JMasson

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

I heard about this the other day. I've been trying to find more info on the matter. Thanks for posting this!

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.

Not entirely true. The running line on a weight forward line weighs less than the head does, so casting at 50-80' wouldn't give you 2-4 times the suggested line weight. I don't really want to do the math right now, maybe 80 feet would. James

I should've said that I hope I live to see a ban on open-pen salmon farms. There are ways to practice aquaculture so that it does not harm the environment around you...and then there are ways to practice unsafe and irresponsible aquaculture. It's not only salmon and steelhead that we need to be concerned with but all manner of sea life that are effected by the farms. Sorry, I know this is kind of highjacking the original post.

I am completely against using rotenone (in most cases) after seeing it used irresponsibly by National Parks Service in Shenandoah (Virginia). It would seem to me that rotenone ,in this case, is pointless. What happens when the river recovers and more infected fish come into the system? Try the same thing again? I hate salmon farms with a passion and will hopefully see the day when it is banned in Canada. They are going to a major contributor to the extinction of the wild Pacific Salmon and Steelhead stocks in BC and also the Atlantic Salmon throughout its' range. They've already done a number to populations in Ireland. When will governments like Norway pull their heads out of their asses and start to realize that they will lose an entire species if something isn't done...the same goes for BC?!? Mismanagement astounds me...especially when there is myriad of research that proves the cons far outweigh the pros. Sorry for the rant. James

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.

I find the backroads mapbooks are pretty good.

From my experience...you see, my dad's family is from Belize and he was born and raised there and I just happened to have lived there for a few years myself and visit on occassion...Belize is the least racist country in Latin America. Granted, Belize City isn't the safest city in the world but I have never once seen or heard of a tourist being robbed, bullied or killed in Belize City. Now, I'm sure if you meandered down to George St. for a midnight stroll things would be different but unless you live on George St. or are a gang member you have absolutely no business anywhere near George St. anyways....that goes for locals as well. I have never once felt unsafe in Belize and I have been all over that country. You can be robbed or killed in any country you visit. My cousins were robbed in Germany last year while backpacking in Europe for the summer. It happened to three other people in their group a few days later. So that makes five people (that I know of anyways) robbed in Germany last year. James

The fee you pay to replace the rod is more of a replacement fee than a shipping and handling fee. Having said that, if you have to ship your rod the cost is included in $26.50. It's the same with any other company out there. If you break a Sage then you have to ship it to Washington state with $40.00 (at least it was 40 last time I broke one). If you happen to live on Bainbridge Island and can take your rod to the factory for a replacement then you still have to pay the $40.00. All the rod companies have some sort of fee and their return/warranty policies are very similar.

All of what has been said is what the new land use framework is trying to work out. How can everyone have their cake and eat it too....in a nutshell. It will divide the the province into 6 regions and many sub-regions and assess who will be using the land and how they will be using it (industry, ATV/ OHV, fishermen, hikers, birdwatchers, campers, etc...) and come with a framework to allow everyone to do what they want, within guidelines. It is also trying to get all the government agencies to pool their resources and work together...no small task when you consider all the governing bodies and all of them have their own bureaucracies. It all sounds very good and works on paper, we'll have to see how it will work in the real world. If it does work like it's supposed to, it will be a huge step in the right direction. Like I said before, there will be several months for public consultation once the framework is made public...which is supposed to be next week. I have direct contact with someone in AB Environment that is working on the framework so I'm sure I'll know when it has been released and let you all know.

Before they worry about how to get the rainbows/ hybrids out of the lakes, they need to worry about finding out how the rainbows/ hybrids got there in the first place and ensuring it doesn't happen in the future. If it was a intentional stocking (either by Montana Department of Fisheries or by a wayward angler that wanted to catch bows) then they need to figure out how to solve that problem. If it is a lack of natural barriers between the inlets/ outlets and the lakes then it would seem pointless to use rotenone. I've seen that happen on the east coast in Shenandoah National Park. Used rotenone in one stream and killed all the fish, stocked brookies back into the stream and there were no natural barriers that the fish couldn't pass....a couple years later they had browns swimming in that stream again. Seems rather pointless to me.

First off, every member of this board should be a member of their local TU chapter. In the states, TU does a lot of lobbying and many of the chapters are very strong (both with members and with funds). Secondly, we all need to make an effort to get to public meetings that concern us. For example, the Western Sky Land Trust. I know a lady that is a big part of planning and evaulating the cumulative effects of many of the government's policies and she is involved in the Sky Land Trust proposal. The framework is supposed to be released next week and there is supposed to be opporotunity for public consultation until September. We all need to make the effort to get to these public meetings. I'm pretty sure that TU will be making an appearance at them, therefore all the members should be there as well. After reading the proposal we should all be writing or even speaking directly, to our MLA's about it (either positive or negative). This has direct bearing on this very issue. Harps made a post about it in the News and Discussions forum and there have only be 78 views? There are also a myriad of other smaller clubs and organizations that we should try and become members of and attend their functions. I know that people are busy and time is short but it is worth it in the long run. Plus, most of the gatherings involve fishing, so you can't go wrong. Now, I'm not the shining example of all this...I just renewed my TU membership after letting it slide for almost 3 years. I haven't really alloted the time to get out and talk and meet people for the past couple years. I plan on changing that this year. Kind of off topic but I'll say it anyways. TU in the states has an innitiative called "Back the Brookie". Awesome program with lots of support from the public and also from the government...both Federal and State levels. Why not try to develop a program like that with the Westslopes in Alberta and BC? When something that will effect the status of the native brookies on the east coast happens, there are local chapters from Maine to Georgia that are writing to senators and congressmen, having rallies, even making broadcasts on radio. That is literally hundreds of people bombarding the media and government at the same time. How can they not be noticed and taken seriously? If something happens that you don't like, then you need to make that fact known. You can't sit at home and complain about it if you're not prepared to do something about it. Social action is a necessary (and often lacking) part of a democracy. Dr.Bull, I don't believe the original intent of the original post was to have random camping banned but perhaps, regulated and enforced more. I would not support a random camping ban but I definitely support more enforcement and also paying a fee to be allowed to camp. James

