toolman

Had a chance to work with my two new Shooting Heads on the weekend. I really enjoyed casting the Scandi Head system and find it to be a good match for my TFO Pro Series rod. The Skagit Head takes a little getting used to, but it sure can fire out a big sink tip with two weighted streamers. I caught and landed a few trout on each Head system. I did not like the loop connections from the running line to the heads and I worry that they may get hung up in the rod guides when landing a large fish. If I were to buy another Shooting Head System (very likely), I will get the type with the integrated running line to eliminate the loop to loop connection. It will shoot through the guides a lot better. I hope to try my XLT long distance line this evening. I might even do a little fishing too. I'll let you know how it goes...

Maybe a bird injured it and it did not recover, or maybe it was just old and had one last hook up before he retired his number...grin

Great story Rick. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Hey BigMac, Good to hear you are getting to come home to fish the Bow. Send me a pm when you hit Calgary and I'll give you directions to few primo Trout lies and what flys to get their attention.

The caster in the video is an expert in modern spey casting methods. All spey casts use a water anchor of some sort and the fancy casts demonstrated in the video, all have an application in the real fishing world. Very impressive caster. Thanks Taco!

I own the Wardell Economy breathables and feel they are a good quality wader. I'd recommend the Korker Guide boots as well. Forget about laces on your boots forever. Wardell waders have a great warranty as Springbrook is the distributor and they are right here in Calgary. They can handle the warranty issues and/or repair your waders if you get rips/leaks for around $20. Springbrook is also the TFO distributor as well.

The running lines are attached with factory loops to the short Shooting Head systems. The Ridgline floating running lines, are 110' in length and are connected to the backing at the other end. A good running line needs to shoot well on the cast, float well to be able to throw a long mend from your rod tip out to the head you have casted 70'-100' or more. Polyleaders or Sink tips are looped to the end of the Shooting Heads. I use a Leader Wallet for all of my Poly Leaders and Sink Tips. MMAX, Spey rods are a real pleasure to cast and fish with. I highly recomend this style and method of fishing. It's so much fun, even if the fishing is slow.

I like "Ace Lightning", it's gotta good ring to it.

Well Brownee and I got down to the spot around 9:00pm., just as the storm was about to crash the party. We did not see Hawgstoppah's vehicle, but did see three fisherman upstream at the spot (wonder who those guys were?). We went to the second location and did not see anyone there either and assumed Hawgstoppah (aka..."Ace Lightning"), had convinced you guys to run for cover as the storm was approaching. Then the rain/hail hit and we headed back into Calgary. Hawgstopah just gave me the story a few minutes ago on the phone.

LOL...you're right about the math...I added an extra zero and was including the 40km or so of trout water, below Carseland as well! But, the arguement is that most fisherman are aware of these issues and it is not as grave a situation as is often portrayed. However, Poachers are my enemy...

I would say that it depends on the type of fishing you prefer to do. Skagit shooting heads are suited to shorter, softer actions rods, such as the TFO Deer Creek series and the use of long/heavy sink tips and big flies, usually fished deep. Longer rods with softer actions are best suited to traditional long belly lines and shorter sink tips. These lines are also available as a Multi tip system, to fish from surface to bottom. Longer fast action rods like the TFO pro series, work well with Scandi Shooting heads for surface presentations, but not as suitable for fishing heavy sink tips. The Pro series has a Skagit model as well. So it's a matter of the type of fishing you like to do and the conditions you are fishing. I have both series of these TFO rods in the same length and line weight, with 3 different types of lines and have all options to effectively fish any type of water, at any depth, in all conditions. The longer the Rod/Line size, the farther you can cast heavier sink tips and flys. Best to try a couple of different rod sizes and line systems before you buy. I really like the TFO DC series, as it is great for Skagit Heads, Traditional Spey lines or with a Multi-tip system.

I think it is important to mention that the Bows and Browns only live 5-7 years on average, in the Bow river. With a population of (EDITED:) "1,800-2,500 per/mile, between Calgary and Carseland and an annual natural mortality rate of say 15%, we can expect to see a lot of dead trout every year". So, seeing a few dead trout each summer is not unusual or alarming. If we saw a couple thousand dead trout over a one km stretch, as happened recently on two rivers in P.E.I., I would be worried. Water temps on the stream bottom of the deep, main Thalwag of the Bow River, would likely be in the low 50's F or less, even on the hottest day of the summer. That's where the majority of the trout would seek refuge in the extreme temps. of these bright sunny days. Now the shallow mountain streams, different story.

