DonAndersen

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artandfishing/fishpics-hand-drawn-pictures-of-fish

The hand cleaner I use now is Fast Orange without pumice. Just the gel. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT BUY THE CLEANER THAT HAS PUMICE IN IT!!!!!! If you have used your stones with oil for years, the pores in the stones are filled with swarf and nearly solidified lubricant. Use Fast Orange to clean the stone. I got a black Arkansas at a farm auction that took nearly a whole weekend to clean. Mind the stone was 6" wide and 18" long. A smear of Fast Orange on the stone prior to use works great on both oil and carbaradom stones. If you want to hand sharpen your knives, I'd recommend water stones over oil types. I have 250, 1,000, 4,000 & 8,000 grit stones. The only one rarely used is the 8,000 grit. And if any of you want the best damn kitchen knife ever, head to Lee Valley and buy a "Peasants" knife. See: http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=52770&cat=2,40733,40738,52770 I have three, one @ home, one in the fishing trailer and one @ the acreage. They were $25.00 for the first one. The blade is real steel not stainless. Sorry, no bling but stays sharp which last I recall is the purpose of a knife. Need more, give s shout. Regards, Don

I sharpen my own equipment. The kitchen knives are sharpened about once a month. Takes 15 minutes or so. I found that sharpening using a 1000 grit gives the knife the "tooth" required to shear through meat/vegetables. My personal knives carried each day are also sharpened with the 1000 grit stone I use a water stone like this one. http://www.amazon.ca/Suehiro-Japanese-Sided-Whetstone-Sharpener/dp/B00HF5P6LQ/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1453302959&sr=8-14&keywords=japanese+waterstones The planes used for bamboo however are sharpened to shaving sharp using water stones. For those using oil stones, use gel hand cleaner as a lubricant. Water wash the stones and let dry. I've got Arkansa stones that have been used for years that look brand new. Regards, Don

Taco, I'd take an old mine over a new one so that I could clean up the place. Even though we have better inspections, *hit happens. I'd rather it was from one location and not two. As far as monitoring industry activities, I must agree with others that it should be left to Govt. with the caveat that the industry must pay an inspection fee. The concern with Govt doing the job if often they don't. The reasons this happens are varied. However, in the event the Govt is not doing it's job, obviously someone else has too. A recent example that a lot of us were pleased with Streamwatch. Certainly it was obvious to most anglers that enforcement didn't happen. Another method had to be found. Ergo - STREAMWATCH. As it was funded mostly by the private sector, political interference was difficult. But finally, like most things, the Govt go a bigger role and realizing that a success couldn't be tolerated, destroyed the concept. To sum it, if society value something, they better figure out some way to make sure some idiot, group, business, Govt doesn't **** it up! Catch ya' Don

I'm quite surprised that any proposed mine is going ahead. Within the last year, Tumbler Ridge has shut down, Grand Cache has shutdown, Tech Coals operations in SE BC are operating at partial capacity. Why would anyone.propose a mine in the face of reduced sales and sale prices dropping from $320/t > $80/t. Damn weird. Don.

The failure of multi-section staff are: 1) each of them take time to assemble. Quick draw options they are not. 2) as the sections either stick making them tough to disassemble or come apart just when you need them make multi-sections poor choices. 3) leaving the multi together generally means it catches on most everything. And yes, I've got them and don't use them. They are a pain in the butt. By the way, to disassemble most of the multi unit, whack them soundly on large rocks. Kinds like you were beating the crap outta a snake. Generally that loosens the sections. Don

SeanD, Connecting the rope off the end and removing of the hand strap just about resolves the issue. I used old Karhu ski poles. Not expensive. I also removed the basket. If you fish very soft bottom ponds (like beaver dams)' leave the basket in place. I looked over Kiiji - lots of cheap stuff there. Regards, Don

