BurningChrome

I have a 9'6" 7wt single hand rod with two reels. One has an OPST Commando head on it for swinging streamers using single hand spey casts and the other reel has a Rio Indicator line. I just bring the rod and both reels with me and switch the reel based on the situation. Hardly ever use my switch on the Bow any more.

I honestly don't remember exactly where that one was taken, but it was main stem and not a side channel. It was last November and I wasn't using a camera with GPS.

That would be the same area where I saw the redds get trampled last year.

Missed this. A biologist like bcube will be able to give you better info than me, but I'll try to mention a few points. Some people might wonder why there's so much attention to the browns spawning in the fall but not much about the rainbows in the spring. The browns tend to spawn in the Bow itself and while some rainbows do as well, the majority go up tribs like the Highwood to knock boots (fins?). The Bow isn't closed to angling in the fall but the tribs are closed in the spring for cutthroat that spawn at the same time as rainbows, which is why you get cuttbows. Since the Bow is open while the browns are spawning usually people will start posting reminders because in some areas they are pretty easy to see on their redds and someone who doesn't know any better may attempt to cast at them. Since the redds are often in side channels and braided water between islands that is about 3' deep people often wade through this same water to get to an island or cast to deeper water. I saw a few redds get trampled last fall by guys crossing over to an island. Browns are generally October spawners, but I think exactly when is triggered mainly by water temp - cooler is better. So basically start keeping an eye out for the redds so you don't accidentally trample them while wading. Even wading right above redds can be bad as significant silt washing down can smother the eggs. One of the issues with OHVs crossing streams in the spring is the silt they cause that could smother cutthroat eggs.

The info at that link is pretty good but there are always exceptions. During the redd survey last year we did see them occasionally in deeper water and faster water than we expected. Also the 2-3' width is accurate for a single redd but we often saw multiple redds superimposed on each other making it appear like a single much larger redd. Here are a couple pics from the survey. I think this was a single redd. DSCF3881.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr Multiple redds superimposed. DSCF3886.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr

From the press release http://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=433953CA3458B-B50E-57D4-A97FD2549BE284E2 "If you suspect a case of whirling disease, call 1-855-336-BOAT (2628)."

Here's the problem. Say someone reads through this thread and sees all these people posting that they've seen fish with WD around before and WD has been here for years. Obviously it hasn't affected the fish population or spread anywhere else even though nobody has been cleaning their gear they think to themselves. So now they don't bother cleaning any of their gear and bring it to another stream. Because of posts based on suspicion with zero scientific evidence behind it.

It's at the site I linked to earlier: http://whirlingdisease.montana.edu/about/anglers.htm From the link above (emphasis is mine): "When an infected fish develops whirling disease, typical signs include a darkened tail, twisted spine and deformed head (shortened, twisted jaw). Young fish may also swim erratically (whirl). However, other conditions can cause these signs. Whirling disease must be confirmed by microscopic examination or other tests. If you see fish with these signs in an area where whirling disease has not been reported, you should contact your state fisheries agency."

It is a threat and it can potentially be devastating but there's no point in running around like your hair is on fire. What we need to do right now (like I said in my earlier post) is start to be diligent about cleaning gear between water bodies or even using different gear on the Bow than you do elsewhere. http://whirlingdisease.montana.edu/about/faq.htm

Is this the one? http://flyfishcalgary.com/board/index.php?showtopic=9443&p=94056

I know what u mean m8.

Huh, haven't posted in a while so here's a bit of a pic dump from the past month. #keepemwet P8060008.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr P8070010.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr Camp is set up and prepared for rain. P8070013.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr Some from the other side of the divide. P8100014.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr A familiar Bow river boat on different water. P8120025.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr P8120027.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr P8120029.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr P8120030.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr P8140033.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr P8270042.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr P9030049.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr P9100052.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr Love where my truck takes me. P9100054.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr Bull trout redd. P9100057.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr You get sprung... P9100059.jpg by Marc Fossi, on Flickr

There's a chance we'll never know for sure how it was introduced. Instead of playing CSI: Bow River we need to get the word out about cleaning gear and ditching felt to slow/stop the spread to other water bodies. Hopefully the province will also let other groups like OHV users know that they should be cleaning their vehicles after every trip. Lots of Jeep guys I know like to drive around muddy from their last trip because they think it makes them look cool.

Is it that fines aren't being handed out anywhere else or that they only make the news in RMH?

Could've just as easily been a local angler who went south and brought it back. Either way it's time for everyone to be more diligent about cleaning gear between water bodies.

So I guess the Liv will blow out every time there's a little rain now too. Awesome.

Maybe you should read your post again. You equated putting a boat launch in the NW as an inconvenience issue. I said it's not an inconvenience issue, it's that no publicly accessible launches exist for that stretch. At all. Putting a launch in the NW opens up a new stretch of river to floating. It isn't about someone wanting a new launch so they don't have to drive a little further to get to an existing boat launch that already covers the same stretch of water. You're not doing a very good job then, because that is exactly how it reads. Look back at your earlier posts... Honestly, all that makes it sound like you just don't want to drive a few minutes extra to launch at 22X.

Um, no. Adding a launch in the NW isn't about inconvenience, it's about giving people the ability to float a section that they currently cannot and spreading some of the boat traffic out. You want to add another launch a few km downstream from an existing launch in a section that is already accessible. Not the same coin at all.

Or if they take the time to do it right then it won't be as badly affected by another flood. Big difference in how the 22X boat launch fared vs Police.

I know that they have options of seizing equipment and anything else used in the act ie. their bike or vehicle can be seized if they used it to get to the river. I don't think they use the seizure option often if at all though because there's probably a ton more paperwork involved and a judge will probably just give their stuff back to them.

There already are a lot of people who use that area for cycling and walking their dogs. I think they'd actually be opposed to putting a road leading to a parking lot and boat launch there. 194th also ends at the boundary to Fish Creek Park, so putting anything in there would be a provincial thing and not the city, unless they cut through part of the gravel pit. I wonder how the people who live in Chaparral would feel about the extra traffic as well.

There are probably a number of people who don't even know that any fishing regs exist let alone where to find them online. Others simply don't care.

That's Max and exactly the kind of person he is.

LOL. I believe that the map is not necessarily 100% accurate in where the markers are. Doesn't really need to be. The station could just as easily be at the Centre Street bridge and it wouldn't really make much difference for the purpose of the app.

I think you meant to say slammed and murdered out.