Fly Tying Workshops with April Vokey

CP's is excited to announce two fly tying workshops with April Vokey in January 2012.

April will be instructing a learn to tie workshop and a steelhead intruder workshop.

There are limited spaces available so book now to reserve your space.

Learn to Fly-Tie Workshops:

Join April Vokey of Fly Gal Ventures for a fun-filled evening of fly-tying as she helps to demystify general questions that intrigue many beginner fly-tyers.

Students are encouraged to bring their own tools, however, materials are provided and the use of necessary tools/equipment may be arranged with advance notice to the shop.

Gather around our comfortable tying table and observe, evaluate and conquer every tying step as April walks each student through the process.  We’re aware that beginners learn at different rates and patient ‘one-on-one’ time ensures that no one gets “lost” at the table.

Each step is explained slowly and thoroughly, providing additional bits of information and alternative techniques along the way.

Enjoy learning the steps of basic fly-tying on your first fly of the evening and then venture into your own creations as you proceed to complete a second.  Each wrap will put you one step closer to stocking your fly box!

This course is a participation based course and there are only 8 spots available…Book now to hold your space!

Contact Country Pleasures at (403)-(271)-(1016) and reserve your space today!

Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Time: 6PM

Cost:$75

Steelhead Intruders:

One of the fabulous things about fishing for B.C.'s wild steelhead are the animated and lively flies that seem to attract these feisty fish so regularly.

Join April Vokey of Fly Gal Ventures as she shares some of her favourite B.C. steelhead patterns, techniques and materials. 

Students are required to bring their own tools, however, all materials will be provided.

Gather around our comfortable tying table and observe, evaluate and conquer every tying step as April walks each student through the process. 

Each step is explained slowly and thoroughly, providing additional bits of information and alternative techniques along the way.

Use these techniques to create your first fly of the evening, and then advance immediately to your second fly while applying your own artistic vision and design.

This course is a participation based course and there are only 8 spots available…Book now to hold your space!
 

Contact Country Pleasures at (403)-(271)-(1016) and reserve your space today!

Date: Monday, January 30, 2012

Time: 6PM

Cost:$75

The Season - Steelhead Edition

Here's a couple videos that show a lot of what is so appealing about steelhead, and especially nice cause they're not the typical grip and grin...thanks Moldychum for passing these gems along.


Part 1

The Season 2.10...Top Dog from Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith on Vimeo.

Part 2

The Season Episode 2.13...Down Stream from Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith on Vimeo.

2011 Compilation

Brent did a quick compilation of some of the clips he got from this past season....hope you enjoy!

Old School Michael

We'll see how long Mike lets this post stay up

but until then lets all download and save for future use.

Thanks to Mike Guinn for the flashback. Since Mike's gone steelheading we can screw with him!

Babine River Update

Note from Pierce received this morning:

Hello all…


Great week, great anglers, new guests too which was fun plus one harp player, Dr. Buz Bricca, and a couple of guitar players so a couple of great campfire jams, late nights, slow mornings…you know the story. The river was continually dropping and very clear which made for spotting lots of steelhead although at times they were hard to catch. Spotted a absolutely huge buck somewhere between mid thirties to forty pounds…Franco Sirtori may have hooked it and with only three raps left on the spool, well good bye steelhead.

Some dry line action but most were favouring various tips, of course, but the Skagit Extreme line continues to fish well and especially cast well. The fall colors are late this season so the river looks neon with color…see second photo. The first photo is Dave Mitchell with a fat buck landed at Beaver Flats. Still can’t fish Rude Awakening due to heavy flows but Dave was game to try it with me and we both thought better of it after a few casts.

Babine Steelhead Lodge pulled their last guests today so the next four weeks of our season will be extra special with so much river to fish.

Nick Anderson was the lucky angler of the week to land a 25 pound buck…I’ll have a photo of it in next week’s report. It’s always exciting to see the big fish in the river, and even more exciting to hook one…most of the big ones just win the battle so each week is full of those sorts of stories.

