pepper

Photo, courtesy Yellowstone River Cleanup Important Links Apologies for this second post. We meant to include links to the Liability Waiver and Individual Data Card that are required by the folks at 'Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup'. The Bow River Shuttles "Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup" is part of this nation wide cleanup effort. Please print these two documents, fill them out and submit them, along with a photo that includes you, your boat and your bag of garbage. As you already know, we will draw five names from those who participate in this "Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup". The five winning packages, which include coffee, breakfast, lunches and car/boat washes, are valued at $95 each. Plus, one of the five will also receive an oil change, valued at $50, for a total value of $145 for that package. We look forward to hearing from you. Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup - Alberta 2011 Facts

"Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup" - New for 2012!! This year, five volunteer fly fishing drift boat participants in the "Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup" will receive a special package of items that have been generously donated by several local sponsors. Each package will contain: Tim Hortons: $5.00 breakfast/coffee certificate Paw's N Wheel Wash: $15.00 car/boat wash certificate Safeway: $10 deli lunch certificate Coop: $10 deli lunch certificate Spolumbo's: $50 box lunch certificate In addition, one of the five participants will also receive: Kingsboro Auto Service: Oil Change certificate (value approx. $50.00) To qualify to have your name in the draw: 1. Register for the 'Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup' by contacting michelle@bowrivershuttles.com . Michelle will send you the Liability Waiver and the Individual Data Card. 2. Take some garbage bags on your float trip this weekend, either Saturday or Sunday. 3. After the cleanup, submit your Liability Waiver and Individual Data Card to Michelle. 4. Provide a photo that includes you and/or your fly fishing party, along with your boat and your collected trash. 5. Five names will be drawn from those who participate in this special event. Sponsors: Tim Hortons: Owner Dave. Aveneda Place, Macleod Tr SW (next to Fish Tales Fly Shop) Paws N' Wheel Wash: Owner Jeff Gottfredsen. Douglas Square at Deerfoot. Many drift boat owners already swing by here after their Bow River float trips. Safeway: Mgr Maureen Asselin. Lake Bonavista Shopping Centre (between Anderson Rd SE & Canyon Meadows Dr SE). On the way to 22X boat launch. Coop: Mgr Susan, Asst Mgr Wendy. Deer Valley Shopping Centre, Canyon Meadows Drive SE & Bow Bottom Trail SE. On the way to 22X boat launch. Spolumbo's: Co-Owner Tony Spolotini, 1308 9 Ave SE (Inglewood). Well known for providing box lunches for drift boaters over the years. Kingsboro Auto Service: Owner/Operator Hank Izaak. 4674 MacLeod Tr SW. Kingsboro handles all manner of vehicle repair work, as well as maintenance and repair of boat trailer wheel bearings. Hank and his crew have been looking after our personal and business vehicles since September 1972. Yes, that's 40 years! Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup - Alberta 2011 Facts For more information about participating in the "Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup", please click on this link.

From left: Deepak Obhrai, Member of Parliament for Calgary East, Colton Quinn, Youth Spokesman, from Sarcee Fish & Game Association, Honourable Diana McQueen, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Ted Morton, Founding Committee Chair and Emcee, Lloyd Horn, Past President, Bow Habitat Station Volunteer Society To kick off free fishing weekend and National Fishing Week, Bow Habitat Station held a grand opening celebration of its newest feature, the Kids Can Catch Trout Pond. This photo is "The First Cast", officially opening the Kids Can Catch Trout Pond this morning. The five individuals who participated in "The First Cast" were all speakers during the Grand Opening Celebration. Check out our 30-photo album, and more information, from this event. Jeff Surtees, CEO, Trout Unlimited Canada Kids Can Catch Trout Pond is open for business!!

Thanks SilverDoctor and Hawgstoppah!

Thanks Northfork! We can recall taking a photo of a wood duck only once before, maybe 5 years ago. According to The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta, the wood duck occurs "sporadically" in this province, "where it is at the northern limits of its North American range." In any case, it sure was a treat to spot this one. It was sitting on that log, in a small new side channel that was created by the current high water on the Bow River. It kept an eye on us as we moved around for a better shot, but never took flight.

Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011 Every morning, we post a previously unpublished photo from Season 2011. We began this in November 2011. You can see individual photos here. We also post them to albums. Season 2011 Album #1 was capped at 167 photos. We continue to add daily to Season 2011 Album #2 which is currently at 54 photos. Today along the Bow River - June 2012 Every evening, we post a new photo from the current day, or the current month. You can view June 2012 here or here.

