reevesr1

April and May are my favorite months. But if I were planning on traveling and had limited time to fish, I would wait for late June or July. You are taking much less chance with the weather, particularly the wind. You can get long stretches of pretty big wind in April/May. But if you hit it right, it can be just amazing fishing. Fishing in June and July can be off the charts as well, but get ready to sweat. Lots. Clouser is just a classic. I like the shrimpy looking fly in the second pic. I would think the third is maybe some sort of mullet imitation? And the spoon fly! Some fly fishermen in the states won't use it. Stupid fly fishermen. My first, and to this date only redfish on a fly rod was caught on a spoon fly. The drum would have been a blast on the fly rod. But that big red! Fantastic bud. I caught a 24"er on a 5 wt and it was a war. A 24" red goes like 4-5 lbs. A 26# red? Wow!! Did you get a length? I'm guessing a bit over 40? I've caught lots that big, like hooking on to a truck. On a fly rod it would be awesome. I am very jealous.

Location is in the little shopping center just in front of Heritage Lakes. Between 2 and 2A on Dunbow Road. I don't think they carry Simms, but I could be wrong. The Snowbee gear did look sweet.

Charles Barkley used that one on a national telecast once. Caused a bit of a stir!

Nope. I was going to pee on it to mark it, but they wouldn't let me.

It's open. Nice shop, went there today. My plan was to spend $0, but the well stocked fly section sucked me in. Got out for pretty cheap. They also let me drool on a Hardy cartridge reel as well. Wish christmas was closer! Very nice shop, better conversation. And they certainly have Snowbee gear!

Casuatlies in Afghanistan by country: http://icasualties.org/OEF/DeathsByYear.aspx In the last few years, roughly 3 to 1 US casualties to Canada. So propotionally more Canadians as a measure of total # of troops. But in a thread that is accusing (and rightly) a show of belittling the Canadian contribution, it is a bit of bad form to belittle the US contribution. Whether you agree with Iraq or not (and I could make a very strong case that when all this is said and done, Iraq will be a more stable place than it ever would have been under Hussein) it's not like the US has abandoned Afghanistan. I agree completely that we lost sight of the goal, but we are still there in the greatest numbers.

Hey Rp3, Did you get the drum and red on a fly rod? That may be the first "art shot" I've ever seen of a black drum! They don't have a lot of status down south, because they tend to be a meat eater and are hard to catch on atrificial bait. However, I've always liked catching them. They fight fantastic, lb for lb better than a red. We call the big one's BUs or Big Uglies. They get really, really ugly as they get big. The fishing south of NO is as good as anywhere I've ever been. Hope you had fun!

I highly doubt Bass Pro Shop scouted Wholesale Sports and said "hey, let's copy them! They just got bought out so obviously know what they are doing." From my experience, Bass Pro does a very, very good job of market research. I would be willing to hazard a guess that if you compared the number of spin fishermen province wide to fly fishermen the selection of gear at Bass Pro reflects that. Also, almost all fly shops I know of are smaller, intimate shops. That is what I think they are trying to mimic-a more intimate shop, just inside a behemoth. If I had a fly shop I would try to keep it a bit smaller to ensure each customer in the shop got personal attention. I'm going to try to make sure my sales staff talks to the guy looking at the $800 Sage rod as opposed to someone looking at an Ugly Stick. All that said, my fly shopping will be at Hanson's and Fish Tales. I may go check out that new shop today down south however.

I read rehfsiflyf's detailed analysis of pre and post trade performance. Well researched, and a reasonable conclusion. My only question would be has he identified the cause of the recent slide, or just another symptom? In the games before the slide, I would imagine the team was playing with the lead most nights. I'm not a hockey expert, but in sports in general when a team has a lead, particularly a sizable one they tend to go into more of a defensive shell. In hockey, doesn't this mean the forwards stay back more? And isn't the tendency is to not try to limit opposing team's shots, but limit scoring chances? The team playing behind plays more offensively, defensemen pinching in, yes? So in my mind, that would lead to the team playing from ahead getting fewer chances (because they are playing defensive), but when they do get a scoring chance, it is a good one (2 one 1 breaks, that sort of thing). But the team playing behind is getting lots of shots from the outside, but few good chances, therefore the ahead teams goalie has a better save percentage than the goalie of the team behind. Also, how is the defence playing? Wouldn't that have a huge bearing on both save percentage and GAA? Better chances would guarantee both GAA and save percentage to get worse wouldn't it? It could just be the goaltending, but I doubt it is that simple. One of the things I have learned from diagnosing issues with systems or processes is to try hard not to confuse symptoms for causes, and also to pay very close attention when the cause you come up with confirms your preconceived notion. In other words if you don't like the goaltender and your analysis points to the goaltender, question you analysis hard. As to pre and post trade. Look back to Vancouver. How long did it take them to start clicking post Sundin? (The return of the best goaltender in the world aside). 10 games? Some of that was due to Sundin not playing, but some of that was due to process change-with Sundin being the change. In terms of process, Sundin was brought in to improve efficiency. And it looks as though he has. What people never tell you about process change is that when you change process to improve efficiency, short term efficiency will certainly suffer as the system adjusts to the new process. The Flames are smack in the middle of that. Another factor in all this is injuries. 2 key players (and no one needs to remind me I don't like one of them) have been out for awhile now. The team played well without them for awhile. This happens quite often as the other players "pick up the slack." But in almost every case I can think of, after some period of time the players "picking up the slack" wear down and the true impact of the loss of key players starts to be seen. The Flames are in the middle of that as well. Another couple of posts recommend Sutter "kicking some ass". I've always been fascinated when fans feel star players are dogging it. Does anyone truly believe that with 10 games left in the season the star players on this team are not trying? I've worked for a long time. Sometimes more effectively than others. But my failures have rarely been due to not trying. My strong belief is those guys are trying as hard as they can. It just isn't working. There is also a bit of a move afoot to get rid of Keenan. Again, really? With 10 games left? Crazy move, IHMO. There are 10 games left. One of the key players is back. The other is back before the playoffs. Relax everyone, things will be ok. See what happens when I can't fish? Long rambly posts on *hit I know nothing about.

