nick

And then please, if you would, send the pictures to albertaforenvironment@yahoo.ca, as per my previous post. Nick Sliwkanich

I'm not looking for banning outright, or any other drastic move, only a set of regulated policies (similar to hunting and fishing regulations were things like random camping or OHV use is allowed, and other sensitive areas where it is either restricted to certain designated sites, or banned, just like hunting or fishing) with certain activities either allowed or not allowed in certain areas for certain reasons (obviously not based by me). All I'm pushing towards is preserving of the resource for everyone. I just need visual aids to focus the issue as a whole (like destroyed fences to keep OHV or campers out of riparian zones), then let the government try and deal with it. I would like to see education and actual information as a tool by the government and not just enforcement, even though we need more of that, too. I'm not trying to nail down OHV or random camping, as like everyone else, I've done a bit of both, but there is a difference between controlled legal activities and uncontrolled legal activities. Just remember there was once a time when 50 trout per day was seen as acceptable, even though we know now that with the amount of people fishing, we wouldn't have a fish left if we let that continue. Plain old eye sight can see the increase in use of the outdoors, and action needs to be taken now so we have something left. Nick Sliwkanich

Hello everyone. I'm planning to have a sit-down with my MLA next month regarding the consistent neglect of management to our natural areas as far as uncontrolled OHV use and random camping is concerned. All this meeting is intended to do is to show situations and areas that will continue to deteriorate in both ambience and natural health if these forms of activities are left unchecked. With that in mind, I am asking for assistance with some visual aid material, namely digital photographs that can be shown during my conversation with my MLA, as well as any Environmental Dept. people I may see at another time. The pictures can come from any time in the more recent past, and please feel free to send pictures at any time in the future. What I would appreciate are any pictures showing irresponsible behavior by individuals, namely abuse of OHV use/access as well as random camping in inappropriate ways (ie. chaining off areas, building of walled structures, quad tracks up/down/through creeks, etc). I have some photo's of my own, but the more area's of the province that get covered, the more powerful the message. The same applies to the amount of people who participate by sending either photos and/or emails of support, to albertaforenvironment@yahoo.ca . I would appreciate any and all help from all of you, as it is all of our natural resources that need to get the protection. Please email questions to the email address above. Thank you for your help. Sincerely, Nick Sliwkanich

Just let the line straighten out behind you, then lob if back out there. Make sure the line straightens all the way or the nymphs will be all loosey goosey in the air and will go forward with little control -the makings of a good mess. Damned few tangles this way if done correctly, even fewer than straight roll casting. Nick

Rickr, you claim that some people judge conservation solely based on the actions of others, which in some instances is true. But why do fishing, hunting and industry rules constantly change -as often as every year- yet other destructive acts are hardly looked at at all? To say that fishermen blame quaders for all of the problems in the outdoors is hogwash, especially considering your implication that fishing rules don't change much to fix problems related to fishing. if that were true we'd still be paying 50 cents for a license and killing 50 trout per day. What do I think is the best solution? in all honesty, I'd love to see OHV and motorized random camping banned. Flat out. we all have opinions, and that is mine. It would fix the problem, and those who claim to just want to enjoy the outdoors still have the capacity to do so, just not on motorized vehicles and at the expense of the evironment. What is the most (or at least "more") practical solution? Turn the whole ES, or at least large parts of it, into a provincial park, or a series of parks, where camping is encouraged (and the provincial sites aren't delapitated), OHV's are permitted, but on maintained and approved (not solely existing trails) trails only- which have bridges, etc etc, much the same as most states do with State forest Reserves. That way, everyone gets a CONTROLLED piece of the outdoors, but the environment stills comes first. remember, fishermen are only allowed to fish in legally, open water, too, so it isn't "stereotying" or "picking on" anyone. Access should also be controlled and limited to certain times of year in various areas, according to succeptability of the ecosystem. For example, if fishing is only allowed from June 16 to Oct 31, ban motor traffic from trails that go within X distance from the streams, to protect the same spawning and fragile fish from potential damage from silt, disturbance, whatever. broaden the rules of various activities that are allready in place, and just make them inclusive for all recreation types. If protecting spawners from a stream is important, don't just limit fishing, don't allow quads to cross the stream, either. i mean, the best places to cross, coincidentally, are also the best places to spawn; nice bottom, gravel not huge boulders, slow enough flow to not be a problem, shallow enough to not swamp your vehicle, etc. It has to be done eventually. If it isn't done now, sure enough, it will be done later, and the policies won't be friendly for anyone. I'm not trying to point out squatters or OHV riders, but fishing is constantly under review and change, and went through a major overhaul in the late 90's, and it's time these other impacts get addressed.

