PlayDoh

Thanks guys. In the pic where I say thats where I caught a riser, its crazy at dusk. I had to just watch last night, but thats part of the experience as well. The tree you see sticking out of the water is a magnet for fish. I was going to shoot a video cause the guy I caught was just sitting right at the end of the 'sweeper' and making a splash every other second. I finally broke down since I gave up on that point, mainly by breaking off a large fallen tree that was right in the wrong place. Almost as bad as the net-like branch above the spot is, I hit it a few times but was lucky to get the fly to fall off. Which I was hoping for a bite for sure after the natural plop, yet he seemed to have enough to eat where he was. I've only caught RB's by drifting nymphs and streamers so far, and the fish set the hook themselves. Well I totally had to set the hook on this guy, it was a new experience and a ton of fun. He got loose on a root but I was surprised to see him or one the same size in the same spot start feeding right away. I figured he would either be gone, or take forever to start feeding again. I just kept casting a prince nymph right in front of him and let it drift long enough to him to see in the film. Took a nice cast to get it there with a sweet plop. The guys I seen drift by were using dries, but it seemed like the one I caught was feeding only 'near' the surface, since you'd only get to see a fin or tail. Not a sipping or definite surface gobble. Anyways I can now buy some more dries in a bit of confidence they'll get to see fish. Although I wonder if a dry would have caught him? I do know that spot is perfect for dries, and I cant wait to get some. The guy I seen using dries had like a 12' leader at least. I had to admire his casting as well. Perfect. Looked like a carpet slowly unrolling, and the perfect landing. I also seen some '*hit-hawks' catch a fish. Amazingly their catch got away and was jumping and fighting yards away from the squawking herd, then swam right back to the birds and got gobbled up. After seeing those pictures of fish injuries I now understand the hazard birds are to trout or river fish.

Very nice pics. The water seems even more clear then where I was at. That first one is amazing, you have a polorized lens? 8-)

I took some pics yesterday, some of them are pretty. This is the top of the river valley on the way in looking east. This is the view from where we camp. This is where the risers are, one of which I caught the same day. Here is the spot from the island across the river. My little friend This is another spot. Theres a deep seam near the bank on the right. Its about 30' till the end of the riffle. Theres another tree fallen in the river thanks to my busy buddies. Aside from my rod tip snapping in half, and only one fish it was nice. The boaters were around, really only one pair of guys who gave me space and I went on the shore a couple times to let them drift by.

Found this a moment ago, seems like it has everything anyone would ever want to know about Bow river water and waste water details. http://www.fp.ucalgary.ca/ENSC/Wastewater/...%20Effluent.pdf I learned all I need to know from the pic with the sewage discharge. MMM....Effluent

I wrote down some advice for books on "the new fly fisherman" (http://www.thenewflyfisherman.com) TV show. -PROSPECTING FOR TROUT (An Orvis Guide): By: Tom Rosenbauer Hatches II: A Complete Guide to the Hatches of North American Trout Streams (Hatches II): By: Al Caucci,Bob Nastasi Streamside Guide: By: Art Flick

Poaching as in spotlighting with dead-lines? sounds like a lot of work for a fish you can't eat. Can't say I know anything about spotlighting but a red light sounds like it would work better then a white light. Yet again, lights, bait, sneaking around seems like some very serious poachers. More likely it was crackheads cooking up some Meth hiding out since they escaped from prison, smashing open a parking meter. lol. Should have called the cops, but you'd have likely gotten the same result.

"Commonsense Fly Fishing" by Ray Ovington is a great read. Lots of old school, 83' techniques, yet he's not afraid to admit anything. Its more of a intermediate level book, which is why I had to read it 3 times over the past few weeks. He talks lots about where the fish are, and how to work/fly a spot, and beyond generic advice I found. Its only 150 pages but he manages to cover the entire gamut of how to fly fish and catch fish. The title is indicative of his mood throughout the book. He often dismisses mainstream ideas and asks rhetorical questions your grandfather might have used, like "Are you out to cast? Or catch fish?". Which has the effect of being taught by your Pappy, I found it funny. I haven't read anything else from him but I plan on reading, "Tactics on Trout" 63', and "Freshwater Fishing" 76'. If I can find them that is. Good to hear the library has all the books mentioned above since there now on my list.

I have to disagree, my reel is black and cheap, yet I can't keep the Beavers away.

Thats the ticket, I just realized how to use them. On the 'knotless' leaders I have, theres just a loop at the end. Which didn't make sense, and why I haven't used them yet. However with a 'Lark's head' you could swap leaders quickly, & 'knotless'. The details are endless............ I love it.

