Jonathan Lee Wright
United States
Covers:
Outdoor sports, environmental science and policy, and Public Health.
Articles by Jonathan Lee Wright
High Water Trout Fishing
3 tips for anglers who refuse to abandon rivers, ever. (Photo courtesy Brian McGeehan, photo for Orvis) You can run, but you can't hide–high water is coming, or it's already here. Fishing in early summer runoff or storm flood conditions in streams and rivers is a classic challenge for fly fishermen.
Headwaters of the North Platte
Northern Colorado's high-plains playground Photo - Jonathan Lee Wright March 18, 2021 By Jonathan Lee Wright I threw out camp 15 feet inside of the State Line, where a barely readable border plaque hung on a barbed wire fence, shot to shrapnel. This typically Western mutilation of official signage seems here more a political statement than vandalism. There are other indicators that I am back home—sagebrush, bucking cowboy motifs, Jackalope postcards, and always the wind.
New Fishing Packs for 2020
Jonathan Wright - February 12, 2020 Having the right pack, bag, or duffel can make or break a fishing trip. Proper planning with the pack best suited for the conditions and the objectives will make your outings more productive, organized, and enjoyable. Brian Grossenbacher photo “This fishing pack article first appeared in the 2020 Gear Guide.
How to Catch Trout in Small Streams
Jonathan Wright - September 23, 2019 Large trout can thrive in tiny streams, particularly if they connect to a larger river downstream. At some times of the year, there is more food in smaller streams, and this is particularly true in late summer when terrestrials are an important food source. (Earl Harper photo) Fine-tuning your micro game The brute was holding in a barely perceptible lie among the cobbles, finning occasionally for balance.
Southern Colorado in Hot Water
Anglers, guides and trout in Southern Colorado are all toughing it out this season in an exceptional drought. A combination of low snowpack at higher elevations and unseasonably warm weather has created conditions that are now putting fish at risk. The San Luis Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited issued a statement last week requesting anglers comply with voluntary limits on fishing in the afternoons, owing to high water temperatures stressing cold water species of fish.
Presidential Piscatorial Pursuits
Q: What do Barack Obama and Donald Trump Jr. have in common? A: They each like to go fly fishing! You thought there was a joke coming, right? Well, no joke, both the former president and the son of the current POTUS were reported being guided on the water last week fishing for trout. Obama chose the Adirondack region in New York for his excursion, and the younger Trump took a river float trip in Montana.
Micro Spey Tactics for Trout
Spey is one of the older styles of fly fishing, having origins in the British Isles, and specifically, Scotland, where it was developed to target Atlantic Salmon. The Spey cast itself — an aerial combination of a figure-eight and a roll cast — is something that I don’t personally claim to execute well, but its utility and effectiveness are unquestionable.
That Guy Fly Fishing on the National Mall
It’s time we had a national conversation about fly fishing. Not regarding the mental and physical health benefits of outdoor recreation, or youth outreach, or even conservation and environmental concerns. While all of these are valid and important issues within the context of the sport, what has suddenly and jarringly been thrust in the consciousness of the republic is a fundamental question: What does fly fishing mean for Americans?
Guides Worth Their Salt
Guides and outfitting services in America come in all flavors. Rivers and lakes require almost completely different skill sets on the part of the guide, and if boats are involved, then this is a whole different level of game with extensive training and certifications being necessarily needed. Captain status in salt water is another high bar that’s worthy of respect.
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Get New Help
Imperiled Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout are getting a helping hand with new strategies being developed by fisheries managers to control invasive predator species. Biologists from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks division, working with federal scientists from Yellowstone National Park recently outlined new measures that are being taken to preserve the native trout. But some strategies being used are controversial.
U.S. National Fly Fishing Championships
The U.S. National Fly Fishing Championships are slated to be held May 30th through June 2nd, and this year’s host city will be Bend, Oregon. Participating anglers will compete in judged coursework on the various disciplines involved in the sport, pursuing multiple species of fish over varied terrain. Significantly, team members for Fly Fishing Team USA for the next two years will be selected from the winners of the event — who will then go on to represent the U.S. on the international stage.
New Line-Class World Record Carp
L’enfant Terrible of American fly fishing has struck again, and this time it’s with a potential line-class world record carp. 18 year-old Kurt Gutormson, who established an overall world record with fly tackle for the species last year, has just made another jaw-dropping catch with a 31lb, 11oz specimen taken on 5.5lb tippet from South Dakota’s Lake Poinsett.
