod made me feel right at home, even with my sometimes rusty casting skills.

There were a few rises, so I started out fishing a parachute BWO with a midge dropper. After finding no takers on the midge, I switched to a bead-head pheasant tail and quickly connected.

With success on the dry-dropper rig established, I switched to a streamer. I was casting into overhanging cover, and the rod delivered the fly smoothly to the target. Two casts and a rainbow came to hand. I continued to put the rod to work. As the morning wore on, I switched to a beetle. We were now sight fishing, and the fish were getting increasingly spooky as the sun moved higher.

As my familiarity with it improved, my confidence increased, and I settled into a very satisfying working relationship. The reward came late in the morning as good-sized brown lazily sipped in a well-placed black beetle in his feeding lane.

When it comes to lines, it pays to talk to the guy who built the rod.

Because I was anxious to get on the water with my new rod, I grabbed the reel and line I had been using with my graphite rods. For the first outing, I used a Rio Technical Trout WF 5 and it worked very well. When I had a chance, I called Jerry and talked with him about lines. He explained that this rod would cast very well with a double taper line. He recommended the Cortland 444 SLYK DT.

After some back and forth about the line tapers and weights, I settled on the Cortland DT5F and the Rio Light Line DT4F.

Jerry helped me understand that while it might be counterintuitive, the five-weight line would work better for making short casts like when I was fishing for brook trout. The four weight would be better for making a longer cast, like when I fish our spring creeks.

I put both of the lines to the test, and all I can say is it pays to talk to the guy who built the rod. The results were remarkable and let me get the most out of this already impressive rod.

More adventures lie ahead, and this rod is now my first choice for my home waters.

Note: this article originally appeared in the August edition of Sweetgrass Rods monthly newsletter.

Casting Tip: Drift vs Creep

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I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Lori-Ann Murphy for many years. She is a terrific guide and all around fun person to know. She recently posted a casting tip that stuck with me. Her explanation of one of the mistakes many students and even good casters make is splendid advice.

Casting …..by Lori-Ann Murphy
Drift away!
The other day in my casting and fishing I became acutely aware that I was rushing my cast. This becomes evident when you don’t see what you want to on the delivery side of things. And this usually happens when we haven’t been fishing enough. We want to see a nice tapered leader turnover a balanced tippet holding the fly. Creep. That’s the word. We tend to “creep” our forward cast in anticipation of getting our fly to the fish. I imagine those of you float fishing to hatches with feeding trout might recognize the situation.

Al Kyte was a very important teacher in my fly fishing. Al was a basketball coach at UC Berkeley and also keen on fly fishing – especially understanding the cast. He studied Steve Rajeff and Lefty Krey. He came up with that on their short cast they had the same casting style. Which was very interesting because grown ups were having big fights over casting style as FFF now FFI found its way. In any case, Al taught me about “drift.”

“Just think about your rod tip moving back just an inch after your stop.” Moving the rod tip back as the fly line unfolds behind you after your stop is the exact opposite of creep. If we move our rod forward just a fraction of an inch sometime too soon – ugly cast. So go ahead and practice drifting with dry flies at first. Make sure you keep your tip in the same plane – don’t let it drop. Time slows down in this move. If you are hauling line – let that line fly behind you and then grab the line up by the first guide and pull hard with your line hand and keep your rod hand nice and relaxed with a proper grip to your snappy stop. When you are ready, move on to streamers and look out. By the time fall hits you’ll be deadly.