Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Simms is here at last!
Just received a massive shipment of waders and boots from Simms.
We're about as fully stocked as you can get,
and have the best selection in Calgary (if not all of Canada)
In addition we got a whole bunch of Simms knick knacks, some of which are shown below.
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| Simms Packs in Camo |
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| Simms Headwaters Reel Cases |
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| Simms Ulralight Shirts-Redesigned for 2011 |
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| Simms FlyAway Shirts |
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| Simms Guide Jacket in Black/Olive |
Friday, May 27, 2011
Bring on Runoff
That's right, we LIKE runoff.
Runoff gives us clean bottoms. If you fished the city last August, you'll have noticed the vast amount of weeds that were taking over the river. Not only does this make it damn hard to fish, but give a week of 30-40 degree weather and we'd have been in trouble with fish kills, etc.
Runoff pushes fish to the banks, and they realise they like it there. And we like it when they're on the bank.
Runoff gives the fish a break from us (well, it used to). It's nice to let the fish have a break now and then, and having zero visibility certainly lends a hand.
Runoff fattens up our fish, and removes the slackers. Catch a fish immediately after runoff, it will likely be the fattest trout of the year, and attached to a rocket. Natural selection at it's greatest.
So we're all for a big ol' clean. Just don't flood anyone out (or ask us when it'll occur)!
Runoff gives us clean bottoms. If you fished the city last August, you'll have noticed the vast amount of weeds that were taking over the river. Not only does this make it damn hard to fish, but give a week of 30-40 degree weather and we'd have been in trouble with fish kills, etc.
Runoff pushes fish to the banks, and they realise they like it there. And we like it when they're on the bank.
Runoff fattens up our fish, and removes the slackers. Catch a fish immediately after runoff, it will likely be the fattest trout of the year, and attached to a rocket. Natural selection at it's greatest.
So we're all for a big ol' clean. Just don't flood anyone out (or ask us when it'll occur)!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Just Arrived From Waterworks Lamson
Got a huge shipment (much needed) from Waterworks today.
Fully restocked on all the reels. The first two shipments of Vanquish reels in Trout sizes sold
out really quickly but we have all sizes of Vanquish in stock now!
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| Litespeed Reels and Spools |
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| Guru Reels and Spools |
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| Konic Reels and Spools |
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| Vanquish-from V4/5 all the way up to V12 |
Tim Swailes' First Permit
Congratulations to Tim on his first ever Permit, caught a few weeks ago in Southern Belize.
Finally got his fishing partner to send me a copy.
"Copy of Tim’s permit attached (not sure if the grin is permit or beer induced)."
Finally got his fishing partner to send me a copy.
"Copy of Tim’s permit attached (not sure if the grin is permit or beer induced)."
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
FISHING REPORTS
Bow River Report –May 24, 2011
After a pretty good clearing trend on the Bow last week conditions have degraded noticeably. Over the weekend the visibility, even in the city above Fish Creek, started to get worse. All of the tributaries (Elbow, Fish Creek, and the Highwood) are starting to bust loose.
The Sheep and Highwood more than doubled their flow yesterday and are very dirty. The Elbow, after running quite clear, is pretty dirty now as well.
The Bow at Banff has started to rise, from about 25 cms a few days ago, to 62 cms this morning.
Forecasts call for rain through Monday so if you wondered when runoff was coming it will likely hit at its fullest in the next week to ten days, barring any weird weather events.
This is, in our opinion, a good thing, the Bow is due for a significant runoff, not seeing one since 2005. It cleans things up, moves fish to the banks and more interesting structures, and provides a ton of food for them to put on weight. A lot of people shy away from the river in high water but when the water stabilizes and starts to drop, with anything more than 6-12 inches of visibility, the fishing can be spectacular. You can normally expect that around the middle of June.
If you are hard core, a large San Juan Worm with a lot of lead can be very effective in these conditions.
Normally only cover the Bow in this report but circumstances dictate an expansion….
A lot of anglers have been out trying the Pike fishing south and east of Calagry. It’s been OK but not great. The next round of warm, sunny weather should turn on the Pike fishing as the water in the shallow bays warms up.
The ice has not been off of Hector Lake for very long. Kevin stopped in there over the weekend and says there were a few fish winter killed but only saw a few.
Supposedly they left the aerators on so it could be very good in the coming weeks. They are also planning on releasing more fish in the next couple of weeks.
