Smitty

Isn't the simple solution then is for you to move, say, to Yukon, where you can pretty much have entire rivers to yourself? Just a suggestion. Smitty

Good to see that the game of "blame the ref" is not solely monopolized by Hawgstoppah. After all, its more fun as a team sport. Hey, look for the silver lining, some lemonade if you will. If the Flames turn out to suck as bad as the Oilers last year (or even this year?? ), you might end up with a player of Taylor Hall's calibre. Just sayin', Smitty

Giovanne: I don't understand your comment. Are you actually thinking that's not a fake fish? Really? You know there are no double headed fish right? Tone, people, tone. Its all about the tone of a post. Smitty

I believe it was Dave Semenko versus Tim Hunter; at one time, there actually was a framed picture of Hunter's bloody face and jersey hanging up at the Boston Pizza on Whyte Avenue. Smitty

Just to add to Ryan: Tonight was exactly why you don't need Souray around. WICKED game. Just awesome. LOVE the speed, the creativity. This season could be the most fun I've had in quite awhile, watching the Oilers. Smitty

Yeah, Have at 'er! Great game tonight!

P: Well thank the Lord for back-up rods! But yeah, I never do seem to go as often as I'd like. Part of the reason I bought a place in a community with a stocked pond. But I recently used my free trip prize to Rickr's condo. That as fun, and its always really gratifying to find stream fishing in a National Park away from the mainstem rivers. But yeah! This will be my first FULL (Sept-June) year back after a 5 year absence from teaching. Probably should have never left. I'm subbing, but I like subbing and I'm pretty well respected in a couple of schools. Plus I still have a lot of real estate to take care of, so its all good. Back to the thread: I tried one of those "Insect Defend Patches" for mosquito's while golfing in Radium, and I thought it was fairly effective. Smitty

Sale ends Sunday. Already bought my TXS for my 3 weight rod. Can't wait. Smitty

Yes, Quadrillion is after trillion. And I thought you were kidding about the lawsuit: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22571349/ http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=5550...amp;post=550014 Sundancefisher estimates the number of mosquito's in Calgary's greater metro is somewhere near 6.5 sextillion (just because he likes the word "sex"). But don't forget the mother of all numbers: a "googol" which is a 1 followed by a hundred zeros, or better yet, a googolplex, which is 10 to the power of googol. By the way, according to Wiki, the total world/global gdp was pegged at about 70 trillion in 2009 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_economy). Since this an irresistable teaching moment for a mathgeek like me, here is a table of numbers: # zeros = name (U.S. & scientific community) 3 = thousand 6 = million 9 = billion 12 = trillion 15 = quadrillion 18 = quintillion 21 = sextillion 24 = septillion 27 = octillion 30 = nonillion 33 = decillion 36 =undecillion 39 = duodecillion 42 = tredecillion 45 = quattuordecillion 48 = quindecillion 51 = sexdecillion 54 = septendecillion 57 = octodecillion 60 = novemdecillion 63 = vigintillion 66 - 120 = undecillion Today's educational moment brought to you by Kellog's, the FFC, and the Smitty's House of Fantastically and Fundamentally Useless Knowledge. You're welcome. Smitty

Talked to my dad yesterday and he said there was a sign that pointed to the turn-off. So I phoned my horse guy and he said the following: 1) there is a sign, but it mostly warns users that motor vehicles aren't allowed and doesn't specifically say "this way to Lost Guide Lake" per se, and 2) just stay on the south side of Ranger creek, and when you think you are in the general area - I told him it sounded like you were pretty good at reading maps and navigation - once in the general area, just watch for trails heading off to the left (south) and you should be fine. Smitty

I have gone to LG lake on horseback. It was a lot of fun, but it was about 12 years ago. Absolutely beautiful; waterfall gushing straight down into the lake. Fairly decent cutthroat fishing. Bring your standard boxes: if I remember correctly, I caught them on Doc Spratley's, Bow River Buggers, Tom Thumbs, and Elk Hair Caddis. Wasn't into chironomid fishing back then, I am sure they'll work too. How about parachute Adams and terrestrials like ants and hoppers, plus regular assortment of bead head nymphs will cover you. Ack! I wish my memory wasn't so foggy! But, no, I'd say the trail is not clearly marked in terms of signage, but you do have the advantage of knowing that the trail is significant enough to show wear from horse traveling. Let me contact my horse guy and see if I can get better directions for you. I do remember at times following a tiny creek. Sorry I couldn't be more help here; hopefully my horse guy can assist. You could also ask the first horse camp people right at Hummingbird; their names are Del and Judy. Tell them you know Orson Gadowsky and wanted to find the trail to LG Lake, especially trying to find the turnoff from the Ranger creek valley. Remind me if I forget to ask my horse guy; its not inconvenient to ask, I play hockey with him all winter. Smitty

Neil, certainly you count yourself amongst those who "beak" off, don't you? Why, one only has to read your columns in the Sun or AB Outdoorsmen... And, btw, its "snooze you lose" (I'm on public record about being anal about the "loose/lose" screw-ups, and have dedicated my life towards correcting it...) Smitty

Harps: Didn't get around to doing it. I'll try and find sometime this August though. Smitty

Well, as Barry Mitchell would point out, we're pretty much de facto at catch and release already, provided people follow the rules. LSR is already at C&R, and most streams that you are allowed to keep, the minimum size is 12". So it goes without saying that the majority of fish should be released. Few watersheds right now produce 12"+ grayling on a regular, consistent basis. Secondly, as everyone as pointed out, unlike bull trout, I don't think grayling have suffered as massively from overfishing, over-keeping. To be sure, sportfishing plays a role in diminishing the pops, but in grayling's case it really has been widespread habitat degradation. You think changing the sportfishing regs will significantly affect the decline, should it be absolutely proven the decline is mostly due to habitat loss? We should get to the cause or root of the problem. Rightfully so that someone said it could or would merely be band-aid. Having said all that, I do favor approaches that embrace the "couldn't hurt, and might help" philosophy. So you wouldn't even have to twist my rubber arm to get the regs changed, but lets just keep our eyes wide open on this one, knowing full well that it may not be a significant difference maker. Smitty P.S. Grayling taste fine, but not as good as brook trout.