Thanks ladystrange & Flyslinger, I think I now have a good understanding of the leader tippet aspect. I actually had to make my own leader & tippet setup before knowing or reading about it,since I butchered my only leader that came with the rod. I thought it was just plain ole fishing line and didn't see any taper, dispite reading about the taper. Do'h. Anyways I have a literal 'boat load' of 5-30 lbs mono line. I just wasn't sure if a 'tippet' was something special I haven't seen yet, or just a generic name for 2'nd or additional leader. I've been using metal clip leaders for so long (bait casting) my knot skills were bad. I actually did just what you mentioned Ladystrange, and I should do it again soon. I took out the encyclopedia and got some links, this one is great and tied knots for days. I started with thin electrical/speaker wire cause its way easier to see and learn the knot, before trying with microscopic leader/tippets. lol For some reason I avoided the double surgeons knot cause I expected it to be hard, yet it looks pretty simple actually. I've even used a Bowline knot since its one of my fav's. http://www.animatedknots.com/ Turl knot is a.k.a a Palomar knot, I've practiced it but havent tried it on the water yet. http://www.animatedknots.com/palomar/index...imatedknots.com The knot you forgot the name of is the 'Improved Clinch',http://www.animatedknots.com/improvedclinch/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com which I find can come undone as you mentioned if not tied correctly, or just cause the line is so thin I've found. Try the Trilene knot http://www.animatedknots.com/trilene/index...imatedknots.com which is exactly the same as the Improved Clinch, but you go through the 'eye' twice, which helps prevent it from slipping. Also you don't need to go through the last loop, which I find makes it hard to tighten. I use it on bait cast lures and everything. Yet even with it I find the line snaps too easily. Then again I shouldn't expect to be able to pull free of the weeds everytime, I reeled in a small stick the other day. I find 6' of leader to a fly, then 2' of 4lbs 'leader line'/tippet tied to the hook of the lead fly, to another worked for me. When I take a leader out of the pack, the tapered end seems way to thin for anything but small dries, and even then it breaks, or half the time it breaks too easy, then again I'm not breaking the leader on fish, but on snags. So now I believe that if I plan on nymphing, a leader/tippet setup like you mentioned (segmented mono lines or leader/tippet line) is what I should use. As apposed to tying on a tapered leader and lossing 3 flies until the leader is thick enough, but not long enough. I seen Scientific Angler's combo rod/reel/line had a 'quick connect' type leader that didn't need any knots, just connect the plastic connectors. I usually don't like 'dummie gear' like that, but considering if I want to change my leader midstream, I can see how convienient it might be. I seen on TV a guy who used a swivel unit at the end of the leader then the tippet or next leader to the fly. I found it acted like a weight, yet way better then split shot since I think kinking a fly leader is asking for trouble, and I don't have strip weights.......yet. Also if you wanted to change to a dry fly or just diffrent leader setup, you could just clinch knot them to the swivel. I think I might grab a bunch of swivels. Sounds like the perfect tube. thanks. I'm dissapointed I didn't think of that. & Thanks LoneFisher.

Nice fish, I must admit I'm a little jelous, yet it sounds like you have some fly fishing skills and experiances already. Unlike myself, I've just started, yet the fish gods smiled upon me last night. Felt so damn good, I'm still gleaming. I've snaged so many flies on the bank, far bank, rocks, trees, above and below the water that I'm broke from buying new ones. yet I'm getting better everytime out (fourth so far), and I'm sure I'll get to keep them longer then a few hours. That and I try to stay off and away from the bank, trees, bushes, ect and face the shore. That and using a shorter backcast. I used to hit the water behind me almost everytime, and 'water' if I was lucky. Again, welcome to Calgary and some awesome Bow river trout. You should try east of Calgary near and around Caresland, (30-40 mins straight east). Lots of people drift boat, and theres always someone other then me wading. You won't believe the number of 20" and up trout, its world famous. Guides float by with their customers, and there are a number of locals also, but not enough to bother you. I can't get enough. I can also vouch for the fact that the members here are top notch, and very, very helpful. I'm living proof.

