sldrose

Just be careful with the type of line dressing you use. Some stuff can shorten the life of the line. i've stopped using line dressing, just mild soapy water or as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

Hi Jbear, I just wanted to know how you like your Allen reel? Drag, quality, weight, spool width, tolerances etc? I'm looking to get the Allen AlphaII for an 8wt bonefish rig, but like you say I don't know anyone that carries them. I'm trying to decide between that and a TFO BVK reel. Also, what was the shipping to get it sent to Calgary? thanks Sean

thanks guys, I thought it should be that simple, but wanted to double check. cheers

Hi the top part of my reel seat has become loose. The rod is a custom built z-axis, so I dont want to do anything to ruin the rod. Can I use superglue/araldite to stick the reel seat back into the cork or is this a bad idea? thanks

Thanks Greg and everyone else for providing suggestions on the best way to fill up inflatables. I will definately be on the lookout for 12v pumps, air compressors and air pigs. I was reluctant about the 12v units, because i've had a cigarette lighter one before and it was no good. I suspect from everyone elses comments that the 12V direct to terminal pumps do a decent job. If anyone sees any of the above discounted, send me a pm. cheers Sean

Thanks Greg, You have provided me with some fantastic advice. Yes the guy said that he has to compress it to 100psi to fill the pontoon. I didn't even know about the "air pig", so i'll be on the lookout for one of them as well. Thanks for the tip regarding the tire stem. Sounds like a good idea, although i can't exactly picture what you mean. Are you talking about modifying the pontoon's boston valve by drilling a hole in the cap and fitting the tire stem? Or do you fit the tire stem to the hose on the compressor/airpig? If so, how do you fill a boston valve with this? I was just going to buy an "Airhead multivalve", but i am interested in your approach with the tire stem. thanks again! Sean

Hi Mike, I dont think it was a standalone tank as it had the compressor unit ontop of it. It was pretty small though. I'd assume you would only use it to fill the bulk, and finish it off with a hand pump as well. Otherwise you would likely blow the bladder. It looked like a good idea and the guy got it on sale from Can tire for $30 Sean

Hi, I'm looking for advice on getting an air compressor to fill up a pontoon boat. On Saturday, I met a guy with an 8' fishcat pontoon, and he was using a proper aircompressor to fill it. (not those 12v car types which dont have enough pressure) I should have asked him a few more questions, like how many a gallon tank his air compressor had. (it looked like a two or three gallon) I think he said it took 2 mins to fill up the pontoon, and about half hr to charge the compressor beforehand. Does anyone else use an aircompressor to fill their inflatable rafts/canoes/pontoons etc? Just want to get an idea of what capacity tank that would require, and what capacity tank could fill a pontoon without needing to be plugged in. It's all news to me, because I always assumed that an air compressor would need to be plugged in so that the compressor could maintain the pressure in the tank. Maybe i misunderstood how he used it, but it sounded as if he could charge/fill up the tank at home, and it was enough to inflate a single pontoon boat at the river. Also, how safe/unsafe is it to drive around with a pressurised air compressor in the back of the car. I have a matrix wagon. thanks SeanD

Thanks kritofr, good to know you like the HT better. I just bought a pair of the polycarb HT for $140 If I really like them, I'll donate them to the missus and get a prescription pair. They're quoting me $770 for the prescription ones. I.e. $250 frames and $520 single power lenses. Please tell me u know where to get them cheaper Cheers Sean

Hi I'm looking into a pair of Maui Jim's polarized glasses for trout spotting. (if my health cover can give me a good enough rebate) Greys are generally too dark for my liking. and amber is usually the goto colour. Has anyone tried the new HT (High Transmission) lens? They're supposed to be good in lesser lighting conditions. How do they compare to the amber or rose when it comes to spotting trout? cheers Sean

Hi Rick, I was thinking about getting a prescription pair of Maui Jim's myself. Were you happy with yours before they broke? Where did you get yours done? thanks Sean

Years ago back in Australia, my friend Simon and I were both trying to learn how to indicator nymph under a dry. We probably tried for a whole season without any success. It was especially frustrating as we kept hearing how it was supposed to be a highly effective technique. Anyways, one day in a local tackle shop, I came across some bead head nymphs, and on a solo outing without changing anything else I started catching fish on the nymph. I told Simon, who didn't believe me and didn't bother to buy any bead head nymphs. So out we went to the same stretch of river where i had previously caught fish and I let him go first. We were using an identical setup. Royal Wulff as the indicator and a 2 and a half foot dropper to the nymph, except I was using a bead head. I let him go first and he fished this 30m stretch without any action. Then i re-fished the same water behind him, and caught four fish on the bead head. Needless to say, my new supply of bead head nymphs was soon dwindling. Anyways the funny part of the story is that years later, Simon is teaching another mutual friend how to indicator nymph and he starts telling a story (in front of me) of how "he" discovered the bead head nymph, how "I" wouldnt believe that it was a great fly and that "I" fished the run with an ordinary nymph only for him to come through later and clean up with the bead head. haha. with friends like that....

