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Understanding The Forest Service Move To Utah

By
Spencer Durrant
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Court

As you’ve likely heard by now, the U.S. Forest Service is moving its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah. The official Forest Service press release says the move will also include “a sweeping restructuring of the agency to move leadership closer to the forests and communities it serves.”

That restructuring includes shutting down the nine current regional offices and moving staff and current state directors into 15 state-based locations throughout the US, focused mostly in the West. 15 state directors will be located throughout the country to oversee forest operations in at least one state, and they will serve as “national leaders with primary oversight of forest supervisors, operational priorities, and relationships with states, tribes, and other partners.”

The Forest Service says this new approach to forest management will “simplify the chain of command, strengthen local partnerships, and give field leaders greater ability to respond to conditions on the ground.”

The Forest Service also acknowledges it is closing down physical research facilities throughout the country, but states that “The reorganization does not eliminate scientific positions, cancel research programs, or reduce our national research footprint. … Staff and programs will continue their work, relocated into fewer facilities while maintaining research presence across the country.”

The Pushback

Conservation groups, hunters, anglers, and many people who love outdoor recreation have reacted strongly to this overhaul of the Forest Service.

Federal Land Transfer

A prominent source of angst is against the move of the headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah’s state capital. Utah has been at the forefront of the movement to transfer federal public lands to state management, with its senior senator Mike Lee, a Republican, leading that charge. Republican governor Spencer Cox also signed off on a lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to give Utah control of 18.5 million acres of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, which the Supreme Court rejected.

Critics of this move by the Forest Service say it shows intent by the Trump Administration to continue its effort to transfer federal public lands to state control. The elimination of regional offices, appointment of state directors, and explicit language around a state-focused approach to forest management, has many conservation groups worried that is could be a test run of eventual state management of federal lands.

This has become such a contentious point that the Forest Service addressed it directly in an FAQ on its website, saying that transferring federal lands to state management “is not part of the plan and has never been discussed. All federal authorities remain fully intact. No authorities are being shifted, reduced, or transferred.”

Stream access varies widely across Western states.

Loss Of Research Stations

Under the proposed restructure, 55 of the 77 research facilities the Forest Service currently operates will be shuttered. That research activity will be consolidated to an office in Fort Collins, Colorado. It’s not completely clear how the Forest Service plans for this to work, since they openly admit the closure of research facilities, but also claim that “Staff and programs will continue their work, relocated into fewer facilities while maintaining research presence across the country.”

The research stations being closed study various aspects of forestry, including wildfire risk and climate change. One researcher spoke to the New York Times anonymously, telling them that current attitudes in the Forest Service are downplaying ecological and climate stressors on forest health.

“They have narrowed the kinds of themes that they are interested in,” the researcher told the Times. “There are all these people who have done amazing work for decades on everything from acid rain to climate and they have put them in a new bin called ‘forest management.’”

Wildfire Risk

This restructure comes as the West braces for a potentially historic wildfire season, thanks to a winter with record-low snowfall and record-high temperatures in many places. Critics of the move are worried that the overhaul of the Forest Service is going to negatively impact wildfire management.

A coalition of 70 outdoor companies, including Patagonia, REI, North Face, Columbia, and others, have “raised concerns about the agency’s ability to properly manage the vast wildlands and continue its decades of research under the plan,” according to the BBC.

Image Courtesy: Ryan Kelly

Moving Forward

This restructure will likely be challenged in court. Steve Lenkart, executive director for the National Federation of Federal Employees, says this move by the Trump administration is “illegal.”

“This kind of activity was explicitly prohibited in fiscal year 2026 appropriations,” Lenkart told The Guardian. “The Republican Congress is allowing the White House to break the law and violate the Constitution, without so much as a peep from our big, brave, so-called freedom-seeking Republicans. They won’t even uphold their own oaths to support and defend the Constitution from tyranny.”

With midterm elections in November and a potential shift of power to Democrats gaining control of at least one chamber of Congress, further roadblocks could be placed in the way of this overhaul of the Forest Service.

Recreating the Royal Wulff Fly Out of Metal

By
Tripp Nazziola
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Screenshot

Reel of the Week from Clinton Lesh (@leshclinton):

“This fly is based of the Royal Wullf fly. Made from mild and stainless steel. I found a new kind of anodized paint that I’m using for the green and red.

