reevesr1

Fixed Clives auction. Don't know why I had such a hard time with it! Now go bid!!

Hey everyone, I will update the auctions sometime tomorrow. I am going to GP for work, but I should have some time tomorrow night, or maybe from the airport if there is wifi.

As you can see, the auction is underway. Any questions, shenanigans, discussion, etc. please use this thread. Keep the auction thread for bids only. Also, we are still actively seeking out donations! Where are all my fly tiers this year??

I am in no way a geneticist, but I do know that I have seen a couple of documentaries on breeding for domestication. You can selectively breed desired traits in to a population in far less than 20 generations. There was a really cool documentary where they bred foxes in Russia I think and in just a few generations they looked, barked, and acted more like domestic dogs than foxes. Don't know how that would apply to hatchery fish, but to say that the fish could not be significantly different that a wild fish in 10 or 20 generations may not be correct.

Auction has started! If anyone is looking for something to do to help our mountain streams, this is it! Bid, or donate, or both. Anything people can do to help would be great. Here is the link to this year's auction: http://flyfishcalgary.com/board/index.php?showtopic=14972

Welcome fellow anglers... In 2008, Alberta Stream Watch was expanded to include a Stream Watch Officer in the foothills of S.W. Alberta. (for those of you unfamiliar with Stream Watch please visit: Alberta Stream Watch After a successful first year in 2008, the program ran again in 2009 and 2010 and many of you who fished the Oldman/Livingstone area last summer may have had a chance to meet our Stream Watch Conservation Officer, Jeff Cox, who initiated numerous angler interactions and made a significant impact on awareness of stewardship and angling regulations in the area. Please visit Stream Watch Annual Report to see the annual report. You may have also noted the new signage in the area. It's now time again to start our donations drive for Stream Watch 2011 Stream Watch relies on donations from corporations and individuals to fund it's efforts. A good part of the success in our fund raising for the past two years was the result of the Fly Fish Calgary Online Auction, thanks to the generosity of donors and bidders alike. For 2011, Rick Reeves, (rickr) will co-ordinate the Auction, collecting donations and compiling bids. Last year, this auction raised over $8000.00. Rick would really like to surpass the total raised when toolman ran this auction, when in 2008 he raised over $10,000. Now that the economy is beginning to hum along again, hopefully this auction will follow suit! Here is a copy of the highlights of Streamwatch in 2010: I know Stream Watch can count on your continuing support through the Auction and if possible, please consider supporting Stream Watch through an individual or corporate donation. Also, if you know of potential corporate or individual donors that we should contact, please let me know and I'll make sure that happens. Thank you, Al Caldwell Auction Guidelines: You can post your bids on this thread or make a silent bid by sending rickr a pm. When bids for any of the items listed have reached a reasonable offer (met or exceeded market value) and/or, have been posted for a period of time with no new bids forthcoming, we will announce a Closing Notice with a closing date/time for the item. All payments for items are expected to be honored within 10 days of the items closing date. Payment details, including acceptable methods of payments, mailing address and contact information, are explained at the bottom of this page. Your support is greatly appreciated and thanks to all who have already donated generously. Now lets have some fun....Let the bidding begin... ******************************************************************************** Payments can be made by cheque or credit card. Cheques should be made payable to "Trout Unlimited Canada." Send all cheques for donations and payment for auction items, to: Trout Unlimited Canada Ste. 160, 6712 Fisher St. S.E. Calgary, AB, T2H 2A7 Attn: Kimberly Davidson Memo note: Please mark all cheque payments "Alberta Stream Watch". Please indicate your Auction item # on your payment or mark Donation. T.U.C. does not use PayPal, but will accept all major Credit Cards. To pay for an auction item or make a donation with a Credit Card, contact