Dr Hook had it right

"All by myself" is quite applicable right now at the local brown trout streams. Been out to this spot lately? Few have. Mostly to ourselves this week for evening fishing. Nothing huge, but the forgotten waters of summer are worth a visit.

Parks Canada Open House

Celebrating our Past, Building our Future!

Parks Canada wants your ideas to help shape the future of Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks and the Roger's Pass National Historic Site.

We are currently reviewing and updating our Park Management Plan – which is a road map that guides us in delivering the 3 elements of our mandate – resource protection, visitor experience and public education.

The updated management plan will feature a new approach to visitor experience that involves:
· Using social science to understand visitor requirements and experiences
· Offering new or improved visitor services, facilities and activities.

As a valued member of our local community, your perspective would be invaluable as we develop our ideas.

Please join us on August 5th at a Marketing Workshop to:
· Learn more about the latest visitor research for the area (presented by a marketing consultant)
· Define the unique character of various areas of the park
· Explore visitor experiences that do or could exist to support and foster appreciation of each of these areas.

GOLDEN Workshop
Date: Wednesday, August 5th
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Kicking Horse Civic Centre

NZ River - another request

From another source. We have not used Dean as a guide but have emailed many times about ff in NZ:
"Hi guys. This is a pivotal moment in the life of this river and fishery.
Many of us have fished the Hurunui, or hunted the valleys, walked the riverbed, experienced the grandeur and magnificence of this stunning river.... it is one of the few wilderness rivers left in NZ that are relatively unchanged.
Damming it will totally change that.
I believe we need to protect our natural resource... NOT muck around with it and stuff it up. The trout and salmon fishery will be changed forever if this goes ahead. So will the hunting, the access.... the natural beauty that is the river and the valleys and catchment.
Please take 5 minutes, write a letter or submission stating your opinion and I will take these letters to the meeting next week.

I’m asking for 5 minutes of your time now to try and save a fishery forever.
Email me your letters and I will take to meetings next week.

If you have people in your address book that would also write a note and be heard, PLEASE send this on!

I fish this river for my own pleasure, and know it from that aspect... I also guide into this region and get to see the effect and awe this majestic river inspires in visiting anglers from overseas.
There are so few rivers that remain untouched... the world needs treasures like this gem... NZ is a fabulous destination for tourism, do we want to be famous for clean green and untouched, or manmade concrete and interference of the resources? We only get one chance to keep it natural... apathy and inactivity are what the big boys in hydro power are banking on to get this dam approved. Please, help make a difference.

The photo in my signature below is a fish caught in the Hurunui (and released back in to the river 2 minutes later!)


Deano
dean@deanharrison.net.nz"

Yet another NZ river seeking help to prevent a dam

One of the perils of fly fishing New Zealand's trout waters is the ever looming energy demand, derived in NZ through hydro power. Many waters are in the sights of power companies, the Hurunui yet one more:
"Help us protect the Hurunui river
Dear Anglers
The Hurunui Water Project Limited’s application to dam the South Branch of the Hurunui and dam the North Branch at the outlet of Lake Sumner was publicly notified by Environment Canterbury on the 18 July. Fish & Game are opposing the application as we believe the scheme will threaten a number of values that the Hurunui River holds as a fishery.
Fish & Game will be submitting against the application but we need your support! If you think the Hurunui is worth protecting then you should also make a submission against this scheme. Fish & Game will certainly do their best to convince decision-makers that any adverse effects on sportsfish or gamebird habitat, or angler and hunter amenity values, should be avoided.
However we must base our submission on scientific evidence rather than personal experience. This is a strength in some ways, and a weakness in others.
This is where you come in. You are uniquely qualified to explain your personal connection to these rivers, streams and lakes and to point out how that relationship may be jeopardised by the proposed scheme. You may also have kept a diary of your angling expeditions – that information is particularly important to this process.
Fish and Game will be holding two meetings to discuss why we are submitting against the scheme, the values of the Hurunui River and how you can help by making a submission. Submission close on September 11th at 5pm.
The meetings will be held at:
North Canterbury Fish & Game3 Horatio StreetChristchurch7pm on Thursday 6th August
Or
Cheviot Trust HotelMain RoadCheviot7.15pm on Wednesday 5th August
Please contact Tony Hawker (03) 366 9191 or email thawker@fishandgame.org.nz if you would like to attend either of these meetings.
If you cannot attend the meetings but would like to submit anyway you can contact North Canterbury Fish & Game on (03) 366 9191 or visit our website www.fishandgame.org.nz for more information
Tony HawkerEnvironment OfficerNorth Canterbury Fish & Game3 Horatio StreetChristchurchph 03 366 9191mobile 021 221 8325"

