bloom

Don, I checked into this when they first proposed the idea of stocking trips, and unfortunately they are not AF3N. The trips used to stock Ab lakes are 1/2 female and 1/2 male. So yes, we'll still have some large, coloured fish cruising the shorelines, but the females will hopefully stay away. Good post Dryfly...we're on the same page. Yes, would I like to see more 'bigger' fish caught, you bet, but it's still my favourite lake in Ab. All these ideas that people are coming up with have been discussed with the 'powers that be', but we need to find a balance between letting one idea run it's course (ie. the triploids) between changes every year, which could result in upsetting many people. I would like to see the size go up to 24'', but not sure how this would go over with the people who keep fish. ie. "It's already tough enough getting a keeper out of that lake, now they just made it tougher!". One under 16'' may be ok, but that would really mess up the stocking I feel. How could you predict how many 3 year old fish would be in the lake? Stocking numbers would need to be 'tweaked' every year and this would take 3 or 4 years to get an established number....which is worse than what we have right now in regards to stocking. Stocking numbers have been dropped a lot in the last few years (~28,000 trips this year). Again, change takes time and we need to let an idea run its course. The best news about all this though is that Terry Clayton is very easy to work with, and I feel that he has the best interest of this fishery in mind (although he has to put up with someone very passionate about this lake ). I'll be meeting/talking to him a few more times this winter and I'll keep bringing these ideas up.

Ahh, Depeche Mode, forgot how good some of their stuff was back in the day.

So, lets hear what brings bowcrow to tears

ps. watch it on mute.

For those who took time to fill out the survey a while back, here's the results. survey results

Some funny (and scary) stuff here Click here if the movie does not play.

Eddie, I like the incident 001 and 002 pics better. sounds like you got an interesting story to tell

The one in the South (Lethbridge/Medicine Hat area) is usually in April. Terry Clayton usually sends the invites, but there's not a whole lot of people there. Not sure who runs the runs in the Central part of the Province.

Couple more to add... -when fishing trophy lakes (that don't necessarily have the numbers)...go where you see fish. Keep an eye open, and if you see a bay or area where fish are rising, get moving. -big chironomids always seem to work. Even when the smaller ones are hatching at the end of the season, I still have luck with size 10's and 12's (need to be really good imitations of the ones hatching though). Guess they can't pass by the big meal. Doesn't hurt that they stand out more also.

Well, what are some of the 'epiphanies' you've had on the water this year? Some of mine are: -when fishing boatman on lakes, the strip has to be really fast...almost as fast as you can go (and hang on!). This has been my best fall fishing for boatman. -sometimes a dead drift when nymphing rivers isn't the way to go. I've found that if you mend too much, there can be too much slack between your indicator and flies (i.e. your indicator is right above your flies). I've been out fished by people mending very poorly and I know their flies and being dragged through the water. This works though as they see the takes a lot better than I do as their line is taught between their indicator and flies. -Bowcrow can make one bad ass fire -Fluorocarbon sinks even faster than I thought (noticed this when I dropped two new spools of Froghair over the side of my boat and they were gone before I could even grab my net) -Scotch tastes the best on the side of the Crowsnest River in the winter.

I've been looking at a new reel for my 6 wt...and right now it's coming down to 2 things...performance and weight. I'm really starting to like my lighter outfits after casting them all day long. I own a bunch of high end reels (Loop, Danielsson, Ross, Hardy, Islander), and I'll probably get a Nautalus or Islander IR due to the wieght issue. I feel all these high end reels are more reel than anyone needs these days anyways.

You're not the only one

Rick's the guy...good guy to fish with. Didn't know he's still running the festival...haven't heard about it in the last couple of years.

Battle Creek is a great little crik. Faster flowing and smaller fish on the alberta side, but more of the riffle-pool-run water that I like. Bigger fish on the SK side...which isn't a bad thing. Lots of good creeks and stillwaters in SW Sk. Who's the guy you met from Maple Creek? Buddy of mine use to own a fly shop there (still sort of does)

Ders Gold in dem dar hills Think everyone who's been there has that same pic.

superman wears chuck norris pajamas to bed.

In high school we use to dress up in a few layers of clothes, put on safety glasses and then sneak into parks late at night with pellet guns. The best ones were those by the river that were mostly forests and had very little lighting. Getting shot didn't hurt that much but someone always got hurt... but it always from the running away, diving into the bush, or it just being too dark out. One of the best was when I was chasing a buddy and he didn't see the deadfall that was lying 6' above the ground. Knocked him on his back...first time I'd ever seen a concussion.

I say good on the judge and cops. Why do people feel it's their right to abuse/mock authority. It's just like when people complain for being too rough when cops tackle their son and he got hurt...when a cop says stop, you stop, seems like common sense to me.

I like the mug...I have a thing for quality mugs. Will there me a fly fish calgary logo on it? I'm in.

Dries hey...well there's not much for specific patterns. Griffiths knat, lady mcdonnell, and a really small adams (~22) should cover it. For nymphs you got a whole lot more options depending on time of year and system.

I couldn't even finish watching it...I had to keep turning away.

One of my favourtie 'games' is to always try and ID streams or lakes from pics and videos. I'm at a total loss on this one though. Case of beer for anyone who emails me the name of the river I could spend a week or two camping there.

This is sort of cool...

I wonder how many of us are still around from that board lynn. Maybe it's time for some Lucky beer...Yee haw!

David Wilcox...chilly peppers, etc GREAT. But what's with the Heart and Dance mix? Maybe some New Order/Psychadelic Furs/Echo and the Bunnymen for you old techno music! (Now ya got me singing Riverboat Fantasy by David Wilcox all day long.)