FishTales

Happy Canada Day everyone! We hope everyone has a great holiday and gets some time out on the water. We're open all weekend long for all your fishing needs, 8-4 Sunday and 8-4 Monday. See you soon!

Sick of this rainy, thunder shower, hail stomping, basement flooding, river raising weather? Well, come on by Fish Tales on Wednesday, June 20th from 7-9 for another installment of Tales and Tying. We'll brush off the bad weather by tying some bugs and sharing some tales!

Just a note for folks in and around town this weekend. We are open on Monday, holiday hours being 8-4. Drop on by!

We have a couple of spaces still available in our upcoming Spey courses with Chris Seipio. COURSES Saturday, May 12 - Single Day Skagit Course The Skagit course will help hone your Skagit casting skills. This course will review rods, lines, & tips to ensure that your outfit is correctly balanced and you have a thorough understanding of each of these categories. The following casts will be covered: the circle-C, double spey, perry poke, and a few other surprise casts to add to your arsenal. Course is limited to six students. Course cost: $175 for the day. Sunday, May 13 (REVISED OFFER) - Single Day Introduction to Spey Chris will cover a lot of information during this full day introduction to spey fishing including an overview of speycasting styles, several different casts, and more. Course is limited to six students. Course Cost: $175 for the day. Limited availability - please call 403-640-1273 to reserve your spot. EVENT We are also hosting a special G-Loomis event to showcase the new color series for the NRX rods. These rods are some of the lightest and most-responsive rods on the market - enjoy an opportunity to test cast a few rod weights throughout the evening. We will be auctioning an NRX rod off on Friday night with all proceeds going to charity and the winner leaving with a new NRX. This event will be at the shop from 7 - 9 p.m. on Friday, May 11. Fish Tales Fly Shop Ltd. 626, 12100 Macleod Trail SE Calgary, AB 403-640-1273

The season is upon us and as such we have started our summer hours as follows: Summer Hours – effective May 1 through October 7, 2012 Sundays & Holidays 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday 8 am to 7 pm Saturday 8 am to 5 pm

2012 Spring Spey-O-Rama This on-river session will be the same format as previous Fish Tales Spey-O-Ramas. A Fish Tales staffer will give a brief spey-casting demonstration which will be followed up with the opportunity for attendees to try out a two-hand setup. Fish Tales demo rods and line setups will be available to all attendees and we encourage folks who already have gear to bring it along. This is a casual and interactive event that allows folks who are interested in getting in to spey a chance to try before they buy. Anglers who are already using spey rods can try out different setups or a new line on an existing setup. Location: Bankside in Fish Creek Park. Session will run from 1 – 3 p.m. (weather permitting - looks great at this point!) Please dress for the weather including waders. No pre-registration required. This is part of our Sunday seminar series that runs most Sundays from late October through December and mid-January through April. Our final session this spring will be on Sunday, April 29 when we'll be hosting our second season of the Rio Distance Challenge and a single hand tune up day. Fish Tales Fly Shop 626, 12100 Macleod Trail Calgary, AB 403-640-1273

Join us this Thursday, April 19th, 7:00 PM, for our second Tales and Tying Night. Bring your tying gear and pull up a chair for an informal night of tying and swapping fishing stories. This is a great way to catch up on those flies you’ve been putting off tying or learn another angler’s favorite pattern. Last session we had folks tying tarpon flies, pike flies and of course, some Bow River favorites! This is a free after hours event starting at 7 p.m. A Fish Tales staffer will be on hand in case there’s something you’ve forgotten or a new “must have.” Hope to see you there!

Join us Saturday, March 31 for our annual customer appreciation day. In-store sales Casting and product demos Hourly draws Eats from neighboring restaurants .... and Cake - Thanks to you, we are celebrating 15 years! Plus our Sunday seminar series continues April 1st with Matt Sparrow discussing DIY destination angling. The seminar starts at 1 p.m. First ones in get the chairs. Fish Tales Fly Shop 626, 12100 Macleod Tr. Calgary, AB T2J 7G9 403-640-1273

Our Sunday Seminars continue this week with a session focussed on stoneflies. Seminar starts at 1 p.m. The first ones in get the chairs. Hope to see you there! Next week's seminar is all about DIY Destination planning with Matt Sparrow. Fish Tales Fly Shop 626, 12100 Macleod Trail - Calgary 403-640-1273

Sunday seminars continue at Fish Tales with this week's session focused on lake fishing destinations and preparations. This session starts at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. First ones in get the chairs. Next week's seminar will focus on stoneflies.... Fish Tales Fly Shop Ltd. 626, 12100 Macleod Trail