RDR update

It has certainly been a good year for the browns on the RDR. While always a temperamental river, the hatches have steadied, returning to a rythm that works. Trout are being caught at expected times and locations, which certainly works well!

www.reddeerriver.com

In stream temperature advisory

Anglers asked to help protect fish in foothills streamsEdmonton... The recent spell of hot weather, coupled with declining stream flows, is pushing water temperatures to critically high levels on lower portions of many foothills’ trout and mountain whitefish streams. Water temperatures as high as 26.5 C have been recorded on some foothills streams between Rocky Mountain House and the Montana border.High water temperatures and low flows place fish populations under considerable stress. Anglers can help by voluntarily avoiding angling on portions of trout streams where they encounter water temperatures 22 C or higher. Reducing angling means less stress on fish while these temperature conditions persist.
Sustainable Resource Development will continue to monitor the situation to determine when conditions have improved, or if further advisories are required.
-30-
Backgrounder: Questions and answers on the high stream temperature advisory
Media inquiries may be directed to:Trisha LeTilleyCommunicationsAlberta Sustainable Resource Development780-427-8636
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.

The Release

A couple of years ago a guest (thanks, Mark T) took a photo of a brook trout in Fortress Lake that really stood out, an excellent photo. Since, as blog readers have noticed, we've emulated the photo in a few different shots. This is another nice brookie on its way home. There are few things more enjoyable than watching a happy guest on a sunny, warm day releasing a fine brookie.

Fortress Lake Update

Some days go as expected, others not. When they do, some amazing things can occur. A recent hot spell through BC has seen the valley at Fortress Lake turn into a cooker - each day around 4pm the shade thermometer has read 31 to 36C and a breeze come from the west for an hour. The breeze actually carries heat and feels like a hair dryer blowing in your face and heats up the day even more rather than a cooling effect. Beautiful weather indeed!
Recently, a few nice trout have been caught. While the fishing has slowed to a few - a dozen fish a day per guest, 4 to 6 pound fish are still being caught. It's a good summer, indeed.

Canadian Fly Fisher - Canyon Rivers

Check out the current issue of Canadian Fly Fisher for the latest article by Dave Jensen. "Alberta's Canyon Rivers, playing Russian Roullette with Alberta's canyon trout" is featured in the Aug-Oct issue. It was a little truncated from what Dave hoped to be in the article, but perhaps the full version needs to be expanded further some day down the road... :)

See you soon!

Quickly becoming a tradition, the dock fly by on those clear, summer days allows one more chance to say "Thank You", as you enjoy the flight home. We certainly appreciate your visit and hope to see you again soon.
:)

How's the hatch?

Recently, we floated the Red Deer R and were having a go at a nice brown trout. Few fish were seen for the first 1/3 of the trip but things were looking up, promising better imminently as the clouods rolled in. Sure enough, as if hitting the Staples "That was easy" button, the drakes were everywhere.
A good day and evening, for sure. Find a few bugs, find a few fish. :)

Family of bears

Forwarded by a friend:

Black bears typically have two cubs; rarely, one or three. In 2007, in northern New Hampshire, a black bear Sow gave birth to five healthy young. There were two or three reports of sows with as many as four cubs, but five was, and is, extraordinary. I learned of them shortly after they emerged from their den and set myself a goal of photographing all five cubs with their mom - no matter how much time and effort was involved. I knew the trail they followed on a fairly regular basis, usually shortly before dark. After spending nearly four hours a day, seven days a week, for six weeks, I had that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and photographed them. I used the equivalent of a very fast film speed on my digital camera. The print is properly focused and well exposed, with all six bears posing as if they were in a studio for a family portrait.

