DonAndersen

soggysocks is bang on with his advice. Outdoorsmen for eons have understood that scents [ or the lack of them] is critical to success. Trappers use a host of products for scent attaraction see: http://www.longcreektrappingsupplies.com/i...t=2a&page=1 Cabellas lists 218 products for scent control. Rubbing with dirt is just a touch along the way to what bow hunters go through to mask their odors. I'm not sure that odor control is all that big an issue with dries. Nymphs in slow water, probably, in stillwater clearly. Stinky bugs don't do as well. Don

cgyguy, Try Automarine 4718 1 Street Southwest Calgary, AB T2G 0A2 (403) 287-2121 These guys fix inflatables. Got mine fixed there. Good guys. They do carry some valve parts. Got replacements there for mine. Don

adams, Two thoughts: 1] Kick like crazy kinda reminds me of a guy years ago who couldn't figure out how to use fins. He attempted to walk in them rather than just moving the toe up and down. Think of it as a wave. Wading boots make it tough whereas stocking foot waders and dive fins are easy and a whole lot more efficient. 2] Scotty systems used to sell a pontoon/float tube anchor system. Got a similar system for Scadden Escape - works great. See: http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/2011catalog/page16.html top left side of page. regards, Don

Xplorer, If you live in southern AB, there is no point in spending 4 weeks in the area. You can do that any time. It's close. I'd suggest a trout tour through Golden BC>Montana>Idaho>Wyoming>Montana>home. Those places are stuff of longer trips. Mind you, dogs need petted and wive kissed so a trip of that length should be shared. Rent a small trailer or better yet a motor home - invite your wife and have fun. regards, Don

Taco, Had some interesting times over the past 3 weeks. Police was OK for one day FOR ME - others did well - a friend got a dozen or so while I floundered around and landed 2. Manitoba was OK with some landed. Best day was typical with 14 landed between 3.5>7 lbs. Other days it was rain, wind and or rain & wind with hail. Good meeting you @ Police. Lake fishing does extend the fishing season somewhat. Don

Folks, Bob Clay of the Kispiox Valley was originally from Calgary and is now and has been for some time living in Steelhead Heaven. Some of you may know people mentioned in the video. http://vimeo.com/19982291 He's a great guy. Have meet him a number of times @ the Cane builders get-together in Merritt, BC. Meet his son as well when I fished the Dean some years ago. regards, Don

Junior, I am aware of the 20/20 club. No idea who or what runs it. Do recall years ago fishing the Crow when it was good. Did use Mustad 94840 in sizes 20>26 for the BWO's and Trico's. Found that the tiny Mustads would open up. Started to use Partridge Capt. Hamiliton L3A's in 20>26's. They are stronger but a lot more brittle. Flattening the barb was a tough one. Often the hook broke. Tried the Tiemco's and Diaiichi hooks. They opened up even faster than the Mustads. regards, Don

Hi, Head to Amazon.com and order Gary Lafontaine's Book Fishing Mountai9n Lakes. The book is full of tips on what to use + a great discussion of why goats are the best pack animal. http://www.amazon.com/Fishing-Mountain-Lak...1820&sr=1-5

Dryfly, Wished I was kidding but you best check with some of the towns along cowshit lane. Their water is - - -well - - - crap! Don

Dxh, Mustad are good hooks. By far cheaper than the Japanese stuff and just as good if not better. I started tying with Mustad 50+ years ago, tried the others and now am back to Mustad. A R50 #14 is a light wire dry fly hook and should be capable of landing fish to 8 lbs. or better with some care. The hook may have only been lodged into the point rather than the bend allowing the mechanical advantage to bend the hook readily or like some have said, occasionally a bad hook gets shipped. Is a R 50 #14 appropriate for "worms". That kinda depends on the size of the worm tie. I've used size #16 when tying worms using rubber bands. regards, Don

lethfisher, You do realize that a lot of things are mixed with the rain. In southern Alberta be aware of insecticides/ag chemicals and industrial fallout. Nasty stuff. Don

Taco, Nope don't need 50 fly rods - gotta do an inventory again. Things might be getting outta hand there too! Only stock one kind of dry line - Cortland 444 peach. That brand has been around about as long as I have. Get 3 years outta it. And Rick - tried chasing the newest and greatest in 1970's realized that the rod manufactures were just as confused as I. Gave it up. Sold one of the original Sages and still got a 1975 Fenwick graphite. First year they were brought out. But that all begs the questions: How come so much crap out there and do we really need it. Made an offer to a friend. Kinda like Alcohol's Anonymous. In this case, every time your go to buy some idiot junk. you call your sponsor and he talks you out of it. The money saved could be used for gasoline!!! catch ya' Don

Folks, Count 'em. I did. Cabellas stocks 88 types of fly lines. 88 for God sakes. And that doesn't include all that are manufactured. I know about choice but this is just plain ridiculous. And there are experts out there that can quote chapter and verse which on is best. God, a fly line that I use a lot lasts about 3 years * 88 means I get exposed to them all about 264 years from now providing of course that the number stops @ 88. And just think, in 264+ years, I can quote chapter and verse. Damn, but getting old is looking better and better. Don

