Doubletap

Great shots, guys! Couple of my favorite NFRs (except I'm pretty sure they were all taken on fishing trips!) from last year -

Thanks all - glad you enjoyed them. Yeah - that was a well conditioned fish that ran 25''. Took another that went 26'' a few minutes later. Love those dragon nymph grazers!

A few pics from my summer holiday -

Ha ha - Lou was awesome, wasn't he? Special teams sewed up that sweep, though. Just like the Blues - there are many teams that think Vancouver is a uni-dimensional team that stands in the shadow of their goalie. The Canucks outworked, out hustled, out hit and (far and away) out scored the Blues - and deserved the sweep. I too thought the CBC coverage was a little off - they only seemed to be able to point out all the mistakes the Blues were making - rather than all the things the Canucks were doing right. For anybody thats watched the Canucks play the last half of the season, this was not exactly a surprise. The Blues didn't lose this series - Vancouver won it (and won it handily). I'll hope the 'Nucks next victims get their intel from CBC - so they'll spend their time thinking they'll win if they keep all their shots low to Lou's stick-side - ha ha! Vancouver have a lot of weapons (as the Flames found out the hard way more than once this season) and it would behoove their next opponents not to take them as lightly as St Louis may have. Heres what I think, though - maybe all those "Maybe next year"s were about this year. It'll be a fun ride, I'm thinking! Even if they don't manage to get all the way, though - the Flames will get an earlier shot at the best tee-off times - and thats all that really matters! Go Nucks! Edited: Hey - I just realised that its mathematically possible for Van and the Flames to meet in the next round (if Anaheim and Calgary both manage to win their series). I guess Chicago is more likely, though - but Canucks - Flames would be epic!

Ha ha - I'm glad the Flames managed to pull a win out, last night. I was going to dislike them even more than I already do, if the best effort they could come up with was to be swept. The Flames are going nowhere, this year - but the very least they could do is make the Hawks play more than four games for the series! Go Nucks!

Ha ha - yeah, Luongo played an outstanding game, to be sure. However - please note the score - not 2-1. Calgary had a lot of shots, but most were taken from the outside with no traffic - and the defense cleared the majority of the rebounds immediately - like they do so well. As for quality scoring chances - the numbers were far more even - and the Nucks offense buried their opportunities when Calgary hit posts ans missed the net when their chances came. Luongo could have let in a couple of soft ones - and I'm pretty sure, judging from what I saw, that the Nucks would have found a way to outscore the Flames. Despite the shot count, it was a well balanced game from a well balanced team - and it'll be a well balanced team that goes deep. Calgary, with its inconsistencies and injuries don't appear to have what it takes, at this point. Though its a whole new season after the 14th - and anything is possible! I for one, am looking forward to it in a big way! Go Nucks!

Thanks for that, T. My girlfriends the artist, though - she has an eye for the scale (so to speak) - and is pretty handy with a 3wt, as well!

The way Calgary is going - they may be playing Detroit in the first round before they know what happened - ha ha! Its a great turn around for the 'Nucks - there is no doubt. Seems a good mix of talent - Luongo has stolen some games, the D has stolen some games, and one or more lines have found a way to beat their checks and outscore the opposition, on any given night. They are well poised, to be sure - and its great to be looking forward to the playoffs rather than just saying "Maybe next year" again! I missed this thread, somehow, the first time up - its hilarious reading through a few of the posts dating back to February - ha ha! GO NUCKS!

Beautiful Arachnid - if it was me I'd let it go - they can grow Widows like white mice for research. Catch and release wild Arachnids!

Yup - Calgary played that home and home very well. They matched the 'Nucks defensive play and buried their opportunities when they needed to. Is it just me, or was anybody else disappointed with the games? Seems like a two game series between these teams was a hard hitting, brawling, wide-open affair - in seasons past. It looked like beer league no-hit out there. Ah well, congrats to the Flames for doing what they needed to (and doing it well) in securing the 4 points. There will be a reckoning, though - ha ha!

Ha ha - somebody better tell Burrows, Kesler, Wellwood, Bieksa and Dimetra that! They weathered the first nicely - now watch them boil, salt and can Kipper!

"Can you put your hands in your head? Oh No!" Its a 'Nucks Nation, baby!