Kimberly Davidson, Trout Unlimited Canada in Calgary, @ 403-221-8360. Make sure to mention that your payment is for a donation or for an Auction Item for Alberta Streamwatch and for an auction items be sure to give her the Auction Item # you are paying for.. If you have purchased an auction item and completed payment, we will notify the member who has donated the item/service. The buyer should then contact the member via pm or phone to make arrangements to receive their goods/services. Special thanks to our 2011 Stream Watch Corporate Partners. Also, thanks to Fly Fish Calgary for continuing to allow us to run this auction on their site. A full list of sponsors can be seen here: Current Stream Watch Sponsors I would also like to thank toolman for doing this the first two years and giving me a template to steal, and of course to Al for organizing this whole thing! So lets get going: ******************************************************************************** 2011 Streamwatch Auction Items ******************************************************************************** 1. PANORAMA ADVENTURE Explore the many rivers and streams in the Panorama area, with your host, Rick Reeves, and troutlover, if I can talk him into it! (This is a non-guided trip). More info from me: "We will be fishing for 2 1/2 days at various rivers/streams in the Invermere/Canal Flats area. The trip will be sometime in September. It will be mainly a Cuttie trip, as the Bulls will have already left to do their thing. I'll drive and supply the accommodations. We will split the gas, food and any necessary beverages. This is for up to TWO ANGLERS. I am also willing to consider turning this into a camping trip in some remote waters I've been thinking about if the winner prefers. Here is a link to our trips the last few years:" 2008 BC Cuttie Trip BC Cuttie Trip 2009 BC Cuttie Trip 2010 Current Bid:$350 loeber Closed ******************************************************************************** 2. LOWER BOW JET TRIP with host/guide Tungsten More info from Mike: "This will be a full day on the water, below Hwy. 24, down too the reserve section of the lower Bow. Will include flies, lunch and beverages. We can go anytime that is convenient, from July 1st, until the end of the season, depending on conditions. If you want to drift fish, I can take two anglers. Or, if you want to jet from run too run and stop to fish, no problem and I can take up to three anglers. I am not a guide, just a guy who likes to fish!" Additional info from Rickr: I have had the pleasure of fishing with Mike when he took me and my son on an evening trip on his boat. Like Taco, don't let him get in front of you! But if any fish around are willing to be caught, Mike can put you on them. We had a fantastic time! Here are some shots of what you can expect, minus the lime green shirt: Tungsten Trip Pic 1 Tungsten Trip Pic 2 Tungsten trip Pic 3 Current Bid:$400 palemorningdunce Closed ******************************************************************************** 3. RED DEER RIVER DRIFT with host/guide Sanky More info from Tony: "I would like to donate a full day float on the Red Deer River between Jun 1 and Jun 4, inclusive, to catch the Skwala Stonefly Hatch. I do suggest a mid-week float so that we encounter very little traffic and have the whole river to ourselves. A BBQ lunch will be provided along with water and snacks. Please anticipate a long day on the water, as hatch times may vary and we might only get off the water at dark. This trip is for up to two anglers in a low profile Hyde. I am not a guide but I LOVE to flyfish." Note: These dates may be subject to change due to snow pack/runoff/hatch conditions. Here is a little morsel to whet your appetite, caught on a stimulator! Uploaded with ImageShack.us Current Bid:$250 ruff Closed ******************************************************************************* 4. "15 LB of LIVE ATLANTIC LOBSTER!" Donated by Joey's Seafood Restaurants From James at Joeys Seafood: These Live Atlantic Lobsters Average1.4lbs each, so 11 lobsters average total. This can be redeemed at anytime. All I need is a week or two notice and I will have the suckers flown in. I can provide a gift certificate with serial # that can be held on to till redemption. That way people can plan a party...I would think summer and have a shin dig. Thanks to James (simpson) for this donation, and Joey's Seafood Restaurants (Headoffice) 514 - 42 Ave SE Calgary