SilverDoctor

Good point. There a a few high end reels that I would love to have, but don't need.

The season ends? Nobody told me that i fish all year.

Ouch!!!!!!!

Cut a taper at the end of your tinsel at the tie in point, make sure that your under wraps that the tinsel is wrapping over are smoth with a slight taper on the thorax, wrap with touching not overlapping wraps. Once you achieve a good wrap consistently try covering the underwraps with a bit of head cement then wrap. Makes it tooth proof.

Yea I fish the Skeena when I can, was raised in BC so know the waters. Sadly I won't make it out there this year. It smacks of a monopoly and cash grab to me. Just a bunch of guys trying to close the market and waters for themselves is my opinion. Email writing time.

Lots of excellent choices here, I do like my Islander except it's a bit to flashy looking. Probably depends on your budget and tastes. I have a couple of Pflueger Presidents that I'm happy with for a solid reel that you can bang around. Though one of my fav's is still my old Hardy Marquis. Something about them old clickers.

And of course ebay is a wipe with the lower dollar, mind you Canadian manufacturing is probably happy. You could also just buy the few Canadian made products.

I think it would depend on your budget. The TFO rods are great an I fish my Deer Creek a lot. Loop and a few other manufacturers produce gorgeous rods. I'm just working on a Miser Highlander. Depends what you want and what your future use will be. Hard to own just one Spey rod.

Great report and pictures, thanks so much for posting

All good advice here. Another tip is with winter waters here downsize not only your nymphs but your indicators.

Have a great day and keep well.

Doc's Hint: We all end up capturing the odd hair on the eye side of the hook. God knows my old eyes do it often enough. It certainly reduces with practice but for those odd ones after you tie off your whip finish and before head cement have a good quality pair of tweezers at hand and just pluck it out with a quick backwards pull. Tweezers for plucking eye brow hairs are perfect. Knew an old tier that did it with a heated bodkin tip for fully dressed Atlantic salmon flies.

My wife says I'm certified. Or is that certifiable? Or maybe it was that I should be committed. Oh well that's what this sport does.

Don't be discouraged, the Bow is a tough river to get to know. Just keep at at.

I don't think this area of the site has ever been used for anything more than posting questions from those who want to know and answers been given by those who think they can help.

A professional is by the dictionary's explanation someone who makes a living in whole or part at a certain profession. The intro to this section says" "Need help getting started with the sport or improving on current skills? This is your chance to ask the guides your lingering questions about flyfishing. Please keep in mind these folks are busy and will get your answers as soon as they can." So I guess it refers to someone who someone who has been a paid guide, or works in other areas of the sport where professional stasis is recognized or paid for (eg: casting instructors, fly tiers who sell their work, river guides etc.). I guess it would cover people who have professional grade experience or knowledge. This is just my opinion, perhaps a moderator can shed more light on the matter.

He He He...

Much better, I've raised 3 boys that are dear to me. BUT!!!!! Grand kids are great. You can give advice and it's listened to. You can visit and not change diapers, wake up of 3:00 feedings. You can spoil them and feed them candy, make then hyper and leave. They confide in you like they will not with Mom and Dad. I have a 4 year old grand daughter that dotes on me. Now a grandson to light up my life. Life is grand.

More than likely see you there next meeting. A little something came up. My son had a little one so that was no: 1 for this Grandpa.

Happy Birthday Gregg, Thanks for giving so much to the sport and the members here.

Just thought I would post for those that might be interested, there is a meeting of the Calgary Hook and Hackle Club tonight. Meetings are the second and forth Wednesday of the month. Come and tie or not. Guests welcome to have a peek. I'll be there tonight so look for an old fart on a Nore-vice who tries to tie. Just starting to tie a few Steelhead hair wings.

I think it breaks down to showing respect for the sport and the environment. Teach by example.

Ah George Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue. One of my favorites, purity in music. Loved it when I was young, Love it now.

Here's an old time tip that my Dad taught me. Be careful with this one, you need decent coordinationuse at your own risk. Hold the fly by the hook, touch the hook eye to your tongue. Put your tippet on you tongue and run it through the eye by "feel". I use this a lot after dark. Try it at home and see if it's for you. Important! do not swallow fly!!! I also have a set of flip down magnifiers that I wear on my hat. Helps a lot.

It's been a few seasons now but I have fished lake Minnewanka in the spring when it opens (check you regs it is most likely closed for the season by now) using large white streamers and sinking lines. I know they do come into the shallows at that time of year after ice out, not sure about fall. We would do a countdown to let the sinking line hit different depths. I was using an 8 wt slow action Glass fly rod. We found slow action rods where better for this type of fishing. Once we felt some action we would religiously do that count for the next hour before exploring depths again. A good day seemed to translate into 2 to 3 fish. The window of opportunity usually lasted only a few weeks, till they looked for deeper waters as the top thermoclime warmed. Hoping this helps.