Conor

For almost all the fishing you will do with a 5/6 wt in AB, you could go either way without feeling like you made a bad decision. While the retrieve rate is faster on a LA, it does not compare to to stripping rate. How many times do you think the retrieve rate will be fast enough to avoid stripping in line? The real advantage I see to LA is that the spool diameter is about the same on an empty spool to a full spool, so drag pressure is similar over a long run. But how many times do you go deep into your backing with a 5wt? There are some great deals to be had on high quality standard arbor reels out there, because most of the market is buying LA.

I think it is just so different people don't know where to start in describing it. I checked out a couple of my normal spots and there is nothing the same as before. Nothing. I did notice a much larger percentage of heavy undercut banks with deep water. A lot more than was present before. I wonder if this will change slowly over time to more normal bank-type percentages? It is kind of sad to loose your old spots, but it is easy to see a bright side if you stay positive. That would be easier if the fishing picked up. I found it tough this past weekend, and the bugs were way out of wack.

I staryed from Simms boots twice. Never again. I have the new Guide model now. A pretty penney but probably the best equipment investment I have made in FF.

Roast- that is nice finishing work. Very well done. Where did you get the blank? Taper? Tungsten- I have some cane you can buy. I organized a big order a while ago to reduce the bite of shipping charges. I would guess you could get a single culm of tonkin cane in China for less then a dollar, but to get just one to Calgary you are looking at maybe $50-100. If you stop by some time (Marda Loop- Calgary) I can spare one or two for $30 ea. Each one makes about 2 rods.

I remember being where you are now just a few years ago ie. just starting to realize how much fun fishing is with cane and glass. It was exciting. I fish bamboo most of the time for trout and built up a Lamiglass honey last year, which is also a blast. I've been itching for a Stephan/McFarland/Kenney but am more focused (budget-wise) on building bamboo than on modern glass. I have also been enjoying seeing some of the bigger manufactures getting back to what works and not just what markets well. There is really no good reason that most shorter trout weight rods are graphite, other than that is what the market expects. Glass makes a great trout rod just a cheaply as graphite and modern anglers should have more options.

Well, it is pretty sweet out to 40 ft or so, but looses it after that. I tried the 8'9" 5 wt, which I feel should have a bit more behind it than that.

No kidding. May as well get cane for that price. Then it won't break every year.

Fish tales does have stock. There was also a guy starting a mail order business out of Calgary a few years ago. Called kingfisher maybe?

I'm looking forward to trying one as well.

I'm sure DFO would lend a chopper and a few bios out for a couple days every year for the next 20 years. I had something more low tech in mind. Setting up beats of bank to walk and limit observations to a certain distance. It would not be critical to count all the redds; the focus would be on consistency so any trends would be observable (and defendable) over the years. I'm not sure how important the observers would be, because even with the same people year after year, there would be a bias developed as their search images improved.

More fry does not necessarily equal more catchable trout. Seems a lot of people in this thread don't understand that, and that is likely because they are not biologists. Leave opinions on specific regulations decisions to the professionals. We as a group are not qualified to discuss it. There are things we can do, though... Two of the best points in this thread, IMO, were Dave's, "If we make decisions that aren't based on data, we may be subject to decisions not based on data," and Max's, "If we wait until the pops are impacted to make decisions, it may be too late." Obviously I paraphrased both those points, so feel free to correct me if I missed the gist. There is a temporal conflict between those two points that I see one good solution to. Funding and research. Here are the things we could do to protect our river. -Get out and vote in every election. Consider how your ballot impacts the funding our fisheries are allocated. -Let your politicians know your stance and the level of value you place on our fisheries. -Grassroots biology. Not of complete value to our Bios or fisheries, but it does have some. On the last point, and touching on one of Don's points, maybe a volunteer effort to visually survey the redds in the City would be of value to SRD. And/or volunteer catch per effort logs. Perhaps one person from each concerned group (say FFC, TU, etc) could be assigned to meet and discuss, then approach our regulators for their opinions. Between us, SRD, and some planning and organization, we may be able to put more real data behind regulation decisions, and possibly catch population problems before it is too late to correct them.

