DonAndersen

Bowcane/Conor, Looks like it should be a 6 wt. or a strong 5. Compared the numbers against a 8'0" 6 wt. that I've built many of and it compares somewhat closely. I use the 8' rod for Crowsnest fishing in the spring. But like I said, your mileage may vary. Don

Guys/Gals, Learned something new today. Tried mixing up some very fine synthetic yarns that already had flashabou in it. The coffee grinder turned the whole thing into an ugly rope. Heard years ago about folks using wool carding brushes for mixing small amounts of dubbing. Well, haven't got them so I tried Lee Valley's World's Kindest Fingernail Brush on the same mixture. Worked like a hot damn. Store in Calgary and sorry 'bout this but it's a CDN company. You need two of them. I removed the dubbing caught between the bristles with a mustache comb. Buy a dozen brushes - your wife will always find uses for them. See: http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?...amp;cat=2,42551 The brushes are just the ticket for removing crap off mushrooms as well. regards, Don

Bowcane, Wished I could help. Have only seen one Payne and that was years ago. I'd suspect that the rod may cast both a 5 or 6. Do you have the taper numbers? I could look @ them and hazard a guess & a guess it would be. One thing I've learned about rods - there is no accounting for how another person might cast. I've built rods that I use a 5 on, others go to a 4 - some a 6 - even had one fellow who contended that he liked a 7 on it. In a nut shell, the rod is rated for how I like it - your mileage may vary. regards, Don

Guys, Whoops - I didn't change the date although I did get an email. Thanks for the catch. Corrected email copied below: Dear Round Table Participants. It seems I have confused some of you with the accidental first email confirming the meeting was April 12th. It should have stated April 18th, 2009 at the Greenwood Inn and Suites, Edmonton. No need to reply if you have confirmed your attendance already. Thank you and Sorry for the inconvenience. And the meetings have been held in Red Deer. Only one guy from TU showed up and he's a paid employee. And guys, I'll see if we can add to the agenda and change of venue for the guys down south. Won't be done this spring - maybe fall? Don

The Spring Provincial Fisheries Roundtable is coming up. How about you folks send someone from Calgary? Get someone from your clubs/organizations to show up. It would be a shame not to see Calgary not represented again. Don Copied from my invite: Hello Round Table Participants, This notice is to confirm that the next Fisheries Management Round Table Meeting will be April 18, 2009 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the Greenwood Inn and Suites, 4485 Gateway Blvd, Edmonton. Lunch and Refreshments will be provided. It is important that we know the number of attendees in advance to ensure the room is prepared and that the right amount of food is ordered Please RSVP by March 12th. Please forward your response to Debra Drummond (Debra.Drummond@gov.ab.ca) or (Tanya.Rushcall@gov.ab.ca) or call either of these ladies at 780-427-7743 (for long distance, dial the Rite number at 310-000 780-427-7743. Information will continue to be posted on the the Round Table Website for your convenience at: http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/fishwildlife/fish...roundtable.aspx Thank you Debra Drummond Administrative Support Fisheries and Wildlife Management Phone (780) 427-7743 Fax: (780) 422-9559

RusteHookz, The scuba fins I use were bought about 30 years ago. There wasn't any Outcast around. The ones made today for tubers and pontoon boats are just cheaper variations on the same theme. If you buy any fin, make sure that your boots fit if you use boots. I use stocking foot waders in XL so that I can get 5 pr. of socks in there. I fish from early> late in the year. Boots are COLD. Don

RusteHookz, Nearly everyone I know uses fins in pontoon boats. Only think of one guy who didn't - he finally gave up and bought a pair. catch ya' Don

Folk, With Calgary's increased gang problem and the shooting of firearms indiscriminately here and there, there seems to be a great business opportunity in Calgary. TRAINING THE GANGSTERS TO SHOOT STRAIGHT!! Just think - one shot kills - no more having the shot the guy each day and still have him walking around. And the best part, no more will the public be ducking and running or worse yet caught in the crossfire. Nope - I don't condone murder - but it's happening anyway. And is it really murder? I kinda look @ it as swatting bugs or picking dandelions - a dead gangster is community betterment. Seems like a good business to me. And you might just avoid the tax man - probably all in cash. catch ya' Don

