Smitty

Adorable! Congratulations Dave. Smitty

Unfortunately "life" stuff came up and I'm not going. [so my quest to buy a reel on a deal saga will continue well into spring...] Seminars look good, too bad I'll miss them. But the Edmonton NFLT all-weekend seminar last week was good too, so that will have to fill my bucket (and, frankly, its a way better deal than the Calgary paid seminars). Was looking forward to connecting with some you, so it will have to wait. Have fun everyone! -Smitty

Crap Don, sorry. My bad. Oops. See edit above; I meant to say $80: I have never once heard the break even point was $80. According to a least half a dozen to dozen sources that I have been exposed to, the majority of oil-sands operations have a break even point of $40-$47, some as high as $53. But not even close to $80. Apologies for the reverse mix-up of numbers. (And my belief in this point / analysis still stands, please ignore my screw-up). Smitty

Perhaps Don is looking for something like this:

I used to belong to REIN (real estate investment network) - a lot of smart people analyzing the real estate fundamentals and the fundamentals of the Alberta economy. The head of this group is about a no nonsense guy you could meet. Always telling you to "Look Behind The Curtain" (from Oz...) Anyways, not once was I ever told or have I ever read the break-even point for the Oilsands was $80. Certainly not from credible sources. Just sayin'... Smitty

Well, I just thought I'd update this thread. I never did end up buying a reel during the much anticipated sale. But I have received a Cabela's gift card for Christmas, and was thinking of still getting a new one. Based on everyone's advice, I have expanded my horizons the makes and models. Of course, I'd be leaning towards whatever stock Cabela's carries, but I could always sell the gift card and go with anything. So I have kinda-sorta ranked the reels based on people's advice: 1. Hardy Ultralite DD 2. Islander IR 3/4 3. Sage 4250 4. Lamson: Konic- Velocity-Litespeed 5. Bauer - BVK - Allen Anyways, here's my query: Any further thoughts or updates? I say this, because I am planning to go the Flyfish Expo in Cowtown at the end of the month, and I'll be hunting for deals. Cheers, Smitty

Interesting read: http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=9085 Happy New Year! Smitty

I saw in Dave Jensen's blog somewhere a review of these waders; if I recall his comments correctly (paraphrased), he loves them and are among the best waders he's ever owned. Just thought I'd chime in there with some feedback from someone in the industry who probably wears waders over 200 days of the year... Smitty

Merry Christmas to all! Safe and Happy Holidays! Smitty

Hi Everyone: Just a reminder about this Saturday's Fisheries Round Table meeting, copied and pasted from srd website: Forthcoming Meeting Date: October 20, 2012 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location: Holiday Inn Conference Centre 4485 Gateway Blvd. Edmonton I am going to go. Anyone else? I have attached the agenda. Cheers, Smitty AFMRT-Oct 20-2012-MeetingAgenda.pdf

So tacky I'll re-post dryfly's reply. And support Wes's too. Surely we can do better than this. Smitty

Ugghh. Yeah - some definite improvements, but I have a serious hate on for the black-white color scheme. Bland and lifeless. The old "blue" was much better. Smitty

What happens when you get an Irishman who knows nothing about a sport commentates on said sport? My God, I want this guy on Hockey Night in Canada: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=510_1344196881

And now for something completely different...a summary of my life the last 40 minutes. See the next few status updates...a series of observations we'll call "SWJO" (Snobby - WalMart -Judgemental - Observations)... SWJO#1: I'm wearing my $3 t-shirt and my 10 year old crocs...hey look!: I blend in. Where am I? you guessed it...Wal-Mart! FML. SWJO#2: How the f**K is Wal-Mart so busy at 10:15pm? Its F-R-I-D-A-Y! Don't you people have lives? Speaking of which...what the hell am I doing here? FML SWJO#3 (Summer Olympic and Marvel version): Hey...that's an awesome look ma'am. While you have the build of a water polo player, nay, weightlifter (minus the muscle), your tank top and bra look they were mugged from a beach volleyball player. Excellent fashion sense...pardon me while strike my Usain Bolt victory point pose and maybe you'll take the hint...to the ladies plus-size clothes section. If you were spilling out of your top anymore, I'd fully expect your skin to turn green and you'll start chucking army jeeps across the parking lot...FML SWJO#4: Awwww...that's precious: you're cute 5 year old has so much make-up I think I am watching a live episode of Toddlers and Tiaras. I just might stab someone...or myself. FML SWJO#5: Nice mom, nice. Your kid just polished off a happy meal, an extra 6 chicken nuggets, and now is shoveling ice cream into his mouth like it's his last meal. Is there a Zombie Apocalypse? You realize..its 10:30...right? Good luck getting him to sleep. Which brings me to Sure Bet #1: Said kid, a few hours later, awoken from his nightmare, will run screaming to mommy awoken claiming his toothbrush is trying burrow under his skin. FML Yeah...that was the last 40 minutes of my life. FML. Smitty

Holy! Can I take you up on your offer instead? Is your offer open to Edmontonians? Should I take Rickr's advice and net my own fish? Smitty P.S. I can offer grayling in return...lots and lots of grayling. Not that you'd need the help.

