Letter to a friend

This is a copy of an email (part of) that we sent to friends back in the spring, simply sharing and hoping to pick up their spirits. With a few edits of the more personal text, it's a fun read... and a little touchy-feely at the end. If you don't like that kind of stuff, just look at the photos I guess! Toward the end I mention only one photo, obviously we added more to this blog post, the photo attached to the email was the last.

"I wanted to send you a few fishing photos to lighten your mood and maybe get your mind off the world for 5 minutes. But as I scrolled through New Zealand images from this year's trip, I found myself remembering the freedom Amelia & I felt one day as we stumbled across an amazing little creek. We walked upstream through the tiniest, narrowest gorge, barely wide enough for us to get through and quite the deep pools. The walls were sheer rock. We only managed a few smaller fish but kept going because it was such a fascinating little piece of the world. The gorge got tighter. The stream lined with gorse and matagouri - both are covered in 1 to 2" spikes. At one point we came up to a long straight away of boulders and the creek was very steep. We weren't sure if there'd be any fish upstream. But we kept going. We almost turned around because there was a Berenstein Bears like tree hanging over the creek - it was full of thousands of bees. Being allergic, I was fearful of getting stung. I got as far away as I could and made it through alive. Above that, the rock walls really closed in. We waded upstream and I had to lift AJ 5 feet straight up a rock wall so we could continue.

Further still, we got boxed out - we didn't want to go back down and the route ahead was of overhanging rock walls 10 feet straight up, tying in to 200 foot cliffs. There was no way to go up the creek. So, we had no choice but to double back a little and find out way up a cliff of matagouri - again, of 2" spikes. We managed to work our way through, in pain and agony of perpetual needles. After an hour we stopped in a pillow sized opening of grass and had lunch. As far as we could see up and downstream, the valley was covered in thick spiked/thorned bush and the creek impassable. We had to continue through the bush, those  cursed needled weeds.

We persevered another hour and came to a ridge. We were either going to find a long ridge edge to walk along or find a sheer cliff. Thankfully, the ridge opened up for 40 yards straight up - but no further. We made our way up, expecting to have to turn around. As we arrived, we found a section of loose rock coming off the hillside. Higher we climbed yet - feeling weary. Wouldn't you know it. Right when we were sure we were going to be totally blocked, at the top of the loose rock, there was an old sign post from a farm track that just happened to end exactly at the top of the loose rock scree slope we had stumbled upon. We walked it for 5 minutes and the valley opened before us. A wide vista of a stunning range and the stream that we'd been walking - simply stunning. We were beat, but the views inspired us. We were going to hike out around the mountain we'd paralleled all day. But it was only mid afternoon and we both were far too intrigued to leave and had to inspect the creek - which had opened up to a meadow like spring creek.

So, we made our way down to find a stream perhaps 3 feet wide in spots, with grassy bank undercuts that went 2 to 4 feet in on either side. Fascinating. We walked for a spell. Then we started to spot trout again. We hooked a few and landed a couple nice rainbows. But it wasn't until another hour up that the creek went from 3 feet wide to 2 or less, completely obscured at times from the overhanging grass. And wouldn't you know it - the biggest rainbows - upwards of 29" - were lying in the grasses.

Amelia was generous with me. We sighted a 24" rainbow and I immediately hooked up. The fish peeled into my backing, zipping through the grass, disappearing 4 or 5 tight bends downstream. I jumped into the high banked trough of the creek and ran after it. After 5 minutes, I caught up to it and tried to net it. There was no room in the trough for my rod, I couldn't get near the fish with the net. It went under an undercut and there was no room for a rod to pull it out. I threw the rod high on the bank and rassled it by hand. Slowly, I encouraged the fish out of the undercut by hand, worrying about the 3 x as I went. Closer it came. AJ tossed me the net. The fish rolled and fought in the fast current. Closer. I raised my arm to slide the net under and the fish popped! Bugger! What do you do now? After the day we'd had, a fellow just had to have that fish. Talk about tough. Well, AJ was kind enough to not laugh too hard. And she was good enough to give up her turn so I could try again. And you know what? I did hook up again. This time it was a 22" rainbow and it did the exact same thing. And so did I. And so it too popped off. And again I said Bugger! And again, AJ let me work the next fish. And I hooked it up. And it did the exact same thing. And so did I. Except that third fish, that wonderful 23" male rainbow, I landed. And the photo that I saw when I went through our NZ 2009-10 photos, the one that inspired me to type this, is the only one that I attached. The rest of this you can envision in your own mind. You've caught enough of your own to know what a 23" rainbow in a small stream's all about. But the moment I enjoyed, the one that my wife photographed as we shared this incredible day together, was a moment I doubt I'll ever forget. We were so free to feel and experience life. We were so incredibly alive."

