Dank

Two years ago I joined the site while I was still living in Dallas. A month later I was living in Calgary and had been welcomed by a number of you to the site. I've got to tell you I lurk on a number of sites throughout Minnesota, Louisiana and Texas, none of them are as first class as Fly Fish Calgary! I can't begin to share how much I've learned from this site and how much I've felt a true part of the community. I tell people about this site and I describe at a bunch of militant fly fisherman that love the bow and surrounding streams. This is what I love most about this site, everyone is truly dedicated to preserving the awesome fishery that we have up here! With that said, its time for me to return back to the States (good time to go back right?). Anyway, thank you all for your contributions and wisdom! I'll be sure to continue lurking even in my absence! PS- Rickr, keep posting the stories, I love 'em

Once in the ear standing too close to a friend of mine, fingers a zillion times and once in the scalp that ended in the emergency room. I was bass fishing with a shad rap and snagged some weeds. Rather than taking the weeds off by hand, I slapped the lure down a few times on the surface. Unfortunately I didn't notice the line getting longer and on the third slap I hooked myself. My buddy tried minor surgery to get me free but no luck. So after a few more hours of fishing and the lure hanging off my head we went to the ER. If any one could free me it would be them right? Nope, well not on the first try. Doctor #1 hooked himself on the front treble hooks and it took doctor #2 to unhook both of us. But not until he had fully documented the situation on film and entered it into the ER's book of weird stuff.

Hey Birchy or Rickr (you gotta replace that yellow hornet rod) or Whoever, I'm looking to unload a Sage 5wt, 9' FLi, I've used it no more than six times, for $275, paired with a black Ross Cimarron reel, loaded with line. As for the great debate over Sage, you can't beat hand made quality, these things aren't machine made in factory somewhere in Asia like TFO. I hate to let it go, but I've got too many rods right now. Oh, yeah, my other three rods are all Sage too if you're wondering. Shoot me a PM if you're interested. Dan

Rick, Make sure you pick-up a couple poppers, gummy minnows and crab imitators. You already know this, watch for the birds and start throwing those poppers is you get into a school of specks. Looking forward to the report!

Nope, too windy and too many people on the boat. We had planned to throw a few gummy minnows and spoon flys but in the 11th hour we had three additionals invite themselves on the boat with us. Didn't see any fish tailing so it might have been a waste anyway.

Hey Rick, Hope you nailed them down there. I forgot to give you the report from Lafitte last month, we nailed the reds and specs all day on the poppin' corks and plastic cochahoes. Lost a big red (for the bayou) playing him out, no fun after 10 minutes on the line but it was a damn good excuse for an Abita! Hope you wore sunscreen, three weeks later and I'm still peeling! Dan

Damn Rick, I love those "southern" stories! Reminds me of home everytime! I fished out of Breton Sound one week prior to Hurricane Katrina, sure hope the islands are still there! The Chandeleurs are almost gone, one more storm and they're history. Gotta love those sharks, they've messed with me numerous times, usually down in Lafitte. But there was the one time I was wading up on the north shore of Lake Ponchatrain... Of course I was by myself, doing all right, had a few specks on a short stringer, just doing my thing casting a sparkle beetle in the surf and then I notice a fin stalking me. Needless to say, I slowly backed off, but I was out a good 200 yards in waist deep water. Thank god for multi tools, I sawed the stringer off my belt (forget untying it) and backed into some shallower water. Needless to say, I bought one of those floating stringers on a twenty foot rope the next day.

Damn Rick, I missed the grub! This is what I get for not checking the board on a daily basis! Wish I could have been there to back you up on the American bashing, hope you survived! Let me know if you do it again, I got a big bottle of Grade A Minnesota maple syrup to contribute!

Lundvike, I've got an incredible guide down there, only problem is he's on the opposite side of the state from Waukesha. If you feel like driving, check out Damian with Fly By Night Guide Service; http://www.fbnguideservice.com/index.html From the website it looks like Steelhead season opens the last weekend in March, not sure if you'll still be down there. Damian is awesome, I fished with him last year during a Hex hatch in June on the Brule River. Nothing like chucking big foam mayfly patterns in total darkness for monster browns!

