OneMoreLastCast

lol...This would be funny. It would be like the old "Show me your CJAY" contests. I might start now just for fun. Or you could reverse it and see who could submit a picture of themselves in the most outrageous outfit worn while fishing in a busy public place like Southland Dog walking area.

I like this one. Cutest Butt would be totally unfair in my favor.... Picking up Cougars while wearing waders is another, and Max already has a head start. On a serious note. How about a contest that wouldn't be swayed by experience necessarily. An essay contest from this or last season on a fishing experience, trip, etc. with a number of words limit. Personally, I love hearing fish stories whether they are funny or serious and I'm sure some good ones would get submitted. Sure people might think that some would have an advantage because of natural writing ability, but it wouldn't be about grammar and spelling, it would be about content. ....or just go with the cutest butt and send me the rod and reel right now to save time.

For lakes, you can always try a good old "Carey Special" too. I don't have a picture, but it's not hard to find in a search. I usually just cast and strip it in with short, quick little strips. Another good pattern to try is a Spent Caddis. The fish are cruising around picking off emergers, cripples and spent caddis, so all you have to do is "Lead" a feeding fish by 20 feet or so and let it sit there in the surface film. If the fish are sipping off the surface and you can't get them to take what ever you are trying, throw a bouyant Caddis pattern like a "Goddard" and skate it across the surface to try to entice a strike.

Right on. Firebag is off the same access road to Albian Sands from highway 63. I've never been there, but my cousing is an Engineer for Suncor full time there. Even the Engineers are in camp...Can you imagine being stuck in that camp for over 3 years straight?

Sounds good Doc. I haven't been down on those "Secret" Castle Tribs in awhile. Maybe this summer. Might have to mix in some New Rock with your Slayer and Whitesnake though.

Good point Rick. Not to mention. Unless you are catching Cutthroat or Bull Trout, you are catching stocked fish, or descendants of stocked fish here in Alberta. Although it is a little fun to poke at them a bit, don't ya think.... If I had pictures of myself holding a fish like that one, people could bash me all they want. It's like the old saying goes...."Look at the score board".

I thought some might be interested in seeing some pictures from a couple of the Oil Plants in the Fort McMurray area. These two plants are fairly new, so there aren't many pictures available of them. The plants like Suncor and Syncrude are easy to find pictures online of them. Also, these pictures were taken from inside the plant. Cameras aren't allowed on these sites, so I risked my job to bring these pictures to you...lol. The first pictures are from Albian Sands, it's North of Fort Mac and the second pictures are from Opti/Nexen at Long Lake, which is South of Town. Albian Sands is the Plant that blew up a few years ago, right at the end of the construction. It was before they even started producing product. Opti/Nexen is at about 85% complete and expect to be producing 6 months ago.....Maybe November if they are lucky. The pictures from Opti aren't as good because I was too lazy to climb up to take the pictures, sorry. You would have to put 10 of each of these plants together just to make one Suncor or Syncrude. Those two are Huge and CNRL Horizon is going to be bigger than both. This is where the money is coming from.... Albian Sands Opti/Nexen-Long Lake

It took a little longer than I said, but here is a picture of the fly I mentioned. Works well for steelhead and I've heard it works for Bones and other Salt water fish as well. I didn't have any tied, so I tied this one up using my travel tying kit and some survey tape I found yesterday.

I don't know, the last few I've caught that big put up pretty good fights. Then again, I was using a 5 wt..... Seriously, it couldn't have been in that bad a shape as I see it. It most likely got that big eating some sort of bait fish like shiners, so it would have to chase most of its food. It could also just scavenge off the bottome too I guess. Also, you can see a big spoon hanging out of its mouth in the pictures, so it would have had to be fairly fast to catch up to the spoon I imagine. I'd love to hear the story of the fight just the same. Does anyone else get the impression that those twin's parents were related before they married? You have to give them credit anyways. Apparently, these two consistently get into these Hawgs.

If I was with the guy who just released the "New" world record, I'd wait and then hook it again immediately just to steal his thunder. Then he would only be the "Co-owner" of the World Record.... Then I would "Bonk" it and have a big barbecue to celebrate "My" new Celebrity.

I agree. That big Rainbow from Diefenbaker isn't the prettiest fish, but I wouldn't complain if I caught it. I think I would need a bigger net though...

I was just looking at that. Browns and Brookies. I also noticed that the two other lakes/res.,down by Bullshead, Cavan and Michel got stocked too, and got stocked in 05 and 06. Are they as good as the Bullshead? I've never heard anyone mention them. Maybe Bloom knows and is keeping it a secret....

I just thought I would let people know that the Alberta Stocking Report was updated on June 6th. Here's the link: http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/fishwildlife/fish...shstocking.aspx Might open some options while the rivers are high.