Current Bid: $165 fishpro Closed ******************************************************************************** 5. SPEY CASTING LESSON donated by toolman This is a 1/2 day Spey Casting lesson on The Bow with toolman, Greg Allard. If you are new to Spey Casting, thinking about getting into it, or have been doing it for awhile and want to improve your skill, this lesson is perfect for you. Don't be surprised if at some point during the lesson you get to practice some fish handling as well. Current Bid:$125 ffconvert Closed ******************************************************************************** 6. "Sundance Lake Hawg Hunt" with Host/Guide monger More from monger: "Join me for a tour on Sundance lake to find and fool some 6-12lb rainbows. Good numbers of large fish were stocked in May and September 2009. A number of different techniques are available to catch fish and add to your tool kit for use on other stillwaters. Fish to 30" are cruising and waiting to strain your wrist. Last year the early spring fishing was pretty awesome with good numbers of fish caught at the surface. It ispretty entertaining if like watching big wakes chase your fly." Cheers, Rob (Monger) http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/fishm...ngRobR003-1.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/fishmonger/IMG_7171.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/fishm...jpg" Current Bid:$175 cgyguy Closed ******************************************************************************** 7. "TACO'S TRIP INTO THE GREAT UNKNOWN" with your host/guide Taco More from Taco: "How about a unknown waters trout exploratory trip? Just jump in my truck and see what we can find for fish in Southern Alberta kinda thing. Some of these places I haven't fished in yrs, who knows exactly where.I'll supply food and beverages. The buyer must have the ability to ride in a cowman's truck , with all it's associated sounds and smells. I also have plenty of equipment to loan, for small, tight water" From rickr: Here is the chance to do what lots of us talk about, but few of us actually do: go on a total explore trip. From fishing with Taco before, I can pretty much guarantee wherever you end up, you won't be walking in anyone else's footprints! I'll pay the buyer to bring my gps along! Current Bid:$200 brndawg Closed ******************************************************************************** 8 .ADC'sTRIP TO POLICE OUTPOST with your host/guide ADC More from Al: "This trip is for one or two anglers to Police Outpost Lake. Angler(s) will meet Al in Ft. Mcleod. Al has access to 3 pontoon boats if required. The best dates would be in May or June, date to be mutually agreed upon. This is an opportunity to learn what is going to become Alberta's next trophy lake. " Current Bid:$150 gustuphson Closed ******************************************************************************** 9. "DRIFT BOAT & SLAVE FOR A DAY" with your guide/host dune more from dune: "Full day on the water for 1 or 2 anglers on the river… open to either a section of the lower Bow south of Calgary OR if interested i could do a section of the Elk River near Fernie BC. mutually agreed to time between July 1 and end of season. you supply your own travel & accoms (if req’d), kit, food & drinks; i supply boat, oar power and a little local knowledge. i am in no way a guide, just a dude who has drift boat and knows how to get it places where fish sometime happen to be. some conditions apply, see in store for details, batteries not included. " Current Bid:$325 jerryn Closed ******************************************************************************** 10 .Caddisflies, by Gary LaFontaine, first edition, 1981. Signed! donated by dryfly/Clive This book is in good condition and has the dustcover. The book is signed by Gary LaFontaine to the late Bob Cormier co-author of, Mayflies. It was purchased at Bob’s estate sale in the Pass. The book will be mailed anywhere in Canada. Gary LaFontaine was a frequent speaker in Calgary at conclaves over the years. Gary LaFontaine passed away on January 4, 2002 from Lou Gehrig’s disease. The result of 10 years of intensive study, this book introduces tested patterns that imitate the live insect. Then it presents detailed instructions on how to fish larval, pupal, and adult flies—strategies, tactics, and proven techniques. A careful study of indicators that signal emergence and egg-laying, and instruction on the different ways that fish feed on each stage. 