Great info guys. Much appreciated. Thanks.

Rehashing this thread. I started considering a kayak for the Bow, but not really to fish from. I am wondering if paddling upstream a significant distance is feasible, so that a float down dosn't require a shuttle, etc. Poor mans jet boat, I guess. I like the idea of getting some paddling in, scope out some water, then float down and stop to fish here and there (or visa versa). Can anyone that has done some paddling on the Bow comment?

How about the big ol' barbs on those hooks. They're old school bait hangers. Should FFC be more selective of it's advertisers?

Hey Dick, I have not tried furling with silk, but have a used several different materials. I try to keep a constant tension and stop the twist when the leg is reduced by about 10% (I think that is the measure). Also, if you don't break one or two when working with a new material, you probably aren't twisting enough.

I have furled nymphing leaders that are just two strands of light super braid. They are very low diameter, no stretch and cut through the water like a knife. I felt like they gave a faster sink rate and better connection to the flies. Problems were the tangles were bad when they happened, and the leader would sometimes cut through the indicator.

Agreed. Get them both fly and gear and let them use what they like best. It's all about fun for kids. When I take my girls out they spend more time climbing on rocks, finding bugs, playing with nets, going to the playground, etc etc then they do fishing. They ask to go fishing all the time.

I've seen a few pics around of some lake whites. I have always wondered about these fish as fly rod game, but never got around to it. So, any tips? I saw them once in spring cruising in schools near the top in pretty shallow water (that is what got me thinking about them). Can you fish them at other times? I figured a chiro and bobber would do the trick, but I'd take any advise otherwise. Might check this out this year.

Flyfishy- try turning over half submerged rocks along the river at the last fish creek parking lot. I was flipping rocks there yesterday looking for olives, and found a half dozen worms. All about 1.5" reddish brown. I use the normal style bait hook, and I don't think I have ever hooked a fish through the eye. I wouldn't worry about it. If it keeps happening there is a reason other than the hook type. I'd guess using a dropper is way more harmful to fish, but even that is not that significant.

I was happy with the service and products at Barbecues Galore. They took quite a bit of time explaining their different products and grades when we were in the store. It takes a while to get someone's ear the few times we went, but once you did, they did not rush the process. If your not comfortable, you can at least walk out with some information about what you are looking for. Paid about $3500 installed for a decent unit. Maybe I could have done better somewhere else, but renos are hell, and sometimes you have to save time in place of cash.

Didn't the swung presentation make its way from the east coast salmon rivers, where it is a regulation to ensure fish are fair hooked? In other words, that they move to eat the fly rather than being flossed or foul hooked? Are fish hooked nymphing or centre pinning often foul hooked or flossed? I have no idea, just curious.

Slingshotz- got a recipe for your gravlax mix? Easier to pack than a frying pan!

OMG. I haven't laughed that hard in weeks. Great stuff. As for the NY gov reference (7 times safer): hunting down there is not the same as it is here. They get a huge percentage of people hunting that did not grow up with firearms. I grew up in Massachusetts, about 2 hr from NYC and 2 hr from Boston. People were shot often by hunters; almost every year. I had a neighbor that had their black and white great dane killed by a hunter. Looked more like a cow then a deer. When a deer was shot where I grew up, you had to take it to the tagging station the same day. One year, someone brought in a goat. A domestic goat. Not only did they shoot it, the thought it was a deer after they shot it, and tried to get it tagged!

Getting into hunting a bit, and need to set up a scope soon. Does anyone in town have the tools required to do this properly that I could borrow for a bit? Looking for a torque driver, alignment bars, lapping bars or reamer, and a bore sighter, etc. Thanks, Conor

The diversion channel that cuts into that property is fast and deep. Not safe for wading. I'm not sure what the deal is with the property. I would guess it can not be developed for some reason. Maybe contaminated?