monger

You guys down there in the tropics get to see everything first. The Bow is just polluted with Mallards waiting for the ice on the ponds to melt. It was nice to see a Killdeer today as well. He better be careful along the shore because giant pieces of ice were calving off today and exploding into the water.

There was lots of Pintails on the Bow today. Even saw some Gadwalls and the all impressive Shoveler. A lot of new birds have returned home this week.

Awesome shots Max. We live in an awesome area!

They flip over to loose altitude when coming in to land some times. Pintails do it at greater speeds and makes for a great show.

Clive I'm not afraid of the ice. It makes for good cover (undercut ice bank). Your feet freeze whether there is ice on or off at this time of the year. I never said I was smart, just willing...

South of Cardston, then west, then south. Stop before you cross the border

Open water! Where's my tube??????????? I wonder how many replacement signs you'll need? Thanks for all your work guys.

There is quite a bit of instream spawning in the Bow above the Elbow by rainbows. They don't seem to use the Elbow that much but I have talked to some people who have seen them there.

Are you going to start a netting school for Texans Rick?

Awesome Tim! I love it. Snowcones, Wild berry rod and reel and a great guide (papa Tim). Those BH fish are in for a whuppin'. I'll be showing my daughter tomorrow.

That looks like a great little creek. Every adventure makes you a better angler.

Thanks for your insights WollyBuggered. Here is some more to read for the rest of us poorly informed folks. http://www.dfw.state.or.us/OHRC/materials/...SterileFish.pdf Looks like not much difference in growth, but perhaps a bit longer life for 3N. I guess the results are not very conclusive considering all the different studies. One thing that is positive about 3N females at Bullshead is that they will be less susceptible to angling if they are not milling along the shoreline in April. Perhaps a few more will stay out of Medicine Hat freezers and be seen jumping at the end of Clive's line during one of the wind storms he brings from his house.

WoolyBuggered, is there no difference in growth in the females after sexual maturation? Do you have a reference I can get educated with?

No problem Clive. My buddies and I are 15 years behind you so we are still "mongers r us". I'll be watching, listening and learning to see how it is done while you slide into retirement. We have already noticed a little "oldfartism" creeping into our thinking. Hopefully with time we will get more cranky so we can get some things changed like you guys! Cheers, Rob

The difference Jeff will be the female triploids will be shiny, chrome fish that are heavy due to muscle, not full of eggs like the fish of the past. That's why Tako is calling the spawners "boots".

Based on what has happened in many BC lakes, I think there is a good chance we will see some fatter 20" fish in three years. Results will vary due to differences in water chemistry, food availability, disease resistance, water temp adaptation and angling pressure etc. I think it is a good idea to try this experiment. If stocking numbers continue to decrease we will eventually get some serious growth. Triploids are not a new species, just a genetically altered strain of the same old thing.

Here you go Jeff: http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/congress/...dall/Benfey.pdf http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commo...per_1800113.pdf

Looks like all the guys fighting over the poo hole in Fish Creek

Some have said, "they are not endangered enough!" I found it interesting while wading in a Montana river to find pelicans that had made incredible dives down in the river and ended up with 5lb rocks in their bills. What do you think the chances of that would be? (Especially since white pelicans don't dive). White pelicans and Rocky mountain whitefish are not the most popular in Montana. Mr. Sundance, if that is your real name, do not be jealous that I am "abedding" someone else. I am a fish whore after all. I think you should use the term abetting though.

Man Al, you and Clive are cranky old buggers . I can't wait to fish with you guys sometime to listen to the passion live.

One of my friends has recently purchased a sling shot for these aggressive pelicans at one of the lakes we go to. They are almost as bad as the loons in BC that dive under your boat as you are releasing fish. I remember fishing by Merritt one summer and the loons would come to your boat if they heard your reel. It got so bad that you just had to stand up and shake your rod and they would come. These birds love catch and release fishing. I watched them eat some nice fat 18" fish.

Thanks Al. I've heard there is pike in the wetlands across the border. Maybe the government is being proactive against the bucket brigade stocking fools. Cheers, Rob

Police (Outpost) Lake (8-1-26-W4) Apr. 1 to Oct. 31 – Trout limit 1 over 50 cm; Pike limit 3 (no size limit); Bait Ban. Nov. 1 to Mar. 31 – CLOSED Has anyone ever caught a pike here?

I suspected as much. Dragon fish look like they need to be exercised by my 6wt. I think BH could be as good if they didn't stock 75,000 fish a year. I believe they are decreasing numbers now. More scuds--->pig fish like Dragon, yahoo! Beadhead, you M. Hat boys are way tougher than the folks from the other side of the mountains

Tako, that is amazing growth. I would suspect that was in a lake with relatively low numbers of fish, or one that was previously devoid of fish. It would take a fantastic scud population (or something as good) to grow fish that fast. Bullshead is a well established fishery with a history of excessive stocking numbers. I think there is too many fish for the kind of growth rates you are talking about. What was the history of the lake where you saw 3 pounds added in a year? Bullshead is an amazing fishery, don't get me wrong. But wouldn't another couple of year classes be exciting!