BurningChrome

Peter, do you know if there's an rsvp for these?

The signs don't say "Keep off unless you're acting responsibly, then it's ok." So what would the spirit of the law be in your opinion? You're not supposed to litter, start fires, cut down trees, or harass wildlife anywhere in Fish Creek Park (or any other park really) but you're still allowed to be there. This one island must have the signs for a good reason...

Oh yeah, this one was for sure a guide.

Have lunch on an island that's clearly marked as off limits?

Pretty much everyone I've seen on that island has been above the high water mark. I've seen numerous drift boats stop to have lunch on it as well - one even set up a table and chairs and a portable grill.

I see a lot of fly fishers on the island created by the side channel between Mallard Point and Bankside, both walk and wade guys and drift boats parking on it. I also see a lot of signs on that island saying that it's a protected area and to keep off it. Anyone know why it's protected and why so many ignore the signs?

Clean-up event in Ghost Public Land-use Zone: Ghost River Rediscovery and Enviros Wilderness School is organizing a clean-up event in the Ghost along TransAlta Road. When: June 11th, 10AM-4PM: You don't need to commit to the entire day. Feel free to come out for a few hours. Where: Trappers Hill Lodge, bottom of the big hill, Trans Alta road ~ 8km West of the Bar C and 940. What: A day of cleaning up the campsites and access points along the TransAlta Road. Gloves, garbage bags, trailers for hauling garbage and bins will be supplied by the organizers. Food: Ghost River Rediscovery and Enviros will be hosting a dinner between 4:30-6pm (burgers and smokies). Please preorder dinner (free, they just want to make sure they have enough). Bring your own lunch, water and snacks. Please see the following link for further details and to sign up for the event: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/great-ghost-clean-up-tickets-25097949643

Plus the lovely ones who feel that the section of river they're next to belongs to them. I've heard of more than one fly fisher being intimidated away from fishing a stretch because of the squatters. Has anyone tried reporting their vehicles as derelict?

Yup, this is excellent because I know we called in illegal OHV use before and nobody seemed to know what to do with the info. Sometimes you'd call the RCMP and they'd tell you to call SRD, SRD would tell you to call the RCMP. One problem I think needs to be solved is the difficulty in pursuing ATVs. One day I was at the McLean Creek general store and watched a quad come tearing down the Millardville gravel road and turned onto the paved road - ATVs are not allowed on either of those roads - and an SRD truck was pursuing him. Once that quad got to a trailhead there's no way the officer would've been able to follow in a full-sized pickup. Enforcement is either going to need more quads or helicopters to catch these guys.

I'd say that SCOC trumps RCMP.

Yup. Must be nice to live there...

Trout LT is just a variation on the triangle taper. There are others out there that'll do the same job too.

Was his name Geopete?

Heard from someone who was there yesterday and sounds like it's completely open.

When I lived in Vancouver on garbage day the crows would tear open garbage bags on peoples' curbs and make a mess. Couple drops of bleach on your garbage bags would keep them out.

Whatever rod I have in my hand when I see snouts

Good idea. I always spray my fishing buddies with some Pam to make them more appealing than me. Maybe this is why nobody wants to fish with me any more...

Access and maintaining a healthy ecosystem don't have to be mutually exclusive. I think most here just want to see the impact minimized. Wasn't there enough water in the winter to maintain a trout population before the dams were built? Aren't there other rivers that do just fine maintaining fish populations without dams?

Death by a thousand cuts. Sure, maybe driving/parking on this gravel isn't a disaster but when you add it to all the other little things that people dismiss as being no big deal it starts to add up.

The guys who went around the barricade to launch also positively reeks of entitlement. Yeah, the barricades going in suck but driving around them, on the pathway, and down the riprap doesn't paint us in the best light.

Is there anyone on here from Ft Mac who's staying in Calgary and wants to get on the water for a bit to relieve stress? I've got a 5wt outfit I could lend out.

From the link in the first post: "Wildfire management staff, along with enforcement personnel, including Conservation Officers and Fish and Wildlife Officers, will enforce the temporary OHV recreational restriction immediately." Coulda called RAP.

Dirt bike starting a grass fire. Didn't take much. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=23f_1367749030

Could be, but emotions are running pretty high right now and for good reason. Some of it may only be about perception but missing a weekend or two on the trails isn't the end of the world. A bunch of people who were going to hit the trails this weekend have decided to donate the money they would've spent on gas to the Red Cross instead which seems like a pretty decent thing to do.

Modified exhaust systems often don't have a spark arrester and that's the primary concern for starting a fire in long, dry grass. Hope there's lots of enforcement out there this weekend handing out hefty fines and confiscating equipment. The text posted by SilverDoctor is actually the statement that was issued yesterday and is out of date. The first link he posted goes to the current release stating that there is an outright ban. Our 4x4 group had a bunch of guys planning to go out to McLean tomorrow but decided to cancel the trip yesterday when the first release was issued asking people to avoid going out. Anyone who still goes out now there's a ban on is just selfish considering firefighting resources in the province are stretched so thin. Would an OHV start a fire this weekend? Probably not. Is it worth taking that risk in current conditions where we already have over 80,000 people forced from their homes, many who will have no home to return to? Definitely not.