Celebrity Fly Tyers Weekend

Evil Weevil

Head over on Saturday morning to see Darren Banasch of Hook & Hackle Canada, author of “Which Fly Do I Use?”.

After that, you can join me (Michelle) for the afternoon and evening at my Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival. A shameless plug, I know. :-)

Then spend some time on Sunday afternoon with Jeremy Davies of “Evil Weevil” fame.


Sat Feb 12 Sat (10 am – 12 pm): More Darren Banasch Favorite Flies. Always popular, Darren shows us some of his favorite patterns and go-to techniques. Country Pleasures Fly Shop


Sun Feb 13 (12 pm - 2 pm): Join Jeremy Davies - local commercial tyer and creator of the “Evil Weevil” - for this session where he’ll demonstrate some favourite techniques and patterns.

Jeremy is one of Calgary’s most prolific and creative commercial tyers. He’s also a regular contributor to Fly Fusion magazine. Stop by to check out some of his creative tying techniques and patterns. Fish Tales Fly Shop

Bell Let's Talk Day

One in five Canadians will experience a form of mental illness at some point in their lives.

Fly fishers are not immune.

http://letstalk.bell.ca/

The Water Log

1. Water quality, quantity important for residents of southern Alberta
2. Water Matters makes Tides Canada's Top 10
3. Stelmach government must persevere on Land-Use Framework
4. Time to get serious about oil sands monitoring
5. Making a difference, one class at a time

Water Log Feb 07 2011

The Drakes

Fly Fusion showed up in my mailbox today. You can start with Jim McLennan’s feature on The Drakes. Move on to Ice Out Brook Trout, a feature article by Nick Pujic. And that’s just the beginning. You’ll be going back to this mag many times in the next couple of months.

Oh, and let’s not forget the six page “Currents” magazine insert from Trout Unlimited Canada. Their cover story is about one of my favourite local conservation organizations – Western Sky Land Trust!

http://www.flyfusionmag.com/

A walk thru the Sportsmen's Show

A new cap complements of Pieroway Rod Company (Thanks Brad!), Calgary Hook & Hackle Club tyers, minnow races, Upstream Adventures tying, fly fishing movie, wooden fish puzzle, a live golden eagle (from Birds of Prey) and a Husky to pet.

Where the wild things are

The latest issue of This Is Fly mag takes you to the Yokanga River in Russia where you’ll find “Atlantic Salmon fishing from another time”. Plus lots more, including a photo spread by Brian O’Keefe!

http://www.thisisfly.com/

Fish & Fishing Art Competition

Fish and Fishing have been key to life on the Oregon Coast. Artists in this competition, sponsored by the Coos Art Museum, were challenged to submit works on these themes. From 182 submissions our jurors selected 70 works for display. Works in many media are on view and demonstrate the broadest range of interpretations of the theme.

View the slideshow of accepted entries and winners.



Via:Moldy Chum

Fish photos & Speed tying

A couple of recent weekend fly shop seminars proved to be very popular and really brought out the fly fishers.


Dan Jackson (for Fish Tales Fly Shop) did a very good seminar on fly fishing photography. One of my daughters, who is a professional photographer herself, tagged along. She was very impressed, not only with Dan’s knowledge, but also with the way he was able to explain things in layman’s language.


The tripod that Dan is holding in one of the photos was intended to be a fish. He was showing how to handle a fish properly to get that “hero” shot. He also emphasized the importance of having the fish out of water for only a matter of seconds – just enough time to get the shot.


You can catch Dan over at his website http://hipwader.com/


Jeff Thomson (for Country Pleasures Fly Shop) showed trick after trick of “assembly line” fly tying (A.K.A. commercial tying).


After reviewing quite a number of strategies, he showed that he could not only talk the talk, but walk the walk, by tying up a dozen each of two different flies in a matter of minutes.


The quality of those flies made it obvious why his creations are in high demand at the local fly shops.

World Wetlands Day Feb 02

World Wetlands Day 2011

Aaron Caldwell's Bow River

Aaron Caldwell, Bow River Guide working out of Fish Tales Fly Shop in Calgary, has produced a couple of great videos on behalf of the shop.

They certainly do a very good job showing off what our Bow River has to offer!

CUX-285... where have I seen that plate before? :-)

Great choice of songs!

Fishtales Season In Review 2010 Volume 2 from Fish Tales Fly Shop on Vimeo.

Back Cast FFFF announces Best Feature Film Award

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2011


BENEFITTING


Information & film lineup
Purchase tickets online




I'm pleased to announce that the film "Q the X" from Jensen Fly Fishing Productions will be receiving the Best Feature Film Award* at Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival 2011.

