Harps

Low water temperatures are better than high water temps, but long handling times in cold air temperatures have been seen as negative... this is from ice fishing data, air temps can be much lower while sitting on the ice than fly fishing in open water. In most reports the biggest problem is long handling time and bait being taken deep. I'm sure putting the fish on ice is bad. Gills and eyes freeze and can cause permenant damage. Plus associated with putting the fish on the ice, is holding it down to remove the hook, picking it up for a picture, plus you still need to hld it in the water to make sure it swims away fine... which is neglected in the cold. Your best bet in the winter is to leave the fish in the water... its easy to remove most hooks that way, anyways.

Hey Troutlover, I've watched the carp spawning in the river in Great Falls... some monsters there, be great on a long rod. Anybody who gets a chance should take you up on the offer and wade flats after the "golden bones".

I had a blast fishing carp on the great lakes and waters in S. Ontario... absolutely awesome! I don't want carp here (very bad for the environment, rooting up vegetation and stuff), but I WOULD fish them if they were. I fish the goldfish in my mother-in-laws pond near Sundre... they take chronomids.

Hey will, ya bistard. Haven't talked to you in a while (I thought it might be you... not to many that know much about where the remnant pops are). and possible climate change (associated with people or not, things are getting drier...) We're on the same page with all of this... you know the angle I have to take off the board, but it's nice when people look at this and come up with their own decisions. I'll see you next Wednesday. Cheers

And you can't angle many of the stocked carp (ie the ones in Lethbridge).

Sal, Pure strain fishing may be at risk, but Aurora trout are also endangered and angled for. Some small streams may be closed (only a few left with pure cutts, and most of these streams are tiny, not fished waters), but the livingstone and upper oldman are too big of fisheries and their populations aren't threatened by angling. Dutch creek has pure cutts... but I'm not sure of the barriers, what's stopping the rainbows (UofL research has shown a possible temperature barrier, very cool stuff)? This is something that needs to come out of the public consultations... We want the fish protected, but we want to Angle them where it won't harm the population... it's all about a scientific based allowable harm assessment. The tiny tribs may be closed, fishing may be C&R, I'd like to see one hook per shaft, 2 hook max, and Habitat is protected... the problem is crossings and roads (and Rainbows). Everybody wins and pure cutts stand a chance where they don't have one now. And of course some anglers start wacking all the non-natives..... Taco, I think the regs have to be general (area wide) because people don't read them and don't care about one trout from the next, as long as there is a trout. I agree, should be Major fines for poaching (of various types) and much more enforcement... there should also be an Eastslope stamp that requires an ID/fisheries knowledge test Before people fish west of Hwy 22. I think everybody should read over the stuff and make their own decisions... but if push comes to shove, I can give up cutt fishing for some time if they are at serious risk. There are lots of rainbows, hybrids, and places where cutts are stocked (Ram system). At the least folks should be looking over this and having some good discussions. Cheers

http://thinkwater.ca/ These 2 posters rock http://thinkwater.ca/images/posters_pdf/THINKWATERnate.pdf and http://thinkwater.ca/images/posters_pdf/TH...TERkristina.pdf What type of fish in the first poster...

Great flies to use, Easy to tie (for fishing). One thing about these... if tying a silk or flosss body, keep it short, that way you prevent the material from sliding off the hook bend, especially when hit by fish). (not a critique of your flies LS, the bodies are pretty short, just a general observation). These flies fish great at the tail of a riffle where caddis would be rising. I love fishing these, and they take up ualot of my box. Cheek out Donald N's site for a great reference of Soft Hackles: http://www.dtnicolson.dial.pipex.com/ Also http://www.flymph.com/ has some great stuff on soft-hackles and flymphs in general. Definately under-appreciated flies! Nice work

Looks like I'll have tape on hand and check the ferrule to see if they're twisting. People over on that speypages have been split one way or the other. I'm nervous about wreaking the finish as much as cracking the rod. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the info guys.

I thought you were up there with Clive chasing the age of dirt... Don't you remember fishing native cutts with bison around??

OMG Those are great!! Number 6 applies to SO MANY people I know...

Taco, I'm what... an 1/8th of your age, I certainly didn't understand that. Of course, i'm a geek too and not cool enough for that speak.

