toolman

You know it's kind of funny reading this thread...I grew up on the Atlantic Ocean, in a community of fisherman who spent their entire lives on the water and I can't remember many of them wearing sunglasses very often...Wonder why they never went blind like the Sunglass company's said they could? Personally I wear $15 welding glasses...shatter proof and everything. Actually, I rarely wear sunglasses...except when I'm brazing in the Toolshop! Hmmmm, maybe I can sell you guys my specail glasses too...say $500 pr...call now!

It's true. I was in at Wholesale sports today talking to a few folks.

Beauty trout!

Have a good one Brett!

Much better for the fish than dip nets, in my view.

Rick, Brett, Tim, I'm booked this weekend, but next week or weekend, works for me.

Larger Trout can bend out softer/thinner hooks, but most often, hooks get bent out from snagging on bottom. Check your flies every 10 drifts or so or anytime you hang up on bottom.

I think that the folks who oppose the concept of fishing at a natural barrier for staging trout, feel that it is un-sportsman. For some folks, Flyfishing is supposed to be about sportsmanship. On some rivers, nymphing with indicators is considered un-sportsman. Fishing for Atlantics with a sink tip/weight on the fly or line, is considered unsportsman on many of the rivers in the Maritime provinces and is illegal on the waters where I grew up. So, I don't think this discussion is really about ethics, but mostly about sportsmanship.

Fishing for the migrating/staging Rainbows, has no serious impact on the spawing numbers. This issue was examined and studied by SRD, in 2000 I believe. These trout are in the prime of their lives. Beyond that, I feel it's personal choice. I don't fish down there at this time of year, but I don't care if anyone else does. I like to avoid the crowds and prefer hunting for Browns.

Yes...and it's a good thing I brought the 15' 11wt. too, some of those casts were at least 15' to the opposite bank.

If the trout is landed, handled and release properly, it has a very good chance of survival. Fish conserve energy to grow larger and stronger which helps them gain a better position in the hierarchy, which means more food, territory, opportunites to spawn etc.

LOL...Hey Steve, that excellent article was written by our good buddy Dan Jackson.

When you come to fish the Bow, those worms will give you enough hero shots to last a lifetime! Plus, you must have been fishing them all wrong...Now tell me how, where and I'll try and diagnose your problems. First question, was there a hole in the ice where you were fishing?

I think I sent you a larger one...a size #28

The tiny blue thing is a Spring Creek midge pupa...use 7x fluro...and drift it in the film.

Dr.B, just pm the donor to make arrangements. Having your books mailed too you would probably be easiest, so include your name and mailing address with your pm. Tako...I forgot to include the fishing instructions for my secret worms...so here they are. Big worms for Big Water, little worms for little water... Big Worms for little water...and lastly...little worms for Big Water.... Failproof! Good Luck...

Happy birthday Brian...now go slam a couple dozen today! Trout that is....

I just try and give everybody their space and that's all I expect from anyone else. That said, this season I'm going back to wearing my trademark orange wading jacket and fishin' hat, as a warning beacon for the drifters. That way the oarsman will see me from a mile away and he can give me a wide berth, as I plan on casting my fly all the way across the Fa#King Bow River too the opposite bank, with my Loop Blueline 15' 11wt.... There may be a possibility of a low flying 700grain Shooting head, with 15' of T-14 attached, coming out of the bushes and passing overhead, especailly in low light conditions.....

It does look like a band now that you pointed it out. I misread the info. from SRD.

The rust colored band around the Trumpeter Swan's neck, may be caused by "feeding in bottom substrates high in iron". ...read more info here: http://srd.alberta.ca/fishwildlife/species...mpeterswan.aspx Thanks for the pics Ed.

When were German Browns (S. Fario?) stocked in the Bow and who released them? Which hatchery produced them?

Opps...just had another look at the first pic. Thanks for the latest pic.

I'd have to agree with Max on this subject. A small Spey rod in the 11'6" - 12'6" range...In a 6 or 7wt. for the nymphs/drys and an 8wt. for the tips and big flies. These type of rods are extremely versatile fishing tools that can be adapted/lined for just about any fishing situation on our rivers and lakes. If I had to choose one rod for all of the fishing situations described by ReelLife, I'd say one of my Loop 11'6" ers, either the 7wt. or 8wt., would handle it all with ease, even that big gator Doc's holding. Excellent for casting from tight shorelines or from the boat and still a good feel to the fight of a 17" Rainbow on the line. (Thanks for the pic Weedy and congrats to Doc)

You are right Ed, I will try and get high up on the bank, if possible, too keep line off the water, as Rusty mentioned, but also to apply lift pressure to make the trout work a little harder in the faster surface currents. It's important to keep the trout facing upstream and not allow them to turn down river and use the currents against you. Side pressure will get them turned around most times. Also, don't muscle the trout too hard on the initial panic run, let em' go a bit and they ususally won't go far and will burn up a little steam. Then, turn their snouts up river and put the pressure on them. When you lift on the trout, they will try and go deep, rather than run to the other side of the river. But, the main reason I like to apply lift pressure is ....it makes the trout jump like wild Broncs! YEEEHAAAW!