Some Bugs

Here's a few flies that Brent has been tying in his free time. Doesn't take much of a guess to tell where he's going in a week!
ps. sorry for slacking on the blog! We should have a bunch of photos from Mike's Babine trip next week.

Eastern Rises

Eastern Rises
This awesome new video is now on CP shelves, and on our TVs.
From the same guys that brought us Running Down the Man.

JUST ARRIVED!

You might giggle but it's kind of cool stuff! ........


Squirmy Wormie.
Catch just about any species you want with this revolutionary material. Squirmy works better than Ultra Chenille and Vernille for San Juan Worms, Eggi Juan Kenobis, and Green Weenies. Twitch your rod tip and this stuff jiggles to no end- it drives the fish absolutely bonkers (sometimes). Tip: It is a very tough material as far as stretch, but dont use any glues or adhesives; it will melt the stuff.
Available in several colors.

New DVDs In Stock

"Join us on a crazy flyfishing adventure as Andre' Brun and his photographers go to Jurassic Lake (aka Lago Strobel) – maybe the best place in the world for monster sized trout.

In the first film ever from Jurassic Lake, they discover a unique place in many ways. First of all, we’ve got the lake itself with its cruising rainbow trout by the river mouth, island, and bays, where the large fish will smash your fly as you’ve never felt before! And an hour walk up stream you’ll also find another secret paradise were 10 lb+ trout rise to dry flies in gin clear water.

It is hidden high up in the Patagonian mountains on the border to Chile, a paradise for a flyfisher."

Felt Soul partnered with The Fly Shop to document an epic fly fishing journey to Russia's remote Kamchatka Peninsula. Ben Knight and Travis Rummel continue to set the bar for filmmakers working in this genre. Ryan Peterson and Frank Smethurst get a thumbs up from El Pescador for their roles in the film. The rainbow trout, super kundzha char and bears (real and pretend) get a thumbs up too.

This gets our pick as probably the best video we've seen in a very long time!

New Books In Stock

Marriner has distilled more than 40 years of experiences into this book. For example, Chapter 10 - Patterns, focuses on designs to cope with the range of conditions (e.g., pool type, season, water conditions, & time of day) encountered streamside. Although each design is illustrated with a successful pattern, the intent is to simultaneously educate & encourage innovation. 300+ Color & B&W photos; 8.5x11 inches, 240 pgs.
Expert spey caster Gawesworth shares casts adapted from two-handed spey casting that enable you to fish the challenging spots most anglers skip. Includes: the single spey, double spey, snake roll, snap T, side cast, shepherd’s crook, reach cast, & aerial mends. 400 color photos, 88 illus; 8.5x11 inches, 256 pgs.
A fly tiers reference for tying a new generation of dry flies that have unsurpassed floatation & buoyancy. Learn how new materials & techniques that have the ability to revolutionize how dry flies are tied. Unsinkable dry flies are tied using heat shrink tubing as the basis of an air bubble applied to the hook. Full Color t/out; 8x5 inches, 100 pgs.
Sight-fishing expert teaches you what you need to know to spot the trout before you cast—because if you can see a trout, you are more likely to catch that trout. In this comprehensive book on the tricks & skills anglers need to master, Mayer reveals his knowledge of trout & trout water, learned through years of fishing & guiding on prime trout waters. 36 B&W illus; 235 color photos; 7x9 inches, 208 pgs.

Brilliant!

Simms Sale!!

Some Simms items that are getting re-designs for 2011. So the 2010 models are on sale.
We don't have many left. Sale prices only on remaining 2010 inventory.
Simms Windstopper Softshell Hoody 25% OFF

Simms Freestone Wading Boots 25% OFF

Simms Windstopper Softshell Jacket 25% OFF

Simms Guide Windstopper Jackets 25% OFF

New Fly Tying Tools

Every once in a while (not very often really) something comes along in fly tying that's really good.

The Stonfo fly tying tools would qualify as great new products in fly tying.

Stonfo Short Spring Hackle Pliers
Finally, a hackle plier that holds hackle! The spring is perfect for making sure you don`t snap those expensive dry fly hackles.

Stonfo Elite Disc Drag Bobbin Easy to thread, very smooth, large range of adjustment for that exact thread tension.

Stonfo Dubbing Twister Doesn`t allow the dubbing loop to pull away from twister, perfect tool weight for dubbing loops.

All of these tools are in stock. Stop by the shop to check them out or go to http://www.countrypleasures.com/store/ to order online.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you enjoy your day, giving thanks for assorted things that make your life great... family, friends, Brown Trout, Permit.
Oops, carried away.