Cheers,

Dave & Amelia.

You can't fix stupid - well, I can't anyway

In 10 years of hosting the old Fly Fish Alberta forum, there was one constant. Someone commenting on another's perspective and viewpoint is going to get an earful, particularly as it pertains to commenting on a young man's ego. By young man, I mean perspective, not age. The perspective that one has to stand steadfast against any who refute or challenge him. So it was stupidity that I quoted such a person in my previous blog post "Correcting Bad Advice". As would have been expected on the old forum, right on cue, I received the type and quality of feedback the old forum provided. Grating, underhanded, lording, and posturous with condescending tones, the email wasn't Sunday morning worship material. As I wrote a reply, "I'm sorry that you seem to have reacted to the words "bad advice". That's subjective to other points being made, and positive dialog can occur, so long as one isn't simply reacting and instead embraces the opportunity to discuss. Your tone indicates otherwise."

But he is right about something. The point of this blog post is that you can't fix stupid. In my case, I should have known better than to use another's quote as a platform to step into a point, even though in grander perspectives my post may have actually furthered his point. I guess if I didn't learn in 10 years of 10M hits a month on our old forum, I may not learn the lesson! I guess I can't fix myself in this case! :)  Ah well. We started this blog to be positive, friendly, and a place of positive dialog and discussion... not to comment on others or even remotely appear to be lording over or condescending ourselves towards others. I realize that error is mine, and I commit to doing a better job at sticking to what this blog is about - friendly, positive, happy sharing of this wonderful sport with hints, tips, suggestions, and comments that build positive interactions. Apologies!

Correcting bad advice

A couple of perfect examples of where a well intended thought in an internet article goes awry:
"Change your bug if you don't get eaten on a legitimate chance. If it doesn't eat on a good cast, it probably won't eat it on the 100th good cast".

The above was written pertaining to night fishing, and is unfortunately misplaced. Part of hunting or sight fishing during the day requires a lot of sitting, standing, hiding, and keen observation. Fish have cycles - that is - they can move 2m left or right to feed, or cruise the inside seam on a flat for upwards of 100+ m if the hatch is light or if the fish is simply cruising and feeding on whatever it finds. Those fish cruising 100+m of river are difficult as you have to move faster than they without whooshing water and slamming rocks - it is difficult. However, the fish that are more likely easier to hook are those with a set feeding cycle (pattern). The rub is that fish are never stationary. If you follow the above advice, you could easily cast your fly perfectly to where the fish was on its last rise as that fish has since moved 4 feet to the left. Sure, you have a perfect drift, but if the fish is moving left and looking left due to greater insect density or loft in the water moving it over, your cast is not going to register. Change your fly? No. Wait to observe the pattern, the timing, the rhythm. So many times during a hatch on the Bow, Red Deer, central Ab brown trout streams, in MT, or over in New Zealand, Amelia & I have observed a fish' cycle prior to casting. "One shot wonders" are simply those that we know the cycle, the pattern, what it's feeding on, and simply wait to time the cast at the peak opportunity. Generally, these are going to get a take - one cast, fish on. Now, pertaining to the quote above, especially as it pertains to low light or night time fishing, while fish are opportunistic and feed freely in such conditions, it is more difficult to predict the cycle, and impossible to observe it, save for the rise patterns. As I discussed in "Can I touch you to see if you're real?" blog post last month, there is a systematic approach to working into a fish's cycle and feeding patch. Low, low and in, mid and out, mid and in, up, up and in. Repeat. The issue is that the fly line must protect the edge, that is, land outside the known pattern and cycle path. The second it gets too close or lands in the zone, you run the risk of lining a fish that might have dropped further down as you cast further up. This cross over is lethal to your chances - typically browns will cease feeding or leave the feeding lie, while rainbows often revert to more riffled water, often just upstream. If the fish has an observed cycle or pattern, we must be equally systematic in our approach and presentation. And, especially in low light or at night, one cast isn't going to cover that fish properly. Change your fly? No. Give it time and work the cycle first. If you give it 2 complete cycles of casting and the fish is still rising, then change your fly.

"Now, you'll meet a lot of fishermen that say this is ultimately the pinnacle of fly-fishing – just getting that rise from a selective, educated, finicky trout is why they do it. They have beaten the most difficult part of the game at that point; the rest is just a matter of going through the motions. BS! Do not let them fool you! It serves as a great excuse to being a very disappointing sportsman, but it is not at all a genuine sentiment."

