Protecting Water and Fish
by Kara Armano
Fly fishing takes you to some of the most incredible places in the world. From the Animas River to the Piedra to the Hermosa to the La Plata and more, we live in a special place and there are millions more just like it. Keeping the water cold, clean and fresh isn’t just a fluke that allows spectacular trout places to thrive, maintaining access to public waters doesn’t just happen when anglers dream it to be; conservation, hard work and voices of anglers like you help maintain these pristine rivers and the species in them in locations we can all access.
…conservation, hard work and voices of anglers like you help maintain these pristine rivers and the species in them in locations we can all access.
Whether you’re just getting into fly fishing or it’s a life-long obsession (guilty), conservation should be at the forefront of your mind as an angler. Trout can’t speak up and tell us that the water is too warm or polluted. They can’t tell us their living conditions are not suitable to allow them to thrive, but thanks to great organizations like TU, MSI, CPW and others, we have a sense of the health of our rivers and streams. We can join forces with these organizations to learn more, to lend a helping hand, and to extend our knowledge to other anglers. We can speak up when issues affecting our access to public waters is tested, and we can encourage our comrades on the river to do the same. We can be the voice for the rivers and the fish!
When you see something amiss on the river, contact authorities, talk to your fishing buddies or bring it up at the fly shop, write letters to the editor, contact your local elected officials–ACT. Volunteer with groups like our local Trout Unlimited chapter or join Artemis, a new women’s conservation organization designed to protect lands and water, habitat and species, and encourage sportswomen to take the lead in conservation. Whatever you do, don’t just sit by and let it happen. Be a voice for the waters and the fish you love.
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