Saturday, July 28, 2012

Dam Control Finally Understood

On a fairly constant basis since mid-June of this year (and in previous years) we keep getting asked "Who controls the dams releases at Bearspaw, Ghost, etc.?"  What are they thinking? Who do we complain to? Why does the river come up 15-20% at night? We could go on and on....you get the idea.

Well, after exhaustive research, we have finally found the Transalta employee who has total control and domination over our sport and industry on the lower Bow River..........
It all makes sense now!

Friday, July 27, 2012

Fishing Report

This weeks fishing report for the Bow will be summarized in a list of things we have seen for the first time in a while. Guided trips have been going full bore and I just spent my past three days off on the river and here's a few things we've noticed.

THINGS SEEN THIS WEEK THAT WE'VE NOT SEEN IN A WHILE:
* The river bottom!
* Fish somwhere between the surface and bottom.
* More than 2 foam eats in a day.
* More than 2 PMD's in a day.
* Fish actually eating aforementioned insects.
* More than 2 Caddis on the water in a day.
* Fish actually eating aforementioned insects.

* Large Brown Trout killing 4" long, black, bunny flies with prejudice.
* Being able to see the carnage mentioned above.
* Islands!
* Boat launches with few vehicles and general calm and sanity.
* Flow volume less than 300 cms!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Tips & Techniques-Rod Care & Maintenance

Stright from the Sage website!......

To extend the life of any Sage product, we recommend the following Care and Maintenance tips.

Rods

  • Take extra care when stringing your rod. Thread a loop of fly line through the guides and tip top and pull the line and leader straight through without bending the rod.
  • Avoid placing or transporting your rod against metal or abrasive objects. Small nicks and scratches damage the graphite and lead to broken rods.
  • When using weighted or large flies, adjust to an open casting stroke. This allows the fly to pass over the tip or to the side of the rod (a fly hitting the rod can also damage the graphite).
  • Avoid severe rod angles when fighting and landing fish. Snagged flies should be broken off by pulling on the line with the rod tip pointed directly at the snag.
  • Periodically wax the ferrules (where the rod pieces separate) lightly with paraffin to ensure a firm fit and proper function.
  • Take the rod apart when you are done fishing to avoid stuck ferrules.
  • Completely air dry your rod and place it in a cloth bag and tube before storing. The rod tubes can trap moisture, which can swell reel seats and ruin the rod finish.
  • To protect the tip, it is best to bag your rod with the tip top and cork handle up.
  • Occasionally clean your rod with warm water and soap and completely dry.
  • To shine, apply furniture polish and don't forget to protect the rod when finished.
  • How do I get stuck ferrules loose?
    • It's easiest to use two people to pull the rod sections apart. Alternately, you can use rubber jar openers to get a better grip on the rod sections. Be careful that you get a good grip so you don't slip and damage the guides. Also, make sure you don't twist the rod sections, as this can damage the carbon in the ferrules.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

All Hail!!!! Brown Trout That Look Up!

Guided day on the Bow:  $500
Dozen flies: $30
Tip: $50
Chubby Chernobyl with Teeth Marks: Priceless!!!!!
Way to go Randy!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Fishing Report

Bow River Report –July 21, 2012



Have been hesitant to do an updated report on the Bow. Last one we did reflected the river dropping nicely, clearing, and fishing great. Then we did a report and everything blew up.

The first part of last week was maybe the toughest fishing I have ever seen in July. Thankfully, late Wednesday through the rest of the week gave us dropping, clearing water. With these improvements the fishing has gotten much better.

As the river dropped down under 300 cms a lot more water became “achievable”. That is, you can actually get a fly to where the fish live. Makes a big difference! 2012 will forever alter our perceptions, we now understand where, and how to catch fish at water levels much higher than we’re used to.

Barring any silly weather events like heavy rain, things should rapidly improve over the next couple of weeks. Could be a very cool time to fish the river.