The steelhead are starting to porpoise, roll and play…but this last week some of the anglers thought they were just flipping us off for trying to catch them when they didn’t want to bite…lots of taps, bumps, grabs and plucks but no magic bullet fly to convince them to take. Lots of moving fish in the last few days as well so next week will be a new week with new fish and new excitement. The snow is not far away but the camp grounds are muddy from melting snow flakes and cold drizzle…kind of like steelhead fall weather to some and crazy to others.


Probably the best news is a good die off of wild stock sockeye that spawn just above the weir…there are lots of carcasses, much more than I have witnessed in years so the bears are showing up and all fish and wildlife are enjoying the fruits of a salmon life cycle so precious to overall eco system. Darren snuck up on a 1000 plus pound Grizzly at Boat Wreck…there are many signs that the bears are taking advantage of the dead and near dead salmon…so many rocks have the bear paw, toe and claw marks so we know we are on a wild river. A dead bald eagle was found at Joe’s Shoot…most likely killed by another eagle as we can see the constant aerial battles especially on those cold windy days when they like to fly high and soar.

Can’t wait to see what happens next.

Pierce

The Kamchatka Steelhead Project

If you haven't seen this short clip, it's one worth watching..

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

Shop hours for the Thanksgiving Holiday:

Saturday, October 8:  9 AM to 5 PM

Sunday, October 9:  10 AM to 4 PM

Monday: Closed

This weekend also marks the change to winter hours. For store hours go to
http://www.countrypleasures.com/hours_and_location.php

Enjoy your Thanksgiving, hope you get to go fishing!

Some Very Cool Footage!

SIT BACK AND ENJOY......

New Stuff Just Arrived From Patagonia



Patagonia Rabble Beanie



Patagonia Trucker Hat

Classic road-tripping hat with a high crown and plenty of ventilation.

Patagonia Lined Beanie

Made of nylon and chlorine-free merino wool and lined for extra warmth.



Patagonia Men's Capilene® 1 Silkweight Boxer Briefs

Capilene 1® Silkweight Boxer Briefs weigh almost nothing in your pack and protect you from seasonal chill while tromping around Shoshone Basin. The moisture-wicking underwear has a durable elastic waistband that resists rolling and is brushed for softness; the hem is coverstitched for a smooth glide beneath shorts or pants. The fully functional fly and supportive front panel keep you covered. With Gladiodor® odor control for the garment. Inseam (size M) is 5 1/2".



Patagonia Men's Capilene® 2 Lightweight Crew


Patagonia's most breathable synthetic baselayer keeps you dry and comfortable

Patagonia Men's Better Sweater™ Jacket

This soft, full-zip polyester fleece jacket has a sweater-knit face with the aesthetics of wool and a warm fleece interior.

Stop by the shop to check 'em out, or go to http://www.countrypleasures.com/store/

Babine River Update

Just got the weekly update from Babine Norlakes. Pierce tells of stellar fishing, mostly on dries.

Water levels have finally dropped to the point where some of the rocks are visible and it's now easier to land a fish here and there.

Only two more weeks!

FISHING REPORTS

Bow River Report –October 5, 2011


Given the time of year, water level, water clarity, and weather over the last week, the river has treated most of us rather poorly.

There have been some high points, but consistency has been a problem. There are zillions of Boatmen around but fishing them has been on again, off again at best.

Still getting the odd eat on the foam bugs and there have been decent numbers of rising fish on BWO’s

Hatches: Hoppers, Water Boatmen, Pseudos, Baetis, October Caddis

Streamers: Gonga-Rust #2
                            Geek Leech Olive/Black #2
                            Bush’s Witch Doctor
                            Exasperator Sculpin

Nymphs: Yeager’s TB Soft Hackle-Hares Ear #14
               Holo Prince-Blue #14
               Water Boatman-Peacock #14
               Prince Nymph #16
               Copper John - Black #14

Dry Flies: Bloom’s CDCCaddis-Olive #16
               Morrish October Caddis
               Quigley’s Flag Ant-Black #16
               Morrish Hopper - Tan #10
               Chubby Chernobyl-Tan #12

Crowsnest River Report – October 5, 2011


Crow is still fishing quite good. Low and clear water conditions.

