Guide Chronicles – May 2011

‘Under Pressure’ is an interesting read, and a very good introduction to the Klickitat River.

There are another half dozen eclectic articles, ranging from the serious/humorous ‘Where the Hell is my Hackle’ to the more science-based ‘Trout Metabolism Made Easy’.

Read on!

Guide Chronicles

BC Steelhead in the spring

Spring Steelhead from CP Flyfishing on Vimeo.

Some of the Bow River fly fishers from Country Pleasures spent last week chasing Steelhead in the Skeena River watershed.

Canadian Wildlife Federation Video Contest

To mark Rivers to Oceans Week 2011 (June 8 –12), CWF launches the Waters Worth It video contest. Send a one-minute video telling CWF what’s so special about your local body of water and why it’s worth conserving. If you win, CWF will contribute $2,000 in funding towards a water-conservation project in your area.

The contest is open to all residents of Canada of any age and entries accepted from May 1 until June 1, 2011. The top videos will be posted on RiverstoOceans.ca with online voting during Rivers to Oceans Week (June 8 to 14) to choose the winner.

Alberta's water is not for sale! Well, not yet, anyway…

The subject of ‘water’ made the front page of the Calgary Herald yesterday.

Peter Brabeck, chairman of Nestle, stirred things up when he told Reuters (following a speech in Geneva on Tuesday): “We are actively dealing with the government of Alberta to think about a water exchange,”

That forced a response from Environment Minister Rob Renner.

Read the original story here: Nestle head says company in talks with Alberta to trade in water

Read the follow up story here: Alberta water not for sale, province declares

For a broader view of the story, read columnist Don Braid here: Water trade talks dampen farewells for Ed Stelmach, David Swann

Photograph by: Staff, Getty Images Files

Fishing: Excellent * Catching: Average

Friday May 06
Policeman’s Flats to McKinnon Flats

Saturday May 07
17th Ave/Cushing Bridge to Policeman’s Flats

The fishing on the Bow May 6th and 7th, was excellent but the catching average.

Perhaps a dozen fish to the boat and the majority were browns and ~ 2 each day exceeded twenty inches, several LDR’s

Small girdle legged stonefly nymphs earlier in the day and various San Juan worms hooked the most fish. Later in the day, weighed streamers like the Bow River Bugger ( black and Olive) hooked some large fish. Several fish were also caught on a # 14 or 16 pheasant tail nymph(or similar BWO nymph patterns) . The water was thick with mats of midges and the BWO’s were also there in large numbers. Saw a few small fish rising but not any large snouts.

The visibility varied from 3-4 feet to less than 6 inches. Still a significant amount of snow / ice on the south side of the river that is melting and clouding the water near some sun sheltered spots dropping the visibility. This week of warm weather will hopefully improve this. The Highwood and Fish Creek were running dirty and that only multiplied when the thundershowers hit. When the visibility dropped we some success with large streamers.

THANK TO ERIC M. for this email report and the photo.

Photo: Eric M.

Shale Gas & Fracking

This morning on CBC Radio’s “The Current” with Anna Maria Tremonti, one of the segments covers the controversial process of fracking in the search for shale gas. One of several concerns is the huge amount of fresh water that is required for this process to work.

Coincidentally, this same topic was mentioned on the Moldy Chum Blog today. Skip over to Moldy for a moment, if only for the image.

Here is the introduction to the podcast from ‘The Current’:

“There's a substantial amount of natural gas buried under the earth across Canada. But getting at it is tough and there are consequences. We look at the potential and the perils of fracking.

According to Canada's fledgling shale-gas industry, the Country could be sitting on a sprawling, game-changing source of energy ... enough natural gas to transform our energy supply. The trouble is a growing chorus of critics is alarmed at the method needed to get at it. The gas is locked in shale, a fine-grained sedimentary rock that has proven to be exceptionally stingy when it comes to releasing natural gas.

The process used to extract it is called, hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." And watching with dread at the experience in the United States - where shale gas is big business - some in this Country are calling for caution and even moratoriums... warning of serious health and environmental consequences.

