Pipestoneflyguy

Sure he looks healthy and strong now, but how long before the peer pressure to conform with societal norms pushes him to alienate himself from mainstream waters, grow his hair long and pull a " Joaquin Phoenix" and disappear into the weeds of obscurity.

I still measure pike/walleye with weight - my biggest pike on the fly is 7.5lbs (Wolf Lk) but I couldn't tell you how long that was. Caught opening week so the fish was skinny compared to how they look in the fall. I'd be concerned about how exactly one goes about weighting a trout without mis-handling the fish. IS there a net that does that or was the fish hung by its gills.

The Good: Off work at 4pm Waders, boots and hipbag on and back in truck by 4:12pm Parked on Highway, truck locked, elkhound in tow by 4:21 First cast with the new Helios hits this hole at 4:32 The Bad The hole, which has blessed me with a beauty bull trout every spring for 10 years was not home yesterday The Ugly After repeatedly drifting and swinging for an hour all I got was repeated lumps of this "%^#$#&$#" I suspect Didymo, which I have seen in this area before, but never in such a dense and overwhelming mat completely consuming the floor of the river in this spot (plus the next two adjacent holes too) - sad That said - the new rod and reel (Thanks Bloom) works amazing together and balances perfect at my right at my finger tips - love it - still an absolutely beautiful day to be out and about. I Did enjoy watching this couple wander about enjoying the hot sun

Nice fish - no doubt about their snooty indifferent nature in that stretch - certainly had my share of blank days but man is it worth when you get one on. Nice to see another Bow Valley angler joining the board !

"If anyone wants to raise specialty birds used in fly tying I will be happy to baby sit them from time to time." Ha - naked pink chickens are funny !

Well I couldn't document my biggest fish out of the Bow so I have abstained from this one... This weekend a local landed and measured the same bull I landed (I didn't measure or photograph) last fall (clearly is the same fish given the location, its markings, and close examination of his photo, albeit a little typical yellowing due to wintering) - measured at 26" which is pretty well what I guessed based on where it was on my rod comparison. Caught between Lake Louise and Castle - I also know another local who also landed that one last spring too. Photo is up the Village Bar and Grill for those that require physical proof LOL

Well I have'nt heard from him so lets give him a couple more days and I'll let you know PS where in the forest city were you - I lived in Westmount most of my childhood

Well... the local kid I hire every year to prep the underside of my Jeep for paint moved to Jasper. soooo. opportunity knocks.... Be forwarned this isn't particularly pleasant work - first you would need to do some degreasing, and then you would be running a combination of a wire brush on an angle grinder, a hand held sand blaster, and of course a classic hand held wire brush powered by elbow grease. all rust has to be removed, then give it a quick going over with a clean air gun - I also have all sorts of cordless drill wire brushes for tight spots.- the kid who did it in the past always had it finished in under 4 hours, and it is in better shape this year that years previous - I have already done the prep work of removing shocks and brakes wheels and high lifting it on safe jacks stands so access is as easy as it can be. I have an assortment of stools and creepers too. I will provide all tools, gloves, face shields, glasses, coveralls, and boots if your need em - I'll make (or take you out) for lunch and provide beverages - I will also supply all required safety equipment which you will HAVE to use as I direct. I will teach you how to use the various tools safely and properly. You can shower up and take a soak in the hot tub if you want before heading home. I will cover your gas or bus ticket to Lake Louise and back. I will give you a TFO 5 wt rod, a Okuma SLV reel equiped with a SA wf line, with a couple leaders - the rod is a 4 piece but I'll throw in a 2 piece "reel stays attached" type carry case & sock, if you want it, I'll also toss in cheapy fly box with a dozen assorted flies. - This package work great together and was my staple set up in 2008 & 9 and casts great in almost any conditions - I landed fish varying from 4" -28" without difficulty using this set-up. To buy the above would set you back about 400 bucks so not counting travel time thats about a hundred bucks an hour let me know what you think with a PM or call me at home 403-522-2486 and leave a message if you interested (PS be thanksfull the other offer I considered involved cleaning up a winters worth of doggy tombstones in the backyard LOL) Rob

I haven't ordered yet - have to get into the optomitrist (sp. %^$$^% eye doctor) to get measurements required to order glasses. will decide after I get all that done as some styles may not work depending on matching the fitting criteria I will post a review once I have some here in my hands Rob

I am about to order a few pairs from this site - you have to wonder about glasses from a site like this but a few guys I know around town have a few pair and so far can't tell any diff from the $600 glasses bought in the city Cheap gasses