Actually, Pronger told Lowe when he arrived at the start of the season that he would give the Oilers one season and would then like to move onto somewhere else. So Lowe had the entire year to do something about it, but left it to the last minute....Kind of like he did with Smyth. You can hate him, but you have to respect his game. Hell, I know a lot of "Regular" people that want to move out of Edmonton too, but you don't see that in the paper.....lol. I would respect Selanne a lot if he did retire, but it would be a shame to see a guy that just scored 48 goals last season leave the game. Not many leave while they are at the top of their game, so good on him if he does. The Ducks proved that they are a great team. They lost arguably their best D Man two times in the playoffs and won both games. You could take out any one player from the line up, Niedermeyer's, Pronger, Selanne, Macdonald, etc. and the team is still good enough to beat most teams. You take out just about any other teams one top player and they are in trouble. It's been a long time that I agreed 100% with the Conn Smythe winner, but this year I think they got it right. No question he deserved it IMO. BTW, all of their Marque players are under contract for next year, so being that they can ice the same team and have a chance at back to back....I can't see any of their players leaving. Like I said, they've raised the bar for all the other teams in the league.

Wow. I'm speechless.....and that doesn't happen too often.

I'm glad I lifted my ban on watching the playoffs because of the officiating, to see this series. It was great hockey regardless of who you were cheering for. I'm pretty sure there were more roughing, elbowing, boarding, etc. calls, than Hooking and Tripping calls, which is how it should be IMO. As far as the American teams winning the cup, it's simple math. 30 teams - 6 Canadian & 24 American means a 4 to 1 chance an American team is going to win. We're only two years into the new CBA and everything will even out eventually. The way I see it, the Flames should have a good chance to win the Cup every 4 to 6 years. Also, you can thank Mr. Lowe for the helping the Ducks win it. Trading Pronger to a Conference Rival that was already on the brink of winning the Cup was unbelievable. I'm still surprised he didn't move Smyth there at the deadline as well. He must have figured they had it wrapped up as they were. It's scary to think that the Ducks might ice the same team for a couple more years too. Raising the bar I'd say... Congrats Doc Now you can put the "Quack Pipe" down and get back to catching some fish!

Very nice. How many "Sessions" does each fly take you to tie? Do you have any Stone Flies by chance. I'd love to see them if you do.

That was me with a bunch of Newbie Fly Fishermen. I was pointing out Toolman's secret spots.... I do it in groups of 10, 3 times a day.

I hear you. Once you get back to town, You don't feel like fighting the 24 hour a day traffic to get back to the water. I would most likely hit the creeks between Long lake and Conoco Sumount on my drive to and from sites. I always intend to hit a creek or two, but never do. Maybe this time. So I take it you're on the Nexen side of things at Long Lake? I am working with Opti on the Commissioning and Start up as of this week. Not a big fan of the way they run things, but I'm a money pig.

Congrats Doc. I will say that you have supported them from the beginning, so a little gloating will be in order. Hopefully you at least made a little cash out of the deal. Do you think the Ducks are hoping Pronger keeps the Elbows flying? They're 2 - 0 in the games he's had to sit out due to suspensions. Enjoy it while you can....I see a lot of Grey hair in those Playoff Beards on the Ducks.

If I do get out, I'll let you know how I did. I'll be fishing somewhere along the 881 and have done alright in the past. I just don't get much out of catching Grayling. Been there, done that. It's a toss up between fishing to feed the addiction, or tying flies in my hotel room for when I get down south. Where you working? I'll be at Opti on Thursday morning for a few days and then off to a few other plants unless I can send someone else in my place so I can go fishing. I'm leaning towards option B....

Fished both a number of times, but it's been a few years. Both were a lot of fun and they pretty much fished like the Bow as far as Patterns and Techniques. A little more crowded than our rivers, but it was still a great experience each time. I love new water. Looking forward to the reports.

Well I might just have to take a shot at some Grayling while up in Fort Mac for the next 2 weeks. I'm hoping to cut my stay short and get back down south, but if I can get into some fish, My stay might not be so bad. How have the other streams been barnes?

You can never go wrong with Caddis Pupa of course. I tie mine with tan bodies and Claret heads instead of the standard Greens and they seem to work. Spent Caddis and various Cripple Mayflies are very effective as well. They also allow some variance in your tying. A simple, but deadly fly in the past on the Bow and the other rivers in Southern Alberta is the "Bird's Nest". I tie these in Tan, Brown, Green and Black of various sizes. Some with bead heads, some without. Very easy and effective pattern. As some that have fished with me will attest, I like my Stones. I believe it is never wasted time at the bench if you are tying, or experimenting with Stone Fly patterns....Nymphs, Emerging or Adult Stones.

Jack the boat.....waders too..... Nice. Coolest Grandma ever!