I’ve never tied my own flies but watching the videos I’ve applied the same techniques to metal. If we get a million views I’ll cast one in the Yellowstone!”

Reel of the Week from Clinton, be sure to check out his Instagram HERE!

Fishing Etiquette: Trout Handling Best Practices

By
Andrew Braker
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When practicing catch and release fishing, it’s important to note that different species require different handling practices. Compared to other game fish, trout are more fragile. Just take a look across social media, there’s a good chance you’ll come across #keepemwet. Aside from the obvious, keeping trout in the water, there are techniques that dramatically improve a fish’s survival odds. These eight practices are crucial parts of trout handling etiquette, promoting catch and release, and ensuring a healthy fishery for the future.

1. Wet Your Hands

All fish have a protective slime coating around their body. This coating serves as a barrier against pathogens in the water, enabling trout to stay healthy and disease-free. When wiped off, trout can be exposed to infection, fin rot, and other diseases. To prevent this, anglers should always wet their hands before touching a trout. By wetting your hands, the slime layer stays intact for a safe and healthy release. In addition, never handle trout with gloves on. Even wet gloves will rub off a substantial amount of a trout’s protective slime coating, leaving them susceptible to infection.

Rainbow trout held in the water
Courtesy of @nativerelease

2. Use Barbless Hooks

Barbless hooks are essential for anglers practicing catch-and-release. If you’re new to fly fishing, we understand your hesitancy to switch to barbless hooks. But don’t worry, with proper technique, you’ll consistently land fish. The key is to keep constant pressure on the fish, ensuring the hook does not slip out.

The benefits of using barbless hooks are they do less damage to fish and are easier to remove. This is amplified when fishing big streamer patterns. We’ve all seen a fish missing half of its jaw. With big flies and big barbs, it can be challenging to safely remove the hook without injuring the fish. With barbless hooks, this is not the case. It is also worth noting that barbless hooks often give you better hookups. The barb on a standard hook can actually stop the hook point from penetrating. Whereas barbless hooks can be driven to the bend of the hook with much less pressure.

3. Keep Your Hands Out of the Mouth and Gills

Trout are inherently sensitive fish, especially around their mouth and gills. This means do NOT put your fingers in the fish’s mouth or gills. While it’s fine to lip some species of fish, like bass, it is best to keep your fingers out of a trout’s mouth because it puts unnecessary stress on the fish. Additionally, “lipping” a trout can damage its jaws as they are not designed to open like a bass. Even if they swim off strong, a damaged jaw for a trout is almost certainly a death sentence. Keep those hands on the body of the fish!

Brown trout held in the water
Courtesy of @dan.zaz

4. No Squeezing

Since trout have that slimy coating, they can be difficult to handle. Rather than squeezing the fish in order to get control of it, slide your hand underneath the fish and handle it by cradling it. Squeezing a trout will also result in the fish flopping around even more. Generally, the looser you hold a trout, the less it resists you and will allow you to revive it and snap a quick photo before the release. This is something you’ll get better at with time. 

5. Keep Them Wet

Between the time the fish is taken out of the water and the time when the fish is released, the fish should be wet during the entire process. If you can, it is best to keep the fish in the water the entire time. But if you need to take the fish out for a quick picture, make sure to keep it quick! A good rule of thumb is to hold your breath, and once you feel the need to breathe, get the fish back in the water. After all, the trout basically finished running a marathon against you and needs to be in the water to recover. For more information on this, check out Keep Fish Wet.

Brown trout held in the water
Courtesy of @dan.zaz

6. Don’t Overplay the Fish

Fighting a fish can be a lot of fun, but prolonging the fight adds unnecessary stress to the fish. To help avoid this, use a stronger tippet and try to decrease the amount of time it takes to get the fish to the net. Proper rod angles and pressure will quickly tire out a trout. Again, the more fish you catch, the better you’ll get at this.

7. Use Fish Friendly Nets

Netting the fish is super important for keeping the fish in the water during the handling process, but some nets are better for the fish than others. It’s best to use a net with a rubber basket rather than a net with rope or other abrasive materials. Similar to wetting your hands before handling a fish, using a rubber net removes less of the fish’s protective slime, resulting in healthier released fish. Rubber nets also keep your flies from embedding in the netting, allowing you to get back to fishing rather than fighting the net to get your flies back.

