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Such great pictures Lornce, thanks for sharing on a cold winter day. Pic 4, great old school pack with front pouches! I had one similar back in the day. Got it from the 'fly shop' in Woodwards in Chinook. They were the Hardy dealer.... Last pic, had to do a double take, sure looked like Barry Mitchell for a moment! But it is you, with yon Butterstick...

Great shots BF, both of them!

On my large 24" monitor, the waterline around the fish's mouth and head, (rest of fish submerged) and the depth of the water, are plain to see. I can even see the waterline against the rock next to it, showing the fish is resting in 8"-10" of water. Maybe viewed on a smart phone screen, these details are not as easy to see? I am a Sumsang Rubgy flip phone guy, so I dunno.

Beautiful rainbow BF, thanks for sharing. I never saw it posted initially. Looks like a happy hen to me, she's just saying, 'ok you have had your fun big fella , I am ready to go back home now'

Roger that, saw boats launched Saturday. Many boats on the riv, the Annual Inaugural Parade of Clackas and Hydes..... Saw 4-5 on the Glenmore-Fish stretch at almost 3 pm, up high, just getting started.

If perhaps a shortlived one, there were a couple copies at the tackle swap, $20-$25. Darn, we could have cornered the market!

Thanks for the update Ang. So for now, it’s Fish to Police. Unless we can get in at Glenmore?

Scel, Outfly and Iron Bow are Dai Riki dealers, both have had good stocks of the ones I needed. But, I know how you feel. The shop was steeped in memories going back a very long time, for many.

Sad day. I can remember going to the original 37 street SW location. ‘79-‘80. Drooling over Far and Fines, CFO’s etc and not being able to afford them. It was a real, dedlicated fly shop, the first of many to come locally. Many of the customers, and staff, from that era have passed on. Thanks Mike and staff for carrying the torch and keeping it going for so long after Jim and Neil left, and all the best.

Ribtor was over on 10th ave, just east of Macleod. Acme Novelty was also nearby, another great place. The big fire/water damage sale was indeed held across the street, and east a door or two. I waited in line on the first day. I wanted to check on my Browning's survival status, and check everything else out. You were there too! Amazing.

End of an era. Maybe Sliver Doctor, Taco, or others can chime in to add details, but it all started in the 1960's when Barry Deacon and Otto Krumes started a sporting goods store downtown called Barotto's. Their shop were more geared to shooting and hunting. Barry, and Otto, were killed in a car accident in 1970-71. They were on their way to go hunting in northern AB in Barry's new El Camino. After their estates were settled, the amalgamation of Frenchy's and Barotto's happened and were combined at the 9 ave SE location. I am pretty sure Frenchy's was there before. I know in 1971 I bought a new Mitchell 300 there, and am pretty sure it was just called Frenchy's at that time. As I remember after that, in 1972, the fishing side was Frenchy's, the firearm/hunting side was Barotto's. My purchases in 1972 were a Berkley Cherrywood 7 weight fly rod with 'matching' Diawa 720, and a Zebco Cardinal 4. That Cardinal cost more than the fly rod and reel combined. In January 1986, the store was badly damaged by a fire that started in one of the rental suites above the main floor. I remember this part because my just purchased brand new Browning 1886 was in the back and did not survive the fire. I am sure by that year, the Frenchy's name was gone and it was just Barotto's. After the fire and resulting massive water damage fire sale, the store ended up on 58 ave SE as WSS, then on to its present, and apparently final, location.

I keep mine, unopened ones, in the fridge in a baggy. Not the freezer, just the fridge. Lasts forever. Once they are open, I'd rather not keep them in same fridge where is food. I keep them in cool part of basement, away from sunlight. Sunlight seems to set them off, as does room temps. The green label 'Medium' in the small container seems to last the longest once opened. I have actually been able to use a whole bottle of that without drying up, I have one opened green label bottle that is several years old, which I had lost, now found, and it is still good.