There was a fish on last year's trip to NZ holding above a willow bush, in 10" of water. It was a tiny pocket of water, completely covered. I was casting right handed to a seam further upstream when I noticed the fish mid stroke. As I was afraid my movement would spook the fish (I was quite close already when I saw it) I switched hands mid cast, pulled back on my line with a bit of a parachute to shorten the cast while laying a left handed hook cast with a reach mend immediately above the willow and a 2 second drift into the pocket saw the trout rise to take the fly. I set the hook and fought the fish. It jumped and we went through the typical formalities. I turned it from an undercut on its last run and as it was coming to the net the fly simply popped. On video my body language reaction said it all "so what?" as I smiled, having had the fun I hoped for. Was I a very disappointing sportsman? A mid cast hand transfer, laying a left handed hook cast with a reach mend under an overhanging willow on the short side of the river, with the take and controlling the fish to the final netting glide is a disappointing display? I guess I must have missed the severity of necessity to catch every fish engaged. There again, to put such pressure on one's self is on the same keel as going to church and living the fundamentalist Christian lifestyle - don't color outside the lines. Why do that to yourself when fishing? Ironically, I say this as a person who fishes with the intensity I've not come across in others, that is, when it's the style of fishing I love. When engaged in sight fishing, or hunting, I'm extremely intense and expect to catch every fish I encounter. It won't ever happen, but my posture and poise is exactly that. It's not an intended over the top arrogance as much as an arrogance that reminds me to do the things I know need be done to ensure I have greater opportunity to get the trout to take than the fish will have to spook or refuse. It's subtle, the difference, but a mile apart in ramification.

Cheers
Dave Jensen

Interesting read on the fall-out from a toxic spill - 5 yrs later

As interesting as the article is, keeping in mind the article is fascinated by the fact that life exists, the follow-up discussion at the end of the article is as interesting to read. Having worked in the Squamish Forest District for 2 salmon season runs in the mid 90's I enjoyed the fishing and heard much about the history of the fishery, the steelhead, the Daisy L Dam and water bypass, and worked in the forestry industry that has caused the river so many problems. Yet, as the article touches on, even after a caustic spill that wiped literally all fish from the system, the river keeps on trying to produce.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/five-years-after-disastrous-bc-spill-the-cheakamus-river-teems-with-life/article1680797/

Sockeye in the Fraser

This year's is forecast to be the highest return since 1913. It will be interesting to hear if the latest estimate comes close to actual.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/huge-fraser-river-sockeye-bounty-catches-everyone-off-guard/article1685772/

Water & Hatches Update

Almost every stream and river in Central Alberta is in good shape, with good water levels for this time of the year and generally good in stream temperatures. This weekend's cool weather will essentially kick us into early fall stream conditions, so we should make it through the season without too much hot water impacting our fishing.
Lakes will cool down somewhat this weekend as well, which may foster some movement to the edges. Stratification will continue through late Sept, but there will be more time each day for fish to cruise the shoulders of local lakes in the cool waters.
So, as long as we don't get deluged in a sudden change of forecast, all systems go. :)
Hatches?
Fall caddis, tricos, hoppers, flying ants, tan and grey caddis, blue winged olives, slate winged olives, remnants of pmds, still some golden stones, mahogany duns will begin to show this weekend in the cool weather, some sulphurs, black caddis (minor importance).
We're only a week or two away from the start of boatman season... joy!

Stewie Little checks in again

It's a lot of fun to watch. But it doesn't happen until the sun goes down.

A rod is readied...

Little furry critters soon to meet their doom...

A great moment as a different kind of splat & twitch presentation happens.

If we could only keep the mice out of the cornflakes...

this one seemed to love the muffins.

Doctor Stewie Little checks in.

Oral inspection time.

Rear molar #2 needs a filling.

Participate in the Public Lands Act Regulation Survey

Participate in the Public Lands Act Regulation Survey!

