JMasson

7 years in a row, eh? Once a year? So roughly seven times. Anyone's that fished for tarpon once will have some good advice to offer...you certainly did (mudkid) so did Sundance. I would never wear socks on a boat just because I don't think I'd be able to stand wet socks on my feet all day but it would help to keep the sun off your feet for sure. Not to brag but I've probably caught more tarpon on a fly than anyone on this board. I lived in a spot (for 10 years) where there are known to be dozens of world record tarpon swimming in the rivers and estuaries...Homosassa/ Crystal River, FL and I fished at least 3 times a week. I never put on a pair of gloves. You need an anti-reverse reel such as a Billy Pate and some very light touches on the rim otherwise you'll bust your leader. I'm not defending Sundance...I wouldn't know him from a hole in the ground but there's no need for the "sundickhead" comment. 60-80 lb. for a shock tippet...for tarpon? You'll want at least 80 lb. You need to be able to set the hook like you're setting into a whale and that will strain 80lb. to its' max. Conor, Bones and permit are probably going to be your best bet at that time of the year. It's starting to push the tarpon season. You might get lucky and catch a cuda too...lots of fun just watch the teeth. You will need to learn to cast about 80 feet into the wind and lay the line down like you're casting to a rising brown. Bonefish will spook faster than any trout I have ever seen. Just practice and you'll get it down quick. Everyone has given some awesome advice and I don't really think I can add too much more.

You should think about joining the Wild Salmon Alliance if you're not already a member. Here's a link to their website http://www.wildsalmonalliance.ca/. I'm pretty sure that Pacreseltoro posted a thread on this several months ago in the News and Discussions forum...sadly like most threads in that forum not many people read it. That post made me aware of the truly serious problem that BC Salmon fisheries are facing...not only in the Broughton region but throughout the province.

Good to see that this thread has gone waaaay off topic so I might as well add to it. I know San Juan invited us to PM him but I'd rather post this in the open where everyone can read it. I feel absolutely no need to make this private...or anything I post for that matter. Anyways, moving on. I know Kris (Tako) personally. I consider him to be one of my friends and I do enjoy his company on the banks of a river. He knows a hell of a lot about fish and also knows a hell of a lot about rivers and lakes in Alberta...more than some of you realize. He is one guy that truly cares about the resource. Not to say that any one of us doesn't care about it just as much. I tend to agree with Smitty here...I'm seeing a lot of double standard in this thread. I don't agree with everything Kris says...mostly I don't agree with how he says it. Having said that, I have been known to make an inflammatory remark or two so I suppose I'm just as bad. I've been on this board for over a year now and I don't post that often...mostly I'd just rather read and sometimes chuckle. Over the year I have noticed a bit of a clique mentality on the board. When someone posts what seems to be an attack on a "senior" member others jump to their defense. Some do it politely, others not so politely. Rarely does anyone point out the wrong. I would just like to note at this stage that I am not by any means singling out any specific member with this post, so please, don't take anything personally. Granted, Kris often does it in the wrong way but so do many others. I'll bet that I'm often the first to PM Kris and tell him that I agreed with he was saying but I didn't agree with how he said it. Sure, he's a bit of a dick sometimes but in general he's a really good guy with some good information to share. He doesn't often share it but guess what, I've been flyfishing for 18 years and I don't all that often share my knowledge either. Does that make me a dick? Maybe, but I don't feel bad about it. This reminds me of why Brent quit posting. Differing opinions and he got slammed for it...always, no matter how he said it. I really wish Glenbow had shared the information in his second post earlier. Perhaps there wouldn't have been the reaction that there was. He said something to the effect of "that should make the dolts out there feel like dolts". When I read that last night I immediately thought that the only reason he didn't post the SRD information earlier was to make people feel stupid. That may not have been his intention but that was my first reaction and nothing I read to the contrary will make me feel differently. Well, Glen, just so you know, I don't feel like a dolt and I refuse to take back what I said. I will always have the opinion that fishing for bulls during their spawn is an unethical practice and I will never feel stupid for sharing my opinion on this board or in face-to-face conversation. I'd also like to say that I don't know Glenbow from a hole in the ground and this is not a personal attack, I'm just calling it like I see it. Cheers, tight lines and I hope you all have a good weekend. James

Actually, I have an original copy of "The Fisherman's Vade Mecum" by G.W. Maunsell sitting right in front of me. It has an extensive section on fly-fishing. The book was originally published in 1933 in England from notes of various fishermen (as far as I understand) and it speaks in some detail about using more than one fly. If I remember correctly it actually suggests it is a great way to catch fish. So if anglers in England were using this technique in 1933 it could easily date back some time. Nothing we do is really unique or ingenious. It's all been thought of before our time...sometimes long before our time.

