Conor

spf 60 (Umbrell) in the morning, long sleeves and a hat. I work outside, as well, so I don't mess around.

I'd personally stick to less pressured waters, if you want to take a few fish. The Bow gets hammered hard enough, as it is. I have been thinking more about keeping some dinner fish. I'd guess the recession will have a lot of people thinking this way. I was sitting down to a tilapia dinner the other day and felt very stupid for paying for fish shipped from S.America with the huge poundage of fish I release every year. How do you all rank some of the better edible fish in Alberta, and which waters do you find produce better tasting fish (if you don't mind divulging your spots)? I have had pike out of two different waters (both through the ice) and one was definitely better than other (the Newel fish was better than the Clear lake fish). This year I plan on trying rockies, lake whities, pike, burbot (if I can find a few) and maybe a few trout out of lager stocked lakes, small put-and-take ponds and over populated creeks. I know I like trout (from the right water) and don't mind pike, but I have never tried the others.

Teeth. Cut it like a razor!

Just a heads up. I was fishing a lake the other day with a few buddies. Spotted a little muskrat swimming the shore line toward us. I said, "Check this out. They will swim right over your line." I've seem them do this dozens of times. Right over my line without even moving it. Hits my buddy's line next. Gets hung up for about a millisecond and SNIP- there goes his front taper. Yikes.

It is just braid. One strand of 8-12lb. You'll figure out quickly that you can not add any taper if you want to have one two stands at the tip, so I just tie long loops at either end to create a short taper. The leader is very thin, which is why it works so well. I learned when I was cod fishing how important diameter is for depth. A power braid would hang pretty well straight up and down in a moderate current, while a mono or dacron would be out at 45 degrees. I used to use just one strand of braid for a straight leader for nymphing, but it lead to a few more tangles than mono. A furl helps to keep the tangles away but is still very thin.

I like them as well. I use pretty standard stuff for dry and light nymph, but I have a formula for deep nymphing I like. I use two stands of a power braid (I think I have stren at the moment) and add a short taper by tying long surgeons loops (one about 6-8" and the other about 12-14") to each end. I think the thinner a nymphing leaders, is the faster it will sink (hence just two strands). Also, the zero stretch braid makes for a not very stretchy furl, which helps with nymphing. They're great; they cut through the water like wire, show takes well and almost never tangle. You two will be happy when you throw some dry flys. That is when furls really shine. You can actually throw a mend into your leader!

I plan on getting a line for single hand/ switch. Big time newbie, but I'm taking the dive. My rod has a very fast taper and large grain window. It can cast a 6wt as far as any caster is capable, and it can cast an 8wt as far as I am capable without bottoming out. My question is what weight line should I be considering for spey stuff? Higher or lower on the range. My rod is a 10ft 5wt Dan Craft Fiver Rivers FT built to about 10'6", just in case you are familiar with it (ERN ~8; AA ~70).

A reload scale for ammunition would be perfect. They weigh loads by grains. I use this rig. It seems pretty accurate, and the price is right! http://www.common-cents.info/part4.pdf

That's too bad. I'd bet this system would result in fewer foul hooked fish when fishing multi-fly rigs. If you fish droppers, you foul hook fish- there is no way around it. This might be a decent answer. I like the idea of tying on a piece of rubber/plastic, as well. It could cut down on the cost of tying considerably. I can't see floating a #20 trico with a 14 circle hook below, as they claim.

The only fish you look happy about is the sucker. lol

I too dig the urban trout pics. I wonder if the Bow is the only river where you can get a +20 brown and graff in the same picture?

By April or May I am dead sick of deep nymphing and streamers. I'll often go to the river with a dry fly rod and look until I find a riser. I usually find one or a fish nymphig in shallow water. I've had some fast paced spring days on adult midges, and found some real pigs rising to bwo. Pre-run off nymphing can be stellar, though. Easy to get distracted.

However, people that C&R tend to fish a lot more than those who bonk. Add up my 1% mortality at the end of the year, and I have done a lot more damage than someone who limits out a few times a year. I dig your point, Taco, but as a rule enforcement costs more than education. That said, not everyone out there bonking bulls thinks they are brook trout.

The course would probably be similar to the one you have to take to get a hunting license. A one time deal. I think the main point would be to be able to implement regulations similar to Quirk Ck. in certain streams where our native salmonids need some assistance. First tier would be a normal license; second tier would be an increased harvest license. Of course, non-native harvest would not be increased on all waters, just waters that might benefit from reductions of brook trout or rainbows (upper elbow, cataract might fall into the category). I'm thinking efforts like this might help stabilize bull trout and cutthroat populations, and may help prevent future closures of some of our more pristine streams.

How do you all feel about testing for an angling license, or having the option to test and get a different license (ie a two tiered license system)? The Quirk Ck. project has shown that even some avid angler's ID skills are poor. I can't imagine haw many illegal fished are bonked every year do to misidentification. Testing would allow managers to be more effective with regulations, allowing protection of our native fish pops by increased harvest of non-natives. Testing would also prevent our native fish from being misidentified as non-natives. Also, and this is possibly the biggest bonus, every potential angler can get a crash course on ethics, conservation and fish handling. Thoughts? I am not 100% for the idea, maybe because I haven't really hashed it out, yet.

The most important thing about eating fresh fish is to get it cold fast. The colder the better; the faster the better. When I plan on keeping fish I try to have a cooler of crushed ice. Bonk the fish, rip the fish and pack it with ice, inside and out.

I put a drop on the bead and pull it in with the whip. Or, I wet a bit of the thread just before whipping.

I have FlySim on my PC. Pretty fun. I'd love to see something similar come out as a Ipod App.

I like having the extra length to brace against my forearm for high sticking and for fighting fish on heavier tippets. I use one all the time on my 10ft 6wt.

I use it often. I find it floats like a cork and shakes water better than most materials. I don't often bother dressing it, it floats so well. Very durable, to boot. It is one of my favorite additions to my bench in the past couple of years. I use the under-fur hairs from the bottom of the foot for dubbing, as well. Great translucency and buggyness. I find a bit of wax makes the process a bit easier. The structure of the guard hairs from the bottom of the foot is what makes it float so well. Traps air like nobody's business. In fact, I really only use the bottom of the foot, an occasionally the sides when I want a bit of a darker shade.

It is for whipping rods, actually, but I know it is commonly used for wets, so I figured some tyers might know where to get some. I've got a rod that I want to finish whipping, but I am going to run out of silk! I noticed that Hareline is a distributor. Next time I'm in a shop with Hareline products, I'll ask for it. If you guys do the same we might get some to Calgary!

Does any shop in Calgary carry Pearsalls silk (gossamer preferably)?

Anywhere this recession isn't. Oh, wait, it's worldwide. Dang.

Thanks for all the ideas. Shaggy- I'll be in a small SUV w/ good 4X, factory tires, full sized spare and low clearance (~9"). I'd be comfortable with a bit of fourbying but nothing too heavy. I may have room for an inflatable or a tube, if needed. I don't have any issues with a good walk or hike. Most of the serious fishing will be on route too and from Narramatta (my wife just corrected me on our destination). I may get a day trip in from Narramatta during the week.

I have a family trip to Penticton planned in the third week of July. I'll be doing a solo drive out there (everyone else is flying ). I plan to take a couple days and hit some fishing on the way (maybe the way back, too ). Any tips on spots I should hit between here and there? Also, is there any decent fishing around Penticton/Kelona?