Anybody heading into the westcountry...be safe and be bear aware. Also, take lots of pictures so I can imagine myself in your place. James

There is a Prairie Creek that is just outside Rocky and it opens on April 1, although, it wasn't fishable. Hopefully it is cleared out by the weekend for you. Decided to stay at home this weekend instead of jockeying for a camping spot with some of yahoos in the foothills. Have a good time, Prairie and the N. Fork are two of my favourite creeks to fish. There is tons of fishing in Rocky and to the west/ southwest of Rocky. Love that area, can't wait for June!

I've caught a ton of walleye and small pike out of pigeon on wolly buggers. Both black and olive seemed to work for me, fished on a slow, steady retrieve right on the edge of a drop-off or weed line.

Damn Rick, wish I could go. Land a couple Reds for me! James

Rick, I've fished in the area too and this isn't the first charter that I've heard of that has pulled more than its' legal limit out of the water. I've seen those guys catching 2 or 3 times their limits and undersized fish, etc... James

Found this on a Georgia flyfishing forum. "L.D.W.F. AGENTS CATCH FISHERMEN WITH 909 RED SNAPPER Release Date: 05/01/2008 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents wrote over 100 fishing citations to 20 men on Bayou Fourchon located in Lafourche Parish on Monday, April 28. Agents stopped the charter boat, "The Captain Charlie", which was occupied by 18 paid fishermen, the captain and one deck hand. Agents boarded the vessel to conduct a creel and license check of the fish and persons aboard. Upon receiving consent from the captain of the vessel, agents allegedly found 27 ice chests holding 909 red snapper. Agents counted and measured every fish aboard the vessel and found that of the 909 red snapper aboard the vessel, 287 of them were under the minimum 16-inch size requirement. The recreational limit for red snapper is two per fisherman, and the captain and deckhands are not allowed to possess a limit. Agents also discovered that none of the 18 fishermen were Louisiana residents nor did they possess valid Louisiana non-resident basic and saltwater fishing licenses. The 18 subjects that chartered the vessel, along with the captain and deckhand of the vessel were cited for 106 alleged violations. The citations included angling without a non-resident basic and saltwater fishing license, federal charges for possessing undersized and over the limit of red snapper, and taking red snapper during a closed season. The red snapper season is closed until June 1, 2008. The following fishermen were charged: David Harrelson, 52, Lockport, La., (Captain) Donald R. Humphrey, 45, Golden Meadow, La., (Deckhand) Artesza Portee, 35, Austell, Ga. Glover Jefferson Jr., 69, Atlanta, Ga. Walter Bailey Jr., 61, Atlanta, Ga. Robert Kemp, 72, Atlanta, Ga. James E. Williams, 65, Callaway, Fla. Clyde E. Raiford, 68, Fayetteville, Ga. Baxter R. Maddox, 67, Atlanta, Ga. Leslie H. Durham, 45, Douglasville, Ga. Cleveland B. Kemp Jr., 56, Conyers, Ga. Harry Crosland, 67, Decatur, Ga. Willie T. Epps, 72, College Park, Ga. Lawrence Kendrick, 60, Atlanta, Ga. Walter L. Gibson Jr., 38, Union City, Ga. Warren R. Brownlee, 36, Palmetto, Ga. Andrew R. Smith, 70, Decatur, Ga. Kym D. Haywood, 44, Hapeville, Ga. Charlie W. Patrick 68, Stone Mountain, Ga. Earnest Sessoms, 79, Atlanta, Ga. Agents seized the 909 red snapper, which weighed 2459 pounds, and were sold for a total of $9221.25. For more information, contact Capt. Sammy Martin at 985-447-0822 or smartin@wlf.louisiana.gov." http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/?id=957 James

This is true...took a small(ish) red intruder. Probably about 14-15 inches.

Looks like the good ol' Cortland peach/ green line...333, if I'm not mistaken. Been a while since I used it but it was a good line to me.

You know, I've owned many TFO rods in the past and I still have 3 (Finesse 4wt, Signature 4wt and TiCR X 5wt) and I have never had one break. I have taken TFO rods up against tarpon, mahi mahi, barracuda, bonefish, kingfish, all sorts of jacks, redfish...the list goes on and I have never had to use the warranty on any TFO rod I've owned. I will certainly more in the future. James