[How Long Should Fly Line Last?]

Only got 2 years out of my WF6F SA GPX Mastery line. It had tons of tiny cracks in it that went right to the core and was not flowing smoothly out of the guides. I always used line dressing on it to keep clean and lubricated. I keep it in a case away from sunlight and freshwater use only. Maybe that's normal. I usually fish one day a week and every day for 2 weeks during summer holidays so moderate use. I just bought Rio Gold so will see if it lasts any longer. This is my 3rd year fly fishing so I do not have much experience with fly lines. Experience of others is welcome.

 

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.

[Allen Fly Reels]

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

[Advice To Fix Reel Seat]

thanks guys,

 

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

 

cheers

[Advice To Fix Reel Seat]

[Advice To Fix Reel Seat]

 

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

[Pontoon Boats And Aircompressors]

 

 

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

[Pontoon Boats And Aircompressors]

That would be a 3 gallon compressor. that he got for $30.00. He must have put quite a bit of pressure into it to fill the pontoon boat.

You can also get just a tank that you can fill it up at a gas station, 6 or 8 gallon, that would work the same. They are called an "air pig". You can regulate the output pressure on either the compressor or an air pig so that it will only output to a certain air pressure, so you dont blow the bladder. Transprting these is safe when pressurized, just so they aren't bouncing around in the back of your truck or something, treat them the same as transporting a full propane tank.

A little tip for using either of these and your compressors.

If the input on the inflatable (boat) is one of the largere inputs. get a tire stem from a tire shop (the part that they mount in the rim to fill the air into tires), take the little valve out of the center so that you can see through it and put it on the end of your hose on insert into the larger fill valves, makes a great adaptor. Had to fill a bunch of stuff at my work including a pontoon boat. This method saved me hours with a manual pump, I used the large compressor.

Thanks

Greg

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pontoon Boats And Aircompressors]

Hey Sean,

 

You sure that it wasn't a refillable tank that you fill up at a compressor? I would be very leery about using a normal compressor for fear of over filling and blowing the bladder. I use one of the $90 wonders made specifically for filling inflatables and finish off with a hand pump.

 

Mike

 

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

 

[Pontoon Boats And Aircompressors]

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Maui Jims Lens Colour?]

I have a pair with the rose color lens and have worn them for many years of fishing and for shooting sporting clays. They offer a nice contrast in brighter light situations.

 

I just purchased a pair in the HT lense and like them more than the rose. I haven't found them to let in too much light on the brighter days and are ver very good in low light situations. They are prescriptions and I need them for driving. I forgot my regular glasses one evening after my sons indoor soccer game and ended up using the sunglasses instead. With the street lights being the only source of light I didn't find the HT lenses too dark.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Maui Jims Lens Colour?]

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

 

[Cheap Sunglasses]

Laser eye surgery at Lasik MD.

 

Near sighted my whole life, which means I can see near just fine but my distance vision is bad. Same prescription since I was 12. But as you age, regardless of near sightedness, your ability to focus close up goes away as well. Either can be fixed surgically, but not both. They shape the eye in different fashions to correct, and they are mutually exclusive. So yes, I had laser. And yes, I need reading glasses. So they are not really bifocals (which implies a near and far corrective lens), they just have a small built in magnifier into each lens of non prescription sunglasses.

 

I did have prescription Maui Jim's once. Don't leave those in your loose coat pocket on a c-train.

 

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

[Go...fishing Story With A Friend.]

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....

 

 

 

[Crowsnest Fishing And Camping Bear Safety]

Like the man (Hawgstoppah) said in a post from way back in this thread "Be aware, make noise, carry bear spray and fish with a friend if possible".

 

Having a second home a 10 minute walk from the Crow, I've fished it, the Castle all the way up to its origins, the Oldman, the Waterton, Belly and St. Mary's over the last 25 years. Both walking/wading and preferably (if my good bud makes it down from Edmonton) two vehicles and a loaded Metzler for multi-day float trips.

 

So I'll add some humble thoughts about fishing down here:

 

1. pay attention to the wind intensity and direction (down, up, cross). Yes, there have been dead-calm days down here (on the hottest ones, no less) so a bear/cougar has a chance to hear you coming. Otherwise, pay attention to the wind and blind corners and watch the shadows. More often than not, there's a beastie in one of them. Make noise. Especially if wandering off for a bio-break. PS: if you want cougar country straight out of the movies, the lower Oldman is the place to be.

 

2. switch sides. I've encountered bears early in the season (hungry) and late (hungry). Not so much in the middle, although hardly a fast rule, that. Late in the season, almost always on the sunny side, hunting berries in the windfree pockets (yes, there are lots of berries around here, mostly the Crow). So switch banks and carry on. Obviously after giving the bear his due and time to wander off.

 

3. fish alone with a buddy. Huh? If you're lucky to have a bud to do this with, make sure (especially if floating) to stop at a likely pool or lip-smackin' spot and have one of you (the guy who caught the last fish, for instance) "spot" the other, by climbing up an embankment or high spot to watch for any locals that may arrive announced. Can't tell you how many times that's paid off.

 

4. bears are very territorial. If you arrive first at a berry spot, they'll let you have it. Of course, you don't have a firm way of judging if you're first, but fresh berries with no signs of trampling might be one way. That said, any signs of bear such as that very trampling, carcasses (calf or cow), and/or fresh scrub piles (probably hiding fresh kill) are a sure sign to beat it out, and fast.

 

Avalanche danger or warnings stop me dead. Bears and cougars don't. Within reason. Get out there and enjoy, safely - it's great country down here.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Crowsnest Fishing And Camping Bear Safety]

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wading Soles?]

You could also do this, see my blog. Best traction I've ever had. Korkers also offer replaceable souls with cleats.

 

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

 

 

 

[Wading Soles?]

 

 

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

 

[Hackle]

Quick, someone start making foam extensions!

[New To Calgary]

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[New To Calgary]

Welcome to Calgary Sean.

 

There are TONS of places to fish both in and around the city. Places like, South Fish Creek you'll find plenty of areas to park with easy access to the river. Like the boat launch or Bankside are two easy places to get to and find fish.

 

Listening to the Bow by Jim McLennan

 

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

 

 

[New To Calgary]

right now good bet is to head out ninja early and tie on a big foam stonefly imitation - any fly shop around here will have them, though I'd bet the supplies are running low. stalk up banks with a slow flow and deep water and you will get some vicious takes. when I mean early though, I mean 4am.

 

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

[New To Calgary]

I remember how crappy my first few trips were, so here's my two cents

 

-I'd start with a big SJ and size 16 nymph with a little flash. Nymphing has always been the most productive for me.

-Get deep, the SJ will help

-Be methodical. Lots of fish hold very close to shore, many guys wade right through where the fish are.

-You'd be suprised how many fish hold in fast riffles on the bow. If you can find a riffle where the bottom looks like corduroy or you can see bathtub sized depressions, give them a go. If you are walk and wade these can be great since the drifters often leave them alone. Standing waves are a tip-off that the bottom has become rippled, potholes often have slick water right over top with a wedge wave behind.

 

Then all the standard fly fishing stuff, seams and whatnot. But my fishing on the Bow changed alot when I started looking for and targeting rough ground in faster water. Moreso for the rainbows than browns.

 

Rob

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[New To Calgary]

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