The cinematography in "Q the X" was absolutely first class. We enjoyed the storyline, and the thought provoking conclusion.

"Q the X" will be opening the evening program on Saturday Feb 12, 2010.

Dave and Amelia Jensen will be in attendance and they will be introducing their film.

Be sure to join us!

Jensen Fly Fishing Productions

Morrish Mouse for Lunch & Kevy’s go-to guide flies

Morrish Mouse


Wed Feb 02 (12:00 pm - 1:00 pm): Get out of your office for Open House Flytying. Practicing spinning deer hair & Morrish Mouse pattern. There is no charge for this session but you will need to bring your tools and materials. Bow River Troutfitters


Sat Feb 05 Sat (10 am – 12 pm): Kevy’s go-to guide flies. Kevin Peterson will tie a selection of his favorite flies for when he's guiding. Country Pleasures Fly Fishing



Sun Feb 06 (12 pm - 2 pm): No Seminar – Superbowl. Fish Tales Fly Shop

Bow River Fly Fishing - How to get yourself and family started

TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA
BOW RIVER CHAPTER

SOCIAL NIGHTS

EVERYONE WELCOME - FREE ADMISSION

“Bow River Fly Fishing - How to get yourself and family started"





Join Bow River Guide Terry Johnson for a slide show presentation and discussion on the how, where, when and why of getting involved in Fly Fishing.

Topics include:

- Where to start
- What to use and when to use it
- Where to go
- How to get your family involved
- Why get involved

Date: Feb 17, 2011 @ 7:00 pm

Location: Calgary Delta South
Atrium Building, Kananaskis Room
135 Southland Drive SE

Admission: FREE

For more information, please contact Michelle Magotiaux
at 403-278-9165 or michelle@bowrivershuttles.com




Support Your Local Bow River and
Coldwater Conservation Efforts!

Meeting Jim Klug on Day 3 at WCFF Expo

It was great to finally meet Jim Klug of Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures/Confluence Films. I had obtained permission from Confluence Films to screen their films “Drift” and “Rise” at my Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festivals in 2009 and 2010.

Other than that, it was “business as usual” at the Expo today. Although the weather had cooled down, the additional forecasted snow stayed away, and the sun came out. As a result, visitor traffic seemed to be very good for most of the day.



I got to meet quite a few more of my shuttle clients who dropped by to say hello, as well as many satisfied subscribers to my newsletter “The Stimulator” and the “River Reports”. During the slower times, I got to visit with some of the others in the fly fishing industry who also had booths at the show.



The guys over at Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada said that they were quite happy with the amount of interest that Fly Fishing Expo goers showed in their organization. They had a poster for the Back Cast FFFF at their booth, as did I. So we hope that the additional exposure for that event will work to our mutual advantage by encouraging a good turnout for the film festival in a couple of weeks.

Good Causes at Day 2 of WC Fly Fishing Expo

Bring some extra cash with you when you attend the Fly Fishing Expo tomorrow!

There are several good causes whose members are raising funds with raffle ticket sales at the Fly Fishing Expo. They are all offering some very worthwhile prizes!



Alberta Stream Watch: Westjet return tickets for two to any regular scheduled Westjet destination, a Loop fly rod and reel and a Temple Fork BVK fly rod

Casting for Life: Bow River Drift, a CFL numbered print and a tackle box of Bow River flies



TUC – Bow River Chapter: A Bow River Float trip, a Orvis Frequent Flyer 906 7 pc rod, and a LE print from Diane Michlin, TUC Artist of the Year.

Canadian Youth National Fly Team, 2011 Team Member Kyle Snarr, age 15 is raising competition funding to attend the 31st Annual World Fly Fishing Championships in Arrezo, Italy in August 2011.

Kyle has hand-made a custom portable Walnut fly tying bench loaded with accessories donated by others. You can find Kyle’s bench and raffle tickets at the Calgary Hook & Hackle Club booth.


(from left) Paul Morrell,(with water bottle) Director, Calgary & Southern Alberta, PHWFFC; Kerry Pitt, President, PHWFFC, and Ray Fairweather,(side/back view) Vice President, PHWFFC

And last, but not least, please remember to pick up your tickets for my Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival in support of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada (PHWFFC).




It was Saturday, and lots of kids were out with their parents and grandparents.

The excitement of the minnow races, fly casting lessons, fly tying lessons, colouring and drawing, fish identification and explaining the different flies in the fly bins!