JMasson

What streams, rivers and lakes north of Calgary don't have fish in them? Just wondering cause I fish central and northern Alberta quite a bit and have not found a lack of fish in either zone. I think the point here is that we need more enforcement and that extra enforcement needs to be spread out equally through all zones. James

Was planning on coming to the show but I can't say that I'll be ready to make any purchases just yet. I probably won't be ready to buy anything until probably March or April...unless I manage to find a great deal that I can't pass up. I like to take my time and make a purchase that I won't be upset with in a month or two. Now, I've been reading quite a bit lately and I think I have some of the basic concepts between the two different styles of casting and the two seperate lines. The traditional spey casting used a long double-taper lines (I ready somewhere between 80 and 120 feet). Since you don't strip in any line before the cast, there is no visible pause like you see in skagit styles casting...am I somewhere near right so far? Another question...would you say it's easier for a beginner to learn the Skagit style or Scandi style casting? I hope I just didn't use "Scandi" in the wrong context....I just wanted to be cool like the thread says. I haven't felt like a complete novice since I was about 10 and got coordinated enough to make half decent single-hand casts. I hope you guys don't mind all the questions and thanks for the help. James

So, it looks like I've got more hunting and decisions to make. I figured a 7 or 8 wt would be the minimum I was looking at. What are the pros and cons of a longer rod versus a shorter rod? Is it mostly to do with needing more room to cast? I've taken a peak at Echo rods like Whistler suggested. I've used their single-hand rods in the past and was quite impressed. I also took a look at the Beulah rods and liked what I could see from their web page. One more question...are there benefits of having a fast action rod over a medium action rod? Or is it pretty much the same as single-handers? Thanks for the help so far. James

I was looking at probably $250-300 max. just because it's not a rod I see myself using more than a handful of times each year. I'm looking at either a Ross of a Pfleuger for reels. I have a couple TFO single-handers that I actually really like so I was kind of thinking about a TFO spey rod. I like the warranty and unlike others I have only ever had one break on me...and that was after I hit a dog that was attacking me with it. James

First, I'd like to say that I am a complete novice when it comes to spey casting. I use some of the casts with my single-hand rods when the situations call for it. Anyways, I have a trip planned to go to New Brunswick for some atlantic salmon this year and also have a steelhead/ pacific salmon trip in the works...I'd like to carry a spey rod with me. I've seen where I'll be fishing out east and the river is BIG to say the least...it would be really hard work with a single-hand rod. Now, what do you all think would be a good rod. I was thinking something in the 12'- 13' range...probably 12'-6". Bear in mind that I won't be using the rod a whole lot...couple-three times a year maybe and when I fish the Bow (which is not that often, maybe once a year). I'm in the preliminary stages right now and I'm basically just shopping and looking for opinions. I live in Edmonton but wouldn't mind driving to Calgary and picking a rod up if it's worth it. I have a reel picked out for it...actually, I've got two reels picked out so I'll have to decide eventually. Later on I'll probably ask for more advice and help when it comes to lines and also casting. Thanks for any help! James

Never did use a pink one. I always used red and white or red and yellow. Now what about DOA Clacker bobbers...the ones that make a clicking noise when you twitch your rod. One day I had so many specks hit the bobber and not the shrimp underneath that I contemplated putting hooks through the bobbers so that I might actually catch one! James

a spoon is a great lure for sure! I caught my first red when I was 10 on a gold spoon. Caught more kingfish than I care to count on a silver spoon. Heck, I've even had a tarpon chase a spoon fly....then he got up close and decided he didn't want to eat a fake fingernail and turned away. A gold spoon was my second go-to lure for fishing grass flats in Florida...a red and white mirrolure was the first. James

Well, a spoon fly doesn't look like any naturals, at least I know of anyways. I used to use them to great success on the Gulf coast in Florida for reds and specks. There are several different patterns that I've used...I've even tied them out of a fake fingernail. James

Highland Park (12 year) for about 60 bucks, McClelland's (Highland or Lowland and don't buy the 16 year old...it costs waaaay too much and is no better than an 8 year old) for about 40 bucks. Bear in mind that these are not smoky whiskies, I can't stand a smoky whiskey so I don't buy them. James

If you have a steady hand you can pretty much do anything with a skil saw. You'll be working strictly with 45 degree angles which is easy as long as you don't get the short and long points of your angles mixed up. Inside corners will be short matched to short and outside corners will be long matched to long. Unfortunately I live in Edmonton or I'd come by and give you some professional assistance. Don't worry about a mitre box, especially if you're able to find a mitre saw to use. Make sure the blade is sharp (preferably new or all the teeth are intacted and not chipped) or you'll end up with chunks missing from your wood. James

Are you guys still planning on playing on the 29th (saturday)? I can't make it to Calgary on the 27th but I am planning on coming down on Saturday to fish the Bow and I'll bring my gear to play some hockey afterwards. I would love to meet some of you folks and pass a puck or two as well. Please, let me know if this is still in the books! I'll need an address and maybe directions since I'm not familiar with Calgary. James

I might be in Calgary for the day anyways on the 27th. If I do go I will bring my skates and a stick with me and lace up. I'd love to play with you folks! James

Same here, buddy. They are playing a lot more live shows coming up, no record in the works though. I'm ok with listening to their old stuff...it never seems to get old.

