OneMoreLastCast

Fishing or Work?....Come on, that's too easy. I can't really talk though. Often when I'm fishing, I'm getting paid anyways....It's good to be the boss

Looks like it would be a blast in a pontoon. I bet you could out fish them then with a fly rod.

There'll always be another fishing trip....easy answer for me.

I'd also talk a couple of Grizzlies, a cougar and a donkey into helping me with a great practical joke I have in mind for a trip in September....

Here's an idea for something to do on the river if the weather stays hot and we are responsible enough not to fish Plus, it might make the rafters think twice about floating through your favorite run once the water temps go back down. Click here if the movie does not play.

I would ask the Crows/Ravens to sleep in a little later. I would explain what headlights really are to the Deer, Elk and Moose. I would ask the Hyena's what's so funny? I would ask the Grouse to give me a little warning. I would explain the value of furniture and a good set of speakers to the stupid housecat.

Careful Greg. They might just be trying to trick you into exposing one of your spots. That is a nice picture though.

I'm not sure if Ralphie would. Being an avid Fly Fisherman himself, I can't see him supporting this. Unless he has a stake in the venue of course, which could very well be. Who knows.

The problem I've had for years, (mostly in the fight with WID), is the brutal waste of "Dead" water that piles up in the spring all around the province that eventually becomes breeding grounds for mosquitos and then just evaporates. I actually saw a watering truck drive right passed a number of perfectly suitable "temperary" ponds to back up to the Bow and fill his truck. He then drove off and spread the water in a construction zone to keep dust down. He repeated this at least 20 times a day for weeks, even months. When I inquired and made my suggestion, Their response was that it would be too big a risk to the vehicles pump system. After checking around, I found out that the trucks have filtration systems to strain the water coming in from the river anyways, or the trucks pump system without filtration has openings big enough to suck up and pump out items bigger than a softball, so their response was utter BS. Trenching systems, Pump Trucks, etc. could be utilized to make these temperary water sources useful, but when people aren't willing and the government isn't willing to enforce, nothing will be done about it. We need to look at the Ancient Egyptians for an example of efficient water use. This way our rivers would not get into situations as often where they are at risk like right now. As far as fishermen voluntarily stopping fishing due to high water temps, we know that what people say, and what they do are two different things. Plus, even if every member on this board stopped fishing the waters at risk, it would definitely help, but we all know how small a percentage we are of the total fishermen. Also, it's pretty hard to force someone that earns their living this way to give up their paycheck, so they would be the exceptions allowed in my Regulation if I had my way to push it through.

I wish Sustainable Resources would get involved sometimes like they have for the Livingstone Range with the Forest fire risk. Them or the Fisheries Dept. As we know, only a small percentage of fishermen will actually take the responsibility to not fish a water system that might be hurt by them fishing it.

After reading that Glenbow booked his trip to New Zealand, I started thinking how lucky he is because that would be one of my Dream destinations to go to Fly fish. What are your top 3 fly fishing Dream Destinations and if you could invite anyone on earth, who would you invite? (2 people, dead or alive, pretend you have a time machine). Mine. 1. Chile 2. New Zealand 3. Alaska Both the people I'd invite are dead, but I'd have to say I would most want to fish with my Grandpa again, and Ernest Hemingway. I bet if this question was asked in other parts of the world, a lot of the answers would be the Bow river.

Yes, Furnace Face, Moist and a bunch of others that went on to bigger and better things. We got to party with Furnace Face, Sons of Freedom and Coffin Break for part of the weekend. We were ski bums that thought we were pretty "out there", until meeting these guys. After that, we felt pretty normal and down to earth. I made the mistake of giving them my number and told them to call if they ever came to Calgary. This was on the Sunday and by Tuesday, the phone was ringing. I actually got calls for a couple years after occassionally from them looking for a place to "Crash". Oops. I never did let them stay, I was afraid of what might happen. It was a great weekend though. I was one of the idiots walking around covered from head to toe in mud.