This year is year of the cast. I wanna practice and get my casting (all aspects) up to par. Of course, I'll still spend time on my belly looking for that lunker in small creeks.

There seems to be general disagreement on other sites as to whether ferrules should be taped or not. What do you guys do on the Bow (or where ever)? I'm not sure if I should wory about it with a switch rod (which I haven't picked up from Toolman yet). Any insight you guys have would be much appreciated!! Cheers,

Call the Calgary Fisheries and Oceans Office or the Alberta Environment office. If there is a possible affect to the river, they should know what is going on.

I figured as much... how about a push for a decent lake near the CNP? Island for big cutts? Lees, better access to Phillips? The ultimate would be if the Oldman Reservoir could be managed to support a population of big lake run cutthroats and to have Bull trout restocked into Crowsnest Lake... Fishing would be amazing! Cheers,

Thanks for posting this Clive. 2 good producing lakes per zone is great... It'll be great to have some diversity, especially in spring fishing (when pike lakes are closed and rivers blown).

Thanks Gary...

*A park for the upper Castle would be a good start... no more random camping. Throw in your support http://www.ccwc.ab.ca/ccwcbref/ActionAlert...astleCrown.html (or http://www.ccwc.ab.ca/ccwcbref/ReportsandD...epandDocs.html) and http://issues.albertawilderness.ca/CW/action.htm The proposed Andy Russell Park is long overdue to protect one of the most important natural areas in Alberta. Fishing will still be the same, except you won't have to walk through somebodies loud random campsite to access the river, and once you're on the water you won't be runover by a kid on a bike driving upstream. *Also Alberta NEEDS a guide registration/licence system. It is out of control that anybody from anywhere can accept money and show anybody where to fish in Alberta. Time to protect our fish and our own economy. * And we need Legislation (not just suggestive policy) about development in floodplains. NO MORE! Taxes pay for flood damage repairs and we shouldn't have to. And how 'bout bridges that let streams flow naturally instead of culverts... more money upfront, but better for the fish and less flood and erosion problems. And finally, I think that changes to the snow packs are going to have a serious impact on trout on the eastslopes... of course we always will have our tailwater fisheries, right??

Thanks Bloom, The drag on the evotec is supposed to be good, and I heard the CLW had the same system. Would be nice if it worked... Of course some folks prefer the shiney metal type reels, I just want something that can take a beating and I can't afford to drop my Lamsons anymore.

If the fly-fishers from Calgary could tell the difference between young brookies and bull trout, maybe they'd change the limit...

Not a done deal yet. We have to show that they are more important (socially/culturally) than the economic impact listing them would cause... Could be a fight against forestry and oil and gas exploration. On the otherhand, many of those industry groups will support this and are already considering them protected. Of course I don't think the Alberta gov't will support you killing all the invasive rainbows and brookies... BTW Brookies taste better than cutts

Well folks, Here is where you get your say in protecting the fish that Western Fly Fishing is all about!! This is the fish that separates the Wild West fly fishing rivers from the Tame streams of the cultured East. Cutthroat are the fish of the frontier, the fish of white water, the fish of deep mountain canyons. They are as important to Alberta as grizzly bears, wild roses, and herds of elk. It is socially and culturally important and ingrained in our identity as Albertans, fly-fishers, and lovers of all things wild. Speak up and let the government know that we, as anglers and outdoors-people, care about the existence of this species. There are very few native, real, and pure populations of the fish left. Years of stocking, angling, and human encroachment have put them on the brink. Lets protect what's left of their habitat (upper Oldman and Bow drainages). Oh and hybrid populations (the ones fished for) won't be listed (and protected) as endangered, just the true, pure, unpolluted (genetically) populations. http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/public/showD...t_e.cfm?id=1522 You have until the end of March. Those of you with links to Fly fishing businesses, may want to forward this along and look for their support. Cheers

I'll be looking at the reels at the show... Thanks for the heads up on the foot of the Loop CLW... it's an interesting concept... and I never thought about them getting a bit brittle in the cold. Cheers,

Okay, Okay. We all know Police will Rock. In all honesty, I don't really lake fish, but I'm really looking forward to having this nearby. It'll be good for the opponents to see that kids can fish it from the shore and do great and will enjoy releasing massive fish over and over again. 2009 Spring flyfishing clave at the Police Campground... Cheers,