The Government of Alberta is proposing changes to the regulations within the Public Lands Act to support better land management and stewardship. The Public Lands Act prescribes what is legally allowed or prohibited on public land. The changes will set out specific rules, for example, how visitors can use public land, how the rules are enforced, and how appeals are heard.
Public consultation is a key step in the process to develop these new regulations. Public comments will be reviewed and considered in guiding the development of the new regulations.
Please note:
- You will only be able to access the survey once
- It will take approximately 30 minutes for you to complete the survey
- Survey closes Friday, September 17th
To link to further information about the survey, visit the My Wild Alberta homepage at:
http://www.mywildalberta.com/

Rain & Murky Waters update

The storms that rolled through the Nordegg - Rocky - Caroline area recently have many streams up and murky in the upper N Sask drainage tributaries. Today's rain appears to have hit further out from the foothills. Waters that have exposed soil, sandstone, shale, etc will be murky to muddy for several days. Others that flow through forest, stable pastures, or have stable rock will be clearer sooner.
That's just how it is.
The Blackstone, N Ram, S Ram, Prairie, are all "out".
Most everything in the Red Deer drainage remains fine.

Updated water report Aug 11

Ram is blown out in the canyon.
Prairie is very muddy in mid to lower reaches certainly.
Most other waters made it through yesterday's storms well, though there is another big band of rain incoming this evening through Thursday.
Things could clear by the weekend.
Cheers

More weather

If you're headed to the Ram drainage, the canyon may well be muddy water for a day after this afternoon's storms swept in. Not a long storm, but an intense one that will likely show up on river flow reports by the morning. Streams with exposed soil in the Ram - upper Red Deer R area will certainly be off color. The forecast is for a continuation of unsettled weather. Such storms have been rolling through the region for a couple of weeks now. Perhaps the back half of August will have more stability?

Aug 10 fishing report

Continued unsettled weather is not helping, but it isn't hurting too much either. Most of the storms are forming above the lower foothills, leaving the upper cutthroat trout waters alone, and benefiting the lower brown trout waters by injecting cooler water and keeping in stream temperatures slightly lower than most summers. All in all, while unsettled, the benefits are there.
Again, almost all waters in the central Alberta region are in great shape. Lakes are a little warm, meaning early am or late evening fishing. But the streams and rivers are almost perfect - slightly above seasonal flows and great visibility. Again, a great time to go fishing!
Flying ants are starting to hit the water - this hatch may wake a few big browns up mid day for all you Red Deer R faithful. Lower reaches toward the city are best.

Hatches - golden stones, pmds, brown drakes, tricos, caddis, midges, mid sized hoppers, yellow sallies, lime sallies, flavs, green drakes in high country. Flying ants lower foothills to parkland area.

Mousing

Recent hot summer nights at Fortress Lake have probably brought some of the most enjoyable moments of fishing I've had yet. We've had the odd brook trout caught at Fortress on a mouse pattern over the years, but nothing quite like our  recent experience. Our guide Dustin, myself and our guest decided to cruise the lake that holds a large number of good brook trout along woody structure. The sun was setting and the lake was glass calm. Our night began with some great success on an elk hair caddis pattern as the fish were rising steadily in a particular spot. We could sight cast to them and watch as these dark figures appeared from the glacial blue waters to engulf our flies. Hardly enjoyable :)

The thing to keep in mind when reading this post is that dry fly action at Fortress Lake is random at best throughout the early season. The brookies will come up from time to time (water conditions dependent) for a variety of different food sources on top, but knowing exactly where to put one's fly without a consistent rise within in a castable area is very tough. Even with a ton of patience, you can wait for hours without anything happening - that is - until this time of the year.
Our guest, Mike had brought a couple mice patterns with him for his trip and was eager to try. He insisted we all take turns with the rod, so Dustin and I had no problems agreeing to his request. The caster would get a good cast, while the other 2 would watch intently as the mouse was twitched along the top of the dark, silvery shadows of the lake, leaving a rather large wake in behind it. The first good smack at the fly brought on the biggest uproar of excitement from us all as it manged to be only a few feet off the log, and well within our limited viewing. This fish got off, but we all proceeded to hook one and land it that night.The anticipation of the rise out of the approaching darkness and the explosive takes in the stillness of the warm night was amazing. It's hard to beat the feeling of a large brook trout taking your mouse pattern on the surface when you are situated in the midst of the remote Canadian Rockies. As it turns out, Mike ended up catching the biggest trout of his life on a dry fly at Fortress Lake, so I'm pretty sure Mike went back to Ontario a happy man.

