SilverDoctor

Checked twice this year, four times last. They are out there. The way I look at it though, with budgets cuts we need to watch our waters.

For my double handed on the bow. Sink tips in spring and winter type 4 to 6. Floating the rest of the time. Windcutter and Scandia heads. As for flies this has been my selection. Caught flies on there on a regular basis Caddis Emergers green Prince Nymphs and Hares Ears Skid bitches Boatman Backswimmers October caddis pupae elk hair caddis (skidded) White and olive Bow River Bugger Gartside Leeches Clousers in black and white Rubber Leg Stoneflys in verigated orange chenille and white lege Caddis Emergers green Prince Nymphs and Hares Ears Skid bitches Boatman Backswimmers October caddis pupae chernobyl ant elk hair caddis (skidded) My very top producers and favorites through summer and fall though, where winged wet flies and flymphs. March brown Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear The Black Gnat Black and Orange Leadwing Coachman Breadcrust Leisenring Spider and Partridge flymphs aka (James E. Leisenring style) Partridge and Orange (very big producer in broken water) Little Olive Dun Fish Hawk I do have to add that all are of my own tie, so lots of variations, I also have a couple of nice small minnow patterns that I've done well on. This is a great idea for a post, good going guys.

Another nice trick is to add some head cement to the thread before half hitching. Don't have to try to add cement next to the post that way.

Hi all, It's been a great year with lot of good times on the river. Challenging trout and heart stopping fights. Didn't hit as many small streams as I would have liked. The shadow of my rod and imprint of my boots didn't hit the Ram or some of my old Steelhead haunts but many other waters where enjoyed. I met a few more of you great people on the water and or course many of the regulars on this board, friends all. I want to extend Christmas greeting from our family to all the members of the board. Hoping you are able to spend the holiday season how ever you celebrate it with those you love. May the New Year find you all on silvery waters and guide your steps to big fish, good times and wonderful experiences.

I have had email conversations with Mac Hickley, MEDes Manager, River Valleys Committee. He has said: The in-river engineering work will be at least a 2-3 year project, during which there will be no public access to the area – for fishing or any other activities – between the CPR bridge and Cushing Bridge. There will probably also be a further period when fishing will be prohibited, until Fish & Wildlife can confirm that the project is working properly for fish passage. After that, it will be up to them to decide on the rules for fishing in the area. I know that TU had Issued a letter with their concerns and suggestions. I am no expert but I would imagine because of the size of the project there would be some impact on the immediate downstream area.

And when I'm gone don't let my wife sell my equipment for what I told her I bought it for.

Great rod, you'll have fun although it looks like you'll have to pick up a smaller version for the lad.

And lets not even talk about the amount of water being pumped down oil wells plus lakes being "declassified" and "reclassified" as holding ponds.

The method has been around. I remember reading a method like it in a book by the legendary angler Lee Wulff quite a few years back. It's also talked about in the book the "Curtis Creek Manifesto", circ. 1978 (hilarious book) and I remember reading about it in much earlier books also. I'm sure it's one of those thing that gets re invented under another guise, perhaps with a twist and then found to be "original". Kind of like changing a small thing on an original fly pattern than having 4 pages dedicated to this radical new fly in a fishing magazine. This is one of a number of ways of presenting a fly close to the feeding lanes. to Lots of great methods out there, including this one. Everyone should give it a try to see if it fits you way of fishing. Humm must try Don's speedometer cables, but 8 feet of speedometer cables must be hard to cast.

Thanks for posting,great collection.

hang em up, Fill em with water and look for the leak.

Thanks for the Costco tip.

I enjoy reading the various posts on here. I often sneak on during a work day and it makes the work day easier to get through. Perhaps at times people here type with their hearts instead of their minds. Though they may become heated over ideals the respect and enjoyment of the sport comes through. You know I think it depends on what you are trying to achieve by angling. What does it do for you. To some it allows an escape, to others it becomes a lifestyle. Still others are competitive. All are good and solid reasons to explore waters. In my younger days It was about numbers of trout. I was blessed to grow up in BC with magnificent trouting steelhead and salmon opportunities for the fly rod. On some of the mountain lakes and streams of my youth we caught and released numbers of trout that where wonderful. Growing up in generations of a fly fishing and outdoor family added depth and breath to my life. The seasons where marked by life on field and stream, angling, hunting and the tiers bench. Now it's about the quality of the experience. I love Spey rods on big rivers because it makes sense for me. Less strain on a body getting older. They are big river rods. It's been great learning new casts and styles. That said I also love the small streams and lakes that I frequent with lighter fly rods. Succumbing often to the call of my old classic fiberglass rods of my youth. Many times I hear my bamboo rods calling to me to pair them with perhaps a classic Hardy or Pflueger of days gone by. The reels wanting to be lined with old silk or plastic classic lines. Then I drift into the past, while enjoying the the sport form a different angle. Although I truly enjoy the company of others and often seek out other fishers for conversation on the water, trading flies and lies. And like teaching others to tie a pattern I mostly fish alone. Walking along a steam or lake I never am by myself. I am accompanied by those before me. Those friends and family at who's knee I learned and who's company I enjoyed. They fish with me still on waters that I know and those that I can explore anew. Why do I fly fish? Why do I tie flies? Why do I peel my body out of a warm bed at four in the morning to pull on cold waders and often feel the brush of frost on my skin. Is it old habit. The need to prove myself. No, no, non of these. It's about seeing a spiders web covered with dew. The haunting sound of flowing water and my boots swishing on the grass. The call of a loon or song of birds. The look of mist on water. But especially getting a glimpse, be it ever so brief of of one of natures miracles. A finned beauty of any size be it rainbow brown or a number of other trout, that nature has blessed to be a living jewel. If you look hard you can see through your inner child's eyes. But if no interest is payed to a drifting dry or swung spey or wet fly, there is never disappointment. Time on waters I look on as healing experience away from the needs of working, business and other stresses. Why do I fish, I think of it at times. I often approach waters and do not fish for a while. Watching insects and fish and planning how to approach a particular stretch or pool. Or closing my eyes and listening and upon occasion sitting with sketch pad making sense of nature. Why do I fish? My wife knows why I fish, so do my sons. They nod in understanding that I need time afield or at the vice. It's out of love. Why do you fish?

