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If your story is accurate, ( and I say that, not because I don't believe you but only because there are always two sides) I would like to apologise on behalf of all fly fishermen and women for the ignorance and conduct of the "elitist" in your story........I can assure you he doesn't represent the views of most..........Like any fraternity (fly fisher's, spin fisher's, bait fisher's etc.) there are no restrictions on membership and even idiots can join........The good news is your son is only 3 and he'll forget this incident and you'll enjoy many years of fun on the water with him...........

Then don't stop there..........No skiing, kayaking, hiking, canoeing, swimming, picincking, camping or windsurfing....In fact maybe people shouldn't be allowed to stop in the parks........In fact maybe they should not even be allowed to go into the parks...........Now there's a solution that will restore purity........Damn people, anyway, always wanting to "use" stuff..........

Ouch!!......Didn't take that long to draw lightning..........Arrogant damn flyfishers!!........

Parks runs the park (provincial) but it is possible that Don Shaw owns the campsite......Jurisdiction for all but the campsite, however, is Parks.......

That's a sign that could do some good......but yer right Don, it likely won't pass the "Parks" test........

I'll enroll in the remedial reading course right away.......

I think I read it right.........You see the Quality Lakes as "private" lakes which will get little enforcement time from F&W.......I'm saying these lakes should get priority over put and take..........

Which is where I have an issue with Taco's comment........Why patrol put and take lakes??.......But, sure as hell we should patrol the few Quality Fisheries we have, and streams, to ensure that the high angler value resources are being respected.......... By the way, the issue with signs at Police is that Parks apparently don't like signs.......Clive and I posted 8 signs at the lake in advance of the new regs two years ago and Parks removed all but two......As well, we need to get that *&^%$^%$ fish cleaning eyesore out of the parking lot as it is in basic contradition with the new regs.........Parks agreed with that comment but are yet to do something about it.........

Huh??

I'm just wondering how many of you have fished at Police Outpost in the last couple of years since the regulations were changed to delayed harvest..........Am wondering about your thoughts on whether the signage informing anglers of the new regulations is adequate......

Good idea.........Now get it going!........Write to your MLA.......Write to Ted Morton..........Write to the Premier...........Go to a AFGA meeting and make a motion............Attend a TU meeting and agree to take it on as a project.........As DA said, it takes doing, not talking...........At the end of the day, all the bitching and carping and the spewing forth of great ideas on this Board accomplishes nothing unless someone steps up and gets it done...........

pm sent.........

We need to live with the reality of volunteers/funding. While it would be nice to have someone on every vulnerable piece of water it isn't practical through SW. We barely had enough for one officer in 2009. And no, these student officers patrol the rivers--they don't just "sit in the parking lot and wait for someone to show up"........One of the main reasons we need Stream Watch is that they are dedicated to fisheries and don't get called out on hunting issues, bear alerts etc. etc. as do the regular F&W guys...........We all know we need more enforcement but unless you have a really big cheque book it ain't quite that easy..........As DA says, there won't be $1 more for enforcement through F&W so it's up to us...........And yes, Brian, I think the hiring crew might look at a Law Enforcement student with the right maturity, interest and credentials..........I would be glad to make Kevin aware of your interest so that you could interview this spring if you're interested....... Al.....

I've been busy------haven't checked the FFC Board in a while..........You're right, Terry, we WILL suffer donor fatigue and in fact we did this year..........The FFC auction this year raised just short of $6K compared to $10K last year.......Individual cash donations were almost non existent this year...........We DO publish a formal Stream Watch report each year detailing our activities including angler checks, tickets, warnings, etc........Check the website and anyone can get a copy if they wish.........The report for 2009 will be out sometime in January....... There have been a lot of good points made but the reality is that it is what it is and whining and bitching about it doesn't accomplish much.........Therefore, as concerned anglers, if we feel we need to have some dedicated "officers" on some of our more vulnerable fisheries, Stream Watch is one way to accomplish that......I'm sure there may be other ways as well and would welcome any and all suggestions........Sure, we should all fight for more enforecement and more protection of our resource but as Neil Waugh said, it's really up to us and the organizations we support to get it done, recognising the reality of the way it is.......... We are continuing to pursue ALL the various options to inject more government funding into the Stream Watch program to supplement corporate and angler donations.......After meeting with Ted Morton in August 2008 we were "encouraged" to apply for funding through the Alberta Lotties program, which we did.......Unfortunately we have yet to hear the result of our application but are hopeful that it will be positive and will supplement 2010 S.W. acitivities..........There is a plethora of government programs which, if you have the time to get throught the sticky tape, could help....... In southern Alberta we need 2 Stream Watch officers to protect the Oldman/Livingstone and Castle/Carbondale drainages........When we start our fundraising push for 2010 I hope everyone who believes in Stream Watch will be there to help....... Cheers...... Al....

Happy B'Day Greg........We still haven't made the walk 'n wade...........Someday!!

Thanks.......60 is good.......Caught a nice tarpon a few days ago to celebrate......Plan to catch another one when I'm 70 as well..........And when I'm 80 as well...... Al......

