Harps

An appy lover!?! My sister-in-law rides her's (a Nez Pearce Appy) all through the forestry near Cochrane, but I'm not sure what creeks she encounters. I have yet to convince her to take up a fly rod, but I'm working on her daughter. Good luck

Access limited in Alberta!?!

I have seen a number of RV's that dump their waste water over the banks. I have seen spilled gas from refilling machinery at each site. I have seen rutted up trails in and out of each site that run mud to the creeks when it rains. I have seen litterally tons of garbage left behind. Kids flying down the roads on too big of quads with no helmuts. People tearing up wetlands for the fun of it (destroying long-toed salamander habitat) and wreaking the filtering capabilities of those wetlands. And the sound of generators running all night... I'm sure most people are responsible or ignorant of the damage they do, but that doesn't change tha fact that there are too many people using the area for a playground to not have rules.

Hey Fry, I'd say there is more impact from off-highway vehicles (as I've said before) than you think. Let’s see your letters. Yes logging does some damage to the ecosystem, but it is also one of the main contributors to the replenishing and rehabilitation to it also. Logging has been hit hard with large fines and even larger interest groups watching and making sure that they are learning to do things in a more constructive manner. (There are some logging issues) The O&G industry is working hard to turn their image around to the point where there are putting alot of cash and time into rehabilitation work to help fisheries. (There are some O&G issues) What pisses me off is when quadders wreak the banks at these spots because the trees haven't come all the way up yet, and cause tons of damage that cost taxpayers and the O&G company. Why don't the quadders have to pay?!? Quad owners that ruin the land and rut up our countryside will only learn by heavy fines and court time. There are over 30,000 visitors to the west castle ski hill in the summer, 80,000 skiiers in the winter (2008 numbers, Also .4 million people/nights of camping in Southern Alberta for that summer). There was an extremely high number of atvs counted (in the hundreds of thousands- a Castle crown or AWA count that I can’t find right now). In the Castle area there are over 1200km of trails!?! That’s in an area of only 1000 sq km! How many km of rivers and streams can be impacted by heavy trail use of those trails? With hundreds of thousands of users over a summer, how can anything be fixed? How can anything survive? Where can you go for quiet? Where does the wildlife get pushed to? When does stream side vegetation (filters sediment) get a chance to grow back to protect the trout and slow flood flows? We need regulation and enforcement!! No random camping and regulated trail use! Excerpt from one of my letters (which actually resulted in some action… although not because of my letter> media and MLA’s were involved): But, I guess… as I read on a different forum: “It's just Alberta boys... Take what you can while you can, if ya cant beat em join em.“

You can not keep wild fish (alive in a tank) in Alberta without a permit. Permits are really for research and education only.

Montana shipping address: http://www.montanashipping.com/montana_shipping_003.htm I hate UPS. Same thing happened to me as what happened to Jack. They shipped a camera to me (used+should be no durties). UPS charged a $100 brokerage and handling fee over the 50 to ship it. They charged my wife at the door (although it required only my signature) plus they refused to release it without pay... and there is no UPS locations to pick something up, you have to call after a missed delivery to get a location change and if it doesn't work out in a few tries they send it back. Go with USPS or get it shipped to Montana.

A illegally installed dam on a creek that used to have cutthroats... and natural reproduction in the pond (attached stream) making it a dam on a public fishery... :$*%&: And he is arrogant. ***************** Dryflies links are excellent places to stay. I like Lundbreck. You could also stay in any of the provincial camp sites north or south of the pass (Racehorse, Dutch, Lost, Chinook). They have some services and its quieter than random camping. If you can, also check out the Goat Mountain Get-Away (http://www.members.shaw.ca/goatmtn/) I haven't stayed there in awhiile, but they used to have great prices and in an excellent location. It gets booked fast though!

Hey Lance, There is great advice here! Try holding the fish upside down underwater. Don't squeeze and use slow movements like Max said. Holding it upside downin the water seems to stop it from struggling and gives you a chance to get your camera ready. Once the fish has calmed down under water, you can slowly release it (sometimes) and it will stay there for a little bit of time. I know some guys will leave a fish in the water in a net while they put their camera on a rock and take a picture with the timer. They minimize the time the fish is out of the water and only try it once so minimize handling (if you absoutely need a picture). Takes some practice, but you get a hero shot out of it. I think you're better off attempting an underwater picture and getting the fish swimming away. If the fish is full of energy and you aren't doing anything to hold it, you are doing great! Harps

Completely ignoring most of this thread.... Frypan, you asked where the water goes. There are 2 types of drains on city streets... 1. one that goes to the sewer and evetually to the waste water treatment plant. 2. the other is a storm drain (most common). The water in these may run to a storm water management pond (new areas) or more likely it will go through a pipe straight to the river. A few storm water drains will have sediment traps or hydrocarbon "vortexes" to filter out some pollutants. Soaps well: http://www.lenntech.com/aquatic/detergents.htm and there are issues with the oils and greases from cars and the salts too.

