Harps

It had to start somewhere...

Seed. Sod is for the generation of instant gratification. Sod farms (industrial factory farms) rape the landscape, taking water from rivers and topsoil from the land. Better yet, go with a more drought tolerant ground cover... clover, moss, even thyme.

I prefer the RFU Method... http://www.sexyloops.com/picofday/revoluti...olution23.shtml Catch a whole bunch of materials in the thread wraps when finishing the head.

Depending on how and where you fish longer can be better than shorter. Longer rods are better for reaching out over the water and dapping the fly. Also better if you are crawling through a meadow to cast streamside. Personally I've really liked my entry level Sage Launch... Great colour (blending in is key with tricky small stream fish), great medium action (the progressive flex is a perfect fit with how I cast), and perfect length for the type of streams I fish with it (Yes Stauffer, but more the thick beaverdam stuff in the foothills). Its a 3wt and I went up to a 8'6" because I like the extra length to reach out above the stream. If there's no room to cast a 9', there's probably no room to cast a 7'. If I was to redo it, I'd stick with Sage or pony up for one of Don's Bamboo rods!! Then again there is great fiberglass out there that looks very interesting! In regards to weight, 3 is good. Less just limits your ability to throw on a hopper and cast through the wind on that perfect beaver pond, plus, really with most small stream fish, the fun isn't in the fight, it's in getting to the fish and tricking it. Less than 3 and you are just buying because of an advert. I've used 4-6wts on small streams with tiny fish and had a blast too.

The FTR will be closed from 532 down to the Livingstone Falls as they are fixing a culvert and not building a temp bridge. You could drive up from the south if the snow isn't bad. I was suppoesed to be up that way last week, but I heard the road wasn't great. Was going to check today, but now it's put off to Thursday (I hate meetings). I'm not sure about the conditions up 532 from 22?

Robert, You mistake this gov’t as on that cares about the fish. There will be no increased enforcement unless the people of Alberta demonstrate that they care about the fishery. A directed campaign in that regard will get that point across. Fishing should not be for the elite, but it should be sustainable so that our none elite kids can fish in the future. And if people don’t care about the regs and just want to catch fish then they can pay more to support the resource that they are likely abusing… and stick to those put and take lakes. The few waters in Alberta CAN NOT support that type of attitude anymore, especially with the massive increase in population (and no reflectant change in regulations). Troutsteaks, As to the brookies, most populations in our foothill streams are stunted from overcrowding. Not enough people keep and kill and too many miss guided people push for killing their predators (found 3 ospreys shot last year on one brookie stream that could have used them plus I’m tired of al the BS talk about otters). There needs to be a liberal limit imposed, especially on eastslope streams where their fecundity is impacting the native cutthroat and bull trout populations (yes brookies hybridize with bulls and weaken the population). The bull trout were decimated by angling, but what nearly “extinguished them” was the inability of them to rebound due to the destruction of their habitats by logging, culverts, dams, and agriculture. And the fact that you find Smitty’s comments “brash” confuses the heck out of me. I though it was well written and respectful, despite being the opposite opinion of yours. As to Non-natives being wiped out… they won’t be. Ever. But there is no reason to let the course of extinction carry on. Westslope cutthroat trout are at risk of becoming extinct in their native range in Alberta. If people want to catch and keep fish, why not get 2 birds with one stone… keep and eat brookies and save cutties from the over populating specks. Rainbows and browns won’t be targeted as they are a fishery being protected. Clive, you know that no Eco hippy biologists will ever take the province down the route of getting rid of fishing. Brookies can handle the fishing pressure, and it serves 2 purposes. In cases where rainbows and cutties exist, the genetics are mixed and you can’t get the cream outa the coffee as they say. There will be no mass killings. And PGK, a letter is not nearly enough… but it is a start to get folks thinking. I hope mtbrk can continue in the direction he is going!

People here understand that stocked fish are closer to "domestic pure breeds" than wild fish. Right? A pure fish in this instance is a fish that has evolved in a cerain situation for thousands of generations. No human selected traits, just traits that have allowed it to survive. Stocked fish haven't undergone that selection (most of the time). In Danhunts instance, the purebred represents the wild selected fish, with traits allowing it to survive being passed on and other traits and mutations failing.

No takers, of course… how about I start a letter? Contact for Minister of Tourism, Cindy Ady http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p...&rnumber=22 Contact for Minister of SRD, Mel Knight http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p...&rnumber=56 How many of you will actually read the letter, edit it to your liking and send it to some ministers and local MLAs? Or… I hear there is a federal election on right now? You could always ask you local potential MPs what their parties stance is on Alberta Fisheries. 3000 members on the site...