Brook trout handling
Courtesy of @ericbraker

8. Watch Water Temperatures

Trout need cold water to survive, so monitoring stream temperatures is important. The general cutoff point is 68 degrees. Anything above this, and you can follow every handling practice, have a fish swim off only to die in the near future. Carry a stream thermometer in your pack and check temperatures regularly. If you see temps creeping up, it’s time to put down the trout gear and target some warm-water species.

Get Out and Fish!

This is a short list of some of the most important trout handling practices. As anglers, we are always striving to improve our negative impact on fisheries and the greater world. In doing so, we can ensure healthy fisheries and a promising future for trout and the next generation of anglers.

Fall Fishing Ethics: Don’t Tread on the Redd [Understanding the Brown Trout Spawn]

KeepEmWet Becomes Non-Profit, Changes Name to “Keep Fish Wet”

The Do’s and Dont’s of Trout Handling

The Best of Trout Stocking

By
Tripp Nazziola
-

Stocking trout refers to the practice of releasing young or adult trout into rivers, lakes, or ponds to supplement or enhance local fish populations, typically for recreational fishing purposes. This is often done by fish and wildlife agencies or private organizations to ensure a sustainable fishery, especially in areas where natural trout reproduction may be insufficient. Stocking can involve species like rainbow, brook, or brown trout, and is commonly timed to coincide with fishing seasons to maximize angler success. Here is our list of some of our favorite trout stocking videos!

1. Stocking 25,000 Brook Trout

2. Stocking Trout Through a Hose

3. Trout Being Stocked Off a Bridge

4. Utah DWR State Stocking

5. Minnesota Trout Stocked From an Airplane

6. Lake Front Brewery Stocking

7. Stocking 5″ Brook Trout

@flyfishdelawhere

Stocking 5” brook trout in a private stream. #trout #brooktrout #stockingfish #stockingtrout #troutfishing #flyfishdelawhere #lidrig #engelcoolers #flyfishingtrout #ziontrouthatchery #trouttok #flyfishingaddict #troutbum #brooktroutflyfishing

♬ 6000 Degrees (AH HA) – $hyfromdatre

Thank you for checking out our list of some of our favorite trout stocking videos! To learn more about trout stocking in your area, contact your local fish and wildlife agency!

Check out the articles below:

Pennsylvania to Double Trophy Trout Stocking

Experimental Trout Stocking Program in Europe

The Drift: The Drought Is Already Awful

By
Spencer Durrant
-

You’ve heard about the drought in the West. You’ve probably learned the term “snow drought” this year, and you’re keenly aware that while most of the country was blasted with snow, ice, and record-low temps, most of us in the Rockies experienced a winter with almost no snow, temps well above average, and an early, hot spring that’s quickly melting what little snow managed to stick around.

To compound the problem, the Bureau of Reclamation – the federal agency in charge of the dams and water flows in the West, and most importantly, in the Colorado River Basin – just announced a likely drawdown of 1.5 million acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

That’s roughly a third of the reservoir’s total capacity of 3.5 million acre-feet of water. That water will make its way downstream to Lake Powell, enabling that reservoir to continue sending water downstream to California, Arizona, and Nevada, as well as generating power from the Glen Canyon Dam.

Isn’t that what reservoirs are for? A savings account for dry years?

Yes, it is. But in 2022, Flaming Gorge was drawn down by 500,000 acre-feet to aid Lake Powell. The reservoir hasn’t been topped off since, and there’s no guarantee the water being pulled from Flaming Gorge will ever be stored in the reservoir again. That means critical kokanee salmon spawning habitat will be out of reach of those prized game fish, which are a huge economic driver for the region.

To top that off, the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam, one of the world’s most productive tailwater trout fisheries, will face higher-than-normal flows all summer long, likely into October, to fulfill the drawdown. It’ll impact the fishing to a degree, which is another huge economic driver for the region.

