Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the 2026 edition of Colorado Hunter & Angler Magazine.
Trout Magazine, the official publication of Trout Unlimited, provides insightful articles on angling, conservation and clean water preservation which has resulted in it becoming one of the finest outdoor magazines published. And much of this well-deserved reputation is due to the dedication of its Editor-in Chief and Yampa Valley resident, Kirk Deeter.
Deeter is a well-renowned writer in the realm of fishing and hunting literature. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he began his career in journalism as a sportswriter in Pennsylvania at the Doylestown Intelligencer. But it was his dream of becoming an outdoor writer that led him to move to Colorado where he eventually became the editor-at-large of Field and Stream Magazine before assuming his duties with Trout Unlimited in 2012.
Trout Unlimited is obviously one of the leading conservation groups in the country. Through its advocacy of public lands, clean water stewardship and local stream enhancement, TU has been a leader in preserving angling heritage nationwide — and Trout Magazine has been its voice in educating membership on the critical issues facing the fishing community.
Yet the strength of Trout Magazine is perhaps its ability to frame the urgency facing sensitive environmental issues with a certain nuance that avoids catastrophizing climate challenges. Its editorial content frames various initiatives occurring throughout the country, as a positive call for action and advocacy by emphasizing positivity and accomplishment as opposed to divisiveness and negativity.
This is the result of Deeter’s vision of creating inclusivity and delivering the mission of TU to its membership through the magazine. “Conservation doesn’t always have to be doom and gloom….it’s not all Chicken Little and the sky is falling. We’re meeting the challenges and we’re fixing things and we’re changing the world in a good way. We should be an upbeat magazine. It should be positive,”said Deeter.
But the success of Trout Magazine might be its ability to create community in the fly fishing world. The quarterly publication provides outstanding content on travel, technique, nostalgia and the endless adventures that bind anglers through the common bond of fly fishing. According to Deeter, this content is the gift that TU gives its membership in return for their contributions to the organization. “We are asking for money all the time. So, I look at my role in the organization to be the editor who gives back. I am going to give you a product that entertains you, that teaches you how to fish, tells you where to fish, but mostly, makes you fall in love with trout fishing,” said Deeter.
The pages of Trout Magazine reflect a deeper philosophy on fly fishing that emanates from Deeter. “Fly fishing is not an extractive industry. It’s an experiential deal — and it should be. I feel bad for those who only consider a good fishing day one where they catch a lot of fish. If that is all that it means to you, you are missing out. It’s understanding the place you are and what you’re sharing and with whom you’re sharing,” said Deeter.
And truly, this is the essence of fly fishing.
Deeter is also an accomplished author of several books on fishing. “The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing” published in 2012, is a must read for beginners trying to comprehend the intricacies of the sport. The book breaks down the fundamentals of fly fishing in such a manner to make what can seem a complicated endeavor into simple constructs that eliminate intimidation for the novice.
His latest book is a feast — literally. “A Fishable Feast — Fly Fishing & Eating Your Way Around the World” was released in March and coauthored by Matthew Supinski, The title of the book was inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s acclaimed memoir, “A Movable Feast” which calls upon readers to reflect on the moments and sensations that define a lifetime. In Deeter’s book, he intertwines fishing adventures with culinary delights.
“What I have learned over the years is that the fishing trips and the adventures are less about the fish themselves and more about the people you meet and the food and the landscapes and the flavors. I could come back from a place like Argentina andI remember some of the fish battles but what I really remembered was gauchos and empanadas and asado and chimichurri. So the goal of the book was to try to recreate those memories through flavors and food and smells,” said Deeter.
And the book itself is indeed a feast. Tales of adventure mixed with recipes amid outstanding photography, “A Fishable Feast” is worthy of any coffee table or kitchen shelf and allows the armchair dreamer to experience world travels never experienced while at the same time, conjuring up individual memories of the tastes of past outdoor adventures. A remarkable book that is a must read for those who appreciate the true subtleties of the natural world that intersect with the more civilized experience.
A life of travel, adventure and writing has led Deeter to settle in a place he loves — the Yampa Valley along with his wife Sarah and son Paul. It is a place he cherishes the most in all of his travels around the world. “We live in a place where people literally come from all over the world to experience….Maybe for a week. But we get to stay. I love the people, the food, the fishing, the adventures, the sunshine. Just to look out of my window when I wake up in the morning. I’m pretty lucky to be here,” said Deeter.