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That's gotta be an "after" picture, Clive............She looks soooooooooo happy!!!........Could be anticipation I suppose.......

The successful launch of Stream Watch in SW Alberta was very gratifying and the support and contributions from many on this Board helped make it happen........The trout of the Oldman and Livingstone thank you all!!........ Also, the change of reg's on Police Lake, the spring fishout and then seeing how well it is coming along this fall made all the meetings, letter writing and lobbying seem worthwhile.......Perhaps most encouraging is the move by SRD to work towards designating some lakes in ALL regions as Quality Fisheries..........Our voices are being heard loud and clear........ Catching my first tarpon on the fly (a popper by the way, and more than one tarpon!) was a highlight for me.......... Best of the Season to all of you.... Al...

I had a bad run of problems with Bell a few weeks back...........Seemed I was on the phone with them every day for a while..........Finally have it back to some semblance of normal but I can sure identify with you on the frustration that goes with dealing with them........I rent a and HD receiver and a HD PVR from them and the receiver was acting up but the PVR was fine.......I called them and told them I wanted a new receiver as I's had trouble with it for some time...........A delightful little Punjabi guy did some checking and his answer was " you are not the only one having that problem. It is the problem with the satellite software for that receiver and they are redeveloping it".......I told him that he should replace that receiver with one that didn't have the software problem and he said "you are not the only one having that problem. It is the problem with the satellite software for that receiver and they are redeveloping it.".......(I'm sure I haven't got the accent quite correct but you can fill it it!!).....After ca couple more attempts and the same answer, he asked "are you satisfied with my answer to your question?"..........I aksed why I should be happy that "I was not the only one having this problem" but he didn't get it............Too much fun........

TU National Office has provided money to Stream Watch........Not sure where the funds come from.......To my knowldge, the Bow River Chapter of TU had not contributed to SW and are they not the sponsors of the Fall Splash?? As for 420's question on what the average angler can do, you can be involved in the Stewardship program with a $300 over three years and we can all be diligent in using the R.A.P. line when we see violations on stream.......

Dave.... T.U manages all the Streamwatch funds, takes donations and issues tax receipts........For that they charge us a 5% admin. fee.......We made the decision this year to fund ALL Stream Watch activities out of one budget rather than keeping them separate by drainage........Other than that the program is as it was when it was first set up---just expanded to include more of the east slopes.......... Al.....

Thanks Doug..........Funny you should mention the TD Friends of the Environment fund..........I am a former TD employee and one of our committee members is still in their employ so we have tapped them hard!!.......Absolutley this is the kind of info. we need though, as there are lots of these groups out there that we should be approaching........Thanks for keeping an eye.......... Al...

Almost a new year and I suspect 2008 may be one that many will be glad to see in the rear view mirror........It had some positives though, not the least of which was the ongoing success of the Stream Watch program and it's introduction into Southern Alberta on the Upper Oldman and Livingstone rivers.......The 2008 annual report for Stream Watch will be available in early January and will be posted on this forum..... The costs to have a Stream Watch officer on-stream from mid-May through September for 2009 is estimated at $40,000.......This is up due to a need to replenish some capital, specifically vehicles.......As a result of the increased costs we are uncertain as to the number of officers we will be able to fund........We absolutely need to ensure that we maintain our presence on the Oldman/Livingstone and if possible we would like to place a second officer in the Castle/Carbondale drainage, funding permitted..... We have some funds carried over from last year's successful campaign and we are waiting for SRD's response to request from them for funding assistance for the program. The OMR Chapter of Trout Unlimited has committed $5000 in funds for 2009 and our committee has already started it's search for corporate donors..........We plan to run the online auction once again as well as a dedicated Stream Watch raffle...... As we head into Christmas and the New Year, please keep Streamwatch in mind........As in the past, the Stream Watch Stewardship program is asking anglers to committ to a $300 donation over 3 years so please think of this as a potential Christmas gift for yourself or for the "fisher-person who has everything".....Donations can be made by contacting Kimberly Davidson at Trout Unlimited, Calgary Office 1-800-909-6040.....Mention that your donation is for the Alberta Stream Watch program.....All donations are tax deductible of course.......... Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and tight lines in 2009!! Al...

I'm just back from Portugal and I'm having trouble staying warm INDOORS!!.......Gonna have to miss it as I have the kids coming down from Edmonton for an early Xmas as there's work in the forecast for them for Xmas day.......Were it not for that I'd go just for the hot chocolate and hot dogs with Harps and Terry----and maybe a dram of Scotch.........Have fun if you go!! Al.....

I couldn't agree more..........I hear the Stamps traded Burris right after the party yesterday..........And both Iginla and Bertuzzi are headed to Phoenix as of this morning...........No, no room for sarcasm on this board........

