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After completing our shuttle moves yesterday afternoon, we made a special trip to the Legacy Island and Johnson's Island (Carseland) boat launches to have a look at the damage that we reported on last week. We have posted many photos on our blog site, as well as tentative plans for a cleanup of Legacy Island scheduled for early next week. You can find that information here. Kindest regards, Michelle

Earlier this week, another thread made mention of problems at Carseland and Legacy Island. We’ve received information on both boat launches from Brian Meagher (TUC Provincial Biologist) and George Yaniki (District Conservation Officer – SRD). You can find that information here. Kindest regards, Michelle

Bow Habitat Station

Congratulations to all the ticket winners! I look forward to meeting you at Back Cast. A special thanks to Flytyer for looking after this draw. I appreciate the support and interest from everyone who placed their name in the draw. I encourage all of you to consider purchasing a ticket or two to this special event for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada. PHWFFC would appreciate your support and so would I. Plus, you'll enjoy a great line up of world class films! :-) On Line ticket purchase will close at midnight tonight (Thursday February 10th 2011) or earlier if tickets are sold out. After that, tickets will be available ONLY at the door. Here is a link to a special email "Join our Friends at Back Cast FFFF" that went out last night to all of my subscribers. Lots of information including photos and special links. Thanks again everyone! Kindest regards, Michelle

Here are a few photos of the Broken Tippet booth. Kindest regards, Michelle

I really enjoyed your video. Thanks for sharing. Michelle

Rickr, thank you for suggesting that this post be moved. Thanks to those who were able to take part in the Bow River cleanup. One of the participants was Chris D. He picked up 3½ bags of thrash in the area downstream of the Ivor Strong bridge, on both sides of the river. His haul included 112 bottle caps, 72 pieces of Styrofoam, one BBQ top lid, 5 car parts, 34 miscellaneous pieces of plastic, plus lots more stuff. The GCSC wrapped up last Sunday. Here is a press release from earlier this week reporting on the success of this event. Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup - Press release Here is an article reporting on the GCSC cleanup in Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Tofino cleanup Kindest regards, Michelle P.S. Check out my blog for information on a tour of the Calgary Bow River Weir Project (Harvie Passage) which is scheduled for this coming Saturday. Bow River Shuttles Blog

Love your shoreline, love your community Join the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup The 1St Annual "Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup" September 18 & 19, 2010 The Bow River, between Calgary and Carseland, has a well deserved reputation in the fly fishing community of being a world class "blue ribbon" trout stream. However, there are some who float the Bow who seem oblivious to this, and who treat our river as a garbage dump. One long time fly fisher, Peter C., sent us a fishing report back in August. At the end of his report, he wrote: "It is disappointing to see all the trash left by weekend floaters - broken glass, food hampers and left over float tubes and clothing. My dog was lucky not to cut his feet. I wonder what the landowners think? Will we get banned from using the river bank? By the time I reached McKinnon's I had a garbage bag full of junk. It just p--s me off to see the abuse of the river bank. All we seem to be able to do is pick up other people's trash." We invite all Bow River fly fishers to join hands in a "Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup" (GCSC) event scheduled for the weekend of Sept 18 & 19 - The 1st Annual "Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup". Take along a pair of canvass gloves, a few garbage bags and a pen or pencil on your float trip that weekend. See if you can match Peter C.'s efforts by leaving your reach of river a little bit cleaner that you found it on that particular day. If you're planning a walk and wade trip anywhere along the lower Bow River, consider doing the same. This event applies to any section of the river, from the Glenmore Trail/Graves Landing boat launch to Johnson Island at Carseland Weir. To be part of this event, GCSC asks each participant for two things: 1. All participants MUST sign the Liability Waiver 2. Participants fill out and submit their Data Card, which is a record of what garbage was picked up. After your participation in this event, I would ask that you please scan and email your completed Waiver forms and Data Cards to michelle@bowrivershuttles.com. As the volunteer "GCSC Site Coordinator" for this event, I will compile the results from the Data Cards into the Group Summary Card and submit that to GCSC. We encourage everyone who is planning to be on the Bow River on that weekend to make of point of signing up and being part of this national campaign! To register for this event, please contact me with your interest as soon as possible. I will send you the Waiver form and the Data Card. Thank you. Kindest regards, Michelle Magotiaux Garbage Pickup: i) Fish Creek Provincial Park and Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park: The managers of the Provincial Parks have notified their respective contractors that there might be extra garbage at those boat launches on that weekend. ii) McKinnon Flats: Alberta Conservation Association has advised their contractor of the same. iii) Policeman's Flats and Legacy Island: Bow River Shuttles will pick up garbage at those sites. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is the largest cleanup in Canada and one of the largest cleanups in the world contributing to the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup. Since inception of the program, nearly one million kilograms of shoreline litter has been removed from our fragile ecosystem. Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Be a Data Detective