Thanks burmisboy Great tips Just wanted to know if a bear sighting means the end of a days fishing. Still, if i saw a bear upriver, i dont know how bold i would be to continue fishing into it's turf! Also, i know that you're supposed to make noise so you dont surprise them, but if i saw one at a distance, and it hasnt seen me, should i still be making noise? I saw this one youtube video where this group of guys saw a bear about 1.5km away, they started making noise, and the bear started running towards them. It wasnt even intimidated by the warning shots they fired, and it was far enough away not to be threatened. oh well, I guess the bears keep the fishing good by keeping away the crowds. thanks Sean

Not wanting to re-hijack this thread. or maybe this should be moved to a new post but Say you're on a river and encounter a bear at some distance and it scuffles off into the brush after seeing you. is it "safe" to keep fishing upriver? how long would you wait before continuing up river? do you put an end to the fishing and head back home? What if you're on a trail and see a bear at a couple hundred meters away? Do you just cancel you're hike or overnight trip and head back? Just looking for your thoughts and experiences. Similarly what if you see scat or tree markings? proceed or turn around. im sure that there are some braver individuals here. What curcumstances would definitely make you turn around? Carcas or fresh kill, seeing a mother and cubs at distance? the more firsthand stories you can share the better thanks Sean

Hi All, thanks for the advice. The Simms HardBite cleats look really good, but are a bit pricey. Half the price of my boots. SD, have you lost any of the cleats as yet? I'll give the plain felt a go tomorrow, and if i need the cleats i've heard that hex head metal screws can be used. If that's no good, i'll have to suck it up and get the HardBite cleats. thanks Sean

Hi, I have a pair of the korkers - redside with the kling-on rubber sole and find them really slippery in the bow. I was wondering which sole most people prefer when wading the Bow? I haven't yet tried out the felt soles on the korkers. Does anyone use cleated rubber? and would this do a good enough job? Thanks

Quick, someone start making foam extensions!

Thanks Guys I got my first Bow river brown today near Carburn park! It was a really nice fish, if i had to guess i'd say more than 3lb. (i'll have to get myself a weigh net) What a way to start! I scouted the river around mid-day, but i didn't see and activity. (fish or hatches) The Bow was high and the clarity had dropped compared with last week. When I went back at night I found a few fish rising, but they were sporadic. Minimum 3 - 5 minutes between rises. Maybe someone can explain what was going on entamology wise??? I started with a sz16 dun, I then switched to a small yellow sally. But no luck. There were some decent fish rising and it sounded like there were taking something more substantial off the surface as the rises were heavy and quite aggressive. I switched up to a sz12-14 green drake with a heavy hackle, but still had no luck. By this stage it was completely dark. I suspected there may be some golden stone action going on, i didnt have any so I tied on a salmon fly and was luckly enough to get one fish who slammed the fly and gave me a decent fight. Did anyone fish tonight? (sun) If so, was it just dumb luck that I got a fish on a salmon fly, or were the fish actually taking something that big?? We dont get any "noteworthy" stonefly fishing in Australia, so I have to get familiar with these bugs! cheers Sean

Hi FNG, Yes, I live in the SW and I have a car. I found a map of Fish Creek Provincial Park so finally found where the Bankside access is. Im hoping to give it a go tomorrow. I notice that the river splits above bankside around "Popular Island" Do you recommend walking upstream or downstream from the car park? or is it better to try and access the river from the other side thanks for all your help and advice. cheers Sean

Thanks Hawgstoppah, I'm hoping to get out tomorow and do some scouting so I know where i'm walking at 4am. I'm still looking for work in Calgary, so im free mid week to do the "ninja early" thing! thanks for the tip! can't wait

Hi Rob, Thanks for the advice. In the rivers I fish back in Australia (where I'm from), the fish rarely hold in the really fast water. I was standing on the bridge at Prince's Island park trying to spot fish right against the edge when I found a fish rising in some really fast water. I suspect the bottom must have been rippled like you suggest. If I didnt see the fish rise, I wouldnt have given the area a second look as the water seemed way too fast to me. Needless to say, I won't automatically dismiss the faster water like I normally would have. How deep do you suggest between the indicator and the San Juan? thanks Sean

Hi Everyone, I have recently relocated to Calgary and was hoping that someone could share some kindly advice on some good spots to access & flyfish the Bow. I've walked over the bridges in downtown Calgary and that area looks difficult to walk and wade. If anyone can suggest an area that is accessible and has a good amount of river which can be fished from the bank, that would be great. Also, being new to town If anyone would like to join me for a fish, that would be great too. Cheers Sean