“Sportsmen understand the intrinsic connection between intact habitat for fish and game, and hunting and angling opportunity,” said Steve Kandell, director of Trout Unlimited’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project. “This new rule requires the Forest Service to plan for the future by placing an emphasis on the sustainability of water resources and the restoration of fish and game habitat throughout its system.”

The rule essentially gives a management planning roadmap to individual forests around the country. The rule was drafted after a lengthy collaborative and science-based process that considered ample public comment—public forums and meetings took place all over the country over the last year. The new rule would require the use of sound science, robust public participation and regular monitoring to gauge progress. Additionally, the rule would approach land management on a landscape level, and require the maintenance and restoration of water resources identified as priorities by stakeholders, with a special focus on riparian areas.

“While the rule is certainly a step in the right direction,” Kandell said, “there are parts of it that are too vague to ensure positive outcomes for fish and game. We look forward to working with the Forest Service to strengthen the rule.”

The new planning regulations are required under the National Forest Management Act of 1976, which requires the Forest Service to direct the development, amendment and revision of management plans for national forests and national grasslands. In addition to the 193 million acres of land, the regulations impact the management of more than 400,000 miles of rivers and streams and about 3 million acres of lakes.

Trout Unlimited is a non-profit organization with more than 147,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. Follow TU on Facebook on Twitter via @TroutUnlimited.

Perfect for fishing Baja, along Florida beaches or in the Amazon, the Tropical OutBound Short F/I line is ideal for chasing peacock bass, dorado, trevally, roosterfish, jacks and other tropical species. With a short, heavy head and an aggressive front taper, it is a fantastic tool for casting large flies and making ultra long casts with extreme ease. To prevent the line from wilting in typical tropical heat, it is built on a tough medium-stiff core and features a hard saltwater coating with XS technology for the ultimate in slickness. This line also has a welded loop on both the front-end and back-end for fast and easy rigging.

The new F/I line has a floating running line and body with a clear 10-foot intermediate tip that sinks at 1.5-2.0 inches per second. RIO’s acclaimed DualTone load locating system makes it easy for anglers to find the ideal casting area of the fly line, and goes from a subtle sea-grass green color head to an easy-to-see sand colored running line. Find this new line along with the other Tropical OutBound Short lines at any RIO dealer with a MSRP of $79.95

About RIO Products:

RIO is a pioneer in developing fly lines, leaders and tippet material to enhance fly fishing experiences across the globe. Offering premium fly lines for both freshwater and saltwater fishing applications, RIO consistently utilizes field experience and scientific testing to create the best products on the market for anglers. Founded 20 years ago in the mountains of Idaho, RIO continues to develop innovative products, design revolutionary tapers and refine performance-driven fly line technologies. For more information about RIO Products, please visit www.rioproducts.com.

Launched in mid-January, the new website – The Fly Fishing Guide Directory (FFGD) – aims to assist anglers looking outfitters and guides who meet their needs for the next big trip.

FFGD does all of the work for the angler in search of a guide: each outfitter is named with the important details (location, species, rivers) and testimonials provide a place for independent opinions based on experiences with outfitters and guides. Fly shops that do not have guide services and outfitters that are primarily spin-fishing focused are not listed.

The Fly Fishing Guide Directory lists more than 600 outfitters and guides among 50 states and 20 countries. For those seeking professional assistance, the FFGD also lists travel specialists who can assist the traveling angler.

The site expands daily with additional listings and testimonials from anglers who have been guided by outfitters listed.

Visit the site: www.flyfishingguidedirectory.com

The New NRX in Green

From GLoomis:

WOODLAND, Washington USA – Providing fly anglers with an option, G.Loomis expands its NRX fly series by now also offering rods in a more traditional forest green color. As with the original blue-accent NRX fly rods, the new NRX ‘Green’ rods are available in 16 four-piece models in weights and designs for trout, salmon/steelhead, saltwater and two-hand/spey techniques.

