jack

Amundson Fly Fishing also welcomes Paul M. Oltsher, The Northern Fly Fisherman, in Saskatoon, as our very first dealer fly shop in Saskatchewan.

It's really going to depend on how much power your motor draws. The smallest, oldest MinKota draws just under 2 amps(at all speeds). Look closely at the battery labels and read the Amp/hr rating, that will tell you. Also look for the number of "cycles" on the label. A "cycle" is a charge, whether a deep charge or a small one, that's how many charges the battery is good for. -Do not use a manual charger on a deep cycle battery. Use a charger designed for deep cycle batts or a 1 amp trickle charger over a couple of days. -Do use a battery box with a layer of insulation (piece of carpet or something) in the bottom to separate the battery from the bottom of the boat -Do charge your battery up after every use,if at all possible -Deep Cycle batts are designed to be able to "take" deep discharges, but not all the time. -When it comes to batteries "heavier is better". More weight, thicker plates, longer life. j

Amundson Fly Fishing is proud to announce the appointment of Brunsie Kolson("Brunsie") and Tim Bloomfield("bloom") as fly fishing product pro-staffers in Southern Alberta. Brunsie lives and works here in Calgary, Tim(when not on a fishing trip somewhere) hangs his hat in "The Hat". j

Arne Andreasen, proprietor and cane rod builder of Alberta Rose Angler in Lundbreck(on the Crow) has open his doors this spring as the newest Amundson Fly Fishing Dealer. We are very proud to be associated with a craftsman such as Arne. j

Techically, according to the definitions in the regs, it is permissable. "Sportfishing – means angling (using hook and line), bowfishing or spearfishing, but also includes using a minnow trap, seine net or dip net to collect bait fish for personal use. Sportfishing Seasons CLOSED – means all forms of sportfishing are prohibited." Now the C.O.'s wasting time responding to reports of fishing on a closed stream, should be addressed by first discussing it with a C.O. manager, then calling C.O.s Service report centre and advising them who you are, what you are doing and the times, dates and specific location and reference your discussion with the C.O. manager. That was the scenario at a closed river in B.C. and I was advised of the steps to take by a senior regional C.O.

Balsawood indicators. They have a rubber stopper, jam it in to the point that the leader will move through if retrieved with a bit of effort. They work like a charm. j

Amundson rods and reels are also available from Alberta Rose Anglers, in Lumbreck. j

If you want the jump on very productive fishing with emerging chironomids, after ice-off, look closely at the deciduous trees. The instant those trees leaf buds open is the exact time chironomids emerge on stillwaters. Apparently, it takes the same heat units to open leaf buds on aspen, willow, etc as it does for the first emergence. Just something that I've noticed and used successfully in the past years or two or five or ten, or so. j

If you tie it with just a very sparse foil body, then it is a killer emerger, add a couple of wraps of very thin wire along the foil body and it becomes a very productive nymph/attractor.

Brian's Lady McConnell is my most successful emerging pattern: A #16 Dusty Miller: And Brian's #14 Black Hackle, conceived many moons ago: j

No. To put forward the idea that reading stillwater and streams, as it equates to fish behavior, is essentially the same, is to do a disservice to anyone attempting to learn the variants of fly fishing and a terrible misdirection. The idea that both stillwater and streams have structure, therefore the understanding of fish behavior and feeding habits is similar is to ignore the most obvious difference between the two habitats: flow. Only the farthest stretch of the imagination and several false assumptions created by over-simplification can conclude that: "...... if you can read the structure in moving water, you will know where to look for certain insects, (thus hatches) the same is true for lakes is it not?" Again, for anyone trying to learn the stillwater "game", structure is just about everything. The basics for a fish are: oxygen, temperature and food. Structure relates to all three. As long as a lake water has nutrients to support an aquatic insect food chain, it is structure that will dictate where and how fish feed and where they travel in safety. Once a lake has stratified in the open water season, depth(as dictated by structure) dictates the oxygenated aquatic environment, sunlight penetrating to the lake bottom(to an approximate depth of 30' in the average lake) is what dictates where aquatic insects will be emerging from the bottom to begin their migration to the surface. It is structure and the insect species that dictates that migration route. Applying only a brief understanding of insect underwater emerging migration to a detailed knowledge of the structure of a stillwater, with a good dose of common sense, will yield success for the fly fisher. I don't know how many times, during a season, I will discover something "new"(to me), to do with insect behavior and a trout's reaction to that behavior. Invariably, the discovery is followed by a "Well of course!", because the discovery of insect behavior, when revealed is so logical. Keen observation is another important tool and will lead to many "I'll be damned" moments. That's where you are absolutely correct, Rick. Whether you want to call it "reading water" or I want to call it "observing and understanding insect activity", the eyes, combined with deductive reasoning is essential in understanding the stillwater "game". j

