theiceman2

I spent Sundy on the Highwood river with the hound dog, nice sight mfishing for browns but the bears are everywhere. I Ran into a 400lb Grizz about 40 yards away grazing on berrys. Lucky for me everytime I go to Longview I load up on fireworks. Once the bear started to come down the bank towards me I sent a roman candle up his ass! It did send him running but 10 mins later the same bear was following me down the river and wouldn't let me up the bank. Two more roman candles and I was out of there. I went back into Longview reloaded on air bombs and jurkey and went down lower to the canyon section of the river, thinking there were less berries and would not have another bear scare. Not the case. 20mins into it another BIG black bear followed me on just the other side of the river. More air bombs and away he went. After 3 solid hours of being bear free the dog went nutzo, yet another Grizz on the same side of the creek about 50yards up. MOre air bombs up his ass and I got the hell out of the Highwood. Just a note, be prepared if you go into bear country and a little can of bear spray is only tabasco sauce for his meal..you. As for the knife good luck! remember a bear has 5 knives attached to each hand. I will post pics of the bears later. Matt

Hey "Big Bad Brown" How was the fishing on the Highwood this Sept? Thinking of hitting it on the weekend.

I have a 1982's 4 piece Kunnan graphite Advantage 4-5wt fly rod that I was given to me by my father. I usually fish my Fenwick graphite 6-7 wt on the Bow, but was considering using the Kunnan for smaller streams as a light action pack rod. I heard the Kunnan switched to golf shafts in the earily 90's due to a fire in their asian plant. My question for the board is does graphite age well, IE dry out, become brittle? Am I at a greater risk to break this 30 year old rod due to its age if it is still in original condition and always stored in it's case? Or am I better off just mounting it on the wall as a keep sake? Matt

Thanks Grasshopper, I just recived two Monomasters in the mail today for the Bow River Clean up as door prizes. For anyone interesede I will have them on display if you would like to see them in action before some lucky participant goes home with it. Matt

And one last pic

Heres another pic

Easliest my best fish of the year was a 8 foot 3 inch Sailfish caught in Mexico four days ago. Matt

See the upper post for details

Just a general update for the Bow River Clean up. The date that seems to work best for everyone is Sunday October 19, 2008. The general concept of the clean up, for anyone who has not participated before, is to walk a small stretch of the Bow River with a group and clean up some of the trash from the river banks and edges. As everyone knows a summer of rafting, fishing and general disregard can leave our beautiful river in shambles at the end of the season. This is also a good way to meet folk with similar interests and maybe even learn a tip or two or win a door prize from one of our sponsors. I am waiting to confirm the number of interested people who would like to participate in this event before releasing a detailed plan for area clean up. If you are interested in attending please send me an E-Mail to madams@twinbutteenergy.com This is very imporntant as I need to know how to design the clean up and know how much to order for the BBQ. Also if you are interesed in offering your knowledge of a particular technique it would be great to have several clinics at the BBQ that people can attend; please E-Mail me if you would be able to offer a clinic. Details: When: Sunday October 19, 2008 @ 9:30 Where: Still working on a general meeting place BBQ: Fish Creek Park @ 3:00 Current Sponsors: Cabelas and St Croix Rods

We can certanly work in conjuction with the TD group, and keep our animinity. The problem with the TD bank group is they offer very little financial support but take all of the credit. By sticking to our original mandate we can acomplish what we set out to do and raise our own corperate sponsers with out running into a sponsorship legal battle. So far Cabelas has agreed to sponsor us, and I am waiting to hear back from others. I will be putting some deep thought and planning into this event tonight and updating this thread daily to keep everyone in the loop, as for locations, groups, BBQ location, door prizes, ect. Matt