Water Temperature readings from the Bow this week, taken on different days where air temperatures reached +31C, with readings taken in the late afternoon, averaged 67F and 71F, near the shoreline. The samples were taken on two different days. I think the impact and losses from fly fishing are miminal on a large healthy river system like the Bow. We have had summers in the not to distant past, where the weeds were choking the Bow from bank to bank, very low flow rates and a drought that lasted several years and a lot of fishing pressure with a very minimum effect on the fishery. Of course we need to miminize our impact on the trout and do our best to keep the fish in the water, make releases as quick as possible, fish early mornings and late evening/nights etc.

But I can talk to animals...???

I'd take the old fart fishing with me.

SilverDoctor, looking forward to getting out on the water and I always like new flys to swing. Gordon, hopefully we will get another good turnout in September for a Spey gathering. Dino, the Ridgeline running lines in #20 and #30 are $38.95 ea., at Fish Tales Fly Shop in Calgary. The Pfleuger Trion 10-12wt. reels were $160 ea. and spare spools at $85 ea.

Next time we get out Speyfishing together S.D., you can try my new Shooting head systems. I think the Scandi Head will work well with the TFO 6wt. Pro Series, as these rods have a very fast action, suitable for underhand casting. The Skagit Head and XLT Distance line should work well with the DC series Rod. I bought two different sizes of the Ridgeline running lines, in 20lb. and 30lb., to see how well they will float, mend and shoot in different conditions. Anyone using Miracle Braid for running line with their shooting head systems?

I am ordering a new CND GPS 5/6 Spey line next week. I've heard they are phenomenal lines and can't wait to try one.

Picked up a couple of new reels and three new lines for my two Spey Rods today. I went with 2 new Pfleuger Trion #1912, 10-12 wt., 4" O.D. large arbor reels and one spare spool, from my good buddy George at Wholesale Sports. They are lined with an Airflow 7/8/9, 450gr. Scandi Shooting Head, with Ridgeline #20 running line. An Airflow Skagit, 6/7, 440gr. Shooting Head, with Ridgeline #30 running line. I lined the spare Spool with a SA, XLT 6/7, 85' Head, Distance Spey line. I know, you're thinking an 85' head is ridiculous on a 12'6", 5/6 Spey rod, but I love long lines and I'm going to see if I can cast this thing. The price was right on this line, thanks to Dave at Fish Tales, who also provided all of the Airflow lines. Big thanks to Elliot on the great job with lining the spools, running line and over 250yrds of #30 backing for each line. I won't be spooled out by a Bow river Trout ever again. I was dying to try them this evening and had plans for an outing on the Bow with friends, but... and there is often a "but" in this life....I got called into work tonight and had to cancell the fishing plans...

Heyyy...Real Speyfishers swing to the snouts rising, with secret flys and methods...unlike the DEAD, drift crowd... Who let him in here anyway...LOL

I think RabbiEE is in a unique position that most do not fully appreciate. Bieng a teacher of ethics and morality in his community, he searches his conscience, knowledge and experience to give a truthfull and sincere answer to the valid question that was posed to him by his neighbors. I will give him this advice... "I do not go flyfishing to feed my body, but my spirit. I release the fish unharmed, and all acts of mercy feed my soul"

Good news for the fish, unfortuneate for those who had plans. Thanks for posting Harps, an important bulletin.

Looking forward to the September issue as well. Congrats Dave and well deserved I might add.

I have not used my Spey rod in the salt yet, but I have done lots of ocean fishing with the hardware and see nothing but opportunity with the Spey rod. As for corrosion issues with the reel, just clean it and the line after each use. If you fished the salt often, then you could get a reel that was corrosion protected and sealed and maybe a heavy duty drag, depending on the species, but for occassional use, not really a problem. Same for the lines, they do make lines for tropical water, but they are usually specailty lines for species specific fishing applications, used with single handed rods. Airflow has Tarpon, Bonefish, Billfish, Striper lines, each with their own individual tapers for different presentations/conditions using single handers, but not for spey lines. Many of the Surf Casters use over head casts with their Spey Rods and I have seen a few posts at other spey sites mention they were using Rio Outbound lines for these applications. Two handed Overhand casting is sometimes used due to the wave action making anchored spey casts difficult, not to mention the wind that is often howling when the tides are rolling in. For stillwater Costal flats, the usual Spey casts should be no problem.

I think it is a very good article, which has lead to a great discussion. Thanks again RabbiEE and to all who have posted, for sharing your perspective and feelings about your flyfishing experience.