Flash

OutCast Panther - pontoon Like new, with oars and boot flippers $875.00 CAD dest.outdoors@gmail.com

Nobody wins when we make our world even smaller! I often feel the same way about the provincial disparity in F&W licensing for individuals but, as the old saw goes, two wrongs don't make a right. Other the other hand, I do think that something should be done to restrict BC based operations from guiding in Alberta and posting the same on their websites. These are the same guys who helped to bring in the present non-resident license fees and they are the major beneficiaries of the changes, through transferable Rod Days and reduced fishing pressure. Let's let these guys feel a little of our pain!

That's exactly the desired effect. The Fernie guides have your number!

Smitty: Dear God, no! Jim did not introduce Brook Trout to AB, unless he's approaching 100 years old in age and has different identities. Yes I know that Smitty, although sometimes when Jim and I are finished having a "discussion", I feel like I may have aged a hundred years. I guess whomever said that sarcasm doesn't work well on-line was right.

Sorry you lost me. Did I already respond to this? Admittedly it is an old topic, I'm not on the site regularly and I can be a little techno phobic. If so forgive my redundant post, I'm only a chironomid. Was there a response back then? Did Jim in fact introduce Brook Trout to Alberta?

Am I reading this right Don? I know there is a lot more to this post and I don't disagree with your basic premise or the thrust of your arguement but, are you really suggesting Jim Stelfox is somehow responsible the original decision to stock Brookies in Alberta? Did you really mean to impugn a frustrated, dedicated, underpaid, provincial employee who has been fighting the good fight almost as long as you have? I have known Jim for a long, long time and while we often disagree, I am quite certian he is one of the good guys!

George you sweet-talker you! See you down south again this fall. This time I'll bring my fly rod instead of my bird dog. That was you wasn't it?

I'm with you Hawgstoppah! The whole area has been badly abused by random camping and off road activities (not to mention the extensive logging). Many years ago I used to camp on or above the Livingstone with my family for one or maybe two weekends a year. We tried to be eco-friendly but the fact is that it was the lack of pressure that kept us from adversely affecting the area. To put things in perspective, even though I covered many miles fishing each day, I was always a little upset when I saw another fisherman along the creek on weekend in late summer. For over 20 years now there have been just too many people accessing this beautiful but fragile area and our activities need to be controlled. All camping in this area needs to be confined to campgrounds and all motorized off-road activity should be prohibited. Back to the topic at hand: It is also a shame that the provincial government has privatized campgrounds but, that deal is done. Having said that, no-one owes the highest bidder a living just because he/she decided to run a campground. They must also respect the rules and running an unauthorized motel on Crown Land does not fit within that paradigm.

I tried to book a shuttle today but, they couldn't guarantee to get my vehicle from 22X to Carseland in 30 minutes. I decided against it as I didn't want to be waiting for 29 minutes with all the mozzies down there.

No boat launches, what will I do. I know, I'll walk 500 meters and have the river all to myself. I predict that hatches will be sparse this year and to a lesser degree next year as well. That initially the trout that remain will be very hungry, hitting everything they see as the water begins to clear and coughing up gobs of washed-out earthworms as we land them. As the year goes on the pale, sand-blasted trout that remain will regain much of their former condition and vibrancy. The water will fall further in the late summer and early fall and as it does terrestrial fishing will become more important. And finally, following the complete loss of a year class of Rainbow Trout, reports of larger than usual trout will appear on this forum over the next three or four years and we will all marvel at the resiliency of nature as the river returns to glory. In short, the fish will survive, launches will be rebuilt and we will all have the pleasure of returning to rediscover and fish a different but familiar river. As to the comments attempting to provide perspective regarding something as trivial as how flyfishing will be affected on the Bow River, by redirecting our attention to the loss of life and property associated with this natural disaster, who can disagree? However I must offer the following thoughts; many of us have spent a substantial portion of our lives on the Bow River, where we have found solstice and perspective enough to help us through both good times and bad, where we have played and grown from children to adults and where we have been entertained, employed and educated in all manner of things involving the both natural world and our fellow man. It stands to reason that we would be upset and concerned about a place that has played such a large role in making us who we are.

Hey that looks way more effective than flyfishing! You really have to admire the ingenuity of construction of their fish trap too and the way it incorporates shopping carts in the construction. No doubt these were donated by the local grocery store or thoughtfully purchased for this purpose by the tribal council. It is their right under treaty and I guess that somehow makes it OK. Furthermore I suppose that the only difference between this and what regularly occurs on the high seas is that we can see this happening. What pisses me off are the many Vancouver residents who encourage this practice by continuing to engage in the illegal purchase of these discount salmon.

They certainly do and that's when they become truely deadly!

It's always the 8 to 10 pounders that straighten my hooks and get away. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but, all the ones I actually land seem to be much smaller. Of course I hooked most of those 8 to 10 pounders around 6 years ago when they were mere fry, say around 20" and 2 1/2 pounds. I'm assuming they're still alive and have grown to at least 8 to 10 pounds by now!