I forgot about the waders. I bought a very similar pair for my son like 3 yrs ago, with nary a leak yet. No lifetime warranty, but who the hell cares. They cost 100 bones, and they last.

Quite possibly the worst photoshop ever. My wife always thought I looked like the guy on Coach. Now that Steve, after only 2 yrs or so, has figured out how to post pictures, it's like he can't stop.

I was there yesterday for an hour or so. Nothing much happening in the aquarium, too bad. Fly fishing area: I'm not so sure terrible is the right word. They had TFO, Sage, Loop, Loomis, Lamson, Tibor, Orvis, Ross etc. as well as their own line of rods and reels. I thought some of their own rods (White River?) looked and felt ok for the cost. They also had some very low/entry level gear of their own as well. Fly rods from $50 to $800 (High end sage), reels around the same. I'm not much of a reel guy, but they had a Tibor for like $850 that was one pretty piece of work, though I can never see myself buying something like that. Fly selection left something to be desired, though some of the packs were ok I guess. Prices were definitely not low, but reasonable for most things. Flies were overpriced I thought. What they do bring is some pretty good prices on non-name clothing. Their line of fishing apparel seems much like the Magellan stuff I buy in the states. Built to directly compete with Columbia at around 1/2 the cost. Everything was ok, basically just like every other Bass Pro. They will figure out what works here and sell that. I'll go about as often as I went to the one in Houston. Maybe once a year.

Meet ya there in a couple of weeks I hope!

Deleted, too much of a hijack...

To continue the hijack... I tend to be a value buyer--I look for high quality items without the name brand. I've gotten a lot of great deals on great gear. But they engender no feelings of pride or loyalty. But last year I was talked in to buying a Rushton net called "The Brown". Don't remember the cost, but well north of 100 bucks. I had almost instant buyers regret as I thought I had no need of such a net. I was wrong. I love my net, and have become quite attached to it. Don't know why, but I would HATE to loose it. Again, I don't know why some wood and mesh has become a necessary part of my fishing gear, but it has. If I ever loose it (perish the thought), I'd get another one the next day. Silly, but true.

Mitch, you stole my line! Brent, Great read kid. You got a talent for that. If you have anything else posted anywhere else, please let me know. You ever gonna finish my books, or can't kid's read these days?

A question with a million answers. Right now, I would venture to say that if you are using a wire worm, no additional weight is necessary as you will typically be fishing slower water. As the year goes on and you fish faster and faster water, you may need additional weight (though I know people who never let the nymphs hit the bottom-and they catch fish too!). However, s really smart kid (and some smart older people too) told me that if you aren't hanging the bottom every couple of casts, you are fishing too light. But you MUST set the hook whether you think it is bottom or not. You may feel foolish doing so at first, but after several times where the "bottom" becomes trout, you won't feel so foolish.

Sounds incredible. Pictures? Did you fish for the sharks at all? They are a riot in shallow water.

One war (the one you guys are currently fighting, so I would hope your country thinks it is worthy) was brought to him. You have to put it in context of the time. The events of 9/11 demanded a response. I think it was the correct response, followed by a total loss of sight if the goal Iraq was a lie. I bought in at the time like everyone else. My personal belief is so did bush (though its a hard position to defend because some in his administration certainly knew there were no wmd's), but once the reality set in, policy should have changed. It didn't, and that's on his administration. I lived a big hunk of my life in New Orleans. While bushs response was weak almost beyond belief, it wouldn't have mattered. Once that hurricane hit the city, the die was cast. Few want to believe that, but 40 yrs of not preparing for the inevitable was not bush's fault. To know how Harper would respond, you would have to project him into the same circumstances. His personality type does not lead me to believe his actions would have been much better. But I wouldn't wish that set of circumstances on anyone. I've met great Canadians both in and out of uniform. Americans too. Jack does have one up on me, he served in both countries, myself only in one. Edit: actually, jack served in a combat it sounds like (Desert Storm?), so no comparison btwn his service and mine.

Hah, so you agree there is global warming. I knew it! Sorry for the thin skin. I get a bit tired of hearing how effed up my country is. Maybe the only thing I don't like about living here sometimes.

Ugly country, ugly fish.... ok, that one really is ugly.....

Just so you know, she doesn't say that in a nice way. Welcome aboard guys.

The power is running amok with all this post deleting, post modifying, and custom user title giving. About time we had some fun around here.

Hey, did the new moderator pull his pud? What's up with that? Not funny Chris?

He's backpedalling poorly because he is an idiot. It is great to see you guys galvanized, you could use more of it. You have a proud history of military service. But what do I know, I'm just another banjo picker (and there are lots of banjo pickers with kids in the military too). Hopefully my final comment on the subject is that Canadians direct their ire in the direction it needs to be directed in, ie the twits on Fox, and Fox in general for allowing it to air. There are some in Canada who use any insult from anyone in America as justification for slamming Americans in general. Don't believe me, read some of the blogs on this subject. Just because some asses disrespected your country doesn't give you moral justification to disrespect theirs.