good one, I'm going to put in a bid. Thanks.

Never did find a Thermos I liked. Have been using the one below since I bought it new when i was a lad. The wife made it clear she wanted me to get a new one. "You got your money out of that one your old fart" she says. One of my twin sons found out and scoped my old one. A new one will appear under the tree I've been sternly told. With a sigh I though it would have no where near the character or style of my old buddy I'm sure.

You can also just nymph with a tight line sands indicator.

I think they shipped them in from other stores.

I use that method fishing close in for high sticking at one time. It was popular years ago Moved on to other methods though.

Perhaps thay could be replaced by 3 stooges and an old corow.

Fishing in the dark I like a white indicator. Works well.

Funny thing I went into a Can Tire store last weekend and asked a young dude. "Hay man where are your thermoses"? Got this blanks stare back. "You know I said, for like putting hot coffee in". "Oh you mean a coffee pot, why didn't you say so". "No! No! I says "THERMOS". Another young guy walked over and scratched his head at the request staring at me like I was asking for some exotic foreign device beyond the reach of average intelligence. A third one descended to see what the hubbub was about. A young lady this time, the request again fell on new ears with the same blank stare returned my way like I had just arrived on foreign soil. I was suddenly surrounded by several customers all trying to describe the the exotic item to staff with multiple descriptions and hand gestures. "Everyone know what a thermos is" piped up a lady customer. The mood of the crown seemed tense. With Christmas approaching people where in no mood for misdirection but in typical Canadian fashion wanted to help. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a cope of employees running toward the situation. Determination was on their faces, perhaps this was some sort of terrorist situation. Or a customer gone mad in some sort of weird shopping related frenzy. Glancing up I noticed in the management cube faces looking down on the critical situation. Perhaps closing the store was in order. A fellow that smacked of security was elbowing toward me. Finally surrounded by people of shallow experience and less drive to find answers an older sales type calmly approached the growing crowd of aimless clueless employees. Plus a throng of customers swelling numbers. The look in his eyes was immedietly of fear and hesitation, what was this guy trying to pull. Some sort of customer insurrection? A protest of some sort. "Thermos" I said sheepishly, almost embarrassed that I had tied up most of the stores merger staff on such an outlandish request. Oh S*#t, they're on isle bal bla he says rescuing me from the crowd and whisking me over the the right Isle. Looking back I could see the crowd slowly breaking up in smaller groups but still in discussion. Thus ended the great thermos insurrection of /08. All was again well with the world.

Mind you a small flask of good scotch goes a long way as will a bit of Grand Marnier. You'll still be cold but it will be a fun chill.

I am Silver Doctor and I am an addict. Yep, I'm one of those warped ones also. Love the spey and fish with indicators a lot but also swing nymphs and streamers. Also skidding stones in the fall and having fun late summer evenings with small mouse imitations (shuuu). I use the airflow ridge line in #30 as I like the larger diameter feel. as for lines Rio Windcutters, and Skaget's for large streamers and winds. Started using the Vision Ace 7/8 which I really love, Its a bullet with great control. The thing I really like with an indicator is the looooooong drift. With an indicator being able to reach out there. With the reach you can fish from a distance without spooking trout. Close in you just use High sticking and the indi never touches the water. The two handed indicator system allows precise depth control at a distance. The Spey also allows more control when fighting large trout (20+). I use the Deer Creek and had but sold the TFO Spey rod that was a good solid rod but I have since sold it to fund another rod. Slowly finishing up a custom S2H126456 Highlander ~ 12'6" ~ 4 pc ~ 4/6 wt. from Bob Meiser that should be ready late winter early spring depending on my schedule.

For winter I have both oversize waders and roomier pair of wading boots. I like a light pair of socks with with heavier wool socks over (absolutely no cotton as was said). I often in winter leave the waders at home and opt for warm wool pants and hiking boots. It's an excellent idea to carry a spare pair of socks and change half way through. I aslo cary a full change of clothing in the truck. Electric socks are good but bulky. To me a hat is just as important as waders, and I layer shirts, remembering my vest will also provide some warmth. Don't forget your insides, a nice hot thermos of coffee, has brought many a sigh of satisfaction. Fuel and hydrate your body it will deal with cold easier. Here's a tip. You can find chemical toe warmers at places like Mountain co-op. Put them under you toes on the outside of your socks in really cold weather. http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail....845524442541033

You said it. There have been times when I only find one bag out of 10 that I like. Mind you the other day I ran across Mallard wings that where suburb for wet fly wings and bought the entire stock of 5 bags.