Sundance, Shoot me a PM. Both my dad and my brother are avid spearing decoy collectors and carvers, cumulatively, they have nearly 1000 decoys. I'll have my brother contact with you the names of some of the classic carvers. There are really two ways to go, collect the factory stuff (Heddon, South Bend, Herters, etc) or regional carvers. If you like the regional stuff, watch for the Bethel name. The Bethel's are a family from northern Minnesota and legendary for their carvings.

You get what you pay for, I'm on my second pair of Orvis Clearwaters in five months. Just like someone mentioned earlier, the inside seam on these waders tend to leak. I will aplaud Orvis for their lifetime warranty though, just had to take them back to Country Pleasures and I had a new pair in minutes.

Cool, thanks for all the replies! Rick, don't be jealous, this is my first real vacation in a few years and I'm only going for 2 1/2 days! Rooster Fish look pretty interesting, just might have to pack that fly rod with me.... Pics to follow next month, hopefully with a few fish, otherwise it will be me passed out with a bottle of tequila!

Hey guys, I'm taking a trip down to Cabo the week before Christmas for some deep sea yellowtail fishing. Never been down there before and I'm considering taking a fly rod, have any of you ever fly fished down there? If so, what can I expect?

Taco, It might be worth a wait on the truck. Breakfast Televsion ran a segment last Thursday or Friday discussing auto pricing between the US and Canada. Apparently someone has filed a class action lawsuit against four of the major automakers in regards to their Canadian pricing. I think we're going to see some major changes pretty quick. I could understand a slight mark-up for import taxes or whatever, but I think the days of the $16,000 price difference are coming to an end. As for my purchasing, I'm back to ebay although I don't advocate it for everything. My dad had two shops that were pretty much forced out of business by big box retail stores, I still believe in supporting the the mom and pop shops and we have some great ones in Calgary!

Gary, great gobbler shot. Was that in Alberta? I don't suppose you hunt these things do you? I brought my turkey gear with me from Texas, looking for some place to hunt next year.

I'd take a day on the river cleaning up against the best day at work. Man did it feel good to get out with some fellow fly-fishers (being PC here Brownee) and help clean-up the environment! Many thanks to the organizers and sponsors! I look forward to running into all my new friends on the river, well done all!

Andy, I can't be a lot of help, being fairly new to fly fishing and Calgary, but I can tell you one thing, you very rarely hear fly fishing being called a sport around here. To most of us its a form of art, an obession and a passion. Welcome to your new addiction! Get some Elk Hair Caddis, I did well on them this year. DANK

Any time Rick! I'm going to be on the river early Sunday morning, let me know if you're gonna be out there. Got to be off the river by 10:30, Saints kick off at 11am!

Hey Rick, Check this one out, http://flhurricane.com/cyclone/stormspotli...007&storm=9 Some of the models have Humberto recurving back into the gulf. I've never seen anything like it and that comes from nine years in New Orleans, many hurricane close calls and ultimately surviving Katrina and four days in the aftermath.

Thank you all for the responses! Hopefully we can get out tomorrow. Rickr, yes GEAUX SAINTS! I spent nine years in NOLA and have become a loyal Saints and LSU fan. We'll be at Flames Central next Thursday for the opening night of the NFL season featuring the Saints and Colts if you want to join us. Got a few of my expat friends from NOLA joining me. Thanks for the recon on Spruce Meadows too! Wayne tells me I've just missed you a few times at Hanson's, hopefully we a can catch-up one of these days. Tight lines! Dank

I've got some folks visiting this week from NYC, and they'd like to go fishing. Wondering if anyone knows of a local pond we can find some fish pretty quick without spending a lot of time? I was thinking Sibbald Meadow Pond, but don't want to drive that far. Thanks!

Here's my two cents on the Battenkills. Orvis moved their factory from the UK to somewhere in Asia last year. I tried for nearly nine months to get a spare spool for my BBS Titanium. Finally spoke to an Orvis rep in Dallas who told me it might be another year before I could order the spool as production at the factory was behind. Other than that, its a great reel. If your looking for something in that $100-150 range, check out Tetons. I love my Teton Tioga, they have them at Russell Sports. For the best deal, look them up on Ebay.

Two for me.

To the rest of the Ex-pats in the Calgary Sleeper Cell, is it time to turn Alberta into #51? Just kiddin' good video!