BBBrownie

Cheers to one more scotch, down the hatch.

The puffins were great, we got about a foot away from a few. We visited the east coast of newfoundland. Sunset was actually taken in Okotoks this spring. Cheers!

this is about all...need a fishin partner with some camera skills! I find it very difficult to capture good fish pics alone quick enough that it doesn't over stress. Cheers to good summer and fall fishing ahead!

and more...

Well, here is the spring so far...first time i've posted pics on here, so hopefully this works out. I often fish alone, so good fish pics are usually difficult for me, but here are a few. Included is my first atlantic salmon from a holiday last week to newfoundland.

Ahh. Olympia's are close to my heart. Nothing like a few ice cold oly's after a good day of slayin big bullies. That was an amazing rhyme. Your bows are gorgeous as well!

What is everyones favorite scotches? I have two categories for scotches-fishing scotch (cheaper but good, sits nice in my vest flask) and an evening scotch(which tends to break my bank occasionally) to sip at home in front of the fireplace. Fishin scotch- McClellands Islay, Laphroaig Quater Cask Evening scotch- Lagavulin 16 year, Laphroaig 1988 old malt cask. There are many great scotches out there, what do you drink?

Although a minor point, the sheep wasn't running any dirtier or high last night than its been yet this season. It still has a bit to go before the real flow starts piling down

haha. I've got a Lee Wulf vest that was surplus from a fishin shop my father owned and shut down in 1983. I've been fishing with it for 25 years. I think it is time for a new one, she's startin to fall apart.

Good call on the fu manchu tag. Although thier not my fishin music, saw them a few years back in edmonton, it was amazing. Rock and roll. I usually listen to some mellow jams to get in the mood. Wilco, Neil Young, anything bluegrass...Lately i've been in a louder mood. Black Mountain's been getting it done. Jayhad, Dragon force is an epic choice, although if im going metal it usually involves Angel of Death(slayer); that will get me psyched if I need it.

Sundance, I am familiar with sustainable harvest theory. The way I see this is not in any way related to sustainable harvest. What I was trying to say is that if the pond is fished out in a short time period it is obviously filling a demand. I fully realize that these fish are going from the hatchery truck to a frying pan. Is there really a problem with that? I think it was the planned destination, hopefully they have time to put on a couple hundred grams before they hit the pan or it may make a meager meal. I think that those that like to catch a limit which is high enough to provide a dinner for their family need a place to fulfill this hunter/gatherer instinct. I, myself do not generally partake in stocked rainbow ponds, but I know there are many who do, and that is fishing to them. These hatchery rainbows are essentially a farmed resource, much like cattle or chickens, plus they take a bit of pressure off some of the native fisheries. I really see no harm in this. This is one of relatively few local sustenance fisheries, whereas much of the calgary area is managed as high quality sport fisheries. The fact that Allen Bill is fished out in a couple months suggests to me that their is actually more demand than supply for this type of resource. I don't believe that management has any incentive to change the current situation at Allen Bill, as there is obvious support for it. I mean, really, as a MOSTLY (I may eat the odd sustainably harvested fish) catch and release angler, I have many of the worlds best trout streams outside my back door. I think there is a point where you realize that the other guys need a spot to do their thing as well. I'd much rather see the food fishery pressure on allen bill than on our beloved rivers. I don't believe that there is a niche large enough to manage every dugout, oxbow and ponds as a trophy fishery. Again, just my opinion, it is nice to have some dialogue and think a bit about what we actually have or dont have here.

I havent fished Allen Bill, but am somewhat familiar with the issue as it is common. The problem I have is this: I would much prefer seeing the "meat fishermen" taking their dinner from a put and take fishery than purchasing farmed salmon, keeping wild natives, etc. Put and take is a niche, it is akin to hunting and take it or leave it, it is a common theme for many in Western Canada. Those who desire a fish dinner without taking away from the dwindling NATIVE walleye, pike, cutts, bulls in Alberta, those who don't enjoy eating downstream of Calgary, and those who don't enjoy decimating the west coast salmon and steelhead runs still have to eat, and often want fish. In my opinion put and take hatchery fish are an attactive and viable alternative to these environmentally unsustainable options. I think the issue goes beyond wanting to continue the tradition. Take the kids over to the bow or even down to the bullshead if stillwater is your thing. Those who are fishing for "meat" will go elsewhere with a limit of one, or they will not comply in many cases because in many cases it will not be worth the opportunity cost of driving to allen bill for one fish. You need to remember that not everyone views this as a sport as most of us do. instead, they will head to the market and we all know the score. I often work in conjunction with Alberta First Nations, many of them fish with nets instead of rods on lakes, they see absolutely no problem with this as it is their tradition. The fisheries that they net are (although certainly weren't always) well managed by very competent provincial fisheries managers. I could go into much greater depth on this issue but don't really think it is necessary. Our fisheries managers (especially Jim Stelfox and his crew) have done a spectacular job of managing one of the toughest areas in Canada to manage, due to the high number of anglers, diverse values and demands of these anglers, and a relatively small number of watercourses/waterbodies. Also, put and take we may each kill a fish on a good day of c&R due to hooking mortality, especially when you add bait into the equation (very high hook mortality). I know you don't want bait used there, but there is a community of anglers who feel differently and demand this, as evident in the one month cleaning out of the pond. That is just my perspective, good on ya for stickin to your cause but I have to respectfully disagree.

Interesting. Although I will be a spey beginner, I have heard through reviews that the Dechos stand up with nearly anything, and really aren't just a beginner rod. If so, I may go for something else as I am not into buying rods that I will grow out of in 2 years. I suppose I will just have to try one out for myself before purchasing. I have a 9 weight Echo 2 single hand around, it works well, although I only use it as a back up rod. I just ask about the Dechos as I hear they are premium rods at a good price.

