reevesr1

Lets stay on topic here. I don't fall in the river that often.... Ok, yes I do, but that's not the point. Barbs, or lack of them are the point (funny huh!).

There is a line in the movie "Field of Dreams" that essentially says "baseball is how America marks time." Well in the family I grew up in, stories, or more specifically fishing stories, is how we marked time. I can't put the stories in the exact year, but I do know them chronologically. In fact, I often think that I don't really have a continuous memory of my life, my past is more like a series of stories with big gaps in between. My wife's family however is not blessed (or they would say cursed) with this plethora of fishing stories to relive over and over and over again. They just have one. And this it it. When we were living in Texas, my wife's sister, husband and family came to visit from Edmonton. Their kids are similar in age to my kids and all the adults really get along, so it is always a good time when we get together. Before the trip, the fishing had been pretty good, so I decide to get the bro in law (Mike) out and get him on some fish. He says he catches some from time to time, though I had never actually witnessed it. Anyway, the are we are fishing is a really big saltwater flat, most of which is between waist and chest deep. It's mostly sand bottom and is pretty easy wading. I should mention here that my name on a saltwater board I used to frequent was "Wading Away" as I have a reputation for covering lots of water in a little time. Well, we hit the water at 7 am or so, a little late for me, and start the wade. And wade. And wade. By 9:00 or so I'm starting to feel the pressure a bit as neither of us have caught a thing. And we have covered a pretty good chunk of water. I start to notice that Mike is spending a bit of time looking at some looming thunderheads on the horizon. One looks like it may be coming our way and is putting on a bit of a light show. But thunderstorms on the horizon are a fact of life on the Gulf Coast and I wasn't going to say anything if he wasn't. Well, another half hour or so go by, still no fish, and I hear "that storm looks to be getting kinda close." I casually reply "Ahh, don't worry about it, it's still a long ways off." Another bit goes by and I hear "Hey, I think we should think about going in." Normally I would have questioned his manhood out loud, but since the fishing sucked and it was becoming obvious to me I was related to a bad luck charm (I should call him Black Cloud Boy), I decided that going in maybe wasn't such a bad idea. So I look back to shore, and realize we had waded a LONG ways. Say 1/2 mile or so. Doesn't sound like much, but you try to walk 1/2 mile through waist deep water. Takes a while! But, there is another option. So I say: "Listen, it'll take us quite awhile to wade back, but there is a reef system just a little ways in front of us. We'll have to go through some pretty deep water, like neck deep, but once we get through that it gets way shallower, like knee deep and we can follow that reef to that island to our left, walk down the island, then it's another short shallow wade back to the car." I get the first, of what will be several "are you freakin' nuts" looks. But when he looks back to the long wade the other way goes along with my plan. We get through the neck deep part in a few minutes, and the water starts to shallow up, just like I said. Then starts to deepen again. WTF? So I back up into the shallower water, look around to get my bearings and say: "OK, I was a little off on where we are. We are further out than I thought, and out here there are two deep parts. This one is a little wider, and unfortunately, a bit deeper than the one we just crossed. We're going to have to swim it, but it'll only take a couple of minutes. (I get look number two at this point). And by the way, those jeans you have on may get a bit heavy.(we were wearing long pants because it was jelly fish season. My long pants were lightweight fishing pants, because I am smart. His were heavy ass jeans, because he was stupid. Or at least that's how it works in my version of the story) So if you start getting tired, let me know and you can give me your rod and you can take off the jeans to swim" In look number three, he is no longer making any effort to hide his utter contempt/disdain for my totally rational plans. Now I see him look back, again, to the long but safer wade back to the car. I'm pretty sure he was about to say "you, my friend, are effin crazy. I am wading back the easy but longer way." Unfortunately for him, the little thunderhead is noticeably closer, way more menacing, and pretty constantly lit up with lightening. Cool huh! Again, Mike agrees with my plan. So we start to walk, and soon after, swim. And swim. And swim. Now I have swum this little gut a few times in my life. After a bit I always start to wonder whether 'm really where I think I am. Really, it all starts to look the same after awhile. So just when panic is starting to set in and I start to think how I'm going to explain to my sister in law how I killed her husband, (and I can't imagine what it was like for Mike, but thinking about it makes me laugh) I put my foot down and feel the relief of bottom! So we walk out of the deep and into the shallow. I say "that was fun" and get look #4 or maybe #5. I've lost count. So, Mike says "so I just stay in the shallow water and walk toward that island?" I cavalierly reply "Yes, but that storm is probably going to hit before we get in. You are carrying a piece of graphite. Hold it down toward the water. If you feel it start to vibrate or hum, which happens when there is lots of static electricity in the air, you know, just before a lightening strike, drop it fast." Look #6 is forever seared in my memory. It was classic. Now we are in knee deep water, and while it's certainly easier than wading in waist deep, it still ain't all that easy. But Mike was GONE. Fastest I've ever seen anyone wade in my life. All I could see is ***hole and elbows and foam! I didn't catch him until just after hit the island. All told it probably took us 1/2hour or so to get in. In all honesty, I can't really remember if the storm hit or not. I seem to think it did because I have a vague memory of walking the island with someone and both of us are soaking wet. But I've been caught in lots of storms, so I may be mixing stories. I will send this story to Mike. I'm sure he'll set me straight!! Now I gotta say, there are two versions of the story. In my version I'm the level headed older brother in law taking the mostly city dwelling, slightly confused about the great outdoors brother in law on an unsuccessful fishing trip that had some interesting, but ultimately forgettable, things happen. In Mike's version, I'm a lunatic who almost drowned him. You say tomato........

