ogilvie

Yeah...will do... have to wait for a few days though...Val has me on domestic duties for the next few dasy...spent a week on the Bulkley-Morice and now have to do STUFFFFF C

Have a nice 3 pc.12' Sharpes that was traded in ...have been playing with it a bit and really like the early Windcutter on it...if you can find One of the Silk Lines that would be good.. Although the general fishing applications for that set-up on the Island at the moment isn't Ideal...soon the fresh Winter Run Steelhead will be making their appearance, within weeks...however the down side now is that the water levels are just now shooting up! C

Hey...very nice fish...great photos......Mid October is fisherman's heaven on Vancouver Island...Qualicum Beach is Central to most of the activity...take your pick C

This is a great topic and well thought about. I believe ,in my modest opinion, that the Switch rod has opened the door for many fly casters to enhance their experiences and abilities much more easily. This is obvious since we have seen all the major rod manufacturers jumping on the band wagon once many fly fishers began to really "DIG" using fine smaller rods able to be cast as a single or Two hander,and produce desired results immediately. Now with the advent of certain companies designing specific lines for their rods ,the results are that "other manufacturers are following suit. We wll all benefit from this output in new designs and products. Even when fishing a 4/5 weight switch there are times ,for me , when the need to apply much more torque to the rod produces beneficial results. For some their physical issues demand a much more balanced means to use this tool, in such a case as my wife's. As with Murray's pal, it has opened a greater possibility. Here on the Coasts the new 11' Surf Rods are again answering a call for super fast action lighter rods to deliver flies greater distances with less effort for those understanding the need for proper line matches. My personal favorite Switch rod is the 8/9 10'6" Beulah...I can be fishing Steelhead in chest deep water wading under a tree and still make the demanding cast with super fast lines and big flies, or beach fishing for Pink Salmon and needing to cast 110' in the wind, or fishing for big Trout on the Thompson,Clearwater, Mitchell,Horsefly, Campbell River or on the other hand playing with 40 lb. Chinook on the Stamp,and other such Rivers. Yet I can still enjoy the many smaller trout that happen along the way...a great tool C

Like you I too am not a fan of the Sharkskin lines and the running line will likely be as hard on the fingers...Cortland sells the braided running lines that have the same feel, we really don'y like those lines here on the coast because your fingers do get cut by the constant retreiving of long lines coupled with being in Salt Water...The idea is good though...will see what they are like C

Lines like the Snowbee Short Head Scandanavian Spey Line (ultra fast sink) are great Scandi casting lines but rarely needed for the Bow...perhaps with the high dirty water you guys have had will see more of these being used. C

The quality of these new reels is very high...and Max nailed it about having to compete...in the years gone by,Hardy had to pay rod builders 35 GBP(pounds) an hour to build fly rods...it doesn't take long to figure out that in this world that is OK for custom builders but not a mass producer. The same went for the reels...and one has to remember that Hardy isn't about Fishing gear(in our eyes perhaps) but AeroSpace! their technology is and has been used in the Space Shuttle,Stealth Bomber,and many more. Why should they build a fly reel that retails at $900 when in the same time they can build a component for the US AirForce and receive half a Million and some!?? If you have reels made in England from Hardy hang onto them! If you have the ones made in Korea...USE them...they are good I think the new rods coming out of Korea for Hardy are better than the rods Hardy has made in the last 10 years.! The only serious issue with Hardy /Greys products these days is their inability to treat we mere colonials with respect and provide quality service! it ain't going to happen!

Max.... Boys like to play indeed..no matter what our age we always play...you will love the new Tonic lines...short heads about 24',able to pick up Sink Tips of any weight and toss big flies yet able to be adjusted to deliver dry flies... Many West Coast fishers are beginning to get the picture about using the Beulah Elixir Lines on single handers...as are our Ontario cousins. We will soon be able to get the Elixir and Tonic heads as well...should be a blast to play with.../ It never changes..but there are just more of us doing it!

