dryfly

I've lived in southern Alberta for 40 years--come fall. Born in England and lived in Edmonchuk for 13 years before heading South. Lived in small towns for 40 years. So I am biased. Love it here and have become an obnoxious southern zealot! Wouldn't live anywhere on earth than somewhere in Southern Alberta. Yeah, I wouldn't mind living closer to the Pass, but never will now as I was a idiot and never purchased a acreage five years ago when I could afford it. And now they start at $300K with no buildings. My error. *hit happens. Still we've a trailer lot near Pincher now. Lethbridge is a cosmic little city with anything we need. Within two hours I can fish a huge range of streams and lakes. Great for wildlife picture takin'. 2,400 sunshine hours per year. This winter excepted, we get great weather. And don't waste ink on bitching about the wind. So we get a little wind now and then? No biggie. Essentially 12 months of fishing--albeit only occasional fishing for a while. There is very little to not like in small southern towns. We gots eBay now so can get fissin' gear if we don't like the offerings and attitudes downtown. (A little inside humor there. Well it is not that funny actually. )

This is the Great Pumpkin. It has a great history. See top image and crappy small bottom image--ancient scan. What happened was this. I was yakking to a guy who spin fished and he said he'd been having a ton o' luck with a gold and orange "Cyclops" spin lure. So I cranked out a couple of spun deer hair, eyeless, flies using orange deer hair, some orange fish hair and assorted flash. (I still have a couple of these around somewhere.) One of the guys in the Brooks FF Club named it Great Pumpkin, collectively we started using "body fur" for large heads and somewhere along the way I started using LARGE eyes. So it has a cool history. The fly worked way back then and still works today--in its evolved form. We've no idea what the pike take it for and it does not work as well in early spring as yellow. It is one of the "must have" flies. There are days it is deadly--and days the pike prefer yellow. Great Pumpkin instructions here..... That's one of the primordial pumpkins on top here...old flatbed scan.

adc alerted me to this discussion most of which I ignored. Don, good points about line weights although I've only had one real issue with mismatched line-rod. Anyway, adc told me about Jim's post in which he wrote, "Zephyr...nobody ever bought one." He he. I think I have a blank Zephyr rod. Twenty some years ago my bro purchased an Orvis blank in 5-wt and ASSEMBLED it for me. It weighs not much less than a standard-bred poodle and limp as ..... limp as an overcooked noodle. Like Al, I don't use it much, but it REALLY is sweet to cast. It is a soft open noodly wand. Sweet.

Here is the 4-hour sequence ... was fun ... was chilly the last hour.

Film at 11! Just waiting for the total shadow right now. FIRST HALF AS IT WENT TO BED......Will clean them up tonight.

Andrew, Wassup below the dam? I was thinking of dropping by tomorrow. Will depend on wind. Not said anything to Al yet. Clive

Since I am STILL in trouble, what the heck, eh? ==================================================================== 47 Reasons Why Dogs Are Better Than Women. 1. Dogs don’t cry. 2. Dogs love it when your friends come over. 3. Dogs don’t care if you use their shampoo. 4. Dogs don’t mind if you urinate outside. 5. Dogs think you sing great. 6. A dog’s time in the bathroom is limited to a quick drink. 7. Dogs don’t expect you to call when you are running late. 8. The later you are, the more excited dogs are to see you. 9. Dogs will forgive you for playing with other dogs. 10. Dogs don’t notice if you call them by another dog’s name. 11. Dogs are excited by rough play. 12. Dogs don’t mind if you give their offspring away. 13. Dogs understand that farts are funny. 14. Dogs can appreciate excessive body hair. 15. Anyone can get a good-looking dog. 16. If a dog is gorgeous, other dogs don’t hate it. 17. Dogs don’t shop. 18. Dogs like it when you leave lots of things on the floor. 19. A dog’s disposition stays the same all month long. 20. Dogs never need to examine the relationship. 21. A dogs parents never visit. 22. Dogs love long car trips. 23. Dogs understand that instincts are better than asking for directions. 24. Dogs understand that all animals smaller than dogs were made to be hunted. 25. When a dog gets old and starts to snap at you incessantly, you can shoot it. 26. Dogs like beer. 27. Dogs don’t hate their bodies. 28. No dog ever bought a Kenny G album. 29. No dog ever put on 100 pounds after reaching adulthood. 30. Dogs never criticize. 31. Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across. 32. Dogs never expect gifts. 33. It’s legal to keep a dog chained up at your house. 34. Dogs don’t worry about germs. 35. Dogs don’t want to know about every other dog you ever had. 36. Dogs like to do their snooping outside as opposed to in your wallet, desk, and the back of your sock drawer. 37. Dogs don’t let magazine articles guide their lives. 38. Dogs would rather have you buy them a hamburger dinner than a lobster one. 39. You never have to wait for a dog. They’re ready to go 24 hours a day. 40. Dogs have no use for flowers, cards or jewelry. 41. Dogs don’t borrow your shirts. 42. Dogs never want foot-rubs. 43. Dogs enjoy heavy petting in public. 44. Dogs find you amusing when you’re drunk. 45. Dogs can’t talk. 46. Dogs aren’t catty. 47. Dogs seldom outlive you. Eleven Reasons Why Dogs And Women Are Alike. 1. Both look stupid in hats. 2. Both can eat 5 pounds of chocolate in one sitting. 3. Both tend to have "hip" problems. 4. Neither understand football. 5. Both look good in fur. 6. Both are good at pretending that they’re listening to every word you say. 7. Neither believe that silence is golden. 8. Both constantly want back rubs. 9. Neither can balance a checkbook. 10. You can never tell what either of them is thinking. 11. Both put too much value on kissing. Three Reasons Why Women Are Better Than Dogs. 1. It is socially acceptable to have sexual relations with women. 2. Women look good in sweaters. 3. Women leave the room to fart.

