rusty

Tako - if it's that cold, is there any general consensus yet about the effect on the pine beetles?

Put me down for $250 on #1.

By far the easiest way to resize photos is to download Image Resizer from the Windows XP Powertoys page at Microsoft. Right click in Windows Explorer, Resize Pictures, choose a size, done. About 3/4 of the way down on the right side. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloa...ppowertoys.mspx

Yep - really. 6" is all you need - and it makes sure that the fly stays nice and close to the tip. You get a 6' or 7' leader on there and the fly will ride up too much.

Sounds like that fake Luongo interview on Fan 960 the other day. "87 Firefly with the Edelbrock intake manifold."

Brent makes a good point about the 2540. It's a full ounce and change heavier than the 3200, but it has a really nice drag system. I've had a 2560 for two years and I love it. The 3200 has little or no drag. I put a 3300 clicker on mine to help somewhat. You can get that 2540 in a really lovely green color too - it would match wonderfully with the Z-Axis blank. Tako, the 9' is really nice if you want to fish larger water or nymph without indicators. Give one a cast if you get a chance and I'm sure you'll be plesantly surprised. The extra length is also a bonus for fishing boatmen or leeches in lakes.

When the water's high I like to use a 200gr Streamer Express. It's a 30' fast sinking tip attached to an intermediate sinking running line. I fish a very short 6" leader and find that the sinktip really keeps the fly down. The T-series tips (25') are also really good sinktips. I find that the short tips just don't keep the fly down like a 25' or 30'.

That's easy - a Sage 390 Z-Axis with a Sage 3200 reel. Super light, looks great, fishes fabulously. I have the 390XP and 3200 and I think it's the best small-medium stream combo you can get. It's the only rod I fish on the rivers you mentioned - and you can even use it for tossing dries on the Bow in the evening (that is, Al, if you ever actually fish the Bow ). The 390s are wonderful light nymphing rods, with or without indicators. I even fish small weighted streamers with them. It would be a good rod to fish on lakes as long as the wind doesn't howl. I caught an obese 25" rainbow on mine a few years ago. You could save a few bucks by going with a different reel, but the 3200 is so light and pretty that I think it's worth it.

Actually I got some this afternoon at CP. Nice stuff (but the price is a little ridiculous).

Can you buy rhea here in town anywhere?

Dave, it helps to put the T-Ho's down to land those bigger ones. 14 pound Trilene and a #2 Clouser hook doesn't hurt either.

In the flood year I caught a monster 27" male pig with a really distinctive toonie-sized healed over scar on his side. I posted a pic on the old FFA forum, and you really couldn't tell where it was from the pics. A few weeks later I ran into a guide who had seen the pic and knew the exact location because he'd caught the fish a few times previously. The real hogs in the river are not as common as most folks think. If bowcrow pokes his head in here I'm sure he'll tell you about the big brown they caught 4 times in one winter.

I often carry two rods and leave one sitting on the bank. When you fish the Bow in the spring the banks get pretty gritty. My 690RPL+ is scratched to all hell and has had no issues whatsoever. Like they say with some cars...give 'er till she pukes.

Good call - but I want to use them for monster Chinooks this summer. I think I'll give them a shot though - 50 pound strength is very decent.

Have you strength tested them yet? I'd be really interested to see what they'd hold.

Can be phenomenal baetis fishing that time of year too.

I do a fair amount of dry fly fishing and would say that all you really need are different colors and sizes of Parachute Adams (say #14, #18 in olive, cream, and gray), a few Peacock Caddis in #14 and #16, and some CDC Griffith's Gnats in #18 and #22 for the small stuff. A few spent Tricos can come in handy from time to time as well. I think the key is not pattern as much as presentation. I caught quite a few fish eating Tricos on the small Parachute this year by making a good cast in the right spot and not overworking the fish. I like to keep the number of patterns to a minimum. It makes the tying easier and reduces the urge to switch flies after every cast. I swear that many of those late August Crowsnest trout could recite the entire Orivs catalog of flies and won't go near anything with a hook in it.

I agree with you Al. I'm going to Alaska to fish monster chinooks on the 10 weight in July, and we'll see if I change my mind afterwards.

I'd be interested depending on the timing.

Yeah, it would be cool to watch some of the more experienced guys strut their stuff. I only spent a half hour trying it out and I already find myself walking around the office practicing in the air. Some people must think I'm nuts.

I've made the drive to Duck quite a few times...the fishing there is really reliable for largemouths. It would be great if the drive was half as long though.

The booth looked great, Glen - hope you cleaned house.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I've emailed Beulah and we'll see what they have to say. I bought the rig from Courtney and he may have a good idea as well when he gets back (let's hope he's not driving right now). The whole reverse spooling idea is not exactly fun, but it sounds like it might be the way to go. It's more than somewhat ironic that the worst weather of the year comes in not 48 hours after I picked her up, but once this lets go I've got about a half dozen spots picked out to work with the new puppy. Cliffs of Doom anyone?

That's my new Beulah 12'7" 7/8 and Islander LX4.0. I also picked up a Beulah Elixir to match - it's a 435gr. 35'. Question: what should I put behind the line? I am reluctant to rig up gelspun as I've seen too many sliced up hands. Worst case scenario, I suppose I could spool it on backwards and rig up enough 30# dacron to fill the reel. Is there a better way?

Yeah, that's not going to be fun. There's already over 30" of ice on some of the prairie reservoirs. You'll need an auger extension after that cold snap.