As the Trump administration continues its work to repeal the Roadless Rule, the U.S. Forest Service now has to wade through over 600,000 public comments before making its final decision.
An analysis of those comments by the Center for Western Priorities (CWP) found that 99% of all comments submitted were in favor of keeping the Roadless Rule intact. CWP also notes that, back in 2001, when the Roadless Rule was drafted and applied, it received 1.6 million public comments, with over 90% of respondents speaking in favor of it.
“A 2019 poll by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that 75 percent of the public supported the rule at that time,” CWP writes. “The poll also found that those in rural areas are just as likely to support the policy as those in non-rural areas.”
The main push behind removing the Roadless Rule is, in the Trump administration’s words, increasing opportunity for timber harvest and fuel management on National Forest lands, in an effort to curb wildfires and boost timber industries.
However, research from the Forest Service itself shows that “fuel management activities in roadless areas have actually been more numerous on a per-square-kilometer basis than elsewhere in the National Forest System, although activities in areas with roads cover larger areas.”
That same research paper also notes that, since the introduction of the Roadless Rule, forests with and without roads have burned at similar rates. This would point to the conclusion that many of the forest fires we deal with each summer are a result of poor forest management during the 20th century.
Final decisions on the repeal of the Roadless Rule aren’t expected until March 2026.
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), one of the leading saltwater conservation groups in America, recently announced the launch of its 2025 Florida Boat Sweepstakes.
You can enter for a chance to win one of three fishing boat packages, all of which come stocked with a Sage R8 rod with matching reel and line, sunglasses from Bajio, and coolers from Yeti, to name just a few of the accessories. Fishpond, Turtlebox, Danco, Costa, and Cody Richardson also contributed items that you’ll find with the boats.
The three boats available are a Floyd Skiff 6WT, a Matecumbe 169, and a G3 Jon Boat.
You can purchase tickets here, ranging from 1 ticket for $50 to 50 tickets for $1,000. Winners will be drawn at BTT’s 8th International Science Symposium on November 8, 2025.
The Floyd Skiff 6WT is a center-console technical poling skiff that’s 16 feet long, with a Yamaha F70 outboard motor.
This Floyd 6wt Skiff can be won in the Florida Boat Sweepstakes.
The Matecumbe 169 is another center console skiff, measuring 16′ 9″, and comes with a Yamaha F60 outboard motor. Matecumbe specializes in building skiffs that excel in shallow water flats fishing.
Enter to win this Matecumbe Skiff.
The G3 Jon Boat is a 17′ 2″ craft designed to haul you and all your gear into the backcountry. It comes with a Yamaha F60 outboard motor.
The G3 bass boat is at home in Florida’s freshwater and inshore waterways.
Enter the sweepstakes HERE for your chance to win one of three awesome boats!
Click-and-pawl reels are a timeless classic. Their sound, their simple design, and their ease of maintenance all combine to create an experience that’s surprisingly simple, especially in a world that loves complexity as much as fly fishing does. My first fly reels were old Martin and Scientific Anglers click/pawls, one of which is still in use. They were rickety, gummed up from years of dirt, and didn’t do much to stop larger trout from diving into every root ball and snag in the river.
Part of that was my unfamiliarity with this style of reel. Learning to palm the spool and use my fingers to provide extra drag were huge leaps forward in my fish-fighting abilities. But newer click/pawl reels often have adjustable settings, allowing you to put the relative brakes on fish. Today’s click/pawl reels are lighter, they’re gorgeous examples of craftsmanship, and they’re often more than enough reel for most trout fishing. Here are our favorite click-and-pawl reels.
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I’ve had the chance to fish all of these reels, with the exception of the Ross Colorado. Plenty of anglers I personally know and respect, however, have nothing but great things to say about the Colorado, and I picked their brains for this review.
Most of my trout fishing is here in Wyoming, where I alternate between the high country freestone streams and low-lying tailwaters. I’m on the water about 150 days a year, so I’m able to give these reels a true run for their money.
This reel ain’t cheap, but it’s head-and-shoulders above the rest of the pack. Part of that is Hardy’s brand presence. Their products exude a quality and a heritage that others can’t quite match. I know the styling might not be for everyone, but I thought the Wide Spool Perfect looked amazing on a wide array of rods, including my new Seven Eleven Orvis Superfine Graphite rod.
It also sounds the best, to my ear, of all the reels on this list, when fish start peeling off line. Adjusting tension on the click-pawl system is simple, and it provides a surprising amount of heft, even for larger trout. I had no problems palming this reel, in conjunction with its drag, to pull fish from snags, or offer resistance to their runs.