And what’s the point of all this? 1.5 million acre-feet of water sounds like a lot, but in terms of Lake Powell, it won’t make much of a dent. Lake Powell’s capacity is 24.3 million acre-feet of water, and it’s currently 23% full. 1.5 million acre-feet of water is roughly 20% of the 7.5 million acre-feet of water Lake Powell is supposed to send downstream each year, per the Colorado River Compact. Powell has sent 3.3 million acre-feet of water downstream in the 2026 water year, so the proposed release from Flaming Gorge will help the lake deliver on its obligations. But it won’t increase the capacity in Powell at all beyond this year.

That’s the heart of the problem. Sending this much water downstream right now is a band-aid, a fix for a system that’s clearly not working, and one that’s overextended. This is a solution to a problem created by decades of mismanagement and a refusal to conserve and develop alternate sources of water, even as population centers downstream of Lake Powell have exploded.

If this decision to drastically drawn down Flaming Gorge – and barring the advent of a string of great winters, likely never refill it – comes to fruition, what will happen if next winter is as dry as this one? Will Flaming Gorge get drained completely, sacrificed to save Powell?

There are hard choices and decisions looming quickly for everyone in the Colorado River Basin. Farming, ranching, and yes, housing development, will need to be re-evaluated against the reality of a river that’s quickly disappearing.

The worst part is it’s only April. The drought is only going to get worse from here.

NFWF Announces $3.4 Million Grant For Data Modernization

By
Spencer Durrant
-
Photo: Watts/Flickr

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), along with NOAA Fisheries, has announced a $3.4 million grant that will aid in the modernization of data collection from fisheries across the United States. Some matching grant funds that were also available will make the total impact for this effort land at $7.6 million.

“The grants announced today will support the continued development of advancements in the use of artificial intelligence and other technologies to modernize how vital fisheries data are collected, shared and analyzed,” said NFWF CEO Jeff Trandahl in a press release. “These conservation investments will benefit vital marine wildlife populations while also supporting more effective and efficient fishery management that will benefit the people and communities that rely upon them for their way of life.”  

One of the many challenges posed to fisheries managers is up-to-date, verified data that they can then use to craft management plans, slot limits, stocking, and even closures or early openings of certain fisheries. These grants will aid in continuing to modernize the data fisheries biologists have at their disposal as they continue to manage an ever-changing resource.

For example, one of the projects supported by this grant will bring electronic monitoring to the scallop fishery in the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition, the press release from NFWF states that “Projects will support sustainable management efforts in federal and state fisheries in Alaska, Alabama, California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington, along with the territory of Puerto Rico.”

How Does This Impact My Fishing?

These are the kinds of headlines that don’t grab the attention of most anglers, but it’s important to realize how much our fisheries – whether you’re a trout angler in the Rockies, or a tarpon addict in the Keys – depend on reliable data that’s easily shared between management agencies. In many cases, state and federal officials are working together, often with nonprofit groups, to jointly manage the fisheries we love. The better and more reliable data they have access to, the better decisions they’ll be able to make about future fishery management.

Clear Water Pike in South Dakota

By
Max Inchausti
-

Pike fishing is a staple across the Midwest, producing some of the biggest fish in the lower 48. These toothy predators typically hunt along weed edges and in shallow bays, where they’ll aggressively strike a well-placed fly. On our recent trip to South Dakota for Fly Shop Tour, we experienced northern pike fishing firsthand, and what we found was a completely unique fishery. The shallow bays were swapped out for deep reservoirs, steep drop-offs, and clear water sightfishing.

Pike Fundamentals

Regardless of where or how you fly fish for pike, the gear, flies, and fundamentals remain the same. If you’ve never fished for northerns, here’s what you need to know.

Gear

Pike fly gear is centered around throwing big patterns. These fish don’t make long runs, and your casts don’t need to look pretty. What you do need is a rod that can throw 8-inch plus flies regardless of conditions. For this, we recommend a specialty pike or musky rod. Generally, these rods feature an extended fighting butt that allows you to two-hand cast as well as figure eight at the boat. The newly released St. Croix Tannic Musky/Pike is designed to check all these boxes. It’s available in weights ranging from 10- to 12-weight, with the 10-weight being ideal for most pike fishing. Pair this with a reel of your choosing and a dedicated pike/musky fly line like the SA Sonar Musky Gen 2. For leaders, run a thick section of mono or fluoro to help turn over big flies and a section of bite tippet. Knottable wire is great for toothy fish like pike.

