cgyguy

I have been fishing for over 40 years now, and consider myself to be an experienced fisherman. WHAT???? I'm not sure if age should be considered to be an "experienced" fishperson? Hey, yes, I have been fishing for over 40 years but not every day! I get out as often as I can, and catch a few fish along the way, but I would hardly consider myself to be experienced. Does catching more fish than everybody make you more experienced? I have often heard guys on the board say "I have been fishing for x amount of years and consider myself to be an experienced fisherman (aka Rick W). To the point, i believe that what make someone an experienced fisherperson is how much time on the Water you have, not how old you are!! Hey, it's friggin cold out there today, and I doubt I will see any of those with x amount of experience on the river today!? Unless....... ::ice fish::

Hey- I started this original thread, but please do not take this the wrong way. It was in jest and a pot stirrer. Please enjoy counting all of your fish, and posting your numbers on the board! I am humbled by your numbers, and I expect for the most part, they are true.... I enjoyed all of your feedback and had LOTS of laughs reading them. Seems everyone has something to say on this one! Thanks for the chuckles!

Fishfreak says: "I remember eating lunch while a guy was fishing a pool at the Liv. In half an hour, with multiple fly changes, he caught nothing. After I finished my lunch, I saw what was rising, and caught 5 in just a few minutes. That guy complained of a slow day on the Liv, while I had a great one. On one of the high mountain lakes, I caught 70+ fish in less than 2 hours, while people around me got a handful the whole day." Fishfreak - If I caught 70 fish in two hours, I'd quit or lose count, how did you manage to accurately catch 70 fish in a 120 minutes. Let's see.....120 divided by 70 = 1.71 minutes per fish. That is of course if you don't take time out to pee, change fly, or otherwise! WOW!!! I told you a thousand times to quit exaggerating!!!

I have been on this board awhile now and have read many posts where guys are catching more fish in one day than I do all year! All I can say to those that make these statements is" Are you being really honest here?" I mean really, I can see guides having a day on the river like this, as they pretty much live on the water and there will be days when the fishing is PHENOMENAL as stated. However, I have a hard time believing that each night on the water brings dozens of fish regularly to those that regularly post. I have been flyfishing for many years and must be missing something, cause surely, my days on the river do not regularly produce high numbers of fish. Yes, some days are great, but I certainly do not turn those 3 - 5 dish days and times them by three, four, or even five at the end of the day! I do not mean to suggest that everyone who tells of big fish days are not being honest, only that there are a "few" fisherman that extend the truth. Come on folks, the fun is in the fishing, not always how many you can catch! I guess "fish count matters" with some of you, but please, be honest in your numbers, it really doesn't matter! I floated all day Saturday and passed many boats, and most of the people in the boats I passed were not faring well either. I just find it strange how someone can post huge numbers of fish caught, on the same day, same location, as we were. Maybe we missed you catching one of your 30 fish, who knows, but i highly doubt it. All I know is that the fisherpeople that we talked to, were out there, mostly fishless, but smiling, because it was a great day, fish or no fish. Truthfully!!!

Didn't need to. I called the RAP line and an officer called me back right away. He said he was two minutes away, and he got there in less than that. He did find the fish, and had the SUV torn apart and all of their stuff (cooler with fish, fishing licences,etc) were all spread out on the vehicle. He gave me a wink as we headed down to the river with the the drift boat. They were definetely caught in the act!

Goes to show how often I actually LOOK at my licence. However, point is, the number should be posted at these locations for ALL to use and see, not just fisherpeople.