Recognized around the globe as a leader in graphite rod blank technology – starting with IM6 and GL2, then to GL3 and IMX, and then GLX, the only graphite made strictly for use in the construction of fishing rods, G.Loomis’ NRX rods were the next breakthrough when introduced in August, 2010. They’ve received international recognition at industry trade shows in the U.S., Europe and Australia, and G.Loomis sold more the first year than any previous fly rod introduction.

Steve Rajeff, chief rod designed for G.Loomis, said “anglers will experience fly rods that are at least 15-percent lighter than equivalent power GLX rods, plus a durability feature to makes them up to 20-percent stronger and more impact resistant. Both the NRX blue and green rods bring the best in components – from reel seats, grips and guides – and the best at every level in terms of graphite, resins and components to provide anglers with the most dynamic, lightweight and sensitive rods we can make.”

According to Justin Poe, global brand manager for G.Loomis, the NRX construction method is completely unique to rod manufacturing. “We utilize a stiffer, lighter and higher density carbon married with Nano Silica resin systems, providing Steve and his design team with a material that provides all kinds of positive benefits to anglers. The rods are lighter, yet more durable, extremely sensitive, and yet stiffer. Obviously we simply think they are the best fly rods out there.”

Within the NRX series, trout anglers are addressed with four 9-foot rods offered in 3, 4, 5 and 6 weights. For salmon and steelhead action, G.Loomis offers 10-foot NRX rods in 7, 8 and 9 weights. For both lighter action inshore and heavier tarpon and tuna use in the salt, NRX rods include 9-foot 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 weight models, while two-hand casters are provide with NRX spey rods in a 13-foot 8/9, a 14-foot 9/10, and a 15-foot 10/11.

All the NRX fly rods feature black Ion coated REC Recoil guides. Each rod features a custom reel seat – proprietary to G.Loomis – to make it easy to lock the reel to the reel seat. The grips feature G.Loomis’ ‘HD cork’ design, where the cork transitions to provide more sensitivity where needed, and more durability where needed. They are backed by G.Loomis’ no questions asked ‘Wild Card’ service program, offering a one-time free over-the-counter replacement – all details on the program are available from dealers and on the G.Loomis web site.

“What fly anglers will experience with NRX is line on the water sensitivity through the rod blank that they have never felt before – either in a G.Loomis rod or any other,” Poe states. “And with our NRX trout rods, it could be the difference needed on whether you fish with an indicator or not. At G.Loomis, we say these rods have life. Fish one and you’ll quickly feel what we mean.”

As with all G.Loomis rods, the NRX models are manufactured in the USA. For more information on the NRX fly rods – including the new ‘Green’ line-up, (visit gloomis.com, call 800/GLoomis

MSRP – from $700 to $1170

BOZEMAN, Montana (for immediate release) – Simms Fishing Products is proud to announce that Wil Flack of San Pedro, Belize will have sales representation for the iconic brand in Belize and Mexico – including the Yucatan Peninsula.

Born and raised in British Columbia, Flack worked as a steelhead guide before moving to Belize where he owns and operates the Tres Pescados Fly Shop in downtown San Pedro.

Flack’s hiring comes as Simms expands and improves its line of award-winning fishing gear. In 2012, Simms is introducing a deeper line of sportswear, sunwear and GORE-TEX® outerwear that will extend anglers’ ability to fish in the most demanding conditions, anywhere in the world.

“We’re very happy to have Wil join us and help us grow in a region of the world with such tremendous fishing opportunities,” said K.C. Walsh, president of Simms. “We’ve been fortunate with our success in growing our business across the globe, and are excited by the potential growth Wil can deliver in this region.”

About Simms Fishing Products:  Established in 1980, Simms Fishing Products is the recognized leader in guide-quality fishing waders, outerwear, footwear and apparel. Their full line of gear is available at specialty and large format retailers nationwide. For more information on Simms, please visit www.simmsfishing.com. For additional media information, please contact Matt Crawford at Pale Morning Media, matt@palemorning.com, 802.583.6069.