bloom

I've been using a phil rowley pattern this fall. It's mostly ostrich herl with a bead head. Pretty simple tie and it's working well. Got the pattern off his new video.

Dan Craft has a great reputation for high quality blanks at a great price. I currently have two of them...a 10' 3wt FT and a Sig V 8'9'' 4wt. Love the rods, especially the Sig V...too bad you can't find them anymore. Are you building the rod yourself, or having someone make it up for you?

Peak vise for me. Got one when they first came out. No one was selling them in Canada at the time, so had to order one straight from the factory. Got a good deal with a whole bunch of extras. No problems with it, still love it.

Foremost Res is ok...it's right in town. There are a lot of people from Foremost though who make the trip to Bullshead.

A few years back I fishing on the Bow and ended up hooking the back of my shirt. Didn't want to disrobe waders, shirt, etc, so just cut the line and retied (I was by myself at the time). Later in the day some other anglers came to the same run. We fished and chatted for a while. By now I had completely forgotten about the rig hanging off the back of my shirt. Wondering what the other fisherman were thinking after seeing me I also had a time in Norther Sask. where I was fishing with my elderly Uncle for pike. He hooked a hammer handle on a Rapala, and tried to take the hook out. Of course fish flaps around and he gets a treble hook in his wrist. We unhook the fish, but couldn't get the hook out of him as it was barbed. Tried all the tricks etc, but it wouldn't come. Finally Uncle got frustrated and just ripped it out. This was 2 hours away from civilization so hospital wasn't really an option. After the hook comes out and the bloods starts coming, he then tells us he's on blood thinners and anti clotting agents due to Heart Attacks. Like any red neck though, he just continued fishing and we all waited for him to pass out or fall out of the boat (luckily didn't happen though)

Love to see the wind pick up when ya got a board like that strapped to your ass.

Nothing like a good meal and beer at the Rum Runner after a cool day on the Crow. Over Christmas, I get to watch a few NCAA bowl games their too. That's a pretty good day to me!

Winter fly fishing is some of my most enjoyable time on the river (most of it is done on the Crow though). I love the peacefulness, the 'banker's hours' and the look of the river with snow covered banks/trees. I'm already looking forward to my Christmas break.

Check with the fly shops. there is a shuttle service offered.

So with the way my work goes in the Fall, I have only 1 weekend off until December. I'm hoping to make a trip out to the Pass for Sunday and Monday and was wondering if anyone has any advice or reports what's going on. Specifically, are the cutts in the Castle and Oldman areas still rising to dries, or is it mostly nymphing. If it's nymphing, I'll likely spend my time on the Crow enjoying the fall foliage. PM if need be.

Well if you wore a hat and actually put on some sun screen that wouldn't be a problem now would it.

good work, glad it got done. One of the best ways for people to get together. Next event would be the weed pull in the crowsnest pass I believe.

Aw Man...you've just blabbed my secret spot to the whole world. Now it's going to be shoulder to shoulder fishing every weekend What are the odds that you got an email like this. Anyone who wants to go through that, more power to ya...I'll share the lake with ya....any I just may need you to carry me out

Great stuff...gets me thiking that maybe I should make another trip there before the end of the year

I miss those places! How is the pink fishing so far?

Used them before, but not sure if I would order them again. I do find them to bend out a lot faster then Mustads and TMC. Their white beads are a good deal though.

Why the *&*^(* are you bringing me flowers man!

there's been quite a few reports of browns being caught in the river...both above and below the falls. A little weird.

Seen that often on the Crow, but only with whitefish. It's not uncommon for them to use you as a current break.

Thanks, I'd be delighted to meet Big Earl. Just let me know when and where.

The girls have their own spinning rods that we set up just like a fly rod (indicator above a fly). This has been working better as the rods are only 3' and 5' long. They have fought the odd fish on my 9' fly rod, but I need to reel for them as they need 2 hands to handle that long of a rod. We're planning on building my 6 year old a 6'6'' 4 wt this winter. She's already picked out the blank and wraps. Most lakes go in cycles, and most of us knew at the time that consistent fishing for 20''+ fish wouldn't be the norm (and we did enjoy it while it lasted). The original fish grew so big, so fast due to that stocking having no competition in a barren lake. Future stockings didn't have the same growth rate. I think both stocking and harvest have played a role. The goal never was to create a lake with 26'' fish in it. The lake came about due to all the other lakes in the area being meated out once it started to produce fish around 14''. Bullshead was meant to provide a consistent fishery. Before, everyone would fish one lake because word got out that it was producing big fish. It would soon be meated out, and then we'd have to wait a few more years for it to grow big fish again. Bullshead now always has big fish. We still caught more than enougth 20''+ fish this spring, and I expect to catch a few again this fall. The lake's not always friendly to everyone though. It's good that a lot of people still get skunked going out there (in fact about half the boats/groups last night did).

Just got in. I've spent a couple hours out there over the last couple of nights. Fishing has picked up again...really consistent, and there's more than a few 18''-19'' caught. I had my8 year old nephew out last night and he went 1 for 8 and I had my 6 and 4 year old out tonight. The 6 year old went 2 for 6 and the 4 year old just netted my fish. We only went straight out from the boat dock. Left the boat hooked up as I might head out tomorrow. Fishing is starting to pick up. Size is still down, but we'll be catching the odd 20+'' come fall. Same method as usual. Little leech (bloom leech) under indicator. Got to love it when 2 different boats ask a 6 year old what she using...and she outfished everyone but one!

What a gamer...now go find some fish.

I'm heading soon to the Elk, and the reports I've recieved are that it's fishing great right now. I usually have luck up that way with terrestrials, and my standard yellow foam humpy. The Fording is up that way and it's worth checking out.