Hatches: Midges, BWO’s, Caddis, March Browns
Streamers: ¼ Pound Bugger-Brown #4, Clouser Deep Minnow-Black #2, Geek Leech-Purple #4, Darth Zonker-Black #2, Bush’s Town Run, Dirk Wiggler-Black, Articulated leech-Black, Jawbreaker-Black
Nymphs: Reese’s Pieces #8, San Juanabe Worm #6, Yeager’s TB Soft Hackle-Hares Ear #14, Morrish Conestone-Golden #6, Morrish WMD-Golden Stone #8, Tungsten Soft Hackle-Pheasant Tail #14
Dry Flies: Yeager’s Neversink Gnat #20, Palomino Midge-Black #18,
Quigley’s Film Critic-BWO #18, Quigley’s Loop Wing Dun - BWO #18
Crowsnest River Report – May 24, 2011
The Crow continues to run at over 20 cms and their snowpack has only started to drop slightly. Unless we get extended freezing at high altitudes, or some sort of miracle, I would expect the Crowsnest to be out for a little while.
Looks like the Salmonfly hatch might go unmolested this year.
All of the snow accumulations south of Racehorse are incredibly high so a significant runoff is almost a certainty.
Summit Lake did see a major winter kill. It’s not even a nice place to be right now with a lot of dead fish littering the water edges.
There are sectional closures on the Crow until June. Check the regulations before heading out.
Hatches: BWO, Salmonflies
Streamers: Brunette Leech, Chamois Leech.
Nymphs: Pheasant-Tail, Hare's Ear, Copper John, Tung Stud, and San Juan Worm
Dries: Quigley’s Film Critic-BWO #18, Quigley’s Loop Wing Dun - BWO #18, Hopper-Popper-Golden #6, Chenobyl Ant-Brown/Tan #6
High Country River Report – May 24, 2011
The high country streams are now closed until June 2011.
Hatches: ?
Streamers:
Nymphs:
Dries:
After a pretty good clearing trend on the Bow last week conditions have degraded noticeably. Over the weekend the visibility, even in the city above Fish Creek, started to get worse. All of the tributaries (Elbow, Fish Creek, and the Highwood) are starting to bust loose.
The Sheep and Highwood more than doubled their flow yesterday and are very dirty. The Elbow, after running quite clear, is pretty dirty now as well.
The Bow at Banff has started to rise, from about 25 cms a few days ago, to 62 cms this morning.
Forecasts call for rain through Monday so if you wondered when runoff was coming it will likely hit at its fullest in the next week to ten days, barring any weird weather events.
This is, in our opinion, a good thing, the Bow is due for a significant runoff, not seeing one since 2005. It cleans things up, moves fish to the banks and more interesting structures, and provides a ton of food for them to put on weight. A lot of people shy away from the river in high water but when the water stabilizes and starts to drop, with anything more than 6-12 inches of visibility, the fishing can be spectacular. You can normally expect that around the middle of June.
If you are hard core, a large San Juan Worm with a lot of lead can be very effective in these conditions.
Normally only cover the Bow in this report but circumstances dictate an expansion….
A lot of anglers have been out trying the Pike fishing south and east of Calagry. It’s been OK but not great. The next round of warm, sunny weather should turn on the Pike fishing as the water in the shallow bays warms up.
The ice has not been off of Hector Lake for very long. Kevin stopped in there over the weekend and says there were a few fish winter killed but only saw a few.
Supposedly they left the aerators on so it could be very good in the coming weeks. They are also planning on releasing more fish in the next couple of weeks.
Hatches: Midges, BWO’s, Caddis, March Browns
Streamers: ¼ Pound Bugger-Brown #4, Clouser Deep Minnow-Black #2, Geek Leech-Purple #4, Darth Zonker-Black #2, Bush’s Town Run, Dirk Wiggler-Black, Articulated leech-Black, Jawbreaker-Black
Nymphs: Reese’s Pieces #8, San Juanabe Worm #6, Yeager’s TB Soft Hackle-Hares Ear #14, Morrish Conestone-Golden #6, Morrish WMD-Golden Stone #8, Tungsten Soft Hackle-Pheasant Tail #14
Dry Flies: Yeager’s Neversink Gnat #20, Palomino Midge-Black #18,
Quigley’s Film Critic-BWO #18, Quigley’s Loop Wing Dun - BWO #18
Crowsnest River Report – May 24, 2011
The Crow continues to run at over 20 cms and their snowpack has only started to drop slightly. Unless we get extended freezing at high altitudes, or some sort of miracle, I would expect the Crowsnest to be out for a little while.
Looks like the Salmonfly hatch might go unmolested this year.
All of the snow accumulations south of Racehorse are incredibly high so a significant runoff is almost a certainty.
Summit Lake did see a major winter kill. It’s not even a nice place to be right now with a lot of dead fish littering the water edges.
There are sectional closures on the Crow until June. Check the regulations before heading out.
Hatches: BWO, Salmonflies
Streamers: Brunette Leech, Chamois Leech.