Was down at the Fish Creek Park boat launch and noticed some persons carrying a large bag (containing a nice sized brown) and placing it in their car. Afterwards they headed back down to the river to fish more. I was concerned that these people were poaching and wanted to at least have a warden come and check things out. I do not keep fish form the river and really never knew what the regs were around keeping fish. I could not find a RAPP sign anywhere. I had to call the Bow River Shuttles and got the number from them. The number is now saved in my phone, but my question is " Are there any RAP signs anywhere on the Bow?" Maybe I am blind, but would it not be a good idea to have these posted right on the information boards located at the put ins and take outs? I am sure this should help people who are not avid fisherman (dogwalkers, hikers,etc) but want to report someone who is potentially poaching? Having a posted number would have helped me at the time I wanted to report as well. I could not find a number anywhere down at Fish Creek Boat Launch. Anyone have ideas or comments on this?

LMAO Good one. Nobody said poachers were smart.......

Why do Pirates always say "RRRRRRRRRR""""? Because it wouldn't sound the same if they said "ffffffffffffffffffff"......

I am thinking that Legacy is the old Jensons? If so, that would be about right give or take an hour. Not aware of any spots you could put in between Police and Legacy other than MacKinnons..

A float from Mac to Carseland is roughly about 6-8 hours depending on stops, etc. If you float directly, with the water flows, you could most likely do it in 5 - 6 hours. Mac to Legacy can be done in about three hours direct float. If you go all the way to Carseland, you will be taking out at Johnson Island (which is to on the immediate left about a half a killometer to the weir. If you are camping at Carsland then you will have to drive out from Jophnsons and go towards carseland and head down the hill to the campground. If you are travelling from Mac to Cars or Legacy to Cars, keep to the right and don't go left into the channels unless you know where you are going. You can get caught in the channels (no real water flow) and will be stuck rowing to get out. Hope this helps! Cgyguy

Something to keep in mind when out there belly boating or pontooning down the river. By QMI Agency A 25-year-old Brantford, Ont., man is dead following a lightning strike during Saturday’s thunder storm. The name of the deceased has not been released by police. The man was one of three people who were inner tubing on the Grand River shortly before 3 p.m. All three were affected by a nearby lightning strike. Emergency crews went to the scene and the man was taken to Brantford General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police are assisting the regional coroner’s office with the investigation. The city was hit hard by a deluge of rainfall during a three hour period that began just before 3 p.m. and continued to about 6 p.m. Let's be safe out there!

I too, am looking forward to floating it. Yes, those rapids are pretty wild, but they sure do look fun! I just don't know of any put ins above Blackfoot bridge. Other than the regular, haul your inflatable down. Wouldn't it be something if the river fishing was to improve throughout the city? Should be interesting........

Wondering what your thoughts are for floating the Bow thru the City once the Weir is finished? I am not aware of any put ins or take outs for a drift boat above the Weir to Bowness? Also, is the fishing going to improve thru the city stretch once the Weir is completed (i.e. easier for the fish to make their way up the river)? Not sure if the spawning runs would change or if they just stay the same based on the fish history? Thoughts / comments?

A 24 incher!!!???!! Where is this HOT SPOT you speak of??? What are the GPS locations? Are there any bears? Very cute story, brings back many memories of days fishing with my son (long time ago). Many campouts on the islands on the Bow, lots of Sega games in the dark, great days! A little word of advice if I may: take each day with your children as a gift, and remember the old saying (shoot, now I am getting old), anyways...."they grow up so fast", and it is SO true.

Wow - that thread really took off. Healthy discussion and some good learnings as well. My father was a logger on Vancouver Island and most of the West Coast. He always told me that the scariest animal he ever crossed was a Wolverine. Apparently, these animals can be downright viscious and can cause lots of damage. Personally, I have never come across any animal encounters that I felt threatened by, like many of you have said though, wide berth, common sense, and respect are some key messages I am taking from these posts. Thanks for your replies & Cheers

Just read and previewed the post regarding the bear sighting and I am interested in seeing what reactions people who HAVE run into a bear have been. You hear many stories, some good, some bad. I am intersted to know what people carry for bear deterent, or bells, or bangers or whatever. What makes you feel the safest around bears when fishing in areas where bears are present? What about cougars, or other animals? Just interested in everyones experience and opinions surrounding safety around animals? Cheers Cgyguy

