Normally, the Fridays before a three-day weekend are sleepy affairs at the Underground due to cratering traffic, but over the last week, I've been inundated with requests to "get the word out" about a couple of items, and because I'd rather be outside playing instead of here typing, the Undergrounders are getting all these in one, big list.

Enjoy.

Just Thinkin' About the Weather

California's in the grip of a three year drought, though all that *could* change over the next 2-3 weeks - and in catastrophic fashion.

A 200+ mph El Nino jet stream is aimed squarely at the coast of the state, and we're expecting a potentially disastrous situation: a big, cold, snow-laden storm followed by a big, warmer, wetter storm.

Something similar happened at the end of 1996, and half the state disappeared underwater. Those that fish the Upper Sac at its mostly serene 200cfs - 350cfs will be shocked to know that flows handily exceeded 100,000 cfs on Jan 1, 1997.

We could be looking at something similar.

At Trout Underground/Man Cave World Headquarters - which is now entirely snow free (an astonishing thing at this point in the winter) - we're trying to batten down the hatches a bit.

More on Harriman Ranch

The storm of controversy brewing over Idaho Governor Butch Otter's plans to de-fund the Idaho Parks Department (handing the state parks to an agency without a recreation/access mandate) has escalated to the point where it's officially OK to call it a "shitstorm."

We couldn't be happier.

The Henry's Fork Lodge has posted a note on their Web site urging anglers to send emails to the governor, and we're going to echo that with a post of our own next week.

In the meantime, perhaps someone should point out what Governor Butch Otter should have learned from his counterpart in California (Ahhhhnoooold), who learned the hard way. Screw with the state parks, and you'll be walking funny for the next couple weeks...

The AFFTA Trade Show Wars - Over?

Is the dust finally settling on the AFFTA Trade Show wars? AFFTA's announced dates for its own IFTA show in September (Denver), Fly Fishing Show owner Chuck Furimsky has cancelled plans for his own dealer show, and the CEO of Far Bank (Sage, Rio and Redington) is circulating a letter in support of the new show:

As part of the debate around the various shows, I think I've heard most of, if not all, the reasons for not supporting an industry trade show: the show is at the wrong time, not enough retailers come, not enough manufacturers come, my reps do a great job and thus the show is irrelevant, it's too expensive, it's the heart of our season, I don't like Denver, and on and on. I won't try to contest all these arguments in this letter. Rather, I'd like to give you my pitch for why I think everyone should support the show: It is the only venue in the world where the fly fishing trade gets to come together in one place and at one time to work toward improving an industry and a sport that for most of us provides both our livelihoods and our lifestyles. I am convinced that without a strong show our industry stands little chance of effectively competing against the macro forces working against our businesses - things like kids not being exposed to the outdoors, the closing of public access to fishable waters, and aquatic nuisance species to name just a few.

In addition, it appears new hire - and trade show czar - Randi Swisher is being groomed to run AFFTA. Current AFFTA Director Gary Berlin is becoming an operations manager, and it appears he's going to eventually step aside.

World Trout Coughs Up $$

An email from the folks at the World Trout Initiative wanted it known they just threw down $75,000 for eight conservation projects:

Ventura, CA (January 12, 2010) Patagonia, Inc, the outdoor gear and technical apparel company announced today their World Trout initiative has issued eight grants totaling $75,000 to global grassroots groups whose diverse efforts to protect and enhance fish and their habitat around the world exemplify the philosophy of World Trout.

Grant recipients include the Wild Salmon Center at $10,00 for their Koppi River Salmon Diversity project; Pacific Rivers Council at $8,000 for their Umpqua River Legacy Program; Truckee River Watershed Council, who's efforts on Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Restoration received $15,000; Takshanuk Watershed council was allocated $10,000 for completion of their water rights reservations initiatives; Bahamian-based Friends of the Environment was the recipient of $8,000 for their sustainable crawfish campaign, Henry's Fork Foundation's film, Watershed, which is about impressive hands-on projects completed over the past 25 years, was allotted $3,000 to help distribute this informative film to anglers and other grassroots groups in the hopes these efforts can be replicated; Bonefish and Tarpon Trust's research on critical tarpon habitat received $15,000 and Italian group Societa Valsesiana Pescatori Sportivi was sent $8,000 for enhancement of their threatened grayling habitat.

Want to know more about World Trout - or maybe snag a little of their dosh for your project? Click here.

Rhode Island Catch && Release Site

A site (and group) dedicated to seeing more catch && release waters in the state of Rhode Island (there are currently only one) has been formed (it's a nice looking site too).

Think You're a Trout Bum?

The phrase "trout bum" has become overused to the point that it's lost all meaning - especially among those who actually have jobs, or worse - trust funds.

Here's the story of ski bum who frankly puts everyone else to shame - and how the police are mishandling his situation. It's not all that pretty...

Toups' tale is the embodiment of ski bumdom. Since the 1970s, he has bummed at Mammoth in California, Snowbird in Utah, Oregon's Mount Hood, Aspen Highlands and all the ski areas in Summit County. His home "” for nearly a decade "” was a Volkswagen Beetle, the passenger seat torn out so he could sleep.

"He had a little tunnel down to it like a snow cave," said Halsted Morris, a longtime Loveland skier.

The story surrounding his recent arrest is not a pretty one, and suggests a heavy-handed approach by the police. Read it, and tell us what you think.

Enjoy Your Weekend!

Play, have fun. After the wear and tear of the last couple months - a hectic kind of time that's had its lows right alongside its considerable highs - I may just take the whole weekend off from the Underground.

See you on the (swollen) river, Tom Chandler.