I stayed in touch with other people who saw the bears during the summer and into the fall hunting season. All six bears continued to thrive. As time for hibernation approached, I found still more folks who had seen them, and everything remained OK. I stayed away from the bears as I was concerned that they might become habituated to me, or to people in general, as approachable friends. This could be dangerous for both man and animal. After Halloween I received no further reports and could only hope the bears survived until they hibernated. This spring, before the snow disappeared, all six bears came out of their den and wandered the same familiar territory they trekked in the spring of 2007. I saw them before mid-April and dreamed nightly of taking another family portrait, an improbable second once-in-a-lifetime photograph On April 25, 2008 I achieved my dream.

When something as magical as this happens between man and animal, Native Americans say, 'We have walked together in the shadow of a rainbow.' And so it is with humility and great pleasure that I share these photos with you. Sincerely, Tom Sears

Kamchatka salmon/etc photo essay

A great photo essay about the Kamchatka salmon, way of life, bears, etc. Thanks to Lance Farkas for the email forwarded.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/08/kamchatka-salmon/olson-photography

One great storm

No photos of the actual storm, but boy oh boy that was a good one. We were parked for lunch at the Cliffs of Doom on the Bow about 11 am and all hell broke out. For an hour we took refuge in a 4 foot deep ditch in the inturn gravel as lightning struck 0.5 to 3 seconds away from us for over an hour. Torrential downpours and heavy wind battered us for the entire time. Finally, we were able to poke our little heads out of the ditch like cautious lemmings, only to see another massive wave coming in, followed by another. The cliffs sloughed to the river, dumping ooze and killing the day. Even the N side of the Bow turned to mud. For 4 hours the rain hammered down, and the thunder and lightning rolled as we made our way off the river. After the initial insult, we made our way to the drift boat, which had water lapping over the upper levels of the raised floor. 5 - 7" of water was inside.

Thoughts turned to the older gents in another guide boat that launched the day early in the am with no waders or boots, with just simple blue jeans and sneakers. Tough one to endure, no doubt.

We came past the Highwood and for a change the Bow was causing it to contrast heavily with its clear, blue waters.

Prior the storm, the stonefly fishing had been ok. No great shakes but steady, with nice fish to hand. It might be a day before the river is in good shape again. That was a lot of water.

Hinton - Edson area high water

Be thankful you don't live in the area right now. Fishing is out for a week or so, at least. When the McLeod goes from just under 20m3/sec to near 320m3/sec, you've had rain. Lots of rain.

It's NOT Over 'Til It's Over!!!

Floats on the Red Deer River tailwater can be feast of famine. Yesterday was very interesting. Dave and I saw 4 risers in the first 500 meters. We got takes on the first two, then the showers shut down the river. About 9ish in the evening, even with showers coming and going the brown drakes started to come alive. The browns were out. Lots of fun for the two of us. Packing up in a heavy shower in the dark was no big deal after a fine afternoon and evening.

