mvdaog

Subaru is the safest option in Canadian winters. Safety should be a high priority, with relatives and children and spouses being in the car. Nothing beats their stability and traction in winter (combined with great snow tires of course) and they have top rankings in crash tests. Kind of a no-brainer for that reason IMHO. Plus you see a lot of old subarus on the road, not so much nissan... Acura (honda) are likely pretty reliable as well, but going to be more expensive for work and parts. As you can tell, I'm biased for subaru.... own one myself. Well, two right now actually....

Just wonderin' ... I don't think I would ever do it all the time. Every once in a while I'm definitely going to want to see the fish up close, admire their beauty etc, or if there was a good chance of catching a massive trout. But for example being on a cutty stream, after about 10 or 15 fish I'm sorta like ok, lets stop bothering these fish... and that's when I'd probably want to do it. Or on the bow during a trico hatch, for example, after catching a few when the late summer water is getting warm and I know with the 6x and tiny flies I'm stressing them a bit.... I dunno. Guess it's not a common thought.

Has anyone here started fishing with no hook, and just the fly pattern? Thought about starting? I'm getting to the point now that when I hook a fish I just want to get it in ASAP and don't care about the fight, it's all about the perfect cast and drift and strike and tricking the fish into eating something off the surface. I am seriously thinking about making a selection of flies with the hook broke off so I don't need to hook the fish and bring them in... I think I've caught about enough fish on my usual rivers that I would enjoy it just as much getting the strike, because when I get the strike, and either the fish or I mess up and I don't hook it, I'm just as satisfied as if I had to reel it in. Steelhead on the other hand........ different story. But for these trout...

Save your money and spend it on gas to go fishing more... get a cheaper reel. I dont have anything fancy but never wanted anything more or felt the reel had anything to do with the way I was fishing. I dont use the drag on a reel and its just there to hold some line while Im fishing and helps to reel in some slack line once in a while... never even thought about why Id ever need a different reel (orvis battenkill). Had it for years no issues, cheap, and does the job

You're right this has nothing to do with rickr so we can drop that topic of conversation and lay off. He's never been rude or attacked anyone on this before and made a good point about lumping everyone in one group. Back to the topic at hand, there's nothing anyone can say about this fact: with enough time in operation, any pipeline or tanker operation at sea will spill. It's physics and probability. Individuals vary on how they weigh the risks and benefits. To the companies who run these operations, risk stratification is solely based on profit - especially if publicly traded, they aren't legally allowed to operate in any other way than to maximize profits. Their "care" about the environment is two fold: Their name in the press and how it's represented, and the fines that may come from negligence. People who work for these companies usually have mixed feelings, caring about the environment for the sake of the environment even if it's not necessarily profitable for the company, and believe that a lot of their work is necessary for our society and try to make it as safe as possible. Some people believe most of our land and water has been tampered with already and that which still exists (somewhat) intact should be protected, and the already existent operations should be made cleaner and safer. These types are usually against new operations that would threaten these intact healthy(ish) places. Then there's those who basically believe any operation that is extracting resources anywhere is a bad thing. Most of us land somewhere in the middle two groups. Where do you fit in? Given that we live in a world governed by the laws of physics, and if operating these will eventually spill oil, I'd rather keep these type of operations from expanding and encroaching into places that I enjoy and that I'd like my kids to enjoy someday. This spill on the Red Deer is tragic and hopefully won't decimate the fishing. But this is PEANUTS compared to the type of spill that could happen with the Northern Gateway. I wish people would give up their ideologies and stubborn attitude and stop to think for a bit - I believe they'd realize that that is one project that really isn't worth it for our well-being as Canadians. But some people can't get past their automatic reactions and can't get away from the emotions that are invoked when you're part of the "team" against "them"- in this case "tree-huggers environmental terrorist extremists" vs "redneck conservative ignorant rig heads". I wish we'd get together on this issue and stop the northern gateway as one team... But the bottom line is the people in charge run these organizations for profit, as required by law in most cases. Without fear of financial and public perception retribution, they really have no reason to 'clean up' their operations. Notice how press isn't allowed to the site? Very interesting... how is that even possible, we live in Canada for god's sake this is a free country and we should have access to this! It affects us! Man this puts a damper on my day. Snap back to reality........ I hope I recognize Canada when I'm 70 years old............

