NormanMcLean

What does a Red Deer River Clouser look like?

I'm pretty new to fly fishing for pike. So my question is can you use the same streamers that you usually use for bulls (clouser minnows, bow river buggers etc.) for pike as well? Because I see so many different flies for pike that are in yellow and pink colors. Don't they generally eat the same minnows? Thanks.

Just buy a satellite phone. They are expensive, but that way you can heli-parachute into the lower Ram canyon and anyone can get a hold of you!

It's too hot in summer for a vest. I just go with a good outdoor shirt with lots of pockets, and some cargo shorts. And I usually only carry the bare necessities, no need to carry the same stuff from early spring thru untill late fall. Saves alot of weight.

Gotta hand it to the cougar. Cats are tough.

Don't forget the Arctic Char that were accidently dumped into the Elbow by a hatchery truck, and may have made it into the Bow. They haven't been seen since, but how many guys would be able to tell the difference between an arctic char and a brookie if they caught it on the Bow. I used to fish for splake in Lake Minnewanka in Banff as a boy. Good times... If we also include Cut-Bows and Tiger Trout that may have ended up in the Bow and you have about 10 species of trout!!!

Shunda Creek, near Nordegg, has good fishing for browns, brookies and rockies and lots of access and camping. It's also a good beginner creek for young boys. Good luck!

Well, I was fishing a local rainbow pond and I got snagged in a bush at the waters edge. So I give it a little tug, and it comes shooting back at me. I'm wearing glasses so it's all good. But I realize the hook is snagged on my hat or something. Then I realize, that my #10 Stimulator went in through my nostril and out my septum. I was hooked good! I had to walk back to the truck mirror to perform some quick surgery with my forceps. It wasn't pretty. Thank god I don't use barbed hooks! Now I know what a fish feels like!

I remember I heard last year Barry White's (the Bow River guide) truck got broken into and they stole all kinds of gear, rods and thousands of hand tied flies. Does anyone know if he recovered any of that?

I thought I had the same problem once. The trouble arises because there are 2 pages called "Fly Fish Calgary". Don't ask me why.

Is it possible to get a National Parks license outside of the park? I'd rather buy it before I went if possible.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge of the area Grizz. I appreciate it. What's wrong with the Miette? Not many fish or hard to fish? I will give the Athabasca a go. What patterns work well in the silty water?

Well, I just want to say, job well done to everyone who worked fixing this problem out there. I fished Stauffer on Friday and to my surprise it was back to it's old self again. Thanks to the Kim Nielsen and other County officials. And thanks to Don Anderson for being the first to warn us of this potential catastrophe. We all need to keep banging on Alberta Environment for a permanent fix to this problem. Thanks guys.

Wow, SanJuanWorm, I haven't seen an over-reaction like that for a long time. I think that response was funnier than the letter itself. I think we need to lighten up a bit.

I'm still interested. I have been playing a bit of phone tag but would love to try it out on my new rod!

I think you can catch them almost anywhere below the Dam. I've caught them at Burbank Park where the Blindman river enters the Red Deer. But that was in my wasted youth before I found a fly rod.

Well, I am renting a cabin in Jasper for a few days and was hoping to get some good fishing in for some native rainbows and bulls. I will be going in mid-July. The Maligne River opens August 1st, so that is not an option. My cabin is near the Miette and Athabasca Rivers, and I probably will give them a try. I might also try Maligne Lake. Anyone have any ideas about this area?

I just bought a new 2-wt Winston and I am interested in trying out your line on some central alberta streams.

One quick tip when using the acidic repellant. Try not to put too much on your forehead if wearing plastic sunglasses. I had a pair of glasses turn into a pile of rubble in an hour.

Here's a small photo of a typical golden.

Don, I would interested in what Barry Mitchell or Dave Jensen have to say about this. Have you talked to them?

Hey Mike, I think for the maiden voyage you should put it in at Prairie Creek, start at Strachan and don't stop till you hit the Clearwater.

Just fork over a couple hundred bucks and take the helicopter ride up there. I did that at Michelle Lakes and had the trip of my life! 3 days of stunning scenery, bighorn sheep right in our camp, golden's everywhere we cast... Well worth it, I highly recommend it. Actually my avatar is a shot of Michelle Lakes from the air. It will save you a few years off your life after that hike!

I have many memories of fishing with my old man growing up. Fishing for splake on Lake Minnewanka, pike fishing on the Blindman River. But I remember when he first taught me how to fly-fish on the Chelahis River in B.C on a beautiful August afternoon. I was chucking some red fly with a cheap Mitchell Rod. I caught one 6" trout and had the time of my life. I have never been back to that river, but one day...

When I was a kid growing up in Vancouver, my dad took me to the Barnett River. A small stream right in the middle of Burnaby. I believe it had brookies. The water was a little polluted, but there was fish there. You could always give the Fraser River a try.