Flies

When pike fishing, fly selection is the next part of the equation. The recipe for a perfect fly is balancing profile with weight. Ideally, you want big flies that imitate the bait sources, but these flies also need to shed water to cast. Typical patterns include bufford-style flies or game-changer patterns. Depending on the fishery, match the fly profile and colors to the bait to draw more strikes.

Strip Setting and Figure-Eighting

The last pike fundamental, which can be particularly frustrating for trout anglers, is learning to strip set. While strip setting is pretty straightforward—strip the line until you feel the weight of the fish, then lift the rod—in the chaos of a bite, it can be easy to revert to old habits. It’s also worth noting that anglers should always figure eight the fly in the water before recasting. You never know when a pike is following the fly that you don’t see.

South Dakota Pike Fishing

During our stint in South Dakota, we were on a mission to catch a pike on the fly. Rather than the shallow bays and weed edges we expected, what we found were deep, clear reservoirs—not exactly textbook pike water. Nonetheless, we knew pike were around and adapted to the conditions.

The reservoirs we fished had fairly steep drop-offs and, in some places, sheer cliffs. Rather than targeting shallow bays, we pivoted to looking for structure like rock piles, weed edges, or submerged timber. Places like dam edges and points produced several bites during our time on the water.

In classic pike fashion, big flies were key to drawing strikes. Many of these reservoirs have trout, an easy meal for pike. Flies that match the size and profile of a trout can be very productive. Just be sure to strip set when the bite does come. To see more of South Dakota’s pike fishing, check out the first episode of Fly Shop Tour Season 4, fishing with the team at Dakota Angler & Outfitters.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors: Costa Sunglasses, Simms Fishing Products, Yeti Coolers, St. Croix, Two Hearted Ale

Supporting Sponsors: Turtlebox Audio, Chums, Benchmade Knives, Trout Routes, Rising Nets, Rocky Talkies, Adipose Boat Works, Scientific Anglers, B&W Trailer Hitches, Galvan Fly Reels

Fly Fishing the Black Hills

By
Max Inchausti
-

Every year, we explore new fisheries and fly shops during Fly Shop Tour. The goal is to immerse ourselves in the fisheries, culture, and community these places have to offer. For season 4 of Fly Shop Tour, we headed to the Midwest, an area often overlooked by anglers but ripe with opportunity. Our first stop was South Dakota, a state more synonymous with Presidential statues and upland hunting than trout. But nestled in South Dakota are the Black Hills, an isolated mountain range that juts out from the Great Plains. While the epic scenery is a welcome sight, we came here looking for trout. What we found was a unique fishery, overlooked by most.

Black Hills Fisheries

When you think of South Dakota, the last thing you think of is trout streams. The Black Hills, however, are riddled with fishy water. The landscape consists of an abundance of reservoirs, lakes, and beaver ponds. These reservoirs also feed several streams, creating year-round tailwater fisheries. In addition, mountain streams, spring creeks, and freestone rivers are a welcome sight for small stream fanatics. The diversity and amount of water really offer anglers just about any trout fishing opportunity. From small stream dry flies to stripping streamers on big reservoirs, the Black Hills has it all.

Hatches in the Black Hills

The Black Hills various stream types are conducive to a number of hatches. While you won’t find world-class bug life like on Western tailwaters, you will find a good mix of mayflies and caddis. Common hatches include baetis, caddis, pale morning duns, and little yellow stone flies, but the best dry fly fishing is terrestrials. Every summer, this region sees some epic hopper hatches. Fishing big foam bugs to stream edges can elicit some incredible takes.

Fly Fishing the Black Hills

Fly fishing in the Black Hills offers anglers an abundance of water with relatively low pressure. Expect to see few, if any, anglers out on the water, and when you do, know there are ample other areas to fish.

Small Stream Paradise

The mix of freestones and spring creeks offers small stream anglers everything they could ask for. The most common way to fish these streams is with a light rod, typically a 3- or 4-wt, and a hopper dropper setup. Brown trout are the most common trout, but certain watersheds hold healthy numbers of brook and rainbow trout.

