bjbailey

Thanks for both the reminder and the picture. Everyone should be conscious out there.

Congrats indeed! Everybody has a few of those big ones that haunt them...

I've done well on the south side of the river just downstream of where hwy 24 crosses the bow. There are two downsides to this stretch. Based on access you're working downstream the whole way (I'd prefer to work my way upstream unless fishing streamers). Secondly, there's a big ass dog that doesn't like people on one of the nearby properties. He doesn't seem to recognize the high water mark as the end of his property! Fishing can be great though.

I'd say focus on BWOs and Midges, with a range of nymphs, emergers, and dries. April is actually one of my favorite months to fish as the fish go a little crazy the first few weeks of good hatches. Enjoy!

I'd definitely participate in something like this as well, though I've never coordinated something quite like this. If anyone takes on te coordination, keep the rest of us posted for what help is required to pull it off!

I have the sharkskin on my 6 weight. It does cast like a dream, and I especially love it paired with a fast action rod. I've had a number of boat companions jokingly complain about the line noise. I still find it annoying sometimes too. Overall though its a great line.

Great looking flies, again, NoSlack. Nice work.

Some years there are an abnormal amount of logjams, sweepers, etc. on the Clearwater. If you're drifting it, especially solo, be careful. I know guys that don't like to drift it at all, never mind solo. I bet you could do the Ram as well if you put the effort in. I know the Jensens drift it in an inflatable.

Hansen's, a local fly shop, has a house on the river near Policemans. I've stayed there before when it came with a float package, though I imagine you could stay there by just paying for the room. I personally prefer other shops in town, but it is another option for you over North Bow Lodge.

NoSlack, that's a sweet fly.

I'm in too! I was disappointed to miss it in Calgary.

Nice ties SilverDoctor, as usual. I tied up some skwala nymphs today. Crappy iphone pic as usual.

Thanks to all of you for sharing. Jayhad - the box looks great. Thanks for posting pics.

Thanks for pointing this out Wayne. I'd seen other TFO ones in many of the shops but hadn't come across the new larger version on TFO's website. Anyone have any reviews of these? I can't say I usually buy TFO boxes...

Pics would be great, thanks!

Hey All, I'm looking for a number of larger storage boxes to keep flies in the boat. I'm thinking full binder size or something like that. Anyone have a preferred brand/supplier for these? Also - on a related note, anyone have a preferred box style for big hair wing patterns (hoppers, stimmies, etc.)? I hate it when my deer wings get flattened due to the box lid over time. Thanks for your input. Brandon

Count me in also! Thanks.

Nice ties - those sculpins look great.

Thanks for the tip.

I usually aim for 3x, but if in fishing softer water I will downsize sometimes. What do you usually use?

Hey Experts, As I've been tying through winter and re-stocking my box in chronological order of the hatches/seasons for this upcoming year, I'm reminded of some really annoying line twist I was getting last year with hoppers, particularly a few foam patterns. Does anyone else find that layered foam hoppers tend to roll in the water and twist up your line? Maybe this is something to do with a bad casting stroke I've developed? I noticed that it happens a lot less when I have a hopper with a full natural overwing (deer hair, etc.). That makes me think that it's partly to do with how the fly is riding in the water more than my casting (the wing doesn't allow it to roll and tumble as easily in the water). Any thoughts on causes or remedies? Thanks all.

At risk of sounding redundant, these photos are amazing. You're also running the risk that people will start recognizing you on the river and jumping into the background of your photos just to have nice pics of themselves fishing! Thanks for sharing all of these.

Snuffy - its a pretty straight forward pattern. It's not mine but I'm not 100% sure where I got it from. It is tied on a 3x long #10 stimulator hook. It has a foam egg sack at the back to help with flotation (and to mimic the egg sack of females). The body is dark olive dubbing with a single strand of krystal flash for ribbing. The main wing is natural deer hair, then you tie in (first pointing forward) a bunch of dark deer hair for the half bullet head, dub backwards to where you tied in the wing, and pull back the dark deer hair to form the head. I leave the tips of the dark deer hair laying on top of the natural wing to give it a bit of two-tone look, though maybe that's just being too lazy to cut them off too! Tie in a couple of legs and some white foam for visibility and its done. I find them quite effective first thing in the season for browns up in central AB. I've attached another photo from a lower angle that shows the layers better.

These both look great. Pokerfish - what do you use for a body under the wing? Do you have any side/profile photos of the fly? Where'd you pick up the foam?

Not half as good looking as many of the flies posted recently, but I've been tying up several skwala stones for spring creek browns this year.