It’s a bit heavy, but the craftsmanship means this is an heirloom-quality item that’ll last longer than any of us. If I wanted the best, I’d look nowhere else than the Wide Spool Perfect.
It was tough to pick the Hardy over the Ross Colorado, especially with their massive price difference. But the Colorado doesn’t have an adjustable drag, and while I know that’s not always the reason we buy click/pawl reels, the option is nice.
All that is to say, it was a close call, and the Colorado is absolutely deserving of your attention. This reel is light, with a semi-caged frame that allows for smooth palming. It has a more modern look that pairs beautifully with any rod you have in your quiver, and comes in tons of colors, too.
I like that the clicker used to create the sound is all metal, as that’ll last for as long as the reel does. That the Colorado is made in the USA is just another point in this reel’s favor.
It’s hard to beat what you get for $179 with the Battenkill. It’s not the best-looking reel on the market, but if you want that click/pawl experience, this gets you there for less than $200. It’s one of the few reels below that price point that isn’t too heavy, or not functional enough, for consistent use.
I’ve had versions of the Battenkill for over a decade now, and while the design has changed a bit, the internals haven’t. Orvis’ click/pawl system is proven, and sounds great when fish start ripping line. This reel is easy to palm, looks great on most rods, and stays light and small, even in its larger sizes. The standard-sized arbor means line retrieval takes a bit longer than with other reels, but it’s rare to find a true large-arbor click/pawl reel in trout sizes.
If you opt for a custom finish on the Abel TR, you’ll drop almost $1,300 on a trout reel. That’s a mind-boggling number, but you’re buying a piece of art, so it’s probably an investment. At that point, though, wouldn’t you be scared to fish with it?
I’ve had an Abel TR for over a decade now, and that reel has more dings and scrapes than I care to admit. It’s finished in the company’s classic piano black, and I’d hate to think what my reel would look like with a custom brook trout finish.
If that’s your jam, though, it’s hard to go wrong with an Abel TR. You can get just about any color you want, in addition to tons of different artwork options. The reel itself is as impressive, with only 21 parts total. That means it’s simple enough to keep working long after you’ve had to stop fishing.
This updated version of the TR features a large arbor for quicker line retrieval and a simple system to convert from right to left-hand retrieve. My TR doesn’t get the work it used to, but it was my daily driver for a few years. That reel proved itself time and again on plenty of big fish, both in tailwaters and smaller creeks.
The Galvan Brookie flies under the radar, but it’s an outstanding little reel. It’s not a true click/pawl; instead, it utilizes a “Click-Ball” system that relies on ball bearings and reduces the number of moving parts in the reel. It’s the smoothest reel I’ve ever used, and extremely simple in its design.
The only knock against it is that, if you want to adjust tension on the drag, you need an Allen wrench for the job. Galvan seems to think you should set the tension once and palm the reel the rest of the time, which sort of defeats the point of an adjustable drag to begin with. But that design quirk aside, the rest of the reel is fantastic, and it’s made in the USA.
FAQS
Q: What reel do I actually need?
For most trout fishing, a simple click/pawl reel, or disc-drag reel, is more than enough to land fish successfully. Larger reels, with drags built to stop huge fish, are popular, but definitely overkill for trout fishing.
Q: Why are click/pawl reels still being sold?
Click/pawl reels are a throwback to vintage gear and tackle that was good enough for all the old-timers who fished “back in the good ol’ days.” They’re still fantastic reels and offer a unique experience when paired with a light-line rod.
Q: Can I just buy a cheap reel from a big-box store?
You certainly can, but most of those reels aren’t built to stand up to much abuse. They’re heavy, so they’ll throw off the balance of your rod. I’ve never been impressed with the cheap reels at big-box stores. It’s worth spending a bit of money on a quality piece of gear.
Final Thoughts
Click/pawl reels aren’t for everyone, but they’re among my favorites. I love their sound, their simplicity, and the fact that they make you take a more active role in fighting fish. You don’t just set the drag, apply side pressure, and wait for a fish to get tired. You’re actively palming the reel, adding tension to the line, and doing your best to keep trout away from the snags. It’s a more engaging way to fish, which I appreciate.
And, the click/pawl reels just have an old-school styling that speaks to me. Maybe that means I’ll end up wearing tweed at some point as I get older, but for now, I’ll settle for my click/pawl reels.
Fly Shop Tour season 4 is here, and we are on the road! This year, we are heading to the Midwest to fish legendary rivers, chase new species, and discover all this region has to offer. Want to be a part of Fly Shop Tour and support your local shops? Join us this Sunday, October 5th, in Kalamazoo, MI, for the final leg of the tour.