Some more on Bill 11: Don Bill 11, Fisheries (Alberta) Amendment Act, 2009 What is the purpose of the amendments? The Act currently limits the courts’ ability to impose penalties other than fines and short licence suspensions. The public expects tougher penalties for violations that damage a fishery, and that offenders are held responsible for returning a fishery they have damaged back to a healthy state. The amendments will: · provide stronger protection for our fish resources and more effective deterrents against lawbreaking; and · ensure that Albertans continue to benefit from the effort and investments made in our fisheries resources by government, fisheries groups, industry and the public. What are the proposed amendments? The proposed amendments will give the provincial courts a wider variety of sentencing options (creative sentencing) to penalize those who contravene the Act. Creative sentencing options will include: · assessing a fishery’s restoration costs to convicted persons; · issuing orders to stop new offences; · suspending or cancelling licences; · assessing additional monetary payments to support fisheries management and habitat enhancement programs; and · ordering fisheries restoration actions. Is creative sentencing used to enforce any other acts? Yes. For many years, the courts have been successfully using creative sentencing under the Wildlife Act and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act to deal with serious offenders. For example, through creative sentencing, offenders have been ordered to report their subsequent hunting activities or make payments to the Minister’s programs for wildlife conservation. The amendments to the Fisheries (Alberta) Act will follow existing creative sentencing models. What would be an example of creative sentencing under the Act? Ongoing court proceedings involve numerous serious Fisheries (Alberta) Act violations resulting from a successful undercover operation in the Lac La Biche and Athabasca areas. There have been 10 accused persons convicted as a result of this investigation, who have been fined a total of $140,000. If creative sentencing were available, a portion of that amount could be assessed in the form of an order for payment to support fisheries management programs. In addition, orders could be issued to the convicted persons requiring that they report future fishing activities. What is the rationale behind assessing a fishery’s restoration costs to convicted persons? Fines from convictions, which are directed to the General Revenue Fund, are not adequate to cover the cost of restoring lost fisheries, and all of the cost is currently being borne by the government and fishery stakeholder groups. Estimates to restore trout fisheries affected by the illegal stocking of perch have ranged from $100,000 to $500,000 depending on the size and complexity of the water body. Creative sentencing would introduce an option to order an offender to pay the full cost to re-create the stocked fishery as it was prior to the illegal fish introduction. February 18, 2009

This came my way late yesterday. Don News Release February 11, 2009 Bill 11 will provide more sentencing options to better protect Alberta's fisheries Edmonton... Albertans will continue to see excellent fishing opportunities thanks to legislative amendments introduced in the Alberta Legislature that add several new sentencing options to deter actions that damage the province’s fisheries. Bill 11, the Fisheries (Alberta) Amendment Act, 2009, was introduced by Whitecourt-Ste. Anne MLA George VanderBurg. “The proposed legislative amendments respond to public expectations for tougher penalties for fisheries violations,” said Sustainable Resource Development Minister Ted Morton. “The amendments will better equip the courts to protect our fish resources by including penalties that hold offenders responsible for returning a damaged fishery back to a healthy state.” Bill 11 will give the provincial courts a wider variety of sentencing options (creative sentencing) to penalize those who contravene the Act. The Act currently limits the courts’ ability to impose penalties other than fines and short licence suspensions. The new sentencing options include: * assessing a fishery’s restoration costs to convicted persons; * issuing orders to stop new offences; * suspending or cancelling licences; * assessing additional monetary payments to support fisheries management and habitat enhancement programs; and * ordering fisheries restoration actions. “With theses changes, Albertans will continue to benefit from the effort and investments made in our fisheries resources by government, fisheries groups, industry and the public,” said George VanderBurg, MLA, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne. -30- Media inquiries may be directed to: Dave Ealey Communications Alberta Sustainable Resource Development 780-427-8636

headscan, Take a pair of beach shoes [ thongs] available in your favorite big box store @ <$1.00 and a leather punch. Punch the shoes with the leather punch. You get a whole set of eyes - like several thousand from every shoe. They weight little and can be colored with paints or markers. The best past - beach shoes are available in thousands of obnoxious colors. I use the "punched" out eyes for dragon fly nymphs, damsel fly nymphs, Clouser type of streamers. Don