Guys, I'd suspect that Grey and Black Squirrels are not regulated @ all. I checked the Alberta Trapping Regs. and found the only squirrel mentioned is Alberta's native Red Squirrel. See: http://www.albertaregulations.ca/trappingr...htm#fur-seasons Like most invasive species, Greys and Blacks are pushing out the natives. Don

fishinglivin, It's all the Bud cans laying the bush. A huge shortage of aluminum. Don

flyfishingnate, As I said, denier is too light. Need stiffer yarn for bigger flies. For fishing emergers and tiny chironomids, it works fine. Don

Fly.. My thanks but I got 4 bags on the west coast for the tiny indicators. Only used a foot or so of the yards and yards I've got. Don And guys, if you wish to build your own yarn indicators I use macrame cord. Unfortunately it is no longer a craft and Micheals or others don't stock it. There is a source http://www.macramesuperstore.com/. A 50 yard skein will last years. I use the cord for indicators + other yarn flies like the CFF and Bowel Movement. There is an article on my site http://bamboorods.ca/indicators.html that details the process. The CFF uses white and BM uses - you guessed didn't ya - brown

flyfishingnate, GloBug yarn denier is quite fine and works well for tiny yarn balls inserted into tippet knots. Tried it on large yarn indicator types and found that it wouldn't float well. Don

But Taco, Your irritant is not controlled from Ottawa but is brought to you courtesy of the good old USA/God and frankly, there isn't a lot you can do about yours 'cept live with it. TV volume is doable. Don

Folks, Here is your chance to remove one of life's irritants. The increases in volume on TV commercials The CRTC is requesting submissions @ http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/g3.htm You got only a couple of days. Canada is following the lead of international and US regulators. Don

Guys, Now don't pick on me. Just pointing out the "Guide" shot inside the front cover of the FF Cabella's catalog. Looks like few of you wanta be guides!! And do you guys ever use The Urban Dictionary - Austination - means The act of dating a 14 year old girl, and playing Grand Theft Auto for too damn long at your friend's house. Especially when he is tired and you have school in the morning. Don

Austinator, It is critical to your angling success that your garb be the same colors as a 2>5 days old cow flop when fishing for trout. But sea water requires a more colorful persona. Suspect it has to with the drinkees with umbrellas in 'em. Presented to you from a guy who just got his new Cabella's FF catalog. catch ya' Don

Russ, email coming your way. Don

ruff, Ya, comparisions are kinda fun. Think of it this way. The green is always moving, the hole is kinda receptive. You make your best putt, the ball falls in the hole and is quickly spit back in your direction and the hole disappears for an hour or so. All the while the course police are yelling @ you to hurry up as there are others that want to play as well. What you did forget is the dress code. Now golfers get to dress in pastels - off white, lavender and the like. They are also expected to smell good and grass stains on any part of their anatomy may result in a summons by the golfing police and quick ejection off the course. Whereas --- Fishermen get to dress in rubber suits and frankly - get to smell bad. Dirt is appreciated and grass stains on your knees doesn't solicit comment and is frankly admired by those that recognize the craftiness of the angler. Fishermen and particularly FF types get to wear funky hats although it seems like the capo of today tends to reflect advertising by this or that rod company rather than fishermen of old who tended to reflect beer ads. Still, the FF hats with their complete tops just have to be a step in the right direction although both hats of Ff types and ball floggers still focus on ball caps - the forerunner of skin cancer. But there are two real big differences: 1] is balls vs flies. Balls tend to "stick" out when in the environment and nobody ever names their golf balls whereas flies, who are tied to blend into nature, hide when dropped. And the names - Thunder and Lightning, Tup's Indispensable and who can forget the Chernobyl Ant trip off FF lips without embarrassment. 2] The score- golfers count and the lower the count, apparently the better they did whereas fishermen who count are seen as weird by many and are shunned by their companions and society in general. FF types believe somehow that fishing is all about "being out". Golfers could really give sweet tweet about the out part and only worry about the "score". Now equipment is where the difference really shows up. There are few if any golfers who make their own balls, craft their own clubs, repair their own shoes or for that matter do much of anything about the craft of golf. It's all about the "score": FF types are more pragmatic or maybe a little cheaper - well maybe more than a little - make that very cheap. They make this and that, rods, flies, leaders and there are some I've heard of make their own lines. Not only that, but due to the lack of dress code, some of them don't really dress in rubber suits preferring to address their manhood by finding how high their voice rises when the water deepens. And while I could go on and on. one thing is readily apparent. Golf by it's nature requires manipulation of the environment tweaking the landscape to make the course somewhat but not too challenging. After all, the golf course wants them back to spend money. Now FF types abhor changes in the rivers environment and have been known to fight tooth and nail to preserve the landscape. So there ya' go, a rapid look @ why some golf and why some fish. The cheap fish, the rest golf. catch ya' Don

Folks, I fish 130 days or so/year and usually am out about 6 hours average or 780 hours. Now I had a look @ golf green fees for 18 holes in Central Ab. Ran about 37.50 for about 5 hours or $7.50/hr. Now if I paid that much to fish it would have cost me $5850.00/year. Makes what I used to pay @ 28/yr pretty cheap. Mind you, this past year I turned 65 so now I'm protected by the Govt like farmers, fishermen and whooping cranes. Life is good!!! Don