skibum

This isn't the only guide on the bow who lacks respect. In the last 2 years and most recently just a few weeks ago, I have had 2 sponsors of this very site row right through water I was fishing. The first incident was a shop owner who decided to row between the bank and where my boat was anchored, I was rigging up to cast at a riser and he rowed on through stripping streamers and right over my riser. As he went by he asked if i minded, I said I did but it was too late and the apology was worthless at that point. He knew better and I could tell. Getting even with him has been easy I and everyone I can tell never shop at his store. This includes several guide friends if mine that will drive great distances with clients to avoid his shop, this brings me peace. The second, most recent incident, shocked me. It was an early morning float from Police to Mac, only 3 boats out at this time of the morning. We had had good luck on foam near the bank all morning and decided to stop and swing some streamers with our switch rods? The well-known and easy to ID power drifter approached on a very cast reachable line, I assumed he'd move out but when he saw me cast beyond his boat line but it was not to be. He proceeded to row right through my water and then say something like, "I told you guys (the clients) not to cast right here." then to me, "I told them but they never listen" followed with a chuckle. Now I know it likely didn't upset the fish I caught right after he rowed by (that felt great) but he knew better, I've seen him provide advice to people on this forum regarding space that a boat should give shore fisherman and he's a sprey caster so I know for sure he could tell where I was casting too. It's too bad that this goes on but it's flyfishing in the new millennium, "combat fishin" what they call it on California rivers. I'm not much for combat so I'll just keep hoping that fish gods will take care of those that can't follow the etiquette of the river. Oh ya and the facT that that shop owners little stunt likely costs him a bit in revenue.

Here's the follow up blog. Simms pulled their product 4 days after the original blog. Interesting situation and approach by Jerry. http://www.thetroutshop.com/blog/view/7312

Oops forgot one point. If this were an oil and gas industry disaster every environmental group in the world would be throwing their stones. Where are the Sierra Club and Greenpeace types when we need them? This should be top news in and around Calgary (I'm not the best current events follower) but the only place I've heard about it is on this website. Hell I was in a flyshop yesterday in Calgary and they didn't know anything about it. We need more media coverage, I guess someone will have to die in the muddy water to get any press. Maybe a story about a dead cutty would get coverage. This has ruined my morning probably my day and for that I will seek revenge.

I wonder if having the capability to create an environmental disaster is part of ISO 140001? This is quoted from the Transalta Spray Facility site that Headscan posted under "Awards & Recognitions". "Meets ISO 14001 standards - (ISO 14001 is an international standard setting the framework for a holistic and strategic approach to environmental policy, plans and actions)" This makes me sick, someone at Transalta should have their nuts in a sling over this and their license/permit/right to operate these facilities on public water should be revoked by every form of government (Provincial Federal, International) whomever. Would something as simple as an extra diversion tunnel to allow water to pass the dam in a controlled fashion, should the need arise to hold water back for an extended period of time, like having both generators down, been a stretch as a contingency plan? Seems to me something like this would have been a great idea. If someone comes up with a way to not use Transalta's power let me know, I'd love to be able to hit them in the wallet, it's the only way they'll get any sort of message. Guides that are affected should look into lawsuits concerning Business Interruption, *hit the Park should be suing for beauty interruption. We need a good American lawyer to help figure out haw many reasons Transalta can be sued for right away. My final point is that this doesn't only affect the fish although they are likely the most directly impacted), it affects everything natural that depends on the river system. I how far out into the rivers ecosystem this reaches? "Everybody and Everything live downstream!" Booooooo Transalta!

I don't want to deter anyone from trying sharkskin, it does cast well and mends fantastically, I was super stoked on it when I got it. I just wanted folks to know what happened to me after 3 days of fishing it. I have quit the opposite to office hands and I do get many line cuts and hooks in the fingers and have never suffered much beyond the cut itself. The way the doctor explained it to me (I showed him the line I was using) was that the Sharkskin had actually burned the crease in my index finger and carried some bacteria with it to the inside of the wound. Anyone looking for a WFF 6 weight, I'm looking to unload it I've cleaned it since the infection. This is a unique situation and I can't imagine what this would have felt like in the salt, I'm glad it wasn't!

I got a bad case of blood poisoning and ended up in the ER because of Sharkskin, never again will I use this *hit. It's noisy and if you spend a few days on the water stripping it or just regular casting it will wear a hole in your finger and who knows what will come of it. I know what happened to me and it wasn't nice.

I could ask Tiger to clear this up, he lives in my building.