Andrew Miall has done a lot of work monitoring the environmental impacts of fossil fuel development. He's a professor of geology at the University of Toronto. Michael Jensen is on the steering committee of Stop Fracking In Nova Scotia. He was in Scottsburn in Northeastern Nova Scotia. And Mike Dawson is the President of the Canadian Society for Unconventional Gas. He has been developing unconventional gas resources for more than 20 years and he was in Calgary.”

Listen to podcast “Shale Gas & Fracking” here

Via: CBC Radio ‘The Current’

Legacy Island: From ‘No’ to ‘Go’ in a hurry

All photos courtesy: Peter C.

Just yesterday, we posted images of what we saw during our visit to Legacy Island this past Saturday.

At that time, there was still some ice fronting the boat ramp. Of more concern was the muddy condition of the ramp. 4x4 or not, a vehicle was likely to sink to the axles.

However, on Monday, a contractor hired by TUC-Bow River Chapter brought in a track hoe and dump truck to clean out the sediment in the boat launch. Peter C. (who arranged for the contractor) reports to us that a total of 8 truck loads of silt were removed!

Peter C. further states: “The base of the boat launch to now gravel. The attached photos shows the improvements. Hopefully it will not silt up too much with this year’s run-off.

Although the ice shelf was left in place to protect the river while the work was being done, a boat trailer can still be backed into the river.

Not much hope for fishing - water clarity less than 1 foot!”

A big ‘THANK YOU’ to Peter C. for the report, and especially for the photos.

Kype Magazine – Volume 3 Issue 1

A quarterly mag on salmon, trout, and steelheading.

“A Journey of Fly Fishing & Photography” was a good read.

Written by Kirk Werner (Unaccomplished Angler blog and author of children’s fly fishing books incl ‘Olive the Little Woolly Bugger), it honours photographer Rich Schaaff, whose shot graces the cover, and whose photos are scattered throughout the mag.

Werner’s article was a reminder that ‘Life’s short – eat dessert first’.

Also in this issue:

• The Tube Fly Revolution
• Fly Fish The Catskills
• Custom Steelhead Rod Building
• Curt Gowdy - Announcer & Fly Fisherman

Read Kype Magazine here

My Biggest Brown Ever

Friday May 06 2011
Policeman's Flats to McKinnon Flats.

It was a slow day overall, but the weather was very nice and I managed to catch my biggest brown ever, 25 inch (picture attached).

I caught it on a SJW. My partner lost a brown that looked about the same size.

The water clarity varied along the way, but got pretty bad at Highwood. We just rowed after Highwood.

There were a lot of midges on the surface, and some BWO, but we only saw two fish rising. We got a few rainbows on nymphs but nothing big.

THANKS TO MARTIN L. for this email report and photo.

Photo: Martin L.

Fly Life Magazine – May 2011

Does the thought of casting a fly to a Tarpon get your adrenalin pumping?

If so, there is plenty in this issue, ‘Being Fly With Tarpon’, to keep your attention.

I’d start with ‘Tarpon ESOL for Trout Speakers’ with photographer and angler Pat Ford or ‘Feeding the Animal’ with Andy Mill.

Fly Life Magazine – May 2011

Legacy Island boat launch – Almost ready (May 07, 2011)

Fishhead Flies n Lore - Issue #5

An interview with Netherlands fly tyer Johan Put. He ties amazingly realistic flys!

The Vagabond Fly Box Project gets off the ground.

You can follow the Project on Facebook here.

Fisheads Flies n Lore

Midges by the millions

Friday May 06 2011.
Glenmore Trail to 22X/Fish Creek Park.

It was great to get on the river for the first time this season.

Though the forecast was favourable, it seemed mighty chilly on the water.

The river was fairly clear with about 2 feet of visibility. Fish creek was coming in chocolate milk but by that time we were only wanting to get to the take-out.

There were midges by the millions everywhere! I imagine the trout were gorging themselves sub-surface because we didn't see any risers. I also imagine the trout were quite satiated because we couldn't convince them to eat any of our imitations!

We did hook a small brown on a streamer and my son Michael landed a rough looking whitefish. I only include his picture because he was so happy to catch something!

Thanks for the shuttle.

THANKS TO RYAN L. for this email report and photo.