336 pages include index, bibliography, B&W drawings and instructional photos, color plates. Amazon.com Review Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Image 6 Image 7 from Rickr: This book sells for up to $160.00. So I'll kick the bidding off on this one! Current Bid: $110PGK Closed ******************************************************************************** 11. ÜberFly's Back Country Backpacking Trip with your guide/host ÜberFly more from Pete: "This year I'll offer up a "Non-guided" backpacking/fly fishing trip for a couple to a TBD destination for a weekend (one night) with Deb and myself... I'll supply home made gourmet backpacking cuisine for the dinner. Winning bidders must be physically fit and have some basic level of outdoor exp. Also, they must have all their own transportation, angling license, equipment and be willing to respect the outdoor environment , i.e., no open fires (if we go into an area where they are not allowed) and proper disposal of waste/garbage, etc. This would be a perfect trip for a (M/F) couple that is interested in learning about backpacking and/or back country fly fishing." Current Bid:$100 golfman99 Closed ******************************************************************************** 12. TFO BVK FLY ROD donated by Honda West Honda West is donating a TFO BVX rod of the winning bidder's choice!! All the winner needs to do is head down to Fish Tales "Calgary's Friendliest Fly Shop!" and pick a stick! Thanks to fuinincalgary (Craig), the rest of the staff at Honda West (many of whom fly fish), and Fish Tales for this awesome donation! Here is a link to the product page: TFO BVK Fly Rod Current Bid:$230 PGK Closed ******************************************************************************** 13. Fly Fishing Desktop Wallpapers - $4 each (singles) or 5 for $15 (multipacks) donated by sirocco More from Eric I photographed nearly all of the photos for the TFO Canada website. My work has appeared in Singletrack mountain biking magazine, Travel Photographer of The Year's Journey Two book, and one of my pieces resides in the permanent collection of the Steamwhistle Art Gallery in Toronto. In an effort to support Stream Watch on a long term basis, I decided to turn the photos on the TFO website into downloadable desktop wallpapers. These will be available year-round and will be updated periodically. Although these are purchased through the TFO site, 100% of the proceeds go to Stream Watch. The first donation will go directly to Stream Watch at the end of the FFC Auction, so buy early and often! Browse the wallpapers here: Wallpaper Site Please note these are not suitable for printing. If you have any questions please e-mail me at: erik@templeforkoutfitters.ca From Rick: As these wallpapers can be purchased directly from TFO, via the link above, there is no reason to bid. But if you do buy some, go ahead and say so on the auction thread. Please help Erik and TFO support Streamwatch! ******************************************************************************** 14. Stillwater Fishing School donated and Hosted by by Bloom More from Tim: Spend a day on the water learning how to catch Stillwater Rainbows in Southern Alberta. This trip will cover reading lakes in Southern Alberta, floating line and sinking techniques, food source availability, how to ‘match the hatch’ and other tips and tricks that you can apply to lakes. The day will be spent on Bullshead Reservoir in Southern Alberta. This is not a guided trip, but an opportunity to learn some strategies that are affective on our pothole lakes and then apply them while fishing on Bullshead. All liability will be assumed by the participant. Equipment can be provided if needed. Maximum of three anglers and the date is currently set for June 18, 2011 More from Rick: I will supply the transportation for this trip, from Calgary. We are going to run this a bit different. We are taking 3 anglers, so the top three bids when the auction ends will get to go. You can team up with a friend or friends if you like. If so, please specify how many you are bidding for. As this is for 3 bidders, I will run this auction for longer than normal. Current Bid 1:$200 ruff Current Bid 2:$125 Palemorningdunce Current Bid 3:$100 jasonvilly ******************************************************************************** I still have a couple of auctions in the bag that I will start as these end, and I fully anticipate many more to come!!

