The Stimulator - November 2010

We managed to get the November issue of our newsletter out to our subscribers earlier this month, just hours before we left for a bit of a holiday.

As of today, the three most popular items have been the new Alberta-based fly fishing website, the three new on-line fly fishing magazines and the new video on Project Healing Waters Canada that was produced during the summer by local fly fisher Rick Harding of The Fly Fishing Life dot com.

For those looking to purchase a drift boat, there are two listings, including one first-time listing. Yes, I know it’s cold out there. But it’s never too early to start planning for the next season. :-)

“The Stimulator” e-newsletter is part of my Community Support Program and is available at no charge to any interested person.

To have your copy delivered to your email inbox, please send your request to michelle@bowrivershuttles.com

(For a larger readable image, please click directly on the newsletter image.)

Kurtis & Streamer Fishing

Kurtis Giles from Fish Tales Fly Shop presented a very good seminar on “Streamer Techniques for the Bow River” this past Sunday.



He began by explaining why he has a passion for streamer fishing. He then carried on by showing and describing a very good selection of flies that he had on display, and continued with an explanation of all of the other subjects related to his topic.

Well done!



Curtis will be presenting a Streamer fly tying course beginning next Wednesday Nov 24. Check the website for more info.

Also, the next Fish Tales seminar is scheduled for Sunday Dec 05. Details are on the website.

http://www.fishtalesflyshop.com/

A dangerous precedent for provincial parks

When it comes to environmental/conservation concerns, we usually stick to water issues. However, there are exceptions, and this is one of them.

News about Bill 29 began to surface during the first part of November, while we were away on a short holiday.

However, the email letter that is copied below arrived just two days ago.

Please go to the CPAWS - Southern Alberta Chapter website for more information, including links that can be used to contact the Alberta Government on this issue.

Here is some additional information from the Environmental Law Centre in Edmonton. And also a letter written to Minister Ady from the Alberta Wilderness Association.

There is some urgency, as we understand a decision on Bill 29 could be made as early as this week.


A dangerous precedent for provincial parks

In a move that could set a dangerous precedent for all of Canada's provincial parks, Alberta is proposing a new Parks Act that could gut park protection. The Act is being debated right now in the Alberta legislature and could be passed as early as this week. Albertans are speaking out against it and the government is starting to pay attention. Your voice will help show that the world is watching.

Please take a moment to help us ensure that Alberta does NOT turn the clock back 40 years by passing this Bill. Alberta is birthplace to Canada’s national parks and home to the famous Rocky Mountains and Kananaskis Country.

Here’s what’s wrong with the Act, Bill 29:

• It doesn't identify protecting ecological integrity as the first priority for managing provincial parks -- unlike the National Parks Act

• It proposes a new zoning system to define protected areas, but the criteria for zones are undefined

• It leaves it up to the Minister, not to conservation biologists or the public, to decide what the zones will be

• It requires no public consultation for zoning changes

• It threatens the World Heritage Areas, like the Rocky Mountain national parks in Alberta adjacent to provincial parks

Over 1,000 Albertans have already spoken up, prompting a meeting between the Minister of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and CPAWS and other conservation representatives on Friday. The Minister said she would consider our concerns, but defended the Bill's “flexibility”.

Let Alberta know that Canadian wilderness lovers from far and wide are watching:

1. Write a letter -- Add your voice to those of Albertans who have voiced concerns to the Premier and opposition parties.
2. Donate to help CPAWS speak up for parks and wilderness conservation

Thank you for helping us to defend Canada’s amazing parks and wilderness areas!

West Coast Hiking Holiday

For larger images, click directly on photos

We’ve just returned from spending a couple of weeks on the West Coast.

Our time was spent hiking along a number of creeks, rivers and ocean beaches.




















We started off on the southern tip of Vancouver Island around the Saanich Peninsula and Sooke. We then moved north to the Comox Valley and then a bit further north to the Campbell River area and Quadra Island.

























We were pleased to discover a “Stream of Dreams” mural on a school yard fence on Quadra Island.




















You can see more photos from our trip at Bow River Shuttles on Facebook

What a great weekend!

The weatherman and Mother Nature came through!!

Above average temperatures on Friday, Saturday and Sunday brought out the boats and the walk & waders along the Bow River.