Nymphs: Pheasant-Tail, Hare's Ear, Copper John, Tung Stud, and San Juan Worm
Dries: Quigley’s Film Critic-BWO #18, Quigley’s Loop Wing Dun - BWO #18, Hopper-Popper-Golden #6, Chenobyl Ant-Brown/Tan #6
High Country River Report – May 24, 2011
The high country streams are now closed until June 2011.
Hatches: ?
Streamers:
Nymphs:
Dries:
Monday, May 23, 2011
Summer Hours Start Today!
Summer hours commence today and continue until Thanksgiving.
Hours for the shop as follows:
Monday to Friday: 8 AM to 6 PM
Saturdays: 8 AM to 5 PM
Sundays and Holidays: 8 AM to 4 PM
Seemed to take forever, but it's that time of year again.
Happy Fishing!
Hours for the shop as follows:
Monday to Friday: 8 AM to 6 PM
Saturdays: 8 AM to 5 PM
Sundays and Holidays: 8 AM to 4 PM
Seemed to take forever, but it's that time of year again.
Happy Fishing!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Short Video Of A Tarpon Eat
Shot last week in Florida by John Bonin. Darren Soice hooks up on a Tarpon.
Bad language, viewer discretion advised.
Thanks Guys!
Bad language, viewer discretion advised.
Thanks Guys!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Spey Casting
It is kind of cool to watch. Thankfully, with digital photography, we can shoot enough frames to find one or two that don't make us look like hacks!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
More Photos From The Skeena
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| Caity's First Day, First Fish |
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| Pretty awesome first fish! |
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| Especially considering she spends most of her time doing this...... |
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| Or This! |
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| Brent spent all week nattering about catching a Chinook. He finally got this on Friday......Very Nice! |
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Photos From Machaca Hill
One of the groups down to Machaca Hill, Belize just got back. Weather was a kind of tough with some bad light, wind, all the stuff that make it tough. As usual, all attending thought Machaca was top flight!
Curtis Bartlett forwarded us these:
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| Curtis' first Snook! |
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| Jen Bartlett with a River Tarpon! |
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| Curt got a Permit! |
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
FISHING REPORTS
Bow River Report –May 17, 2011
One constant of late is the wind, ever present from the south and southeast this week. When it has lain down there have been lots of bugs and some fish eating them.
Nymphs and streamers continue to produce. The river continues to improve as spring progresses.
The Highwood continues to pump in very dirty water so fishing below the confluence is maybe not the best idea. Above the confluence is more than fishable.
Hatches: Midges, BWO’s
Streamers: ¼ Pound Bugger-Brown #4, Clouser Deep Minnow-Black #2, Geek Leech-Purple #4, Darth Zonker-Black #2, Bush’s Town Run, Dirk Wiggler-Black, Articulated leech-Black, Jawbreaker-Black
Nymphs: Reese’s Pieces #8, San Juanabe Worm #6, Yeager’s TB Soft Hackle-Hares Ear #14, Morrish Conestone-Golden #6, Morrish WMD-Golden Stone #8, Tungsten Soft Hackle-Pheasant Tail #14
Dry Flies: Yeager’s Neversink Gnat #20, Palomino Midge-Black #18,
Quigley’s Film Critic-BWO #18, Quigley’s Loop Wing Dun - BWO #18
Crowsnest River Report – May 17, 2011
The Crow is pretty much pooched! Very high, dirty water, and the higher snowmelt hasn’t even started yet.
There are sectional closures on the Crow until June. Check the regulations before heading out.
Hatches: Midges, BWO, Little Black Stoneflies
Streamers: Brunette Leech, Chamois Leech.
Nymphs: Pheasant-Tail, Hare's Ear, Copper John, Tung Stud, and San Juan Worm
Dries: Silvey’s Hatching Midge, Quigley’s Cluster, Quigley’s Film Critic-BWO #18, Quigley’s Loop Wing Dun - BWO #18
High Country River Report – May 17, 2011
The high country streams are now closed until June 2011.
Hatches: ?
Streamers:
Nymphs:
Dries:
One constant of late is the wind, ever present from the south and southeast this week. When it has lain down there have been lots of bugs and some fish eating them.
Nymphs and streamers continue to produce. The river continues to improve as spring progresses.
The Highwood continues to pump in very dirty water so fishing below the confluence is maybe not the best idea. Above the confluence is more than fishable.
Hatches: Midges, BWO’s
Streamers: ¼ Pound Bugger-Brown #4, Clouser Deep Minnow-Black #2, Geek Leech-Purple #4, Darth Zonker-Black #2, Bush’s Town Run, Dirk Wiggler-Black, Articulated leech-Black, Jawbreaker-Black
Nymphs: Reese’s Pieces #8, San Juanabe Worm #6, Yeager’s TB Soft Hackle-Hares Ear #14, Morrish Conestone-Golden #6, Morrish WMD-Golden Stone #8, Tungsten Soft Hackle-Pheasant Tail #14
Dry Flies: Yeager’s Neversink Gnat #20, Palomino Midge-Black #18,
Quigley’s Film Critic-BWO #18, Quigley’s Loop Wing Dun - BWO #18
Crowsnest River Report – May 17, 2011
The Crow is pretty much pooched! Very high, dirty water, and the higher snowmelt hasn’t even started yet.
