Trouts Fly Fishing

ROAR Attempts to Block the Controversial “Over The River” Project

from The Denver Post

DENVER—Opponents of the artist Christo's plan to suspend giant fabric panels over parts of the scenic Arkansas River filed a lawsuit Wednesday arguing that federal officials violated environmental laws in deciding last year to approve his Over the River project.

A group of University of Denver law students filed suit in federal court on behalf of Rags Over the Arkansas River, or ROAR, just as Christo and his team were making their case before Fremont County officials considering one of the local permits required for it. The county was holding public hearings Wednesday and Thursday on Christo's permit request.

Christo's team hopes to start construction this year and display Over the River for two weeks, possibly as early as August 2014, before dismantling it.

"We intend to stop this project," said ROAR spokeswoman Joan Anzelmo.

ROAR's lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, BLM officials and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

Christo's team hadn't seen the lawsuit yet but said the BLM conducted an extensive, thorough, 2.5-year review in a process that considered hundreds of public comments before issuing its decision, which includes more than 100 measures to mitigate impacts on traffic, safety and wildlife. "We think it's a thorough study that will withstand legal scrutiny," said Over the River spokesman Steve Coffin.

ROAR members had sent in comments of their own to the BLM. "We've been ignored," Anzelmo said.

A BLM spokeswoman didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment Wednesday.

read the rest of this article at denverpost.com

“Over the River” is Over the Limit | by Kirk Deeter

Kirk Deeter, Editor at Angling Trade Magazine, offers his perspective on the proposed "Over the River" project by famed artist Christo.  While we at Trout's Fly Fishing are proponents of the arts, we have to agree with Mr. Deeter that this project is flawed no matter how you look at it.  Nature is a beautiful and wonderus thing, and it is hard to imagine why somebody would want to try, or think they could make it any better.

"I appreciate fine art.  I encourage creative expression.  I write about things that promote tourism, almost every day.  And I think the Arkansas River in the Colorado high country is worth visiting.

Yet, for the life of me, I cannot understand how the artist Christo’s proposed “Over the River” project makes any sense at all.

In a very brief nutshell, Christo plans to hang several miles of fabric material over the Arkansas River.  Christo has accomplished many interesting nature-meets-landscape art projects, from drapes in New York’s Central Park, to encasing the German Parliament building in fabric, to a curtain across Rifle Gap in Colorado (which lasted less than two days before the wind blew it away, though those of us who fish that area still see the 40-year remnants of the project).

My gut reaction to his latest proposed plan is, “How vain?”  How dare anyone attempt to “beautify” what’s already there?  It seems to me that God/Nature or whatever you feel inclined to understand has already created a magnificent landscape that is more visually spectacular, more honest and real, than anything any artist might improve, augment, or comment on, even for a short span.  Why would we trade the “what is,” for a concept, or a statement?"

read the rest of this article at anglingtrade.com

Our sincerest thanks to Mr. Deeter for taking the time to share is opinions on this project.

Top 9 Reasons to Come to the 2012 International Sportsmen’s Expo

The Denver Angling Community is cursed blessed every January when The Fly Fishing Show and The International Sportmen's Expo (ISE) converge on Denver, all in the same weekend.  We're not going to waste time pretending that this is an ideal situation, nor are we going to delve into our personal feelings about two competing consumer fly fishing shows.  Instead, we're going to offer a simple list of why you, as a consumer, should plan on spending a day (or two) at this year's 2012 International Sportsmen's Expo.

FOR THE ANGLER:

1.  Trou'ts Fly Fishing will be there, Booth R747.  We'll be offering amazing daily show specials on a variety of fly fishing goods, but you have to be in attendance.  In addition, we're going to refund the $15 entry fee for anybody who purchases $100 or more at our booth!

2.  The ISE show offers better savings to those who attend.  You can also click here to receive a $2 OFF coupon for all Denver show dates.

The International Sportsmen's Expo:  $15/adult, FREE/children under 15, FREE/active military

* Total number of Exhibitors:  398

The Fly Fishing Show:  $15/adult, FREE/children under 5, $2/children under 12, FREE/active military, FREE/scouts in uniform

* Total number of Exhibitors:  88

Read More…

Who Own’s the Nations Riverway’s? | by Tom Bi

Tom Bie, Senior Editor of The Drake Magazine, recently wrote a guest collum in the Denver Post regarding a river access lawsuit that was being heard by the US Supreme Court.  With obvious implications to the nations river users, Tom offers a valuable and well thought out perspective on this contentious issue.

"Wednesday was a big day in Washington, D.C., for anyone who likes fishing, rafting or canoeing public water in the United States.

In what is likely the most meaningful river-access case ever heard before the U.S. Supreme Court, PPL Montana vs. Montana is seeking to answer the long-disputed question of who really owns the riverbeds on navigable waterways, and whether the definition of "navigable" should be based on the present, or based on the river's navigability when the state joined the union.

This case should greatly interest residents of Colorado, particularly considering the access debate that erupted on the Taylor River in 2010, a conflict that led to House Bill 1188 — the "Right to Float" bill, which led to Gov. Bill Ritter's "River Access Dispute Resolution Task Force," which led to the appointment in September of the three-person "River Access Mediation Commission."

This case has implications far beyond Montana. Indeed, an executive from PPL, a Montana power company, might have put it best: "We welcome the Supreme Court's decision to take up this case," said Robert Grey, senior vice president of PPL, when the Supreme Court agreed back in June to hear the case. "Because of the broad implications it has for water users throughout the West."

Twenty-six state attorneys general filed a joint amicus brief in support of the State of Montana, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Nevada and New Mexico. But not Colorado. Why? For the answer, you need look no further than four of the organizations that filed amicus briefs in support of the power company — all from the Centennial State: the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, Colorado Farm Bureau, Littleton-based Creekside Coalition, and — shocker alert — the Lakewood-based Mountain States Legal Foundation."

read the rest of Tom's article at denverpost.com...

Win a $500 Shopping Spree this Holiday Season

We hear it every year, "I need to buy a present for my husband/brother/son/family member/friend/etc., but they already have everything, what should I get them?".  And while we at Trout's are great at helping find that unique gift to please the most discriminating angler, we wanted to offer a unique solution to help you receive the ideal gift(s) this year.  So for the 2011 Holiday Season, we're offering a special sales incentive where one lucky patron will win a $500 Shopping Spree at Trout's Fly Fishing.  Here's how it works:

-  Create an account to our online store (if you have not already done so)

-  Once your logged in, browse our online store and place your desired items in your "Wish List" (this option is located to the right of the "Add to Cart" button on each product page).

-  After you have filled out your Wish List, click on the button at the bottom of your Wish List page entitled "Share Wish List".  You will then be prompted to provide the email address(es) of all your friends and family who you want to have your list.

-  Once you've sent out your wish list, you are will then be entered to win up to $500 of your Wish List.

-  This promotion will be running now through December 24, 2011, with the winner being announced on the morning of December 25. 

*Wish List's not sent to at least one person will not be eligible to win.  The winner will be able to chose which item(s) they wish to be a part of their winning list.  If the winners Wish List is less than $500, the remaining funds will be placed in their store credit account in the shop.  This is an online promotion only, not valid in-store.

So make it a little easier for your family and friends to shop for you this year, and fill out your Trout's Fly Fishing Holiday Wish List.  If nothing else, you may win a special present from all of us at Trout's Fly Fishing.  Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding this promotion, or if you encounter any technical difficulties creating your Wish List.  We would love to see all of our partons participate, so be sure and pass along this information to all your angling companions.