Keith

It seems to me that river otters have always been part of the trout streams south of the border, such as the great trout rivers is Colorado. I think their impact would be minor and perhaps even beneficial. I feel your frustration Don, because the impact might be small, but as you're saying, it's just one more thing. However, I think the real issue rests with the 'Irrigators/Dam builders/ oil company dewaterers, OHVs [ quads/bike/etc.], cattle grazers, pipeliners, logging', not to mention the mud snails, dydimo, and whirling desease that seems to be popping up in trout streams. I think shooting a few otters or pelicans would be the easiest of the problems to fix, but I also think the benefits would be negligable. The only critter we need to protect trout stream from is mankind.

Looks like a gooder.

I saw a whole family living on the Crowsnest river below the falls a couple of years ago. I fished the same area last year and didn't seem them again, but I assume they're still there.

That's how it's going to go. They won't even tell people they can't go in there, but they'll make it as inconvenient as possible.

That's the neatest thing I've seen all day. Something to keep an eye out for. Thanks Clive.

Awesome. I have to make it there one day.

You can get a strap at MEC that carries the spray right on your chest. You can cast no problem and it's right there. The studies show that the spray works (even better than a gun even).

I'll take a shot at this one, as well.

That's for sure. Sadly, I think the climate change movement could set back the movement for better stewardship of the earth for a long time. The enviros have been crying a whole lot of wolf on this issue, and if it turns out that their predictions don't come true then I think their credibility will have been spent. Even in the current time, Climate change has become the poster child for the enviros and it is hogging all of the attention from a whole range of issues that we should be getting on top of. The depletion of ocean stocks and the continued harvesting of the worlds few remaining wild spaces are not getting as much attention as they should be because Climate Change is the big bad wolf everyone is fighting.

I appreciate the tip Don. I'll make sure I'm well stocked.

Thanks for the tip. Keith

I'm planning a trip south of the border this summer. Has anyone fished Armstrong, Depuy's, or Nelson spring creeks? If you could only fish one, which would be the best? Thanks Keith

As long as I have enough light to hike back out, I'll keep hiking. But if I brought my backpacking gear, then I'm happy to keep on going.

I'm surprised this info is so hard to find, but after a lot of searching I'm drawing a blank. You'd think the water allotments of the various irrigation districts would have to be public info.

I am trying to find some information on irrigation draw from the Bow. Can anyone tell me what percentage of the Bow is diverted for irrigation? Or point me in the direction of that info?

Yeah, that's a fantastic shot.

Yeah, because they're sponsored and get them for free. Quality of cast = casting ability. I'll give Dany Heatly an old straight-blade Cooper and you can have a Kovalchuk Synergy and he'll still have a better shot. Same goes for casting. I've got Sages and I've got TempleForks and it doesn't really make any difference. Do I enjoy my Sage? Yeah. It's a fine piece of craftsmanship, but don't go kidding yourself.

Thanks for all the info fellas.

I tie the rhyacs on 12s. I used Partridge czech nymph hooks which are a big 12 and then I tied them also on regular 12 scud hooks. I also tied a few on 14s. The hydros I did 14s, but will also do some 16s.

Yeah, it's really not a super hard pattern. They can be tied fairly quickly if you get yourself set up and into a rhythm.

One skill I am hoping to improve on this season is my single handed spey. One thing I've been wondering is do you use the same line for single-handed spey as you would for regular single handed casting or do you want something with a heavier tip that is going to turn over better?

I saw a picture on another site and I would score the bout porcupine 1 - Bull trout 0. The bull definitely had a few sizeable spikes in his maw that he had been carting around for who knows how long.

Candian Field-Naturalist is reported the first ever interaction between a bull trout and porcupine. IE: some crazy bull trout decided to take a swipe at a porcy and ended up with quill in his jaw. I think I'm going to whip up a few of my new porcupine pattern tonight. Big hooks and lots of tooth picks. http://www.ofnc.ca/cfn/121-4/Cott-Mochnacz.pdf

Damn, those are both beautiful fish.

See the video above for the rhyac. If you can get a copy of Oliver Edward's DVD it would be worth it. But the recipe for the Hydro is: Hook: 14 scud hook Tail: Clipped partridge filoplume feather Body: Nymph Skin Gill: Ostrich Herl Legs: Golden Pheasant Tail Fibers. It's not that difficult to tie really.