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you weren't fishing at Edworthy were you? It's closed until June 1 on that stretch, just a heads up in case you didn't know

Wish my May looked like that, those ar some wicked pics and nice fish as well, good job!

This legislation reminds me of the attitude many people I speak to have about catch-and-release fishing. It often goes like this: "Oh you fish, so do you keep your fish and eat them?" "Not really, sometimes if I'm camping in the backcountry" "Isn't that kinda cruel? How would you like a hook in your mouth?"

I say you only need a 3wt and 5wt. I fish mostly rivers and creeks and I only really use a 9f 5wt and 7f 1/2 3wt. The 5wt is for dries and nympthing the Bow and other larger rivers and 3wt for dry-fly fishing the smaller rivers and creeks. I have a 6wt for streamers on the Bow but I don't really use it that often because I don't really like fishing streamers. If you want to fish streamers or in high winds, maybe a 3wt and 6wt would be a better option. I like the feel of a 5wt more than a 6wt.

Please if anyody found a wood-framed net on the Crowsnest within a few km downstream of Burmis could you let me know. It holds alot of sentimental value. The screw came loose and I had alot of stuff in my back vest pocket so I didn't notice right away. Thanks guys.

thanks for all the input guys.

Could anyody please recommend a motel in the Blairmore-Bellevue area? Is the Best Canadian or Highwood Motel a better choice? Thanks.

I understand why the moderators want to keep the name out of it. I respect the fact that they know pretty much all the guides and don't want to cause trouble with/for them. In the context of legal action, that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Ever hear of TripAdvisor? Their policy is to allow only reviews that bring up legitimate concerns with management, such as overbooking, quality of service etc. However, I've also read reports by people who accuse staff of stealing their possessions and other serious, criminal matters. This is done without certainty as to the innocence of the people running the hotel, for obvious reasons, however TripAdvisor is always free to delete the posts at their discretion. My opinion is that we should respect the moderators decision, its better than them having to actually start deleting posts and constantly policing the site. I've seen people bash fishing gear and other products on this site, so its likely that they are mainly concerned with avoiding non-legal horseshit rather than worrying about libel suits.

So many whities up there its ridiculous. That little pond just down stream from the dam does have a big pike more in it. I managed to get one to chase my streamer. Up there is the only place on the Bow I've ever been checked by a CO, apparently theres alot of poaching that goes on up there. lots of fishing pressure at the dam, not very many decent trout. Know of someone who caught a laker below the dam.

Cool pics, I also wish I had made it out there this summer but it's hard to find willing participants. IMO the North and South Kananaskis passes as well as Northover have some of the best scenery in the Alberta rockies. I remember a few years ago hiking up to the North pass from the Forks campground and wondering what Maude Lake would hold, and then decided to leave the rod behind for some idiotic reason. So many fish it was unbelievable. It also straddles the BC alberta boundary with some really amazing views. The Kananskis River would probably have fish in it, but it is very fast moving up there with not alot of good holding spots, but what do I know. It's definately worth the try considering the consolation prize.

Northover Ridge is cool, and Three Isle lake has good fishing for sure.

As someone who likes to hike and fish, your report is the coolest thing I've read on this board. I'm jealous. You have showed us that the rewards of fishing backcountry often have little to do with the fishing itself. Well done HiketoFish. A wolverine dude, a freakin' wolverine. Gives me chills down my spine. Hey, what are you doing next weekend?

This is crap news, I guess I'm staying in Calgary next weekend and just fish the Bow.

Nice fish, too bad the surfaceaction wasn't a little better. I guess the larger whitefish are probably congregating in the pools getting ready to spawn maybe? A stomach pump sample of myself would reveal that I have been feeding heavily on beer and rye for the past three days.

Holy crap, nice pictures and fish guys!

Great discussion guys. I think that trout are not just opportunistic and not just selective in their feeding, but maybe their habits change with changes in their environment like lack of food, water temps etc.) I do not believe that hoppers are as important as stoneflies in the sense that stoneflies are much more likely to induce selective feeding than hoppers. I think hopper patterns are as important as they are because they look so much like stoneflies. But then again, many attractor patterns that look very little like the natural. Kind of funny this topic came up after the wierd day I had yesterday on the Bow in the NW. I fished a Turks Tarantula and rubber-legged stimmie and every fish I caught except for 1 took the fly after it had sunk about a foot or so below the surface. I've had this happen before, but not to this extreme. The fish would completely ignore the fly when it was floating high, but then I would pull the fly under the surface and usually a trout would nose it or attack. More often than not I could see a trout upstream and would gently cast the hopper upstream of the fish and wouldn't even get a look. Then I'd go upstream and let it swing in and then sit in the current and then I would get at least two smacks from the trout, but very few hookups. At one point I would cast the fly 45 degrees upsream and quickly pull it under and then I could see fish following it downstream. Once I saw two trout follow it and neither take it, which is strange bcause I thought the competitive nature of the fish would take over (at least in my experience). Really funny day. Why would they only take the fly below the surface? I would think it was because they recognized it as a drowned hopper, but then I remember mkm and I throwing about 7 or 8 onto the surface of the Bow and watched as at least a couple trout smack them before they had a chance to sink.

Yeah, I had very poor luck fishing the Little Red, Burnt Timber and Panther Rivers two weeks ago. Beautiful pools and perfect runs did not produce. Doubt I'll go fish up there again anytime soon.

If they're as much fun on the flyrod as they are ice-fishing, must have been a great time. It's cool targeting different species to switch things up a bit.

Thanks Rocknbugs, I was pretty surprised to catch another large trout out of a small stream. Landed it with a three-weight rod and 6x tippet! Will post more pics later.

My two-piece 6w hasn't broken yet, but I don't use it as often as my Scott 5w. I've heard of others who have broken them though. It's $25 to receive a new section? Now you are scaring into taking a backup to my TFO 3w tommorow.

Awsome bully man, 10 minutes is definately reasonable considering the size of that fish. My first bully was exactly half that size and I was pumped, so congrats man.

Got a lightning bug from the source and it looks great, at a buck a fly they look pretty good to me.

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Nice brown! There's a lesson here: spend lots of money on fishing and the fishing gods will reward your sacrifice of money! I hope so anyway, since I just purchsed new waders and boots today and can't wait to try them out tomorrow.

What do you mean the Bow is closed for the long weekend? Either I must be gullible or the Bow's water is too warm. Wet waded the Bow yesteray and it felt like a dream, probably not for the fish though.