Picked up a 5 wt Helios this weekend - specifically chose a tip flex with the understanding that this rod's unforgiving nature will help me develop as a caster. This summer, skill development sits at the top of my agenda. I suspect I may end up selling a bunch of other gear to fund a mid flex hydros as well (I sold my 12 string Ovation to pay for the Helios) I bought a GPX sharkskin line which I am told is equivilant to a 5.5 wt line - yesterday I tried the rod with a 5wt (rio) and then switched to the GPX which certainly seems a little more managable. Also tried it with my 6wt sinking line and have to admit this rod rocks for power. Can't wait to match it up with the Nautilus reel I have coming from Bloom. I am already dying for Hector to open - Lake is full of lunkers but getting a fly out into the nasty ass wind is always a challenge (without the spey rod anyway), especially at the bow inlet - Funny - get a new rod and within a few casts I am already planning a hit list of spots where I think it just may give me the advantage I have been looking for to get a presentation slightly out of my previous range. Only complaint is now everything else I own feels as heavy as a brick LOL

We just build our own in our shop - make sure you use marine grade wood and seal it before assembly if you do it yourself

Last summer after a float on the Cleawater (BC), a bud and I were sitting in his hot tub when all of a sudden one of his turkeys managed to knock over his three year old daughter - and,...well, tried to do something quite un-natural - with properly placed kick, believe me, turkeys can fly. The funniest was little Georga telling the turkey "that's what you get" as it sat cooling on the dinner table two nights later. Same guy had 4 chickens when he lived in Calgary 5 years ago and never had a complaint from neighbours - bribed em with eggs - and I will admit the eggs taste much better than store-bought and I would rather hear the sound of chickens over the sound of gangsta-rap any day

Half-backs - simple quick tie - black and dark brown - slow drift by deep log-jams almost anywhere between castle and hwy 40

GORB's ....everywhere......with wannabe skibunny wives, driving like audi-its, half drunk from crusing the open decks workin locals for secret sun pit locations, all with heads that defy scientific law by being completey sunburned and frozen at the same time. ahhhh hey bro, ahhhhh where exactly is Mukina Tree.............

I wonder exactly how many discussion threads on the internet devolve to poo humour - is our site below average, average, or above average, why is it that despite being middle aged, married, and university educated I still giggle when someone writes "Hersey Squirt" in a post ....man I need to go fishing - conclusion....I have TOO much empty space in my head

Another great vid - fun to watch !

Interesting conversation...within "my" perception I seem to read loading on the backcast a little more accurately with a lighter reel than a heavy, especially at lower weight set ups. That said, have one particular 5wt set up that has an early model large arbour that is quite heavy compared to my higher end reels, it takes a few ghost casts to get used to the subtle change in balance but after about a minute of casting I find I naturally adapt and, in general, casting does not suffer for the change in weight/balance. From a physics point of view one aspect not exhaustively discussed here, which would have a huge impact on rod balance is actual casting technique - an angler using a very traditional cast will have a single fulcrum very close to the elbow, furthered by a firm grip and locked-down wrist the effect from the weight of the reel would almost be completely negated at least in terms of effect relating to countering force from the line while adding signifigant momentem to the rod motion itself, thus offering consistant, predictable and readable rod loading. alternatively a caster with a sloppy wrist motion has a fulcrum slightly behind, at, or even ahead of the reel. Thus causing a a counter weight effect to the force of the line, this would be remarkably inconsistant to measure as having two fulcrums (wrist and elbow) would result in a dynamic center of gravity within a casting motion. Throw in other fulcrums (shoulder hips knees) and force factors that also contribute, or affect rod balance (such as amount of line out) and the whole thing becomes remarkably complicated (more burnt toast LOL) - I watched a number of folks casting on the Bow in Calgary two weeks ago and the way that anglers keep their tips and line in the casting plane varied greatly from shoulder and elbow to full body motion, thus in reality, I suspect alot of anglers inadvertantly have a dynamic center of gravity which rarely is aligned on top of the rod let alone at a single or dual fulcrum or in the vertical plane of the rod motion itself. If anything can be taken from my unqualified rambling, and technical proficiency is something important to you then I suggest having someone look at your cast and identify any specific technical errors affecting center of gravity and fulcrum issues before putting too much effort into analyzing the weight of your components. If catching fish and enjoying yourself is your focus, than be thankful you have found something that works, and is comfortable for your casting personality.

Wow - and I though I was struggling to fill the last 10 minutes of my work day

Been looking around and the price in Calgary is pretty competitive - plus all the benefits of dealing with a local shop Now the big question - Are you really Locke, or are you the black smoke guy pretending to be Locke ?

Us out-of towners should get a pool going on the winner - something like 10 flies to enter, winner takes all - I see a few sleepers on that list forsure.....

I am considering a 7wt flex tip specifically for my CCI learning It was a little busy at the expo around the casting pond so I didn't get a chance to try it out - are one of the shops equiped so I can test it first, for that sized chunk of cheddar it seems prudent to at least try it out

Cake's little brothers, cupcakes, just don't get the acknowledgement or props they deserve here....Isn't pie considered a terrorist device now anyway

Uncle Rico.... "How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains?... Yeah... Coach woulda put me in fourth quarter, we would've been state champions. No doubt. No doubt in my mind." I love that flick - you either get it, ot you don't

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