Back Cast FFFF - A Preview!

Saturday Feb 12, 2011

Two shows for 2011 – Matinee @ 1:00 pm, Evening @ 6:30 pm!

Different Films At Each Screening!

Several "Blue Ribbon" Films!

- The best of Atlantic Salmon angling – the river, the fish, the anglers

- Hunting Marble Trout and Hocho in Slovinia

- Permit obsessed fly fishers pursue their elusive quarry in Australia

- Chasing Eastern Brook Trout, Northerns, Stripers, Peacock Bass, Landlock Salmon & Shad along the Atlantic seaboard, from Labrador to the Florida Keys

- The science, the craft, the art, the poetry, the spiritual, the losing of one's self, the finding of one's self – Explore the numerous wide-ranging aspects that make fly fishing a lifestyle choice for so many of us

- Alpine bass, Oregon Steelhead and The River of No Return

- At the turn of the 20th Century, a handful of pioneers carried their fly rods into California’s remote north coast and gave birth to a culture that would revolutionize their sport

- An epic fly fishing journey to Russia's remote Kamchatka Peninsula

Benefitting


Stay tuned for more information!

Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival on Facebook

Bloodknot Issue 4 (Blogger Issue)

LINK: Bloodknot Issue 4 (Blogger Issue)

Tying & Tasting

Yes, it was wine & cheese & …fly tying… at the Hook & Hackle Club meeting this week.

Thanks to the Executive for this good idea and to those who put it together.

It's almost show time

I'll be at my display booth for Bow River Shuttles at the Western Canadian Fly Fishing Expo again this year.

Is anyone reading this post planning to attend? I'd like to hear from you. You can post a reply in "Comments" below!

More snow & cold. What to do?

Take in some indoor seminars!



Sun Jan 16 (12 pm - 2 pm): “What’s in the bag?” Local guides Aaron Caldwell and Jeff Thomson talk about what they take in their boat bags. This will be an interesting one as the guys will welcome comments and discussion from everyone. Who knows where this will go???? More information here.



Sat Jan 15 (10 am – 12 pm): Steelhead Flies. Brent Piche will tie new, and traditional Steelhead flies. He'll be doing some of his Intruders, some of the nicest we've seen. More details here.

Why Fish Montana?

Many Bow River fly fishers devote a few days of the season to fishing south of the border.

This video, from the Montana Office of Tourism, helps explain the attraction.

Montana Stories: Jenny Grossenbacher from Montana Office of Tourism on Vimeo.

Via: The Running Line, American Angler

Fishing the River

Ingrid Christensen is a local Calgary artist who has taken an interest in painting fly fishing scenes.

On her blog, “A Painter's Progress”, she writes:

“I'm really hooked on fly fishing: not doing it, just painting it. Luckily for me, the Bow River is a world-class, trout river. I don't think that there's been a week that I haven't seen a fisherman or several standing in the current, trying to outwit a fish.” - April 28 2010

View Ingrid’s portfolio here

Above
“Fishing the River”
20x20 Oil on canvas

Montreal River

We made a quick trip to Northern Saskatchewan over the weekend.

The Montreal River was being guarded by a lone Merganser.

Snow sleds were lined up outside the coffee shop.

As we left for home yesterday morning, we marveled at the images of a winter wonderland.

It was a much different picture as we arrived back in Alberta.

The Fisherman

The Fisherman from Jeff Marsh on Vimeo.

“A find over at MoldyChum by Jeff Marsh and Ron Hicks that's beautifully written and gorgeously filmed with just the proper amount of contemplation thrown in.” - Tim Romano, Fly Talk, Field & Stream blog

Fishing the Bow in December

Mike (Doc) Monteith from Edmonton came down to Calgary just after Christmas to do a bit of fishing on the Bow River.

You can read about his trip here, or you can scroll down this page, on the right hand side, and click on his blog “Doc’s Ol’ Blog House”.

Photos: Joe Belehorec & Mike Monteith

Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival - New Theatre Venue!

I am thrilled to announce that my Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival has a new home for 2011 – The Cardel Theatre!

“3000 watt Dolby surround sound audio system, HD projector shooting on a 193” motorized projection screen – what more could any film buff ask for! The sight and sound quality of your film is outstanding and probably one of the best cinematic theatres in Calgary.”




This event will be an awareness raiser and fundraiser for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada. Net proceeds will be donated to PHWFFC.

As in past years, festival goers will be treated to several full length films (about 3 hours total) from some of the best fly fishing film producers on the planet.

There will be two screenings, one matinee and one evening. Each show will have a different lineup of films.

Doors open @ 12:00 noon, Show @ 1:00 pm.
Doors open again @ 5:30 pm, Show @ 6:30 pm.

You’ll meet interesting people from the world of fly fishing and travel to exotic locations! Plan now to be there!!

Stay tuned for more information!

Please check out my new Facebook Page for Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival.

What's Up This Weekend?

Sat Jan 08 (10 am – 12 pm): Tying with new Enrico Puglisi Products. Cool new products. Not just salt water flies, trout flies as well. More information here.

Sat Jan 08 (12 pm - 2 pm): Greg & Annette Lauder. Steelhead adventures on the Skeena River using Spey rods. More information here and here.

Sun Jan 09 (1 pm – 3 pm): Matthew Slater tying tube flies. More information here.

Sherri Brillon – Power Player & Fly Fisher

An article appeared in the business section of the Calgary Herald today under the headline: “Men dominate top jobs in energy industry”.

However, the focus of the article was on a number of women who are the exception to the rule, in particular Sherri Brillon. Sherri is Encana Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, and was recently named one of Canada's most powerful women. She is being inducted into the “Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Hall of Fame”.