Red Deer's Famous Falcons

Famous falcons get new camera

Published: August 06, 2010 8:22 AM

"Just when you thought spying on Red Deer’s most famous family was over. Red Deer River Naturalists set up a new web cam on Thursday so that people could watch the peregrine falcons from their nesting perch on top of the Telus tower in Highland Green. Group spokeswoman Judy Boyd said the remote web cam was installed at a nearby apartment building.
Viewers will be able to see the peregrine parents, Windsong and Perry, swoop to and from the tower, along with chicks Telli and Scout. Boyd said she expects the falcons will be around for about another month before they fly south. But, as she explained, people shouldn’t expect regular sightings of the falcons, as what happened during the egg-laying, hatching and post-hatching phases. Spectators will have to practise patience.
“They’ll be going back and forth so they’re not always there,” Boyd said.
No sound will be heard when one is looking online. Logistics made it tough to add sound, Boyd added.
As for the latest developments surrounding an absent member of the family, Nadira, Boyd said things are looking good for the chick. “Nadira is eating and putting on a little bit of weight,” Boyd said.
Nadira was rescued from the chimney of a Highland Green after spending an estimated three days in the smoke stack. He’s now staying at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre. Boyd said it will be fostered on Monday to a new falcon family in Edmonton.  “It’s going to give him a better chance. It’s more secluded so he won’t get in as much trouble.”
To view the web cam, go online at www.reddeeradvocate.com or rdrn.fanweb.ca"
http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/local/Famous_falcons_get_new_camera_100120204.html

Double Rainbow Guy

I've seen a few double rainbows. You might have seen more. This guy might be seeing his first one.
You think?
You really, really have to take 3 minutes of your life to watch this YouTube video to fully understand how some people are moved by... er... double rainbows. Closing in on 10M views, eh?

Bat Crap Fever

I wish I could get pictures. I really do. Actually, I wish I could video tape it. I wonder if the night vision setting on the video camera would pick it up? There again, I've tried it before and it's kind of hokey looking.
Fishing alone in the twilight sounds romantic. The low light and still air often lets you hear splashing, aggressive takes in the distance, well out of vision. Some nice trout are caught in these conditions, as large trout feed without a care of predation. Earlier in the season, large mayflies such as brown drakes and hexagenias hatch, bringing most every fish in the water to the surface. It can be wonderful.
However, trout aren't the only mayfly munchers. Recently, I enjoyed late night fishing over several nights. On one corner, a few bugs hatched and some fish began to rise. I stood thigh deep in mud and in the water as I stalked a nice brown trout. I waited for the fish to rise. THUMP. Something hit my rod. TWITCH. Something got tangled in my line. ZING went my fly line, being pulled upwards by something that had taken my mayfly pattern off the water and was flying away with it. Thankfully, it fell back down after what was it let it go.
I used to get a kick out of sitting on one of the local ponds, Mitchell, Ironside, Beaver, Fiesta, etc and watch as the swallows skim the water surface and hover to pick off sedges and midges. Watching them flutter and swoop is a lot of fun. Some nights the swallows would give far more action than the trout, and the swallows often were more fun to watch, frankly.
But back to the recent fishing and the aerial show. These weren't swallows, unfortunately. The sound in the air is nearly inaudible as they fly past. The radar like clicks and zips in their communication subtle. The eery, ghostly grey-brown flapping and swooshing past your left, right, left, left, left ear really gets unnerving. Yes, bats can do that to a guy.
One evening I watched the surface of the water, reflecting a silver sheen, come alive with heavy dimplings. It took a minute, but when one such heavy dimple landed, then another, on my hat, my shoulder, and my sunglasses, I was marginally grossed out. Bat crap! Bugger. It went from squirming and squeamishly trying to avoid a flying bat in the face to keeping my face down to avoid getting bat crap on my nose.
Another evening I was casting to a rising trout and as I stroked to lay the line, my rod smacked a bat. The next cast it happened again. 11 times that night I smacked a bat on a cast. There's a record for you.
Still another evening I had to stop fishing one run because bats kept getting tangled in my fly line. From where I was fishing from my rod tip could get no closer than 4 feet off the water and bats worked the grassy banks of the stream, flying into my tip slack. It happened literally every 10 seconds, to the point I gave that location up.

Then, last night, it finally happened. It all came together. I was standing in the water, hiding behind a branch watching a nice brown feed. I was off balance so I reached up to hold on to the branch as I secured my footing in the mud. As I reached up a squeak was followed by flapping wings. Apparently there had been a bat roosting or feeding on the branch somewhere. That'll get your attention. I began to cast to the trout. My first cast landed and a bat swooped in and picked the fly off the water. It dropped the fly. I cast again. This time I hooked up. On my back cast I hooked a bat and cast it at the fish. Thankfully it landed well upstream of the fish and I began stripping it in. "Now what?" I asked myself - half hoping the damned bat would fall off the fly because I didn't want to have to deal with that, and the other half of me hoping it would stay on the line so I'd have the coolest fly fishing photo to share here on the blog. I was just lifting the fly and bat off the water when it fell off. The bat did a funky bat crawl-swim to shore. Finally, I cast to the trout, who seemingly had been patiently waiting. We made acquaintances.