Why re-invent the wheel....MAX...are you using the 5/6 Switch Elixir Line? The grain windows for these rods are fairly large ... If you want something of a more Skagit style you mightalso consider the new Beulah Tonic lines....but for pure fishing pleasure the Elixirs are hard to beat... Hope fishing is getting better C

Yeah, Bowcane,...There is something like that in the works...in both Single and double handed lines...there has always been issues with the drastic change from a large ,by comparison, belly to Running Line transition....the best transitions I have seen are or were by Shakespear,Rio has improved drastically as has SA... C

Since we are going to a place where the dark arrives later(Quesnel) for this long week-end, and then later in the month the Yukon...our UK trip is off until after Xmas......our time for beach fishing is fast approaching and that I won't miss.... Would love to see Scotland this time of year>>> C

Over the past few months we have been working on new spey line designs and head lengths for basically smaller river systems like the Bow. The great debate at the moment is should there be a stepped line transition design like some now being built, a slower short rear taper to the slim diameter running line(One line) or to a distinct Head use with looped connection to a small diameter more slick running line. You's that fish the Bow would have a better idea of these needs considering the waters I fish here on the Island are typically much faster with a more rigorous dynamic. ...such as the Gold And Nympkish... Thoughts?? C

Are you the BC Peckerwood Tako??? Good for you

Hey, Very nice job....Furled leaders are excellent...a bit expensive but goooood. Are you going to sell some? C

I have to say that for me this is an old story that has frustraded me since the late 60's...in the Mid 70's I was president of a group called Solar Canada...my interests and training was in the High Performance Construction world that soon became defunct because of the industries inability to desire real change and greed. And that hasn't changed to this day...Lip service is all we get and politicians pensions are the main focus. However,we can take this current focus on fuel costs to a new level of understanding. It can be time to make change in our lifestyles as Canadians and world citizens. Why do we water lawns?and not gardens!! Why do we drive alone to go pick up a loaf of bread or Milk? Ludicrous for sure. How many vehicles do we need? SO...my fishing adventures are more frugle,shared more often and closer to home mostly! My garden is expanding,wood heat is a new focus,and life will continue as never before. What we do as Humans is most often unrealistic and foolish..but what we do individually will create change. I wonder why they stopped useing trains for freight??? in this huge country!!and have set-up truck drivers in a false industry! Wow...I need some cheese C

Bowcane; I have a reel for you that is absolutely a classic and never used..I had it at this years Fly Fishing show in Calgary but few casters appreciate the true wonder of such a reel...Noisy as hell..it is a Farlow ,Holdfast "Grenaby"...spey ,virgin condition in original box...$425 I took it in on a trade in ... Courtney

May see you there Mr. McLeod...depends how the Pink Salmon run shows up! Summers(Steelhead) are here now and in some good numbers....nothing big yet...although with the best water conditions in many years I would expect to see some monsters..I have heard of an 18lb Fish landed about 30 miles form here...and the Campbell River is expected to have a "first " good return in may years because of a new program to bring these fish back in fishable numbers...looking very promising! C

Hey you Two...Work is good for the soul!! The Vision heads were the catalyst for the Beulah Elixir lines...IMO likely the sweetest fishing lines about. Fly casting is meant to be casual and smooth. Sea Run Browns...ohhhhh C

The Snowbee XSD1112 cartridge Spey Reel system is finally released and I have a dozen on their way. For those of you interested they will be available during the first week of June. The reel comes with 4 cassetts and a carrying bag . The reel retails for $175.. 10% off for FFC members...so,since we all had to wait so long will get them to you for $175...inclusive. Unfortunately,they will not be here until the last week of May and I will be in SOuthern Ontario until June 1st. Send me an email and I will reserve your reel. Courtney Nile Creek Fly Shop

Have a safe trip back Gordon...we may see you soon. Did it snow in Calgary today? C

The Nor-Vise is a great little tool and you should get used to it soon....I really like the rotary applications but there are times when you just don't need it.

The sound of Water and Mountains...we are blessed indeed! Nice fish C

Scott did some great work on this DVD...he is without question on of the best casters about.. We will have a supply of these DVD's at Nile Creek Fly Shop as well...

Yeah you are quite right,.....I particularly like the Snowbee 2 colour WF Floating line for many reasons...First it fishes extremely well,lovely long front taper about 8', 23' belly and 11 ' rear taper...splendid ratio for smooth casting and fishing....the box is clearly marked with the grain weights at the 30' and the 44'...also,this line when loaded correctly will deliver the entire line on One pick up///no false casts normally...these are Polyurethane lines...excellent. The same is true for the Snowbee Spey Lines....but the confusion between NA and European rod makers still isn't clear... My thoughts..have to go...Hockey started C

There will be a DVD and small book on just this issue...on another topic though,I would suggest that the greatest variations come from the labelling of the rods...SIngle handed rods,Switch Rods and Two Handers all rated by grain weights yet all labelled differently... another issue is the rod lengths,actions,casters style and so on. A great beginning would be to (as some have) have the recommended grain weights on the rods. And likely the largest issue is trying to cast to the other side of the river all the time...so it seems to put us at an immediate disadvantage of the unknown and the Male Ego! IMO C