knotman, Got both Force Fins and Scuba Fins. The scuba fins are used nearly all the time because: 1] They take seconds to put on. 2] They transmit all the energy from the foot to the fin 3] They take less energy to push me around 4] They allow turns a lot more readily 5] They cost less now - although mine were bought in 1978 and cost $140 @ that time - good fins can now be purchased <$100 6] Some scuba fins float - Force Fins sink. I've got the adjustable Force Fin type and it takes me upwards of 5 minutes to put on each fin. I'm sure that it would take less time if you used boot - I don't - I use stocking foot waders to get enough insulation for cold water fishing. Even after tightening and tightening and pissing around with the fins, each movement still takes about 15 degrees fo foot movement before the strap grabs ahold and the fin actually moves. A huge waste of energy. And I spend about 100+ days in a pontoon boat a year. And finally - if you get scuba fins, make sure you get the ones with the plastic inserts in them. The plastic inserts allow both boots and stocking foot waders to be used. Browning did build them - sold about $50.00 catch ya' Don

Lundvike, I use a Cortland 444 DT2F. Works just fine. Two weight gets used about 3>5 days a year for tiny cuts in even smaller streams. As Bloom says, the rod may function better for you with a slightly heavier fly line. See if you can borrow a 2, 3 & 4 weight and give it a go. Pick what suits you. catch ya' Don

How about we look @ the fish on how hard they are to catch on dries. In my experience from toughest to easy it goes: Suckers Whitefish Brookies Browns Rainbows Cuts. So why don't we target the ones that really get our thinking caps on - but no we get all excited about the easiest fish in town. Go figure!!! And worse than that - some of us brag about it. catch ya' Don

The idiot rewrote the fisheries act and now this: Don Subject: Comments, Recommendations and Analysis of the proposed amendment to the Navigable Waters Protection Act Hello all, As you may know, the federal government tabled its 2009 Budget (The Budget Implementation Act, Bill C-10). , The budget act includes sweeping changes to one of Canada's important laws, the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA). Lake Ontario Waterkeeper researched the proposed changes to the NWPA, and is offering a comment on the changes for your information. This summary, along with the background below, is available in a printable pdf file on our website at www.waterkeeper.ca/NWPA Specific concerns with the legislation 1.. The new Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) eliminates environmental assessments for development projects on Canadian waterways, with very few exceptions. 2.. The new NWPA means decisions about Canada's waterways will be based on politics and financial clout rather than science or long-term socio-economic needs. 3.. The new NWPA divides Canada's rivers into those worth protecting and those not worth protecting. 4.. The "class" lists may be drafted by the Cabinet in secrecy, with no public consultation, scientific basis, or opportunity for appeal. Bigger picture concerns: 1.. The legislation fails to recognize that navigation is a public right, stemming from both Aboriginal and European history. The new NWPA mistakenly presumes that the Government of Canada and its friends, rather than Canadians, own and control our rivers. 2.. The legislation is part of an ongoing attack on science, transparency, and fairness when it comes to making decisions that affect Canada's environment. We are seeing similar efforts to gut the Fisheries Act, environmental assessment legislation, and the Environmental Bill of Rights among others. This attack blames "red tape" for standing in the way of progress. In reality, these laws are the only things standing between citizens and a massive sell-off of our waterways from coast-to-coast, be it through pollution, development, or diversion. Recommendations: 1.. Decouple the new NWPA from the Budget Implementation Act, 2009 so that there can be proper, thorough, and transparent consultation with the public. 2.. Restore the environmental assessment trigger. 3.. Remove the Minister's discretion when it comes to major projects, such as the four named works in the existing legislation: bridge, boom, dam or causeway. 4.. Eliminate the system for dividing up Canada's rivers or classifying different types of "works". In the alternative, create these classes only after significant public consultation and scientific review, allow for exemptions in special cases, and explicitly maintain the existing common law and traditional right to use navigable waters. Additional Resources a.. May 8, 2008: NWPA is the focus of Living at the Barricades b.. May 12, 2008: Lake Ontario Waterkeeper's backgrounder on NWPA amendment process: c.. May 12, 2008: Lake Ontario Waterkeeper's written submission to the Transportation Committee d.. May 29, 2008: Lake Ontario Waterkeeper's presentation with Q&A at Transportation Committee e.. June 12, 2008: Trans Committee presents recommendations to Parliament and promises public consultation f.. January 27, 2009: NWPA amendments are buried in the Budget Implementation Act Lake Ontario Waterkeeper has also prepared a report detailing the changes proposed in the amended Navigable Waters Protection Act. Yours in conservation, Patti MacAhonic, BA (Adult Ed), MBA Executive Director B.C. Wildlife Federation 101 - 3060 Norland Ave. Burnaby, BC V5B 3A6