We’ll be hosting our Michigan event with none other than Schultz Outfitters, along with our incredible sponsors. There will be free drinks, free food, and a MASSIVE raffle including prizes from Simms, YETI, Costa, Turtlebox, Benchmade, Chums, and much more! All money raised from the raffle will be donated to the Huron River Watershed Council, an organization focused on conserving the Huron River for generations to come! We can’t wait to see you there!
Join us in Kalamazoo, MI, at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe to help support Schultz Outfitters and the Huron River Watershed Council. The event takes place from 5-8 pm and will have food, drinks, and raffle prizes from our sponsors.
“On the search for a big alpine cutthroat I’ve come across a few spots that I would consider true hidden gems. When I stumbled across this lake I was quickly losing hope of it being one of these hidden gems as I had not seen any fish after walking around the lake twice. But than I saw one of the biggest Colorado River Cutthroat I have ever seen cruising a deep ledge. I tossed a leech at it and without hesitation it came up and crushed it. Sometimes these alpine gems are hidden in plain sight, to find them you just have to be consistent and not give up hope!”
Angler Story of the Week from Tanner, be sure to follow his Insta HERE!
Experiencing Argentina’s best dorado fishing means getting off the beaten path. For those seeking this, there is no better place than the Iberá Wetlands. This sprawling wilderness sits in the Corrientes Province, where lagoons and channels intertwine, creating the vast marsh. It is true wilderness, and one of the best places to target golden dorado.
On our trip to Argentina with SET Fly Fishing, we stayed at their La Alondra’i Lodge to experience what this wilderness had to offer. What we found hidden in the winding channels were eager dorados and plenty of them.
The Fishing
Of all the lodges SET Fly Fishing operates, the La Alondra’i is the most unique. Rather than a traditional lodging experience, where you fish and return to the main lodge each day, this operation utilizes camps throughout the marsh. The result is a true adventure spanning the entire marsh system.
The fishing consists of targeting channels, structures, and banks in the marsh where dorado are holding. You have the choice to throw conventional streamers or throw topwater flies (our favorite). Stripping large poppers can draw explosive takes from surprisingly large dorado. An average fish for this area is between 7 and 12 pounds, while fish bigger are not unheard of. Each day, you’ll explore new water as you make the journey between satellite camps. In addition to the incredible fishing, be on the lookout for wildlife, such as capybara, caiman, and exotic birds, which could be around any corner.
Gear
The larger average-sized fish in the Iberá Marsh require at least a 9-foot, 8-weight fly rod and a matching reel. Being a marsh system, you won’t need a heavy sinking line, so instead opt for aggressive taper dry lines. With that, you’ll want to run a 40-pound leader to a section of bite wire. Dorado have teeth, so wire is a must if you want to land fish.
For flies, bring an assortment of streamers and topwater patterns—emphasis on the topwater. Generally, topwater patterns that create commotion are best. While gurglers can work, opt for flies that spit a lot of water, creating a chugging effect when you strip them.
The Lodge
La Alondra’i Lodge is worth a trip in its own right. The 100-year-old restored main lodge is a piece of Argentine history. There are six guest rooms for visitors and open-air courtyards to complement the beautiful architecture. Like any SET Fly Fishing lodge, the food is otherworldly, and the accommodations are right there with it.
In addition to the main lodge, SET operates three camps throughout the Iberá Marsh. While they refer to them as camps, by no means are you roughing it. Each camping experience offers something unique, whether it be locally hosted meals or staying at an elevated wall tent camp immersed in wildlife.
One of three camps throughout the Iberá Marsh.
Why La Alondra’i?
SET Fly Fishing’s La Alondra’i experience blends dorado fishing and wilderness adventure seamlessly. For the adventurous anglers looking to get off the beaten path, this is the place to be. The never-ending twists and turns of the marsh, abundant wildlife, and eager dorado make this a bucket list trip for any angler.
What catches more fish, fishing streamers downstream or upstream? Check out this video from Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing for Tom Rosenbauer’s tips about how to catch more fish with downstream streamer tactics.
The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum has announced its 2025 Hall of Fame inductee class. This year, Paul Weamer, Bud Lilly, Adriano Manocchia, Izaak Walton, and Walt Carpenter will be honored with induction into the hall.
The Hall of Fame includes luminaries like Dan Bailey, Ted Williams, John Gierach, Curt Gowdy, and Lefty Kreh. An induction ceremony and reception will be held on October 11, 2025, at the Museum, and you can purchase tickets here.
