From now on, you’ll be able to tune into the Trout Unlimited Blog to find five hot happenings in trout fishing–from landmark events to signature hatches–every Friday afternoon. Here’s our first “Friday 5.”
1) This week, the Great Works Dam on Maine’s Penobscot 
River was demolished—the first of three dams on the river that will be either removed or renovated to provide fish passage in the coming years. The final outcome? More than 1,000 river miles of perfectly good spawning and rearing habitat for endangered Atlantic salmon will be restored. And while salmon will be the high-profile beneficiaries of this decades-long effort, other fish like shad and striped bass will benefit, as well. But the real winners in this development are the anglers of Maine who have literally lived their entire lives without experiencing the historic runs of salmon the river was once famous for.
2) It may sound a bit repetitive, but then, we wouldn’t be repeating it if it wasn’t 
absolutely vital. There’s an effort afoot by the partnership behind the proposed Pebble Mine to extend the comment period for the Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment produced by the EPA last month. The assessment is, to say the least, damning. And it took well over a year to complete. To date, public meetings conducted to gather input on the assessment have been attended by audiences that are overwhelmingly opposed to mining in the sensitive Bristol Bay watershed—extending the comment period is unnecessary and wasteful. We have the data. We have the public sentiment. Please contact the EPA and the White House and ask them to stick to the plan and allow one meaningful comment period. Then ask them to put an end to mining proposals in Bristol Bay, which threatened the most prolific sockeye salmon run on earth, and perhaps the best recreational fishery for salmon in the world.
3) Just for fun, help out one of the country’s coolest conservation organizations as it 
strives to reach 100,000 “likes” on Facebook. The National Parks Foundation is just a few likes short of that monumental number, and could use a little cyber appreciation. TU is a big fan of the country’s national parks, and this year, we’re conducting our annual blogger tour in Yellowstone National Park, where we’ll focus on the troubled Yellowstone Lake ecosystem, and the park’s truly aggressive plan to rebuild its native trout populations. We’re working with the Yellowstone Park Foundation (how about a like for them on Facebook, too, huh?) and Simms on this tour. Stay tuned to the TU blog for details on the tour and how you can follow along as we visit Yellowstone’s iconic landmarks and share with you the plans the National Park Service has for making fishing in the park even better.
4) Some of the best hatches in the country are happening right now, as we speak–from the 
gray drakes and hexagenia falling from the evening skies in Michigan, to salmonflies in the Gunnison Gorge, to some signature sulphur and PMD hatches in various watersheds. Be sure to check in with your local fly shop to see what’s happening around you.
5) Of course, with Sunday being Father’s Day, it’s appropriate to set aside a little time to at least think about Dad and fishing together. Consider a TU gift membership for the old man as a way to thank him for introducing you to the cold, clean, fishable water you love. And if you can actually get out there and wet a line, all the better. Here’s a great gift idea if you find yourself struggling to find the perfect thing. How about a “Fishing IOU” tucked inside the Father’s Day card. “IOU one day of fishing together, just like when you taught me to fish.” Speaking from experience, I can tell you that the gift of fishing with my son is always a smash success.
Enjoy the weekend!
-Kirk Deeter