Top to bottom I think. Downstream and above the highway 11 bridge, right through Red Deer is easy pickins' in a few weeks. Just cast out dries and you'll catch as many as you want. Great time to take kids fishing too. Speaking of not having your Fly Rod...The last time I was home, I took my Daughter and Nephew down to pick Saskatoons on the river bank of the Red Deer and while the kids were playing around, I couldn't help sneak up the bank to see if I could see anything. I don't know why I did this to myself, but now I know never to go without the rod. I watched what I thought was a decent size Brown or tow feeding like crazy for a good 10 minutes, just sipping off the surface never really showing itself. I caught a grasshopper and snuck upstream and threw it onto the water and went down to watch. I had the camera ready and by luck, I caught a picture of the aggressive take. I took some pictures of the fish feeding as well, but after I was done watching them feed and the kids wanted to go home, I decided I would risk spooking the one or two fish I had been watching. I snuck up the bank in the long grass and poked my head over the edge to see 6 really big Browns feeding like crazy. The smallest I would estimate at around 25" and the biggest was easily over 30". If the Browns in the Red Deer continue to thrive, it will definitely take some pressure off of the other rivers. I know I will be spending more time in the future on it after seeing those fish. Plus, it's a half an hour away from my house. I now know where they live and plan a return trip. Here are the pictures of them feeding. It's hard to see because they were sipping, but the last one is easy to see the one take the Hopper.

Thought of another that some here might have shared. 3 days of Independant bands at "Indy Fest" held at the Rodeo grounds in High River. Not sure of the exact year, but there was only one. I'm not sure why this didn't come to mind first, but it was my "Woodstock". 3 days of great music, partying and girls walking around topless. What more could a guy in his early 20's ask for? Best part of the weekend was partying back stage, drinking their beer and sitting on the side of the stage for the headline act, The "Sons of Freedom".

Thanks Birchy. I needed that, plus, I feel like doing that right now too as I sit at my desk.

I was at COP for Gowen. What a Strange Animal he was. I got free tickets years ago to a concert that I really didn't want to go to, but in the end I got talked into going. It turned out to be the best show to date I've seen.....Rick Springfield at the Dome. My first concert was "Toronto" in Vancouver when I was 13, and I was awe-struck, so it holds a place inside me. Decided to grow the hair out after the concert and give the Head Banger thing a try for a few years.

You can tell your Mom and even your Grandma about last night's double header.

Very good point Clive. When I said it was not a great post as others stated, I really meant it was not necessarily a great "Thread". Let me explain. I completely agree that it was a really good article and a great read that really made people think. I also agree that the the question asked was very relevant, but the problem I had was some of the responses that stated that people definitely felt guilt concerning Fishing, and that is each individual's right. I just don't believe that doing something that you feel guilty doing is right, or healthy for that matter. As I said, "I don't mean to Offend", which usually means that I know what I am about to write will offend, and of course I read into it a little deeper possibly because it was written with religious overtones. I can't honestly say whether my reaction, and possibly other's reactions would have been different if the article was posted by DoctorEE or PlumberEE, rather than RabbiEE, but I just had a problem with Guilt being the overall reason driving the feelings discussed. I understand that it was the question posed to Eric by others and the article was his response. I was just surprised by how many people replied that they did feel guilty, but still fished and my statement was aimed at any individual that feels guilty, and maybe they should reconsider fishing if they felt this way. Here's a few thoughts I've had since this thread started. 1. When releasing a fish in the lakes in BC, more than once a Loon has scooped in and had that beautiful fish for a meal. Do I feel guilty that I might have caused that fish to die? I feel happy that I just supplied the Loon with a meal. 2. There have been times when I release a fish on a river and know that the fish's chances of survival are slim. Do I feel guilty that the fish will most likely not survive? No, because as we know, nature will take care of it and it will now enter into the circle of life whether it be to feed another animal, fertilize the plant life or what ever Mother Nature has in mind for it now. I look at it as possibly saving another fish, because the Osprey, Loon, Bear, etc. that might have fed on the fish I just released, won't have to kill a healthy fish. 3. Most of us have killed wildlife in our vehicles, whether it be a small bird or a Deer. We are not going to stop driving right. As Clive said, If We don't ask the Question, others will for us....For every question, there is often going to be debates and opposition, and that is how we get answers. By so many showing a vested interest in this topic, if "They" asked this question, it would not go unanswered.

If you're Fly Fishing and look over your shoulder and see someone is watching you while hiding in the bushes behind you....You're okay with it. If you see someone has a longer Rod than you, you're okay with it. If you catch the tip of your rod in the tail gate, it doesn't mean a trip to the hospital. If you are Logged onto a Fly Fishing Forum late at night and your Spouse walks in on you, you don't have to have an alternative webpage on stand by to bring up to hide what you were really looking at....

