Leaderboard

Downstream presentations may work. With the clear water the trout often see your fly when you cast it as it passes over them and are spooked by it, so try casting immediately when the fish rises and is turning back down.

.... and be sure that only your tippet is drifting over your Trouts holding area not your fly line. Dress in muted colours, If you have to wade to get into position for a cast give it lots of time for things to calm down. Think about where you need to be for a proper presentation, plan it out.

As above, lighter and longer leaders, only pickup and cast immediately after the fish has risen, eliminate the false casting, if all else fails try micro stripping a small backswimmer or small nymph through down and across and be prepared for a vicious take or you will likely be broken off if the fish is of size..... they were awesome today.....

My reply to question 16, when it asked for feedback: The AEP is trending in an extremely troubling direction. This department has been on the decline for a while, and this latest survey is exhibit A. (https://talkaep.alberta.ca/north-central-native-trout-recovery/survey_tools/north-central-native-trout-proposed-angling-closures) I have many objections: 1. I challenge the data and the methodology of determining the FSI's. 2. I demand public hearings and no more online surveys where biologists and department officials will actually ENGAGE with the angling public and listen to their concerns. Give us the numbers and provide evidentiary proof of diminishing populations, and then provide proof of correlation between angling pressure, the ineffectiveness of catch and release, and justify the closures on a cause and effect basis. 3. The AEP needs to be completely over-hauled in terms of its engagement policies with the angling public. They need to adopt a broad strategy of enlisting assistance from anglers while reminding themselves that they serve both the fish AND anglers’ needs. Currently, the Fisheries Round Tables, online surveys, etc., amount to nothing more than tokenism. 4. My strongest objection is the complete abdication of any sense of responsibility this department has in terms of serving what's best for fish. It is my belief that the biologists and officials have pre-determined outcomes and policies they are just going to implement without seriously looking at ALL the factors and variables that go into habitat degradation and diminishing fish populations. Why are anglers being punished for circumstances beyond their control? Why doesn’t the AEP issue directives, studies, policies, protocols, recommendations and reports detailing the incredible challenges facing all fish and fauna in the province with regards to industrial intrusion? Where is the AEP’s policy recommendations on aggressive logging practices, road densification, hanging culverts, improper allowances and setbacks, and habitat fragmentation? Is the AEP claiming that catch and release regulations are an ineffective management tool; and then using that as an excuse to close watersheds? Does the AEP anticipate fish population recovery will happen on the basis of removing anglers from the picture all while ignoring the aforementioned industrial impacts? Has the AEP anticipated the resulting increase in angling pressure during the next season, as more anglers are forced to fish fewer watersheds? My recommendations, instead of using (and the pretending to act upon this ludicrous survey) is to do the following: 1) Before changing any regulations – especially related to reducing angling opportunities and closing watersheds - how about dramatically increasing the enforcement, not only on recreational users, but industry too? Increased enforcement can be partially funded by the fines imposed. I see gross violations of industry frequently when I fish. 2) Identify the TRUE root causes of pressured or diminished fish populations, and then PRIOTIZE the needs to get them addressed. Most of the skepticism and outrage that I have heard from fellow anglers is that angling has been identified as a primary cause. I – and others – highly doubt this. I have fished many watersheds that have been catch and release since the last regulations were over-hauled, and the fishing has improved over the past 20 years. I’d venture to say based on my anecdotal observations that fishing is more impacted by industry, improper trail penetration, and erosion right now along watersheds that are already catch and release. 3) The AEP and other suitable government agencies should put pressure on industry groups to comply with policies outlined by the AB government as it currently reviews BOTH industrial and recreational usage along the Eastern Slopes. Issues related to fish populations recovery are far beyond the scope of just one single variable (angling pressure). 4) The Alberta Government overall should, plainly and simply, get their act together and develop an over-arching plan to ensure that riparian areas, fish and animal habitats, and water quality are going to be preserved for future generations. There is far too much fragmentation, segregations, and a stunning lack of coordination between various gov’t departments. Anglers have become the easy, knee jerk targets for the AEP to take the simplest way out in attempting to manage fish populations. It’s both bad science and bad policy. And the AEP needs a serious look in the mirror: something needs to happen to shake this department out of its bureaucratic entrenchment and self-internalized feedback loop. Otherwise, I fear all we are left with is nowhere left to fish, and no fish left. Please, I encourage you to speak up: John Tchir: John.Tchir@gov.ab.ca And, consider cc'ing the following people: Dave Park: dave.park@gov.ab.ca, Shannon Phliips: AEP.Minister@gov.ab.ca, Premier Notley: edmonton.strathcona@assembly.ab.ca , premier@gov.ab.ca,

To continue on the pick up idea. If you wiggle your rod tip while picking up the line it will come up with less of a disturbance. Also it goes without saying, if you make a bad cast, wait for your fly to come back past the fish before picking up again.

Maybe try inserting a shoe form when they are wet so it maintains the size/shape when they dry?

Are you putting them down just from the gravel crunching under foot? long, well designed leader...minimal false casts. Not sure if it does anything but sometimes I'll false cast away from the fish, like 90 degrees to it, and then fire it in with a change in body positioning. If anything Eliminates some of the spray off the fly and line landing on the water around the fish. Dave Jensen would say cast upstream to the side of the rising fish rather than right ahead of its nose. Or just wait til it's pretty dark.

Update: So after many calls and texts to "Mike", my friend decide to call the RCMP to see what they could do. The constable called "Mike" and of course he didn't answer and it went to voicemail. Lo and behold shortly after the Constable left the message, "Mike" called my friend saying he had his fishing rod and apologized as he had been away for 6 weeks. I find it strange that he knew my friends number to call as the Constable would not have left the info in the message and that everyone with a cell phone these days checks their messages at one time or another. (LIAR)"Mike" said he would be coming into to Calgary and would drop off his rod. They met and the guy walked up to him and said "here is your rod" got back into his truck and drove away with his two kids and wife in the car. So, Mr. "Mike" got caught in my eyes and was forced to return the rod. So, all good but it sure left a bad taste in my mouth as to the values and ethics of "some" people. He probably got pissed at the guy that left the note. But, to that person who knew that Mike would try to keep what wasn't his, GOOD ON YOU SIR! FHD