Today along the Bow River - March 2015

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Michelle chats with her shuttle clients this morning, while another party of shuttle clients launch their drift boat in the background.

Michelle is suitably (& warmly) attired in her black Patagonia Nano Puff jacket and her sporty blue TUC cap with built in led lights. :-)

High today 16°C, Mostly Cloudy, wind avg 15, max 48

McKinnon Flats Closed Until April 15

McKinnon Flats

signs signs everywhere a sign

Yes, McKinnon Flats is definitely closed until April 15

McKinnon Flats

Policeman's Flats

Happy International Day of Action for Rivers - March 14

Happy International Day of Action for Rivers - March 14

March 14 is the International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams. Every year, thousands of people around the world lift their voices to celebrate the world's rivers and those who struggle to protect them.

Learn more here: http://www.internationalrivers.org/

‪
#‎RiversUniteUs‬

The Mekong River is Not For Sale. Don't dam the Mekong. http://www.internationalrivers.org/node/8470

Join The Shoreline Riser's Guiding Company Clean Up Crew.

Click on poster for larger images

Join The Shoreline Riser's Guiding Company Clean Up Crew.

"May 2, 2015 will be meeting at the Mitford Ponds in Cochrane starting at 10:00am.

Please come a join the Crew we are asking for a few hours to help keep our rivers systems clean and safe for everyone."

Wathersheds Under Threat

It's almost a traffic jam in the Waiparous area northwest of Calgary, a haven for off-road vehicles of every size, shape and form as campers frolic in the area Sunday. Photo by Ted Jacob/Calgary Herald (for City story by Falice Chin)

The Alberta Conservation Association brought attention to two events that they fear could cause damage to their respective watersheds. One in May in Ghost-Waiparous and the other in June in the Castle wilderness area.

Read more from AWA here: http://bit.ly/1FZVKUw

Direct your concerns to: ESRD Minister Kyle Fawcett, ESRD.Minister@gov.ab.ca

The Calgary Herald picked up the story two days ago:

Off-road vehicle events prompt concern about watershed health
 
by Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald, March 11, 2015

An environmental group is worried two off-road vehicle events planned for this spring and summer will damage sensitive watershed and ruin the recreational experience for other trail users.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1b8xu9a

Click on poster for larger image

Click on poster for larger image

Today along the Bow River - Mar 12, 2015

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

High today 15°C, Partly Cloudy, wind avg 12, max 37

Fly Fishing the Bahamas in “Chasing Salt” from Simms

"A new video has dropped from Simms featuring some stellar flats fly fishing action in the Bahamas. Watch Clint Kemp, Paula Shearer - PS on the Fly, and crew stalk the flats. (Awesome.)"

Via The Venturing Angler

Today along the Bow River - Mar 11, 2015

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

A small herd of horses was munching on a hay bale. On the road to Mac.

High today 16°C, Mostly Cloudy, wind avg 7, max 30

A Fly Fisherman's Moment

A Fly Fisherman's Moment (Fly Fishing Edit) from Inveteratefilm on Vimeo.

Fly fishing in British Columbia, Nunavut and the Yukon territory.

Today along the Bow River - Mar 10, 2015

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

We did our first shuttle of the season to McKinnon Flats today.

High today 11°C, Partly Cloudy, wind avg 10, max 20

22X/Fish Creek Park - Boat Launch Gate Open

We dropped by Fish Creek today and found that the gate to the boat launch is now open. 
‪
#‎bowriver‬ ‪#‎flyfishing‬

Costa wants you to kick plastic

"...2/3 of all fish now test positive for plastics", "none of us want to fish in a plastic sea" | ‪#‎KickPlastic‬ | http://bit.ly/kickplastic

Learn more here: http://bit.ly/194aHLb

Boat Launch Report - March 2015 (#3 of 3)

Legacy Island - high water side channel

Legacy Island & Carseland/Johnson's Island

It was time for our annual early-March tour of Bow River boat launches. Here is what we saw.

Carseland/Johnson's Island - boat ramp

View more photos here:  http://on.fb.me/1FDPMsd

Today along the Bow River - Mar 08, 2015

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Water Master on the Bow.