Hatches: Caddis, PMD’s, Golden Stones

Streamers: Slap and Tickle-Olive #4, Silvey’s Sculpin Leech-Black #4, Clouser Minnow-Black/White #2

Nymphs: Jimmy Legs-Rusty Olive #6, Morrish’s WMD-Golden #8, Hogan’s Rubber Stone-Golden #8

Dry Flies: Morrish Still Stone #4, Chubby Chernobyl-Black/Tan #6, Quigley’s Film Critic-PMD #16


Crowsnest River Report – July 21, 2012


Water levels on the Crow are finally getting down to safe-wading status. Overall, the reports from the Crowsnest have been quite good.

Hatches: Golden Stones, PMD’s, Caddis

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

Nymphs: Jimmy Legs - Dk. Brown #8, Hogan’s Rubber Stone-Golden #8

Dries: Plopper Stone #6, Berrett’s Mutant Stone #6, Grillo’s El Camino-Golden #8

High Country River Report – July 21, 2012


Angler reports from place like the Livingston have continued to be pretty darn good. Everybody who’s been, or going to, the high country has been loading up on dry flies which is a good sign.

Hatches: Stoneflies, Caddis

Streamers: Sleech-Pink, Medusa-Fleshy

Nymphs: Jimmy Legs - Dk. Brown #8, Hogan’s Rubber Stone-Golden #8

Dries: Grillo’s El Camino #8












Thursday, July 19, 2012

River Update

What did we say about a trampoline?? The flows have been up, down and all around and the fishing has been the same story. Here's a selection of photo's from the last week. The stones are slowing down, that could be due to the water and conditions fluctuating or it might mean the tapering off of the hatch, only time will tell. Currently, we are looking at 308 cms and about a foot and a half visibility. Word from today indicated good fishing on streamers and a Chubby Chernobyl and Jimmy Legs dropper. 
Photo by Andy J.

Photo by Dean D.
Photo by Dean D.

Photo by Dean D.


Monday, July 16, 2012

Monday Update

The Bow River fishing report is a little like a trampoline so far in 2012. All waqs good late last week and then the river bumped back up to around 327 cms.
We are still catching fish but things have switched from foam to nymphs. There were some PMD fish here and there on Sunday as a bright spot.
Jenn Buck was on the river on Sunday giving a clinic on proper fish release techniques and how to take fish release photos........

Friday, July 13, 2012

Fishing reports-July 13

Bow River Report –July 13, 2012


To say things have evolved and improved in the last week on the Bow would be somewhat of an understatement. Things switched up to dry fly in a big way!

This might be our shortest report ever……IT’S VERY GOOD!

Hatches: Caddis, PMD’s, Golden Stones

Streamers: Slap and Tickle-Olive #4, Silvey’s Sculpin Leech-Black #4, Clouser Minnow-Black/White #2

Nymphs: Jimmy Legs-Rusty Olive #6, Morrish’s WMD-Golden #8, Hogan’s Rubber Stone-Golden #8

Dry Flies: Morrish Still Stone #4, Chubby Chernobyl-Black/Tan #6, Quigley’s Film Critic-PMD #16


Crowsnest River Report – July 13, 2012


Fishing on the Crow has been very good! More and more dry fly fishing every day!

Hatches: Golden Stones, PMD’s, Caddis

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

Nymphs: Jimmy Legs - Dk. Brown #8, Hogan’s Rubber Stone-Golden #8

Dries: Plopper Stone #6, Berrett’s Mutant Stone #6, Grillo’s El Camino-Golden #8

High Country River Report – July 13, 2012


Reports from a bunch of the high country streams this past week were very good. Stoneflies are everywhere!

Hatches: Stoneflies

Streamers: Sleech-Pink, Medusa-Fleshy

Nymphs: Jimmy Legs - Dk. Brown #8, Hogan’s Rubber Stone-Golden #8

Dries: Grillo’s El Camino #8












Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Couple Days On The River

Just a quick update on happenings on the river from the last couple of days........
The river cleaned up some more through Sunday and Monday. It was actually looking pretty gooey yesterday. Flows are stable around 285 cms. The fish are certainly keyed in on the Stonefly nymphs right now and a few more fish are coming up to eat the dry flies. Once water levels drop a little the foam bug fishing should light up.
The general consensus amongst our guided trip from yesterday was that the river fished extremely well!