I got my own answer to the bird question. Here it is: Calgary's bug-rich Bow River has become a temporary feasting point for thousands of gulls from Chile and Peru as they prepare to nest in Alberta's lakes for the summer. The striking Franklin's gulls — with their black heads, white bodies and red beaks — are congregating in the city's southeast edge, taking advantage of the river's supply of insects. Every year the birds fly along the same path from their winter homes in South America, said naturalist Gus Yaki, who leads birdwatching groups to see them. The gulls don't tend to fly in flocks, but when they arrive in Calgary they gather along the Bow River, he added. "Right now on the river we have a hatch of chironomids — so-called midges — and other small aquatic insects, so the gulls are taking advantage of that hatching period that is occurring right now. So that's why they are accumulating," Yaki said. "You'll see them floating down and then after 300 metres or so they fly back up river and repeat the process continuously — a never-ending ribbon of gulls floating down and flying back up." Soon the birds will leave Calgary for lakes as far away as northern Alberta to build floating nests for breeding, Yaki said. "At Frank Lake just outside of High River a few years ago, they estimated 75,000 pairs were present there. And that makes it probably one of the highest-populated sites on the continent," he said. By August the gulls will head back to South America for the winter. Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/201...s#ixzz0nexOGGvG

How is this fishing related?

Was fishing the Bow on the weekend and came across a large size fly (#12, or even #10) that had rather large brown wings, a tan body and sat like a large sailboat on the water. There was a ton of smaller mayflys but the fishing were filling their bellies with the large flies. I did manage to catch a few but I had a hard time finding anything that large in my fly box. Anyone have any ideas on what type these flies were? Also, I guess getting old gets me thinking a bit more. In my younger days, I wouldn't have bothered to look up but I find myself doing that these days. Having said that, while fishing on the weekend I was watching a large number of birds feeding on mayflys hatching on the water surface. I am the first one to say there is no such thing as a stupid question, so here goes: the birds have a brownish body, black head, white wings, with black tips. What are they? BTW - Fishing was quite good but bloody cold when the wind came up! Thanks

I recall a number of years ago, that the only place to launch a drift boat in the city section is around Bowness, however, there was no way to pick it up in the city (that I am aware of) other than by dragging it out at the Zoo (which would be a lot of work). Last time I launch a 12 ft alum boat and it was a struggle pulling it to the car. Is anyone aware of any put ins on the upper section of the Bow for a drift boat?

Ooops! Didn't see the post below!

Hi folks, I don't usually post anything on this site, choosing to be the reader moreso, than the writer. However, I recently read an article on Robert.F.Kennedy Jr. with regards to his position that as much as 90% of the fish in Alberta are inedible. His statement is that these fish have too much mercury in them to safely eat. He also states: “It causes a grim inventory of diseases: autism, blindness, mental retardation, speech delay, language delay, ticks, learning disorders, as well as heart disease, liver disease and kidney disease. The tests that we do have, which are mainly done provincially in Canada, indicate that Canada has the same problem with mercury that we have in the United States.” I am interested to know what your take is on this? I am not a fish eater for the most part and will continue to "catch and release" ALL fish, but find it interesting that a politician from the U.S. would and can make these statements! Cgyguy

Spent Saturday eve to Tuesday afternoon staying at the North Bow Lodge while fishing the Bow. Accomodations were great, food was great, Stu and Michelle were great, and telling lies while partaking with a cool one, was fantastic. Met some very nice fisherman there, and learned a great deal more about the Bow. Also had the opportunity to chat with Barry White as he had stopped in for a visit while I was there. Barry's knowledge of the Bow and it's history are lifelong. What a great storyteller, and a host of so much to learn. BTW - fishing was awesome as well. If you are ever considering a stop over for a night, the Bow lodge is a great place to consider for a B &B as well. I have no affiliation with NB Lodge, just thought some of you might find our information on our stay, useful! Cheers