seanbritt

It will likely be eons before AB does anything like ban felt soles.

Dune, there have been lots of studies on mortality rates of fish and the chief causes. While bait/baitless, barbed/barbless do play a factor, there are other factors that are much more significant, including "play time" or the amount of time it takes one to land a fish. Essentially the longer it takes you to play a fish, the higher the mortality rate. Also, the more time spent out of water also increases chances of mortality. Surprisingly, there is little to no difference from an Idaho State Gov. study on barbed vs. barbless, which is why I believe they brought back the allowance of barbed. The issue of "play time" is why I often am disappointed in the anglers on the Bow who think it is cool and fun to play a 22" rainbow on a 2-3wt rod for long periods of time. I say, use the proper equipment to get the job done...a 5-6wt is perfect, will let you "feel" the fish quite nicely and allow you to get the fish to shore quickly. In my opinion, the more skilled angler is the one who can catch the big one and bring it to shore/release the fastest....not the longest! Here is the link to one study that illustrates the issue of "play time": http://www.acuteangling.com/Reference/C&RMortality.html (note the range of species in the study) Here is a summary of the study from Idaho: Barbed Hook Restrictions in Catch-and-Release Trout Fisheries: A Social Issue D. J. SCHILL and R. L. SCARPELLA Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 1414 East Locust Lane, Nampa, Idaho 83686, USA Abstract.—We summarized results of past studies that directly compared hooking mortality of resident (nonanadromous) salmonids caught and released with barbed or barbless hooks. Barbed hooks produced lower hooking mortality in two of four comparisons with flies and in three of five comparisons with lures. Only 1 of 11 comparisons resulted in statistically significant differences in hooking mortality. In that instance, barbless baited hooks caused significantly less mortality than barbed hooks, but experimented design concerns limited the utility of this finding. Mean hooking mortality rates from past lure studies were slightly higher for barbed hooks than barbless ones, but the opposite was true for flies. For flies and lures combined, mean hooking mortality was 4.5% for barbed hooks and 4.2% for barbless hooks. Combination of test statistics from individual studies by gear type via meta-analysis yielded nonsignificant results for barbed versus barbless flies, lures, or flies and lures combined. We conclude that the use of barbed or barbless flies or lures plays no role in subsequent mortality of trout caught and released by anglers. Because natural mortality rates for wild trout in streams commonly range from 30% to 65% annually, a 0.3% mean difference in hooking mortality for the two hook types is irrelevant at the population level, even when fish are subjected to repeated capture. Based on existing mortality studies, there is no biological basis for barbed hook restrictions in artificial fly and lure fisheries for resident trout. Restricting barbed hooks appears to be a social issue. Managers proposing new special regulations to the angling public should consider the social costs of implementing barbed hook restrictions that produce no demonstrable biological gain. You will see from the chart within the study that barbed/baited is highest mortality. I tried to cut/paste, but file is to large....

I would go to Fish Creek Park. There are very little of the ice shelves left, making it one of the safest places in the city right now. Also, last weekend was pretty good. Fish were in all kinds of water-seams and slow. They were also in both deep and medium depth water, with a nice mid-twenty brown coming out of about 3-4' of water about 5' from shore! All fish caught were active, with only a few being skinny/wintery. The rest were surprisingly hefty. Water clarity last weekend was great, Sat. about 4'+ and Sun. muddying up slightly to 2-3'. I suspect vis. will stay about the same/disspiate with the melt we've had this week. However, they were hungry eating worms, princes, copper johns, and caddis larva/pupae.

I've fished the 6wt Ridgeline tactical trout and just put a Ridgeline tactical trout with the new supple coating on my 5wt. I really like it. Because the ridge technology puts less surface area on your guides, it reduces friction and allows the line to shoot faster/smoother. While the old coating produced very little memory, the new supple coating reduces it to next to nothing. While memory has never been an issue for me during the summer, it often becomes a challenge for me in the winter. Not so with this line! Also, it lasts like the energizer bunny. I only got about 100 or so days out of my GPX before I had to toss it due to cracks, etc. Not so with the ridgeline. They also have a pretty good warranty against cracks, etc.

Looks like Water Matters is giving a talk tonight if anyone is interested. Here is what a friend forwarded me this AM: FEBRUARY SPEAKER EVENT TONIGHT, Wednesday, February 10th Joe Obad from Water Matters will be speaking about his report on securing source water protection in southern Alberta http://www.water-matters-org/ Deville's in Arts Central (SE corner of second level - 100 7th Ave SW) Doors open at 5:30 p.m., speaker starts at 6:00 p.m. Socializing & Networking 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm http://www.devillecoffee.ca/ Event is free for members $5 for non-members. A lifetime YEP Membership is $30 and can be purchased at the door.