Weamer is a longtime writer and organizer of the Yellowstone Fly Fishing Volunteer Program. That program has been invaluable in collecting data from harder-to-reach corners of the park, informing new management decisions, and aiding park biologists in restoring native fish to their historical range. Weamer is a Livington, Montana resident, and at 53, is the youngest inductee.
Lilly pioneered catch-and-release fly fishing in the West and was the owner of the Trout Shop in West Yellowstone, Montana. Lilly’s influence on conservation is hard to overstate, and many of the efforts to protect the West’s native trout owe their roots to his work.
Manocchia is a sporting artist and avid fly fisherman whose work has appeared in numerous publications over the years.
Walton is the author of The Compleat Angler, one of the first books on fly fishing. Walton’s appreciation for nature and fly fishing has inspired scores of conservationists over the centuries since his fly fishing book was published.
Carpenter is one of the best bamboo rod builders currently making rods. He continues the tradition of Catskill-style builds, and his rods are highly-sought by collectors and anglers both.
On our expedition to Argentina chasing golden dorado, we explored three unique fisheries. Of all the places we targeted dorado, it was hard to beat the Middle Párana River. Here, the Párana River jumps its banks, creating a sprawling wetland and countless places for dorado to hide. This area is known as Ysoro Wetlands Reserve and is the only protected stretch along the Párana River.
For anglers wanting to explore this area, SET Fly Fishing has positioned its Jetu’u Lodge, a short boat ride away. Guests have the opportunity to explore this protected wilderness, see exotic wildlife, and catch dorado all in one day.
The Fishing
The Middle Párana River and the Ysoro Wetlands are home to a plethora of golden dorado. These fish range from mid-sized in the wetlands to larger fish along the actual riverbanks. With darker water clarity, these fish also readily eat throughout the day. A typical day of fishing consists of running through the marsh and exploring different cuts and flats. Your guide will pole the boat around, positioning you for the best shots at likely holding water. There’s also no shortage of fishable water.
As you cast to areas that hold fish, be prepared—the dorado here are aggressive and plentiful. For every fish you lose, you’ll likely land two more, making it a great place to practice fishing for dorado before moving on to bigger fish. To target large dorado, you’ll want to fish along the main river channels. The cutbanks and shoals act as ambush points for the river’s top predators.
Gear
For anglers fishing Jetu’u, the gear list is slightly different from that of other spots on the river. For marsh fishing, a 6-wt is ideal. Most fish here are in the two to four-pound range, and a 6-wt is more than enough rod. With the abundance of fish around, however, you’ll want to bring a lot of flies. Common patterns include decievers and surface flies like poppers for the marsh. While you’ll be fishing with steel wire, dorado death can quickly shred a fly into an unfishable condition.
Bring plenty of flies.
For fishing the main river, we’d recommend stepping up your rod to an 8 or 9-wt. These rods have more backbone to move larger fish and can throw the bigger flies you’ll be fishing. This section of the river is much shallower than the upper river, so tropical weight-forward lines are best. Just make sure they’re built with an aggressive shooting head to turn over large flies.
The Lodge
Jetu’u Lodge is a short walk from the dock and Middle Párana. For its guests, expect world-class accommodations, an open bar, and traditional food and regional Chamamé music. You’ll be staying at the lodge cabin, which can fit up to 8 anglers, giving the lodge a true fishing camp culture. And make sure to enjoy a few of the hand-rolled, locally-grown cigars.
Why Jetu’u?
SET Fly Fishing’s Jetu’u Lodge is the perfect place to hone your dorado fishing skills. The protected Ysoro Wetlands Reserve offers hundreds of miles of pristine habitat filled with hungry dorado. You may not catch any true giant dorado, but after each day, your arm will be sore from tangling with fish after fish.
Welcome back to another episode of The Flylords Podcast, where we sit down with anglers, guides, and fishy people to learn more about their journeys into fly fishing. In today’s episode, we sit down with biologist and angler Dr. Andy Danylchuk to learn more about his journey into fisheries biology, fly fishing, and his ongoing research on golden dorado.
Andy grew up in Southern Ontario before moving stateside, where he would go on to become a professor of Fish Conservation at UMass Amherst. Here, he is a leading voice in global conservation, using his research to advance safe fish handling practices across the world. On our trip to Argentina with Andy, we joined him in the field to collect data on golden dorado that would help advance meaningful conservation projects. Join us as we sit down with Andy, who shares insights on why golden dorado are so unique, the challenges they face, and how science-driven conservation can ensure a future for both the fish and the fisheries they support.
