Category Archives: In The News

Since 2018, we’ve been building bamboo fly rods with a simple focus: do one thing exceptionally well. For years, that has meant offering a single model—the Two-Hearted 7’6” 5wt—which we consider a premier bamboo trout rod built for versatility, smooth casting, and classic feel on the water. It’s a taper that has become the foundationContinueContinue reading “Our new 8′ 6wt bamboo rod will be joining the Two-Hearted family of handcrafted bamboo rods this July—and we’re gifting Rod No. 001 for a $2,000 donation to TU’s Coaster Initiative.”

Jawbone could lead to non-lethal way to study iconic Great Lakes fish For decades, the legendary coaster brook trout of Lake Superior has captured the imagination of anglers across the Great Lakes region. Revered for their size, beauty, and rarity, these fish remain one of Michigan’s most iconic native species — yet scientists still know surprisingly littleContinueContinue reading “Grad student looks for a safer way to solve fishy mysteries”

In the heart of Northern Michigan, members of Trout Unlimited gathered in Roscommon this weekend for the Midwest Regional Rendezvous — a collaborative event focused on conservation, restoration, and the future of trout fishing. “This is a workshop. It’s a way of exchanging ideas,” said Kirk Deeter. “It happens here, right in the shadows of the same treesContinueContinue reading “Midwest Regional TU Rendezvous addresses trout habitat restoration”

In 2002, Michigan artist Mark Steele painted a brook trout rising to a dry fly—a watercolor that captured something truly special. We lost Mark in 2023, but through a mutual friend Chuck Olenciak, we were entrusted with the remaining prints of this remarkable work. We felt there was only one fitting way to put these prints into motion:ContinueContinue reading “Watercolor for Michigan’s Coasters — Join Us in Preserving a Native Legacy”

For more than a century, hydroelectric dams owned by Consumers Energy have shaped the character of some of Michigan’s most storied rivers, quietly producing renewable power while also creating reservoirs, recreation areas, and highly managed cold-water fisheries. Today, those same dams sit at the center of a heated debate after the utility announced plans to sell allContinueContinue reading “Michigan’s Hydroelectric Future at a Crossroads: The Controversy Over Consumers Energy’s Dam Sale”

Somewhere around the country right now, seventeen Two-Hearted Bamboo Fly Rods are being fished. Seventeen pieces of cane, each built by hand, each with its own story, now in the hands of anglers I’m incredibly grateful for. If you’re one of them, this is for you. These rods were never meant to sit in theirContinueContinue reading “From Our Bench to Your River – Help Us Shape the Next Bamboo”

In 2025, fisheries biologists with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) made what many are calling a landmark discovery for coldwater fish conservation in the Great Lakes: they documented a shore-spawning population of Coaster Brook Trout in the shallow waters of Lake Superior, based on a credible tip that led the team to investigate last fall. ActingContinueContinue reading “Rare Coaster Brook Trout Spawning Discovery in Lake Superior — A Sign of Conservation Success?”

This spring, anglers in Michigan will have a unique opportunity: the chance to fish for Arctic grayling in Houghton County as part of a long-running restoration project aimed at reintroducing a species lost from the state nearly a century ago. Discussions about restoring Michigan’s native Arctic grayling began in 2015, with the first implementation inContinueContinue reading “Bringing Back Michigan’s Lost Arctic Grayling: A Century-Long Restoration Effort”

For generations, the silvery, mild-tasting fish has been a defining part of life around the Great Lakes. It fills nets for commercial fishers, anchors menus in “Up North” restaurants, and holds deep cultural significance for Indigenous communities who have relied on the species for centuries. But today, scientists, tribal fisheries managers, and conservation groups warnContinueContinue reading “Restoring the Great Lakes Whitefish”

Fly fishing enthusiasts, get ready for an unforgettable adventure on the largest of the Great Lakes. Episode 153 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast, titled “Slamming Coasters on Lake Superior”, takes listeners straight to Canada’s Lake Superior Marine Conservation Area in pursuit of legendary giant coaster brook trout. Joining host is Jerry Darkes, author, guide, and recognizedContinueContinue reading “Podcast: Destination Angler – Slamming Coasters on Lake Superior with Jerry Darkes”

Among anglers and fisheries biologists alike, few questions spark more debate than the relationship between rainbow trout and steelhead. When exactly does a trout become a steelhead? Are steelhead simply rainbow trout that migrate to the ocean? And within a single population of rainbow trout, why do some fish leave their natal streams while others remainContinueContinue reading “The “Steelhead Gene”: What Determines Whether a Trout Migrates?”

We’re proud to be partnering with our friends at the Adams Chapter Trout Unlimited for their upcoming banquet, where we’ll be donating one of our Toasting Boxes along with a few other goodies to help support their cold-water conservation efforts. We’re grateful to the Adams Chapter for the work they do on behalf of ourContinueContinue reading “Adams Chapter TU Banquet Donation”

Just finished up a Two-Hearted 4wt case today, carved with the Black River basin of Northern Michigan, and really happy with how it turned out. I don’t get many requests for the Black River, but it’s such a beautiful watershed — always a pleasure to bring it to life in the old barn wood.

We’re excited to support Lakeshore Trout Unlimited #lakeshoretu and their 2026 Annual Fundraiser by donating one of our handcrafted Toasting Boxes, along with a few hats and some extra goodies. If you’re in northern Wisconsin and looking for a great group doing important work for coldwater conservation, consider getting involved. You can learn more andContinueContinue reading “Support For Lakeshore TU”

Are you out on the water enjoying Lake Superior’s legendary fishing? What if your next catch could do even more — not just be a great fight, but help scientists unlock the secrets of one of the lake’s most iconic fish? Trout Unlimited is inviting anglers like you to volunteer for a Coaster Brook Trout genetics project that couldContinueContinue reading “Do you fish Lake Superior and its Tributaries? Join The Coaster Genetics Project”