High today 14°C, Partly Cloudy, wind avg 11, max 33

Boat Launch Report - March 2015 (#2 of 3)

Policeman's Flats. Boaters have been taking out here for a couple of weeks. Over the ice!

It was time for our annual early-March tour of Bow River boat launches. Here is what we saw.
 

McKinnon Flats. Downstream

View more photos here: http://on.fb.me/1EIdCVg

YTO International Women’s Day (UN Women) march draws 5,000

YTO International Women’s Day UN Women march draws 5,000

Downtown march, focused in part on ending sexual violence, follows Friday's release of a provincial government video tackling that subject.

As Canada marks International Women’s Day this weekend amid renewed attention to preventing sexual abuse, a provocative video ad released by the Ontario government is drawing praise from viewers.

Read more here: http://on.thestar.com/1COIrIO

 #‎InternationalWomensDay‬

Boat Launch Report - March 2015 (#1 of 3)

17th Ave SE/Blackfoot Trail (Cushing Bridge). The gate to this launch has now been locked for more than a year. The Calgary Fire Department doesn't want to share. You'll need a boat that you can carry down to the river from the street (17 A St SE). That's the road that leads to the Bow Habitat Station & Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery.

It was time for our annual early-March tour of Bow River boat launches. Here is what we saw.

Glenmore Trail (Graves Landing). A few boaters have already launched from here over the past couple of weeks.

22X/Fish Creek Park. The gate is still locked. It's usually unlocked as soon as the snow and ice has melted from the road leading down to the launch. That could be any day now. In the meantime, you need a boat that you can carry down to the water.

View more photos here: http://on.fb.me/180Qzbw

Today along the Elbow River - Mar 06, 2015

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

High today 13°C, Scattered Clouds, wind avg 16, max 26

Introduction to Stillwaters with Phil Rowley - A Look Back

Before passing it around, Phil said: "Just remember, I know exactly how many flies 
are in this fly box". :-)  Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Introduction to Stillwaters with Phil Rowley - A Look Back

Country Pleasures Fly Fishing - Sat Feb 28, 2015

Stillwater Fly Fishing Store

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Hatch Magazine 2014 Fly Fishing Photo Contest: The Winners

Hatch Magazine 2014 Fly Fishing Photo Contest: The Winners

Calling the judging in this year's photo contest difficult would be putting it mildly. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Orvis, Smith Optics, Cheeky Fly Fishing and Scientific Anglers, this year's contest attracted the most entries we've ever received and also some of the best. Poring over it all and choosing favorites was no easy task for the judges. All told, 65 different photos received votes from our dozen judges, almost all of which you'll see showcased here.

View photos here: http://bit.ly/1EhGNjq

Pontoon Boats for Sale

Pontoon Boats for Sale

By owner. Contact Darren L.

Links to Kijiji:

Outcast Pac 1000 FS Pontoon Boat - Fully Kitted Out - Like New: http://bit.ly/1CwP56d

Water Skeeter River Tamer Pontoon Boat: http://bit.ly/1zWBX4x

World Wildlife Day - March 03

World Wildlife Day - March 03
 
World Wildlife Day | http://www.wildlifeday.org/

‪#‎seriousaboutwildlifecrime‬

TUC Tackle Swap & BRS Used Drift Boat Sale - Sat April 11, 2015

Click on poster for larger image

TUC Tackle Swap & BRS Used Drift Boat Sale

Mark your calendar today!

Calgary Hook and Hackle Club Open House - A Look Back

Lake Fishing & Tying

Calgary Hook and Hackle Club Open House - A Look Back

More than a dozen new members signed up on the spot at the Open House last week. Club volunteers manned a number of very interesting information tables. Other club members dropped by to support the cause.

View more photos from the event album at this link: http://on.fb.me/1BPcEYe

Fly Tying with @Mike Heigl

Fly Tying with @Mike Heigl

Bugs/Entomology- Matching the Hatch with @Ruth Zinck

Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival 2015 - A Look Back

The Cardel theatre lobby is a great mid-winter gathering place for fly fishers to mix and mingle

 Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival 2015 - A Look Back

What a great crowd of film fest fans we had! This sold out event had the Cardel lobby and theatre bursting at the seams with high energy.