I fished in sneakers until well into my 30s, when I finally switched to neoprene booties (sneakers wear out too fast). I always just got the cheapest ones. Doesn't seem to matter. If I was fishing in Sting Ray country, I would wear ray guards, but they are heavy and a PITA. My bet is the under armor stuff will be sweet. My other bet is it will be pricey!!

Don't know about walleye, but for bass I'm pretty sure they hold them for a bit, then release. Don't try to compare the heartiness of bass to trout. Bass are way tougher. They do the same for all the catch and release redfish and seatrout tournaments down south. If handled correctly, the mortality is very, very low.

Hansons has signed copies as well.

Not to unsell any top of the line gear, but there are much more affordable options. I have some columbia knockoffs called Magellan (bought in Houston at a place called Academey) that have survived several seasons wading the Texas gulf coast. About as tough as it gets. I don't know how prices compare, but Columbia is BY FAR the most popular brand on the gulf coast. In the states, pants and a long sleeve shirt (which I highly recommend) will set you back 80 dollars or so. Ebay will have columbia for sure if you can't find it here.

Weedy, Now that SUCKS. OK, flame away. I'll try to bow out gracelessly.

Welcome Cohod. Nice post to wet your feet on! I've seen him on the river. Spinning reel, big tackle box, lots of Rapala's. I liked him to tell you the truth. I've seen a many fishing shows handle fish worse, including Fly Fishing shows. I've seen a video on this site where the fish were handled worse. I've been in a video on this site where my fish handling was questioned. I agree with BBT, a long handled net would have been a good idea. But I've been in situations this winter similar, and I can't say my fish handling in those situations (thin ice shelf, no visible area near by to land) were all that much better. As to stressing the fish.... I've seen this guys gear up close. He would be able to land a big fish on that gear MUCH faster than I can with my 5 wt TFO. So am I over stressing the fish? Should we all go to 8 wts or more? Spey rods for everybody, that way we can all land them faster! (just teasing with that one boys!) Did they keep it in the water longer than they had to while buddy scrambled down? Absolutely. But really, who here has that never happened to, be it waiting for a camera or waiting for a net. So again, I ask the question: Are we on this guy because of his fish handling, or are we on him because his buddy said "I'm baaack" (as if anyone gives a *hit). Anyway, sorry for the rants. I'm going to Edmonton. Good luck with the thread.

I still seem to be LDR'ing a lot of fish in the last several weeks as well. I've also tried to use more side pressure when I fight. Could be coincidence..... Could just be I'm late with the hookset though, I am getting old.

