rhuseby

Get out there. I fish alone about 90% of the time, including up in the mountains, much of my mountaineering was done solo (not on glaciers, however), and almost all of my sheep and elk hunting was done solo. My knees are pretty much shot now so I don't go into the rough country except to fish. Alan2 pretty much nailed it. If you have experience, you're safer out there than on the drive to the water. Just remember to evaluate every tricky spot and be prepared to change your route or plans on occasion to get around really hazardous spots.

Boo, hiss. How did you find my secret stream? It is a great little spot isn't it. Population is down numbers wise this year, but the average size is better, as you noticed.

Yes Junior. A 7 wt is my standard Bow rod. Just see the story of Kungfool's big bull to know why.

I had an interesting experience yesterday. I was out with a friend who's just getting into flyfishing. He had bought a TFO Axiom 6 wt. We were working on his casting and mending and he was having difficulty, so I let him use my TFO Ti for a while. He had no problem laying out 30-35 feet of line and a nymph rig, and making the mends necessary to keep things working. The difference is that the Ti has a noticeably softer action than the Axiom. He's going to pick up a 6 wt TFO Series 1 before his next trip. If you are out looking for a rod when you're inexperienced, or if you're advising someone on their first rod, it's a good idea to look at softer actions ( medium to medium-fast). The timing required to work them is much more forgiving than the fast actions like the Axiom, and less experienced casters will find them much easier to master. I told my friend to keep the Axiom, as in a year or two he'll be able to use it much more effectively in appropriate circumstances. Too often people will be sucked into the high performance rod trap and buy rods with actions that are not compatible with their skill level. Cast before you buy is a good rule, and one I religiously follow now. On a positive note, my friend landed two rockies and lost a couple of other fish, his first action ever on a fly stick.

I really like seeing the footage of the altenative species as well as the usual tarpon and bones. My daughter and I are planning to hit Cayo Coco for her high school grad present (no, I'm not telling you young guys the dates) and we want to catch some of those alternatives as well as the big 3. thanks for a nice video.

Alberta Fishing Guide has lots of info on both areas. Any trout rod will work for grayling, although most grayling in Alberta will be under 16", so you may enjoy using the lighter end of the trout rod spectrum.

I have used different reels on the same rod lots of times with no impact on the casting. You may find your hand feels best in a slightly different spot due to the balance change.

Caught a rainbow on the Highwood 25 years ago that had the loop of a snelled hook sticking out of his mouth. The fly had managed to slip right into that loop. Also a muskrat, two mallards (losing track of a caddis pattern at night on the Bow), one cutt and one brookie here in the city. Pretty normal stuff judging by everyone else.

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One consideration is how deep you regularly wade. Once you are over about mid-thigh a basket can become a pain in the butt. Once you are used to them, they can be very helpful in some situations. I only use mine on saltwater, and not all the time then, but it makes a big difference in line control at times.

And here I thought we didn't have any flying fish in Alberta.

I've worked a lot of Christmas eves and Christmas days. I'm working both this year. Dreaming about fishing past and present certainly helps pass the time if it's slow. Not to mention a little fish porn. And a Merry Christmas to all, and a very Happy New Year too.

Let's see, 35 years with a long rod. Berkley 6 wt (broke in screen door) Berkley 6 wt (stepped on while releasing a fish) Fenwick 5 wt (gave to a friend when I got the next rod) Golden West (Mike Maxwell) 10' 7wt (My only rod for 18 years) 4 wt Loomis 7 wt TFO (bought when the Golden West finally delaminated from being clousered) 5 wt TFO 8 wi TFO 8 wt Loomis CC GLX 10 wt Loomis CC GLX 10 wt Sage Xi2 The last four rods have been aquired for saltwater in the last 3 years. I'm obviously not a rod rat compared to some of the folks on the site.

There are times when fish will shy away from flashy flies, ie. those with a gold or silver bead. At times like these, a black bead will often produce.

That is some of the most assinine behavior I've heard of in a long time. I started with a spin rod and bait, and my kids still use primarily spin gear, although there is usually a fly attached these days. As long as you're following the regulations I could care less what method you use. I have been known to physically threaten people who acted like towards kids (and not just my own). Kids can be totally turned off for life by experiences like that, although most will get over it with some encouragement. I sincerely hope this idiot is reading all of these comments and crawls back under whatever rock he dared to drag himself out from under.

It's definitely desolate and it was a bit cool. Still sat around in shirtsleeves reading till after sundown. I've gotten to point that no matter where I go, I'm taking along some kind of fly rod and a few flies. There's nearly always something to catch, no matter where you go. Rickr I used the cartreuse and white clouser for about 90% of my fishing. Other flies catching fish were white deceivers with lots of flash, and 1/0 Crazy Charlies in olive and tan. The chartreuse clouser has taken almost every saltwater species I've landed, even when it hasn't been the most productive pattern. And yes, pacresel, it has caught more than a few freshwater fish as well.

