Hawgstoppah

I tend to use the bright orange ones myself. My reaction time in seeing the take just seems to be that much quicker, and I feel like I miss less chances. I've tried the other colors and find myself always a bit slow on realizing just when it has indeed gone down.

Yeah the old "hey beeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!" ... loud whistling of tunes, loud conversation and STILL I have had my fair share of run-ins with the critters. but almost every time I did, it was at a point where my focus shifted from bear awareness to getting to a fishing location, or not cleaning dinner up at camp quick enough / leaving something out while relaxing after supper in a lawnchair for a half hour, etc. I always carry bear spray. I've been lazy about it lately though, this thread should wake me up.... Another thing to note, you don't have to be on a huge hike in the mountains to run into bears. I have had the majority of my sightings while fishing on the Crowsnest River (while not any bad encounters, thankfully). I have also seen a few from afar while on the Bow below Calgary.

That's true actually. I'd rather see these things than motorized vehicles (jet boat, jet-ski, quads, 4x4's etc) of any type while I am on river.

Oldman from Hwy 22 down has some big water less than a mile down from the bridge, some pretty good drops and definately NOT for the inexperienced. Having fished that area a lot I certainly wouldn't want to try and pontoon it myself. Downstream from that area, though, ain't bad

The thousands and thousands on hours I have on stream would actually indicate the opposite, though I do have a very snappy quick strike when nymphing that many others do not use. Could make a diff I suppose. hit 'em hard and fast. The only fish I have actually ever hooked real deep have in fact been on streamers.

I got in trouble on another thread about this but I think it's not such a bad thing to be able to take your kids out and if they are having a lot of trouble to be able to tie on a barbed fly so they can see the odd fish they hook instead of getting frustrated and upset when they go 2 for 20. It's hard enough to keep their interest levels these days what with iPods and all the rest being there social life... I will still use barbless for 99.9 % of my fishing. The other 0.1% will be my eight year old daughter and her horrible line control.

saw them all over Maui.... and I saw people falling off them all over in Maui. I personally wouldn't fish from one but it did look like it might be a fun thing to do for just an enjoyable paddle.

so true on the Bow. while you may have a lot of success quite frequently by mastering the techniques which have become common on the Bow (2 flies 9ft from an indicator) to truly be able to adjust and catch fish when they are not on that method, takes experience and time on the water trying new things. I used to almost always fish that method, now if it doesn't work for me for more than a few hours I am switching to a variety of different methods. It's actually amazing how many fish are in places no one fishes, that are 2-3ft deep and characterless.

I second what Paula said. If you have a GOOD backpack (think Mountain Equipment Co) you can actually haul a good amount of gear and it will not be a strain. Now if you are just talking about sort of hiking along a river fishing, depends on the day! Sometimes I go in my shorts in mid sumemr but most of the time I use my breathable waders, that mountain water can be very cold in the morning! As far as places to go, there are so many great little streams in alberta it would be hard to list them all. Anything in the entire oldman river drainage (oldman, livingstone, dutch, racehorse, vicary, daisy) are good. highwood & cataract creek are good too. Farther south the castle and tribs are goo and the crow is a bit more challenging but a lot of fun, especially mid June'ish right after runoff. Good luck out there!!

I actually think the brown looks a lot more like a Loch leven specimen than a german brown. Most germans have red spotting and / or much more pronouced red or orange sides. "There are 2 strains of browns brought here originally. One is from Scotland and specifically from one lake there. It was lake “Loch” number eleven “Leven”. The strain from Scotland are called Loch Leven Browns. Loch Leven browns are typically longer and skinnier than their German cousins. They have fewer spots and do not have red spots. The German brown trout is a little heavier and has red spots mixed in with the blackish brown spots. Through the years the 2 strains have intermingled and it is hard to say that this a German or this is a Scottish brown." I could be wrong after all these years, but I just thought I would throw that out there as food for thought.

Crow from Lundbreck falls to oldman reservoir is doable in June / July... after that there is a lot of skinny water and anything deep enough to pontoon over would be where the fish are and you'd spook them before getting a shot anyways. Castle is another one to consider from hwy 507 down to the res. Waterton from park gates to bridge at Colony. Most floats other than the Bow will require you and a pontooning buddy to set up your shuttle service on your own

good stuff!

It's not always about needing to be right on the bottom, but a lot of the time it is. There are exceptions and when you master those types of nymphing along with "deep nymphing" you'll be very adept at adjusting to the fishes mood swings.