McKinnon Flats We had a few clients floating various river reaches yesterday, and we were doing pickups and drop offs at all of the boat launches, from Graves Landing/Glenmore Trail through to McKinnon Flats. While we were at it, we took some extra time and toured the bottom end of the “Blue Ribbon Bow”. Please see photos below. There is now an opening through the ice wall at McKinnon Flats. It’s directly in front of the “ramp”. One or two trailers have been backed right into the water. I don’t know if a 4X4 is required, but it’s probably a good idea. There were five or six fly fishers strung out along the water in front of the ice. A very peaceful sight. Legacy Island has not yet been used. But it likely won’t be long before someone gives it a try. The ice has melted almost to the river bottom directly in front of the ramp. The top of the ramp is as ugly as ever, in terms of being lumpy, bumpy and muddy. I think this is a 4X4 ramp, at least until everything dries out, and maybe even after. Carseland boat launch is now good to go. Happy Fishing! Kindest regards, Michelle Magotiaux 403-278-9165 McKinnon Flats Legacy Island Carseland

We made another tour of the boat launches yesterday Sunday March 14. As we reported two weeks ago, Graves Landing/Glenmore Trail and Policeman’s Flats were free of ice and snow. Since then, the gate to the 22X/Fish Creek Park access road to the boat ramp has been opened. There is still some ice and snow on the ramp at 17th Ave/Cushing Bridge. McKinnon Flats remains ice bound. However, there was evidence of vehicles driving out on to the river bed, directly in front of the boat “ramp’. From there to the water’s edge was about 25 paces. As we have done in past years, we encourage anyone thinking of floating from Police to McKinnon this early in the season to be aware of the very real danger presented by the huge ice shelves along the river. The side channel crossing at Legacy Island is passable. However, there is still significant ice blocking the boat ramp. At Carseland, the boat ramp is half free of ice, and there is a fair amount of open water in the bay. If you would like to receive the original version of this report, including 15 photos from all the boat launches, please send your request to michelle@bowrivershuttles.com Kindest regards, Michelle 22X/Fish Creek Park – Mar 12 2010 McKinnon Flats Legacy Island – side channel crossing Carseland

We decided to make our annual early March tour of the boat launches. Please see photos below. Monday March 01 was very sunny. Tuesday March 02 was very foggy. The boat launches at Graves Landing/Glenmore Trail and Policeman’s Flats are good to go. As in past years, I imagine the gate at the top of the access road to the Fish Creek boat launch will remain locked until the very last snowflake on that road has melted. Liability issues, I’ve been told. I was a bit surprised to see open water at McKinnon Flats. However, we’ve since been advised by Dave & Amelia Jensen (Fly Fish Alberta) that the river is open from Policeman’s Flats to McKinnon Flats. They floated (fishing raft) and fished that reach last weekend. See photos and read Fly Fish Albera blog report here… http://tinyurl.com/yjdtfqm Kindest regards, Michelle Magotiaux www.bowrivershuttles.com michelle@bowrivershuttles.com403-278-9165 17th Ave/Cushing Bridge - downstream & upstream Graves Landing/Glenmore Trail Fish Creek Park Policeman's Flats McKinnon Flats Legacy Island - upstream & downstream

TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA BOW RIVER CHAPTER SOCIAL NIGHTS EVERYONE WELCOME - FREE ADMISSION Bow River Fly Fishing - Bugs on the Bow Join Bow River Guide Terry Johnson for a slide show presentation of the aquatic insects that populate the Bow River. Topics Include:  Simple bug Identification for Mayflies, Caddis and Stoneflies.  The life cycles of each insect  Where to look for them  What to use to imitate them  When to fish the imitations  Terrestrials and other insects Date: Wednesday February 17 @ 7:00 pm Location: Delta Calgary South Atrium Building, Rundle Room 135 Southland Dr SE For more information, contact Michelle Magotiaux at 403-278-9165 or michelle@bowrivershuttles.com Support Your Local Bow River and Coldwater Conservation Efforts!

This is very short notice. Hope some of you can make it. Trout Unlimited - Bow River Chapter SOCIAL NIGHTS Everyone Welcome - Free Admission Gear Up & Get Out Spring Fishing At Its Best! Come out and enjoy an informative presentation and lively discussion: Best Tactics for Spring Conditions Gear for Success Locations in and around Calgary Date: May 20 @ 7PM Location: Delta Calgary South 135 Southland Dr SE Support Your Local Bow River and Coldwater Conservation Efforts

The Bow River watershed in Banff and Kananaskis Country is the source of drinking water for many Bow Valley communities, a recreational mecca, a world renowned angler’s paradise and a source of hydroelectric power. These and other activities are straining the river’s capacity to support native trout populations. Join Wendy Francis, of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, as she presents new findings about factors causing the decline of once abundant bull and west slope cutthroat trout in the upper Bow. Monday, February 9, 2009 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm City of Calgary Outdoor Resource Centre 1111 Memorial Dr. NW. (ground floor of building) Free parking passes available Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Calgary Banff Chapter Michelle Bow River Shuttles