Nice!!.......... :)

Great discussion and some really good points........Just as an interesting note, many of our corporate sponsors, mainly resource companies, do NOT want their funding used for enforcement, only education........If Stream Watch was simply an enforcement arm, we would not have the committment we have from many who pay the bills.......... Cheers....... Al........

Good question..........Our Stream Watch officers take some serious training on how and when to give a ticket/warning and then, in every instance, they need to use discretion......We're lucky to have Jeff for two reasons: 1) He's a bit more "mature" (older) than a typical Stream Watch officer out of college, and 2) He's got experience on the job from last year........It's a fine balance between laying on a ticket and fine or writing a warning and it takes some maturity and experience to assess the situation and make the call............By the way, they issue a written warning so there is a record and if the offender is caught a second time they can determine it's a second offence and that may impact the severity of the fine.........Clive travelled a day with Jeff last year and was very impressed with how he managed the delicate balance of education and enforcement........

Hi Everyone.......... Below is Jeff's report for May........As you know May is pretty slow on the streams........Good news is Jeff hit the ground running and his report for June should be more active....... Al.... Stream Watch Report for the Month of May Jeff Cox Blairmore District, Southern Rockies Region Hi Allan; everything here is going good. I have got all my equipment back again and ready to go. I just picked up the Stream watch truck yesterday from Barry. Kirk has ordered a radio for the truck so it should be 100% functional soon. This report is for all of May just because there is not a lot to report on in May with DT and getting all the equipment ready along with the truck issue, but that said I am fired up and ready to hit the streams as soon as they are open. I am sure glad to return this year, so now I can hit the road running and not waste any time. Just go out there on the streams right away. My next report will be just after the 15 of June. I guess I will see you at the clean up on the 6 of June. Talk to you soon Jeff March 30 – May 7 – Defensive training in Hinton May 8 - Office work and gathering up all equipment needed. May 9 – DOR 1 May 10 – DOR 2 May 11 – DOR 1 May 12 – DOR 2 May 13 – Angler checks on Crowsnest Lake, Crowsnest River, and Burmis area. No violations May14 – May long weekend meeting at Ranger station. Patrolled Castle area. No violations. May15 – Angler check at Burmis area. Check stop on road way into Beaver Mines for 4 hours. Was able to check 6 fisherman and 4 Turkey hunters during check stop. May 16 – Patrolled Castle area. At castle Falls I noticed a small boy and a man beside the river. The boy was carrying a fish. When they where approached the male did not have a licence and did not know that the river was closed. The boy was only 3 years old and did not understand why he could not keep his fish (his first fish he ever caught). So, he was told that if he promised to eat the fish he could keep it. The male was charged with fishing in closed waters and given a written warning for barbed hooks. May 17 – Patrolled Castle area and Beaver mines area. No angler violations May 18 – Statutory holiday May 19 – DOR 1 May 20 – DOR 2 May 21 – P.A.R.E. test in Lethbridge. Time 3:55 May 22 – Checked 3 fishermen at Phillips Lake. Checked 1 fish. No violations. May 23 – Checked all of Crowsnest River. Checked a total of 8 fishermen. No violations. May 24 – Checked all of Crowsnest River for anglers none found. No violations May 25 – Office. No patrols May 26 – Checked a male fishing Chinook Lake upon inspection of his gear he had barbed hooks. He was given a written warning. He caught 2 rainbow trout. May 27 – No patrols. Office May 28 - Patrolled Crowsnest River with fisheries biologist Mathew Coombs and showed him were all the anglers’ fish for his upcoming creel survey this summer. May 29 – Office. No patrols May 30 – DOR 1 May 31 – DOR 2

I think if we want to have more Quality Fisheries we need to address at the same time the "needs" or as some call them "rights" of others to kill some fish in put and take fisheries..........Why not overstock a few and up the limit to 10 fish??..........That will move the meat fishermen to fewer places, it will allow kids to catch and kill some fish and it will take pressure off some other waters.......I don't know Allen Bill Pond but I don't think reducing the limit there will go down with folks very well........(I have a bit of experience with Police )..........Overstocking might be a better solution.......

Badger windy??.........I can hardly believe that!!..........Clive and I call it the "Badger Breeze"........Seems to always be there when we are.......... Don't give up..........There are lots of places to find pike right now.......But your thoughts of having a screaming reel even on a good pike are not likely to come true..........They fight hard but seldom do they make blistering runs..........Usually on a good fish they'll run a bit when first hooked and then it's like being hooked on to a 'gator...........Lots of head shakes and a big pike has lots of bulk to push you around.......I remember when I caught my first really big pike (40+ inches) in a pontoon boat and the thoughts that went through my mind when I saw her close to the boat........Thoughts like "what the hell am I gonna do now??"............Have fun!!

Ouch!!

Sorry to hear that Lynn........I hope it will be back to normal soon, whatever normal is.....Thanks again for all your help with Stream Watch.......Guess the patch wasn't kidding when they said they were "out of funds" for this year..........