If you want to stay local, I am sure Luke Weiser would fix you up... 403-479-7096

Thanks Lornce, made my Friday!

Fantastic! Jeff would approve....

Awesome news, someone needs to get picture of the install! He will always be missed.

I have read these Yellowstone Angler Shootout's for some years, I bought my Zenith in 2011 based on thier results and findings. I like the rod and am glad I bought it. I find the reviews an enjoyable read, but who doesn't enjoy reading about new fly rods on a cold January night. But, I own a couple other rods they absolutely lambast in later Shootout reviews, and I have wonder if they tested the same rods I own? For years, they scored Scott's way low, and same for many Sage rods as well. Yet, many people own the very same rods above that came in almost last, they love them and will defend their ownership of said rod to others who read this Shootout stuff and ask them, 'why would you buy a rod that came in so low?" Sage Accel is a prime example, Yellowstone (George) hates it. Yet, other online reviews, all think its great. I know several people who own them, and THEY think they are great. I have casted both the 486 and the 590, and both were a pleasurable tool to spend the day with. Would I use it to cast a double bug rig from a boat on a windy day? No. But both those rods are pretty much fine for everything else. They are light, put the fly where I want it and are roll casting machines. As Marc says above, a simple line change can and will bring many a rod to life. One needs to lawn cast the rod himself. Ask the shop to change the reel to one with a different line. Cast it for 10 minutes..... take a break, put it down, put a target out to the range where you normally cast, and test it again. Take one of your own rods with you, cast it after test casting your potential new purchase. How does the old one feel? Put it down and try the new own. Take a buddy with you, ask him to watch your backcast on both rods. Is it straightening out for the same for both? Can you feel the load on the backcast? Some call it the tug of love....it will be imperceptible on a fast rod, but it will be there. Can you feel it? You may have to get a bunch of line out to feel it on a very fast rod. Doing the above is much better than reading rod reviews on the Internet. Anyway, I am glad that Yellowstone is giving Scott some credo......

That is just, the best.

I was in the Calgary Cabela's a couple months ago, asking a fly shop area guy about a few items, one of which was their exclusive Cabela's C.G.R. fibreglass fly rods. I had heard they had them there. He checked the C.G.R. Sku numbers I gave him, which I got right off the Cabela's website and none came up in his system. After he checked a few more places, and the Sku's came back Cabela's USA only. After conferring with a co-worker, this apparently is quite common, the Canadian stores only stock a fraction of the fly gear the USA counterparts do. The guys I was talking to there were hoping this would change over time...meanwhile, they are hamstrung on what they can order and actually stock.

3-4 boats and some pontoons....

Someone left a red jacket at the event, one that I am sure they will want back. The facilities people say it was left in the front closet between 1000 and 1200. Send a PM if you know who's it is.........

No, it's a run what you brung event, and as far as previewing what people was bringing to sell, the orginsers really don't or can't do any 'previews' There are sellers calling the orginisers as late as the morning of the event, to try to reserve space for boats, so we can't even tell how many are coming, until the day. Historically, there are 3-4 boats that show up, plus some pontoons. I think one year there were 6 boats. Come and check 'em out, and inside the swap is always worth attending!

I'll bring this BTT, 16 days left till the Swap, a few tables left. They will sell out, as they do every year. It's 2 frantic hours of buying and selling, and it shouldn't be missed. A lot of fun is had by many! See you all there.....

Roast, ask at the pharmacy counter for some 99% isopropyl alcohol......denatured alcohol is very hard to find in Canada. The guys who do gel coat work on boats use it as well, maybe check with a boat place here in town? I have heard denatured alochol is available in Quebec over the counter. Not much help when your here and they are there. I know FT has a rod building section, maybe they have a commercial alternative you could use? Great thread, glad you dropped the hammer on one of these....I sure wanted to get one when the dollar was at par....

Spent much time enjoying these SD, thanks again for sharing!