wtforward

I agree with Mr. C Have the SnowBee cassette system for Spey. Now carry more than one line sytem because of no hassle quick change. Eye candy it isn't and yeah it is a little on the heavey side but the drag sytem is really great. The flexibility of the quick line change more than offsets the perceived weight issue. Don't let the price scare you off it's a work horse. I think one of the better bangs for your buck.

For those using air horns and using them once in awhile. Remember to stay away from sounding your presence with 3 in sucession blasts unless your are in distress. Don't want anybody in ear shot getting the wrong idea.

Don The more popular lake(read more fisherman) might have a better chance of staying perch free for a longer time when selecting 'what lakes' although that would not be the only critera. Too bad about the lakes in your neck of the woods. Would be great to try and get Cow back to the good old days but there are other seemingly unsurmountabe problems hindering that happening. Never heard of anyone caught perch stocking over the years but if anyone is ever caught they should get a big time fine and it should be publicly advertised. It would be too much to expect in having one of the 'kill' lake candidates converted and managed as a trophy trout fishery. That would be blasphemous. Considering the cost of chemicals, manpower and downtime I would not hold out much hope for any increase in stillwater trout fishing opportunities in the near foreseeable future.

Greg They kind of look the erogronmic garden tools that once were everywhere. Maybe these will stick but I think I will stay a traditionalist. Would give it a go though if you get your hands on one.

Don't forget to stop in and talk to Andy Sneddon (sp) at Spruce Meadows. He has a booth at the show this month and would be able to answer your questions. Don't know if it is appropriate to post name of his company but check the Western Canadian Flyfishing site and you should be able to figure it out.

I don't know if it applies but you get what you pay for and that includes product knowledge. I don't think eyes glaze over with the same degree of frequency in the smaller independent stores as the big box retailers. Maybe it will level out with the recession.

No question you have to wonder what Harper was thinking but stick your hand in a beehive and your going to get stung. What would you expect the other parties to do...lay down ? Reverse the tables - do you think the Conservative would have acted any different. Not likely. Coalition governments do work although the separtists component may make it interesting. But if any province Alberta included wants to be independent in these times or anytime going forward have at it and lots of luck because your are going to need it. I personally would not have a problem with Dion for five months until either Ignatieff or Rae become the new Liberal leader. Seeing another side of the real Harper and you want to give this guy a majority. Be careful of what you wish for. If you really want to look who really calls the shots look south. I don't know if it matters who is in power. We are not going anywhere until our neighbor to south's economy improves and when that will happen is anyone guess.

A couple of comments. The posting of the individual's making up the working group is a double edge sword in my mine. Nice to know who is involved but you do not know each individual's position on the issue. Don't assume because a person is a guide that they are in favour of all of the current plan. Some of the committee member's ideas may have ended up on the cutting room floor. I know of one guide who withdrew from the committee. There may be others. This plan is not about the fish and has been stated many times elsewhere. It is about the detoriation of the fishing experience taking place in a very compressed time window. By all means as an NRA if you feel strongly about the issue cast your vote even if it is a straw vote. I wonder if something similar was ever considered on the OP or Montana how much weight their ruling body would give out of country NRAs. Last time I checked the fish farming and commercial fisheries are still operating on the West coast and their activity is still having considerable negative impact on the fishery. Maybe that should get top billing. Just don't get your hopes up. This is a BC provincial movie and only BC residents can attend. I am a NRA and still hope that some form of compromise can be worked out.

Brian I think that possibility was put to Ron Stevens (Deputy Premier) by some scribe writing for the Sun awhile back. The answer was basically ' a snow ball's chance in hell'. With no opposition in the legislature they can pretty well do what they want.

Hi Gordon You are right it can become (is) addictive. For me it is not so much the catching of fish as it is such an efficient way to get the line out there. Not to say it replaces SH casting but I look for ever opportunity to try a spey instead. The tackle is another issue and I won't go there but to say I have promised myself that a rod must be sold before acquiring another and I never break a promise to myself....ever...ever.

Another great resource is Barry Mitchell's fishing guide. See what the guide has to say about your inclinations.

You know you have made the 'Bigs' when Bass Pro comes a callin

For those interested just in from another site http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/ske/qws/ Scroll down about a third and download the report if interested. The meat of the report can be gleaned from pages 5 to about 19 apparently. Looks like being a non resident is really going to hurt. Might have considered relocating to BC if the damn economy had not tanked.

I agree with Brian. I have a skagit setup on the Loop Multi and with my limited ability would say it is a great rod to cast. You could not go wrong owning one. If you ever get a chance give the rod a go ..you won't be sorry.

At least you could argue that they know the value of the resource although it may not pan out the why a select group thinks. BC should instead look to Alberta for a blue print in how we manage non resident fishing or fishing in general for that matter.