A 6 weight would definately be much too light for BC steelhead. I will be looking more along the 8/9 weight 13 1/2 foot range. We blew up a couple 8 weight single hand rods on the Babine last year when the chinooks were grabbin. A friend/prominent guide up on the Babine advised nothing less than 9 weight. I've got a G Loomis GLX 8 weight 10 footer which has been standing up just fineand he told me that if I came out with him I'd have to bring a heavier stick. Any one have experience with a reel that is up to the job? I've been fishing Ross CLA's on my Loomis and haven't had problems, but apparently some have been known to blow up on very big fish (30 lbs occasionally). I was advised that experience up there says Abel is about the only thing that seems to stand up, but if I start buying Abels I won't have any $ left to actually get in the number of days I am hoping for this fall/next spring.

nice, thanks jayhad, i'll check it out.

haha. Slow would be an understatement. The center pin guys with pink worms or roe sacks were doing alright as much of the upper river is fast and clear during the winter, it is tought to effectively present a fly. You can pick fish up on the upper, but I believe in 14 days fishing I ran into 3 fly fishermen on the upper river. The canal is much better for the fly, unfortunatley it is full of drift fishermen, nothing against them as a group, but they really don't accomodate fly fishing in the prime holds as there were 100s of people on the river at a time. On days when a fish was caught, everyone was on their cell phones getting everyone they know down to the river, suddenly there wasn't a good piece of water you could drop onto. The winter run this year was very spotty over there, although we did have some good days. I was there in february, early march, which was a mistake as fly fishing really doesnt get productive until the water comes up a bit from late march, through until about now. So, if I went there again it would be in mid april, although I would probably skip the area and head to kitimat instead due to the crowds. The fish are gorgeous though, completely chrome. The discouraging thing for me was that 2/3 of the fish I saw were hatchery fish, every hatchery fish I saw caught got bonked. If you aren't in the canal in the winter, you won't see many as most are intercepted and end up on the plate. As a bit of a steelhead fanatic it is tough to watch, even if they are stocked. I'll try and stick to wild steel when possible.

Has anyone tried out the Dec Hogan model Echo spey rods? Anyone in calgary dealing in Echo? I am looking for a good value big water rod for BC steel and salmon and happen to be a big fan of Dec (Passion for Steelhead is great reading for anyone who hasn't read it), and hear that the rods he helped design are outstanding. I will be new to spey casting as I am obstinatley(Sp?) holding out as a single hander, which I will continue on the smaller steel waters and all trout waters, but I am definately excited to start piling out some spey casts for the Skeena system, etc. So, any advise, or knowledge on steel sticks and reels would be greatly appreciated!

Hopefully my last post doesn't ruffle any feathers, no offense intended, i'm sure there are some who figure otherwise, I just get so into fishin that I tend to lose my brain and do what is necessary to get myself onto the water quickly.

Just camp. Really, worse things can happen than getting busted for sleeping in your camper on the side of the road in the all mighty, all knowing "Eastern Irrigation District". I mean, its not like you are driving without a seat belt, or pushing the speed limit. Jokes, I just wouldn't honestly be too worried about it if you are not leaving a real impact. I don't appreciate the yahoos wrecking the castle/livingstone areas, but the baldass prairie shoulder shouldn't be too much of an issue

We were working the runs cast/step style, the guys in question just came down along the bank, often walking with their drift toward you. One problem with the center pin guys is they will often hold their drift until it is 100 yards down stream. This can be a problem because in my mind they are not following etiquette on a BUSY river. Also, if there is a particularily productive hole (lower vedder canal for example) many guys set up chairs and beers and hold the spot, casting at you if you attempt to fish down towards their spot. My biggest peeve was sleeping in my truck over night at a hole on the upper river (there is like 20 km of acessible upper river water) just so I could get first casts on it, I would wake up at the first sign of light, get rigged up without even warming up a coffee so I could be down, see vehicles slowly passing, waving then keep on going down the road. I would start walking down to the hole (early morning, -5C still), only to see the guy that waved had parked down the road and sprinted through the bushes to beat me to the hole. I would get there, try to start above and co-exist with said angler, they would cast right at my feet. No respect, or etiquette. Now, I am bother proof on the bow. Someone fishes too close, I just move. It could be worse.

how do you get a discount?

beautiful footage. Get me out of work I need to go fishing now.

Haha. USUALLY you can find water on a salmon river. I had some interesting experiences on the Chilliwack/Vedder during winter steelhead season this year. I would be fishing a run or a hole and occasionally have a center pin guy come walking down the bank toward me. They would slowly let it drift closer and closer until their gear was hanging right in front of me near my cast. I actually had one guy walk up with his gear driftin past me and ask if I could duck so he could pass with his line over me as he wanted to get a good long drift in. WTF?!? What gall I thought. What do you do with this. Although most of those guys were great nad fished with etiquette, we are sooo lucky that the Bow isn't over run by drift fishing as it can be difficult to coexist.

Although regs should be easily accessible and certainly distributed with licenses, I don't think there is any excuse for not knowing the regulation on a particular body of water. If you purchase a license it is your own responsibility to find out what the rules are. Ignorance is not a defense. If anyone thinks Alberta regs are difficult to understand, have a look at BC's. I wouldn't think of going on a foreign piece of water in another country, province, etc without first finding out what the rules are, regardless of what regs I am familiar with at home. Glad you called 'em in!

Cast left, reel right is the only way to get things done.