Smitty

Same reply as I did on the other redneck forum My experience with Redington has been fantastic. Had a pair of out of warranty waders, and they were under no obligation to fix them. And they offered me a new pair for $50. Honestly, I was gobsmacked. Big corporations taking over previously independent, stand alone companies is nothing new. Been happening for 20 years now... Didn't like my recent experience with Simms, though I have softened my opinion, once they explained why they were not going to fix my waist waders. Very important (duh) not to let issues linger; if you have an issue in the first year or under the warranty coverage, best to take care of it pronto.

So I was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I've since learned that foot care is of the UTMOST importance (lots of other things too) But. About foot care. Can anyone recommend a decent pair of socks for wading? I am talking quality, compression socks that are typically recommended for diabetics. I am fine with more expensive socks; I think my days of buying Costco / Wal-Mart socks are done. I am happy to spend $$$ taking care of my feet. Also, any other tips and tricks for foot care for the wading fly fisherman? Cheers, Smitty (cross-posted from other forums)

Went well! Thanks for asking. Blobs were the big winner.

Any pointers? I am going to Beaver Lake (Caroline) tomorrow; my first time. And, being this late into the season, just thought I'd ask for some tips. Thanks in advance! Smitty

Stealing catalytic converters is definitely on the rise!

Yep; the dacron ones, not the rubber ones. True?

Not sure you are talking about the same thing Brian. I fished with Phil for a week in Manitoba. He did indeed show us the trick with the bobber stops. But that was a hack to quickly reset a quick release bobber when fishing with his indicators. Set the bobber stop at the indictator depth, and voila, you know exactly where to put your indicator after landing a fish. Whereas hang markers are actual colored markers on the actual fly line itself. There's no way those rubber bobber stops would fit over a fly line. Haggis57 method is the way to go. There really isn't a need for moveable ones, if you mark up an entire fly line. Or...you actually could try the dacron bobber stops i.e. a tube knot. It will slide, but they do fall apart.

[Cross posted] Hi Everyone: Don't have much time to tie decent, well-tied dry flies anymore. Especially the small stuff. Anyone know an oustanding tyer - one that specializes or at least has tons of experience tying dry flies? Willing to pay reasonable prices. I live in Edmonton, so someone that lives in BC or AB would be ideal. Thanks for any recommendations! -Mike

Also, "every" platform has it's day. Forums are becoming passe. Oh sure, the old farts still use them, but with Facebook and Instagram et al, forums aren't what they used to be. The olden days of this forum plus Dave Jensen's was the "golden age", imo. But it's good to see this forum kicking around.

Basically the story of all biology Don. Everything is an invasive.

Perch aren't invasives. They are just terribly inconvenient to us trout anglers. :)

Hey Scott: I answered your question, on the other forum, fyi. Good luck!

Pm'd you back! Cheers!

Anyone know "GottaLoveCutts"? I replied to his Trading Post post about magazines, pm'd him twice. If anyone knows him, tell him to check his pm's! Smitty

Not looking for anyone's spots, more asking the general question: How's the Upper Bow been the last few seasons (and obviously this year)? I ask, cause I had heard years ago now, that a mudslide and flooding did quite a number on the bug life. And then Canmore, Exshaw, Seebe started cleaning up the water treatment, and so the river is less fertilized now? True? Might be down there later this month with friends (mostly camping and/or golfing). I am the only fly-fisher. Is it worth my time to re-visit some of the spots I used to fish years ago, poking around Canmore and Seebe and just outside the Banff boundary? Has the fishery "come back"? Just wondering. Smitty

Thanks for clarifying that; appreciate it. I have walked along these trails - outside the fence, but clearly, clearly above the high water mark, and I knew for sure this land still belonged to the farmer / landowner. I did make the assumption it was ok to walk along those trails, but you are absolutely correct, I should make the effort to ask and contact the landowner more often (I'm usually pretty good). Naturally, assumptions are dangerous...