That "one more trip" is probably the final float trip of the season for the majority of fly fishers in this area.

TUC Bow River Chapter - Fall Splash 2010

Click directly on poster for larger image

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US for our 19th Annual Bow River Chapter Fall Splash to celebrate the Bow River and the volunteers that work to protect its world class fishery. This event is your chance to support conservation efforts along the Bow while bidding on unique art, fantastic trips, and top line sporting equipment in the company of friends.

http://www.tucanada.org/

Fishing gets more mobile

Stuff Sack

Compiled by Trent Edwards
Calgary Herald
November 4, 2010

Fishing gets more mobile

FISHING - A new iPhone application offers a user-friendly online guide for those who enjoy sport fishing in Alberta.

The App Door has launched the iFish Alberta app, which allows users to search for lakes by name or proximity, view a summary of catch limits and reference species. Fishing fanatics can also use the app to get interactive directions, fishing calendars, real-time weather, boat launch locations, points of interest and tips and tricks.

For more details, visit http://ifishalberta.com/


Via Calgary Herald: http://tinyurl.com/2ewww8t

Josh Ritter performs in Calgary

By the time we became aware of Josh Ritter’s Calgary concert date, the performance had sold out.

Josh, along with many other musicians, including Canada’s Chris Velan, is a member of One Percent For The Planet. (Chris was in Calgary earlier this year)

Josh, Chris and 39 other artists are on “The Music Vol I”. It can be yours for $9.99. All proceeds go to One Percent For The Planet.

Please click on the “My site helps rock stars Save the Planet” button on the right hand side of this screen.

1% For the Planet was started by Craig Matthews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies and Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia.

Felt Soul Media (Running Down the Man, The Hatch and Red Gold) has produced an excellent video on the story of 1% For The Planet.

A Warm November Day on the Bow River

The temperature hit +22°C today! Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that it's November.

Remember when it got all the way up to +8°C back on August 29?

Only in Calgary!!

Warm Start to November

A bright blue sky and a promise of temperatures in the low teens brought out a handful of boats floating the Bow today.

Those floating downstream of McKinnon were taking out at Legacy Island, rather than floating to Carseland.

With an even better forecast for tomorrow, we’ve already got a few shuttle bookings.

The Drake

Nice to see a painting grace the cover of The Drake, instead of the usual photo.

The artist is Derek DeYoung from Livingston Montana.

Check out the article on him titled… wait for it… “The Artist”. Seriously though, it’s a very good profile of him.

Lots of other great stuff in the magazine as well.

Available at your favourite Calgary flyshop.

Fly-tying & Beer

Adam writes:

“Fly-tying Wednesdays with the Mckenzie Towne Fly-fishing and Tying club. New members very Welcome, the club is only 5 mos old, and always looking for new members.

Kyle at Muldoons has some sweet deals for us and we have our own semi-private area with TV's. I'll put 2- 8x10 pages in stands on the table, so it should be easy to find.

Come one, come all for fly-tying, fishing chat or just to have a beer or 2.”

Schedule:

Wednesdays 3rd, 17th of Nov, and the 1st of Dec.

Where: Muldoons on 130th ave SE

Time: 7-9pm

Mckenzie Towne Fly-fishing and Tying Club

Supporting TUC

We donated a complementary drift boat rental to the TUC fundraising dinner this past spring.
The successful bidder took advantage of his prize today, with a “full service” float from Glenmore Trail to Policeman’s Flats.

Sunny Saturday on the Bow River

Today was a mostly sunny day, with a few clouds. By three this afternoon, the temp had clawed its way up to +11 °C.







By that time, about a dozen boats were floating various reaches of the Bow River.

Keep your soup warm

Need an insulated bottle for your next float trip? Check out Otterbottle. They are based right here in Calgary.

Calgary Herald reporter Trent Edwards gave them a mention in his “Vitals” column this morning.

Vitals
Compiled by Trent Edwards
Calgary Herald
October 29 2010

A Safe Bottle With Style

Bpa-Free Products - Tired of your dad's hefty, bland Thermos? Then check out Otterbottle's new insulated containers.