Hey everyone... been a while. Was a member even when it was on that old site, did the usual post a lot of pics thing, then just lurked in the background after a while. Had some good arguments about global warming back in the day haha. My career took me to Vancouver island last summer... I had a say in the matter so can't complain too much. However, after living in Calgary for 8 years and thinking I hated it there, I can't stop dreaming about the fishing in the Rockies and their drainage, especially the Bow. May was always the month, right before runoff, when the big browns would start coming up for mayflies and I'd have all my spots to myself and catch fish all night. June I'd be waiting for the water to come down, but then quickly switch to the caddis and the tricos and the mayfly spinners etc etc. I'm sorry but I'm nostalgic. I hated Calgary. Couldn't stand the traffic, the city design, the politics of Alberta, the lack of public transport, the car culture, the lack of communities....... always wanted to move away, year after year but was finishing a degree, then another degree. The first chance I had I ran away to Vancouver Island, thinking I'd get to fish, ski, backpack in a nicer community that suits me better. But now, a year out, I want to go back. If not Calgary, at least a town much closer to all those rivers (crowsnest, elk, columbia, bow, ram, etc). I had always planned to never go back to Calgary. But MAN, I sure do miss those evenings, sitting by the river, the sun low and the mayflies out, no one around and me flirting with some big browns. Or the nights south of town, when the caddis and then the spinners were out, and we caught rainbows until it was pitch black.. For the record, if swinging weighted flies, line and using big heavy rods to try and snag a spawning salmon is your thing, the coast is awesome! If however, you enjoy stalking huge trout and using tiny flies on the surface is your thing, it SUCKS here.... ahh I guess you don't know what you have until its gone. Alas, I have one more year and I'm done all my training. I'll be free to work where I want, when I want. And trust me, I'll be back on the Bow, in May, one way or the other. And June, July Aug Sep Oct. I hope it never changes. I hope you all realize how lucky you are - this fishing in the middle of a city? No where else on earth.......... period. Had to rant. It's been a while since I've been on this site, and it made me nostalgic.... go catch some fish for me.... and enjoy it. I'll be seeing you guys soon enough.

So after living in Calgary for 8 years getting my BSc and now my MD, I am finally moving back home to BC. Ive never settled into Alberta as a home and was always waiting for the day to leave the province that I was at odds with so often over these 8 years. But holy crap, the Bow has been good to me and its a river I got know pretty well over these years. And even though I always told everyone I'd never go back to Calgary once I left it, I have a suspicion that the Bow will bring me back now and then.... it will be strange not having this forum to look at everyday anymore, but Ill have to train myself to ignore it. I was a member since the early days when it was at the old address, and it's just weird that Im going to delete the bookmark after all these years! I dont even know the point of this post, but I think it's just because in some weird technology infiltrated way this forum is a sort of symbol of my life in Calgary and me closing that chapter for good. Don't let them ruin this river! I want to be able to fish it again, and I don't want it to change too much. Its a special river for fly fishing... peace! He slowly and carefully waded out a few feet into the river, downstream of the fish but within casting distance of the rising trout. The calm, slick water he was fishing made it crucial to step lightly and slowly, to minimize the vibrations sent the trout's way. Any sort of disturbance would crush all hopes this trout stalker carried. Once properly positioned, he waited another minute or so to see another rise, just to make sure he knew where to cast and to make certain the trout had not noticed his entry. Again he saw the fish rise in the same manner and same seam of current as moments earlier. As his line danced back and forth, the beautiful loops he made in the air resembled the elegant strokes of an artist's brush, the backdrop of his art a deep red setting sun and a bank full of long yellow grass, the majestic trees scattered among joyous birds in flight. With one last fluid movement he let his line fly, and the blue winged olive landed two feet upstream of the last rise, in exactly the spot he imagined placing it. It slowly made its way downriver, perfectly in line with the trout's window of vision. Inching closer, he knew at any minute it would pass through that magical spot, the point in which he would either see a rise or not. He froze. No movement, no heart beat, no breath. The tiny speck of white on top of the water was his only focus. Each fraction of time, while realistically no longer than the last, became slower and slower as the fly crept towards the spot. Then, all the sudden, his fly disappeared, and a fraction of the smallest moment of time he realized the reason for this was a trout's mouth sucking it down. A bite… without actually acknowledging any of this occurring consciously, he set the hook. He lifted his arm backwards and the tip of his rod up, spraying a seam of water off his line as it was lifted off the surface. This all lasted but a second, or maybe two. Then it was over. '*hit!' The word of choice, which, surprisingly, he didn't yell but whispered when he realized he was a nanosecond too slow.

I know I'm just stirring up shh but I didnt sleep that well last night and I feel like ranting this morning. A nice fish is a nice fish is a nice fish. I remember when I was new to the sport and I thought that every nice fish I caught I had to get a picture of, to show off and help bolster the idea that I was truly a special fisherman. But I soon realized that for people who don't fish, they dont give a flying f about your fish pictures... then I realized that people on the internet like seeing fish pictures and posted them for a while, more so to try and prove that at 21 years old I was doing as well or better than the best of the old timers. But pretty soon I realized that the bow is actually a really easy place to catch fish, and even fishing the trico hatches for trophys doesn't take more than pretty basic skill, and now that I look back on it, I wish I never posted fish pictures just to show off. And its pretty clear to me that the guys here who are really catching most the fish on the river never post fish pictures, and a lot of those guys quit even using the message board. That being said, I'm all for seeing pictures of fish and sometimes feel like posting fish pictures with a report. There's some great photographers in our community and fish are beautiful. But, and this is why I started this rant, why do most of us have to stick our arms out straight to the camera to make the fish seem bigger!?!?!! I know I did it, and so I know the answer. But looking back, how embarrassing, at least for me. I mean, any fisherman knows when you have a nice fish... just take a picture of your trophy, it will show your manhood and your skills without the straight arm effect. It's just cheesy and shows the real reason behind posting the pictures... much better to me is a nice picture of the fish half in and half out of the water, close-ups with nice pictures of the colors, things like that. Let's start a campaign -- ban straight arm fish pictures!!!