Clean the Dream - Fly Fisherman
Is your favorite water looking a little hammered lately? Seeing some disposable plastic bottles or jerky packaging floating in a prime back eddy? Well, you’re not alone — with usage of public resources comes impact, and the responsibility to take the high road from time to time and help to clean this crap up. One of the Colorado’s most beloved and well known sections of quality water was noticed to have been taking a hit as of late, and local advocates have decided to do something about it.
Canadian Stripers Slam Salmon
In a rare report of species population increase, Striped Bass have rebounded with a 300% expansion in numbers off the waters of eastern Canada. Every silver lining has a potential dark cloud, however, and the implications for environmental analysts are concerning. As covered by the CBC news in New Brunswick, the population of Striped Bass in the lower Gulf of St. Lawrence have inexplicably exploded in the last year, as measured by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Maine's Arctic Char Endangered
An endangered Arctic Char in Maine is under threat from invasive Smelt in its home water, and resource managers are now apparently discussing relocating the entire population. Bald Mountain Pond is home to one of only twelve of the last remaining wild Arctic Char populations in the US, which are considered the oldest strains in North America. The Bald Mountain lineage in particular represents unique adaptations owing to thousands of years of isolation.
2018 America’s Most Endangered Rivers
The 2018 America’s Most Endangered Rivers list has just been released, and as usual, the results are both shocking and unexpected. Compiled by American Rivers, one of the nation’s most established and well-respected conservation groups, the list of the nation’s most at-risk waterways is a compilation based on not only streams that are subject to immediate ecological threats, but also ones that have the potential for current public involvement that could affect policy change in real time.
Delisting Endangered Humpback Chub
The Humpback Chub, one of the original species included for protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1967, has been identified for potential delisting to a “Threatened” status by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. According to a press release from the agency last week, a Species Status Assessment (SSA) has been completed that indicates the fish is no longer in imminent danger of extinction.
Maine's Arctic Charr Endangered
An endangered Arctic Charr in Maine is under threat from invasive Smelt in its home water, and resource managers are now apparently discussing relocating the entire population. Bald Mountain Pond is home to one of only twelve of the last remaining wild Arctic Charr populations in the US, which are considered the oldest strains in North America. The Bald Mountain lineage in particular represents unique adaptations owing to thousands of years of isolation.
Chicken, the Book, Was Meant for Fly Tiers
This statement can be taken at face value: “For the discriminating angler, etc…”, has been long standing virtue within our ranks. It can also be more damning, however, and in this sense I mean openly preferential of one living creature over another, prejudicial at it’s most base. I’m gonna walk that back and say that this has been restricted to species other than our own, where the pursuit of certain fishes has been based entirely on aesthetics, and to somewhat lesser extent, behaviors.
Henry's Fork Public Access at Risk
A wrinkle in a legal document regarding state ownership of a legendary section of the Henry’s Fork on the Snake River has the potential to take the resource out of public hands. Harriman State Park contains the Railroad Ranch, which was a gift made in the early 1960’s to the state of Idaho from the E.H. Harriman family.
Midges Drive Lake Health
Any tailwater trout fisherman worth this salt will tell you that midges are the go-to fly pattern — and the dominant insect species — in the outlet streams immediately below the dams that hold back larger reservoirs. Especially in the colder months, catching big fish on tiny flies is a seasonal discipline and an eye opening rite of passage for those new to the sport.
Fly Angler Prevails at 2018 Cuda Bowl - Fly Fisherman
They can be big, they can be bad, and if you don’t keep your wits about you, things can go sideways in a hurry — but they can be a ton of fun! The results of the 2018 Cuda Bowl Tournament in Key West are in, and it appears that a good time was had by all. The Florida-based salt water flats fishing challenge brought anglers from all over the country to compete in catching and releasing Atlantic Barracuda, with both Fly and Spin fishing divisions represented.
Public Stream Access in Colorado Becomes Federal Issue - Fly Fisherman
Public stream access in Colorado has once again become a contested issue, and this time it’s being argued in federal court. Landowners in the centennial state claim that they own not only riverbanks, but river bottoms, and that fishermen wading midstream are committing criminal trespass. As reported last week in the Denver Post, Colorado Springs angler and guidebook author Roger Hill has brought suit in US District Court, maintaining that the bottom of a river is actually public property.
Bonefish Spawning in Captivity - Fly Fisherman
Bonefish have now been observed attempting to repoduce in captivity, a new development in marine fisheries science. As reported by our friends (and yours) at the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, schools of Albula Vulpes have been recorded exhibiting spawning behavior in the large aquariums at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas.
Ancient Lake Ontario Salmon Were Not Migratory - Fly Fisherman
Ancient populations of Atlantic Salmon in Lake Ontario were completely landlocked, never venturing to the ocean, according to a recent study from Canadian researchers.