Chris, I like that! Tako, I like it on my soap box. Lets me look down and feel superior over all the folks feeling superior. Hit a little close to the bone with my comments? You seem to be pretty high up on the Progression of Purity scale. Edit: By the way Chris, I like these!!

Great comments BBT and Lukes father. Also keep something in mind..... I did a lot of fishing with bait with my boys back home in Texas. I got soooooo sick and tired of listening to lure fishermen call bait fishermen potlickers (a very derogatory term) and how Potlickers were killing fishing in Texas (which is utter nonsense). Then listening to the new kids on the block (fly fishermen) call anyone who wasn't fly fishermen potlickers, and how they were all killing the fishing in Texas. Anyway, whenever one groups appears to claim superiority over another (and if you don't think some fly fishermen claim superiority either spoken or unspoken, you are not paying attention) the group being called inferior can get a bit of a thin skin. Here is the Progression of Purity I have seen on this board, and others: Dry fly fisherman (especially if he makes his own flies) Wet/nymph without indicator Nymph fishing (anyone ever seen anybody on this board get riled up when nymph fishing with indicator is questioned?) Streamer fishing (all the above with fly rod) Spin fisherman using flies Spin fisherman using lures Spin fisherman using bait So I guess we can all gang up on bait fishermen.

Pretty sure I met the cameraman on the river the other day fishing count down rapalas. Seemed like an ok guy, we chatted for awhile. I do get tired of the "to all you fly fisherman" crap. But I also get tired of the crap coming from some fly fishermen to spin fishermen. I'm also quite certain the inability to correctly estimate fish sizes is not limited to spin fishermen.

Darthwader, Great post. When I see opinions that state etiquette and propper behavior are things of the past and there is nothing we can do, while I know that could be true, I think we still have to try. The battle is not necessarily lost, particlarly with forums like this around. Most people I've met on this river are actually pretty good. I try to remember that when I meet the jerks. They are still the minority. As to talking to people on the river, if I'm fishing and they are passing, I almost always say hello. If its the other way around, I'll say hello if they make any effort at all to acknowledge my prescence. If not, I keep walking. I also have no problem (with one notable exception) asking if they want to share a run I am fishing. That said, I also have no issue with people parking in a big run (I do it from time to time) if they are willing to share. If you don't agree, my advice would be to get up earlier, or be prepared too walk a long ways to get away from everyone, or go fish some less crowded river. I hear the North Sask is nice This morning I rode the bus to the train station. Whe my bus stopped, so did another and two busloads of people started movinf towards the train. Some started almost running to get to the front. I decided to wait for the next train. But a funny thing happened. Everyone went into the first two cars, packed in because they were afraid of missing the train. I continued to slowly walk toward the end of the train and got a seat in the almost empty 2nd to last car. I'm typing this from that seat There is a lesson in that.

Been fishing ever since I can remember. All with lures fishing for several different saltwater species. Went with my dad and brother almost every weekend. The Pastor at our church used to say that to find out if "the Reeves boys" were going to be at church on Sunday, all he had to do is look outside. If it was blowing/stormy, we'd be at church. If not, we'd be fishing. I didn't start fly fishing until sometime last year. When I moved to Grande Prairie several years ago, I wanted to try but was frankly a bit intimidated by all the stuff. That and the fact I didn't want to be "new" at something I've done my whole life. So I drug flies under casting bubbles on lakes and tried my luck in the Kakwa. Caught some rainbows in lakes and a couple of cutties in the Kakwa. So I knew catching them was possible. After a stint back home in Texas, I moved to Calgary 3 yrs ago. Took a client on a float trip and decided I would look the fool and try the fly rod. I completely sucked with it, but did manage to land a few and got the bug. Took a FF boot camp from the same place as Maximum (he is the star pupil by the way), took some Walk and Wades from Max, and am now as addicted as it is possible to be. My wife calls me "the Crackhead in the Crackhouse." My oldest son has also taken it up, but at 15 there are lots of other things occupying his mind, so getting him out is not as easy as it used to be. I'm still working on the wife and younger two kids....

