And To Finish Off July

[DonAndersen]

Folks,

 

Got back from Whiteswan and had a couple of days to prepare the trailer for a cutthroat expedition to SE BC and SW AB. We left Thursday with some doubt that SE BC streams would be fishable. Things looked good on the way south Highwood nearly clear, Oldman clear, Crow clear and over the border to Alexander - whoo - high but clear and headed up Michel and it was high and clear as well. Went up as far as Corbin. Clear all the way. Off to Sparwood and the campground. Checked in, licenses bought, supper fixed and now for some peace and quiet. Well, that didn't happen. Traffic all night but we survived and headed up to Michel in the AM. Parked in one of the turn-outs and headed downstream intending to fish back. It was tough but we found some.

 

 

They were good fish too.

 

 

Even upstream it was OK with decent sized fish.

 

 

But it was definitely slow fishing with <20 landed between the two of us.

 

So after a couple of days of slipping and sliding on Michel's slippery rocks, we headed to the Crow for groceries, gas, lunch and beer before heading north to Dutch Creek Campground.

 

If you get a chance, there is a fine small town restaurant in old downtown Coleman called Chris's Restaurant. Great food, lots of it and decent pricing.

 

We kinda poked along letting the weekenders head home and hopefully we'd get a good spot. They did and so did we. Camp set up and we headed north to check things out. Started on the Livingstone a couple of miles north of the falls. Walked downstream and fished back.

 

Got a kick outta the habitat additions to the stream.

 

 

It was hotter than a cracker out there. Needed to cool things down. A side spring sure felt great.

 

 

The afternoon wasn't up to much with only 3 landed. Did find a sack full of garbage though. Beer cans everywhere + fireworks leavings.

 

The next morning fishing got better.

 

 

We fished the Livingstone for the next few days. A dry/dropper seemed to work best early in the day.

 

Either a CCF

 

 

Or a BM

 

 

Were used as the dry as both are nearly imposable to sink. The droppers were either bead head PT's or small caddis larva.

 

I got some.

 

 

And Kevin got some.

 

 

And every now and then something neat walked by.

 

 

Plus of course, FF types who obviously sucked up too many suds left this hanging in a tree.

 

 

And every now and then we had this happen.

 

 

And probably the best part, we discovered new places. This was a tributary to the Livingstone.

 

 

After 4 days on the Livingstone we gave the Oldman a try. Worked up high for lots of little fish and down low for more larger ones. Wasn't real good anywhere.

Still it was the last day. Saturday - home to shower & shave.

 

And so ends July. From here to there & back again.

 

 

catch ya'

 

Don

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CopperJonny]

Glad you fellas had fun .... Thanks for sharing

[Hawgstoppah]

nice! yeah everything loks so high and cold almost, looks like the last week of June up there still!

 

[Simpson]

Great report and story Don. Heading south myself next weekend, can't wait!

[SilverDoctor]

Great Post Don looks like you had a ton of fun. Can't wait to bring out my bamboo for small stream.

[Keith]

Thanks for the post Don

[Muffin]

Thanks Don, great pictures and story. Looks like a great time.

 

[troutguy]

Very Nice Mr. Anderson. Well done report. Short, sweet and entertaining.

[SteveM]

Nicely done, Don!

I quite enjoyed these three recent posts here in the Photo section.

Feel free to share more; an SBS for that BM fly would be nice...

 

[DonA]

Bob...

 

I understand a BM ((stands for bowel movement - after all it's brown and floats) but what the devil is an SBS?

 

Regards,

 

Don

[SteveM]

Bob...

 

I understand a BM ((stands for bowel movement - after all it's brown and floats) but what the devil is an SBS?

 

Regards,

 

Don

 

Sorry, Don; I thought you were hip to all the Interwebs jargon.

SBS= step by step (description of how to tie this fly)

 

Looks like a fish-catcher, that one!

 

[RDevonshire]

Awesome trip story and photos, what was the fourth pic of? Otter?

[DonAndersen]

RDevonshire,

 

For some idiot reason there are jerks that throw tires into streams. This one @ least provides some cover.

 

And this is what Otters look like. This one was seen on a local stream.

 

 

 

[RDevonshire]

Ok lol, that pic was confusing a lil thanks, and kudos to you for cleaning up the waters your fishing at. I do the same on the bow but its never ending...