CLEAN WATER CHAMPIONS

“ By adverting to the dignity of this high calling, our ancesters have turned a savage wilderness into a glorius empire! “

Edmund Burke 1729-1797

This north America once vast untouched wilderness existing in a complete state less then three hundred years ago, has undergone dramatic negative metamorphoses since Mr. Burkes time! Unbridled growth and unchecked industrialization has eaten up vast tracks of wilderness without much control over clean water issues for fly fishers or anyone else that drinks clean water... Champions of clean water and river, stream restoration come in all sizes, shapes and political persuasions, old established groups and the unsung pure wild water hero’s who are the little guys who own and manage thousands of private acres kept pristine. The great state of California has many thousands of remote acres few can imagine. Crystal clear fly waters exist year around full of healthy fat trout and salmon if you know the right rich people of course...

Yes, damage does exist and large rivers are in a constant state of siege over where the water flows. Groups like Caltrout with its distinguished record of success saving and enhancing many rivers, a glorious history, contact www.caltrout.com. The Sierra Club known world over for its dedicated work helping to save wild habitat is heart felt by all sportsmen, contact www. sierraclub.com. and Trout Unlimited. Charles F. Gavin President & CEO, a get things done kind of guy. Trout Unlimited has helped reshape the “ Farm Bill”, advocated barbless hooks in New Hampshire, spotlighted and reacted to help end in some places wild trout stocking that endangers spawning brook trout ( all trout photos from T.U. 2005 calender ) Contact www.tu.org

Trout Unlimited has been around since 1959 with over 130,000 members, its main goals are; water flows, in stream flows, organizing sportsmen and woman to conserve public lands, Pacific and Atlantic Salmon, wild native and salmon conservation. This group actually completes projects and follows through on long term commitments that impact water quality and fish habitat. A group that advocates protecting pristine wild fish sanctuaries by cleaning them and restoring original flows hampered by mining equipment and old railroad material. Watershed restoration is of the highest priority if we are to turn the tide back toward a more balanced stewardship of this nations remaining watersheds. A special thanks to all the non profits who work on water quality issues, I look forward to awarding my second Annual Joel Blanco Clean Water Cup this spring, the cup was created to honor Berkeley California fifth grader Joel Blanco for taking action and leading an effort to clean a small creek that runs at his middle school.

There are also private citizens who are setting high standards in maintaining wild habitat where both wild and second, third, fourth generation trout thrive in perfect water never above 48 degrees constantly flowing year round. Diggercreek located about forty miles from Redding California owned by Jim Tomkin’s is a pristine trout habitat.

The Duke of Diggercreek has created a fly fishers utopia with several large natural fed ponds and hand dug meanders that can challenge any fly fisher, the Dukes meanders rival those in Scotland or Ireland! Diggercreek sits in a natural valley where perfect water flows and all 600 acres are flat and perfect for fly fishers looking for wild lush habitat and serious big fish, constant year round hatches of all California bugs. Diggercreek itself runs on the property and can be waded. This private trout sanctuary is equipped with a 100 year old lodge built with old growth and pine. I had the place to myself for a night and was up on fish at 530am, no one in sight, only rain drops and ducks, one very large racked buck walked by. Guests could not be more pampered and the fly fishing is superb year around. Contact Jim Tompkin’s at www.diggercreekranch.com.

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“ ADVENTURES OF FLETCHER QUILL “