Lad, I was in exactly the same position with Three Point Creek flooding 30 acres of our property. Although it was a pain, the permits were secured, directly effected informed, adjoining landowners consulted. We got the creek back into a channel that saved perhaps 1/2 mile of creek being by passed. Never ended up in court. Guess it can be done. I am surprised the hoe owner/operator didn't refuse the work based on the lack of permits. The hoe must be prepared for "deep wading". Don

Vitakeith, I have two collaspseable and one ski pole units. The ski pole is the one that gets used. I fish soft bottoms streams a lot, the collapsible ones are a real pain. Similarly on freestones, jam a collapsable in the rocks and it comes apart. If you decide on a hiking pole, make sure it is long enough. When standing, it should just fit under your arm pit. This length will allow the pole to be extended downstream at an angle. Most collaspseable poles are too short. I learned from the BC guys a neat idea. Use a 1/4" semi soft nylon rope that has a loop in one end with the other attached to the top of the pole. The rope length is about 6' long. Make a lasso through the loop and place it over your head and under your right arm if you wish to use your right hand for the pole. This is what I do as I use my left hand to cast. The rope length should be long enough that the handle of the pole is just about crouch height. Dropping your hand and you grasp the handle. It is fast to use when you need it. While walking the pole slips along behind you rarely catching on anything. Check used ski shops for a pole. Don

By the way, in order to be heard at most of these Dept of Environment Hearings you have to be directly effected. In other words you have to live within an arbitrary zone where the Dept of En. Believes you will be directly effected, This idiot artifact was brought to you by the PC's after the 3 River Dam hearings when the PC's were never gonna let any outside influence change their game plan. Don

See: http://www.pinchercreekvoice.com/2015/12/appeals-board-hearing-scheduled-re.html The scary part - if the appeal succeds, this will open the window to every person with the equipment to tear up a trout stream. I do know that every activity over the past 20 years that I've organized for instream work took permissions from Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Canadian Coast Guard, Dept. of Environment, ESRD, adjoining landowners, Municipal Governments etc. If the appeal succeeds, God helps trout streams for no one else will. Regards, Don

Taco, My thanx for the links. Sure does illustrate the forest issues are not that readily resolved. Doing my homework for the East Slope Hearings held about 1975, a report from Oregon said the silt from cut blocks was less than access roads. Seems like the lesson hasn't been learned in some area of Alberta. Regards, Don

But, beyond making sure the dudes are protected by insurance, why would the Govt care about the quality of the guide. Skill in rowing maybe but ability to catch fish -- hardly. Don

The scary part of "perceived importance" of guides was exhibited with the southern Alberta stream closures. Meetings were held by Govt & guides. Not sure if any other anglers were invited. Apparently the meeting were held at a Fly Shop providing guiding services. And further, licensing guides provides them with the belief that the guided areas are owed to them. After all, if you sell a license, that implies that you will supply something that non-licensed persons do not get. In the longer term this would arrouse the angling public and guiding would be gone. What has stuck in my craw is how guiding companies have to be told not do do things. A person might believe that a company would look after what supplies their income. Such appears not to be the case. If guiding companies cannot curtail their activities when the respurce is in jeopardy, perhaps they should be banned. Let the flaming begin! Don

Maybe the question should be: With the population of Alberta increasing as it has with recreational opportunities becoming more difficult, crowding is an issue. The Bow is but one example. Perhaps it is time to no longer allow commercial fishing or companies on flowing water. Regards, Don

Taco The Featherlight ferrules were supplied on the rod blank I purchased. The rod caught several Browns in the Crowsnest just above the Oldman confluence in 1969. That section of the Crow has been lost to potatoe chip greed. By the way, that gift to the spud farmers cost the Albertian taxpayers $900,000,000 + a whole bunch of the Oldman, Castle and Crowsnest rivers. A wise investment in Alberta's future. Don

Marks, The books were written by folks from BC with the result that some of the patterns are not transferable to Alberta water. However, there are many patterns that are. I own both and they were fine additions to my library with results showing up in my fly box. A good investment. Don

