Harps

No decent answers?

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!

I use a Sage 2560, the old version of the 4500 series. I absolutely love it (only on freshwater though). Can't comment on salt applications but I've never had a problem with line management, drag, or anything going wrong mechanically. I'm not easy on gear, either...

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??

If you get a Ross Vexis here is a coupon for a free SA line to go with it (Mastery Saltwater) http://dreammail.edgesuite.net/3M/COB/SA/R...410738-18222855

8wt rod comparison: http://www.yellowstoneangler.com/8.weight.....comparison.asp I don't like TFO. Seen lots break, can be off what the length is advertised, but they are cheap... I have a Sage Launch (3wt cheaper than flights)... tough beaverdam rod that has taken alot of abuse. I have a friend who loves his Flight he got last winter... loves it much more than his similar TFO (7wts). But I would cast them and choose the one that feels best for you.

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.

Signed and passed around!!

Rubber... The old Cloudveil boots were as good as felts. The newer Simms... getting there. Plus rubber is much much better in the winter, and will be allowed in those states where felt is banned (sale banned in some eastern states, banned in Alaska, banned in New Zealand areas, etc). The science is very conclusive on this... I recently stopped to talk to a guide and 3 Americans on a local river. The river is well known for having Didymo (native in the headwaters, but bad below the dams). The guide should have known. These 3 guys were wearing felts and were headed back to the American NE to fish for the weekend there. All three of them would have flown with wet and contaminated gear and immediately fished in their home rivers (Upstate NY). At least non-felt soled boots would have been more dry, but what really is lacking is the knowledge, caring, and commitment to do something. Pretty much all of the other gear would have dried. The research around felt is sound, and it is readily available. http://www.stopans.org/Science_of_felt.php This is a realy good article with links to research like this: rubber....

I'd like to put my name on the petition. Have you thought about an online one?

New letter in the Lethbridge Herald http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/letters-to...ing-121410.html And, something I learned last week... there was not one fisheries biologist's (SRD-F&W, DFO, or otherwise) input into the C5 management plan!?! A plan that allows cutting in watershed that contain threatened bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. C5 plan: http://www.srd.alberta.ca/ManagingPrograms...mentUnitC5.aspx And Taco, no I didn't go to any of the rallies. About the burns... I don't like them, but they are pushing hard saying that the burns are protecting infrastructure and creating wildlife habitat. I think the access roads cause the most damage and the burns are a way of justifying budgets... strictly a personal opinion.

Pentax P&S Camera's (Waterproof ones) have an excellent macro function! These are quaility reduced older pictures from my web album: W10 W60 What you don't get is the high quality bokeh (background blur) that you would get with a dedicated macro lens on a DSLR body (preferably a longer lens). You also have to be really close to your subject! To get into that type of picture you need a decent SLR, a good long (over 100mm) lens, and should have a tripod. This will easily run you into the $1000s and you won't likely have it for as many oportunities as you would a P&S in your pocket. These are 15 yr old shots with my SLR... sorry they are bad scans: You should be able to get a good Pentax W60 online for a good price! BTW if anybody finds a pentax 200mm Macro in the Allison Creek area, please return it to me... It's been missing for a few years.

That looks like a very nice pack! I should have gone that route instead of a dedicated flyfishing pack! I think the dryearth camo and Unicam would bland very well into those banks above the big browns in southern Alberta.

I think sparkle can imitate that air bubble trapped by an insects 'hairs'. Sparkle and flash can also give the illusion of movement. There is a place for it. Tie flies with and without it... if the ones without aren't working, try the ones with. Too much flash can scare fish, but it can also cause an aggressive strike.

Thanks for your comments!! Mine didn't show up, I hope we're not to late. I just found out about it this morning, and even though I've never fished steelhead on Van Is, I would love for there to be some populations left for me to try (selfish reason).

Your tires connect your car to the road... They are the critical peice of equipment while driving, especially in the winter. No comparison between all season and winter rated tires. BTW 4x4 with out ice rated tires, just means that you have 4 tires that can screw you over. 4x4 has nothing to do with driving on icy roads. Yes, you can get out of snow, but like Ryan pointed out you need tires that stay soft in colder temps and tires that move water out from under you tires fast! It is the thin layer of water on the ice that causes slippery conditions and winter rated, and especially ice rated tires deal with that. Winter tires should be mandatory. If you have the time take a winter driving course with Allen Berg in Calgary. I recommend this course to everybody! Absolutely amazing course, lots of fun and a great experience!!! Learn how to drive your own car on an ice track!

"Steelhead can't write letters but you can." Sometimes rivers need all the anglers they can take. I got this in an email from the West Coast today.Please take some time to look at it and express your displeasure to the Gov't.

I have started using the William Joseph Current chest pack, and now really like it! (The Video is a good review of it) I went through vest, lanyard, satchel, back to vest, to just pockets, back to vest, to a really small chest pack, and now to the Mag series Current. (With a Simms Daypack sometimes) There is a chestpack review on Sexyloops that has some of the good and bad about WJ chest packs. I'm normally slow, and I like just being able to have the chest pack to throw on, or over a shoulder. Plus no zippers or snaps! And... Wholesale had it cheaper last year than any online sources I found!!!