Powerball reached $600 million over the weekend, which got me thinking, what outdoors gear would I buy if I won the lottery (which I didn't by the way, striking out once again)?

Well, I'd start off with a big RV, one I could trust, so that I could travel the country and fish all of the blue ribbon trout waters I've wanted to fish over the years.

And that RV would have to have a tow package, because I'd get myself a nice fresh/saltwater fishing boat, something with plenty of space to cast my new $1,000 Orvis Helio rod from.

After that, it would be about traveling and hooking up with best friends and the best guides in the country, to get on the biggest, baddest fish the U.S. has to offer.

I'd probably start in Big Sky Country, getting on some big browns and rainbow trout, before heading across the Midwest and down into the South to see what fun we could get into on the flats.

I haven't done much bonefishing, so that would be a real treat on my new boat.

Then we'd head back over to the Gulf Coast on into Mexico and Baja California, for some large gamefish, before returning back to California to go after that world record largemouth bass we've been talking about forever.

Seems like a good way to spend your days, and a small percentage of that massive jackpot you'd have on your hands.

If you won the lottery, where would your first fishing trip be? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

I'm thinking about heading to the Big Easy this summer, to do some fly fishing in and around New Orleans as well as visit one of America's most beloved and grittiest cities.

It'll be interesting to see how New Orleans has bounced back from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 - the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Depending on who you talk to, the fishing can be up and down out there.

But it sounds like the redfish and black drum fishing hasn't taken a hit at all, and is as good as it's ever been (contrary to popular belief), so I look forward to proving all of the naysayers wrong.

Anyone have any insight into New Orleans fishing?

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment below or email me directly at flyfishing<at>aboutguide.com with the lowdown and recommendation on guides and destinations.

Who dat?

My fishing buddy Aaron asked a great question the other day: "So what should I look for in a fishing kayak?"

Well, it's been few years since I bought my first fishing kayak, back when there weren't many models of kayaks made specifically for fishing.

And fishing kayaks have come a long way, so if you buy a "fishing kayak" today, it's bound to be better suited for the sport than anything I looked at some 7 or 8 years ago.

My first kayak was the Ocean Kayak Prowler 15, angler edition.

And that had just about everything I ever needed fishing wise:

• It was stable, nearly 15 and half feet.
• It's a sit on top, so it's easy to get off and on.
• It has a front hatch along with plenty of deck storage.
• It has tons of rear storage, and room for a milk crate to hold all of your fishing supplies.

Nowadays, however, fishing kayaks have evolved and are even more stable than my Prowler 15. Some come with rudders, others even come with a split rear to give you a stable platform to stand on, which is nice for fly fishing for bonefish.

But I'm not sure you need a Transformer-like kayak to get you on some fish.

Really, it comes down to getting a nice, stable, durable sit on top kayak that's going to allow you to cover lots of water, cast without falling over, and fight fish without much trouble once you finally do paddle yourself into the strike zone.

I've been fortunate enough to battle 5-plus foot leopard sharks on my kayak, and have had no problems in terms of stability or maneuverability.

And even when my kayak doesn't have the perfect accessory included, I really enjoy adding on to my kayak and tricking it out - just like most of us do with our boats.

That means everything from your seat, tackle bag, ice chest/crate, PFD, gloves and paddles can come after the fact, and be customized to fit your every need - because you're not always going to be fishing the same kind of water or going after the same kinds of fish, so odds are you're going to have to adapt no matter what kind of kayak you settle on.

Here's a nice twist for us die-hard fly fishers.

A water in Washington state that has been closed to public access will be re-opening soon as a fly fishing-only water.

That water, Upper Wheeler Reservoir outside of Wenatchee, Wash., will be opened to catch-and-release fly fishing from May 18-Spet. 14 for all species.

The water is owned and operated by the Wenatchee Heights Reclamation District, which worked with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife WDFW and Wenatchee Valley Fly Fishers to grant public access under the new regulations.

The agreement also includes trout stockings and a land-use agreement by WDFW, as well as site maintenance by the WVFF, according to a WDFW press release.

This marks the 15^th fly fishing-only water in Washington state, and reminds us what working with local officials and waterway owners can accomplish if all parties involved can get on the same page and work together to find common ground.

It's a great model for some of the closed fisheries in my neck of the woods as well as yours.

Do you know of a lost fishery that could benefit from fly fishing-only regulations. Share your thoughts in the comment section below.