Got to spend Sunday and half of yesterday on the river and things are definitely getting better! Good number of nice Brown Trout, mostly on the Stonefly (only problem is most everything's happening about 2 feet lower than we'd like!)

Monday, July 9, 2012

Holy Brown Trout

Here's Dr. Laatsch with a perfect reason to get out fishing. 

River has been fishing well the last couple of days, flows are down around 290cms and clarity is about a foot. Jimmy Legs and other big stones are still number one for the list of go to bugs.



Friday, July 6, 2012

Fishing Reports!

Bow River Report –July 6, 2012



River dropped about 20 CMS yesterday. Down to about 305 CMS. Visibility around 8-10 inches. Guided trips over the last few days have done surprisingly well, with most fish being caught on Stonefly nymphs.

Streamer fishing has been pretty decent but you definitely need to get the fly down in the water column…not terribly easy at this flow rate!

We need just a little less water and a little more visibility for fish to start looking up and eating dry flies. Fished a foam bug on couple banks on Wednesday without much gratification but I did see a couple fish crash on Stoneflies during the day.

Overall, fishing is pretty good! Seen it a lot worse…..

Hatches: Caddis, PMD’s, Golden Stones

Streamers: Pseudo Sculpin-Olive #4, Silvey’s Sculpin Leech-Black #4, Clouser Minnow-Black/White #2
Nymphs: Jimmy Legs-Rusty Olive #6, Morrish’s WMD-Golden #8, Hogan’s Rubber Stone-Golden #8
Dry Flies: Morrish Still Stone #4

Crowsnest River Report – July 6, 2012



The Crow has been fishing pretty good over the last number of days. Dropping continuously and clearing. Getting better every day.

Stonefly nymphs working very well. More and more fish eating dries.

Hatches: Golden Stones, PMD’s, Caddis

Streamers: Morrish Wooly Sculpin #4, Near Nuff Sculpin-Tan #4, Geek Leech-Brown #2
Nymphs: Jimmy Legs - Dk. Brown #8, Hogan’s Rubber Stone-Golden #8
Dries: Plopper Stone #6, Berrett’s Mutant Stone #6

High Country River Report – July 6, 2012


Most of the high country stuff is clearing pretty good but a little high for this time of year. Biggest thing is they are still very cold! Got a water temperature from Racehorse the other day….40 degrees Fahrenheit! Not so good for Cutthroat fishing. With the expected warm days coming up thing will improve!

Hatches: Few Stoneflies

Streamers: Near Nuff Sculpin-Tan #4, Geek Leech-Brown #2
Nymphs: Jimmy Legs - Dk. Brown #8, Hogan’s Rubber Stone-Golden #8
Dries: Plopper Stone #6, Humpy-Red #14







Why we love Waterworks Lamson

A 5 part video on the construction and features of Waterworks reels. These guys are amazingly dialed in on what makes a reel tick (so to speak). Portions of the videos are fairly scientific, but well worth the watch!


Part 1





For part 2 through 5 click below


Thursday, July 5, 2012

Sage ONE Two Handed Rods

They have arrived!! A selection of ONE two handed rods can now be found at CPs.
Now you can get the awesome-ness of the single handed rods in both hands.
Worth a look next time your in the neighborhood!


Tuesday, July 3, 2012

CP Welcomes Petar L. to the team

 We want to introduce you to our newest staff member: Petar L. Pete is a fantastic addition to the CP staff, we feel he brings a lot to the table offering some great new insight.



"I started fly fishing in the summer of '09 when a buddy, Coop, taught me. My favorite fly is either the caddis or my own nymph named the Poot Nymph. I like caddis because the fish love em for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My favourite stretches are the inner city and Fish Creek to Police because you don't need to drive far for big browns. I also enjoy skiing, snowboarding, biking, skateboarding and music."          

 

Pete will be joining us full-time this summer.
We are also excited to welcome Josh M.to the team, stay tuned for his interview in the near future.


Here's a few other guide and staff spotlights from the past:

http://countrypleasuresff.blogspot.ca/2011/06/guide-spotlight-mike-guinn.html
http://countrypleasuresff.blogspot.ca/2010/07/guide-spotlight.html
http://countrypleasuresff.blogspot.ca/2010/07/guide-profile-joe-buck.html