Join David Blair for a look at tips, tackle, and tactics for saltwater fishing this Sunday, November 20. Dave just returned from a family trip to Cuba that included two days of fishing. He'll share stories about the trip as well as some ideas on how to improve your success rate on saltwater flats adventures. What to expect: Equipment suggestions/recommendations Destination overview with a focus on Cuba Fish Tales 2012 destination information Information on species to target No pre-registration is required. First ones in get the chairs. Session starts at 1 p.m. This is the fifth seminar of our 2011/2012 series and final one until 2012. Watch here and on our website for information about our seminar lineup for the new year. Fish Tales Fly Shop 626, 12100 Macleod Trail Calgary

Join Fish Tales staff Sean Britt for this session focused on winter fishing on the Bow. Sean will demonstrate tying techniques for some of his favorite patterns and talk tactics for fishing throughout the "off season." He will also discuss safety techniques and gear options for fishing this time of year. No pre-registration is required. First ones in get the chairs. Session starts at 1 p.m. Fish Tales Fly Shop 626, 12100 Macleod Trail

Join Kurtis for this session focused on streamer fishing. Kurtis will demonstrate tying techniques for some of his favorite patterns and talk tactics for fishing streamers from shore. No pre-registration is required. First ones in get the chairs. Session starts at 1 p.m. This is the third seminar of our 2011/2012 series. Join Fish Tales staffer Sean Britt next week when he'll be tying and talking about some of his favorite winter Bow River patterns. If you are interested in more about streamers you may want to register for Kurtis' 3-night streamer tying class starting on Monday, November 21. Limited spaces available. Fish Tales Fly Shop 626, 12100 Macleod Trail

Join Todd for this educational session focused on skills for Nymphing. Todd is a long-time Bow River guide who loves to help others. What you’ll hear about: - Favorite nymph patterns for the Bow River. - Different setups for successful nymphing. - Reading the water. - Tips and tactics to increase your chances of success. No pre-registration required. In-store session - first ones in get the chairs.... Session starts at 1 p.m. This is the second seminar of our 2011/2012 season. Join Kurtis for next week's session when he'll be discussing streamer fishing and tying tactics. Fish Tales Fly Shop 626, 12100 Macleod Trail SE Calgary, AB T2J 7G9

Join Fish Tales staffers for our fall Spey-O-Rama this Sunday (October 23) starting at 1 o-clock at Bankside in Fish Creek Park. Stop by to try out a few spey rods and meet other spey enthusiasts. Fish Tales will provide a variety of demo rods and have the Airflo and Rio head kits on-site for folks to try out. This is Fish Tales' first Sunday session of the 2011/2012 season. Join us in-store on Sunday, October 30 when Bow River guide Todd Clark will be discussing nymphing tactics. Fish Tales Fly Shop Ltd. 626, 12100 Macleod Tr Calgary, AB

The season is looking up. The river is clearing and the reports from the last two days have been fantastic. The stoneflies are starting - get ready! And before the season really gets going Fish Tales is selling all remaining inventory of single hand Sage Z-Axis rods at 30% off. We're waiting on "the one"! Other sale items include: TFO Series 1 rods are 25% off. Reduced prices on Redington shirts and G-Loomis hoodies. All in-stock CROCS on sale. Check out our June newsletter for sale information and news about upcoming trips, courses, and more. In other news: We now have space available in our July 9 Spey Improver course with Simon Gawesworth. Our fly bins are fully stocked including the popular peacock leech, chenille worm, and skid bitch patterns. Contact the shop for more information about sale merchandise, courses, water reports, more.... 403-640-273 or N. American toll free 1-866-640-1273. Fish Tales Fly Shop #626, 12100 Macleod Trail Calgary, AB

We've had a few last minute cancellations for upcoming courses with Chris Seipio. One space has become available in the Spey Course this coming weekend - May 21-22. The course runs Saturday and Sunday 8:30 - 4. You’ll receive an introduction to all three styles of spey casting: greased line, Scandinavian, and Skagit. Learn single spey, double spey, circle C and snake roll casts using both hands up. Techniques learned can be used with single hand and double hand rods. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll learn. Course cost is $325.00 plus GST. Contact the shop to register. Intermediate/Advanced Casting on Monday, May 23- Join Chris Seipio for this one day course that focuses on improving casting skills such as distance casting, double hauling, and dealing with the wind. We have a few spots available in this session. Course cost is $135 + GST. Contact the shop to register. Chris is a Federation of Fly Fishers certified master caster. He is the regional sales representative for G-Loomis, Airflo fly lines, Kaenon Sunglasses, and Ross Reels. He’s been conducting both of these courses for Fish Tales for several years now. Students have commented on the quality of his teaching and his ability to present information so it’s easy to understand. #626, 12100 Macleod Tr Calgary, AB T2J 7G9 403-640-1273