Hatches: Hoppers, BWO’s, Boatmen

Streamers: Morrish Wooly Sculpin #4
                 Near Nuff Sculpin-Tan #4
                 Geek Leech-Brown #2

Nymphs: Bloom’s Tung Dart #14
              Tung Stud-Olive #16
              Hogan’s Good and Plenty-Olive #14
              Water Boatman-Peacock #16

Dries: Quigley’s Midget Caddis-Olive #16
          Yeager’s 409-Black #10
          Morrish Hopper- Tan #10
          Quigley’s Flag Ant-Black #16

High Country River Report – October 5, 2011


Fishing in the high country has been pretty good when the weather has been good. Kind of an 11 AM to 4 PM thing right now, typical for this time of year.

Some pretty selective fish on small flies by the sound of it on the Livingston.

Hatches: BWO’s,Caddis, Ants, Beetles

Streamers: Karnopp’s Skookum - Tan #6
                 Hare Sculpin-Olive #4
                 Bush’s Witch Doctor

Nymphs: Yeager’s TB Soft Hackle-Hares Ear #14
               B/H R/L Hares Ear #12

Dries: Grillo’s Hippie Stomper-Red #14
          Wilcox JC Special-Olive #12
          Yeager’s Neversink Trude-Peacock #12
          Quigley’s Film Critic-BWO #18

Hook Pricing

Hey Fly Tyers, it's a great time to come get your hooks! We got a huge shipment of hooks, and we've repriced them all. The vast majority of our Dai-Riki hooks dropped at least 30%! You won't find a better time (or place) to stock up! -CP staff

New Books and DVDs Just Arrived

Just received a big shiment of book and dvd's! In addition to topping up stock on old favorites, here's a couple of new titles to check out:

FIFTY MORE PLACES TO FLY FISH BEFORE YOU DIE: FLY-FISHING EXPERTS SHARE THE WORLD'S GREATEST DESTINATIONS

Fifty More Places to Fly Fish Before You Die is the latest offering in the bestselling Fifty Places series. Chris Santella’s first book, Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die, has more than 100,000 copies in print, and Santella—now a regular fly-fishing contributor to the New York Times and many angling periodicals—has finally returned to the subject that started it all.

** THE BOW RIVER MADE IT INTO THIS ONE!!!
Santella profiles 50 more first-class fly-fishing destinations around the world, as shared by top fishing-expedition leaders and journalists. This volume includes many of fly fishing’s “next big things”: fishing in San Diego for mako sharks; sight-casting in Bolivia for golden dorado; flats-style striper fishing in Maine’s Casco Bay; nocturnal sea trout angling in Wales; and fishing for giant mahseer in the Himalayan foothills of India. Gorgeous photography showcases the beauty of these destinations, and the “If You Go” section enables readers to embark on the fishing trips themselves.

FIFTY FAVORITE FLY-FISHING TALES: EXPERT FLY ANGLERS SHARE STORIES FROM THE SEA & STREAM


Santella invited 50 celebrated fly fishers to share their favorite fly-fishing stories based on their travels & experiences. The result is this unforgettable collection of stories that are, surprisingly enough for fishermen, true. Covers many emotions: comical, poignant, inspirational, incredible, absurd. 50 full-color photos; 7x8 inches, 224 pgs

 PS: Just in time for Xmas, we manged to get our hands on a bunch of copies of Fly Fishing Western Trout Streams by Jim McLennan.

HEADS OR TAILS DVD
Along the isolated beaches of northern Western Australia, Permit seem to do things a little differently. Follow local anglers Geoff Anderson and Simon Penn as they chase these fish down in environments never seen before on film.


Un-assisted, watch them as they run down schools of permit along the beach, cast to fish over shallow, wave-pounded reef flats (on both foot and from a boat) plus watch permit throw away their timid tag, as they smash floating crabs of the surface with reckless abandon.

Photos From the Past

Mike Guinn sent me this photo, a days catch of Brook Trout, a few days ago.
 A few things to note in the photo:

1- That's a lot of really big (dead) Brook Trout.

2- Mike looks like he's all of 16 (this might be a charcoal etching, not a photo. When were cameras invented?)

3- Considering the Woolrich sweaters, fish blanket, rubber hip waders, etc., I'm a little suprised
there are no banjos, juice harps, or moonshine bottles somewhere in the photo.