Flyangler, Dark chocolate, eh? Me too. You tried this stuff? It comes in orange flavor too! To die for. Super Store in Lethbridge has a whole display of Lindt chocs. Yum! Clive

It is a good question. And I'll catch hell for my response--my perspective. In short, a swap is WAY down on a list of things to do--well it is not even on my list. Yeah, I am busy ... close to finishing the last of 4 winter work gigs ... been doing Stream Watch stuff ... have to tie some more Cuba flies and pack for Cuba. Am batching for two weeks prior to Cuba too .. so hafta do household chores and cook--well I do most of the cooking anyway. A swap takes a time commitment and a swap is not even on my radar screen. Sorry. Here's my big concern. The last one I participated in returned me some really good flies (ass covered) ... but on a couple of previous ones (not this group), I was unhappy with the flies that were returned. A couple of crap flies, but mostly just patterns I will never use.

Women don't know what they want and won't be happy until they get it!! Am I in trouble again? Am I in trouble still?

I've never fished the Bow in winter so my perspective is different. Been fishing the Crow since it was first opened year round...that was the winter of 1991 or 1992 and I think we first went real winter fishing in Feb 1992. Anyway ... Having taken a few falls over the years the biggest threat to personal safety on a smaller river like the Crow is falling on the ice and breaking bones or smacking your head. Those ice sheets can be deadly slippery on warm days. Will I remember that tomorrow?

Livingstone at sunrise ... Turtle at sunrise.... OM Valley N of my house

That REALLY hurts! Sorry to hear. Too bad we don't have public floggings. One or two lashes would curb 80 percent of vandalism, car thefts, willful property damage and assorted other minor offenses that cost a LOT of money and generally annoying.

Hey Don..great plan..."This would only be fair as nearly all the real crappy weather in Alberta was delivered in one form or another by a US State." Good thing we don't get much blow in from Connecticut. Might have to be censored.

This here's adc fishing from his! Kidding. Sorry needtimetofish, can't help you--just couldn't resist.

Good one netspinner....also... Click here for the 2-page PDF flier ...iIt is nearly 1MB so takes a few seconds to d/l. Prints very well.

Smart a$$.

RED FACED! This time I WILL mail them. PM your street address (and last name) and I will mail on Monday as the PO is across from the tanning salon. I need Vit D badly--getting cranky!

I have two free "adult admission" tickets for the B&S Show on Feb 14 to 17. Will mail free of charge to the first one who replies. Will mail Monday--should arrive by Thursday. Reply here then PM your mailing address. (Last year I did the same thing and forgot to mail the tickets--they were in a stamped enveloped and got mislaid. )

Thanks TM!

maxwell, take all of the tax receipts you can. My donated pictures last year cost me money out of pocket--a few hundred. That and a few other donations and I'll probably get $1k back -- or at least reduce my tax payment by $1K. It is not like you are cheating or anything. We all donate for the love of the cause, but why be out of pocket?

This is going to be trouble....a pissed off moose in yer front room would not be happy.

Thanks TM. Say .. can you make a list of the donations offered so far and maybe out in a new thread ....and can Dave pin the new thread.....just a thought? Clive

"It's Been Awhile Since I Posted A Really Bad Joke!!" Not near long enough ...