I've got to say that I agree with Kris (Tako) too. I have definitely made a similar post in an inflammatory manner before (last week). I'll try to keep this one less inflammatory and sound like I spent four years in university for a reason. Fact of the matter is that they are easier to catch when they're on their redds, they are stressed and they are tired from swimming upstream for 100+KM. You're tiring out an already tired fish, to the point of exhaustion. I don't care how skillfully played or how well handled they are. Imagine running a full marathon and then being told to run it again...or possibly two or three times. I do not agree with fishing for bulls during their spawn. Also, before someone says that they "better not see me on the Bow" during the various spawning periods...I rarely fish the Bow (maybe once a year) and I don't think a brown or a rainbow counts as much as a bull, a cutt or a whitefish. Call me a hypocrit, I don't care. They're not native, they're not a threatened species and they're not the provincial fish. As far as I'm concerned, any native species should come before an introduced species. One more note...can we please not compare bulls to steelhead and salmon. That's like apples to oranges. Just my opinion, hopefully no one takes offense. James

Fish on rocks has been beaten like a red-headed stepchild...I'd prefer to talk about more pressing issues .

A month ago that bull wouldn't have had that brightly coloured underside. There's a difference between chasing fish and fighting against a drag on a reel. And they're spawning right about now, so it might not be a terrible idea to give them a break from about late August to the end of September. You're right though, to each their own. If you want to continue fishing for and catching bulls during their spawn then be my guest. I just don't think it's a good idea to harass fish when they're about be sitting on redds.

They're easy to find and catch when they're spawning...they'll pretty much hit any fly that drifts by them...that's why you should just leave them be and let them spawn.

You picked, in my opinion at least, one of the best rods on the market. The F series are also a nice small stream rods. I think you made an awesome choice.

Stretch it the same way you would a leader, before you use it.

I use a 9 foot 3wt and have absolutely no problems fishing small creeks. You can roll cast further and with more accuracy if you have a longer rod. Nymphing is easier with a longer rod and presentation in general is easier. You can mend easier with a longer rod. I have used TFO rods for years and I think I know how to cast...been doing it for 18 years. I do own several high end rods and I also own four TFO's which are my go-to rods, so to speak. My 4wt Finesse had the balls to yank a 24 inch bull out of a deep hole on the Highwood a few weeks ago. You just have to know how to use the stick properly and it won't break. I've had one break on me over the years and that was when I hit a dog on the nose with it...I'm confident that would've broke any rod. Kris, no offence man but I was casting with my Finesse at the Little Smoky and I was out casting your Sage...or maybe just the caster . Let's get out to the Ram sometime before the snow hits.

There's other trout besides bulls in the Highwood. I've caught a few whitefish in the canyon section of the Highwood. I don't think that SRD needs to give an explaination for their regulations. I'm sure that the fisheries biologists know more than most folks here do about managing and preserving a fishery for future generations. I guess you'll have to fish somewhere else if you want to keep trout.

You betcha!

The knots in your leader are caused by a tailing loop. The loop is caused because you are starting the forward part of your cast too early...before the loads...and the result is that the top of your loop passes underneath the bottom of your loop. The solution is to slow your cast down when you are casting heavy, wind-resistant flies or split shot. Using two nymps makes this even harder because of the multiple hinge points. An indicator will do the same thing. There are five essentials of your cast that should be taught by any compotent instructor. 1. You must eliminate any slack in your line before you start your cast. 2. There must be a steady acceleration through your cast. Starting from when you pick your rod tip up and increasing until the pause in your back cast and once again after the pause until the end of your forward cast. 3. You will only get an efficient loop if your rod tip travels in a straight line. In other words, your rod must always be on the same plane. Changing the path of your rod tip will cause an open and inefficient loop. 4. The overall length of the casting stroke will be determined by the amount of line beyone your rod tip. In other words, the longer the cast, the longer the casting stroke will last and the longer your pause will be. 5. Most important to avoid the tailing loop...there must be a pause at the end of your back cast and also at the end of the forward cast. The pause allows your line to straighten out behind you...when the line is straight, your rod is loaded and ready to start the forward cast. If you pause too long, your line will collapse and you will lose all of the stored energy in the line and the rod and you will end up working twice as hard on your forward cast and will throw a sloppy loop. As was suggested, go and cast in a park for and hour or two each day until you are getting loops that are approximately 20" wide. Then take the lessons the river. Also, learn how to roll cast. It will make your nymphing much easier.

