DirksOutdoors

Yes, that Laurie Dirkx with an "x"!  Outdoor photographer and writer Laurie Dirkx spent some time with us on the DirksOutdoors Radio Show to share her tips and insights on taking better outdoor photos.  Taking better than average outdoor photos is not an easy trick but Laurie put us all at ease with her tips for doing it better.  Great show, great insights! 

You can find Laurie at www.lauriedirkx.com 

Aaron Leonard is on a mission: finding ways to help veterans gain access to wide range of outdoor activities and places where they can find solace, friendship and a healing relationship with the great outdoors. Working for the Sierra Club - one of America's largest and oldest organizations focusing on preserving the outdoors for current and future generations - Leonard makes the it happen.  He worked with a larger group to bring about the Outdoor Rx Act for NYS.  The act is a downpayment for helping current and future generations of vets gain benefit from the outdoors. 

In this interview, Leonard explains his role, what the Outdoor Rx Act can do and the future of veteran access and education about the wonders of our great American outdoors. 

Sierra Club Military Outdoors:  www.sierraclub.org
Contact Aaron Leonard: [email protected]

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Email: [email protected]

Pure Fishing is one of the leading fishing companies in the U.S. and the world with a host of great brands almost every angler knows and/or is fishing with.  Brands like Fenwick, Penn, Berkley, Ugly Stick, Fin Nor, Van Staal, and now - reintroducing the venerable British brand - Greys.  

Jim Murphy wouldn't say this about himself but we will: he's an industry icon in many ways.  For one, he's been actively in the fly fishing business for over 30+ years and is not slowing down in any way.  I didn't know this until our interview but he created the value priced Redington brand of fly rods - and basically created a new middle ground for high quality but affordably priced rods.  He knows fly fishing because he lives and breathes it.

We were fortunate to corner him not long ago and get his perspectives on the industry, tackle technology, and how Greys is working to establish itself as a leading brand for innovative, quality rods at price points many seasoned and new anglers can afford.  

For more information on Greys: www.purefishing.com
www.dirksoutdoors.com
email: [email protected]

Back in early June of 2020, I received an email from my oldest son Dan and the email had a link to a blog posting on a website.  The blog posting was well-written and struck a cord (or you might even call it a nerve actually) regarding the issue of boat traffic on the West Branch of the Delaware River.  If you've fished the West Branch - especially during prime trout fishing season - it's world-class reputation is well-earned (and it is a world-class fishery at that).  It is - in my opinion - comparable to most any western trout river. Therein lies the problem. It's excellent reputation for producing excellent high quality trout has the unintended consequence of creating a stream of boat traffic.  That boat traffic can very often render the river limited in fishing space.  I know because I have often found myself having to skip past planted boats.  Everyone knows the "good spots" and so those spots are in demand and sought after. 

A note about the boat traffic.  Many years ago - most of the boat traffic on this river was mostly confined to professional fishing guides and recreational boaters.  Today, added to this traffic is an armada of boats that provide additional boat flow.  Now, many anglers have their own three-person guide boats or own fishing kayaks and can access the river which offers limited wading access. All-in, the mixture of professional guide boats and everything in between has created a situation where crowding on the river is a problem. 

As far as I can tell - most anglers who fish the West Branch agree there is an issue.  How to solve that is the $64,000 question and a thorny one at that.  Join us in this podcast where Jeff Skelding, Executive Director of the Friends of the Upper Delaware, my son Dan and myself discuss this complex but important issue of water access and fishing quality. 

Does this issue of boat crowding dilute the quality fishing experience of this river?

Here's the link to the blog post that started us on this discussion path:
https://bucketlistangler.com/the-delicate-question-of-whether-to-govern-boat-traffic-the-west-branch-of-the-delaware/

Thanks for listening to the show! 

Dave 
DirksOutdoors Radio Show

www.dirksoutdoors.com
[email protected]

Every day should be Arbor Day - the day we plant trees and do some additional good for our lands.  Everyone can get into the act of becoming their own arborist  and help the environment and provide a great conservation effort to help everything from insects to wildlife.  

Great interview with Arborist Connor Smith of Wickes Arborists (The Davey Tree Expert Company).  

For more information and resources: www.wickesarborists.com 

www.dirksoutdoors.com
email: [email protected]

COVID-19 devastated the greater tradeshow industry at large - and the impact of shutting down an entire industry for the last year has created billions in losses and thrown hundreds of thousands of people across the country out of work.  

Ben Furimsky is CEO of one of America's largest and best fly fishing venues and in this episode, Ben shares his thoughts, ideas and insights on the impacts of COVID on the fly fishing industry and the shows he works hard to host each year.  He also discusses his plans for the positive way forward and the outlook for 2022 for the Fly Fishing Show.

www.flyfishingshow.com

www.dirksoutdoors.com

email: [email protected]

Dan Ladd is Editor for the NY Outdoor News - the largest NYS-wide outdoor newspaper of its kind. In this episode, we discuss the recent changes in NYS trout management and changes in youth hunting - and the implications therein.  Great episode and we appreciate Dan giving us him time! 

www.outdoornews.com/newyork

www.dirksoutdoors.com

email: [email protected]

Todd Waldron is the Northeastern Director of Conservation for the Ruffed Grouse Society and gave us an excellent update on grouse and woodcock - including ways we each of us can play a role in improving grouse and woodcock habitate.

Please consider becoming a member of the Ruffed Grouse Society - it will make a difference for generations to come!

For more information:

www.ruffedgrousesociety.org

For a long time and still - most fly anglers are mostly white, old and - sometimes - cranky.   I've long been critical of fly fishing being the domain of old, graying males - and am happy to report that there has been progress in bringing more diversity to fly fishing.  

Lindsay Agness is an active member of TU and has and is committed to doing something about making diversity a priority for the future of our clean, cold waters for generations to come.

Listen in as she shares her thoughts and ideas on how we can make fly fishing a more diverse and less gray and male domain.  

www.dirksoutdoors.com
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The brook trout is our "canary in the coal mine" for just how clean our waters are.  While actually in the char family of fish but always referred to as a trout, the brookie is one of the few native fish in NYS that date back to just after the ice age.  They are a wonderful and generational treasure - and where you can find them - they are a pleasure to catch...and release.  

What is the "state of the state" in terms of brook trout habitat and the recent location of original, pure genetic (also referred to as "heritage" brook trout) strains of brook trout have been located in some parts of the state.  TU member and brook trout advocate Paul Miller gives us his perspectives on the work being done by organizations like Trout Unlimited, TroutPower.org, and the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture.

Find out the latest work being down and how it gives us hope that the brook trout will remain on the rebound in many waters around NYS.  

For inquires; [email protected]
www.dirksoutdoors.com