There are sectional closures on the Crow until June. Check the regulations before heading out.
Hatches: Midges, BWO, Little Black Stoneflies
Streamers: Brunette Leech, Chamois Leech.
Nymphs: Pheasant-Tail, Hare's Ear, Copper John, Tung Stud, and San Juan Worm
Dries: Silvey’s Hatching Midge, Quigley’s Cluster, Quigley’s Film Critic-BWO #18, Quigley’s Loop Wing Dun - BWO #18
High Country River Report – May 17, 2011
The high country streams are now closed until June 2011.
Hatches: ?
Streamers:
Nymphs:
Dries:
Monday, May 16, 2011
Why we like the MOW tips
Got the opportunity to try out the new RIO MOW Heavy tips on our most recent steelhead trip. Here's why I think they should be in everyone's steelhead arsenal.
1. The floating tip actually casts well. Unlike the floating tip of previous skagit kits, these actually can cast a fly without blowing anchors and let you put the fly where you want it. I skated big dries, as well as fished a very long leader and heavy fly for some techy stuff without a problem. The long leader stuff has always been tricky, yet the MOW kit definitely tamed that beast.
2. It's nice to fish shorter tips. I fished the 7.5 T14 w/ 2.5 feet of floating for about 75% of the trip. Not only would I put the depth comparable to between the 15 foot of type 6 and type 8, they cast far easier. When fishing a shorter spey rod (i fished the 7126 TCX exclusively), the longer tips can start to add up on your anchor placement. The MOW tip solved this problem, and made casting all day far more pleasurable.
3. Welded Loops on all tips. This is not only nice for the shop-geek in me (saves me doing a half million nail knots before a trip), but they go through guides easier, and cinch up nicer to the loops of your skagit head. Plus they're damn strong. I had a little 'problem' and left the 10 foot T14 chunk, a 525 skagit and about 10 feet of running line on the bottom. We retrieved it from the boat, and the 30lb running line failed, instead of the tip.
4. Technical water needs a techie solution. One run we fished was maybe 50 feet long, big boulders and maybe 3 feet deep. Pretty well unfishable with a type 3 or 6. Thats where the 2.5 chunk of T14 comes in handy. The long floating section allows great control over your fly, as well as the ability to steer your bug through the grabbiest of sections..
5. Blue floating section. Real easy to see, and real easy to mend. Gotta love tapered tips.
Get yourself a pack, you won't be disappointed.
1. The floating tip actually casts well. Unlike the floating tip of previous skagit kits, these actually can cast a fly without blowing anchors and let you put the fly where you want it. I skated big dries, as well as fished a very long leader and heavy fly for some techy stuff without a problem. The long leader stuff has always been tricky, yet the MOW kit definitely tamed that beast.
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| Fishing a small slot on the far bank |
2. It's nice to fish shorter tips. I fished the 7.5 T14 w/ 2.5 feet of floating for about 75% of the trip. Not only would I put the depth comparable to between the 15 foot of type 6 and type 8, they cast far easier. When fishing a shorter spey rod (i fished the 7126 TCX exclusively), the longer tips can start to add up on your anchor placement. The MOW tip solved this problem, and made casting all day far more pleasurable.
3. Welded Loops on all tips. This is not only nice for the shop-geek in me (saves me doing a half million nail knots before a trip), but they go through guides easier, and cinch up nicer to the loops of your skagit head. Plus they're damn strong. I had a little 'problem' and left the 10 foot T14 chunk, a 525 skagit and about 10 feet of running line on the bottom. We retrieved it from the boat, and the 30lb running line failed, instead of the tip.
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| My first chinook liked the 7.5 t14. No problems with strength here! |
5. Blue floating section. Real easy to see, and real easy to mend. Gotta love tapered tips.
Get yourself a pack, you won't be disappointed.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Yeti Cooler Test
So, I removed a bench out of my jet and installed a Yeti 65 Tundra Cooler with a seat pad this spring.
It's test trip was out to the Skeena area last week and holy sh*&@, they are amazing!
I put about a dozen and a half cold pop and water in the cooler the day before we left. After arriving in Terrace a day and a half later the drinks were still as cold as when they went in.
The seat pad works perfect for running, very comfortable and stable, and it turns out that it also passes Caitlin's "Sleep Test" with flying colors.
If you want to see the line of Tundra coolers, stop in to the shop or you can purchase online at
http://www.countrypleasures.com/store/
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