ogilvie

I certainly understand the comments here and respect all fly casters, at times it can be a bit OFFF because of the hype and special interests. For me it has always been the proof is in the pudding. Fishing well,casting well and playing it forward. It is always,for me,about the fly fishing experience and the associations made along the way. The Alberta Spey Casters community is growing and needs to grow simply because of the great waters you have.....and fish. Now if only we can get the weather to co-operate....so we can fish C

This is a conversation that goes on constantly...and a good one for sure...however,IMO and my experiences over the years there are really few deals. When the going gets tough the tough get going!...what does that mean...????.....Well, there are many rods bought in this particular area of fly fishing and a great majority of those are sold or put away after a very short time. A good place to start is to find a rod that has enough balls to perform well and comfortably...light in hand and "tip Savy!" Line matches are critical to having fun and progressing adequately. Many times during casting clinics we notice that many rods are "empty"..simply not there when demanded. It is like trying to cast a 3wt rod with floating line into the head winds of a storm...you notice immediately that something is not right. So where does that leave us? well...to be safe go to the Middle....find a rod that will be friendly immediately in hand,with good backbone,not heavy, warranty is not really an issue because all rods are warrantied,$500 is a good point to aim for.....even if you have the money,big bucks doesn't guarantee success in a new field.Good rod,good line ,good understanding of your goal and fun will be had. C

Gordo is absolutely right...the only issue with very big fish ,,,20 lbs and up...is that the in close work is a bit more difficult in relationship to the rod's length. we never control a big fish..it is in matters of degree ,having a good and smooth drag system has saved many rods and landed more fish. Today I fished the CND 13' Expert Spey 5/6/7...very nice rod for sure...but would be not a good choice should I be fishing Chinook or Chum. On the other side of that coin my Snowbee Tamar 12'6" has landed me very many fish in excess of 30 lbs. and this past September landed One near 50 lbs. Lucky ...maybe not,a good reel,good line and rod that could muster up enough guts to create a dynamic between pull,resistance/drag and leader strength(20 lb). Have fun C

The lines make all the difference in using a single hand rod for Spey Casting techniques...Here on the Island and all over the big rivers of Northern BC many Single hand casters are using the Elixir line for this. What you really need is at least a good 7wt rod ...come by our booth at the show and try an Elixir Line with Poly tip on your rod or ours...you won't believe the feel and abilities in hand. Booth #52 &53 C with or without your fighting butt...

MAX, That White thing between your fingers isn't a fly! Good pictures.....good community...nice River C

It's great to see this topic high on the minds of fly fishers. The book on Switch type rods is a long and complex one for sure...but ...and I say but...they are great little sticks that in the right hands are extremely efficient. We will have about a dozen different weights at this years show ...and the lines to match. For the fly fisher that bush wacks,travels a lot and covers a lot of different ground and fish...switch rods are a definite bonus. I recently got back from Southern Mexico where we were Bone fishing and targeting baby tarpon...after looking back on the events we encountered during that day having a good Switch rod would have been a definite asset. And placing tight loops inside the Mangrove alleys would have been a hoot with a small switch rod....we did get fish and had a great time but like many fly fishers we are always looking at the what if's! C

Keep that nice weather around for the show.. C

Great to see all you casters having a good time with two handers.. For me,I have to say that the work horse in my hands has been the Snowbee 12'6" 7/8 Tamar. The wide range of abilities this rod has, has allowed me to give it to a client with total confidence. It can fish Long Belly Lines,Mid Belly Lines.Skagit ,Scandi and even underlined set-ups off the Beach for overhead casting. I have landed 12" Trout and 50 Lb. Chinook equally as much fun...it's not too big and not too small... For big waters my favorote line set-up has been the CND Skagit head 530 grain with Snowbee Running line,and for the smaller waters the Beulah Elixir 7/8 spey and Poly tips C

Hello over there in frozen Scotland...and of course Calgary...we here are finally out of that stupid cold weather and are about to go through a thaw...so we will get some rising water conditions and maybe some fresh Steelhead in the Island Systems...was out today ...nice,a bit foggy and notta tug.. All the best in the new year to you all C

Tight lines,great new gifts and get out on Xmas day...stay out of airports at the moment and be safe.. All the best to you all C From Sunny Qualicum Beach

These rods will compliment the existing range..but ...these new rods are much crisper at the tip,fast recovery and will create a major buzz within the industry for sure. About 10% more expensive...I am hoping to get out with the 11'6' #5,and go after a few Steelhead before Xmas. C

Hi AL.... it's only about 4"...the water during that period was very clear and no need to fish big... was out yesterday swing a few flies and landed Two Steelhead(this was before the snow really fell heavy)...kept this nice hen of about 10 lbs,she was a clipped fish-hatchery fish. The other was much larger,a wild buck that took my hook at the shoreline...now we have 2' of snow...POOP! This fisah took a tube with a clear plastic extension on the back end...this fly is also about 4" C [image removed by admin - http://flyfishcalgary.com/board/index.php?showtopic=6266 ]

Steelhead season is upon us ,some of us are busy tying like mad...again so far this year the best flies have been small Intruder patterns in various colours..but Purple has produced the most fish...

