reevesr1

Interesting writing style. One sentence per paragraph. Could have guessed he was from Sun Media. Don't know what he is so mad about. If it reduces squatters, it can't be bad. All kidding aside, weren't the most popular campsites mostly reservation only anyway? What is the difference if it's telephone or on-line? I just reserved 3 days in the group spot and Dinosaur Provincial with no problem, but I did it over the phone. It would have been just as easy on-line, except I wouldn't have had the pleasure of talking to the very pleasant staff (I'm serious when I say that, they were very nice). I think on-line should work well? Maybe I'm just naive.

Nice! Looks like she might have had a growth spurt Max!

That was cool. But I don't know why everyone is so surprised when such a big voice comes out of someone that is slightly less than attractive. At least the blonde judge didn't cry this time! Paul Potts turned out to be a bit more than a cell phone salesman. From wiki: During the programme there was some controversy as to the "undiscovered" nature of Potts' talent. He was portrayed on the show as simply a mobile-phone salesman, whereas he had in fact appeared in six amateur opera productions and in a concert for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and had plans for a summer tour with that Orchestra. Potts responded to his critics saying that he had not claimed to be completely untutored, that he had never performed any concert for pay and was therefore amateur and that the lessons he had received in Italy had been paid for from his own savings. Whatever though. He can sure sing. As can Miss Susan it seems.

Maybe you should alert the media.

I didn't really notice any anti-Cabrera sentiment-and I was pulling for him. But could be I'm biased myself.... Phil on the other hand had the opportunity to do something truly truly special. 30 on the front at Augusta? Are you freakin' kidding me? But the sploosh into Rae's Creek on 12 really seemed to change his round. His iron shot on 15 was a thing of beauty-but Tigers putt confused him and once that eagle slid by that was it. Fun tournament! Good for Cabrera. World class save from the trees.

http://www.looptackle.se/website1/1.0.1.0/659/1/

I'm not going to get into a global warming debate with you. It's pointless for both of us. I trust your sources just as much as you trust mine. Do I think the media can fabricate a story where there isn't one? Again, there is no "thing" as the media. Do I think a member of the media can? Well of course. People will do things to get ahead in every industry. Usually they are found out, sometimes they are not. A better question is do I think this story is a case of a story made up where there isn't one? I'm not all that familiar with the particulars other than there are two girls, one needs a heart I think and the donor is hanging on when her doctors did not think she would. I'm not even sure who's father went to the media (or I should say a member of the media) with this. A story was probably then put out, interest was generated, and the story spiraled out of control as these things are prone to do. So there is definitely a story there. Do I think it is appropriate? No, I don't. But I don't know what you do about it. If enough people are interested then someone will keep the story out in the open. If interest wanes, then the story will run it's course. The "media" is a reflection of society, not the other way around. For the most part the various main stream outlets provide an incredibly valuable service. Do they over sensationalize things? Well of course. And people eat it up. Who's fault is that?

A stinger hook would never be a circle hook, they are always J-hooks or even trebles. A circle hook wouldn't work as a stinger as the point is turned back in on itself toward the shank (hence the name circle hook). They are used quite often when using natural bait because they almost completely eliminate gut hooked fish. If the fish swallows the bait, the hook cannot catch on anything internal. The gap of the hook catches on the side of the mouth on the way out and rotates the point into place by tension. You don't jerk to set the hook, just apply tension and the fish hooks itself. I used them all the time when fishing with bait and cannot think of a single time the fish was hooked anywhere but in the side of the mouth. You missed a lot of fish with them though, but if you were practicing catch and release they were priceless. When my dad started doing catch and release I told him about circle hooks. He started using them and said "if you are fishing for fun, use a circle hook. If you are fishing for food use a treble hook." All that said, I have a hard time seeing how they could be effective as they are advertising for this system. The best way to hook a fish using a circle hook is the steady application of force against the fish. The worst way was to quickly set the hook. They would not rotate properly and just come out of the fish's mouth. But as a foul hooking device, they would be useless. Far far less effective than say that 2nd or 3rd fly in a 3 nymph system.

The media is not a thing. It has no collective will, opinion, or objective. It is a collection of people working for a bunch of different companies providing what they think the people want. As long as people clamor for this type of story, the media will supply it. But blaming the media is like blaming "them", ie, pointless.

Happening in Canada too! Check this link: http://flyfishcalgary.com/board/index.php?...c=7891&st=0

This certainly was not the sentiment I was looking for. I have absolutely no problem at all with Bass Pro. It's a fine store and certainly has it's place. It's just not really for me anymore. But I still hope they succeed. This is not meant to be a bash Bass Pro thread. It was meant to celebrate the small shop, not blast the big one.

After nearly 40 yrs of fishing in saltwater using standard equipment, I shudder to think how much gear I bought. The vast majority was bought at large sporting good shops. I can't think of any bad experiences, and had many fine conversations I'm sure. But I cannot remember a single personal relationship that I established. I started fly fishing about 3 yrs ago. In that time, I've gotten to know the owners and/or staff at Hanson's (who have become family friends), Fishtales, Country Pleasures, Southbow (even though they've only been open a short time. Really nice shop and nice guys-I kinda feel like I'm cheating on my girlfriend(s) when I go there!). This really hit home to me today when I was bringing a spare spool I bought for my Scierra from Gord (Speyghillie) in Scotland to Southbow (took troutlover to check out the new store and get some hot flies) to get some Loop line I bought from Brian at Whistler fly shop in BC transferred onto it. So in 40 yrs, I couldn't tell you the name of a single person I've ever shopped from buying standard gear. 3 yrs of fly fishing, I can probably name 15 people in 5 fly shops, including out of the province and one in a land they have a funny accent. I think that is partly because the small fly shop atmosphere encourages personal relationships. It could be that fly fishing lends itself to a more personal approach because of the myriad of ways it can be done. Whatever the case, it is a major part of the appeal of the activity for me. I've never been a shop rat before and I find myself becoming one now. If I could only find a way to hide my wallet. BassPro is having their grand opening tomorrow. It'll probably be very cool. I'd like to meet April Vokey. I'm probably not going and if I did, I'm in no danger of buying anything significant there. Nor are a very good percentage of fly fishermen in this city, I bet. We will continue to support our local shops. Sort of like drug addicts, we can't seem to get enough.

Having met and fished with the good rev several times myself, I had no choice but to type B.

Happy birthday Clive!

Those things real?

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.

I would recommend taking Hanson's Fly Fishing Boot Camp. Cost is $200, you get one days instruction on basic ff stuff (how everything works, knots, etc) casting instruction, and a bit of time on the water practicing what you've learned. Oh, and you get to keep the rod and reel. 9 ft 6 wt with a very serviceable reel. I still use my son's rig from this boot camp from time to time. Catch as many fish with it as anything else. If you want better gear (which IMHO you won't need for awhile), you can get $200 of in store credit instead.

No, brownstone started it. I spent 3 yrs on a submarine. I have a highly sensitive gaydar (to avoid it you have to be able to recognize it). It reacted to the gayness of the sandwich pick and I had to comment on it.

Jay, Great video as always. Can't wait for summer! Oh, and a certain area is fishing very well right now. Quick raccoon story: We owned one when I was 15. We also owned a marina at the time (marina might be a bit of a stretch. Bait camp/boat launch more accurate) in Texas. One time Rascal jumped down from a table near the camp, ran to the pier, jumped in a boat, pulled a lunchbox (old fashioned kind with latches) from under the bow, opened it (they are just amazing creatures, can get into anything), pulled out a package of cinnamon buns, ripped in and started eating. This whole time I am trying to catch him and stop him but the guy said "let him have the cinnamon buns. That's the damndest thing I've ever seen."

Dr. Mr. Erraticus, I would like to kindly ask you to not be more thoughtful and lyrical than I when replying to my posts. I would greatly appreciate. Nice read, thanks!

We did! Sausage and egg mcmuffin for me. But the kids got 2 each. Didn't slow them down. Brent wisely abstained.

I went skiing with my 16 yr old son and his friend along with bcube yesterday. Heard Castle had been getting lots of powder and Ben had a day off from school, so it seemed a perfect opportunity. We got to the top of the hill to be greeted with some fresh pow and very, very flat light. We hit Drifter and started down. Boot top and deeper powder, but crappy underneath. Combine that with the total inability to see anything and a 49 yr old trying to keep up with 2 16 yr olds and a early 20 something and you get one exhausted ass old man by the time we got to the bottom (and I think if you ask Brent he would say keeping up to the 16 yr olds was no simple task for him either). To add insult to injury, it seems as I've gotten older I've become more susceptible to motion sickness (maybe I'll tell a couple of seasickness stories one day. My friends back home call me the human chum line). Flat light combined with bumpy skiing brings on a feeling very similar to seasickness. It started to hit me on the lift up for the second run. I thought a couple of runs on groomers would cure me, but it turned out that I was too dizzy and nauseated to continue. In fact, it took me around 1/2 an hour to make my way down on the groomers from the top of the 1st chair. I was one sick puppy. I did manage to fight off the urge to puke, but probably should have just went with it. By the time I got back to the lodge I was drenched in sweat. Took 4 hrs to recover and ski a bit in the afternoon(following my nap from 12 to 1). I had never felt so old. As I sat in the lodge by myself, I actually started to wonder if my best years truly were behind me. I mean I can't ski flat light without getting sick for *&^% sake. All these feelings had dissipated as I slid my hand under my first trout this morning (you were wondering what this had to do with fishing weren't you?) All feelings of "the best in behind me" had faded away to be replaced with feelings of absolute contentment with my place in life. I've started to wonder if fishing is my mid-life crisis obsession? But I don't think so as I've never really been in crisis. Life for me has always been pretty damn good. I've fished my whole life. I lived for it when I was a kid. I did other things, played lots of sports and loved to play golf, but fishing was #1 with a bullet. But through my late teens and into my 20s (girls, golf, various team sports, job) and 30s (family, golf, various team sports, job) I didn't fish much. As I aged and my skill level in team sports dipped below a level I could accept, fishing started to take a more prominent role. As my oldest son became interested in fishing (and I picked up a fly rod one day) fishing supplanted golf as my favorite past-time. But fly rods and kis aside, I think for me this would have happened anyway (and I doubt I am unique in this). I believe this is because I came to realize I am better fisherman now than I was at any point in my life in the past. My waning physical skills have not detracted one drop from the skills necessary to drag those poor defenseless creatures from the depths. Never again will I dive to catch a baseball or football. I hit a 350 yd, non wind aided drive just after a thunderstorm when I was 24 (1984-Persimmon driver, balata ball, very little roll). Pretty sure I will never duplicate that feat. I can't possibly hang with the young flat bellies on the ski hill. I may one day puke because I can't see the freakin' moguls. But I can still hike down a hill (though the trip back up gets slower) slip quietly into the water, and feel the thrill of my line tightening and laugh out loud when a trout makes a wild jump. And I have no doubt I'll be better at 60, or 70, and if I am completely blessed 80 than I am now. And that is a comforting thought.

Two sons, 16 and 13, and a 12 yr old daughter. Daughter has pierced ears. That is it. Don't think I would have an issue if my sons wanted pierced ear, and I guess a nose one for the daughter when the time comes---but that is that. I DEFINE uncool parent. One of the most often repeated lines around my house is: "Why do you even bother telling me what your friends parents let them do?" So far, none of this has been an issue. I'm quite sure it will and I'm quite sure I'll be unpopular around the house when it does.

One can always hope.

Brownstone, Are you by any chance gay? The fruit on a sandwich gave it away. The others are just confirmation.