Amelia gets home this afternoon. I can hardly wait to take her fishing tonight. I'm sure it'll excite her senses. :)

August 6 Fishing Report

It's a changing time in central Alberta. Water conditions are great, having cleared from thunderstorms several days ago. Many of the region's streams and rivers remain higher than this time the past several years. The weather remains good also. This weekend's forecast is for a front to move in, cooling air and water temperatures, and possibly sullying a few waters with thunderstorms on the leading edge. But for Fri & Sat, good fishing conditions should persist. Should the forecast hold true - brown trout streams could turn on while cutthroat trout rivers may slow the dry fly window to mid afternoon, though deep nymphing will be productive from late morning to early evening.
This is a good time of the summer to try staying out late on some waters, casting mouse patterns along weedbeds and undercuts. Some large trout can be caught in low light.
The lower reaches of the Ram canyon remain a little murky. Otherwise all other waters are in good shape - flows are good and visibility typically excellent.

Hatches - golden stones, pmds, brown drakes, tricos, caddis, midges, mid sized hoppers, yellow sallies, lime sallies, flavs, green drakes in high country.

Wildlife advocates hail Rocky Mountain wolf ruling

"HELENA, Mont. — Wildlife advocates say a ruling to restore Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves throughout the Northern Rocky Mountains buys time to create a better plan than the one the judge rejected, one that ensures their numbers don't dwindle again.
Meanwhile, state wildlife officials in Montana and Idaho were reviewing Thursday's ruling that blocked them from carrying out their wolf management plans and their preparations for wolf hunts this fall. State officials said they were considering their options, including an appeal.
U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy's ruling knocked down a U.S. Fish and Wildlife decision last year that kept federal protections in place in Wyoming, where state law is considered hostile to the animals' survival, but turned over to Montana and Idaho wolf management responsibilities within their borders.
Molloy said in his ruling that the entire Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population either must be listed as an endangered species or removed from the list, but the protections for the same population can't be different for each state.
Separating the protections may solve a tricky political issue, but it does not comply with the Endangered Species Act, Molloy ruled.
Gray wolves were listed as endangered in 1974, but following a reintroduction program in the mid-1990s, there are now more than 1,700 in the Northern Rockies, which includes all of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, along with portions of Washington, Oregon and Utah.
Matt Skoglund of the National Resources Defense Council, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said a true recovery number would be at least 2,000 wolves in the region.
"We're real close to recovery. We've got 1,700 wolves in the Rockies. But we're not there," Skoglund said. "We want to see a plan in place that ensures genetic connectivity among the subpopulations and ultimately guarantees a sustainable wolf population."
State wildlife officials in Montana and Idaho say they are capable of managing the wolves within their borders, and that the population has rebounded to the point where there are now too many of the animals. The increase in the wolf population has brought livestock losses for ranchers and competition for hunters for big game, such as elk.
Carolyn Sime, wolf program coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said Montana has done everything it's been asked to do in developing its state management program but now will have to apply federal law and regulations once more.
Both states' management plans include wolf hunts that now must be scrapped. Montana wildlife regulators just last month set the wolf-hunt quota this year at 186 with the aim of reducing the state's wolf population for the first time since they were reintroduced.
"That's clearly a management tool that we want to have in the toolbox. We think it's legitimate and appropriate," Sime said.
At the end of 2009, there were at least 843 wolves in Idaho, 524 in Montana and 320 in Wyoming, with more in parts of Oregon and Washington state.
Defenders of Wildlife, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, the NRDC and other wildlife advocates sued the federal government after the Fish and Wildlife Service decision in April 2009. They argued that the government's decision would have set a precedent allowing the government to arbitrarily choose which animals should be protected and where.
"The troubling consequences for the Endangered Species Act have been averted and the wolf hunts are blocked," Doug Honnold, an attorney for EarthJustice representing the plaintiffs, said Thursday
Idaho's congressional delegation released a statement that said Molloy's ruling ignored the exploding population of wolves and that the state can manage wolves in a sustainable and responsible way.
"We look for a more reasonable decision from a higher court," the statement from Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Reps. Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick said."
Molloy's ruling could affect a lawsuit in which Wyoming charges the Fish and Wildlife Service had no reason to refuse to turn over management of gray wolves to Wyoming as it did to the other states. The case is before U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson of Cheyenne.
"If the rule is vacated, there's a question that Judge Johnson has to consider of whether or not there is something for him to decide," said Bruce Salzburg, Wyoming attorney general.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20100806/gray-wolf-endangered-ruling-100806/