Now if I'm not mistaken...you have been playing with some of these "Lassies rods' " of late...!some of the old farts around here are still casting 9' rods off the beaches and wonder why they only get the close in fish every so often!! Fishing will be fun! C

This year for me was somewhat of an abnormal year...I guided way too much,fished way too little and found my feet didn't like all the walking on the rocks along the beaches . However,with that said,I am now resting my poor feet! a bit and prepareing for the winter Steelhead fishing ahead. They are here in small numbers at the moment,with snow forecast for this week-end we will see that change dramatically. I did use a long rod on may Rivers this year and the Ocean...and I have to say that the Ocean provided me with the best learning opportunities...Beulah's Surf Rods simply blew my mind with their feel and results...outstanding! Gold River Stamp River Thompson River Bulkley River Morice River Blackwater Horsefly Sproat Ash Nitinat Nimpkish Heber (switch Rod) EVE Adam(Island) Sproat Somass Puntledge Campbell River Bow Grand Ganaraska Island Beaches And many I won't mention I have to say that the waters that really left an impression with me this year were the Puntledge River and the Blackwater. The Blackwater is a world class Trout River,nothing large but always a very willing River,I used the Beulah 4/5 Switch rod and didn't realize just how rewarding these small outfits can be with 12-16" trout . Positioning a dry fly 80-100' away was unreal. The Puntledge River in Courtenay BC is well known for it's Chum and Coho fishing but this year proved to be the Jewell of all jewells here on the Island. For 5 weeks we were blessed with incredible Bright Silver Chum Fishing...from the last few days of September unti very early November...no huge numbers of fish but always a strong daily entering of Silver Chum...2 a day retention..fish to 15;bs. Many rods were broken this year ...but they are good breaks!

What the heel is with all the short river names Gord...some kind of SLANG>>!!!

Toolman...are you a Cambellton boy? Val and I are going back to the Miramichi this coming Summer for a few weeks...and maybe the Humber in Nfld...you never know whom you might meet on the water! C

Not really...very heavy and on the soft side...if you are fishing for big fish with heavy lines you would be better off with a faster action more quality rod. If you are dry fly fishing on big waters then this rod will fill the bill. C

Getting a bit excited these days..Beulah is about to release 3 new light weight Two Handers in a #5,#6,#7...(11'6",12'6" and a 13'2")...will have these in my hands soon and will let you all know the feel. Apparently they are lighter,more through action with a very fast recovery tip .A trouters dream! I have also been playing with their new Surf Rods and don't want to put them down. Designed for Surf fishing but able to be used in basically all situations needing smooth fast action and quick recovery fishing. C

They used to have a Greyflex Series and a G series ...the blanks were a deep Bluish Green...and the other was Black. C

Hardy purchased Greys a few years ago,and it has been a very good relationship. Greys doesn't have a #7 Two Hander.... but does have a few very nice rods..the GreyFlex(brown blank) is fast action and very nice in hand....they have other series and new in 2008 was their G-Tec Multi Piece rods..again very nice.. C

Brian is very correct in the use of materials that don't hold water and air so well....in so using big bright flies it is very possible to keep an"EYE" on your fly to assist your casting... The fly in this picture that fooled a very bright Chum was tied with a bit of Purple Marabou, Ice Chenille(Water resistant) and a Rabbit tail.....big,light,alive in the water .. C

Hi Al; Actually these flies are not too hard to work with if you follow some very simple and safe tips. Gil is correct in developing your loops a bit more to the side..and always know where you fly is...in other words don't close your eyes! Since you are using a Skagit of some kind getting it to lift should pose no issue...depending on the size of the fly of course...Here on the Island it is the fly of choice for much of the winter so we cast hundreds of these patterns ...not sure what tip you are using..but ...you might lengthen your leader a bit and slow down your cast enough to be able to manipulate your rod tip just after your forward stroke has ended...avoiding any possible collision! One of the Good rules is to "watch your fly" ..know where it is and see it in relationship to your cast...with Skagit casting you are able to know where your fly is most of the time...even the 1/2 out rule... knowing where your fly is just prior to the forward stroke will enable you to know where it is going. This will differ for a floating line of course... C

Thanks Gord...how did the casting go?? Have been casting some of the new Hardy, of course Snowbee ,Clan and a few Loomis,Beulah and Sage rods these past few months and have to say I definitely appreciate the feel of the Snowbee and Clan rods. There is something to the feel of those deep fast reaction type rods that many NA manufacturers seem to miss. HAving recently been fishing the bigger waters with the new Z-Axis 14'3 and the Angel , on Sunday past I for the hell of it put a 530 CND Skagit Head and 16' of Rio Type 6 on Snowbee's 12' 6/7 wt. Torridge...likely because I have had those big rods lately as soon as I did my first cast I immediately recognized the depth this rod has... the flex flows smoothly but the recovery is almost immediate...the loops crisp and deliberate, and well, distance is superb. What I have noticed ,especially in the past 5 years is the considerable differences between european and NA rods developements. This is obvious because my casting style is very traditional mixed of course with the "Modern Casting style". I have really taken to liking those rods that consistantly develope a power surge from loading ,and slowly permit me to accelerate at various speeds my forward stroke with either hand. So for me that means I like a deep fast and not full flexing rod. The Clan rod has this as does the Snowbee 12', 12'6" and their 13' rod as did the Hardy Gem and the Elite. Just my thoughts for the evening...looking forward to playing with those new rods C Hi MAx...

Max You don't want to play with those girly sticks Gord is talking about>>!!