softhackle

What was the rationale for the changes? I remember when they came in, there was little pressure and the fishing was spectacular. Currently out of province anglers pay $55 which is higher than what so called locals(there are many folks who have moved there from other provinces) and I would suggest that most of out of province guys would gladly pay more on an annual basis provided if we were given the same free reign as the residents of BC. I can imagine the uproar if Alberta did this to the Bow, the Crow and other quality fisheries. Enforced regulations, habitat protection and ample water will keep these streams healthy not elitism....

On Sunday, coming back from Montana, I noticed quite a few Alberta plates parked along side The Elk. I used to fish the Elk and other BC waters a ton back in the day and visited many businesses in BC towns. Now I bypass BC and continue onto Montana and do most of my fishing there. Do folks actually pay the additional $20/day over and above the $55 for the annual to fish these classified waters and is it worth it? I was thinking of floating (self guided) the Elk and revisiting the West Slope cutties I haven't seen in 25 years... Cheers

First island on right hand side after douglasdale pedestrian bridge. used to be real good dry fly but is now fast deep water.

Fair enough, it is good that your dog is well trained and intelligent enough to rationalize the difference between a dangerous situation and a non-dangerous one however, I do question the ability for Fischer to actually take on a large male grizz. I too have been chased both on a bike as well when I have fly fish halloween costume on. For whatever reason, especially in off leash "natural" areas (Southland specifically, there are a very large percentage of dogs who see us dressed up types and rationalize that we are dangerous meanwhile the unrational dog owner carries on like there is no issue. Unfortunately, the dog owner in most cases are unable to control their dog as the danger outweighs the owners ability to get their pooch under control. I have vowed to carry pepper spray as I do not want to get bit and feel it is only a matter of time before this happens. Rivers and Lakes should be completely off limits to off leash dogs, not because of "Fischer" but because of untrained dogs. IMHO.

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. Man is always trying to one up nature, in this case pushing the carrying capacity of the stream only to have mother nature restore the balance. I would be interested to study the Bow's flows this fall to previous years as well as a comparison of brown trout population to previous years...I bet there is a correlation as indicated in the previous post. This combined with the fishing pressure (anyone out yesterday?, fish creek was packed). Interesting stuff indeed.

Rick, were you one of those "Flyers"? Looks like a blast...This is where Kite surfing was 20 years ago...

Thanks for all the great comments. I only share this with you in the event you also have that "once in a lifetime" opportunity and need further coaxing. I highly recommend both Cuba and Bahamas for different reasons but the experience is quite something with both. I compare Cuba to the lower Bow 30 years ago (Big unsophisticated fish) and the Bahamas to fishing a mountain lake full of Scrappy goldens .... Next on the list is Belize and the turneffe flats. I now ask if anyone has had any experience with that area. Looking at next January....Cheers!

Measured from Fork to tip. No Tarpon in area until April. Did touch two Permit but couldn't land.

Found this on line, but again just an estimate. I do know for sure it was 36 inches as i have the monfilament measure to prove it as it is going in the picture frame along the photo. 18" = 3.5lb 20" = 4.1lb 22" = 5.1lb 24" = 6.0lb 26" = 7.2lb 28" = 8.6lb 30" = 10.8lb 32" = 13.0lb 34" = 15.6lb 36" = 18.0lb 40" = Dreaming! Chart is from Kaufman's Bonefish Book. I've found you can often add about 1lb for Pacific bones from 28" and up (as far as 32" anyway, i'd like to check some bigger fish)!

Like a 26 inch brown about to take your caddis dry.....

We didnt weigh the fish but for sure he was 36 inches, based on a table provided, he was estimated at 16 lb. the fight was 15 to 20 minutes and three long runs into 200 yards of backing. He was alone when spotted and casted to. The fish there are massive. Thx

Hi all, as promised, a pic of a bonefish in Cuba. This fish was 36 inches from nose to tail and estimated to be 16lb, a world record anywhere else but Cuba. Nicest thing about this area: there were many more fish seen that were larger than this one...I highly recommend booking a day their. If you want pm me and I will give you details. Cuba bonefishing is all about specimen fishing whereas Bahamas was about solitude. This fella was caught on a Gotcha pattern. One other note, I did hook two permit on this trip (same day) but was unable to land as one blew my leader up and the other spit out hook.