Nice pics! I especially like the one of crowsnest mtn

I had the korkers lace system explode on a warm day after driving 200km to the middle of no where. There is no way to replace it out in the sticks... I used an old lace and some duct tape to make it through the day (red green woulda been proud of me) and I had them freeze several times from winter fishing... the solution was to turn on the car and melt the ice off by the exhuast pipe, but it happened frequently. I have actually gone back to laces, but my BOOT brand is still korkers

Yeah I'll admit... every time I watch LOTR I watch for rising fish. I thbink I have one sighted in the scene they cross a small river in return of the king. LOL

I just saw this on youtube and had to share. One of my favorite movie characters of all time and now reason to respect him all the more, sneaking out from the set to wet a line!! hahaha awesome!

Congrats!!!

Corkies 100% except on a drift where I need the flexibility of changing depths quickly. I find the corkies tangle at least 50% less for me... I think the thingamabobbers are so light they drag in the air and the flies loop around them a lot. I'm ok until a breeze comes in and then all hell breaks loose using them.

somehow I knew as soon as I read the title, it'd be you to say that. Thanks for the chuckle LOL I used SA Mastery for years, double taper for the Bow is good when one side gets a bit worn you can do the turn and burn and wear out the other end.

One more small thought on this thread. I've taken out hundreds of folks. Some are the greatest casters I have ever seen. Most need a LOT of work and normally that's what I am there for to help them make some adjustments to the cast to effectively present. I find the art of fly fishing isn't so much about being Brad Pitt standing on a rock waving some fly line in a setting sun (while a good caster IS awesome to watch do not get me wrong) but fly fishing is moreso the art of deceiving a fish with a proper presentation. I think having the versatility to adapt to what the fish are doing is a great challenge and a lot of fun. My last season on the Bow saw me do a lot more light nymphing, dry dropper, small streamers, and dries than chucking the big indicator around too, but that's where most of the fish were too. But my point is, getting back to it, that I have seen people who can cast a 5wt line 50+ feet and land a fly on a frisbee sized area from that distance, but some of those folks honesty absolutely sucked at having that sixth sense of being "fishy". They spent so much time perfecting the cast and worrying about what gear, what fly, this and that, diddling around for hours on the bank trying to figure out that perfect set up, that they forgot about the fish and how to catch them. BUT.... they love to cast, period, and to them the enjoyment of the sport comes from that. The thrill of catching one fish on their own perfectly tied setup might equate to someone else's thrill of catching 10 fish. But man are those good casters deadly when the have the sixth sense and a drive to present flies to active fish. And I love to watch and take pictures of perfect loops too! I hope this thread does help people realize that their way of enjoying the same sport as the guy down the river is really not "better" or worse in any way. Go say hi next time, ask him how he's fishing, maybe you could learn something new!! (This also goes out to the nymph crowd who think these folk enjoying swinging streamers on spey's is an elistist bunch, it's not the case, in fact they really enjoy the hell out of it... have a look!). Maybe the guys swinging could realize what a great tool a spey is for tossing a nymph rig out there too! (gasp!) Have fun out there!! cheers,

rest assured anywhere you choose to chase goldens I can tell you one thing, the scenery will be incredible, and the fish are like a little slice of what heaven will be like when you get a chance to view one with your own eyes. I've fished a LOT. Caught my share of small pretty fish, big badarse fish and everything in between yet my heart longs for another hike in trip this coming summer.

Grinr, some people enjoy the "how" of nymphing aka bobber fishing... just as much as you enjoy your own "how" as well. It's not really about how many (at last to me it isn't) it is about fishing a method that is enjoyable while at the same time challenging. The real issue is folks that look at other people's enjoyment and call them down for whatever reason they have in their minds that their own way is somehow "better". But the truth is, it's only better to you. I like my steak medium. I suppose you guys that like it medium rare would call me out for not doing it the proper way too? I bet the medium well crowd has a say too. Can't a guy have his steak done the way he wants without another man looking down on it?? Just sayin' cheers

Gotta love the folks that think their method is more sporting or "better" than anyone else's. Some people drive a car to get from point A to B as cheaply as possible, while others like the comforts, while yet others like the power and precision of a sport car and enjoy the GOING to point B. But is anyone doing anything they don't enjoy? I say no, so leave it be with fishing as well. I'll gladly fish beside a nympher, a centerpinner, even a bait fisherman in a place that allows it, and have fun with them too. Fly Fishing isn't about a staus badge, which some people try and inject into the sport.

beauties and a place dear to my heart. I hope the fish co-operated a bit!