We experienced this firsthand, on the Fly Shop Tour, wading small water in search of the resident brown trout. Close-quarters casting and staying mobile are the name of the game. We targeted likely areas such as pools and runs, before wading upriver in search of the next fishy area. While we didn’t catch any giants while creek hopping, the combination of scenery and visual fishing is more than enough to make up for it.

Tailwaters

When most anglers think of tailwaters, images of large rivers and drift boats come to mind. In South Dakota, it’s the opposite. Many of the tailwaters in this region are small streams best accessed on foot. But don’t let their size fool you, these are still tailwaters and can be extremely technical.

The fish in these stretches grow big, and the gin-clear water makes them wary. We fished light 6x tippet, often times sightfishing to a particular fish in the clear water. That said, big fish and light tippets don’t always mix. Watch your hooksets, as we found out the hard way, breaking off one too many nice fish.

A Hidden Gem

South Dakota and the Black Hills really are a hidden gem in the Midwest. The nature of the landscape feels like you’re deep in the West, while the streams and fishing resemble the best the Midwest has to offer. Add to that an abundance of water, minimal pressure, and eager trout, and it’s hard to see why this place is so overlooked.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors: Costa Sunglasses, Simms Fishing Products, Yeti Coolers, St. Croix, Two Hearted Ale

Supporting Sponsors: Turtlebox Audio, Chums, Benchmade Knives, Trout Routes, Rising Nets, Rocky Talkies, Adipose Boat Works, Scientific Anglers, B&W Trailer Hitches, Galvan Fly Reels

Episode 1: Midwest Fly Shop Tour Now LIVE!

By
Max Inchausti
-

When you think of fly-fishing, the Midwest U.S. typically isn’t the first place that comes to mind as the ideal “fly fishing destination”. However, we’re here to show you otherwise! This season, we’re traveling further than ever before in pursuit of fried food, big fish, and a chance to sit down with an all-new group of legendary fly shops that are paving the way for our sport like never before. So grab yourself a big bag of cheese curds and buckle up, because this tour is about to get (mid)Western!

In this episode, we kick off our tour with Dakota Anglers in the foothills of South Dakota: the gateway to the Midwest. In the next 23 minutes, you can expect a healthy helping of high winds, heartbreak, and belt malfunctions, along with some new species never before targeted on Fly Shop Tour. Witness the live action in real time in a season premiere like no other! THIS IS THE FLY SHOP TOUR!

How A Wet Winter Still Leaves The West Vulnerable To Drought

By
Spencer Durrant
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Alpine lake landscape

Even with some winter precipitation – including rain and snow – the West is still at risk for drought, according to a new study published by the Healthy Green Spaces Coalition.

The study looks at six years of data, from 2021 to 2026, to analyze both snow drought and warm rain events. A snow drought is defined as “snow water equivalent (SWE) at or below the 20th percentile, which is a baseline guided by partner expertise and research.” SWE is the amount of water stored within snow.

Warm rain events are exactly what they sound like. When winter precipitation falls as rain instead of snow, that water isn’t stored in the snowpack for eventual later release during the melting and runoff season.

The study’s authors point out that “You can have lots of winter precipitation, yet still end up with a higher drought risk later in the year, because the water never stays stored as snow.”

In particular, warm rain events can cause problems with some reservoirs needing to release water during the winter, because the rain means they won’t have room for projected runoff. That also creates another problem where inflows to that reservoir drop precipitously in the summer, and the inflows can’t meet the outflow demand.

Snow Drought, Warm Rain Increase

This report found that snow drought days were recorded at 37.6% of measuring stations throughout the West. This means that 37.6% of snow measuring stations recorded days of snowpack that were “unusually low” for that time of year, based on the station’s historic averages.

Warm rain events have also increased since 2021, as stations are reporting about 5% more warm rain events on average than in 2021. A warm rain storm drops water, but it’s not stored as snow at that measuring location.

Even with some winter precipitation, how that water falls matters nearly as much as how much arrives. If it can’t be stored and released on a natural timetable, it will impact the entire landscape.

The Angling Takeaway

For anglers, this means streamflows will peak earlier in the season in 2026, and decline sooner. That will likely mean warm river temperatures, probably too warm for ethical trout fishing (when temps rise above the 68-70 degree threshold) sooner than usual, as well.

Rebuilding reservoir levels and recharging groundwater will require another outlier winter in the future.

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