I've only had one fly reel, so my opinion is near worthless and should be taken lightly. I've seen reels that are $200 and up and they certainly look nice and are made with cnc's from whole stock high quality metals/alloys, yet I honestly don't see the need. I mean if you have the money, why not I suppose, I just can't see how a expensive reel would do anything a cheap one would if both are taken care of. My reel is a Reddington stillwater, and part of a combo and it works fine. I don't think any of the reels you'd use out here would have any ratio other then 1:1, and since its going to rest on the occasional rock/dirt/ground in or out of the water I think I'd rather be able to replace a generic reel 3-10 times rather then have one that could get just as damaged anyways. Like I said, I don't know much about fly fishing yet, but my $50 or less reel landed my fish just fine, and I honestly cant see any room for improvement. Its not heavy enough to need a lighter one, and the drag works fine. My bait cast reel is a different story, yet I don't need a name brand or fancy metals either. I have a nice Quantum that has a nice one hand cast mechanism, and I think 7 ball bearings. Its quiet and smooth, but I can have 100' of line out at times and drag in 30lbs Jack with it. Still it only cost me $60 at Crappy tire. I don't want to offend anyone, or refute the quality of some of these reels. Maybe in a year or so I'll have a different opinion, but for now I just don't see the benefit, other then quieter and lighter which is not a reason to spend hundreds of dollars on IMO. Honestly, I could see one being able to fly fish without a reel at all, although it would become a 'spaghetti incident' quickly I'm sure. I would probably drowned in 3' of water cause I managed to completely wrap myself in line, since I almost do it now. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything, since its probably not a new idea, or something I have valuable info on.

Sounds great, I'll be a member soon for sure. I'm pretty shy at times, but I'm sure I'll feel right at home among fellow fly freaks. Thanks for sharing your opinions and accounts Hydropsyche & Trailhead, and I hope to see you there soon. Add some naked women and you have heaven on earth.

Thanks guys, I honestly couldn't have done it without your help. Or at least it would have taken me much much longer to get enough pieces of the puzzle together to catch fish. I'm still on top of the world and can't stop talking/thinking about it. I was very surprised at how difficult it was to land the large bow, in comparison to bait cast rods/reels. He didn't stop fighting for one second and I was focused on keeping him away from the log that he kept trying to get to. The first bite I had that night took my flies, of the same setup but I had a swivel unit at the end of the leader which acted like a weight and must have snagged on a rock or something after it broke lose, cause I seen the fish jump 30 seconds after it broke off. I went the few feet to where he jumped from and was relieved to see him not there, and I hope the flies and line didn't snag him again. I have a question regarding knots. What knots do some of you use for flies? I've given up on the cinch knot, or improved cinch. I've been using a Trilene knot which is a cinch knot with 2 passes through the hook-eye. I also bought some 'knot-less leaders' that I haven't used yet, nor do I know how to. I use the same trilene knot when tying a leader to the hook part of the lead fly. I've also used a loop knot, but I find it very tough to tie in the middle of the river. I use a nail knot at the butt end of the leader using a drinking straw, yet its too large in diameter and I'm wondering if anyone has found something else to use other then the knot helpers at sporting stores. Yet I should check them out since 10-20 bucks isn't so bad considering how many times I'll need it in the future. Is a "Tippet" just a word to describe a part of line tied to the end of a leader? I bought some 4lbs leader line and its super thin, it looks like brown hair. I've had nothing but troubles with tapered leaders, they just break so easily at the end. I have ended up with a 6' or less leader everytime (twice). I've read they use acid to tapper them and it can make them brittle. I dunno, maybe its just me but they are so thin and weak at the end I find. I can't wait to meet you guys on the river and learn even more, since it seems this is the only place where other people understand how I feel. "My name is Paul.......... and I'm a Fly Fish-a-holic..........Look! A riser! Over there!"

Is it ok to eat them west of Canmore?