Dave Park told me that fishing license sales are up 30% this year, outdoor gear retail and RV sales are up significantly. Dad and I headed down to the Crownest Pass this Thursday; hopefully we can find some relative peace and quiet and some water to ourselves. Not hopeful for the "regular" stretches of water; I'm hearing its an absolute gong show in the Oldman watershed.

Well, here's a side issue I am wondering about. it seems like some landowners are ok with "mild" trespassing. I am talking about where the fence is clearly set back from the bank to allow a walking trail that parallels the creek (and I assume to keep cattle out as well). So what's the deal with this? How do you guys treat this situation? Because there is no doubt - like this is 100% - that using this trail is indeed trespassing. I could never argue that these trails are below the high water mark; I'd look like an idiot. So...are we allowed to use these trails? As stated, wading a brown trout creek is not always possible. Is it a safe assumption - and for me, it is an assumption - that if there is a clear access from a bridge, and then a trail starts along the creek above the high water mark - I am good to go?

Life is about probabilities though. In any given fishing trip, what are the chances you'd get into serious trouble requiring front line medical services of a smaller community? I live in Edmonton. I don't have the luxury of going to the Bow, 10 to 30 minutes by foot, or 5 to 20 minutes by car. Fishing in April (given that 90% of water is closed) is a 3.5 to 12 hour round trip for flowing waters containing trout. I've been doing this thought experiment myself for weeks. I go, got my food, extra jerry cans of gas, my porta-potty. I don't need to stop anywhere. Not once, not ever. I don't need to be around another person. I've been walking through crown land forest for 35+ years; I know my spots, I know my boundaries, I know my limits and I know how to stay away from people. Chances of even seeing another angler is less than 20%. Chance of me violating social distance at 25 feet, let alone 6, is zero percent. GoA limiting PP or PRA access isn't an issue where I fish either. The only thing left is...what if? As Scel says...what if I were to get into trouble and require medical attention? The chances are even less now, because (a) highways are less crowded, less traffic, and (b) I can specifically choose a spot with an easy, level hike and within 800m of a major highway. No bushwacking, grunting and sweating required. I have mitigated all the risk I possibly can...and I can't go? And the answer is...I haven't made up my mind yet! lol

[re-posted] I am planning a camping trip for students, and we're thinking of going to southern Alberta. This would happen in May or by early June at the latest. Can anyone think of a decent trout lake or pond in the Crowsnest Pass where kids can fish from shore and have an actual shot at catching fish? Thanks! Smitty

Thanks Uberfly!

Just seeing if anyone could do me a favor and pickup a box of fishing magazines for me tomorrow. Calgary location, Marda Loop. It's a business, so anytime between 8am and as late as 4pm would work. I'm located in Edmonton, I could come get them at a later date. If you can do this, I'd really be grateful! Let me know via text, 780-970-7886 Mike (Smitty)

Since it seems we are veering away from a Bow River analysis, I'll say that my season left something to be desired. Huge rainfall made river fishing near Edmonton an impossibility. Mcleod R, for example, was pretty much blown out the entire summer. Should have been way more focused on the lakes this year, as the water levels did rebound. When dad and I finally made it down south in August, we found extremely crowded rivers with incredibly picky fish. Wasn't the most fun trip I have had in southern Alberta. Oh we found some solitude on smaller waters,...guess what? Fish were still incredibly moody. Like I was taken aback. Talked to other anglers wasn't just us; that week in August lots of zero's being posted, including a couple of guided trips out of shops that didn't fare well either. Timing, I guess. Trip was salvaged by cutting it short a day and heading to central AB for more cooperative fish. Overall, just didn't get out enough. I'll fix that next year. Oh, wait, yes, we did have a pretty awesome beginning of the year in May at some QSF coal pits. Very impressive average sizes of fish. Guess it wasn't all a downer...lol. -Smitty

Did you take pictures?

Can the carp be used as agricultural feed?