Conor

I have an Anvil Atlas. It is a rotary version of the Apex. Better clearance than the peak, similar price range and quality. I used to use a regal knock-off, and I miss the spring action. The Cam is a bit fiddly. I would go a bit beyond mid range if I bought again, but I doubt I will for a long time. It is a solid vice.

To catch big fish on dries in the bow, you have to find them first (see Max's post). Prospecting with dries might get you a gooder, but mainly you'll end up with a bunch of tiddlers. So, become a fish stalker, or throw nymphs or streamers if you want bigguns. Still, don't expect something over 22" every trip out.

I'd suggest getting your affairs in order prior! The Bow is a slow river, but it is a big river. I personally would not float it in anything that is not river rated.

LOL Not true, though. A good presentation with the wrong fly will work better then a bad one with the perfect fly. Some of the AB old-timers will fish cutty streams with just one or two patterns in one or two sizes. I guarantee they would fish circles around me with a full arsenal of flies.

Awesome. Looks like an incredible experience. Thanks for sharing. So, this is a public fishery? Crowded?

I don't have a confidence boatman pattern. I just through on whatever I tried tying recently. Anyone out there have a go-to boatman pattern?

I saw a post here somewhere about a box lost around Glenmore, I believe.

I like the one in the site banner.

Wowzer. Anyone that can do anything for 40 years deserves a big pat on the back. Congrats to you and the wife.

Window decal, a vest patch, and maybe a hoody (L or XL- zip up, preferably) and a tee (M/L)

I have recently had some problems with my Pentax OptioWP (5.0). The lens jammed after 1 1/2 years and cost about $160 bucks to repair. Kinda a rough repair for a $400 dollar camera. I might look Olympus' way next time. They also have a "shockproof" guarantee which is tempting.

That stonefly shot is awesome. Let's see some more, man.

I keep my gear in the car rigged and ready.

I've been obsessed since I learned that fish lived in water. At three I caught my first fish. At 7 or 8 I walked a mile to the nearest bass pond everyday in the summer. Learned lots there. Than small creeks for trout once I got my drivers. FF soon after. I never had a fishing mentor and there wasn't easy info available, so I did not learn FF properly. It didn't really catch. Also, I didn't get much fishing in during university, other than comm. fishing in the summer. Moved to calgary three yr ago, and probably spent +300 days out that year. It is a sweet place to be a fisherman! So..put me down for 5, even though you can learn a lot about fish with gear.

Try the can of spray foam. Even if you can't see the nest, you can coat the area where the hornets come out, and they will cover themselves as they come out to attack. Don't be shy with the foam. I've taken down dozens of nests this way.

Hey Taco- what kind of reel is that? It's reel nice

Try undersized hackle. It will improve hook ups, as well.

It sounds like it is your presentation that is the problem. Try practicing a soft presentation in slack water. The trajectory of the cast is important when a soft presentation is key. Too low and you smack the water; too high and the line splashes. Turn over is poor in both cases, shortening the effective length of your leader. I am not a great caster, by any means, so any other tips that people might have might help. Also, take your time approaching fish. Think about how many hours of blind nymphing it takes to land a 25" fish. Spending 10-20 min on an approach is not a big deal from that perspective.

There is always some open water if you have time to get to it. Often, I only have an hour or two to fish, so I will have to fish the closer runs. There are a lot of other people in the same boat, and that is a big reason why runs like policeman's are crowded. I always ask to jump in, and have never had a very bad experience. The Bow is a great place to fish, with good anglers, by and large. My point is that crowded fishing does not have to be heated. I often find it pleasant; meeting new people and sharing water and a passion. The fact is that the Bow will not get less crowded, and we will have to learn to share water. Rude people are rude people whether they are fishing or driving. I don't think it is as much a matter of angler education as it is a societal problem.

Mortality might be a bit different in lakes, Bloom. A study on the bow angled fish and released them into pens with proper C&R technique. It was a good study (sample size and power of test were adequate) and, if I remember correctly, results were not significantly different from 0% or 1%. Something very low anyway. That said, I have a hunch that cuttys are more susceptible to mortality. It seems like they loose their equilibrium more easily than other trouts.

I had a day like that once and I ended up crimping the hook closed on my fly. If I moved a fish worth retying for, I did. Otherwise, it was still fun getting fish to rise to the fly. If fish are handled properly, a 0-3% mortality is more accurate.

We are 5 weeks off. I am still hesitant to leave cell phone range. Looks like I might be stuck on a world class trout river for a while. Rough. I was hoping for a cutty or two more this season, or just to get out of the city on some decent water. If anyone knows a spot with Telus service, even on-off service so I can check messages, I'd appreciate the tip.

LOL

I meant to write "later next month." lol I am not that hard up for fishing! Good tip, Murray. I might look into that.

Where are some more remote fishing spots that get decent cell phone coverage? The wife is about to pop a baby out this month (later in the month), so I can't go where she can't get a hold of me. Any tips?