Just got back from cuba. Omg 36 inch 15 lb bonefish report and picks to come.

Hi Rick, it was actually a houndfish. They often will hangout with the bones and feed on the scraps the bones dig out and leave behind. I was fishing "nervous" water when this fella took my crab imitation. I also caught a sting ray which totally freaked me out....It was constantly whipping its tail at me as I was trying to release. As a result, I have to sacrifice my crab fly and cut the tippet...pretty cool anyways...

Thought I would share some pics of my first bonefishing trip to the beautiful Bahamas. As on most vacations, shaving is optional... Great trip, highly recommend. Let me know if you want info on what I did and how I did it. It was relatively reasonable and a DIY all day walk/wade arrangement.

I picked up a pair of Sunglasses with a bi focal magnifier in the bottom at Wholesale sports for $20. They are great as they are polarized and I can tie knots. I would recommend these. I belive thay are called streamside and are in the "flyfishing" department...

Walleye. On the fly is a blast. Indid a ton of it waiting for the bow to drop this summer. Same thing black leech or black bucktail. Sloooow retrieveband whammy. Catch one then a ton.

The regs are fine, enforcement really depends on RAP system and calling in the poachers. I have called in Poachers and sometimes they can get there and sometimes they cannot. I think the worst time of year for poaching from what I see is in June when the river is blown out. I have gone for walks down to my favorite spots and see the poachers with their rods propped up, fishing bait, etc, but you never see them when the "fly fish" crowd is out in force so they know when it is safe for them. Personally, I would support a fly fish only reg, but I would feel for the kids and elder population who want to also enjoy the river. However, one can fish flies with a spinning rod and a slip bobber as well ( kinda like nymping eh?). I think the river has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. It used to be fished lightly with big dumb fish rising everywhere. But with the world class water treatment facilities reducing the amount of nutrients entering the river thereby reducing weed growth (thereby reducing cover) and fishing pressure increasing 100 fold, you have fewer big, more educated fish that are reluctant to grab that bug going perpendicular to the current as they would have in the past. That combined with all the other pressures the fish have to live in has made fishing much more technical. Ok, enough of my half baked thoughts. In a nutshell, C&R, Flyfish only on say from Police to Mckinnon and more education on the RAP program...

I will also add that when you tie the deer hair down, and fish with a steady strip they are a deadly travelling sedge emerger pattern. Slammed them at chief hector one fine evening. Tie them with an orange thread and they are very effective on cutthroat dry style. Only downfall is they get chewed up easily by trout teeth.

I have used them everywhere including the bow. Great searcher fly.

I think that fish was saying "frick off" to the camera .LOL Nice post and thanks for sharing...

I am glad you enjoy fishing my river...LOL

Personally I am ok with boats in the side channel as long as they are not casting to potential fish in the immediate vicinity of where I am fishing. I find that fish that are rising will go down for a few minutes and resume once the "danger" has passed, that being said, I would be/do get PO'd when the boat hooks a fish that I have worked hard to get a good angle on. Boats/dogs/anglers are all on the fish radar these days and I believe are tolerated...However I think it will be a few hours to a day before a hooked fish will return to feeding once hooked, played, and then landed...

Yes, good point and well intended. This area was far worse prior to fencing. Prob a good compromise in this situation.

If they can hit my run with a lure their too close!! This happened to me, in a side channel, boat was 10 feet from me and I was just about to hit the top part of a very fishy run. I told them it was bad form and bad etiquette and was promptly told that they were new and were not aware. I said ignorance is no excuse but perhaps it is, IDK...Unfortunately this is not uncommon anymore but happening more and more and I guess we better get used to it...