reevesr1

I've tubed quite a bit when I was younger, and in some pretty shallow water. I too am having a hard time seeing the similarity between tubing and a belly boat. On a tube, or at least the ones we used, one's legs were above the tube with your ass in the middle. Gravel might chap your ass, but not really any danger. With a belly boat, your legs are below the tube. In shallow water there is no way to get your legs out of the way. Not to say the danger of a belly boat in the lower Bow isn't being overstated, but it certainly seems more dangerous than a tube.

Just added another trip, this time from The Humblefisherman. Jay is offering a trip of the winner's choice. Float the bow, bushwhack or whatever the winner wants. I will pay the winner extra to bring my GPS along. Thanks Jay!

Just posted another trip, this time with DrBullTrout (Andrew) on the Castle drainage. Andrew has a habit of catching pretty damn big Bulls. And really, any excuse to get on one of the Castle or any of it's tribs is not to be missed!

I thought you were nymphing??

Amundson just donated a 4 pc 6 wt Top Fly rod in a Wood Finish and a TCR reel to go with it. Auction item #31. Thanks to Amundson and Brunsie!

Didn't you just finish a Steelhead trip? You would think that would cure you of sarcasm for at least a week or two!!

I got there maybe 1 hr after you left. The COs were just pulling out when I arrived, so they must have stayed awhile.

My bet is the fish want to kick all of us in the balls.

I just put up the last series of auctions. I plan to run these for 1 week. If ANYONE has anything else to donate, please feel free to do so. I can accept donations up to the weekend. Thanks everyone!

Several auctions closing today!

Closing notices for Monday at 8 PM put up on many of the items. There are still lots of great deals, including a TFO spey rod valued at $400 currently at $150. And is no one on the board from Edmonton any more? Take it from someone who lives in a neighborhood with a lake, catching big neighborhood rainbows is FUN!

Wait until the river comes up a bit Rev. Only about waist deep (ok, my waist, not yours) there about right now.

Nice pull Andrew! I loved the Kinks. I was watching the video thinking "how could I have never seen this" until the kid played the tennis racket, then it all came back. I love this part: Describes my high school years almost perfectly.

I got off work a trifle early yesterday and when I walked to the train station, I was struck with how warm it was. So I rushed home, changed as fast as I could, threw a bunch of fishing crap in the car, and took off to a favorite spring time spot for the first time in a long time. This particular spot (I should actually say "area', because there is tons of fishable water) I've fished for the past 3 or 4 years. It was one of those rare places that was really easy to get to, yet few people fished it. Which was sweet, because it was full of fish. It seemed every time I went I discovered something new about it. My friend Jared and I have fished it together many, many times and have our own names for several of the runs. I almost drowned bobloblaw there once. We always knew it wouldn't last. Now there is a parking lot, and dog walkers (nothing against dog walkers, they have every right to the outdoors as well), and constant fishing. When I pulled in yesterday, 2 cars were disgorging their wader clad occupants for a shot at the river. (and I have nothing against that either!). Since I did not have a lot of time, and did not want to try to figure out where I would fit in, I just left for some other favorite water that I was lucky enough to have to myself. But I was certainly disappointed to not have the chance to see if the browns were exactly where I thought they would be. I'm not complaining. This is the way things go. No way places can be kept secret forever, and we had the run of this area for 3 years. It's a great area, but it's suddenly like trying to find a spot at the popular runs in Fish Creek. Your odds of being alone are not all that great. I do wish there wasn't a parking lot though! The good news is that I get to find the next hidden gem. She's out there somewhere, time to find a new friend. I'll visit the old one early in the mornings and late in the evenings when she is a little less occupied.

I thought it was about BigBowTrout

Lined up several more items today, so I have enough to start a new round when this one ends. I am extremely gratified of the number of people who are donating items this year. Many people who have donated the before have done so again, and some notable new people kindly donating their time or talents as well. I am very curious how the backpack trip goes, and there is another backpack trip in the queue. My bet is if they are offered up again next year, the pictures generated on these trips will make them more and more popular. Anyway, there are still lots of people on here that have not bid, which is fine. I certainly don't expect participation from everyone. But I would like to say that the trips being donated by members are an excellent chance for new or old fly fishers to meet new people, hopefully fish new water, learn new techniques, and get to donate to a great cause. I have been fortunate to be able to meet people on trips I've donated, and on trips I've bought. I can honestly say that every person I've met on these trips I have fished with on additional trips. And I am privileged to call most of them friends (all except Taco cuz he catches too many fish and his truck stinks like cow). So there is my latest public service announcement. Please get out there and bid! Oh, and did I mention there is a freakin' TFO Spey Rod for sale? For like $40? (sorry troutlover, but I gotta get the price of that one up!!)

3 more auctions,. 1 for the kids, 1 where you get to blow things up, and an opportunity to buy a new mapbook from created and donated by tightline!

And that is the problem. The industry needs people to buy lines far more often than every three years. So to do that need to convince you that you need the latest and greatest. That or something more specialized. Same with rods, reels, leaders, you name it. I haven't really done this with fishing, but back when I golfed a ton I would almost always buy clubs that were 1-2 yrs old. Top of the line, but from a couple of seasons ago. I took full advantage of the people who always had to have the latest and greatest. I was good enough to know that the latest and greatest from 2 yrs ago was more than adequate for me. The golf industry, like the fishing industry, does everything it can to convince golfers they NEED to have the newest. And enough people worship at that altar to keep the industry humming along.

By the way, there are some fantastic trips on this round covering from Edmonton all the way to our southern border. Have a look!

I just started the second round of auctions. I think I have had a donation or two via PM that I cannot seem to find. I have had to clean my inbox pretty regularly, and tried to make sure I did not delete any of the donation PMs, but it seems I must have deleted them. If you have donated and don't see it in the auctions, please email to remind me. Also, I am still taking donations. There will almost certainly be a round 3.

Good luck everyone with the last couple of hours of the auction. I have to go out with the wife, so will not see any of the bids. Please bid via this thread, not PM. Nobody can see the PM, and I will not be in a position to check. Also, there are a few items that are ridiculously low. Uber's trip, the Red Deer trip, taco's trip, the lobster, and Clive's book come immediately to mind. And Lynn, that is AWESOME.

I have an Amundson Midge that I really like (actually, it is my son's, but I steal it). It's such a personal thing though. As many have said on these threads before, go cast some of them and see what you like. You can hardly go wrong!

First batch of auctions are closing tonite at 8 PM!

Agreed.

Hey Monger, that's a long fish you got there. Almost as long, but way skinnier, than the fish in your lake. Hey, wait a minute, aren't you donating a trip on your lake to the Streamwatch Auction? Item #6, if memory serves.