Alberta Fisheries Round Table Update

Fisheries Round Table Participants:

First, I want to apologize for the long delay in getting the minutes of the April meeting posted on the Round Table website (http://srd.alberta.ca/ManagingPrograms/FishWildlifeManagement/FisheriesManagement/Default.aspx). The reason for the delay, and responsibility, are mine. However, by the time you receive this, the minutes will be posted.
We are working to complete the action items identified in the minutes. Some are done; others are in the works. Material will be posted as it is completed, so please check the website occasionally. When significant actions are complete, we can notify you by e-mail.
We have started planning for the next meeting. The scheduled date is Saturday, October 16, 2010. Matt Besko has been in touch with representatives of the Alberta Fish and Game Association to discuss options for partnering for the meeting. As mentioned at the end of the last meeting, we are considering holding the next meeting at a location other than Edmonton (and area). Locations considered include Calgary and Red Deer. I said we would poll the Round Table participants to determine the group's preference for the location of the next meeting. Please let Nicole Bouclin-Graves know, by August 20, 2010, your willingness to meet at a different location and preference for the location of the next meeting (e-mail to Nicole.J.Bouclin-Graves@gov.ab.ca).
Watch for more information on the next meeting. We will provide an update at the end of August (at least report on the location).
Please feel free to contact myself or Matt Besko at Matt.Besko@gov.ab.ca about Round Table items at any time. I look forward to the next meeting. Hope you are all having a great summer and getting lots of opportunities to enjoy Alberta's outdoors.
Terry

Wade fisherman drowns

Thanks to Jason P for sharing this:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/08/05/bc-vedder-river-fisherman-drown.html

Can I touch you to see if you're real?

One of my favorite songs opens with the line "Can I touch you to see if you're real?" Eyes of a Stranger by the Payolas remains a classic. Last night's theme song... in spades.
As I worked my way up around a bend a beaver spooked in the low light, wooshing into the water and sending small wavelets into the current, startling me. I hadn't seen it and it simply took me off guard. I was on my way up and focusing on the water ahead. It's a good thing I stopped, as a nice brown fed a rod length above me, three... four times. It was a simple flip of the fly to above the last rise and a slight twitch - the 19" trout landed a few minutes later. Curiously, the beaver wooshed again. And again.
Every fly fisher knows where this is going.
I sat and watched as the subtle current seam carried the mayfly hatch past a thick weed bed, a dead zone along a deep trough. I watched as a huge head popped up again, the yellow lips unmistakable. Beaver, no. The male brown was so large it couldn't help but make a popping sound, leave a white wake, and send wavelets into the stream. Every few takes it would charge into the current and slash at a bug before returning to the subtle rising inside the weed bed.
I lowered myself and cast below the fish, hoping to get it on a downstream cycle, also not wanting to over commit. "Protect the edge" I always tell myself and others. Work your way in from the outside edges of what is perceived to be the trout's feeding zone first, tempt the fish to come to you so you don't make the error of lining a fish by not knowing its cycle. Especially if it's slow water during a moderate or light hatch that allows for random takes. I listened to my own advice. The first cast at the lower, outer edge. Next, a little deeper into the perceived zone, but still on the downstream edge. Next, the outer edge of the seam above and let it drift into the edge. Again, a little further in but still drifting down. The fish rose again 2 feet in. Like so many trophy browns in New Zealand, it wouldn't commit to anything outside its zone. Cast again, 2 feet above its last rise, right on its line.
The lips came up with a deep yellow ochre. Then came the unmistakable sucking sound. Knowing its size, I used the old New Zealand adage - "God Save the Queen" prior to hook set, to allow the large fish to take the fly, turn, and drop back into the water prior to hook set. It really works on large fish, allowing the hook to be taken in so the hook set is firm, and not simply a light peripheral, or complete miss, on the lips. And I was on.
The fight went as most do with big fish. A measure of posture from each - followed by the other responding in kind. Moments of uncertainty as the rod throbbed with heavy head shakes. Once seeing the hook solidly wedged, however, I knew time was all that was needed. It jumped 3 times and made 2 unsuccessful runs at the heavy timber below us. Not today, my friend. Finally, it was in the net. Well, 1/2 of it anyway.
"Can I touch you to see if you're real?" and the percussion ran through my head in the dim light. More lines from the song "Have you been sleeping for all of these years? Is it magic that makes you appear?" Mood music, certainly. I'd been past this same run so many times previously, never seeing so much as a fish rise. But tonight... tonight the magic set in, magic that made him appear. Reality set in. It was a massive trout. I've fly fished Alberta a long time, since I was 5. 33 years now. I'd seen 30+" trout on the walls of a friend's house, caught on Rappallas and jigs. I always told a friend of mine, Steve, that I somehow would be disappointed if I caught a 30" brown on a streamer or nymph. He always asked me why - why be disappointed by something so magical? The answer I always came back to was that it would be so happen chance - so unknown - so random. To catch it on a dry fly, either by sighting it in the water or seeing a rise first allows you to engage with the knowledge that you are about to engage something special, something that you willingly participate in.
And there it was, in my net.
I've recently read the threads of the Alberta record brown trout caught - somewhere in the 21 pound class caught on spinning gear. Awesome. I've also read some interesting brow-beating discussion that the person killed the fish. Discussion ran between the purist that wants everything honored and released, and the opposite view where that kind of fish takes dedication and many years of hunting special waters to catch... and being legal, why wouldn't you want to mount the fish as a trophy of the accomplishment? I appreciate both sides. For me, a 21lb brown will never happen. I've always sought a 10lb brown on the dry fly in Alberta - that's all I've wanted to do. Back 15 years I always wondered if I would keep such a fish to commemorate the event. It wasn't even a thought until just now. There was no question, no thought of it. Last night, I simply held the fish, put a piece of tape around the rod where its tail (unpinched) came to on the rod. 30-3/4" when I got home. Let's call it 30", and most certainly 10 pounds. Was it 12? I don't know, I don't care. We've caught several 30+" New Zealand 10+ lb browns on dries and sighted. But to do it on the dry on my home waters... spectacular. All I know is that fish created a moment for me that I'll always appreciate. The view of the yellow lips coming up, the white wake, the pop, and being able to stroke a paused hook set was magical. I managed a photo before letting it swim away, its tail waving through the silver water as it disappeared.

