Speaking of the Greater Yellowstone, a friend has just reminded me about two fascinating reads detailing the state of fisheries management in Yellowstone National Park. These two articles were written by two men I admire greatly and have read literally for years, Paul Bruun and Jeff Currier, both historically of Jackson Hole (Currier currently lives on “the affordable side” in Victor, ID).
The first must read article comes from Paul Bruun, longtime (since 1973) outdoor columnist for the Jackson Hole News and Guide, and self-described ardent fan of Yellowstone and her fisheries spanning back to his first visit in 1955.
From his 27 September 2017 article My Farewell to Yellowstone Park Trouting –
“…We’ll rent the big cabin at the Sleepy Hollow in West Yellow, cook great food like we used to and put our new fly patterns to work,” one said.
“I can’t do it!” I exclaimed sadly, letting my own words sink in with a penetrating result.
“Can’t or won’t?” came the reply.
The truth is that it was equal measures of both, and as of this pronouncement I suspect that I’ve fished my last days in Yellowstone.
This hasn’t been a snap decision. Ever since my first Yellowstone visit in May 1955, I’ve been a dedicated fan of our nation’s first national park and its grandeur. But long about the 1990s, when fisheries management practices carefully began to eliminate wild trout, all in the name of genetic purity (or ethnic cleansing?) and native species integrity, I could see a schism in my confidence with the ranking park powers that be…
Just read the entire piece (free access via the link above).
The second must read article is another very recent (14 September 2017) piece from Jeff Currier, an uber-talented world angler, former Jackson Hole fly shop guru, noted author, speaker, and artist.
[I’ve been a diehard Currier fan since 1998, when his book Saltwater Fly Fishing came out; my tattered and failed-binding copy still gets pulled for a quick read now and again. I just noted, somewhat ironically, the forward was written by note other than Paul Bruun.]
Currier writes eloquently of returning to the mighty Yellowstone a few weeks ago, contrasting today’s fishery with far better years a couple of decades back. (My experience parallels his almost exactly, though my last evening of great fishing there was during a last hour of light caddis hatch and feeding frenzy in 1985.)
His line to remember –
I’m skeptical of killing a healthy trout fishery under any circumstance. Especially ones I, and many of us have cherished all of our lives!
There will no doubt be many who disagree with Bruun and Currier, though I’m not among them.
Perusing history, the YNP biologists have come down on the wrong side of issues before – grab a copy of Alston Chase’s Playing God in Yellowstone from your used bookstore and read it this winter for a bit of background.