See the top post, I am editing that for the most up to date info. Matt

BOW RIVER CLEAN UP UPDATE: Edited Oct 18, 2008 When: Sunday Oct 19 @ 9:30 Where: Meet at Poliecemans Flats parking lot to pick up maps, garbage bags, gloves, and hand sanatizer, and be divided into groups based on the number of folks who show up. BBQ: Fish creek park- Glennfield Group site B (see attached map pdf below. Spulombos sausages on the grill and side dishes from M&M meat shops. Prizes to be drawn at the BBQ. http://www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/fishcreek/...June%202008.pdf Sponsors: Hansons fishing ---------------- Fly rod (thanks Wayne, 813 1st St SW) Cocoons Sunwear ---------------Polarized fishing glases St Croix Rods ------------------- 2 - 40% discount cards for any rod and reel Cabelas ------------------------- 2 -fishing vests, 10 camo Cabelas hats Bauer Premium Fly Reels ------ Premium fly reel Twin Butte Energy -------------- Cash Donation (purchesed fish creek day site for BBQ, condiments, drinks, garbage bags, incidentals) Private donor -------------------- Two night weekend stay at the Hyatt Regency Calgary Spolumbo's fine foods --------- BBQ Sponsor for all spicy and chicken sausages and buns The Fishing Hole ---------------- Shimano fishing package (spinning rod/reel combo and a Shimano tackle bag) $200 value Bow River Troutfitters ---------- 2 person beginner or intermediate fly fishing school" Simms Fishing Products -------- River shed aquastealth wading boots Morin Realty (278-2900) --------Large arbor Fly reel M&M Meat Shops -----------------$100 credit (purchased cookies, and desert for BBQ) Icky Fly Works ------------------ Boxes of Flys, IFW Hat and Sweater, Palsier 7wt reel. Grasshopper Outdoors --------- 2X monomaster waste line holder. Country Pleasures --------------- 2X Simms Keen wader sandals Simms Storm Rivershed stockingfoot goretex waders Be sure to support out sponsors as they are supporting such a great event! NOTE: Please E-Mail me madams@twinbutteenergy.com and let me know if you will be attending PRIZES: All prizes will be drawn for at the BBQ event, you will enter your name in the morning or at the BBQ. If your name is drawn you pick one item from the table. This eliminates the "swap" afterwards and you get to pick what you want. DIRECTIONS TO POLICE MANS FLATS (like you don't know) : (East on Dunbow Road, and south on Bow River Bottom road to parking lot) Google 50.842070, -113.951280 for exact location

The crazy thing is the two leaders I picked up were both from the same company, the knotless one was 4 lb test, adn the regular leader was 8.5lbs. I just wanted to make this post for everyone out there who may loose "the fish of their life" by only noting the X value but not hte poundage rating. Thanks all for your replys ICY

OK heres the deal...I fell for a gimmic of a "knotless tapered leader". The problem is even though its 3x leader its only 4lb test, the regular leader I use is also 3x but its 8.5lb test. For the Bow River should I scrap the knotless 4lb test leader and go back to the 8lbs test regular leader? Icy

There is a creek I walk with my dog every now and again, it is just to the west of Deerfoot Trail and the train tracks running NS and enters the Bow River just past the Zoo but before the Wier. I traced it on google maps from the entry point on the Bow right up to Country Hills Bvld where it flows between that astro turf driving range and the train tracks. Can anyone identify it? If so does anyone know if there are fish in it? It is connected to the Bow River. ICY

I did end up picking up that reel after all, and love it, the comment about sand in the drag system is somewhat correct. I found if I laid the rod down to tie a new tippet or change flies and the reel touched the ground or sand bar the reel sounded like a cheese grater in a fight with a hammer. I just sumberged the reel in the water a pulled two strips of line and the sand cleaned itself out of the reel, very nice feature on the sealed drag unit. Loving this reel, highly recomended for $150 at Hansons, you can't find a better reel for the price....I looked.

I hear the fish are eating 6' tall french men who sell houses! You should do great

I was looking to upgrade my reel. I have my eye on the scierra xdp 6/7 wt reel for the Bow River and general Alberta fishing on my 6/7 wt fenwick graphite rod. Anyone seen this rell, own it, used it? I would love to hear your feed back. ICY