Rick: "..............like on streams." Sorry yourself; reading hatches and insect activity is a different chapter. j

I'll make that addendum right now, Rob. j

And through his notes, drawings and diaries, Jack Shaw continues to teach, long after his passing. In my opinion, one of the most notable books to come along in recent history is (Quoted from Flyfishing Canada): " The Pleasure of His Company" – The Fishing Diaries of Jack Shaw," With 192 pages of text, 100 photographs and 70 watercolours, is not only of great importance in the history of B.C. fly fishing, it is also a fund-raising vehicle for fisheries conservation and children’s fishing programs. All profits from sales of the book will be divvied up between McQueen Lake Environmental Centre in Kamloops and the Fisheries Association of B.C., both of which offer informative fishing and environmental studies programs for children. " The limited edition, leather bound is long gone, of course, but I believe the hard cover is available through various stores. j

Aquastealth and rubber sole studs for me. I think the writing is on the wall, once "names" like Simms make the conversion, felt is done. j

Contrary to Norton's view of free virus protection, AVG Free 8.5 is totally effective against this worm. But, systematic daily updates are critical. One must also have XP SP3 downloaded and updated daily(for XP systems). j

Keep an eye out for a deal on an S.A. Steelhead Taper. 2 wts higher than your rod. It's a dream at less money than any dedicated single spey line. j

I use a chironomid setup on a regular basis during 80% of my fly fishing, which is stillwater. Up to 20' leaders, indicators and all the additional crap! I use long, 6-8lb fluorocarbon leader, then add 3' of finer tippet so that the heavier leader is inside my (10') rod, but the tippet stays outside. Clear nail polish on the knots, always. j

I find soft hackle flies are most effective during emergence. They will mimic the action of a nymph trying to break the surface film, in both streams and stillwaters . I like the foil bodies to imitate the gas-filled outer skin on nymphs. My theory is that one combines a number of trout "keys" in one pattern and it will perform very well, even if the trout are just keying on one thing. The hackle creates an attracting sub-audible disturbance by displacing water and the flash and shape are the "keys". j

At "ice-off" target the North or NW end or corner of a stillwater. That is where the water gets the most sustained sunshine, is initially warmer, and the shallow bottoms absorb more radiate heat. A touch warmer, equals more active bugs, equals fish actively feeding. Weedy bottoms will be a source of aquatic life and a safe haven for trout. Casting a #12 micro leech, small olive green dragon nymph and retrieving slightly above, or beside the weed beds should produce. Slow strip/pause retrieves work best, they will still be a bit sluggish. j

How long is your 3wt? If it's 8' or better the Amundson TXS 3/5(should be designated 2/4) will work. New ones will be a subdued matte finish. j

REAL "fishing trucks" don't have sparkplugs. j

And you are right on. This issue is used as an excuse for some(with other agendas) to crap on Americans in general, that is just as bogus as the four idiots, maybe even worse, because it seems to be ongoing. The four idiots, at least, are in a position to be publicly and vehemently spanked. I, personally, have "dual citizenship", born and served in Canada's Naval Air Wing and also served proudly as an officer in the USMC(MAG-12) for two tours of "Fun in the Sun", back in the day. And maybe that's why I will not "tolerate" the slights, insults or mocking of any serving combat personnel, period. Whether our governments are "right" or "wrong", matters little, combat personnel have "written a cheque, payable to the nation they serve", voluntarily, "in the amount of their lives", and they deserve the utmost respect at all times.

"Canadians should lighten up" ? Stop being "sensitive" ? I don't think so. The line was crossed, I don't give a rat's butt what time this program airs or how many banjo pickin' viewers it has. Make jokes about our weather and igloos, pull our legs aboot how we talk, point and laugh at our funny money and we'll laugh with you. Make fun of the Mounties and we'll have one taser you, but it will be all in fun. But(and here is the line, if you can't see it for yourself), don't ever poke fun at our(or anyone's) troops on the ground, in a war. Especially your war, the one your government forgot for 6 bloody years. Wars and the people in it are not sources of comedy or amusement, period. To mock any military personnel who are actively involved in combat, is outrageous and the height of arrogance. Telling Canadians to "lighten up" is just as arrogant as the four idiots on Fox. That indicates that it is somehow our "fault" for being outraged! The outrage is justified and anyone with "time in" on either side of any border, will tell you the same damn thing. j

Mommmmmmmyyyyyy, they're pickin' on me!! j