Operative phrase being "if it is covered by that contract". If its covered, and you're insured for loss under those circumstances, then you should follow Ginger's advice and make a claim without a second thought. But you were also right, Brian for exercising caution and adhering to ethics, because if you aren't covered, well that's a 5-letter f-word we won't get into. As for your wife, all I can say is, she bore your children right? I know, I know, probably hard to reconcile that right now... I feel your pain, man. Smitty

Copied and Pasted from an email I received from SRD: Message from Alberta Fish & Wildlife Division Fishery restriction on Red Deer River and tributaries This email is to inform anglers that starting August 7, 2012, fishing upstream of Dickson Dam on the Red Deer River and its tributaries will be restricted to catch-and-release only for the remainder of the season. A zero harvest restriction is in place as a precautionary measure, as government experts will be conducting a population sampling program to determine if there were any impacts to fish stocks in the waterways as a result of a pipeline spill in early June. Anglers will not be allowed to harvest fish upstream of the Dickson Dam, including Gleniffer Reservoir and Dickson Trout Pond. The area includes the main-stem of the Red Deer River from Gleniffer Lake to the Banff National Park boundary, and all flowing tributary waters. Angler harvest in the affected area is still permitted in Burnstick Lake and in the following stocked trout lakes and ponds: • Beaver Lake, • Dormer Lake, • Eagle Lake, • Birch Lake, and • Yellowhead Lake. Specific regulations still apply, which can be found in the Alberta 2012 Sportfishing Regulations. More information, including maps of the affected area, will be available after 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 3 at www.mywildalberta.ca Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development 9915-108 Street Edmonton, AB T5K 2G8 Email srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Well....yeah. Duh! All humor and banter aside, I don't care if I get a staff from a garage sale or a gilded diamond one from Simms (not that I can afford the gilded diamond one on a teacher's salary:)). Price is a distant 3rd behind (1)safety and (2)practicality/ease-of-use. If it happens to be $20, great! Smitty

Yet one more reason to be grateful for this forum: such passionate debate...about a balance stick. Love it! Neat to see how everyone has adapted a system to make their own version/method work. We gave my dad a telescopic, so far, no problems. As for myself, I have mostly been swayed by the argument for a Snowbee model; Don's approach makes sense, but I can't see myself just letting a long one piece staff trail behind me. Smitty

Just wow.

Just to address one specific thing; if all GrnDrake says is true, then I guess that's a heavy burden for Dave to bear, eh PGK? I mean Dave must be responsible for ALL that, right, using your logic? R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S. Is there a way I can put the roll-eyes emoticon into size 100? Multiple re-captures is a variable that is relatively equal distributed across many watersheds. Clearly, again, assume for the moment GrnDrake's anecdotal evidence is quite accurate, clearly there is something more systemically wrong with the Red Deer far beyond a "multiple re-capture" issue. Talk about making a mountain out of a red-herring molehill! Why don't you stick to banning fishing in the National Parks, PGK? You almost had a valid argument there. Bottom line is that there are many thriving, viable brown trout fisheries across the continent doing well enough to overcome the single variable of "multiple re-captures". So what's wrong with the Red Deer then? Smitty

Hmmmmm...you sure about that? It doesn't have the distinct leading white edge on the fins that members of the Char family have. And look at the gill plate and cheek; sure resembles a brown trout (though the rest of the body doesn't). Gotta be a hybrid of some sort...brookie-brown, or brookie-bull, or laker-brown? Interesting! Smitty

Noticed that on the FFC ads that you can get Hodgman Wadelites for $69. Always wanted a waist high wader... Sounds like a deal...are they good waders? Good enough for summer fishing small creeks and medium rivers? Anyone have experience with these waders? Curious, Smitty

Jesus! Now that's a big fish. About 9 lbs? (Not that it matters, just trying to hone my stellar internet estimating skills...lol). Way to go! Cheers, Smitty

No, actually you don't get it. I have nothing personally against Bob, would love to meet him and find out his thinking on this issue. And we're back to that a**hat comments eh GreenDrake? Insinuating that my lack of signing this petition implies that the "rape and pillage" of Alberta is somehow my fault? And as far as giving back, go pound some sand. Is that why I'm giving up part of my personal summer holidays to take some kids fishing in August? Your comments speak more about you than they do me. Bottom line is I don't deserve your cheap shots, if you have nothing constructive to say, then why say it? All the best, Smitty