Only lost one to the branches. The other ones are nice and dry and back in my boxes ready to be used on another outing.

You can can take #2 off the list. I've been fly fishing for 18 years so the technical skills are halfway decent, at least. Also, you should've seen the cast I had to make to even catch the fish. In between a deadfall tree and the bank...about 16 inches, a headwind and with a slight curve to get around some overhanging branches from another tree...one hell of a cast...even harder to duplicate several times. I was on the upper Highwood. I had a 12 ft. 5x leader with about 3 ft. of 6x tippet...not the problem. I caught several other fish on my first or second cast, earlier in the day. Simply put, the fish was extremely picky. Like I said, they're not "stupid" and they're not all "easy to catch". They're a trout...just like any other trout. Cheers, James

Easy to catch? They're a trout the same as any other. I changed flies 12 times this weekend before I finally hooked a rising cutt. I wouldn't call that an easy fish to catch. You still need the same technical skills to catch a cutt as you do with any other trout...and most other fish for that matter. I wouldn't go onto a cuttie stream thinking that you will catch 50 fish a day. They're certainly aggressive feeders but they can be picky buggers at times. Explore the rivers along the trunk road. You'll have fun.

Really like them. I used them a lot when I was living and fishing in Florida. The Legend ultra and elite are excellent rods and the avid is nothing to sneeze at.

Buy a backroads map book, do a search on this forum about flies (this same question was asked last week) and start exploring some streams. It's a lot more exciting and you have a greater sense of pride in your accomplishment if people don't spoon feed you a bunch of information on where to fish and how to catch them. You haven't caught a bull on the Oldman? Get a 7 wt. and tie some bunny bugs, double bunnies and clousers...find a deep hole and have fun. You won't find many people willing to tell you where to catch "some nice size bullies". Truly big ones are hard to come by (in Alberta) and people don't like to give that information out to just anyone. Work for it...you'll enjoy it more in the end. Cheers, James

Negative. It isn't any harder than any other line on the market. Over time ANY line might wear out an agate stripper guide but I would highly doubt it would be in your lifetime or your children's lifetime. The noise the line makes is caused by (correct me if I'm wrong) tiny bumps on the line that create less friction on the water...that's why it floats as well as it does....there is actually less surface area touching the water than with other lines. It applies to the guides as well...less surface area touching the guides equals less friction. I don't own it and probably never will. I'll stick with Cortland and Rio and save myself about 40-60 bucks when I buy line. It's not going to help me shoot line down to my backing any better than another line would....when do you really ever need to do that anyways? James

PM= Private Message. You send one by clicking on someone's username and scrolling down to "send message" in the drop down menu.

Yeah, they're big bucks, especially if you may only use it once. St. Croix makes nice saltwater rods but I'm not sure what they have in that weight class. I've caught tuna that are easily over 30 lbs. on a 12, you just have to play them right. Let the drag on your reel do the work for you and just use the rod to turn his head. Lots of guys seat the butt right into their waste and lift straight up...bad idea...waaaay too much stress on the rod tip. Use lots of side pressure, relax and hold on tight...you're in for the ride of your life. Having said all that, I wouldn't use anything less than a 12 and a heavier rod wouldn't hurt. If you're looking to buy, you're probably going to spend at least 450 on a rod that's only halfway decent. You're looking at another 3-400 (minimum) for a good reel that won't start smoking and burn up on you. Where are you thinking about going? I still have some contacts down south that might be able to hook you up for a day or two with a good loaner.

The biggest I've gone was a 12 for poons in Florida. It was a Scott STS and it could zing out some line. A 13 would handle more than a baby tuna...you're looking at tuna up to about 60 lbs. or more. I'd definitely recommend a foregrip since you need to put a lot of pressure on those big pelagics to turn their heads and pull them up from the depths. If you can get your hands on an old STS that's in good shape, at a reasonable price, then grab it. You won't regret it. I hear the X2S is a good rod too. I should've sold that rod for more than I did. James

No problem, boss! Was a good day, even if we only got one fish. Went to that hole downstream of the bridge? Nice spot, eh?! August 21 on the Blackstone...I'm pretty sure I could get down there for that. Hit the Wapiabi one day too. My mom's visiting from Florida then but I'm sure I could swing a couple days for fishing.

I would say that if the sign at the access says there's no fishing there until the 16th then you probably shouldn't fish there until the 16th. Fish Creek is not the Bow, it is a tributary of the Bow...they are not the same thing. Having said that, I must admit that my experience with the Bow is limited as I only fish it once or twice a year.