June 16th is on the horizon and Alberta's mountain streams will be open for business! And our last fly tying course until the fall will start up next week with "Dry flies" for these moutnain waters. We will cover everything from attractor patterns, life-like imitations and fly presentation to make the most of your time out there. Course cost $75.00. Maximum 4 students. Course starts when the shop closes at 7 p.m. and runs 2 – 3 hours a session. Contact Fishtales Fly Shop for more info and availability. 626, 12100 MacLeod Trail 403-640-1273

Longest cast of the day was 78 feet. (Cal) 73'4" was second longest cast (Ed) 73' was third longest cast (Andrew) Thanks to everyone who participated. Nancy Fish Tales

Both activities will be at Bankside - one on river the other on land....

Join Fish Tales staffers for Spey-O-Rama and Rio area sales representative - Ruben Breitkreutz for the Rio Distance casting Challenge this Sunday starting at 1 o-clock. These events are Fish Tales' last Sunday sessions of the season and will be held at Bankside in Fish Creek Park. Stop by to test cast a few spey rods and participate in the distance casting challenge. Fish Tales will provide a variety of spey demo rods and have the Airflo and Rio head kits on-site for folks to try out. We'll also be helping Ruben with the Rio Gold WF5F Distance casting challenge. Participants will each have 5 attempts to cast as far as possible with a Rio WF5F Gold Tournament line on a Sage TCX 5wt rod. Each competitor in the distance challenge will receive a 3 pack of 9 ft, 5X leaders, and the top three casters will win a fly line of choice; First place wins a fly line up to $75 in value, 2nd place any line from the new, award winning Avid Series, and the 3rd place will win a Mainstream fly line. Everyone is welcome to attend.... This Sunday's events wrap up our Sunday seminar sessions for the season. Watch our Facebook page and fishtalesflyshop.com for next season's schedule which will be posted in late summer. Thanks to everyone for supporting this year's seminar lineup. We welcome your suggestions for topics for next season. #626, 12100 Macleod Trail PH: 403-640-1273

Join Kurtis starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 17 for this in-depth look at fly fishing for pike. Kurtis will discuss fishing techniques, gear selection and set-up. He'll also be demonstrating how to tie two of his favorite patterns for pike. This presentation is part of our 2010/2011 seminar series and is open to anyone interested in attending. Seminar starts at 1 p.m. and lasts for one to two hours. Seating is limited – first ones in the door get the first chance at chairs. Next week's Spring Spey-O-Rama and Rio Distance Casting competition will finish off our 2010/2011 seminar series. Watch here for more details on those two events. #626, 12100 Macleod Trail, Calgary PH: 403-640-1273

Tom is a production tyer who spends hours every day behind the vise. The Nor-Vise has been his tool of choice for years. Stop by and listen to what this professional tyer has to say about fly bench organization, stage tying, and more. If you want to observe one of the best production tyers in action - you won't want to miss this session. Presentation starts at 1 p.m. and will last one to two hours. Chairs are limited. Everyone welcome. Next week's seminar features Kurtis Giles discussing pike on the fly. #626, 12100 Macleod Trail Phone: 403-640-1273

Please join us this Sunday April 3, 1:00 PM, for our next free seminar installment where Sean Britt, archaeologist and Fish Tales staffer, will give a talk about archaeology. As we all may know, rivers were the highways of First Nations and Native Americans. A source of transportation and fresh water, the vast majority of archaeological sites are found in and around river drainage systems. With hundreds of sites in Calgary alone, come hear Sean talk about the nature of archaeological sites, what to look for and what to do if you encounter something while out on a float or a walk and wade. And in case you were wondering, there will be a show and tell! The next installment will be Sunday April 10, 1:00 PM where local commercial tyer Tom Cutmore demonstrates tying techniques for the Nor Vise.

Join us this Saturday, March 26 from 9 to 5 for our annual Spring Customer Appreciation Day. We'll have: snacks from nearby restaurants hourly door prizes 10% off regular-priced in-stock inventory (excluding licences) tying demonstrations by Fish Tales staffers. door prize draw at end of day. You need to be present to win the hourly prizes but all entries are eligible to win the door prize. Stop by for a visit, take advantage of one-day savings, enjoy a coffee or pop, and start dreaming about your 2011 fishing adventures. Then on Sunday, March 27 stop by to take in Wayne Posyluzny's session on tying boatman patterns including the "Jennings Ultimate Boatman." Session will start at 1 p.m. and last 1 to 2 hours. This demonstration is part of our Sunday seminar series and is available to anyone interested in attending. #626, 12100 Macleod Trail Calgary 403-640-1273