Yes sir, and try not to say what you "think someone else meant"....

A couple more. First one I like because there is nothing like the feeling of watching a Rainbow pushing 30 inches swim away. The second picture is the same fish from Toolman's Pictures caught at night last week. Plus, it was the first under water fish pic I took with my new camera. I need some practice as you would see if I posted my other attempts. Nice Big Bow river Rainbow Old Pig Nose underwater at night.

You're a class act Eric. In my travels I have had some good healthy debates with the fine people in the Jewish community and I was hoping you wouldn't take any offense to anything I wrote. This will offend some, but I am sure I wouldn't have made the same comments in response if the article/post was made by someone of other faiths because I know they would not have taken any opposition as well as you. Knowing, and hoping you would take it as you did allowed me, and others, to speak their minds. Thank you.

I agree with Rick on the pain issue. Of course fish feel pain, but it is not the same pain and understanding of what is happening compared to what we feel. For example, take a gaff hook comparable in scale to you as a size 8 hook is to an average trout. Stick it in your upper lip and put comparable pressure on it for 2 minutes. Now tell me how long it is before you feel like eating? Many of us have hooked and either released or lost fish, only to catch them again within a couple hours. I don't know how it was done, but a fish biologist once told me that trout do not have feeling in their upper mouth, so if hooked in the upper lip, they potentially don't feel anything. Like I said, I don't know how the study was done or how conclusions were found, but if true, it would explain why a fish goes back to feeding right away. I didn't mean to sound judgemental of RabbiEE's Faith, becuase I in no way meant to. It might be wrong, but I was generalizing on the guilt being used to run a person's conscience whether they have a faith or not. So if I did sound judgemental, I apologize and please don't take it that way. I would have felt similar whether or not the article was written by a Rabbi or not. As far as it being humane to kill fish to eat, I am torn on that one. Personally, I don't know anyone that "Needs" to keep a wild fish in order to eat. If that is the goal, to eat, save your money on Fly Fishing gear and go down to Safeway. Keep and eat fish you catch because you want to, you like the taste of a nice high mountain stream trout, because it is good for the fishery, etc., but I seriously can't buy into someone putting the fish out of its misery as quickly as possible being considered more humane than releasing a fish.

Very well said Pipestone. I agree with most of what he says, and I too found that it was tough to get the words for what I wanted to say correct. The only thing I really want to say is that I think people should do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. I know this is driven by ethics and morals, but that can be taught or passed down by just teaching that it is the right thing to do and not using guilt as a motivator.

I agree that it is indeed a well written article and I was thankful to have something like it to read at work, (being that I just sit here and wait for something good to get posted). It did as you said, got me thinking. I said I don't mean to offend, and I don't. I just see a lot of contradicting points in the original post, and some of the ones that followed. I am not religious at all and would never judge someone for their chosen faith. I just find it a little hypicritical for someone with a faith that obviously believes in God, to say that they feel guilty for doing something like fly fishing. If they truly had strong belief in their faith, I would think that they would not feel any guilt at all when it comes to fishing. I would think they would think along the same lines as God put Cows on earth to feed us, etc., thus it would make more sense to me if they were to say that they don't feel any guilt because God put fish in the Waters to feed us and/or provide us with a reason to enjoy nature, (One of his creations), whether you keep the fish or not. As I said, I am not religious, but have studied it and continue to study for my own reasons, (You may have noticed the ring on my finger). I don't judge anyone for their beliefs or faith, but IMO, if you post an article, well written or not, with religious overtones, you're bound to get people that strongly agree, and/or strongly disagree. Trust me, I could debate this type of thing 'til the cows come home, but won't. (Who am I kidding, I probably will) I didn't mean it to sound like I was jumping all over him by saying I didn't agree that it was a great post. I just disagree pretty strongly on some of the feelings RabbiEE expresses in the article, where at the same time, there were things that I really agreed with as well. This is why I had a bit of a problem with the post itself. It touched on the aspects of fishing that we all love, but threw in the guilt factor that I believe noone should feel when fishing. I am just happy that I can live my life without suffering from these types of feelings, (and yes, you do sense some undertones there).