Beatles? Well lets, assume for the moment then, that they are exotic, and were probably introduced. My guess is likely they came from Liverpool, England. Made their way into States, then, for some reason came here. Sadly, only half of the Beatles are left. Smitty P.S. Just messin' with ya...

Clearly some of us have to re-visit the concepts from Kindergarten. Re: "Sharing". Folks, its a city of a million. One million. Not Bozeman, not Jackson Hole, not Coleman or Fernie. Calgary. All types of folks want to have fun on the water. But I will "wade" - har har - into the debate with this; it would seem common courtesy would dictate some room for the waders, giving them some priority on some stretches. And, from a safety perspective, it just makes sense to avoid wading fisherman/bathers completely. They're not going to win in an encounter between person vs boat. Having said that, I'm not sure I agree with Dutchie characterizing spin-fishers and using the trick questions catch poachers. On the other hand, I sympathize (thinking about it more), and I guess if the shoe fits, right? Having said that, if I encounter someone fishing a bank and I'm drifting into their spot, and, realizing my mistake, trying to row away and apologize, if that bank fisherman ever casts his line/fly into or near my boat out of immature anger, I'm putting on the filet glove and ripping the fly off the leader. Hopefully a re-tie will teach that person a lesson. Clearly trying to be a moderate here. Don't know if that makes sense or not, but its an old debate. Smitty

Well, you guys know I get the 2 months off...so no issue for me. I'll be going to the Grande Cache area with friends. Could be 2 weeks early in terms of prime stream flyfishing. I'll find a way to cope though... Smitty

Junior: Glad you have a well trained dog that doesn't motivate the bear to come after you. But most books I've read and guys I've talked to advise against bringing a dog. Glad to see its worked out for you; but I firmly state that you are in the minority on the dog issue. Folks, lets avoid the misuse and inappropriate application of statistics. The reasons cars kill more people is that many million more people use cars everyday versus the number of people who place themselves in bear country. Of course cars kill more people. They also kill more people than people who die due to tipped vending machines, but that doesn't make the comparison appropriate. There would be something wrong if cars didn't kill more people due to the staggering number of potential incidents and risk with cars. It would be like, if a Wimbledon match went longer than 10 hours, and more than 170 games played. Oh wait... Having a small chance of being killed by a cougar or a bear shouldn't mean you don't take precautions. Do the boy scout thing; be prepared; it just might save your life. Smitty

Back to topic: 1) I have seen training videos where spray is used effectively. 2) Was told by my wilderness survival instructor that bells are next to useless, annoy other people, and may mimic the sounds of a marmot or other prey. Alternatively, try singing or talking in loud voices. 3) Only very experienced people who handle guns on a regular basis, i.e. you actually hunt nearly every season, will have the know how to use a gun effectively. Not to mention the question could they use it in a defensive situation and keep their nerve and a steady hand. Hence, I carry spray, an emergency whistle, and a knife (the latter 2 being essential components of a survival kit anyways). Best thing to do is to minimize the times you are in bear dense country and fishing alone. Always best to take a buddy, preferably groups of 3 or 4. Though, admittedly, I have violated that rule numerous times, liking the solitude, and/or not being able to find someone to fish with. Smitty P.S. Kyle; complete agreement about cougars. More afraid of them. They tend to be quieter animals too. At least the defence strategy against cougars is straightforward: no climbing, no playing dead, you fight back as hard and as wild as you can.

...Post self-edited about spellchecking. I made my point, and it was perhaps a little over the top, and have noted so in a pm to Frypan...

No troubles catching fish at the community lake. About 3 hours of fishing netted 17 fish. Green a good color, leeches, dragons, small minnow patterns... Friggin lakes indeed... Smitty

How about we do this instead? and I'll start, (after I'm done with this posting): How about we make a voluntary rule that, instead of just resurrecting this old thread and gibbering on and on...AND ON about it, and before the thread reaches its 10th page, why don't we try this: If you agree that something is to be done, then you are NOT allowed to post on this thread until you have written your letter and can attach it for everyone to see? Anyone else in? Who else will do this? Can you even write an opening paragraph before replying? At least get a letter started? Or do you just want to sit there in your comfy chair and be one of thousands wasting work time (hey I'm guilty too) doing zilch? Lest I become my own worst hypocrite, this will be my last post until I have a letter written, since I am one of those people that believes something should be done. There. Lets see if anyone bites on that. Smitty

Botangles: Do these chipmunks take their clothes off for you? Oh...Chip 'n' Dale...I get it...from the old Bugs Bunny cartoons... Smitty (Sorry, I couldn't help myself...I read your post and started to picture stripper Chipmunks, and that made me think of the old SNL skit of Patrick Swayze vs Chris Farley Chippendale auditions, and by that point I was choking on my coffee...yeah, my brain is pretty weird...) http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...ideoid=32172165

Great tip! Thanks Terry!

Fry: Is it so hard to believe that flyrodders poach too? Sounds like you're a...well... let's just say its starts with "e" and rhymes with falitist... Smitty