Need a topo map?

I'm not sure about the legality of this one, but here's a link to a page with the eastern slopes pretty much covered. Free to download every topo map you'd need from just west of Calgary to the Willmore. Copyright has to be a concern.
http://www.albertawestcountry.com/topographic.html

August 1 Fishing Report

The region is in great shape! With the only exception being the lower reaches of the Ram canyon where slightly high water continues to undermine the shale and sandstone cliffs, all waters are in great shape. It's a perfect time to be on the trout streams in central Alberta. Anglers are encouraged to get out while the getting is good... a heavy rain front is scheduled to come in on Monday with an inch of rain for the Sundre - Rocky Mountain House area Monday night through Tuesday. Cooler wet weather will follow. For brown trout streams, this could be quite good. For cutthroat trout rivers, it will slow the fishing and narrow the dry fly window to mid afternoon, though deep nymphing will be productive from late morning to early evening.
EDIT - Aug 2 - The forecast changed to less rain. That's good news. The cooler air will still see cutt streams slow a touch and the sunnier weather won't be as good for brown trout streams. Kind of a mid zone for each, but still great conditions.
Hatches - golden stones, pmds, brown drakes, tricos, caddis, midges, mid sized hoppers, yellow sallies, lime sallies, flavs, green drakes in high country.

Lesson Learned & a few nice fish

It's amazing when you don't know what you don't know.
But you can't fix stupid.
The new battery system works quite well, thank you, and last night we were able to escape the lightning that came in. In fact, we stayed ahead of it.
We managed to fish and do quite well, the hatch coming off just at dusk. We sat and waited on one run. The bugs began and the fish responded. A few tanks cruised up the inside seam, sucking big bugs. One in particular was of interest as his wake sent a silver seam up the shoreline as he fed and cruised. We hooked him up and where once there had been 4 other fish rising within 20 yards, after he ran and jumped 6 times there were no risers. A nice 27" brown.
The other came at the far end of the run, in the tailout, bankside. The trout simply waited for the duns that emerged in the muddy shorelines above to drift to the tailout seam where it sat. There were two other smaller fish feeding as well, but when a white wake is left behind and only a small pop is heard, you cast to that fish. 25". Again, once landed, there were no others rising for all the commotion.
It was a great night out, with a few good fish landed. Some were simply landed too late to photograph!

Alberta Weather Blog

Friends of ours have had a weather blog for a few years now. And they just happen to be amazing weather photographers. Some of their photos are simply stunning. Along with photos come weather facts, satellite shots and news from the weather world. It's a great site! Thanks to Pat & Bridgette Boomer, Red Deer County.
http://blog.boomerphoto.com/