The Calgary company's 500-millilitre ($23.99) bottles comes in a wide range of funky colours, each with its own stylish print. But don't be fooled by the pretty paint job -- they are also durable and practical. Like all Otterbottle products, this is made of high-grade stainless steel and tough plastic that are free of the toxic chemical bisphenol-A. The dual lid includes a narrow-opening upper lid you can unscrew for a hot drink, and a wide-mouth lower lid you can open for chunky soups.

For more details, to buy online or for a list of independent stores that carry the containers in Calgary, visit otterbottle.ca.

http://www.otterbottle.ca/

Via: Vitals – Calgary Herald

A Chinook is in the forecast

We had a couple of clients who braved the chilly weather and floated the Bow River today. It got all the way up to +6C.

There were even a couple of fly fishers walking and wading near McKinnon Flats. (see photo on left).

However, it seems that a bit of a warming trend might be on the way!

Sky Watch Weather

Updated: Thu Oct. 28 2010
18:23:48
David Spence

Change Comes Gradually

The extremely slow warming trend continues in the Calgary area. While some parts of southern Alberta enjoyed double digit temperatures Thursday afternoon, the warm air remained aloft over Calgary. That warm air could come to the surface Friday, making a temperature forecast quite difficult. We've posted a high of 6 degrees, but if the sun comes out, and the wind kicks in, drawing the warmer air down to the surface, there is a chance of somewhat warmer weather than forecast.

We will have typical fall weather over the Halloween weekend, with temperatures in the mid to high single digits. There will be some sunshine, some clouds, and no snowstorms. The kids may have to bundle up a bit, as Sunday's high of 7 is likely to happen in the early to mid afternoon, with cooler air pouring in later in the day.

After Halloween, the weather will warm up as chinook wind blows in Monday.

Large turnout for Phil Rowley's presentation

Hook & Hackle members crowded into the hall to hear Phil Rowley speak last night. In fact, club President Daniel Young had to bring out another stack of chairs!





Thanks to Daniel and the club Executive for organizing this special event.

Photos

Top: Phil autographing one of his books

Bottom: Phil being introduced by Les Stastook

New "Short Film" Category for Back Cast FFFF

We are pleased to announce that we have added a new "Short Film" category to our Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival competition.

Short Film: Maximum 5 minutes. As short as you like.

Winning Short Film: $150

Backgrounder: Although we were aware of the success of the Drake Fly Fishing Video Awards when we put out our request for submissions earlier in the summer, we were still undecided on this category.

Since then, we have watched with interest the CPAWS Two Minute Video Contest (promoting Canada's National Parks). And in late September, we enjoyed attending the Paddling Film Competition & Festival (mostly short films) sponsored by local paddling shop Aquabatics.

All of this caused us to revisit our original decision and that resulted in today's announcement.

Just a reminder, the deadline for submissions is November 30 2010.

More information here

In That Sweet Country

A moving collection of fishing stories by one of America’s legendary outdoor writers. Throughout his career, Harry Middleton contributed hundreds of stories, essays, and book reviews to some of the most respected periodicals, including the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Gray’s Sporting Journal, Field & Stream, Country Journal, Smithsonian, and Sierra, among others. When he died in 1993, Middleton left behind a legacy rich with mountain streams, wild trout, and fishermen’s dreams.

In That Sweet Country is a fresh, exhilarating collection of a renowned fishing writer’s previously published works. A recognized name in outdoor writing, Middleton brings us inspiring selections such as “An Angler’s Lament” from Southern Living (1987),“Spring on the Miramichi” from The Flyfisher (1991), “A Haunting Obsession with Brown Trout” from the New York Times (1992), and many more. Readers who have loved Middleton’s work will cherish this compilation, while novice fishermen will gain a view of the world as Middleton saw it: “There are so few left, so few who believe the earth is enough.”

Published July 2010. Available at your favourite fly shop.

Phil Rowley @ Calgary Hook & Hackle Club

The Calgary Hook and Hackle Club welcomes Phil Rowley as the guest speaker at their upcoming meeting this Wednesday October 27 2010.

Doors Open: 6:30 pm
Meeting & Phil Rowley: 7:00 pm

Please note ½ hour earlier start time

Calgary Hook & Hackle Club

Fly Craft Angling with Phil Rowley