It doesn't seem like it should be time (seems like May Caddis fishing was last week)
but after the shop being closed today we open tomorrow on Winter hours.
Monday-Friday: 10 AM to 6 PM
Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM
Sundays: Closed

Thanks for your support to make this another great season!

Eeeek!

Orvis is Homey!

In an effort to expand their demographics and targeted market, Orvis has decided to get rid of the "Chip and Buffy" models of the past. The first of the new catalog models is shown above.

Rumours abound as to who the other new models might be but some names being thrown around are China (from WWF fame), Dennis Rodman, and Paris Hilton.

Kudos to Orvis for this break from their long held style of advertising.

Just Arrived This Week!

We received a large fly tying shipment and it's now all out on the walls.
Some new colors in Rabbit and Strung Guinea.
One cool new item:


Quick-and-simple to tie, this latest innovation in fly tying offers fly fishermen an exciting alternative to using old-style dumbbells or cones to weight their flies. The Fish-Skull’s unique design features, sizes and colors make it a very versatile platform for tying a wide variety of realistic, weighted streamer patterns using natural or synthetic fly tying materials.

You thought jetboats were a pain!

FLY Fishing

FISHING REPORTS

Bow River Report –October 5, 2010

The weather continues to be pretty nice (which we immensely deserve this year).
With the exception of a pretty significant jump in water level late last week, from mountain snowmelt of all things, the fishing has been pretty decent. The levels have dropped way down from where they were Thursday/Friday of last week.

There have been a few pretty stellar Boatman days lately and it will likely continue. If you take your time and look around there have been a fair number of rising fish on Pseudus, Baetis, even Caddis. There have even been a ton of Flying Ants on the water the last couple of days.

This past weekend I had a fair number of eats on an October Caddis so an orange bodied foam bug like the Morrish October Caddis or Orange Mutant Stone is not a bad idea.


Hatches: BWO’s, Water Boatmen, October Caddis

Streamers: Party Boy, Silvey’s Sculpin Leech (Black w/ Olive, White Head), Marabou Clousers, Articulated Leech-Black or Purple, Kiwi Muddler

Nymphs: Hogan’s Chubby Cousin, Bloom’s Tung Dart, Chamois Leech, Tung Stud, TB Super Pupa, Peacock Water Boatman, Fox’s Water Boatman

Dry Flies: Bloom’s Parachute Caddis, Bloom’s CDC Caddis, Berrett’s Barred Leg-Golden Stone, Neversink Stone Popper, Chubby Chernobyl, FrankenHopper, Etha Wing Dun-BWO, Mutant Stone-Orange.

Crowsnest River Report – October 5, 2010

Things are all back to normal on the Crow again. Clear and a LOT lower. Reports from the past few days have been quite good. Typical of this time of year, the fish are “bulking up”. With some pretty big fish being caught in the riffles and bars.

Hopper/Ant fishing was pretty good this past weekend.

Hatches: BWO’s, Hoppers, Ants

Streamers: Brunette Leech, Chamois Leech.

Nymphs: Pheasant-Tail, Hare's Ear, Copper John, Tung Stud, and San Juan Worm

Dries: Chernobyl Ant-Black/Tan, Etha-Wing Dun-BWO, Etha Wing Emerger-BWO, Frankenhopper, Rainy’s Grand Hopper

High Country River Report – October 5 , 2010

Things have shaped up on the High Country Streams and this warmer weather is just what the Doctor ordered. Fishing has been good of late with the smaller, BWO type bugs being the best bet.

Don’t know whether you noticed, but you have about three more weeks on these streams before seasonal closure. You might want to get a last kick at the cat (or Cutt, so to speak).

Hatches: BWO’s, Ants

Streamers: Brunette Leech, Chamois Leech, Large, olive or white streamers for Bull Trout.

Nymphs: Pheasant-Tail, Hare's Ear, Copper John, Tung Stud, and San Juan Worm

Dries: Etha Wing Dun-BWO, Rainy’s Grand Hopper, BWO Thorax, Wilcox Glo-Ant

Gear Maintenance-Cleaning Rods

Time to clean up the rods?
I normally clean my rods after I have been away on a fishing trip, in the Fall, and about midway through the season.

The part of the rod that get dirties is the cork, but if you fish the Bow a lot you'll notice the entire blank gets pretty scummy. An no, it's not because the Bow is dirty, it's because there are so many organisms (plant, insect, animal) in the Bow. It's nutrient rich but it means lots of gunk on your stuff.


Notice the dirty corks. Blanks are dirty, especially around the guides.