What a rush! I finally moved from the spot I've been losing my mind at and found a nice seam. Caught a 8" wee bow just after one took my flies. I moved along the seam and drifted toward a nice log near the bank and BAM! One jump and 5 mins almost and I landed him. I'd say around 20"-25", say 3-4 lbs, just awesome. I probably got every animals attention within 3 miles I was hoot'n and holler'n both times. I hooked into one around the same size (or same fish maybe) upstream from the log, 2 casts after, but he got lose. I was too busy fooling around with the camera making room for another pic. What a relief also. I've been going crazy watching fish rise around me and not catching anything for 3 days. I know now that I need to revise my plans of where to fish, the place where I caught them was right after a shallow run which is 3' deep at the most and rough white water (Riffle?). Just at the end of the Riffle it drops down to over waist deep and is only 15-20 wide until the bank which is steep and the river does a turn. I must be a Beaver magnet cause I can't stay away from them at twilight, at least these ones didn't slap their tails. I'm Sofa King choked at my camera, may it rest in peace, in pieces. It was one of those $40 credit card sized cameras, a.k.a - P.O.S so its no big loss. Yet the pictures of my fish, which I felt necessary to prove to the world that I too can catch fish with a fly rod, are history. Oh well, time for a real camera anyways........... Dear Santa..... Thanks again for all your helpful tips and advice. Out of all the advice I've gotten, LadyStranges advice of "Patients" was the most important for me to follow. I've been getting really, really frustrated with losing flies left right and center. Some Yoga breaths and mustering all the patients I could to keep myself from leaving or fishing 'Angry-man' style which both have the same chances of catching fish or enjoying yourself. Life as a hot-head has its challenges believe me. Oh ya, I had a Woolybugger (#8 I think) on the end of my leader, then a Hare's Ear #12 a couple feet after it. I didn't check what fly the big guy took, but I think it was the Woolly. My first small one was on the Hare's ear. I went out last night and got skunked, but I learned what 'load' ment, and now my casts are beautiful and shoot straight out. I can't throw balls or anything pure overhand, (dunno why) but I always sidearm, and I was casting with lots of sidearm before I found that straight back & forth has its advantages, and now I'm focusing on not sidearming too much and casting much better. That and not using too much backcast to avoid snags. I was casting just ahead of the seam, and sometimes throwing a loop of line ahead of the flies to act as a bobber kinda. I want a strike indicator now to do the same thing in a way and help get the flies to the right depth quickly. I basically did what I seen the guys on 'the new fly fisherman' show on WFN while fishing for Steelhead. I stood at the top of the riffle and casted upstream and into the seam and let the flies drift past me, staying near bottom. 2 of my fish striked on the swing, and one right after the fly landed. I'm still smiling ear to ear. How edible are the trout past Calgary? I've eaten them before but I did so at my own risk aware it might not be a great idea. However the Bow's current is so strong I can't see pollutants really becoming highly concentrated. Does anyone eat them, and not glow in the dark? Also, to be honest I don't understand what a 'mend' is, unless its just another cast before your flies sink? Or if its the same as my bobber/line loop trick?

lol, I keep waking up in the middle of the night setting the hook after that monster bite, while I'm dreaming. SLeep is no escape. I know my timing couldn't be worse, and my work is up and down lately (mostly down recently) which is why I can't really make any plans for the rest of the month. However I'm in no panic to 'learn it all' or catch big, long or really any trout this year. I've read a few book suggestions on here, and I'm gonna grab a few and see what else I can cram into my head. I'm heading out tomorrow to my spot up from the Caresland weir, so if your up there and see a guy with a white dog, Grey Tacoma, and a Trout necklace its me.

http://hookandhackleclub.tripod.com/ I was reffered to this club, and for $50 I'll join if only to use the library. Casting lessons, Tying courses & getting a chance to 'chew the fat' with some Calgary Fly Fishers all included. I'm just wondering if anyone here is a member or a member of another club. I've lived in Calgary most of my life but I've honestly never been past the parking lot of Fish Creek Park. Where abouts at Fish Creek do all the 'Cool Guys' fish? Or is it a stupid question? Like I said, never been there. Someone suggested I look into a "mentor program" at a local club. I'm wondering if anyone knows about one? If not, it sounds like its already occured through this site, unorchestrated. I'd much rather pay Joe Schmoe some bucks, or buy him some chow & Drinks for help then have to worry about 'lessons'. Just a thought. I think I'd just like to watch some people who know what their doing, Like these guys

Thanks guys, nothing better then actual vouches. Flytyer, I usually follow similar guidelines however I think $28 is money I think I could live with wasting in the process of learning. I'm a quick learner yet I have short patients for tiny intricate things like squinting and trying to tie knots with near invisible thread. Sewing for example is a task I usually end up wasting my time and wigging out when I realize it. Off to mom's house if I haven't torn the item to pieces in frustration. A $28 kit is cheap enough to vent on, and ruin doing things wrong. "You get what you pay for" is a phrase to live by IMO. I'm sad to hear that tying is expensive, for the second time. I'm gonna have to setup a trap-line with animal friendly traps so I can just shave or pluck them. Good thing theres not a "Grizzly hair nymph", lol, or maybe there is.

Could be worse

Hey guys, I'm ignoring advice and getting in way over my head with everything fly fishing related, but I figure that I have all winter to learn to tie and the sooner I get the necessities the better. Heres the Fleabay link http://cgi.ebay.ca/Over-50-Fly-Tying-Mater...1QQcmdZViewItem I don't know my arse from my elbow regarding flies or tying yet, but does this look like it is a good deal, and useful for the Calgary area? Its only $28 and free shipping so even if only half of the material is useful it has to be a deal. Compared to buying flies it seems like the deal of the century. Once I get into this I'm going to be up to my eye balls in flies I'm sure.