Jason, It appears to be a Fenwick Golden Eagle blank. There was a business located where 10 Ave crosses under Bow Trail in the late 1960's where I got Fenwick blanks. Perhaps someone might recall the place. Don

Folks, I'm in the midst of compiling the responses from various forums and facebook about the rod. To date, the line weights vary from 3>5 with the rod length 7'6", 7'9" and 8'0" with the most popular 7'9". The responses indicated dry fly presentations which indicates a quicker taper. The thread colour varied from purple > reds > claret. Handle shape wasn't an issue. Not a lot of input on reel seats although one poster wanted more "Bling". Not sure what that means. So, I'm getting close to the selection. If there is a stanch runner up, I may do that rod for the 2018 fund-raiser. regards, Don

SD, The Payne 102 is an 8' 5 wt. Did you mean the 101 which is 7'6"? Regards, Don

As a alternative to felt soles, use indoor/outdoor carpeting w/o the foam backing. You can get the products at better carpet stores. Install using regular Lepages contact cement. The carpet is about 1/4" thick and two layers work just fine. A whole lot cheaper and wears well. Of course it comes in multiple colours. Earth tones allow you to creep closer to those Browns. Regards, Don

Hi, The rod parameters selected by the posters to this site or several others will determine the rod constructed for the 2017 raffle. Hope I didn't mislead anyone. Regards, Don

For near 25 years I’ve donated a bamboo fly rod towards the activities of Trout Unlimited. First to the Red Deer Chapter, then to Calgary TU and for the past 5 years to the Lloyd Shea Fund run by the Edmonton TU group. Presently the Edmonton TU guys are using the monies for Grayling Research. Over the years I’ve selected what I thought would do the best as a fund raiser and then it occurred to me that the folks who buy tickets or wish a bamboo rods might like to design the rod themselves. So here are the design parameters. 1] The rod has to be between 6’>8’ long and carry a 2>6 weight line. 2] The rod has to be of two pieces. 3] The rod will carry a downlocking reel seat or either my design or Bellingers. In the case of my own design, I have a large selection of hardwoods available. 4] The handle must be no less than 5.5” long or great then 6.5” long and will not include weird rings of compressed or coloured cork. 5] The handle shape can be of any design and your choice should be described in a picture or good drawing. Dimensions are important with the typical handle approx. 1” OD @ the widest point. 6] The thread warps colours are your choice providing they pass a “good taste test”. The wraps can be accented with trim wraps of 2>5 turns of thread. Below is a typical thread wrap 7] The hookkeeper can be of several designs including strap and ring, loop or Hopkins and Holloway folder. 8] The stripped will be a Midrum carboly and chrome plated snakes. You can spec. Perfection, Pac Bay or Hopkins and Holloway. 9] The rod can be of either my tapers or from taper archives of rod companies. I have a relatively large collection of historic tapers. The rod will be constructed of Tonkin Bamboo and is provided with two tips, a cloth bag and an aluminum case. The rod designed above will be available for the 2017 fund raiser. The rod for the 2016 raffle is already complete and tickets will be available through the Edmonton TU/Northern Lites Fly Tying Club. The 2016 rod is a 7’9” 5 wt. rod with the first taper constructed about 1988. I’ve probably made near 50 of them. Any questions? Please ask them on this site. If you wish to view my work, head to http://bamboorods.ca/new4a.xhtml For an education on building bamboo fly rods, try these: * http://classicflyrodforum.com/forum/ * http://www.bamboorod....com/index.html Regards, Don Andersen

Folks, Called the local ACA employee who is responsible for monitoring the aeration systems and the O2 levels. He told me that all the levels were quite high with a couple near 9 ppm. The only one a tad lower was Fiesta. The new aeration equipment is here now and the ACA is waiting for safe ice to work on. The fellow figured that they will be on the lakes near mid-Dec. Keep you posted. regards, Don

Any good - am using Rio now - is Frog Hair better? Don