Great news, thanks for passing it along! I thought something was suspicious when they asked to send in high res photos Congrats to the other guys as well! I haven't seen the issue/photos yet, but heard from a friend they're pretty good. Will have to make it to the shop to pick up my copy!

I'd be willing to donate two old vices I have kicking around and might be able to scrape up one or two others from some buddies. PM me an address where I can send it to. Do you need any materials? I just read in a recent magazine of accredited college courses focused on fly-fishing and tying. I think this is a great idea and applaud you for getting the younger generation into it! Anything we as a community can do to help is the least we can do.

Sun, interesting question about what is the hardest thing to give up. I would have to say my own personal car. While Calgary has a public transit system, needless to say it is less than stellar. Also, coordinating the fishing trips and "quickies" to the river become more challenging when there is 1 vehicle and more than one user.

Despite vowing not to continue on this thread, I must. Here are a 10 simple things we do as a family and you may consider as well: 1. Use one car. We use the bus and train as much as we can and unfortunately cannot afford a hybrid but have a 4-cylinder compact that gets good gas mileage. 2. Buy locally. We go to the farmer's market or community to buy locally. This is one of the biggest efforts one can make. Rather than buy imported kiwi's from New Zealand, buy some carrots from Innisfail. 3. Turn off lights/electronics when not in use. They make these great timers and even have remote controlled power surges now. 4. Insulate your windows/house to reduce heat release. 5. Offset your power by purchasing wind power via a company like bullfrog. 6. Visit your library instead of buying new books. 7. Use reuseable bags. 8. Recycle. 9. Replace any old light bulbs with energy effecient ones. 10. Use rechargeable batteries. You may ask yourself, how do these litttle things help? Well, its a cumulative effect. Not only will little things save energy, etc. but save you money as well! By and far though, #2 will have the biggest impact and help local economies as well....

Wanna split a lotto 649 ticket or two?

If I've learned anything from this board, and particularly the posts regarding climate change, is that I'd rather spend my time actually doing something to help the climate change situation than spend time trying to educate those who cannot be about the situation. Enjoy the rest of the self-debate!

I agree with headscan that in whatever you do, make sure its enjoyable. I was tying a fair number of flies going through a set list, but then it became tedious. Now I try to just have fun. Mostly that is re-stocking the go-to's @ 12 per fly (vary my sizes). Then I try new variations or new patters of the fly. Just because something worked last year or last week or yesterday doesn't mean it will work tomorrow and having that slight variation may be the key! But yeah, just have fun!

I was in Fish Creek today and there were a good amount of guys out. Had little luck (a few on, none landed) with nymphs in a few runs, but saw some guys pull in a few with streamers. Visibility is ok, probably around 2' or so. Definetely watch out for the ice shelves, but I found most of the spots I could actually wade and be fine. No slush which was awesome! Either way, great day to get out and good luck tomorrow!

Hey Tungsten- I often go over my buddies to tie and simply use an old kleenex box for my discards (I have a vice with a pedestal). I like the kleenex box because the plastic over the hole/opening allows feathers to go in but not out. Also, its cheap!

Awesome benches guys! I love all the organizational components. Puts my $20 bench to shame! Next house guess I'll have to upgrade (and now I've got some inspiration!).

Spent the last week re-stocking coppers and princes, next up will be PTs and chironomids. I enjoyed taking a break to try a dry for the contest though!

Nice PTs, I like the rubber legs....often makes em deadly!

Meant to get this photo up this summer, but was away. Last winter I built myself a fly-tying bench for $20. I had the pine (table top), pegboard (found at a construction site!), and Ikea narrow shelves. All I had to do was buy the legs from Ikea, and I had myself a bench! I like the pegboard, because I can easily keep track of my tools. You'll see I have drawers to the left (also from Ikea!) that I keep feathers, dubbing, etc. in. Thought it may help folks with ideas in the event that are looking to build one this winter during the cold days....

So, been having trouble with keeping my wire tidy as I stock up on my coppers. I came up with the following contraption to keep it all tidy. They are plastic thread containers that fly shops receive their shipments in. They often recycle them, and I'm sure if you ask, they would give them to you. I got mine from Fishtales. I use three boxes, one for small, medium, and large wire. I poke a hole in the top with a thumbtack. Then I feed the wire through, and bam-o, you have yourself a wire dispenser! Here is a photo:

Max, thanks for pulling this together! I found this month very challenging, as I tie 99% wet flies/nymphs/streamers and usually just buy dry flies. What I enjoyed about this month is that it forced me out of my comfort zone to try something new. Anyway, I went with something easy as this is only about my 20th since getting back into tying! Name: CDC Mayfly Dun (taken from the Orvis Fly-Tying Guide) Recipie: (Had to make due with what I had!) Hook Type: Mustad 94840 size 16 Color: Olive/Brown Tail: paint brush fibers (great substitute for microfibbets, you can also use hackle if you want a slightly lighter fly) Body: Wapsi superfine brown/olive dubbing Wing: Brown CDC mixed with olive mallard flank Thorax: Wapsi superfine olive dubbing 3 things I like about this fly: (1) it's easy to tie and worked for me in the past!, (2) the brown/olive mixing of material makes it easier to fool fish when trying to match the hatch and you don't know if you should go brown or olive and (3) the mallard mixed with CDC is a good way to bulk up the wing without using too much expensive material (CDC). I inserted two photos, sorry I couldn't get a better shot!

