Assorted Fishing Tips - Bonefish in the Mangroves

So, you've made the cast of the month to a really nice Bonefish right in the middle of a mess of mangroves. The fish eats your fly, you strip set perfectly, and the fish proceeds to leave the country. As usual, the fish goes around as many mangrove roots as possible at somewhere around Mach 2.

What do you do? Most of us will just exert as much pressure as possible, trying to stop the Bonefish. Not going to happen...ever! Often the fish will go around enough roots, in enough different directions, until he just breaks off. 

When this happens next time try this:

1) immediately drop the rod tip

2) if the fish isn't on the reel yet let it go slack, if it is on the reel quickly strip off two or three pulls of line.

3) let the fish swim with no pull on the line. 

More often than not the Bonefish will immediately settle down and stop. This will allow you to move on foot, or position the skiff so that you can untangle your fly line from the mangrove roots and slowly reel in your line as you get closer to the fish. Once you get close to the fish you can resume pressure and maybe land the fish. Sometimes you may even have to repeat giving the fish slack a couple of times before you can land the fish.

Don't loosen your drag to try and accomplish this. First of all you can't mess with your drag near quick enough. Just quickly tug a couple arm lengths of line off the reel to give slack. If that isn't enough to get the fish to stop then it just wasn't meant to be. Second, if you kick the drag off and then the fish, or you, pull any line off quickly you're going to have a major birds nest on your reel.

This doesn't work every time. But it does work fairly often. It may mean having some chance where there was no chance before.

Orvis Does Hoodies

Orvis Snake River Hoodie T-Shirt

The vintage beer labels on this Orvis graphic hoodie T-shirt evoke a bit of fun nostalgia.

Comfort and simplicity are key when you're relaxing with a cold one after a day outdoors, and this cotton hoodie T-shirt is just the ticket. The Orvis graphic is a lighthearted nod to vintage beer labels. In coffee. 50% polyester/25% cotton/25%rayon. Washable. 

Executive Travel for Dogs

Field Collection Reversible Hammock Seat Protector

Keep a clean car and a comfy dog with this thoughtfully designed hammock seat protector.

This hammock seat protector is designed to keep your dog comfortable and your car clean, no matter how much dirt and mud your dog gets into while in the field.

 The convertible, streamlined design unzips on one side so you can quickly make space for a passenger to sit in the backseat. Adjustable front and rear headrests required for installation.

• Soft microvelvet reverses to durable cotton canvas 
• Converts from full- to half-seat cover to make room for a passenger 
• Installs easily to front and rear headrests 
• Cotton-canvas case doubles as a rugged tote for dog essentials 
• Cotton outer 
• Polyester sleep surface 
• Washable 
• Large 66"L x 51"W 
• X-Large 66"L x 62"W

Orvis...Meet Tacky

Tacky Collab Dropper Box

Spend less time guessing and more time fishing with this innovative dropper fly box.

Designed in an exclusive collaboration between Tacky and Orvis. The perfect box to organize flies for dropper fishing. One side has the Original Tacky Mat for small nymphs and the other side has the Big Bug Tacky Mat for larger patterns such as streamers, hoppers, stimulators, parachutes, and larger nymphs. Holds 240 flies total. Tacky silicone mats hold better and are much more durable. The box is a tough polycarbonate that won't warp and closes with a secure magnetic closure. Slim profile takes up less room in your vest. In solid gray. 7"L x 3¾"W x 1¼"D.

Tacky Collab Deluxe Fly Box

This large fly box holds 336 flies while taking up less space than conventional fly boxes.

A collaboration between Orvis and Tacky to create an exclusive high-volume, low-profile, and highly durable fly box. Tacky mats are silicone that hold flies tighter and are much more durable with excellent resistance to the elements. Polycarbonate box has a slim profile, won't warp, takes up less room in vest pockets and has a secure latch-free magnetic closure. Facing mats offer a capacity of 336 flies. Teardrop and slit designed to hold size 10 to 18 flies, but will hold larger and smaller flies with ease. Imported.
7"L x 3¾"W x 1"D.

Howler Brothers

Big news!

Any Howler Brothers Fall lineup items 

in store are 40% Off until January 28.

Heed the Call....and save some money.

Monday is Smoking Deal Day

One Only 

Sage Method 890-4 (9' 8 weight, 4 piece)

Brand New, off the rack, lifetime warranty.

$675 plus GST

There's only one. Call  us at (403) 271-1016. First come, fist served

"Can't Believe I'm Doing It" Fishng Reports

With the weather we have had we normally wouldn't bother, but people will be itching to get out.

Bow River Report – January 11, 2017

When conditions next allow for fishing, deep nymphing and streamers swung or slowly retrieved will be best bets.

Should the weather break and allow for time on the river please use extreme caution.  Bank ice is extremely unstable and not to be trusted to walk on.  Even a short swim in the river can be fatal this time of the year due to the low river temperatures.  Be safe!

Weather supposed to get above zero at the end of the week, which may allow for some fishing, but water will most likely be slushy.  We'll need a few days above zero before the slush melts.

Hatches:  Midges

Dry Flies:  Griffiths Gnat #20

   

Nymphs:   BH Wire Worm, Atomic Worm, Copper John, Prince Nymph,     

Streamers:  Geek Leech, Bellydancer Zonker, Gartside Leech

Crowsnest River Report – January 11, 2017

River frozen in many locations due to the extreme cold we have experienced over the last 4 weeks.  Weather may get above zero this week, but we'll need to have a few days above zero to allow for slush to melt.

Hatches:  Midges

Dries: CDC Griffiths Gnat

Nymphs:  Tung Stud, Water Boatman, Prince Of Darkness.
  
Streamers: Geek Leech, Gartside Leech, Wooly Bugger

The East Slope Streams are now closed through June 15, 2017.

                  

Super Duper Deals On Fly Lines

If you're looking for lines for your saltwater trip this winter we still have some Rio lines in Bonefish Quickshooter, Permit, and Technical Tarpon for 50% OFF.