While I appreciate your thoughts, I'm hoping to offer sound advice to anglers who are struggling with this ethical dilemma. I am concerned that what you are suggesting is not practical. I can cast the better part of my flyline and some of you cast much better than me. For the sake of this discussion let's call it 90 feet. If there is an angler on the bank opposite me the river would have to be 180 wide, plus the width of a driftboat, for that boat to be outside of casting range. The situation becomes even more untenable when we consider spin fishermen who can often lob a lure across the river. If a drift boat moves 40 feet off the bank in very fast water when passing my position, I'm happy. In slow shallow water where I'm working rising fish I'd like at least 60 feet if practical and undisturbed water for a couple hundred feet upstream of my position. I don’t feel that I can reasonably expect more than that. Alternately, when the dark side takes over, I wish that everybody else would stay off my river but, that’s just not going to happen.

Generally speaking, Trout have a lot in common with the anglers pursuing them. It's the Goldilocks paradigm, both anglers and people like it when it's not too hot and not too cold. Unlike us, trout cannot move indoors, and are cold blooded, so they adjust their behaviors according to the temperature. On cold or cooler days in the spring or fall fish feed more heavily once the water warms sufficiently. In the middle of summer they pick it up at cooler times of day or night and on overcast days when the temperature is lower and become very lethargic during the heat of the day. In the winter, choose the warmest part of the day, or rather an hour or two after the peak air temp is reached as water temperature takes longer to rise (or fall). I once experienced a tremendous hatch on the Bow in early September in the middle of a sudden heavy snowfall. It had been beautiful and hot for several days and when the storm hit I was ill prepared and lightly dressed. My hands where so cold I could barely hold my rod; however, as the water in the river dropped into a more favorable temperature range, the insects began to hatch and the water began to boil with rising fish. Keep in mind that on some occasions the experience of the Goldilocks “just right” air temperature may be quite different than that experienced by trout in the water. I suppose you could use a thermometer so you could relate stream temperatures to preferred range of the species you are after. I go fishing when I have the time.

There is no excuse for intentionally floating over the water that a bank angler is fishing, particularly when that angler is fishing dries, upstream, in low, clear conditions. In fact, there is no excuse for floating close to the bank when approaching even a spin fisherman. If I can reach your boat with an halfhearted flick of my 3 weight, you are way too close! Simply not casting while passing directly through the water that someone is fishing is simply not good enough. Even accepting the faulty premise that; fish always return to feeding 5 minutes after you have violated someone's space, why should we have to wait 5 minutes for the fish to return? Sure "excrement happens", for example; you don't see an angler on the bank ahead. There are also occasions when high dirty water conditions reduces the need for distance or when extremely crowded conditions alter the distance you feel you can afford to give to any one individual. No doubt some amount of good judgment is required. Just keep in mind that nobody likes to be crowded on the river. My comments are not meant to be applied to the hoards of pleasure floaters in all manner of inflatable or other floating contraptions. Nor do they apply to the many newbie members of our fraternity. These people are blissfully ignorant that they are trespassing on our experience. There is no sense being angry with them, just let them have their fun and pass in peace. My comments are meant for the rest of you, the legions of experienced drifting fishermen and professional guides that know better. I too have been appalled by the behaviors of some and most recently by the "special" individual in the Blue Powerdrifter. Upon realizing how these individuals upset us we should make note of their behaviors and strive to avoid replicating their actions. Imagine how small the river would be if everyone acted in a similar manner. Instead we might consider embracing the old saw, "do unto others as we would have them do unto us". Lead by example and give your fellow anglers as much room and respect as you can manage. If we all do what we can to avoid intruding on the experience of others in the pursuit of our own pleasure and the river will be a better place to for all of us. I'll get down from the pulpit now!

Use the heaviest tippet you can get away with. Fluorcarbon should eliminate and any fish spooking and it's stiffer. Actually, it's all about stiffness. A stiff tippet is less likely to tangle and when it does larger tippet is easier to untangle. Chuck and duck!

La Salinas is on the southern side of Cuba, near the infamous "Bay of Pigs". I was in La Salinas for 6 days last year and it was quite good fishing for Bones. We also caught baby Tarpon, Barracuda, a Permit and hooked some Snook. It's quite a long way from Veradero though and I'm not sure it's really practical to try to get there for a single day. I don't think there really aren't any good flats near Veradero, but if I'm wrong I'd love to hear about it! I also don't believe you can get access to the flats at La Salinas without employing a guide. Fishing is done from small fiberglass punts which are poled only. Each punt contains a guide and a single angler. Wading is also an option in many locations. Google "La Salinas + flyfishing" and see what you find. Someone will be willing to take your money. By the way, they all use the same guiding operation, so you might as well choose the lowest quote. Drop me an email if you like.