Mike, there is no question that some people do it responsibly, but the fact that people don't is why rules have to change. It is an unfortunate fact of life, but when a few idiots abuse the law and stretch it past its breaking point, it must change at the chargen of many people who weren't the major problem in the first place. I wasn't fishing during the mass over fishing of the 1970's and 80's, but I'm still following the regulations that were changed to correct those wrongs. I never chucked a bull trout on the bank because I thought they were eating all the cutthroats, and that was why the cutts were disappearing (even though it was because they were over fished), but I have to release them now. I could go on... So to the people who say, "it isn't me ruining it, don't punish all for the actions of few," I am forced to say, "Too bad." Unfortunately, that it what it has to come down to. The numbers are in, and there are about 1,000,000 OHV's in Alberta. Thats a serious number, and unless Alberta follows BC's lead, the number of users is likely to go up. Why wouldn't BC riders come to a province to tear up the streams; it is right next door, and they won't get fined like they would in their own province. makes sense to me. Mike said, "Come on guys lets talk solutions and stop stereotyping." We aren't stereotyping; quads ruin the landscape, they are driven up and down and across creeks, they stress wildlife to the point that they stop breeding. Those are facts, no stereotyping. Solution, as you suggest: ban OHV off of roads. Problem solved. No more stream damage. Random camping: no motorized camping out of designated sites within 200m of fish bearing streams. Why not? its pretty much the same rule industry is supposed to follow. Do people want to quad? fine. quad on existing roads, that is what roads are for. Claim you want to see the "great wilderness," as many people put it; shut the engine off at the end of the road and walk. To be blunt, I'm sick and tired of quaders and other OHV users ruining my experience by being thoughtless and destroying the landscape. Anyone else see the motocross rallies on the upper livingstone? how insane is it that that is allowed? those promoters and participants should be fined millions for reclimation of the landscape. i don't mind seeing other people while I'm out, I just don't like arrogant people who think it is their God given right to pee where they please. I've written to MLA's, I've said this on the internet, but there are too many bucks in this type of behavior in AB to change much. Unfortunately, the meat-head mentality prevails. Lie, trailhead said, education only works if they listen. bans along with fines, confiscation and/or jail works when they don't.

Definitely worth it. He's the #5 most winning goalie in NHL history, and he's one win from #4. I don't care if he hasn't won a cup, he's pretty much done everything else. Especially for 650K this year. The back up (McWhatever) is a waste of money, considering he's been in, what, 3 games and started one???

i wouldn't say "rednecks versus tree huggers," I'd say people who don't care if Alberta turns into a ditch vs. people who give a *hit.

some thoughts... -Why is C&R fly fishing the only "non-consumptive" (I know, it isn't exactly, but you get the idea) outdoor recreation that has pay for a license in the general, Alberta district? Charge "random campers," OHV, hikers etc for a yearly pass to be on/in forest reserves. give them ones to put on the dashboard and to put in their wallets so it can be enforced. -Why do hunting and fishing reg's change with new info, yet the big money games like OHV and random camping don't have similar, constantly changing rules to be followed when damage is done to an area? We have C&R and closed waters, why can't they have "stay the Hell away from here" areas? -Why do regular Joe's get to break policies that would land businesses in million dollar lawsuits (like driving vehicles up and down creeks and destroying land, stressing animals to the point where they abort their fetus' and stop reproducing) and receive no punishment? -Why is the government attitude "well, we don't have the enforcement to enforce new rules, so why change the rules? Change the rules, some people will stop. It will help.

old girlfriend lucky fishing coins my first rod (on my first attempted cast, too) a whole box of dry flies on the bow My soul

Random camping and OHV use while destroying crown land makes about as much sense as tearing across your neighbours lawn on a quad and burning donuts in his grass. If you have the mental capacity to handle no impact camping great, too bad that 99% or the ever growing Alberta population knows about as much as an ant when it comes to true conservation. And they ruin it for everyone. When they trash the land by being thoughtless, I don't see it as using "crown land," I see it as them f***ing up MY land, as we all own a piece of it. I mean, they're usually smart enough not to destroy their own property (hence the dirt bike rallies on the upper L'stone- nice crown land they don't have to fix after the ruin it), but then they feel it is their right to go and destroy something that is 1/3,500,000th theirs. Screw that. Protect the damn rivers and ban the crazies.

Actually TimD, depending on maker, taper, design, length and weight you can pretty much get whatever action you want out of a bamboo rod. just like graphite or fiberglass. And why the hell isn't orvis on the list? zero gravity rods are at least on par with the Z axis (which people have noted), and they've outdone themselves again with a new line of rods that are (again) the lightest on the market.