420FLYFISHIN, Did you miss some of the post? Don Nova Scotia is the only province in Atlantic Canada that does not require non-residents to fish with a paid guide. Once you know the water you are free to fish where you please.

pacreseltoro, I'd suspect that the sentence below copied from their web site might give a lot of investors pause. If this province is the only province in the area NOT requiring guides for non-residents - how long do will that go on. After the BC $20 charge, I'd suspect a lot of folks would be a tad leery of a Govt decision effecting their fishing opportunities. Mind you, if you can afford $25,000/week - whats a guide fee? Copy from site: The fly fishing experience in this part of Nova Scotia is world class. The area is remote thus fishing pressure is minimal. Outstanding lake, brook and river fishing is available near the proposed lodge from April 1st thru October 31st. Nova Scotia is the only province in Atlantic Canada that does not require non-residents to fish with a paid guide. Once you know the water you are free to fish where you please.

Come on guys!!! The Bow River - ya' know that little stream that collects Calgary's sewage has had paid access for years. If I recall correctly, it was started by Peter Chenyeh[sp] who started to pay landowners to keep the common folks outta the access on private land - worked too. His plan closed nearly all the access I used for years unless I was willing to pay upwards of $250/yr. for the privilege. Of course, Chenyeh's legacy is still with us although he headed to BC to rape new waters for his paid clients. There has been reports of paid access by other guides on other waters. Further, you think this is bad, some hunting guides have done this for years. Alberta, by no stretch of imagination, is a virgin when it come to paid access. And God help us if this applied to Lease Land. catch ya' Don

Guys/Gals, TimSmith mentioned the lake level issue. The lake maintained the same level for some years till a beaver dam @ the lake outlet finally failed. This was prior to or just @ the point when the perch were stocked. SRD plowed money into steel panels and got the lake level stabilized to prior levels. With or w/o level stabilization, Cow Lake was doomed as a trophy lake fishery after the perch arrived. The perch ate everything. Cow Lake is one weird lake. It doesn't perform from the winterkill angle as do a lot of others. Do to the fact it's shallow, the increased sun angle in February causes the plant life to start to grow and the 02 levels to rise. This is contrary to most lake environments. Typically 02 levels drop starting in fall in most lakes and don't rebound till ice off. regards all, Don

Castuserraticus, You're right only if you consider man part of nature. After all, he's packed rainbows/brown/brooks to Alberta. No - make that all over the place. What we're seeing now is a continuation of man packing stuff. As far as other natural forces packing perch. Gotta wonder about that. About 20,000 years since the last ice age. For about 19,975 years, perch never moved a whole lot. For the past 40 years they started to arrive everywhere. Wonder if perch are taken to hiking? As far as rotenone - the native Indians in south America used it to stun fish so that they could gather and eat them. And here is some info on rotenone. Q. What is rotenone? A. Rotenone is a naturally occurring substance derived from the roots of tropical plants in the bean family Leguminosae including jewel vine Derris spp. and lacepod Lonchocarpus spp. Rotenone is very insoluble in water, and other materials can be added to disperse it throughout the water column in deep lakes and flowing waters. Rotenone is used either as a powder from ground-up plant roots (e.g., Pro-Noxfish®) or extracted from the roots and formulated as a liquid (e.g., Nusyn-Noxfish® and Noxfish®). The liquid formulations contain dispersants and emulsifiers (primarily naphthalene, methylnaphthalenes, and xylenes) that add little, if any, toxicity but disperse the rotenone throughout the water. Q. How does rotenone work? A. Rotenone does not suffocate fish or interfere with the uptake of oxygen in the blood as was long believed. Instead, it inhibits a biochemical process at the cellular level making it impossible for fish to use the oxygen absorbed in the blood and needed in the release of energy during respiration (Oberg 1967a, 1967b). Q. Why is rotenone used in fish management? A. Use of rotenone enables fisheries managers to eradicate entire populations and communities of fishes with minimum impact to nontarget wildlife. Following treatment, the desired population of fish is then reestablished n the water body. Although other approaches are useful as control measures, these are only partially effective in eradicating fish. Use of rotenone is the only sampling method that allows for an accurate estimation of standing crop (biomass of a population) of diverse fishes in large water bodies. Q. Is rotenone a selective pesticide? A. Although rotenone has some toxicity to all oxygen-breathing animals, it is selective to fish and other gill-breathing organisms at the concentrations used by fish biologists. In general, most common aquatic invertebrates are less sensitive than fish to rotenone. Some of the zooplankton (cladocerans and copepods) are equally sensitive; however, these do have life history stages that can survive the treatment. Snails and clams are quite tolerant.