Bob

Westslope Cutthroat - interesting article

CALGARY - Many animal species are threatened because they face destruction of their land, or suffocation in the hands of a hunter. The westslope cutthroat trout, an ancient fish many anglers and environmentalists are struggling to protect, suffers that and more.
The fish is fading away, mainly due to interbreeding with the larger rainbow trout, a species introduced to southern Alberta by humans.
Over the years, the bloodline of the province's westslope cutthroat trout has become diluted and hybridized. Native stocks occupy less than five per cent of their original range.
"He's been around for a couple of million of years, that one," Kyle McNeilly, a Calgary angler and former commercial trout farmer, says of the westslope cutthroat. "He's the cold-water-tolerant subspecies compared to most other cutthroats."
McNeilly believes the fish is important enough that in the few instances where it can be separated from rainbow trout, it should be, though it's often like trying to take the "cream out of your coffee."
Ottawa and the provincial government say they are moving to protect the remaining Alberta westslope cutthroat--all in danger of melding into the genetics of the rainbow trout.
There are also populations in British Columbia and some northern states, but the Alberta westslope cutthroat is a candidate for legal listing under Alberta's Wildlife Act and Canada's Species at Risk Act.
A joint federalprovincial recovery team is meeting, and the group is hoping to have a draft plan ready by next year.
"Hybridization is a big problem because that could just wipe the species right out of existence," said Jennifer Earle, a fisheries biologist for the Alberta government's fish and wildlife division.
Getting rid of rainbow trout, which now flourish and are a staple for anglers, is not an option, said Earle, who co-chairs the recovery team.
"The team has to take into account all sorts of different user-groups, opinions and viewpoints."
The question from the trout's backers is whether action will happen quickly enough to protect the small, isolated groups of pure populations cornered in the Bow and Oldman river headwaters, where less-robust rainbow trout cannot survive.
"The situation is really critical," said David Mayhood, an independent biologist who specializes in the ecology and conservation of western Canadian fish.
Mayhood said the first threat to the westslope cutthroat--named in part for a splash of rouge under its jaw--came more than a century ago when the first settlers "fished the daylights" out of a once-abundant population.
Restocking in the decades afterward focused on fish foreign to the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies, such as the rainbow and brook trout.
"They dumped those on top of weakened stocks of the native fish," said Mayhood, who is based in Calgary.
Not only did native fish often have their food eaten and their breeding grounds overtaken, but interbreeding became common.
"Once these genes are all mixed together, it's impossible to sort them out," Mayhood said.
Lessons have been learned. For the most part, Alberta fishermen are now only permitted to catch and release westslope cutthroat trout--except in water bodies that are stocked. And rainbow trout are only stocked in areas with no westslope cutthroat trout.
However, the problems that began in bygone days still persist.
In Banff National Park, aquatics specialist Charlie Pacas said nonnative brook trout are also out-competing the bull trout, another struggling native species.
"They would stock with species they thought people wanted to catch," Pacas said of past fish practices in the park. "That started a lot of the tourism industry."
Pacas said he often thinks about the Banff long nose dace, which took thousands of years to evolve from the more common dace but was extinct by 1987 after being ravaged by chlorinated water, sewage and competing non-native fish.
"One of the things that we never realized until we started putting some of these stories together is how significant the changes on the landscape have been," Pacas said, also noting the dams in the park.
For his part, McNeilly said so long as westslope cutthroat trout are released after being caught, angling does not need to end.
And one reason why it's important to preserve westslope cutthroat, and possibly expand its range and numbers, is it's a highly "catchable" fish compared to the rainbow or the brown trout, McNeilly said.
This is because the trout thrives in cold streams and rivers, where there are fewer food opportunities, and has adapted a survival instinct to react quickly to stimulus--which even includes lures.
"Everybody likes fishing, but most people like catching fish more. What would you rather catch--30 a day, or three?"
kcryderman@theherald.canwest.com

Cutthroat Action

Its time to hit your favorite Eastern Slopes rivers. A group of us hit the west country yesterday. There was a variety of bugs. BWOs, golden stones and green drakes were on the water. Once we put on a golden stone imitation, the dry fly action was steady. Lots of fish to hand. The best was a fat 18 inch cutt taken on a BWO dry. The "Orange Crush" was the fly of the day! 

Its a Good Day to be a Dog

Yesterday was Canada Day, we hit Fiesta Lake. The good news is the dock is now in. Yes, no more swamp rally to get to the water. The fishing was OK but not amazing. Did I mention there were 12 floating devices on the water. Busy!

Today we hit Ironside. Had the place to ourselves, well almost. Don Anderson hit the water at 3:00 p.m. Don has had a lot to do with developing the trophy fisheries on local lakes. The fishing was slow. Only 3 to hand. The thunderstorms encouraged us to go home and watch the Eskimos game. Tiki decided that he should get lots of love while we were fishing!