You could support the Streamwatch program. And as luck would have it, I'm kicking off the auction today!

I have red on one of my reels. It's purty.

Happy Birthday Brian!

Another meter of snow at Castle the last few days. Made for great (if a tad heavy) skiing, but a lot more snow to melt.

The first fish I caught in the surf with a fly rod was a 3 or 5 lb spanish mackerel. He ripped up some bait about 20 feet in front of me. I had just made a cast, so I ripped in line as fast as I could, threw quickly in the direction of the bait, and the smack hit it almost as soon as it hit the water. I had 30 or 40 feet of slack line that went ripping out and just smoked and cut my ring finger. Nice long fight on that fish. They are so fun to catch on the fly rod! Good luck tomorrow Jeremie!

That was awesome, thanks guys! Wife gave the thumbs up to my going on this. I neeed to get on the list for 2014!!

Nice specks! Top fish is a spanish mackerel (smack). If you get into some bigger ones, you are in for a blast. They are greased lightning! Bottom fish is a Mangrove Snapper I think.

I found a couple as well. I brought one outside and the little loops just seem to accumulate ice. My wife offered to throw them away for me, but I talked her into giving me until summer to figure out what they are for. She seemed very disappointed. I also found some plastic coated string of some kind on these really nice storage spools. Like these little garden hose holders. Baffling.

Probably is futile for some. But hopefully not for everyone. Great stories guys. My dad died of cancer as well, and was my best fishing friend. He introduced me to the sport (obviously) at a very young age and instilled his love for fishing in all his sons. I will tell one quick story about him (that has been on this forum before I think). On the DVD that was made for the funeral, there were lots of fishing pictures. There were several fishing pictures with people I did not recognize. I asked my mom who the people were and she explained: Back in the 80s, my dad's shrimp boat was docked at a big marina. He supplied the bait shrimp to the marina, among other things. The marina had a big triple boat launch. Sometimes he would meet families (usually a father and son or sons) who were pulling out their boats and in talking to them he would learn of their frustration in trying to catch fish. So if he had time, he would ask if they wanted to go back out. If they did, he would take them out and show them some well known locations and help them with techniques. More often than not he would put them on fish. But even if they didn't catch any that day, he gave them the skills necessary to be able to come back to the dock with fish on their next trip. Sort of a random act of fishing kindness. That is the legacy I have to live up to.

I went to a Memorial Service for a friend today. He was a good man, he died too young, and it was very touching to see all the people who turned out for the service. During the service, one of his family members was talking about his favorite things. One of them was fly fishing. About 2 or 3 years ago I took my friend fly fishing. If it was not the first time he tried it, it was certainly one of the first. I took him to some water I used to frequent back then, and tried my best to impart my meager knowledge of the sport. I seem to remember him catching a nice rainbow, but that could be wishful thinking. We fished together another time or two, and I did see him on the river a couple of times after that. Like most things he did, he got into fly fishing with a single minded focus. I remember being afraid to talk to his wife because my friend was a notorious workaholic, and here I introduced him to another thing that was sucking up his time. I sorta lost track of him over the next year or so. I did hear he was sick, and always meant to call. I never did, which is really too bad. I am totally floored that fly fishing was mentioned as one of his favorite activities. I spoke to his wife and she said he fly fished all the time for several months before he got sick. And that he would come home and tell of how he "almost got one." He was addicted to it and loved it. I had no idea. I wish we had got to fish together more. I will regret that for a long time. But what I will truly take from this is how important it is to share our passion with others. It did not matter that he was not catching many, if any, fish. He loved being out on the water. How great is it that I got to help him get started in something that brought him so much pleasure? There are those who will say that one should hoard their knowledge and that introducing new people to fishing just leads to overcrowding, and that people should just figure it out on their own. I think they completely miss the point. We should never fall into the trap of selfishly guarding our knowledge and passion. I know this sounds all touchy feely and crap, but it so much better to share our love of the sport with others and infect them with the same passion we feel. I hope to infect as many people as I can. If that means more people on the water, so be it. I am perfectly ok with that. If I want solitude when I fish, I know many, many places to find it. I'm probably not eloquent enough to explain how important I think this is. I hope someone who reads this and introduces a buddy to fishing.

Had Lasik 1.5 yrs ago. All good. Great to not have to wear glasses anymore (except for reading glasses--they can only correct near or farsightedness, not both). Surgery was a snap. It is an assembly line however. Did not bother me, lots of people to practice on. One thing was funny to me though. When I was in the chair, the assistant says "when the gas laser is running, it makes a smell like burnt hair." I said "huh, you don't think that could be burning eyeball?" The doctor looks up from his computer and says "are you an engineer?" I say yeah, to which he replies "we don't like telling people that." I always wondered what people thought was happening when they are using a laser to cut and reshape your eye. That the magic laser eye fairy was making your eyes all better?

