The International Game Fish Association has announced 2012 nominees for the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.

On October 23, five men will be honored alongside the 90 current members of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.

Their contributions to game fishing have done much to advance the sport through techniques, technology, conservation and cooperation. This year's honorees are Al Anderson, Mike Leech, Darrell Lowrance, Monty Padilla and Bill Poole.

For more on the Hall of Fame candidates, stay tuned to the About Fly Fishing blog.

The California Department of Fish and Game, along with other state wildlife agencies, is reminding anglers to return their steelhead report cards from the 2011 season if they haven't already.

Anglers are asked to report their catches online or by mail by June 15.

Fishermen can submit their reports instantly at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/steelheadcard or via the postcards they receive this week to address included in the notification.

Fishing dates and locations are required whether you've caught a fish or not.

The DFG monitors steelhead fishing numbers because it's "critical in maintaining and improving fishing opportunities."

Which begs the question: How has the steelhead fishing been over the past year? Have anglers seen an increase in catches thanks to the new regulations? Share your comments below.

So what do you do when Mother Nature comes to town and turns your local rivers into runs of chocolate milk (either muddied with rain, or a heatwave that triggers the snowmelt)?

If water clarity becomes an issue in the spring, try fly fishing other bodies of water such as ponds, lakes or even the ocean if you're near a larger body of water.

Stillwater reservoirs can sometimes avoid the wrath of Mother Nature, at least for a few days before the feeder creeks make things murky across the board.

Fish are also keen on when storm fronts are nearing, and often gorge themselves right before major storms. Take advantage of those fair-weather windows, and get on the water before Mother Nature - and the runoff - blow out your favorite fisheries.

If you're in the Wyoming area, Tim Wade of the Cody Enterprise wrote a good piece recently on anglers avoiding muddy rivers by trying their hand at dry flies on local reservoirs such as Luce and the Newton lakes.

Definitely give those stillwaters a try and don't let Mother Nature muddy up your next fly fishing trip.

Yosemite's Merced River during a substantial runoff as more thunderstorms loom. Photo by Brian Milne.

I figured it was only a matter of time before the new film Salmon Fishing in Yemen gave the fly fishing industry a little shot in the arm, and it appears that day is upon us.

It was only a month and a half ago when I first wrote about Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, and it appears the new film -- starring Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor, and penned by screenwriter Simon Beaufoy -- has already accounted for a 60 percent jump in bookings at one Scotland shop, according to Scotsman.com.

Greig Thomson, founder of Dundee-based fly fishing agency Salmo International, said: "We're calling it 'the Yemen effect', as since the film came out last weekend the phones have been ringing off the hook with enquiries about fishing on the Dee, the Spey and other rivers. ... Interestingly, many of these are from female first-timers who've become smitten and are looking for the full tuition package, together with more experienced types who've hung up their waders and haven't been on the river for a few years but are now looking to rekindle the thrill of landing a wild salmon in the Highlands."

Sound familiar? Yes, 20 years after "A River Runs Through It" had a similar effect on Montana's travel and fly fishing industry, it appears fly fishing is gaining popularity again (overseas, at least) thanks to the silver screen.

Should be interesting to see what kind of carryover the film has in the U.S. as it continues to find its way in front of more viewers.

Photo courtesy CBS Films.