Horse training Fly fishing guide (white shirt) instructing clients Two Gents and a Lady Trout hunters See more May 2012 photos here or here. We post daily.

Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC) was asked to make a submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment regarding the creation of a National Conservation Plan for Canada. CEO Jeff Surtees (above) appeared before the committee in Vancouver on Wednesday May 15, 2012. For additional information and to view a copy of Jeff's speaking notes please visit the Newsroom section of the TUC website. Although Jeff's presentation was directed to the topic of a National Conservation Plan for Canada, Jeff found it necessary to mention TUC's concerns regarding proposed changes to the fisheries act (Bill C-38). Here are some of those comments: Question 5 – What should be the implementation priorities of a National Conservation Plan? 17. In light of the budget bill, Bill C-38, currently before Parliament, this question proved very difficult for us. After a great deal of thought and discussion we concluded there are currently too many uncertainties to answer the question. 18. Mr. Chairman, you have told us this morning that we are to stick to the topic at hand, the development of a National Conservation Plan, that we are not to get into the legislative changes that are proposed. But whether you like it or not, these things are all connected. 19. In the natural environment, everything is connected to everything else. To have any lasting effect, to make a difference in the environment, all actions must be consistent. You always want to start at the top of a watershed and work down, because water and problems flow downhill. 20. So when we are asked for recommendations about implementation priorities to be included in a National Conservation Plan for Canada, we are forced to take into consideration the legislative changes that are being proposed. . 21. As I said at the start, Trout Unlimited Canada is an action oriented organization. We try to work cooperatively. We will, ultimately, learn to work within whatever legislative and regulatory framework our elected representatives put in place. Subject to our funding constraints we will always offer our expertise and our assistance to help. 22. Under the existing legislation if any activity causes harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat, an environmental assessment would be triggered. Under the new legislation, our understanding is that will not necessarily be the case. A lot depends upon what is included in the regulations, which are not yet written. So we can’t answer the question. 23. We support improvements to regulatory efficiency so long as the conservation outcomes are not compromised. When considering the amendments to the legislation within Bill C-38, we acknowledge that the increased penalties and the new provisions related to invasive species are positive steps. But we view some of the changes that are being made as steps backwards. We are firmly of the view that destruction or alteration of any real fish habitat should always trigger an environmental assessment. Protection of fish habitat is the reason our organization exists. How could we think otherwise?

Wow! Some amazing shots. Thanks for posting.

Yesterday morning at Mac. See more May 2012 photos here or here. We post daily.

A call to action: Ray Fairweather, Chinook Fly Fishing Club, Lethbridge, urges all fly fishers to take action in response to the proposed changes to the fisheries act in omnibus Bill C-38. Political Hippy by Ray Fairweather Friday 04 May, 2012 Sexyloops I am not normally a Political Hippy unless something that is at the core of my Hippyness is being threatened, and I am pretty sure you all know what core I am talking about, well if you are guessing then here it is FLYFISHING. This time is it not climate change or any natural attack, this is pure man made Bullshit. So here it is. The Harper government in Canada is changing the legislation to eliminate the protection of fish habitat and really all the fisheries in Canada. Instead, the government is planning to offer token protection only for commercial, recreational, and aboriginal fisheries, while cutting federal environmental reviews and fisheries reviews of the impacts of projects. This draconian change will set environmental laws back by decades. Right now the government does not know where the recreational fisheries are, nor do they know that sportfish eat other fish, so other "lesser" fish have to be protected also. They also don't understand that to remain productive a fishery needs clean good quality water, fish need access to quality habitat, and they need to be able to migrate to overwintering and spawning areas. To protect a fishery, the habitat must be protected - each puzzle piece is as important as the next, and if you remove one, you seriously limit the capacity of the system, or cause a catastrophic collapse. There is are many articles about the proposed changes: Edmonton Jounal article Winnipeg Article Globe and Mail Article DFO Info Release So in that regard, I have a task for you all... Read more here

See more April 2012 photos here

This boat will be at the Bow River Shuttles Used Drift Boat Sale tomorrow morning, Saturday April 21 @ 10:00 am. (Same time, same location as the TUC-Bow River Chapter 'Tackle Swap') Beautiful McKenzie River Drift Boat. Glen-L design. Heavy duty Kevlar bottom makes this boat virtually indistructable. Composite construction,(Okume Marine grade plywood completely encapsulated with fiberglass and epoxy). Stable, with a very shallow draft, it’s the perfect platform for fishing the Bow, and similar waters. Newly painted interior, comfortable, refurbished seats, knee braces at the front and rear casting stations, adjustable rowing seat, with anchor line control. Tons of storage. Oars are Sawyer, graphite, and counterbalanced. The trailer is a “Karavan”, complete with mounted spare tire, two inch ball hitch, and 4 pin wiring. MUST be seen to be appreciated. Asking $4,900.00.