Things you'll need: Terry cloth towel, Foaming Glass Cleaner (best cleaner, doesn't bother the blank, best for cleaning cork), old toothbrush, about twenty minutes.

1) Spray the entire rod with foaming glass cleaner, let sit for a minute or two.

2)Lightly scrub around guides with old toothbrush.

3) Scrub cork handle with toothbrush. this effectively removes soil from cork.

4) Aggressively buff and dry cork with terry cloth towel. This will restore the cork to clean appearance.

This is what that soiled cork looks like now. No more dirt.

5) Use towel to buff, clean, and dry entire blank. If necessary use toothbrush and glass cleaner to remove stubborn dirt aroung guides.

6) After each section of rod is cleaned and dried. Apply paraffin wax to male ferrule. MAKE SURE TO BUFF OFF EXCESS WAX WITH TOWEL! This helps the ferrules stay tighter when fishing.

Don't have any paraffin? Stop in and get some here at CP, we'll give you some.

7) After all pieces of rod are cleaned put in window sill for several hours. This dries the cork and any glass cleaner that got inside ferrules. Do not put away in rod sock with damp cork!

THE FINISHED PRODUCT........ This is a 2 year old Helios 4 weight that I use a lot. Looked kind of crappy 10 minute before this photo was taken. Looks almost new now.

Gear Maintenance-Cleaning Reels

Fall is the perfect time for going through your gear and making sure everything is in good working order as well as clean.

Whether you fish during the winter or not, it's a good idea to clean up your stuff and maintain around this time of year. It'll work better and last longer. If you fish the Bow a lot you'll notice stuff gets dirty quick.

First item I normally clean up are my reels.

1) I inspect the reel, make sure everything (screw, spools, etc.) is tight.
2) Give the fly line a thorough cleaning. I soak the line in warm water for about 10 minutes and then use the Scientific Anglers line cleaning system. In this case, the line is shot. It's got 2 seasons on it and has reached the end of it's life so I will remove it and replace after cleaning the reel.

3) Next step is to clean the body of the reel. I use a rag with a tiny bit of Windex. Use a Q-Tip to clean inside porting (holes) and other tough to get at spots. Put a VERY little bit of synthetic grease on the spool post to lubricate.

4) After the body of the reel I clean the spool. The reel shown is a sealed drag reel so I only have to clean. if you have a Spring and Pawl reel a tiny bit of synthetic grease on the pawl pivots and reel post is a good idea. keep in mind that excessive grease just means mess and more dirt. just use a little bit. DO NOT USE OIL ON ANYTHING BUT CORK DRAGS!

5) if you have a cork drag reel like and Islander, completely oil the cork with synthetic oil and allow to soak in before re-installing spool.

6) Re-install spool and in this case install new line for continued use or storage.

Last two years lines for disposal.

Country Pleasures Photo Contest

Here are the entries for our Women's only photo contest!

Lots of great shots, and big smiles.
Thanks to all who entered.

Sybille from Hamburg, Germany with a Bow River Brown. Sent in by Bernd Ziesche

Kirsti Binns with a BWO cutthroat, awesome fish!

Anette Lauder with a well earned Steelhead.

An action shot of Todd McLaren's wife, Cindy, on her first ever Bow River float trip.

Jenna McRae with an Ascension Bay bone.

Angela Steffens with her Dad, on their first fly fishing adventure in 2010.

Jenna with a Bull Trout.


And the winner is!.........

Anette Lauders Steelhead

As well as Jenna's cuda

Chrome and a Smile

Much better than Coke and a Smile!

Couple of submissions from Annette Lauder, who obviously had
a special day on the Bulkley. Couldn't happen to nicer gal,
were always glad to see Annette when she stops by.

She acknowledges that Gregg and Bear offered valuable assistance
at the tailing/photography stage. One is her husband, the other,
the dog, you figure it out. Who cares, what a nice fish.

Fish Porn Goes Green

MOTIV Fishing is a new name for some familiar faces. Following the success of their past productions, former AEG Media founders, Brian Jill and Chris Owens, have teamed up once again with Thad Robison and Jay Johnson to create a new adventure series, GEOFISH.

Starting in October of 2010, GEOFISH will follow the exploits of these four anglers as they embark on an 8,000 mile overland adventure across the rugged landscapes of Mexico. Utilizing a diesel truck converted to run on vegetable oil, the GEOFISH crew will travel down Mexico's remote Baja coastline, ferry across the Sea of Cortez, and continue their overland fly fishing journey along the Pacific Coast eventually reaching the turquoise waters of the Yucatan Peninsula.

For more info go to http://www.motivfishing.com/