Desert Carping in Phoenix Canals - Fly Fisherman
Ok, it’s winter, and you’ve been painted into a corner. As a fresh water fly fisherman, you’re pretty much looking at the following options for ninety days: A: Quit job, fly to Patagonia or New Zealand. Budget accordingly. B: Dig out every bit of fleece and neoprene you have, sprinkle ground Chipotle peppers in your socks and go fish tailwaters.
Mercury in Fish Pellets Shift to Environment - Fly Fisherman
Scientists in France have now identified that fish pellets used in hatcheries carry measurable levels of mercury — present in the marine organisms from which the pellets are made — to pristine high altitude fresh water lakes in the Alps. The element mercury is a potent neurotoxin and it’s presence in the environment is a globally managed public health issue.
Salmon in Patagonia Show Diverse Lineage - Fly Fisherman
Salmon in Patagonia have become big business, both for aquaculture and sportsmen. Deliberate and accidental introductions of pacific salmon in the binational region that encompasses areas of both Chile and Argentina have established self-sustaining populations of anadromous fish that run from the ocean to headwater streams to spawn.
Bucket Biology Case Renders Giant Reward - Fly Fisherman
A massive reward is being offered for information related to illegal stocking of walleye in Swan Lake, located near Kalispell, MT. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Trout Unlimited are offering a reward of up to $35,250 for information on the illegally introduced fish. As reported by KTVQ.com, “According to FWP’s Region 6 Office, two walleye were found in Swan Lake in October 2015. The two walleye were caught in a gill net.
Study Shows Traces of Methane in Stoneflies - Fly Fisherman
Stoneflies, (Order: Plecoptera), are among the largest insects in any river community, and are of significant importance to fresh water fly fisherman wanting to target the big trout that prefer to eat them. However, some species of stoneflies present a biological contradiction, in that the larval forms of these typically abundant insects mature under the stony beds of river systems that offer little in the way of food sources.
"Dancing with the Stars" winner Lindsay Arnold Loves to Fish - Fly Fisherman
Fly Fishing attracts more than it’s share of celebrities who appreciate our sport. Movie and rock stars, politicians and captains of industry are all represented on the water and are prestigious clients for guides worldwide. The latest high profile angler to be given popular recognition is Lindsay Arnold, who recently won the hugely rated “Dancing with the Stars” television competition.
Abel Johnny Cash Limited Edition Reel - Fly Fisherman
Abel Reels, working in partnership with the Johnny Cash estate, has announced today the release of the Johnny Cash Limited Edition Fly Reel. Featuring an anodized black on black graphic design commemorating the Man in Black himself, Abel will produce only 250 of the special edition reels for the sporting and collectors market.
Brook Trout Spawning in Salt Water - Fly Fisherman
Researchers in New England have filmed evidence of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) spawning in a brackish salt water estuary. While the behavior has been observed by naturalists for over 100 years, this was the first time that the dynamic has been recorded to video. The findings have potential implications for scientists in helping to restore populations of Sea-run Brook Trout, an endangered form of the species locally known as “Salter Brookies”.
Guides Save Drowning Baby - Fly Fisherman
A fishing guide in northern California and his client for the day have rescued a drowning baby in the Sacramento River. When the men pulled the baby girl from the water it wasn’t breathing, but it was successfully resuscitated. The child’s mother was helped out of the river as well by another guide working nearby. On Friday, October 20, guide Chris King and his client David Meister were fishing, and came across a small body floating in the water.
6th Annual BTT Science Symposium - Fly Fisherman
The Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, the leading environmental advocacy and research organization dedicated to the issue of saltwater flats, will be holding it’s upcoming 6th annual International Science Symposium in Weston, FL.
Costa del Mar Helps Clean Up The Keys - Fly Fisherman
What do you do if your yearly company get-together in Florida has to take a rain check because of a hurricane? If you’re Costa del Mar, you come back a week later, roll up your sleeves and get to work.
The Upper Rio Grande: Colorado’s best-kept Secret - Fly Fisherman
Standing beside the crumbling adobe barn across the river, the old mule eyed me with contempt. I was wading mid-current in heavy water, working hard to get on top of my drift, and it looked like the animal didn’t appreciate my presence. “If she decides to come this way, I suggest you back out and go for the trees,” said my guide. Joel had lived on the ranch for years and had experience in these sorts of situations.
The Upper Rio Grande: Colorado's best-kept Secret - Fly Fisherman
The Upper Rio Grande: Colorado's best-kept Secret Jonathan Wright - October 09, 2017 Standing beside the crumbling adobe barn across the river, the old mule eyed me with contempt. I was wading mid-current in heavy water, working hard to get on top of my drift, and it looked like the animal didn't appreciate my presence. "If she decides to come this way, I suggest you back out and go for the trees," said my guide. Joel had lived on the ranch for years and had experience in these sorts of situations.