Teck, Wow. I don't know what else to say to that. Great, great story. All the best to your son in the Armed Forces. I did 8 yrs myself, and it couldn't have worked out better for me.

I read it last year. I plan to fish it down from GP (or maybe Grande Cache) to as far down as we get in 5 days or so. Great book.

You could probably mix up some cake batter. From what I understand, you like cake.

Hopefully it stays good natured. Yeah, right.

I don't think you should be Damning anyone on this thread Max. Sort of implies you are taking sides!!

James, Thanks for the insight. I always like to use Karl Marx as my spiritual and intellectual guide. How did it all work out for him and his ideas by the way?

Nice conversation so far everyone, thanks. The name of my post is a little misleading (my mistake). It should have been called Fisherman Management instead of Fishery Management. While I certainly believe we can impact the latter, in this case I'm more interested in the former.

Knotlikely, I don't disagree with you. So let's assume that we all stop posting any reference to location, and clean up our pictures. The reports would still exist, anyone with half a brain will know it has to be somewhere between the weir and say Policemans (this time of year). If you want to find fish, all you have to do then is spend a small amount of time on the water and prospect the same way many used to do it in the days before the internet (at least where I'm from), by looking for bent rods. I know of a yellow one that is bent quite often (except when I'm around you for some reason!!) Lots of people combined with limited fishing space guarantee some crowding, doesn't it? (and I agree with what many have said, crowding is a relative term when discussing the Bow in Calgary).

It is still, at the end of the day, an oilfield town. Many (certainly not all, but enough) of the people moving here spent some time in the oil patch, and as such, tend to be outdoorsy types. So I would expect the increasing population numbers to include a significant portion of people inclined to take up fishing here. But I base that on deduction, not fact. I fully realize I could be the one out to lunch.

Thanks Chris. Edit: Let me clarify what I'm asking: Is this board contributing to the number of fishermen in Calgary (in my mind it contributes not so much to the number of fishermen, but to their success, which will keep them coming back-so indirectly it does contribute to numbers)? If so, is that in itself a bad thing? Aren't we supposed to promote the thing we love? How can we better promote the activity? Some things to talk about (or at least I think) 1. Moving through the runs(I would add this could be difficult in winter due to limited runs which hold fish. I would add "invite other fishermen in") 2. Should we include locations, other than generalities, in a fishing post? I think the post should be only to inform how, not where. But I know not everyone feels the same. This river will continue to get more crowded regardless of how this site evolves. But I think this site could help in that evolution but teaching etiquette, handling, etc. Sorry if this is all too touchy feely!!

This post has almost no chance of staying civil, but I want to try. Something Tako said on the wide ranging discussion on the Reports page got me thinking: How does this website deal with the fact that we have a world class fishery here? This city has 1 million people, many of whom have some money and time on their hands. Running through the middle of it is a river full of fish and more and more people are learning of it. In my mind, this website does nothing (or very, very little) to alert people to the fact that there is a river full of fish. But once they learn of it from other sources, and/or discover fly fishing, they have a good chance of stumbling on this site. And in reading it they will learn that if they pay attention, they will learn how to catch them. I don't think the where is as important. This site will naturally evolve to include very little in the way of visual indicators or descriptions of exactly where the fish are caught. That is almost a guarantee. But as more and more people fish, the whole river will become more crowded. This website can have an impact on etiquette, environmentalism, fish handling practices, etc. But we can't continue to snipe at each other when we see someone doing it in a manner we think is incorrect. You can point out what you think is correct without making the other person feel stupid (and I certainly do not always practice that trait). Anyway, I'm having a hard time expressing myself on this, probably because I don't know what form this website should take, or if it should just stay the way it is and evolve naturally. My fear is that almost invariably, these sites die due to infighting and inability to adapt as they become more popular (or in this case as the River itself becomes more popular) On a personal note, I may have lost a fishing partner over the popularity of this site. Which is a damn shame. Finally, try to be constructive. It would be great if some ideas come out of this before the admins have to shut it down. (the post I mean)