In part, the article read:

“Despite her busy schedule, Brillon does find time to indulge in one of her passions -- fly-fishing. It's this affinity with the outdoors that has ultimately led to Brillon achieving another first in a male-dominated world: Brillon is chairing the upcoming Calgary national conservation dinner for Trout Unlimited Canada, which has become North America's premier fund raising event for cold water resource conservation.”

Photo: Ted Jacob, Calgary Herald

Link: Read article here

Link: http://www.top100women.ca/

Murder on the Bow

In the #3 spot on the “Calgary Bestsellers Fiction” list in yesterday's Calgary Herald was a book titled “Murder on the Bow” by John Ballem.

This book has nothing to do with fly fishing. But we thought it might be fun to read a murder mystery laced with references to locations in Calgary and Alberta.

A recent on-line review of the book includes the following:

“That John Ballem loved the city of Calgary is well known to those who knew and loved him. In Murder on the Bow his characters tumble onto the page like the contents of a Matrushka doll; indeed, there are as many characters in this murder mystery as one finds in a 19th Century Russian novel. If you’re still looking for the perfect Christmas gift, by all means, pick up several copies.

This elegant author takes the reader on a veritable romp through Calgary’s streets and neighbourhoods; from the lofty hills of Mount Royal with its palatial residences, to the run-down shacks of Victoria Park, driving along well-known routes, at all times providing detailed information regarding place names.” Read the review here.

“Dirt Roads and Sand Flats”

Catch Magazine Issue #15 is now live.

Lots of eye candy from some of the best photogs in the fly fishing universe.

One of the must-see features is Todd Moen’s video “Dirt Roads and Sand Flats”.

http://www.catchmagazine.net/

(Click directly on the cover image for a larger version)

Super Cool Solstice

Photo: Courtesy Paul Harper

The Chinook Waters Fly Fishing Club headed for the Crowsnest River for their annual Winter Solstice fishing trip. Here is their story:

"Sunday was our local fly fishing club’s annual Winter Solstice Fly Fishing Trip. Despite temperatures hovering around -15 degrees Celsius, five brave souls put on as many layers of wool that would fit under the waders and trekked to the river. 10 degrees cooler than last year’s trip, but with the sun and the fat snowflakes it was a beautiful day!" Read the rest of the story here.

More photos here (see Dec 20 post)

Happy New Year to everyone!

"Views from the shuttle van 2010" - Bow River Shuttles
(Please click directly on collage for larger image)

Canucks Fly Fishing in the Land of the Kiwi

Dave and Amelia Jensen are about midway through a 12 week fly fishing holiday in New Zealand.

They’ve experienced drought conditions, a vehicle needing replacement, torrential rains (600 mm in 24 hours a couple days ago), and many more adventures.

You can follow their exploits on their blog here, or you can find that same link by scrolling down this page, on the right, to Fly Fish Alberta under “Alberta Fly Fishing Blogs”.

Photo: Courtesy Dave & Amelia Jensen

Dam Removals Open Way for Cultural and Habitat Restoration

As dams come down in different parts of the world, exciting opportunities are opened to restore lost habitats and cultural sites sacred to indigenous peoples.

This article is part of a special National Geographic news series on global water issues.


Mark Angelo (foreground) and BCIT colleague with midsize Harrison chinook (spring) salmon. Elwha fish were historically bigger. Photo by Danny Catt

By Mark Angelo

As a river advocate and paddler for several decades, I've seen many of my favorite rivers lost to the building of large dams.

In my youth, I saw the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona that flooded one of the most impressive gorges in the United States. In later years, I participated in perhaps the very last raft trip down part of the Bio Bio River in Chile before the completion of the controversial Pangue Dam.

And today, new dams threaten fabled stretches of the Coruh River in Turkey and the "great bend" of the Yangtze in China, both of which I've thoroughly enjoyed as a rafter and kayaker.

Read article here

Mark Angelo is the chair of the Rivers Institute at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and an internationally acclaimed river conservationist. He has received the Order of Canada, his country's highest honor, in recognition of his river conservation efforts both at home and abroad.

Read more about Mark Angelo at the end of his article.

Tides Canada "Top 10 for 2010"

Tides Canada recently chose their "Top 10 for 2010". A couple of our personal favourites made the list: Watter Matters and Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition

Water Matters

Protecting Alberta’s watersheds, inspiring people to action

Issue Area: Water, Watershed Protection
Geographical Footprint: Alberta

We chose them for:

• an exceptional track record of success in their first three years of advancing progressive water management solutions for Alberta’s environment and economy.
• being the only province-wide organization in Alberta dedicated exclusively to water issues, with a focus on protecting water for the basic needs and health of aquatic ecosystems and people.
• building public awareness and concern about the future of Alberta’s water through the strategic use of media, e-newsletters and in-depth publications and reports. Water Matters’ outreach to the public is unique, timely, relevant and engaging.
• Share the Water — a campaign that proposes blueprints for addressing the growing challenges of water supply and demand as well as impacts to people, industry and the environment.




Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition

Kick-ass conservation for a wild Skeena

Issue Area: Watershed Protection, Wild Salmon
Geographical Footprint: Northern British Columbia and Sacred Headwaters

We chose them for:

• working effectively as a coalition of diverse communities united in their pursuit of environmental and cultural sustainability for British Columbia’s Skeena Watershed and Sacred Headwaters.
• unique school programs and a summer conservation camp for the region’s children and youth that teach about fish and wildlife, First Nations culture and the importance of the Skeena watershed.
• getting people focused on solutions over problems and working closely with First Nations to teach the cultural components of their projects and programs.
• Awakening the Skeena, a film which follows Ali Howard on her historic swim of the 610-kilometre Skeena River, uniting communities with each other and with their shared watershed, and raising awareness of the threats to the Skeena’s health; it has premiered in film festivals across North America.