Doubletap

Monster - no doubt! Did you pepper spray it to make it cooperate for the photo?

Ha ha - we don't grow trout (well, not trout that don't run to the sea, anyway!) quite as big as those that inhabit Alberta's flows! However, I've hit a few that were memorable this year - though not all because of their size. I think the prettiest (and about the biggest) was a Cutthroat I took at a rivers drainage into a large lake, on a 2wt with a Elk Hair Caddis. One of my favorites was a Sea Run Cutty that I hit just up from tidewater, only a few days into January. It was such a cold, gray day and the Cut was such a ray of sunshine in the monochrome. A first for me this year was a Dolly Varden. I don't have many "firsts" left, here on Vancouver Island - and this was a big one! Lastly was a fish I didn't even catch. It was my girlfriend's first season on the flows, and she really found her groove with a 3wt. This one was one of her first. But not her last - and they seem to keep getting bigger!

The interesting thing is that you are in more danger on the freshwater, especially early in the season out your way, than you are off the west coast. The ocean on our coast stays at about 50F (give or take a few of degrees over the year). If you fall in, it feels cold but not debilitating - if you can stay afloat, hypothermia will eventually claim you, but unless the air temp is very cold (or the wind and seas are up - which can make getting a breathe difficult) it will take an hour or so. If you fall into one of Alberta's lakes in the early season, the water will feel debilitatingly cold. What transpires is called "cold water shock" and is typified by uncontrolled and ragged breathing with loss of muscle control. This makes it impossible to tread water or swim. Though the water is extremely cold, hypothermia is almost never the killer - its drowning brought about by the inability to stay afloat. If you aren't wearing flotation that will help you maintain buoyancy for those first few minutes you will most likely aspirate water and drown. There are more than 500 drowning fatalities a year in Canada and I'd be willing to bet (though I've seen no numbers to back this up) that far more drown in freshwater in a year than salt. Something to think about, anyway.

I don't mean to butt in here - but a 5wt is adequate for Pinks, here on Van Isle (I use my 5wt Elite for them). A 7wt will be more than adequate, but not overkill. Use a reel sized for the rod and maybe not large arbor as you might need the room for backing! I've caught the odd Coho and Chinook while fishing for Pinkies and a 20lb Spring in shallow water will take you waaaaaay into your backing - ha ha!

Was off on a local system with my girlfriend, last week. Shes new to fly fishing, having taken it up early this spring - but has taken to it like a ... well, a fish to water, I suppose! I don't get to swing my 3wt very often when we fish together, anymore - but thats a small price to pay to see the smile on her face! Sneaking into the run... ...calling the cast - "Elk Hair Caddis, behind that stump - watch this!"... ...making the cast... ...fish on!... ...the last run... ...proud as punch! Its not "Bow sized", but heres one of my own. And my first Dolly Varden from Vancouver Island (they have become somewhat rare) - for a mini-grand slam - including Rainbow, Cutthroat and the Dolly from the same system on the same day.

I worked for the other resort (Charlotte Princess), owned by the same company that works out of Henslung Cove on Langara Island, many years ago. The MV Marabell (which is the vessel the unfortunate fella was fishing from) does have a fish master, does have a rescue boat (a small zodiac), and does close parts of the island waters to fishing if conditions dictate. And to the best of my knowledge, they have never had a water related fatality in their history (although there certainly have been some cardiac arrests on the Marabell itself, which happens at all fishing lodges). I am, however, surprised that this hasn't happened before. I've worked Coast Guard SAR for the last 15 years and have certainly helped a number of boaters that have gotten over their heads, conditions versus experiance wise (and 4 or 5 - four day trips to a lodge does not indicate experiance with Pacific Ocean conditions) and am surprised it doesn't end badly more often. It really is a shame, though, as by accounts the man may well have been saved had flotation been worn. Its not a given, though and the bottom line is that the ocean is a dangerous place, at times. It shouldn't be intimidating, as thousands upon thousands of folks enjoy their trips to the west coast to fish unguided every year and have no more serious a problem than sunburn and a sore reeling hand. However, it needs to be remembered that things can go wrong quickly out there - its no place to let down your guard and with a little planning and prevention (like wearing a life jacket) theres no reason everyone can't enjoy a safe trip out to the salmon grounds. Play safe out there!

I love mine - I have 2 and 3wt Ultras and a 5wt Elite. Great rods at a pretty good price!

William Joseph Confluence when I'm gone for the day, as I can stuff a rain jacket, spare reel, and a lunch into the backpack. William Joseph Solo when I'm just gone for a few hours. Both perform admirably and I prefer them both to a vest.

Yeah, the Canon "S" series are very good cameras. I particularily like the image stabilizing aspect. It takes the vibration out of just about every shot. I took this one off the aft deck of our lifeboat with twin Cat engines roaring away beneath my feet. Concur - we have a few lakes and rivers on the Island that contain Brown trout and they all look quite different. From silvery sea runs to these, which are about as dark as I have caught. The lake in which they live is a very dark tanin-brown, with visibility about a foot, looking downwards.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look, and thank you for your kind replies. Luukesh: I'm using a Canon S3 IS - 6mp with the image stabilization (great for shooting from moving boats, float tubes and in low light). Canon recently came out with the S5 IS which has a few nice upgrades. Canon S5 IS review.

Just thought I'd post a few quick shots from my last couple of forays out, on Vancouver Island. Wild Cutty from a mountain tarn. One of the last rivers with pure-wild strain Rainbows on the Island. They don't get all that big, but they sure are feisty and sparkle like the jewels they are. Found a new (to me) lake with a remnant Brown population from an old stocking. Mayfly Dun caught triploid. Trying out the new camping rig - great piece of kit! Our only neighbor while camping. Yes, it was large for a Black Bear - but thats a woman's size 5 in comparison.

Ha ha - yeah, looots of Kokanee in that lake! The picture doesn't show it well, but check out it's cheek - it looked like it had a walnut in there! I was fishing it last winter, and landed one that went 26''. After letting it go I noticed a small pool of blood under the net in the bottom of the boat. Damn, I thought, it wasn't gill caught and there was no blood in the water when I was readying it for release. Then I noticed that there was tufts of fur in the blood! Some small critter had met its end in the maw of that big Brown. Needless to say, I no longer trail my fingers in the water there!

There used to be some big ones in the Cowy (I've seen them to an estimated 15 lbs while snorkeling through the canyon) but years of bycatch by bait fishermen (usually fishing for Steel) and ignorance ("Geez - look at the size of that thing - lets bonk it!) have made large ones few and far between. There are still a few lunkers hiding under the log jams, but nowhere near the number you enjoy on the Bow.

We have two rivers with Browns, on Van Isle and 5 or 6 lakes. They are no longer stocked, but remnant populations are still present. The lakes produce the largest Browns, as there is plenty of feed in the way of Kokanee and stocked Rainbows to pack on the pounds. My largest from a lake went about 14lbs (based on length x girth measurements), while my largest river caught only went 24''.

Didn't think we had them, did'ya?