fry, I'm the last to support O&G, but if you read my post... In the South. There are lots of other issues across Alberta and the world, but we're a little focused here. -Left for the Gov't to remove... there's the CO's budget for the next 2 weeks. -Ignored the sign about the sensitive wetland -The creek was re-directed down an atv trail, blowing out a very used fishery for much of last july. Bridges were ignored. Most of these are taken when species of trout have eggs in the gravel. Nothing about a ban, but we need regulations. An angler has to pay for a licence, even if it's just catch and release fishing. Why don't quaders have to pay for this effin' mess?!? The problem is there are no real rules and no enforcement of what we have. If you do go out, remember this: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/201...river-fine.html A video was key in charging a man for driving up the river near Rocky. Bring a video camera and take as much video as you can... flood the ministers office with it on Tuesday.

frypan, I think currently (ignoring decades of industrial use), Recreational users have the largest impact on fisheries in the greenzone south of Kananaskis. Most current industrial (O&G and Log) follow fairly strict regulations when working around water. There are impacts, without a doubt, but I'd hazard a guess and say that folks that are keeping their "limit" every time they go up there harm trout more. And it is OHV trails along roads and old roads now only used by backcountry rec users that contributy tons of sediment that cover redds and smother food sources. It is New OHV trails that are causing creeks to jump their banks and causing rutting in the wetlands and on the rough fescue grass areas. Beleive it or not, dust is an issue as you can see driving along the road. The ditches are covered in fine dirt as is the road side vegetation. With the amount of traffic, I'd bet it is like a little hazy cloud covered ecosystem. Of course, old industry in the area has left big impacts, primarily with poor road construction. Just my opinion (and it only applies to the south).

Carefully (and have flowers ready to explain that it was a joke). Asking nicely doesn't work... If you leave them on the floor they eventually get washed or trashed. Maybe buttoned ones get washed if they are on the floor and unbuttoned, trashed?!?

I like the close up.

Take a picture now, with a time stamp. Go back in 2 weeks take a picture again, go back again. Then send it to various ministers and the media, indicating that public crown land use is not fair due to the inability and unwillingness of SRD to enforce policy/legislation. Doesn't hurt to include locations on amap so the media can go there and indicate number of RV's and when they were seen... licence plates help also.

But Fraser Riverkeepers and the Sunshine Coast Salmonid Enhancement Society are good picks too.... although they keep the money local. TU might bring the money to Alberta. As an aside, I'm glad to see Fly Fusion pick up TU Currents! It's a better fit than the last couple of mags.

Stop scaring the coyotes away... I hear they like rabbits better than little kids.

More damaging to what and who? I think the Pebble Bay stuff is getting alot of press (PB Gold is starting to cause the same reaction as blood diamonds... in theory so far anyways) and I think the proposed drilling in ANWR deserved more press. Prudoe Bay is a dirty $hit hole and the threat of that happening to ANWR makes me cry. The linear disturbance, smog from flaring and trucks, garbage from people, and disruption to wildlife and waterfowl is mind blowing. But I've only seen it through the eyes of a envi consultant... maybe looking at it through an oilman's eyes is different. Sorry, back to the topic... oilspill really sux! Exon Valdez impacts are still present under overturned rocks... same with Wabamun. There is no cleaning it up. The industry is there and won't go away... what to do to prevent it again and how to protect sensitive areas at risk: that should be the focus now. BTW Did you know that bait fishermen cause irreparable harm to the environment in Alberta forests?

Gonna be a great weekend!!

Rick's web site is still up, but very dated... http://goett.sasktelwebsite.net/index.htm

8lbs is good for stillwater, plus it's easier to lug around. Might need more for the wind but I'd try them first before filling them. A bit of chain might be all the extra weight you need.. Are you planning on anchoring in moving water (not really recommended). With the wrong watercraft that is asking for trouble. On the otherhand a chain anchor can be used as a sort-of-drift anchor, but I know some of the guides on the Missouri are discouraging them because they really disturb the bottom plus if you get caught up you could be in trouble.

Not all of us are math celebrating, engineering geeks. Pi day?!?

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010...c-approach.html and... pie is in the fruit food group. Now that this is clarified, I'd like to see NO more talk about cake. You know who I'm talking about. From you're expert and pro, elitist, dry-fly tossing, griz loving, Bow River hating, secret keeping, Lethbridgeonian.

Well said Tightline!!

I didn't know there were masters in AB, but I'm glad to see 2. I think the program is excellent and everybody I know who is a CI or at least taken the instruction has really benefited. I'm still planning on it, I just need to find the dedication to practice. There is a bunch of info on Sexyloops and certified casters from around the world. Bruce Richards, Jason Borger, and many others commonly frequent the site. This type of advice is common: http://www.sexyloops.co.uk/cgi-bin/theboar...608;hl=cci+test Again, it is awesome that you are doing it!! Good luck, Harps **Sorry for the sexyloops plug. I figured it was okay because it is a completely different sort of board then this one, without the same local community and feel.**

Along the river or just landscaping a yard?