When you don't know you're getting your chain pulled the best way to tell the world is to write an insulting post..........Great way to announce that you're new to the board........ :$*%&:

Maybe not just Esleech...........

Agree fully with your last comment Tim..........If SRD moves aggressively and establishes more Quality Fisheries based on their draft proposal then it would be possible to have various objectives---i.e. some lakes with low catch rates but very large fish and some with a good balance of numbers and size....The problem at the moment is there are so few lakes, of the total number of stocked lakes, that are managed outside of the conventional reg's that there simply aren't enough alternatives to go 'round....... I am concerned with Don's previous comment (either on this thread or the QF one) that the Quality Fisheries proposal may be implemented hard in some regions and not so much in others........I would like to see a minimum number of QF lakes in each region as per the initial proposal.......... Cheers..... Al....

I agree with most of what my esteemed fishing partner has said, specifically: 1) There is no evidence that food deprivation is a factor in BH and with current stocking rates at less than half of previous levels I don't think that is the cause of reduced fish size.......By the way, Police Lake stocking rates are down almost 2/3 of previous and that should certainly allow sustainability of big fish. 2) Increasing kill rates is not likely the answer but either increasing the size limit to whatever is deemed appropriate (24"??) or removing it altogether to allow 1 fish of any size would be a possible solution. Complete C&R might be a solution although not likely to pass the controversy test and given the proximity of other kill lakes to Bullshead even I would have trouble supporting this notion. 3) Poaching is still a problem and will likely continue to be a problem. While most anglers at BH are playing nice some will continue to kill illegal fish, kill too many fish, fish with bait increasing mortality and cull. 4) Most people overestimate fish size and as Dryfly points out, unless you measure them you should likely deduct 2 inches from your estimate. Bloom posted the results of the Quality Fisheries Survey a few days ago which showed overwhelming support for more QF's. Only by increasing the number of QF's in the province and thus spreading some of the angling pressure around are we likely to achieve what most of us want which is to catch reasonable numbers of decent fish per angling hour spent with a reasonable chance to catch a really big fish. Let's hope SRD takes heed of their survey and moves quickly to identify and establish some more alternatives.......

Thanks for posting, Tim....I wonder if the bait/ice/kill fishermen will complain about the survey only being sent to "elitist fly fishermen" for completion and thus the overwhelming results in favour of more QF's or if there really is a change among the general angling population?.......Anyway, the results are encouraging and now we need to see an action plan by fisheries with regard to making it all happen.......... Al...

Good Job!!..........We need to keep an eye and report the bad guys.......

Better late than never..................Happy B'Day!! Al......

Well done guys!!...............It's sure nice to see a post like this which is such a positive for the Stream Watch Auction..........I hope everyone who guided/bought trips etc. will continue to share thier stories........Thanks..... Al...

I think it's a judgement call, bcube........I got the final report from Jeff for August and he had a situation where it was the opposite---a warning for barbs (2 hooks on a treble pinched and 1 not) and a ticket for bait...........(They were hiding the bait can in the bushes behind them but Jeff saw them from his position).......Jeff has a very mature attitude and good training so I definitely trust his judgement........ Al.....

Funny!!!...........The resembelance is amazing!!...............Maybe Wilford has a long lost son..........

Hey, glad you got that posted Clive.........We need to start building momentum for our fundraising efforts for 2009...........We need 2 officers in the south in '09 so we need to raise more money!!............I know everyone on the Board will help again and your report shows just how effective the SW program is and how much it's needed!! Al....

You might be giving yourself a bit more credit than is due but that's o.k........The policy is actually a result of lobbying and letter writing by many people, the visible success of Bullshead, Beaver, Ironside and soon Police, several Roundtable meetings and finally the realization by SRD that anglers deserve more choice.......No matter who's to "blame" the key now is to have as many people as possible voice their opinions on the new policy and hopefully move to more quality fisheries throughout the province............

You're right on..........The whole CO2 thing is more *hit than substance..........Beneficial, yes, and to the extent that reductions of manmade will prevent climate change, well, come on!!..........This issue along with biofuels will ultimatley result in a far worse disaster upon the earth than pending climate change..........We're spenidng trillions$$ that could actually be spent helping people have clean water or food to eat and the impact will be negligible if any...........What a crime........ :$*%&:

I'm with you............Guess Sutter signed him for only one year so they can leave together........

Yup, think that's correct for area...........Maybe a bit big---we actually talked about 0 for this year---but a whole lot better than the 132,000 it's had for the last number of years........

No, cleaner AND larger when the benefit of the new reg's kicks in!!