The Perogy Boyz food truck (which we forgot to take a photo of :-( ) was busy from the get-go. Raffle ticket sales were brisk, and our "Friends of Back Cast FFFF" had many interested visitors.

Many thanks again to the Bow River fly fishing community for supporting this special event. :-)

Michelle (left), owner/operator, Bow River Shuttles and host of Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival, and volunteer Kim M., with raffle tickets at the ready.

Just three of almost 150 happy campers/fishers who came out for a fun evening of food, films and fellowship! The fly fisher on the left walked away with one of the Rio lines donated by @Ruben Breitkrreutz!

Taking a close look at one of more than two dozen items that were up for grabs, thanks to our "Supporters of Back Cast FFFF".

Daniel and Joanne (not in photo) Berezan, Dolly Varden Outdoor Clothing | http://www.dollyvardenoc.com/

You can see more photos from our event album at this link: http://on.fb.me/1B20A46

Thanks to our "Supporters of Back Cast FFFF" for the raffle items! 

Fish Tales Fly Shop | Iron Bow Fly Shop & Outfitters | Bow River Troutfitters | Country Pleasures Fly Fishing | Hanson's Fishing Outfitters | West Winds Fly Shop | The Fishin' Hole Canada (Calgary) | Anne Rurak/Willowcraft (Kamloops) | Calgary Hook and Hackle Club | Original Joe's: Quarry Park | Wholesale Sports | Dolly Varden Outdoor Clothing | Temple Fork Outfitters Canada | RIO PRODUCTS & Ruben Breitkreutz | SilverTip Fly Company | Reelflies Fishing Flies | Trout Unlimited Canada | Bow Habitat Station | April Vokey- FlyGal Ventures | Pieroway Fly Rods | McLennan Fly Fishing | Patagonia Calgary | CATCH MAGAZINE

Water Woes

Kevin Van Tighem, former superintendent of Banff National Park, spoke at a CPAWS event in Calgary on Friday Feb 27.
Photo, Leah Hennel / Calgary Herald

Water Woes

A local conservationist highlights the water woes plaguing the eastern slopes of the Rockie

The CBC Calgary Eyeopener podcast for Friday Feb 27

Listen here: http://bit.ly/1BNNola

Taxpayer group questions worth of $309-million flood mitigation project

This is the area in Springbank that would be affected by a provincial government plan to build an off-stream reservoir for flood mitigation.
Colleen De Neve / Calgary Herald

Taxpayer group questions worth of $309-million flood mitigation project

by Matt McClure, Calgary Herald, Feb 27, 2015

A new study says Premier Jim Prentice’s pledge last fall to build a dry reservoir to protect Calgary against future floods from the Elbow River at a cost of $309 million makes economic sense.

But a taxpayer lobby group says the cost-benefit analysis of the Springbank Off-Stream Storage project fails to account for the amount and likely price of the land the province will need to purchase so it can construct the massive canal and dam west of the city to divert and hold excess waters during a disaster.

The study by IBI Group Inc. figures the province will have to pay $4o million to acquire around 700 hectares, but the government’s own documents show it will need over 1,400 hectares that a land valuation expert consulted by the Herald conservatively estimates would cost taxpayers at least $139 million.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1E1gXyj

Conservationist calls on province to manage eastern slopes for water

A young female grizzly feeds near the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course in Banff National Park on June 11, 2014.
Photo, Leah Hennel / Calgary Herald

Conservationist calls on province to manage eastern slopes for water

by Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald, Feb 25, 2015

Alberta needs to stop managing the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies for timber and start managing the landscape for water, says a well-known local conservationist, biologist and author, noting it would also improve the habitat for grizzly bears.

Kevin Van Tighem, who retired as superintendent of Banff National Park in 2011, will speak Friday night at Wild Soiree: Bears & Water, hosted by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society in Calgary.

 Read more here: http://bit.ly/1ESpqCH

European Nymphing with John Nishi - A Look Back

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Fish Tales Fly Shop - Sun Feb 22, 2015

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

Today along the Bow River - Feb 23, 2015

Photo, © Bow River Shuttles

High today 12°C, Scattered Clouds, wind avg 13, max 30

A good day to float 22X to Police. The gate at 22X is locked, so you need a boat that you can carry to the water - pontoon boat, fishing raft, canoe, etc.