Flyfishfairwx, it's a tent I got at Mountain Equipment Coop about 10 years ago. It's survived pissing rain in Tofino and Campbell River, lots of trips here with the kids and now Baja. A good little unit.

Continued from the last Baja post. Nature compensates us, however. I heard about fishing at Puerto Escondido, about 20 minutes drive from Loreto. A really pretty spot that gave me about 30 fish over three short trips, including this cubera snapper. This was my heaviest fish of the trip, about 6 lbs. I had a hell of a time keeping out from the pier pilings and an old wrecked boat on the shoreline. From the exact same spot I landed two pargo amarillo. Beautiful fish and hard fighters like all saltwater types. I also landed my largest leopard grouper there, and lost another on about twice as big trying to get the lip gripper on him. This is the Sea of Cortez in between Loreto and Puerto Escondido. Gorgeous. Reinforcing the driving thing, there are shrines beside the highway almost everywhere. This one is more elaborate than most, but they all mark the site of a fatality. Just above Santa Rosalia, some of the scenery you have to keep you alert. http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz87/rhuseby/abovesantarosaliaSmall.jpg[/iM There isn't much wildlife in Baja, but lots of birds. Meep, meep!!!! This was one of the last fish I caught, a California halibut. I had caught several smaller ones, but this one went to the frying pan. All in all, it was a fantastic trip. I'm already planning the first of several returns (hopefully, given that I'm a fud). Next time, I'll have a brother along and a better camera. If anyone wants a bit of advice, send me a pm and I'll let you know what I learned.

Thank god for a gifted daughter. If it weren't for her, you guys wouldn't be seeing this. At any rate, I crossed the Mexican border on the 28th and headed for San Quintin. At the campground entrance they have a grey whale skeleton. I did my first fishing the next day at Laguna Manuela, enroute to Guerro Negro. This little Pacific Bonito took on the third cast. A couple of casts later, a small spotted bay bass, followed a few casts after that by this bonefish. Even though he's only about 14 inches, my 8 wt was almost to the corks slowing him down. I hadn't taken anything lighter, but I still had a hoot on the small fish. This first session, about 3 hours, I landed over 20 fish of 5 different species. This was my campsite at Mario's in Guerro Negro. A bit barren, but the food in the restaurant was fabulous and there was power, showers and flush toilets; all for $10 US. Driving in Mexico takes attention. 8 foot lanes and no shoulders. Don't drive tired, drunk, or at night and you won't have problems. In the upgraded sections, not common, it's 9 foot lanes and 1 foot shoulders (feels like the Trans-Canada). At Loreto, I hired a guide for a day, my only day in a boat on the trip. $180 for 8 hours, plus $20 for bait, and I gave Jorge $40 tip. Result, 2 minutes into the day was this first fish landed. I had already lost one. These little roosters are a blast, not jumpers but they pull like hell. I landed 6 over the day. Over the day I landed about 15 fish of 7 species, and lost another 12-15 fish. We were the top scoring boat , at least double the number of any boat using conventional gear. Here's Jorge with my agujon (giant needlefish). It weighed less than the rooster. Don't stick your fingers in that beak either. There's a lot of things in Baja to keep your fingers away from. I had planned to go all the way to the East Cape, but Tropical Storm Olaf gave me this little surprise, and I was driving the minivan, so I decided to wait it out. However, this was happening behind me, and the forecast was for more rain, so back to Loreto for a few more days. To be continued.

Three way tie. Watching each of my kids catch their first fish on the flyrod, Sean at Bullshead and Brittany on the Oldman. The last one was one I lost in Baja. I had hooked a fish and it had just popped off, so I started reeling in line when, wham it all started ripping back out. Then a dorado comes flying about 4 feet out of the water, three times in about 5 seconds. Gone. What a memory. If you ever get the chance, hit the saltwater for any species. They all pull like hell. Now I've got unfinished business to take care of.

Twice, both times on cutts. Both times in the last 3 years, so this isn't a case for the good old days.

As well as the brookies, I have taken a few cutts at the mouth of the outlet strem. That was 20 years ago however. Lake Louise was once called the lake of the little fishes by the natives so you can draw your own conclusion as to the size of cutts to expect. Check your national parks regs carefully as some waters are open early in the season and closed later, and others the reverse. At least that was the pattern when I fished there a lot. Oh and make sure you don't have any lead weight in possession while you're in the park.

Where were these wounds located? Maybe the european bathing attire was revealing a worm like bait.

Those who are ranting about no warnings should arrange to accompany a fish and wildlife officer on patrol sometime. You may get some perspective on everything that is involved in the protection of our fish and wildlife resources. If you insist that massive, maximum fines for every single violation are the only way to go, make sure that you never ever make any kind of mistake.

Canadians may not be chest thumper, and much of the world may be ignorant of our contributions, but where we have been our troops are remembered. As an example, we receive tulips from the Netherlands every year because our troops were given the toughest terrain in Europe to liberate in WW2. As long as we remember what Canadians have done, that's what's important. Here's to the troops, you are the best of us.