fisher26

Thanks for the replies. It's probably a combination of all the factors listed that cause this trend. I'm glad others noticed at too, I was thinking maybe I can't catch as many big fish in the lower sections! Any other thoughts?

OK I'm just tossing this theory our there. I have heard something similar to it before but I thought of this on my own. My theory is about Cutthroat and Rainbow hybridization in the middle sections of rivers. What I have noticed quite a weird trend, as you go further downstream on a cold freestone stream the average size of the fish seems to go down... Think about an average Livingstone cutt, now is the average fish (excluding Bulls) from the middle section of the Oldman any bigger? Not really in my experience the reverse is actually true. As you move further upstream into the Livingstone the size of the fish goes up. However there is much more nutrients in the lower river so the reveres should be true. Now this is also true for the Castle too. After fishing the lower portion of the castle I noticed that the average fish (rainbow, or hybrids) were significantly smaller that the ones much further upstream. Wherever the cutts are predominate and then rainbows slowly take over the system the average size seems to go down. My theory is that the cutts are more adapt to live in cooler water. The area were rainbows can scratch out a living, but are slowly spreading, have smaller fish simply because the rainbows don't do as well in the cold water. Have you ever caught a very large rainbow from the Livingstone? In my experience no. In rivers like the elk or wigwam where the cutt populations are pure (essentially) the average size is quite high. Stock it with rainbows and the size of the fish would probably go down simply because the rainbows win genetically, but in term of growth rates the cutts do better in cold water conditions. Any thoughts? Ideas? Contrary? Note: The above is a sketchy and scatter thought hypothesis. It is based on no facts and only the observations of a lunatic fly fisherman.

Ya lets get some good'ol fashioned fishing stories on the board. The winter blues are kicking in! I read a bit of that Calgary thread and all I can say is it's obvious its -30 in late January! How about some of those summer fishing tales...

Nice ties! A couple of minor tips: 1st - I personally tie all my stimulators or curved hook (like in second pic) so they ride nicer (IMO) in the water. 2nd - Personally I would use your vice to clamp the barbs before you tie (it'll save you lots of time and prevent you from crushing the hackle) 3d - On the second pic the hackle could be longer. Remember a rule of thumb is the hackle should reach approximately to the hook point. 4th - This is very minor however I've noticed you are securing the hackle with thread. This is OK, however IMO ultra thin wire is better and makes for a more durable fly 5th - Very minor too but I think you may be using a quite a thick thread to tie the flies. I prefer a medium light thread that way you get really nice trim heads that don't extend past the shank. 6th - Leave more room for the heads – however you’re almost perfect in this aspect. Great job, and there really neat looking flies! Keep raping that hackle nice and tight! Nice ties!

Good point DBT, we should help (or attempt to help) enforce our home waters first. I mean to a certain extent the best streams are basically from Calgary southwards. No sense policing those streams way up North that barely have fish in them when we have the popular streams that go unprotected... Very good thread, Streamwatch is a great program.

Brent you've cast it, do you think it'll wear out ones guides more so than other lines?

I’m thinking of picking up some sharkskin line at the Expo. Does anybody know what booths are selling it? What is the price at the expo (I heard it’s $100! but I’m hoping for a sale). Has anyone cast it, or owns it on the board? As mentioned before I have a Sage but it’s the Fli and it cast well but the line that came with it is junk, so I need some new line anyways. (Btw would they spool it for me? I have no clue how to spool line and I rather have it done by someone who knows, so I don’t catch a big one and lose it. And the $100 line!) So where are they carrying it at the expo? Anyone have experiences with the line? Is it worth the price?

Great! The people who have taken the time, effort and money to put this all together have my deepest thanks, for their effort and work. Stream watch speaks volumes for the angler commitment and dedication of passionate sportsmen to preserve our natural resources. I really hope this program continues into other regions also desperate for enforcement. Great job! :D :D

I pity you guys who live way down south (the place used to farming fields when I was born). How do you get around? Seems like you'd have a long drive everywhere. It would especially suck if you worked downtown. On the other hand from the inner city it's hard to get out to spruce meadows. But meh, it's just a day; at least I don't have to do it every day, two times in rush hour. Personally if you can afford it the inner city is really nice for the average day (except for fishing the lower Bow!) Heck I can walk to work; walk for groceries, go down to the river, and there’s lots of nice parks. Fairly quiet too…

It's all in one large building this year right? Just confirming. I hope there are some good sales; I might be able to pick up some of the Sharkskin line!

3 times in the last three years. CO's do the best they can considering the available officers.