Here's one: http://www.y2y.net/Default.aspx?cid=55&lang=1, its technical report #7 " Improving the Ecological Function of the Upper Bow" I believe Wendy Francis, their Conservation Director, has done numerous talks on this subject and could easily come in as a guest speaker if you call them up. I believe their # is on their website.

A 6wt is a great all-around, all-purpose rod. You can throw streamers, nymph, and even get away with some dry fly action if you have to. Its good for the bigger waters (like we have here on the bow), lakes and if need be, the smaller stuff. But, if you're fishing quite a bit on the smaller streams and doing more dry fly work, I would opt for a 4wt, in either an 8'6" or 9'. I've also been a fan of the 4pc, as they are just as strong as the 2pc, but much more travel-friendly, especially if you want to hike and do some alpine stuff. The 4wt is great on smaller stuff (oldman, etc.) and great for dry on the bigger waters. I wouldn't worry about your 6 wt purchase, it was definetly the way to go if it was your first rod or your general all-around rod. Once you fish more and more, you can then build your collection to your specs. Example: 5wt of a certain action for nymph, 4wt for your smaller stuff/dries, 6wt all-purpose and streamer, etc....

Awesome pix Peter! Thanks for sharing....I'm jealous I wasn't out there with you!

I believe this topic has been discussed many times on the board, but as it is also close to my heart I have to put in my 2 cents. My wife did her MA thesis on recreational use of this area-both interviewing users through a roadside survey and through a formal mapping of the use areas. In short, use of the area from a multitude of users is increasing--fishing/hiking/quadding/camping/horse back riding, etc.. And that's just your recreational use (her focus). Then you have your commercial use, etc.. Recreational use is on the rise for many reasons, two primary ones of late (past few years) has been the push/pull factor of closures of other areas as well as the recent decline in the economy. Before the latter, you could replace it with the booming oil/gas sector and the "weekend" factor that accompanies it. I think you're right in that there are a lot of people out there who respect the land. Unfortunately, as with all sports (even fly-fishing), there are those who don't follow the rules that are there to protect the resources we love. With some recreational pursuits (e.g. quadding/bogging) the impact of that unlawful use is greater felt due to the nature of that activitity (compare a hiker walking where they shouldn't vs. a quad ripping through somewhere they shouldn't). What's the answer? Well, if there was one (that worked) we wouldn't be having this discussion. There have been many land use plans in the past, but in the end there are a lot of us who love the land for various reasons and we all have a right to engage in our pursuits. I'm an advocate for a multi-tiered plan that would be based on zoning (e.g. closures/temp. closures/restricted use/etc.) and involved education and enforcement. For example, have an area that is designed specifically for bogging use. Have other areas that are non-motorized recreation only, etc. And most importantly, have lots of officers on the ground and giving out hefty fines (to all users, fishermen alike) to curb illegal activity. Numerous barries exist, including heavy lobbying power by the quadding sector, apathy among those being effected, elected officials that have other priorities, etc. However, Harps had a good suggestion to write to your officials. The only way we can protect our resources is if we speak up. Other recommendations would be to get involved with organizations that share your view (either by volunteering or donating $$), and even having a friendly conversation with other users. Heck, a few nice words and education about the impact to our land goes a long way to creating common ground....

Weedcatcher, hope you don't mind my 2 cents. I agree with most of the stuff folks here are saying. However, taking a step back and looking at the big picture, the Bow is one of those rivers that can be really challenging. I hate to say it, but 20x on the Bow is not that much time. I remember when I moved here from out east it took me quite a while to learn the river and the type of fishing it requires of you. In fact, I started getting into fish on a decent basis after about 50 or so outings (finding the runs, holes, etc. for each season, etc.). Even now, as I log in over 100 days a year on teh river, I still have my slow days and my skunked days. It happens to everyone. I like whoever said it has a lot to do with attitude, having confidence helps A TON (and logging as many hours as you can-even only one or two at a time helps). Even if you have been having a slow go, believe in yourself because one day you will have one of those memorable days on the Bow. Also, remember there is a reason why they called it fishing and not catching. Some days you have to root for the fish, even when you're frustrated to all hell! Just think, next time you're out they'll have a bit more energy so when you get into them it will be one hell of a ride!