Or just dont use a net.... works pretty well

I thought it was....

FAIL X1.1

What you've both said is true. Me personally I've given up on the whole global warming issue - there is no chance, none at all, to convince the top CO2 contributing nations in the world to change their way of life to a degree which would stop the theory of warming that is out there right now. So it's a moot point. Like sundance said, it would require a minimum gas mileage rate for vehicles that would eliminate 95% of the cars on the road, it would require large cities to restrict electricity usage, it would require a ban on all useless materials that fill almost every mall and store in every city in the nation. No more disposable materials or non essential activities, basically. All of those things will not happen, UNTIL it is necessitated by nature. So it's not even worth discussing with people if it's 'true' or not. What I've decided to focus on are things that are demonstrable, especially in my environment/region, and that have a reasonable chance of being affected by my actions. And to those things, I'm going all out and I'll preach it to whoever I can, especially younger people who are the future and will have to make harder concessions and decisions than we do. So, things like destructive logging practices, and advocating for more sustainable logging. Things like the use of plastic bags, plastic packaging, and water bottles which linger in the environment forever. Things like protecting regions of ecosystems to give them a chance to survive us. Things like fishing regulations to help fish survive us. Things like clean energy/emission policies to help purify our air and decrease the rates of asthma, cancer and other autoimmune diseases. Keeping harmful foreign chemicals out of water to keep our water and food safe to eat. The whole consumption thing will take care of itself. It's sad but true - at some point a generation will have to deal with an energy supply that no longer meets the demand. And that will be that. If the global warming thing turns out to be true in the end, that will also take care of itself. But up until those end points, its unrealistic to think that humans will proactively do anything about it. If it's an unbelievable struggle to end slavery, end repressions, end torture, prevent wars in this world, its not even realistic to think we can get nations of lazy, comfortable humans to give up their way of life to one which would be more effort and less comfortable. Especially when our entire economy is based on waste. If we were to eliminate wasteful things from our economy we would need a totally different economic structure. So I say focus on things that you can actually affect, and not waste time or energy on an issue that in my opinion is beyond our control if indeed true. Go to local civic meetings, go to local protests, start advocacy groups that can have an impact on political topics, support organizations that care about the things you feel matter, and besides that do your part to make the world better. The worst thing you can do is sit around like none of it matters. A lot of it does, and theres a lot we can actually do something about. And vote for people locally who you agree with. Be the change you want to see. Have the courage to change the things you can, the serenity to accept the things you can't, and the wisdom to know the difference between the two.

Lots of cases of people being cured by herbals and voodoo, chiro, physio and pills/injections and surgery, and lots more cases that aren't. Lucky for you that whatever the chiro did helped with you back pain, but that doesnt necessarily mean everyone else was wrong or that what he said was right. Pain is a complex issue and nearly impossible to solve in some cases, and can be strongly influenced by bio/psycho/social factors. Placebo has been found to be very effective in most studies of sciatica/lumbosacral radiculopathy. there still hasn't been any great evidence for any modalities, but there is obvious benefits of some over others, and sciatica remains a difficult problem for many, as evidenced by the replies here. One thing everyone should know is that the vast majority of sciatica resolves on its own, and is not necessarily a life long issue to deal with. Unfortunately for a minority it does become a chronic problem, and like most chronic pathologies/pain syndromes are very complex and difficult to manage.

This is anecdotal evidence. Most of the evidence for any therapies, medical or surgical or 'natural' are all inconclusive. If they had an answer itd be worth a lot of money.

Dont take it personal and get defensive man, a lot of people consider the WWE to be an awesome sport as well, the best on the planet. It's just a matter of opinions. I like watching skill, athleticism, and top-notch athletes competing to win games with everything they have. I'm just not a fan of watching goons fight on skates while they hold the other fighter's shoulder pad. Just not for me.... but to each their own. I am just giving my opinion of what I don't like about the NHL. I love big hits when they're part of the game, which is why I love watching football. But they all have respect for eachother in the NFL and wouldn't intentionally try to ruin eachother's careers, and they dont dilute the talent with players who fight. NHL is Canada's game - it'll never really catch on anywhere else and that's okay. But don't get angry if other people think the NHL is a joke, it't not your moral responsibility to defend the league. If you love it that much, people speaking bad about it shouldn't bother you. PS that video is exactly what I'm talking about that's so funny to watch. I unno for some reason watching people skate around gliding while trying to fight and grabbing jerseys is so comical to me...