Is that an attempt at hijacking your own thread?

And of course, what would music in the 90's be without Rage Against the Machine. I shed a tear when these guys broke up in 2000. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-58-36lSqG4 Not metal but still one of my all-time favourites. -James

You haven't offended me...it takes more than some silly posts on an obscure fly-fishing forum to offend me.

Oh, trust me, I know what metal these days is all about. I've been a metalhead since I was about 12 or so. I was listening to Shadows Fall and Killswitch Engage while tying today... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRWR6JwpIkU...feature=related

Every now and then I find myself listening to them on the radio and I'm shocked after about a minute that I actually know the words to a lot of their songs and that I have been singing along the whole time. Kind of sad when I think about it....I wasn't but a small child when they were making music. It's amazing to think how metal has changed over the years...I wouldn't even call Twisted Sister "metal", maybe hair metal or something like that.

Very well said, PlayDoh. I couldn't have said it better. He'll probably never go and that is a shame because Mexico really is a nice country to visit. There were 3 out of 100,000 Canadians killed in Mexico this year....there were 27 (please, correct me if I'm wrong) out of approximately 1 million Canadians murdered in the greater Edmonton area this year. You could be killed as you walk out your door tomorrow morning but the odds are slim-to-none and you'll probably have a great day (hopefully you will anyways). I wouldn't let the slight chance of being killed in Mexico keep me from going.

"JMasson...in your own opinion would you say the police in Mexico are just as good as Calgary or Edmonton's police? If you say yes then you would most likely be the minority based upon news reports etc. which is your perogative." The media exaggerates global warming but they don't exaggerate how corrupt Mexican police are? Must be true! It sounds to me that you think every cop in Mexico is corrupt. There are good cops and bad cops everywhere. I have run into corrupt cops before and cops that abuse their power...they were not in Mexico. Have I been there....yes, a few times. The people are friendly, they're not out to hurt or steal from you. The vast majority of them are very poor and the vast majority of them are also some of the kindest people I have ever met. I speak enough spanish to survive in a spanish country, so that may have helped. You'll have no problem getting by only speaking english if you go to a resort, trust me. I have felt safer walking down the streets in Belize City at night than I have walking around in downtown Edmonton at night. I realize we're not talking about Belize here but since that is where my family is from, I figured I'd throw it in. Also, you're not getting facts here, you'e getting opinions....BIIIG difference.

Don't feed the troll.....

Having lived in a third world country and being that the vast majority of my family is from the third world I would have to say that if you have not been, then you have no idea what it is like. The Mexico you're thinking of is border town Mexico...most people don't vacation there. You can get into just as much trouble in the wrong areas of Edmonton as you can in any city in the world...not just the "third world". You shouldn't be worried...they're making money off of you and they will take care of you as a tourist.

HIJACK........... H2O, I lived in Florida for 10 years...going back in January with the 8wt and hopefully I'll get a few reds and maybe a baby tarpon or two. Just had to say that I sure do miss those little brookies. The Carolinas and Rabun county, Georgia have some amazing trout fishing and some amazing brookie fishing as well. I sure do miss it!!!! James

Do 3.5 million people really fish in Alberta? No and yet some of the rivers can still get crowded. Even a small amount of people that have no manners or respect can make it seem like there are a lot more people than there actually are. The rivers that get a lot of people that fish them are the rivers that are well known. You can fish anywhere without a crowd if you time it right (off season) or know of places that don't get a lot of pressure. If you're willing to pay for it you can fish on private property. There are a lot of people that travel to Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, etc...because the rivers are well publicised and touristed. All I was saying, is that in my experience, the rivers that I have fished have seemed crowded to me. Maybe that's cause I'm used to fishing with almost no one around or maybe it's because of that rude minority. Sorry for stating my perception and opinion. James

It could possibly be the time of year I went. Mostly I fished Montana in the summer but I've also fished it in spring and yes, youre right, there definitely wasn't as many people there in the spring. There are also sections of most of the rivers in Montana that remain open year round...so don't rule out some late fall and early winter fishing. The Gallatin is a very nice river and the Yellowstone and its' tribs are also nice. But again, inside Yellowstone NP itself, is very touristy and can see good crowds. The scenery is very much like southern Alberta....beautiful!!! I guess I have a somewhat biased opinion. I cut my teeth on trout fishing in North Georgia, South and North Carolina. Specifically fishing for native brookies (as seen in my avatar) and you have to go above 2,000 ft. to get to them....you don't see many people up there so I was spoiled and got used to it. James