tallieho, The lower and left fly box are Springbok. The right one was given to me - no name brand. The no name brand is better fro putting in and taking out the bugs. I am using it for the <size 16 chironomids lethfisher, Fish lakes about 80>100 days a year. Fish BC, AB and Sask. Chironomids vary from place to place depending on water quality and time of year. Carry about 600>1000 with me all the time. About 6 of each size & color. You know the old story - 2 to use, 2 to lose and 2 to give away. Don

Smitty, Proposed the same thing to SRD after Cow was "perched". Suggested that the lake limit would be a pickup or boat load and you couldn't go home till they were full. I'd like to treat perch as rodents - you know like rats - kill 'em all except for lakes with pike populations. The reason that there will not be a limit on perch after they are illegally stocked was to prevent the person who did it from benefiting from the crime. catch ya' Don

wtforward, The last lake that was "perched" in this area was Twin Lakes 5 miles NW of Rocky. It's a provincial Rec. Area c/w 20+ camping spots, a herd of users every day spring to fall. The only way it would be busier would be to have more canoeing businesses hogging the boat launch. There has/have/will be more lakes managed as Quality Fisheries all over Alberta. The last one added to the list was Fiesta Lake south of Caroline, Alberta. The lakes selected for Quality Regulations except for Police Outpost are all low 02 lakes where shutting off the aeration system effectively kills the fish. Neat solution to a bunch of jerks that insist on destroying fisheries. The lakes in the Rocky Area are @ the apex of a triangle where there is a million people plus to the NE, a million plus to the SE and another 1/4 million straight east. All within 2 hours. This is not my area - it's all of ours. Brunsie, Rotenone is effective only if you pay attention to all the waters that could be effected. The last time Twin Lake was killed, both the north and south lakes of Twin Lake were treated. It's a learning thing. catch ya' all, Don

Folks, Perch are an issue in many waters that held decent trout. In Central Alberta 6 lakes are now effected. The loss of Cow Lake meant that 10>18 lb. trout are no longer available. The problem is getting worse not better, More lakes are being stocked all the time. If you care about what you've lost and the Govt actions, read the backgrounder here and fill out the survey. http://www.mywildalberta.com/Fishing/Stock...antedPerch.aspx regards, Don

See what a rant gets ya'. Rick points out that we are still using keyboards. Well. they were invented in about 1830 to interface with computers today. When things work and fit humans , why change. Rick points out that the manufacturer's are trying to hit a design criteria. I'm not sure about this as several of the companies have a number of designs - none of them designed for slim flies having slightly wider slot. Looks like the design criteria was how much could be jammed in a given space. KnottyGirl points out that she has no trouble and is now added to my "interview for a caregiver list". thefisherking says that he picked up a magnetic box @ the show. What he seems unaware off is that magnetism is the basis for all fish directional finding. Magnetic boxes magnetise flies and cause them to be rejected by fish all over the world. And lastly Dube points out life is good and he's right - We still have a functioning Govt w/o an election. My retirement investments are on about par with last years value. Wife's not pregnant and now has another job. And it's only about 2 days till I go fishing again. Now if I could just figure out why the apex of the butt strips won't run turn - life would be real good. catch ya' Don