Good old Conservatives eh? Say one thing do another. (When I come to think of it the Liberals were just as bad…)

The key principal of Democracy is thinking in 4 years. The way politicians look at it is, please the people for four years. Then another four year etc. The major problem with the government in Canada is they refuse to look at the long term and big picture. I really hope this goes through; this would be an essential tool to help preserve fishing in Alberta.

Good point esleech. The way I look at it is it's another tool to help against the ongoing loss of trout habitat. Yes maybe it’s just headwaters BUT maybe logging would be harder with the new protection. Maybe harmful oil and gas explorations would be a little more limited. OHV's driving through headwaters affects the lower sections of the stream too. My worst fear is that people say NO, and then the government gets the wrong idea about the protection of the resource. It's very, very rare, that the government on it's own suggests an environmental policy, usually tons of people have to be on their case before even considering one. Yes it may be a band-aid for the knee but it may give them ideas were the help is really needed.

Seriously we need protection from development, rampant OHV use, and clear cutting. Over the last few years I have seen cutthroat trout waters decline quickly. Compare the state of the Livingstone area (environmentally) to 10 years ago and you notice a huge problem. We MUST take action even if a few ultra-small headwaters are closed. This would be another tool to help try and preserve fishing in Alberta. In relevance the sacrifice the fisherman makes would be so small (or non-existent), we have to look at the big picture.

Were can I voice my opinion to SARA on this matter? Is there a petition or what? I think this could be one of the better things to happen to fishing in Alberta if passed.

I think it's ridiculous to not support this legislation just because of more C&R, some tiny streams closed and potential to limit ATV use. I whole-heartedly support this action. It's time we do something before the remaining fish, and habitat disappears. After all I rather be able to still fish for healthy cut populations 20 years down the line than not support progressive action and lose Cutthroats and their habitat completely.

Almost sounds too good to be true! I would be great to have a full time CO type person in that area.

For everyones benifit, don't get me started on Wal-mart...

BrownTrout: Amen!

The Livingstone as you all know is a spectacular trout stream. Big hunger cuts swim through deep emerald pools and shallow choppy runs. Monster bull trout cruise looking for prey in the deepest bluest pools. The river is surrounded with spectacular canyon scenery and towering pines. Not only this but a nice gravel road parallels the river for easy access. However the Livingstone is under attack. Every year thousands of trailer campers, ATV ers and off road drivers take the short drive south to spend the weekend. In the last few years the numbers of free campers have sky rocketed and so have the numbers of off road drivers. The problem is the environment around the little river is getting destroyed. Garbage is being dumped by the water. Broken beer bottles litter the shoreline in some places and the forest is one giant washroom (toilet paper scattered everywhere). Quads occasionally cross the river and the campers give the fishing a shot, not knowing the C&R regulations. However the middle section of the Livingstone is not only under threat. The upper reaches have a natural gas well and a massive million dollar clear cutting project is taking place at the headwaters. Silt has become a problem, every year the quiet water seems to have more and more silt. Due to the catch and release regs the numbers of beaten up fish have gone up too (overall C&R are the best thing to happen to the river). I am concerned because I love the Livingstone and I don't know how long it can last. What do you think we should do to protect the Livingstone? Before it's too late.

"Justice System" is a little bit to harsh sounding Canadian politicians prefer to call it the "crime deterrent system" (plus crime deterrent system is more politically correct and less offensive to murderers, pedophiles and drug dealers). When has true Justice ever been served in our "Justice system"?

I'm not debating whether they’re helpful at trout fitters or not. I said in my original post I was looking for a lot of cheap flies w/ moderate quality. I personally think the folks at trout fitters are very helpful but if I bought 100 flies from them at 2.50 each that would mean over $250 spent! (I'd rather but that towards a rod or something, hell that’s more than my current rod and reel!) Thanks for the tips everyone I’ve heard there's a few sales so maybe I'll pick some flies up then.

How much are they a fish tales?

I was wondering what the recommendations for where to buy flies are. I do tie my own, but recently I haven’t had the time. I'm quite a slow tier (sort of a perfectionist) but I don't like using scrappy flies. I know there are going to be some sales in a couple of months and where do you think the best price will be? Troutfitters is really expensive (like 2.50 a fly! for ten flies its over $25). I actually considered buying them from crappy tire, however they looked quite cheep so I went against it. I mostly but my stuff from Russels but I don't know if there prices are good because I have nothing really to compare them to. I also thought about ordering them on line however I guess I'm old fashioned but I prefer to hand pick them. (+ I don't trust some of the sites and what if I get really crappy flies) Any big sales were there would be some deals on to get cheap flies?