I think PGK was just offering "off the hip" suggestions that there are things that 'we' as a fishing community and flyfishing group could be pushing. They were just examples. I have 10 quick suggestions: 1. I think we need an east slopes stamp to fish the east slopes and it should cost ~$20 a year and an identification test should be required. 2. Licence fees should go up (by at least $10-$20), but a "Conservation licence" could be implemented if you want to fish cheaper and don't want to use the very liberal keep limits in Alberta's dated management scheme (C&R on flowing trout waters and special reg lakes (wall, pike and trout), half the limit on all Lakes and warmer waters) 3. Guides should be licenced- After we know whos guiding who and where, the gov't could consider limiting rod days. This doesn't make water more "exclusive", but it does give locals a chance to fish there own home waters. Regulations on the Beaverhead in Montana are a perfect example. 4. Funding for special stamps should go to the area they are funding. 5. Licence fee systems need to be transparent. 6. Non-resident fees should increase, but they should remain low enough to still allow folks to come. 7. Non-resident Kids should not be able to fish unless they are with an adult with a licence. 8. Seniors should have to get a licence (cheap, but we need to have the info about how many people fish in Alberta). 9. We need to diversify angling options (more delayed harvest lakes, more gear specific stretches of stream (no bait, not fly only), more C&R sections (to allow fish to get technically difficult to catch). 10. The gov't needs to dump more money in improving access and improving amenities (paid campsites, outhouses, garbage cans). This will improve the overall experience and the fishery (look at some of the great access and gov't management in Montana on the Missouri. There are ~140 folks on the board with more than 200 posts each. There are over 3000 people registered as members of this site. That is a substantially sized group that could have a decent voice in the ears of the tourism and srd ministers. Now who will step up to draft a letter with some suggestions that board members can send (and edit to personalize) to their local MP, MLA, and the SRD and Tourism minister? We are a destination for anglers from around the world- Let's start acting like it.

I'm very sorry for your loss, Lynn. Heartfelt sympathies

Hedgehogs have a dubbed body with 2 or 3 hair wings and a spun and clipped head. Goddards have a fully spun and clipped body with a hackle thorax.

It is a great symposium! Let me know if you guys are interested in the next one... it will be fall 2013 in W. Yellowstone again (excellent fishing!!). Bob Jacklin has taugh an afternoon of casting at the begining of the workshop and many of us manage to hit the rivers throughout the week. I've helped on the last 2 with the Canadian side and 2013 I'm co-chairing a committee. http://www.wildtroutsymposium.com/ Short drive from S. Alberta and a cheap and Great time!

No

The native cutthroat trout in Alberta are pure Westslope Cutthroat trout (WSC). The population of WSC in Alberta is distinct from the population of WSC in BC, but they are the same subspecies. They are separate from Yellowstone Cutts found on the Eastslopes in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. YCT were stocked in some places in Alberta as were non-native WSC (don't know where they came from and may have been stocked in fishless watersheds). There are still pure populations of WSC, there are still near-pure populations (>95% WSC), and there are hybrid pops (mixed YSC and RNTR) in Alberta.

They're all the rage in Beaver Mines...

Mine is in a small drybag in my pack while wading. But I will carry it around my neck, tucked into my waders on occasion (get insurance on it if you are on the water). Most of my DSLR shots are "scenic" and of other people. No need to have it out in a hurry. Fish shots are quick with a waterproof P&S that I keep in a pocket... better for the fish and safer for my gear.

Keep the fly in the vise... Then put it in something like this (I used one made out of a milk jug- cut a hole in one side for the camera, put the vise through the mouth... shine light on it). http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-t...oto-studio.html I'd use foam sheet of different colours as back grounds... lighter flies on darker backgrounds, etc. And it IS an excellent fly!

Fished a couple of weeks ago with a guy with boa laces... took some time in front of a campfire before they would click to loosen. Maybe fishing below -15 is just stupid?

How do you guys deal with the Boa lace system in freezing temperatures??

http://www.crowsnestpasspromoter.com/Artic....aspx?e=2920197 http://www.crowsnestpasspromoter.com/Artic....aspx?e=2920292 Final word on Bridge Creek?? Company broke, but not bankrupt; former Prez and vice, bankrupt, but I'm sure not broke...

I think the Vermont ban comes into effect this spring, Alaska and Maryland later this year, and Missouri is on the books to ban them too. NY is considering banning felt in watersource areas (Catskills) to protect NYC's watersupply. I've heard talk about the Pacific NW, but its just rumors as far as I know. They also are considering bans in some Scandinavian countries. They've been banned in NZ for a few years. Read the whole article if you have the time... its good. http://www.stopans.org/Science_of_felt.php

http://www.energy.alberta.ca/minerals/704.asp A deposit of deleterious material (sediment) is illegal under the Fisheries Act.

Patagonia and Simms have been working on non-porus materials to reduce invasive transport. Mud should always be removed when travelling between watersheds and water should never be transfered (bilge, etc). Equipment should also be cleaned and dried. Eliminating felt is eliminating the majority of transport media. It is a good and strong step that goes a long ways. The issues is extremely threatening to watersheds in Montans where an angler can fish on the Bow and be fishing the Missouri or Madison the next day (or even the same day). While one or two anglers might not cause a successful introduction, the favourable fishing in Alberta will draw more and more to the north (Dave Brown Outfitters offers a Montana/Alberta guided trip where they fish the Missouri and the Bow. This will also protect our waters from invasives coming from the south.

The plan is to ban the use of felt boots in Montana by 2012. Not passed into leg yet, but I don't doubt that it will be soon. If you fish Montana and don't want to buy a another new pair of boots between now and then, you might want to only consider rubber (our Korkers if you like them- I don't). Boots recently discussed here.... http://flyfishcalgary.com/board/index.php?showtopic=14184

I have a Diane Michelin print in my living room. Also have some of Sharon Culp trout sketches (from Glenbow) up on the wall, as well as a cool print from Alex Kirkby. My office is wall to wall fish pictures, prints, and posters with some maps thrown in... a bit of a disaster really. Besides those I have Madison On-The-Fly posters up and a bunch of other trout prints in the "man areas" of the house. I had a chance to buy a couple of cool DeYoung prints when he was less known, but now that they are everywhere, I doubt I would put one up.