Tackle Swap & Used Drift Boat Sale TUC - Bow River Chapter 2012 Tackle Swap All photos: Copyright Bow River Shuttles 19th Annual Used Equipment Sale Saturday April 21. 10 am - 12 noon South Calgary Community Association 3130 16 St SW ***Garage Sale Format*** Call now to reserve your table $25 each. Limited numbers available Table set up: 9 am - 10 am Sale: 10 am - 12 pm Cleanup: 12 pm - 1 pm Sell your own used fishing gear $25 table charge, some restrictions apply You sell, you get the best deal possible To book your table, or for sale info, contact: Craig Robillard 403-251-4803 (h) 403-968-8788 © craiglr@gmail.com Bow River Shuttles - 8th Annual - Used Drift Boat Sale In conjunction with, and in support of, the TUC - Bow River Chapter Tackle Swap 2012 Same Date. Same Time. Same Location. drift boats, jon boats, pontoon boats, etc. Fee: $25 per boat Cheques payable to: "Trout Unlimited Canada-Bow River Chapter" Limited boat stalls available. To book a boat stall, contact: Michelle Magotiaux Bow River Shuttles 403-278-9165 michelle@bowrivershuttles.com

McKinnon Flats on Tuesday April 10. There was a very noticeable change by Friday April 13. As of yesterday, Friday April 13, there is an ice free path to the water at Mac. However, our trip there was not a piece of cake. Check out the details, including 6 photos and 1 vid clip, at "McKinnon Flats Ice Out – Good, Bad & Ugly". Michelle

See more April 2012 photos here

McKinnon Flats April 02 2012 Photo: Copyright Bow River Shuttles Just prior to this past weekend, I began getting calls from my shuttle clients wondering about Bow River boat launch conditions, especially those below Policeman's Flats. So we set aside a good part of Monday, April 02, to visit them all, from the top of the river to the bottom. The odometer clocked in at 194.5 kms. Here is what we saw. (24 photos and 2 video clips) The new, and very solid, red and white gate is still up at the Riverside Quays condo development at the 17 Ave/Cushing Bridge boat launch. However, we've learned from two different sources, including Fly Fish Calgary Forum, that this gate was installed by the condo developer, and not by the City. The condo developer had also installed a locked chain across the other entrance to the boat launch road. That chain has now been unlocked at the request of the City. Stay tuned. Things could get interesting at this location when the Harvie Passage officially opens later this spring. The 22X/Fish Creek Park boat launch was opened the weekend before last, as was noted on my Blog at the time. We did our first shuttle to McKinnon Flats on Tuesday April 03. These hardy fly fishers were willing to drag their drift boat over the ice, as they have done in past years. If you'd like to compare the current boat launch conditions to what they were a month ago, you can see my March 02, 2012 boat launch report here. Here is what conditions looked like in our early April 2011 report "It's S'no'w Joke". Quite a difference between last year, "The Winter That Wouldn't End", and this year, "The Winter That Wasn't"! Michelle

This topic has received very little coverage in the Calgary media. We think it’s an important issue deserving of more attention. We hope you agree. Otto Langer, a retired federal fisheries biologist, released two weeks ago a leaked internal information spelling out planned changes to the Fisheries Act. A section that went into force in 1986, prohibiting any activities that could harm fish habitat, would be replaced by a ban on anything causing an "adverse effect" on "fish of economic, cultural or ecological value." For more information, and to take action, please click here.

We’ve just switched all of our Facebook accounts over to TIMELINE. Go have a look and let us know what you think. While you’re there, please ‘LIKE’ our pages! And sign up for our newsletter ‘The Stimulator’. Note: To see more of the "Profile", you need to be registered as a Facebook user. However, this is not required for you to view the other three pages below. Bow River Shuttles Profile Bow River Shuttles Page Bow River Drift Boat Rentals Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival

TUC - Bow River Chapter 2012 Tackle Swap 19th Annual Used Equipment Sale Saturday April 21. 10 am - 12 noon South Calgary Community Association 3130 16 St SW ***Garage Sale Format*** Call now to reserve your table $25 each. Limited numbers available Table set up: 9 am - 10 am Sale: 10 am - 12 pm Cleanup: 12 pm - 1 pm Sell your own used fishing gear $25 table charge, some restrictions apply You sell, you get the best deal possible To book your table, or for sale info, contact: Craig Robillard 403-251-4803 (h) 403-968-8788 © craiglr@gmail.com Also: Bow River Shuttles - 8th Annual - Used Drift Boat Sale In conjunction with, and in support of, the TUC - Bow River Chapter Tackle Swap 2012 Same Date. Same Time. Same Location. drift boats, jon boats, pontoon boats, etc. Fee: $25 per boat Cheques payable to: "Trout Unlimited Canada-Bow River Chapter" Limited boat stalls available. To book a boat stall, contact: Michelle Magotiaux Bow River Shuttles 403-278-9165 michelle@bowrivershuttles.com

Hi everyone, I’ve copied below my signature a PM I received from Fly Tyer. Congratulation to the two winners: fishinglivin (for matinee) and bcube (ro evening). Special ‘thanks’ to Flytyer for overseeing this draw. Thanks to all the others who put their name in for this ticket draw. I encourage each of you to consider purchasing some Back Cast FFFF tickets for yourself. In doing do, you’ll be: - Supporting the work of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada. Net proceeds from this event are donated to PHWFFC - Supporting the development of local amateur fly fishing film makers, including The Humble Fisherman (Jay Jones) and Jenson Fly Fishing Productions (Dave & Amelia Jensen). Their never-before-seen-in-public films, “Glacial Bull Trout” and “New Zealand Cuthroat”, will be screened and are vying for honours as ‘Best Film’. The winner will be chosen by you, the audience, and will receive $500. Please come out to cheer them on and vote for your favourite film. - Supporting our local food banks. Cardel Theatre provides complementary use of their theatre for charitable-type events like Back Cast FFFF, and ask only that theatre goers please bring along an item for the food bank. - Enjoying a number of full length films, by some of the very best fly fishing film makers from both yesterday and today. Advance Online ticket purchase is available until midnight tonight Thursday Feb 23 2012. After that, tickets will be available at the door. For more information about “Best Film of Back Cast FFFF Competition, click this link. For more information about “Fly Fishing Movie Classics at Back Cast FFFF 2012”, click this link. For more information, including the entire lineup of films, plus film synopses and film trailers, click on this link Finally, you can follow our daily "Countdown to Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival", featuring exclusive photos from the film producers, on our Bow River Shuttles Blog, Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival Facebook Page and Bow River Shuttles Twitter feed. Thank you. Michelle Hi Michelle My apologies for running late for the draw; I have been under the weather for the better part of a week and I have done a lot of resting. I did get the draw done and sent out for contact info which is as follows: matinee draw won by fishinglivin evening draw won by bcube Once again my apologies for running late. Cheers Ron

Regarding running time of the two films from our local amateur film makers: The ‘Call for Entries’ that went out in early 2011 requested that submissions be ten minutes or less in length. We’re very pleased to have Jay Jones and Dave & Amelia Jensen as part of Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival 2012. Can’t wait to see their films up on the big screen! Kindest regards, Michelle

Hi Hybridfive, These two films run about 7 to 10 minutes each. Thank you for your interest. Kindest regards, Michelle

Click this link for more information about Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival, including film line up, synopsis of each film and film trailers. Purchase tickets Online Here Tickets also available at the following locations (CASH ONLY): Fish Tales Fly Shop Country Pleasures Fly Fishing West Winds Fly Shop Southbow Fly & Tackle Bow River Troutfitters The Fishin' Hole Calgary Women Fly Fishers Club meetings Calgary Hook & Hackle Club meetings

Michelle & Ron (Flytyer) It was great to be part of the Expo's 10th anniversary year! I was able to spend only a limited time at my display booth over the weekend. However, it was good to say hello to several members of this board, including Ron (Flytyer) and to meet a number of my shuttle clients. We were able to keep an eye on FlytyerKyle over the weekend , as his booth for the Canadian Youth National Fly Fishing Team was right next to mine. The Bird family got a chance to salute their patriarch, Gary Bird, with a special presentation near the end of the second day. Thanks to the Bird family, the fly fishing community has had this special event to look forward to for the past decade. Here's to the next ten! Michelle There are more photos from the Expo at this link. Members of the 'Broken Tippet' team FlytyerKyle (left) Bird family celebrating 10th Anniversary of Western Canadian Fly Fishing Exposition. (from left) Jennifer Bird, Chris Bird, Derek Bird, Sandy Bird and Gary Bird.