I'm not sure why such a large company wouldn't ship north of the line - but perhaps they have a good reason. If you want to ask them - Contact Orvis. If they don't have a good reason - don't let them get away with it - ha ha!

Except the approach of two supersonic weapons from different quarters. Except a malfunction of the weapon, guidance system, or radar tracking (not at all unusual). Our Navy isn't built to compete with any other Navy in the world. Since Midway, surface engagements have been dominated by air power and we can't compete with any Navy that has geared it's battle force around the stand-off benefits of air strikes. Thats not to say that some of our gear isn't top notch, some of it is - but our strategy has never been built around facing down any other Naval power. Its been designed to be integrated into US battle/carrier groups and for domestic paroling as deterrence to smuggling (human/contraband) and unauthorized landing/transit.

What does Jerome make in a year? The 'Nucks have 10 million bucks of cap room, you see.

If they had deserved it, they woulda won it. I concur the Bert hit should have been a boarding/diving even up - but Luongo getting called in the first was undeserved - officiating will always be random to some extent. I think that game came down to heart - the 'Nucks came back in somebody else's building and showed they have it - the Flames lost the lead in their home opener - well, you can draw your own conclusions.

Ha ha! The 'Nucks own the Flames - and sure look like they might all season. Thanks for coming all the way out to Vancouver - but maybe next time call ahead, so that Vancouver can dress the wives and girlfriends for the game - so Calgary stands a chance!

Thanks for that, Courtney. My girlfriend wanted me to thank you again for the gratis casting lesson you gave her this afternoon, at the Haig Brown festival. You're a good teacher and it really helped her form. We're West-bound in the morning to see whats swimming in the Tahsis, the Gold and the Heber tomorrow - and shes looking forward to putting her new-found knowledge to good use. Huw.

Thanks for that. Its a Canon S3 IS and does a pretty good job - especially in the macro dept. Its almost time to upgrade to the S5 IS, though!

Yeah, she wields a paint brush with skill, there is no doubt! The Cuttie will be available once it gets digitalized - but first I need to find a frame that will accept the Elk Hair Caddis I caught it on. In the mean time, perhaps you Bow River anglers might prefer one of her other works? If you're interested, you might like to have a look through her website for some options - they are all pretty fishing-den friendly - ha ha! Amu Designs - Prints and customs. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Thanks guys - appreciate your kind words! Its a little out of my neck of the woods, and as its more populated, I rarely go south when I go fishing, I'm afraid! Stop in at a local tackle store and they will no doubt know whats fishing where. Best of luck, to ya! Yeah, my girlfriend asked me to get some macro shots for some paintings she was working on - fish "skin" really is pretty - here are a few more. I didn't know what she was working on, exactly - then got this for my birthday! Its 14''x18'' oil on canvas and I love it! It was done from one of the prettiest Cutties I hit this summer.

Thanks for that! It is a pretty healthy bear - I've run into quite a number of them, recently. This one was a Sow and had two young-of-the-year with her. This was the meanest looking one I ran across - and check out what he's eating. You know times are tough when Starfish start looking good! And one in the backyard.

My first Van Isle Dolly Varden. A bevy of healthy stream resident Cutthroat. Wet wading on a fine summers day. I'm looking forward to the fall season and wish you all great luck with yours!

With the passing of the season, I thought I'd post a few photos. Spring As do most of us - I look forward to the Spring season after a winter of swinging the 8 weight for Steelies in big water. Its a time of renewal in the forest and in the stream. A time for the chironomds in the still water and salmon fry flies in the slat water estuaries. Bear cubs and fawns on the river bank. Blue skies and gentle showers. Springtime Chironomid emerger pattern. And the mountain tarn Cutthroat that take them with abandon. Spring streamer pattern I like for stillwater Browns. And the Browns that can't pass it up. Watching for rises in a high country, hike in lake. A Spring fog can make for some surreal fishing. Summer Short sleeves and wet wading - when a streamside hike can be as enjoyable as the fishing. Pollen and wild flowers on the breeze - a time for the 2 weight and dry flies. Bears like places where water and land meet as much as I - and for the same reasons - berries and fish! They are truly my "spirit animal". My favorite fishin' partner's first dry fly caught trout.