Photo Courtesy: Ryan L.

Bouquets of doughnuts? Who knew!

Many of my fly fishing shuttle clients are Tim Hortons aficionados. The empty Timmie’s cups and donut bags left behind in their vehicles attest to that.

However, with Mother’s Day just around the corner, you might want to break with tradition, if only just for a day. This caught our eye today in Swerve Magazine (Calgary Herald).

“For Mother’s Day, Jelly Modern Doughnuts has two bouquets of doughnuts on offer. One features flavours from the kitchen like apple pie and red velvet cake. The other is centred on floral flavours like orange blossom, violet and orchid. The assortments come with a card, a tray and tongs so you can serve Mom on her big day”.

Look whoos home!

We saw the two fledglings for the first time today.








Near 22X/Fish Creek Park boat launch
Photo: Bow River Shuttles

McKinnon Flats river access: Good to go!

Photo: Bow River Shuttles

A Cutthroat We Should Respect

The April issue of the Wild Lands Advocate (Alberta Wilderness Association) focuses attention on wildlife in Alberta.

In one feature article “Lorne Fitch urges us to remember that, when it comes to the health of wild creatures in Alberta, we shouldn’t forget the fish. Lorne uses Alberta’s cutthroat trout population to develop his argument; that argument, like Mark Boyce’s, stresses the intimacy of the link between healthy ecosystems and healthy wildlife populations.”

Read Wild Lands Advocate here

McKinnon Flats - Ice Shelf Shrinking

On the road to McKinnon Flats. Photo: Bow River Shuttles

All photos from May 04 2011


Photo: Bow River Shuttles

Photo: Bow River Shuttles

Photo: Bow River Shuttles

TUC-Bow River Chapter: Legacy Island Spring Clean Up

TUC-Bow River Chapter
Volunteer Workday
Legacy Island Spring Clean Up

Trout Unlimited Canada's Bow River chapter invites you and your friends to attend their annual Legacy Island Spring Clean Up.

This year's clean up will be held on Saturday May 7, 2011 beginning at 9am at the Legacy Island boat launch weather permitting.


Legacy Island - Fall Colours Photo: Bow River Shuttles

Legacy Island Boat Launch-Bow River
Saturday May 7, 2011, 9am (weather permitting)

How to get to Legacy Island:

• Proceed to the Intersection of Hwy 24 and Hwy 22 -
• Head south on Hwy 24 until you reach the Bell Power Pole intersection (6.53 km or 4 miles).
• Continue south on gravel road and proceed another 3.7 km (2.3 miles).
• Turn west and go past the residential driveway.
• Proceed down the hill to Legacy Island.



Legacy Island Annual Spring Clean Up Details

Here is the list of Spring Clean-up duties:

• Fence Line Repairs - re-installing up rooted posts
• Brush trimming around fence line to reclaim the parking lot
• "Memorial Garden" clean-up
• General Trash removal

Here is what to bring:

• Personal Safety items- including gloves, protective eyewear, boots, etc.
• Shovel, rake, other garden implements
• Pruners and loppers for small brush removal
• Chain saw (with personal safety equipment)
• Wood Saw, nice for deadfall removal.

BBQ meal provided!

Please RSVP Your Attendance To:

Brian Meagher
Alberta Provincial Biologist
Trout Unlimited Canada
(403) 209-5185
Email - bmeagher@tucanada.org

Bow River Chapter Website

Visit Us on the Web!
Trout Unlimited Canada

Follow TUC on Facebook

There "out of our element"

There "out of our element" - Faceless - Fly Fishing - from faceless fly fishing on Vimeo.

A couple of weeks ago, Faceless Fly Fishing released this video, which captured the highlights of their recent trip to Honduras.

The vid has since been posted widely throughout the fly fishing blogosphere, from This is Fly Daily and Orvis News on the east coast, to Moldy Chum on the west coast, to The Drake Magazine somewhere in the middle. It made it across the pond to Flymage (Spain), Fish Addict Team (France), Fluebanden (Norway) and who knows where else.

You may recall that images from Faceless Fly Fishing appeared in a Blood Knot magazine article just awhile back. Great to see local Bow River fly fishers getting international exposure!