For those that haven't read: THE DEPT OF DEFENSE BRIEFED THE PRESIDENT THIS MORNING. THEY TOLD BUSH THAT 2 BRAZILLIAN SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN IRAQ. TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE, ALL THE COLOR DRAINED FROM BUSH'S FACE. THEN HE COLLAPSED ONTO HIS DESK, HEAD IN HIS HANDS, VISIBLY SHAKEN, ALMOST IN TEARS. FINALLY HE COMPOSED HIMSELF AND ASKED, "JUST HOW MANY IS A BRAZILLIAN?"

Good for you Gordon....Hope we can afford you after you get certifide. Best of luck!

Not to hijack or wade in but for those who would like a break from tying this winter I encourage you to try a locate a copy of ....here it goes... "How the Rich are Destroying the Earth" by Herve' Kempf. Was orginally only available in French but is now available in English. Google provides lots of hits. Quick read. I have no financial interest whatsoever in the book but it sure can shake or provide some balance into what you may think and no it has not made it to Ohra's must read list yet. Cheers

Hey Greg Not speaking for Max but suggesting 'Certified' is not to the detriment of the other great casters you mentioned. But the certification does suggest a peer review from an 'ability to teach' which is as difficult if not more than the mechanics of spey casting. Not all great golf instructors are scratch golfers but I would bet they have some sort of professional certification. Don't you think it helps to legitimatize the instruction. I think I can show someone something but I don't know if I would hold my self out as a teacher without some kind of meaningful certification behind me....but that is just me. Hope to hear from you on the Spey get together.

And yes Don for the record you are getting old!

FNG I may have something similar going on right know. If you can't make a tight fist without experiencing some discomfort you might have inflamation on a tenon where it attaches to the elbow ( tennis elbow). Like others have said the only cure is rest. Failing that you can get a tensor bandage that straps around your upper arm in the sore area and cinch it down ( not to tight). That will keep the tenon from over working ( ie casting). You can also take Iboprofine 2 - 3 times a day until it subsides...check with your pharmacist. Good luck.

Glenbow Not to pile on..nice bulls by the way but sometimes for me I end up setting myself up by how I communicate. You initially posted .." had some fun today with Dekkard......." and the pics. Then the S**t hit the fan. Tako is definitely out of line how he addressed what he saw based on assumptions. Rule number 1 is don't make assumptions. But being we are all human that is what we do. What I find interesting is that later on based on some negative responses you decide to shed some more light on what was really going on. This spins the whole thing on a dime. I don't know you personally but you seem to be a stand guy and were not trying to set anybody up. What would have been the tone of the thread if you had of disclosed the volunteering with SRD in the first post ? Everybody would still be jealous as hell and that is great. If that wasn't possible thats OK but then there is going to be potential violation of rule number 1. Enough said...Nice that you volunteerd and nice fish. And yes if you are going to diss someone show some respect. Take care.

ATV's....The issue goes on adnauseam. First they need a place to ride and unfortunately that current place is almost everywhere. There is land use protection as Bob Scammell pointed out some time back under The Public Lands Act. But we all know there is no enforcement. You would think with the embarrassing surplus we are soon going to again discover that some of that surplus could be ponyed up for enforcement. Zero tolerance for those few causing the damage should be swift and severe. Read equipment confiscated and big fines period. I thought Morton was going to get a handle on ATV abuse after witnessing the MacLean creek fiasco. You can only hope. Doesn't the Streamwatch Program in the Blackstone area have any jurisdiction for reporting of environmental abuse ? Just for fun ....it should be mandatory that to qualify to own/ride an ATV you should have to pass some fitness test say walking the NorthRam from the 'Big Rock' to the forks and back with a 50# pack in say under 8 hours. Seriously though when you see it happening take a picture, get license, place, date if possible and send it to Morton. Pressure is the only way to get some changes. Don't give up. Complacency never won a battle. Anyone know of a Alberta board were a person could post links to say phot bucket which would catalog peoples experiences when they are out an about. I am sure it has already been tried but might be worth revisiting. Maybe we need a category on this site ? Legal issues ? We post our fishing outings c/w pictures why not the 'other side' on a 'Trash Alberta' site?

I like what he has anchored the flies in.

Just a question(s) Why would guides not want to be licensed ? What would be wrong with prominently displaying the registration number somewhere on the boat/cataraft etc so they can be identified thru some central register or Guide association. If guides earn a pittance how come there is so many ? Does anyone believe that another 25-50 guides working the river would not affect the quality of the fishing experience for others. See 'tradgety of the commons'. If I was a guide I would want you to know that I am licensed and who I am. If I have encroached on your fishing or offended you on the river I want to know and be held accountable otherwise why are we out there. I want to protect my business and reputation. Ebay feedback is great for that as an example. Lynn..no offense but finding someplace else to fish whether on the river or other places took a pretty good hit when the internet came into being. Not trying to rile anyone but the Bow specifically has not changed how it is managed since the population of Calagry was 400,000 + people if ever... and it is time. Maybe the real solution is a massive fish kill on the Bow. That would sort things out real quick.