I hate this time of year. It's been too damn cold for too damn long. I try to go fishing, but I get disgusted with frozen guides and cold damn wind in my face. But I love it because I start thinking about the year to come. Late March is when I always begin to dream about trips in the late spring and into the summer. Where do I go, old reliables or something completely different? How soon do I make the long drive to the Hat to see how big the trips got this year? I always go too soon because I can't help myself. Sluggish fish and freezing temps, but the allure is too much to resist. I drive back home every year saying "I'm not going next year until May". But I'll be there again in April this year! What about the summer cuttie adventures? Do I play it safe with tried and true rivers, or just throw a dart at SW AB or SE BC and the first time it lands somewhere I haven't fish, just say "let's try there!" I always intend to try the new water, but seem to have lots of difficulty driving past tried and true, particularly when no cars are there! I always have 3 or 4 camping trips in mind, but I can never seem to pull off more than one. My wife seems to think I'm supposed to spend time with her (whatever), and for some reason does not like it when we camp by a river. Something about me never being around. This year will be different though. Or not. Is this the year I finally make the FTR trip I've been dreaming about since I read Mitchell's Trout Highway book? Please, honey? It's like this big, wide open slate waiting to be filled. I know I will fill it, but have no idea where to start or where it is going. I can hardly wait to find out.

Don't you mean "grab his 5X tippet and attempt to steer fish into net?"

Tip #47 Never let Troutlover net your fish. Tip #62 When fishing with a friend who is shorter, you should always cross the river first. No matter how close the water comes to the top of your waders, you should state "it's not that deep".

And a premium!

If you can just remind me what your position is. I'll be the opposite. Funner that way.

I don't understand how people can think the small stores are gouging anyone. If you cannot buy in bulk like the big box stores, you have to spend more. I know some of the small shop owners pretty well. Trust me, nobody is getting rich on the backs of the fly fisherman, at least not here in Calgary. Big box stores, IMHO, run a fine line. In many cases they are keeping their costs low by buying in bulk, and by minimizing staff, both in numbers and knowledge level. So you are typically stuck with smaller # of staff per customer, and certainly less knowledgeable staff overall, than at a smaller shop. So it is incumbent on the customer to seek out the knowledge in the store. Not defending it, just pointing it out. If you do not want to "bother" the staff, then don't go. By the way, that is my response. I don't go to the big stores, except very rarely. I'd rather spend more and support the shop (or in my case shops!) to retain that level of service and local knowledge . I don't in any way think that this is the decision everyone will make, nor should they. Everyone has different needs and opinions. There are room for both types of shops, again IMHO. But as someone wisely said above "profit is not a dirty word". Or something like that.

I have quite a few, and am sure I will get more once I start the auction. I plan to take a week of vacation last week of March, so intend to crank her up on the 1st week of April. Stay tuned!

So someone explain this to me: Isn't didymo in the Oldman pretty bad? If that is so, then it's proximity to SA waters would almost guarantee it's introduction into those waters by other vectors than just fishermen. Birds being the most obvious example. I have no problem understanding trying to keep organisms from one country getting to another country, as fishermen are the only possible (or at least the only one I can think of) carrier. But even with widespread didymo in the Oldman, one does not see it in the Castle system, at least where I am fishing. Hell, those systems are connected to the Oldman aren't they? Anyway, people can tell me how responsible I am supposed to be. Have at 'er. But for systems that are close to each other, and even connected, then fisherman washing their boots will have no impact. That is my opinion. And the fact that there is didymo in the Bow and Oldman, and fishermen in the Bow and Oldman does not necessarily mean it was introduced by the fishermen. I'm all for protecting the waterways, in fact I think my participation in several cleaning, conservation, and enforcement organizations and charities illustrate this fact. But I truly do not think that me cleaning my boots before I fish the Castle do anything whatsoever.