rhuseby

My 2 cents in the never ending debate. I personally will hit 40 years with a flyrod in hand shortly. I've also started quite a few people in the great FF game. I have used extensively (10 plus days per rod) TFO, Sage, Loomis, Fenwick, Golden West ( on the J. Kennedy Fisher blank) and Hardy. TFO, Fenwick, Loomis and Golden West all have in excess of 150 days each, some of them nearly 600 days ( and I only use one rod a day, never taking a second one). Try the damn rod and see if it fits your casting stroke and budget. Don't worry about brand. One of my favorite rods is the TFO Series 1 in a 5 wt. My favorite salt rod is a Loomis Cross Current GLX. Opposite ends of the spectrum price wise and action wise, but for what I use them for, both excellent rods. I took my kids out to buy their first rods after a couple of in the park casting lessons. My daughter picked an Amundsen, my son a Redington. Even raw beginners like different rods. My daughter didn't even prefer the more expensive Amundsen rod. There are great rods for YOU in all budget ranges. Remember that the guys at Nile Creek and other good BC fly shops don't sell TFOs, so they certainly aren't going to boost them. I am convinced, having spent almost every fall for the last 8 years on Vancouver Island chasing coho, that most BC anglers have not even tried TFO rods. If you haven't cast it, you can't tell whether or not it's a good rod, and that means on the stream or lake, not just in a casting pond.

If you get a permit from Fish and Wildlife, absolutely get it mounted like Don said. They are spectacular when well done. Unfortunately, the one I hit with my vehicle wound up staying with my ex.

Lost Lemon is south of Highwood Pass, so you should be good for Elbow Lake. The size is a little better in Elbow Lake, but numbers in Bragg Creek can be pretty amazing on nymphs. Your choice. Many of the small streams that have browns north of the Bow also have the odd brookie, but you can't count on one any given day. I have caught three brookies in the Bow here in Calgary too, obviously not a high percentage. Unless you have a management license you can only keep what the regulations say, two in most streams.

I'll try again.

What the heck? I never win stuff but I'm in.

I was fishing in Fish Creek yesterday and lost my complete set up, worm, weevil and split shot on the last cast. I was fishing the same hole again today, and snagged the entire rig and brought it in. Maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket on the way home! Has anyone else ever pulled off something like that? What are the odds after all?

I'm almost 100% certain you need to sharpen your hooks. Do them in the vise before you tie the fly, and carry a sharpener on the stream to keep them sharp. If they don't dig into your thumbnail on the slightest pressure they're no good. If I miss 2 fish in a row, I always check the hook, and many times it's dulled slightly. Touch it up and away you go.

Phone the K-Country office in Canmore. Phone number used to be 678-5508.

About how much being caught affects a fish. I was down on the Oldman on the weekend, and caught a 13" cutt out of a little pocket (say 3 feet across) under a stump. He took a Stimmie and put up the usual sort of cuttie fight and then went back in the water. I put a few more casts through the hole with no reaction and moved on. About an hour later, on my way back upstream, I ran a nymph through the pocket just for the hell of it, and got a 13" cutt. Without having definite markings or a close examination to go on, I am pretty damn sure this was the same fish. In a pocket that small, with no other bites either time, and fish of the same size??????? At any rate, I guess that being caught once didn't bother him. It makes me wonder how many fish, of all species, go pout for a minutes after we put them back and then carry on with their regular activities. Anybody else have similar stories?

I use Helly Hansen fleece socks year-round and Helly Hansen fleece pants in the winter. I stay warm longer than my hands last when the weather's cold. Both socks and pants are over 30 years old, bought them for ski-mountaineering in the 70s. Obviously the quality and durability are great.

If you can't find it any where Don, send me a pm. I have four packages that I bought down in the US and haven't found a use for yet. All different colours.

I have a Marquis #6 that an uncle found in the basement of a house he bought. Unfortunately the reel foot is curved and will cost about $150 to replace, according to Hardy. I wonder if that says anything about the value of it ? Probably not. However, I am wondering if your reel also has a curved foot? If so, maybe it was a design to match specific rods.

There's nothing like fishing the salt. Nice fish all of them. I agree with Rickr, the bottom one is a mangrove snapper.

I use a 7 wt almost all the time. If I'm going to be fishing the evening caddis or another guaranteed to appear hatch I will sometimes use a 5 wt. In any given day I'll use heavy nymph rigs or streamers a lot, and the 7 just makes life a lot easier, especially if the wind is getting up.

I bought a pair of the boot foots specifically for fishing in the salt last fall. 14 days of saltwater, plus 2 in the pontoon later. No problems. I've always bought inexpensive breathable waders (Wardells) and the first two pairs lasted at least 4 years each (80+ days a year). I'm on my third set now, but Springbrook is not making them anymore, otherwise, I'd say get them.