Adventursome Personalities in Trout - Fly Fisherman
According to a recently released study, scientists at Exeter University in England have determined that Guppies have distinct individual personalities. The fish’s reactions to various situations and stresses indicated unique coping strategies that can be attributed to individualized cognitive profiles.
The Great Atlantic Salmon Escape - Fly Fisherman
The dust is beginning to settle in the aftermath of a massive and widely reported marine aquaculture failure in northern Puget sound, and the implications are huge. Long-standing concerns about the both the impacts to regional ecology and the greater sustainability of the overall industry are now on the table, with stakeholders taking sides.
Going One on One with Ryan Zinke - Fly Fisherman
A spokesman for wild lands and rivers met one on one with newly minted Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke recently in a wild and scenic place in New Mexico. Brett Myrick, a former Navy SEAL and wilderness advocate, was given an opportunity to meet and take a short hike in the Organ Mountains National Monument with Mr. Zinke, along with a dozen other veterans working on behalf of public lands.
Whales Eat Salmon - Fly Fisherman
As reported by Sciencenews.org, Humpback whales in Southeast Alaska have been observed deliberately pursuing and eating freshly released hatchery raised salmon. While the overall behavior is nothing new — Humpbacks are known for their wide range of food preferences — it is the first time that fisheries biologists have seen Humpbacks staging specifically in established release areas to prey on juvenile hatchery fish.
Summertime Fly Fishing - Fly Fisherman
Summertime, and the fishing is easy! Well, maybe not easy, but certainly way fun, and the prime season for throwing dry flies for trout is coming right up. Getting your surface fishing game on is probably a good thing right about now. With stream flows dropping from peak volumes in early June, the whole traumatic runoff experience for the bugs in the bottom of the river tends to kick-start a lot of etymological change, and the fish are going to be right on top of it.
The Western Water Wolf - Pikeminnows - Fly Fisherman
What if I told you that there exists an apex predator fish in the lower rivers of the southern Rockies that grows as long as a man’s leg — with historical specimens recorded to six feet and a hundred pounds — and that is capable of eating a mature trout without even thinking twice? And no, I’m not talking about Catfish, or even Pike and Tiger Muskies (none of which are endemic to the western US), though there is some pedigree in the name involved.
Kiss Your Fish or Not - Fly Fisherman
If you’ve fallen into the recently trendy habit of kissing your catch before release, you might want to think twice about doing it in Australia. A government sanctioned release of a herpes virus specifically designed to only affect common carp to address a regional overpopulation problem with the invasive species is being debated, with detractors raising safety concerns for the global food supply.
Tailwater Trout - Fly Fisherman
Tailwater trout are stupid, and because of consistency in their environment are becoming more stupider every day. This is one potential conclusion from the work of researchers from the University of Bern, Switzerland in work published in the online scientific journal PLOS One.
High Water Trout Fishing - Fly Fisherman
You can run, but you can’t hide — high water is coming, or it’s already here. Fishing in early summer runoff or storm flood conditions in streams and rivers is a classic challenge for fly fishermen. While swapping out your river gear and heading for the nearest lake to go throw some long casts or chase carp and bass is always a viable option, insightful and experienced river anglers get after fish during these conditions using out of the box thinking that can put you on the board too.
New World Record Common Carp On The Fly - Fly Fisherman
The world record for Common Carp caught on a fly appears to have been smashed. Kurt Gutormson of South Dakota caught a behemoth specimen on May 12th, tipping the “scales” at 43lb 2oz. While he knew the fish was mammoth, after contacting the IFGA, Gutormson was advised his report was something special. Ee caught up with Gutormson on Facebook and he graciously submitted to an interview after we demanded answers. FF: Where did you catch your fish, and did you target the area specifically?
Tenkara Fishing - Fly Fisherman
The subject of Tenkara fly fishing has gotten more recent coverage in the mainstream media, just in time for summer. NPR Colorado aired an interview with Tenkara guru Daniel Galhardo on the relatively recent history of the sport in America, and the advantages of angling in a more simple way.
World Championship of Spey Casting - Fly Fisherman
The world championship of Spey casting has just wrapped up in California, and the numbers are staggering. Winning casts of 190 feet and four cast totals of over 700 were executed by competitors attending from across the world. Wikipedia cites: “Spey casting originated in the heart of Scotland in the mid-1800s. The name comes from the River Spey in Scotland, which is where the cast originated, presumably at Gordon Castle Estate and Wester Elchies beat.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Jonathan Lee
Contact Jonathan Lee, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack