duanec

an '01 Pathfinder, 225k kms. bought 2 yrs old. the usual complaints/quirks with an import 4x4 w/ higher kms, and yes i wish it was less thirsty but don't think i'd fare much better or worse with something else that meets my needs - towing, camping, harsher roads, putting the odd dead critter in it, etc. was our primary ride until the wife upgraded this spring [and boy did she ever upgrade]. it does a good job, rides better than some, gets me in/out of trouble occasionally, never stranded me. when it dies i'll be shopping around, maybe consider a pick-up.

good one! seriously... can help in some way if needed. cheers

i didn't vote, as i agree fair or not, it is what it is now, and yes there will be a time in the near future when it won't matter. i enjoy reading the varied & multiple points of view in this thread...that's the fun...perhaps it's too simple-minded on my part to assume that no hard feelings should be created as a result of healthy debate. but in that spirit, a couple of comments i'll put out there: -these particular regulations came into effect with no actual supporting data in regards to the crowds, the fishery or the economics. please correct me if i am wrong. to my knowledge there has been no follow up study since to determine the impact on either the crowds, the fishery or the economics [positive or negative], and without a clear picture of the 'before' it would not be very meaningful for comparison anyways. please correct me if i am wrong. surprising that a change like this got made without some real level of study? could that happen here? yikes... -i fished before and after in the area. i have had days of 'complete solitude' both before and after. i have had days of 'holy crap it's busy today' both before and after. both on shore and on a boat. i will comment it seems to have changed the who is fishing and where/how to some degree, but that's my opinion & personal experience. -although i don't get 300 days on the water a year, i have fished quite a bit in the last 15 years in ab & bc. i have been checked by a co 3 times in alberta and once in bc. never in the elk valley have i even seen a co. that's just another data point. -the "us & them" is an attitude that exists outside of this issue and the angling community, but this issue obviously galvinates & polarizes that. it existed before and still exists, sorry that's reality. no it's not everyone and there are good peeps everywhere & there are rednecks everywhere. not everyone is happy to see me there because of where i live [too bad], or give a crap about my $$. some do and are honest, friendly and helpful, so that's where i try to go. -i would happily pay X times what a resident pays for the privilidge to fish those classified waters without the hassle of buying a daily tag. it's the hassle factor. not even the online system helped that this year, in fact i learned it is actually a detriment to use that. and the shops don't like it either. i just wish for some level of equity, as pointed out you can come from away and fish here pretty reasonably [for better or worse]. -so who manages a better fishery - alberta or bc? to be fair, there are very serious issues on both sides of the border, we can all cite numerous examples. i agree alberta could and should be doing MUCH more with our population and economic base. i expect in my lifetime there will be much more substantial policy changes on the bow & other rivers & lakes i frequent. after all, home is where i probably should focus my time & energy, unfortunately i thought 'home' meant anywhere i regularly fish and therefore should be involved & care about the conservation, quality and economics involved, but that's not the case there.

here is a direct quote from a member of the St Mary's Anglers made to someone in a flyshop i was in back when it came into effect: "if i never see another goddamn alberta licence plate parked along that highway it will be too soon" i have a place in the area that's been on the market since this came down. on my 5-8 annual trips there in the summer off-ski season [when MANY local businesses are scratching dust] with my family & friends over the years we made a point of buying & supporting local. yes, i will still go...maybe once a year [not this year]. and yes we will continue to ski there once or twice a year. and yes for every oilberta ass like myself who does not pump in the $$ support, someone else fills my shoes...maybe. it makes me very sad as i deeply love that whole area, it's closer in size and the mix of people and demographics and geography to where i grew up, and felt it to be a really good place to make second home for the fam. my loss, boohoo...whatever. it's still stuns me what a small but very vocal group got implemented so quickly in the name of conservation. fundamentally i have no issues paying some level of premuim as a non-resident - i get that, but the fact i can't buck up for a once for a year license, and the extra hassle that gets thrown in on top [which is by the way also intentional], it makes you wonder if it's worth that 20 for a day when you're standing at the counter. :derby racer: what this whole issue does do is make me wish there was a formal organization here, with the same level of lobbying power that they have [and i suspect if the $$ were accounted the real value of our resources is immeasurably superior], as i live for the day that vocal group can no longer afford to fish [or guide and earn a living] on any waters on this side of the divide.

incredible, thanks for sharing!

that's an awesome brown...good work and great pix! i know a few people who have done very well w/Terry.

incredible pictures and some very very nice fish!

broke my sage this year as well. took it into fish tales and they fired it off for me [as they send them stuff every week]. new tip was back in @5 weeks, cost something like $45 for shipping, but you pay that anyways if you go it alone.

and it is a mighty entertaining read for sure, just sad to see it end?

should not have watched that before breakfast...

very nice shots!

we did really well in one 400 yd section, very good comedy for an hour at least.

then the browns & rainbows were very into the SJW & the Zug btwn 22x & Policeman's

then the double header in the rapids above 22x, but we only managed to net the rocky, right at the launch. the group taking out at the launch indicated they did not have a very good day, i've been there...

Tim was pleased. dude on shore checked out the fly we used [golden stone].

#2 was a nice cutbow, first we've seen in a while

the first fish we landed was a decent brown... and we had to measure it for posterity, good thing we got this pic as butterfingers took over just after.

i don't disagree with that at all. but i have been on some salmon pools that made the Deerfoot-like traffic [good analogy] look like a garden party. there i witnessed a zero tolerance policy for those that did not follow the 'etiquette rules' [newbies like my first time were treated a little more gently, but after being educated you could expect to virtually banished], and people still caught fish under those heavy traffic conditions. i have run into issues with the pulling out right in front of you, or crossing the river to work a run you are approaching before you get there, as well as the guys drifting into you while you are wading. again, i seem to hope that it wasn't intentional, but clearly there are people that just don't give a damn [see also poachers and the garbage spreaders]. i don't know if i want to start throwing rocks, nor be the recipient of any, i have such poor aim...

probably a topic that's been covered before here...but interesting posts thru the Bow River Shuttles newsletters this week that is something i have observed myself develop over the years, but in the last few years i believe it's gotten worse... Quoting Rod H from the UK: Guides, whom I know are trying to make a living and do pay to provide their services, should really take a good long look at themselves. On Wednesday 30th July along with my buddy we floated from Policeman's Flats to McKinnon during the first four miles of the river out of Policeman's there were eight guided parties parked in hot spots, no one else could get in to fish these area's, this does not lend to harmony on the river. Further on down the river just past the Highwood confluence there were another two parties parked in two sweet hot-spots, they had been there sometime and remained for a further hour in those spots, again this does not lend to harmony on the river. i personally have run into similar rude and at times seemingly outright agressive behaviour from a few guides in the last few years, some of whom i recognize and can name. is it just me, or is the hogging of the sweet spots and the pulling out right in front of you or crossing the river to work a run you are approaching before you get there type of thing becoming MUCH more commonplace? now don't get me wrong, i do not intend to paint all guides with a single brush, some of the guides i've seen/used/know are extremely professional and are also advocates against this type of behaviour. and i also know that a number of the "problems" occur with other 'anyone can own a drift/pontoon/raft-types' like myself. this is of course not a problem specific to the Bow, but i know that in some quarters where local guides have formed an actual association of sorts [and got regulations in place as far as who gets to guide by meeting some requirements and some sort of professional code of conduct or the like] the nature of issues like this improves [but of course there are other problems then ]... i sincerely try to live by the 'do unto others' rule when i'm out there, either on shore or in my drift boat, and i screw up at times and crowd the guy around the corner i didn't see or get too close etc, but i always apologize and make an honest effort to learn from my mistakes, as the next time the roles could be reversed and it could be me having a boat criuse into the run i'm working.... anyone agree? disagree? love to hear your comments, but i'd also like to hear any suggestions on what can/should be done to improve this in the future.

i have owned a pair of Maui Jims for 7 yrs, there we not cheap but they double as my everyday [and i do mean everyday] sunglasses and i tend to take really good care of them. i think that's waht fishtales brought in. amortized over the past 7 yrs they were worth every penny. i love them but want to get a pr. of amber lens ones now as my grey lenses don't do as well in lower light. i checked out some oakley's that were really good and much less $$.

agree totally. my rookie year [actually 2 years] was a complete wash - i snagged one whitefish. i went on a lake trip year 2 with a group of friends of friends who were all well-seasoned, and during that [fishing was very tough] the coin dropped. i compare it to learning to swing a golf club the correct way. basically i watched everyone else one entire day [we were all in boats] and cast just a whatever pattern...i relaxed and focused on casting, what they did and what i did not do, etc. it started coming. it was like after i sorta gave into the frustration and wind knots and snagged trees and lost flies, it started to click. after that at least i could cast a little, i started learning about bugs, did a few guided trips and found some fishing pals and asked a million questions, found a good fly shop that gave good advice... 15 years later i still learn an incredible amount every year. this site is a fantastic resource that i wish i had back then, that's for sure. keep at it my friend, the rewards are tremendous.

my go to shop whenever i need anything. dave & nancy & co. are top notch, i send everyone i know there. fortunately it's also really close to my house.