How much snow?

At the junction of #54 and #761 noon on the 29th. Quite a bit! 8 - 12" of the white stuff out west. Stauffer was still clear but it will rise over the wkd. The Raven is already murky. The side roads are sloppy and will be a couple days yet. If planning to do streams this weekend, maybe think lakes instead. Cheers.

"Correct" casting style

"The idea that there is a single, “correct” casting motion is one of the great fallacies in fly fishing. Spend enough time at the casting pool at a consumer show, and you'll see several big-name instructors make the case that their method is better than the rest. Truth is, they're all wrong. What works for your buddy might not work for you at all. This is not to say that all casting motions are created equal, but anyone who claims that there is one “right” way to move your hand and arm through a casting stroke has not spent a lot of time watching elite casters...."
Read the full article at the MidCurrent News. It's worth a read if you've ever thought about or hotly debated the subject with fishing friends.
http://www.midcurrent.com/flyfishing/casting_styles.aspx

Buy a rod, get a free reel

A nice email surprise on a cloudy, snowy, rainy day for anyone interested or looking for a new Orvis rod, there's an online sale right now.
"Save up to $259. Get a FREE Battenkill Reel when you buy a Helios, Hydros, or TLS rod. What better way to start your fishing season than buying a new Helios or Hydros rod and getting one of our best-selling reels free. Buy any Helios, Hydros, or TLS and get a FREE Battenkill Large Arbor, Mid Arbor or Bar Stock Reel—any model, any size."

http://www.orvis.com/store/product_directory_showcase3.aspx?dir_id=758&group_id=21390&cat_id=21510&subcat_id=21511&CampaignID=1410&ADV=107792&cm_ite=P1&cm_ven=orvisemail&cm_cat=FISH_PROMO_04_28_10&cm_pla=01

Home Again

Our trip to MB was a great one. Wed eve through Fri eve the weather and fishing was fantastic. However, a front rolled through Friday about 9pm and as the winds picked up and barometer dropped, the fishing tapered off. Saturday, the winds were steady at 35kmh - gusting 55kmh. The fishing was slow around the lake. We managed to land 12 or 14 fish on Tokaryk L, on a day the fish were taking ever so lightly. The short line below the indicators helped in strike detection, but the wave action certainly didn't help. All our takes were within 2 feet of the reeds. Those trolling caught very little, and those fishing sinking lines casting the shoreline caught few. As the evening wore on and winds abated, fish began moving but certainly not with the fervor of days previous. The best part was the drunken 3 in the huge outboard whom had been trolling all day and caught nothing - their luck changed abruptly. We heard them explicitly remark how bad the fishing was as they were about to take out, when one hooked up. Then another, and another. They landed 5 or 6 in 1/2 hr. It was good to see and funny to witness. And they made sure everyone on the lake knew their fortunes had changed.  :)

Back at the hotel, we looked at the weather forecast and knew it was time to head home. From the white lines of wind on the lake all day Saturday, and another front rolling in on Sunday, we packed up and headed home first light Sunday morning. Good thing too. The weather did a nasty turn all the way through Saskatchewan. After the great fishing we'd had, no point in bobbing on a slow lake in that kind of incoming weather!

Signs

A few signs seen east of the Sask border.

Below - a mixed message about the Saskatchewan highways. Welcome. And watch out for potholes!

Below: It's not that far but after driving Saskatchewan secondary hwys, it'll feel like it.

Above: Kerrobert artists guild

Below: still the classic

Below: Langenburg and other small towns along the way had signs of their athletes. You have to love small town support for curlers, hockey players, skeleton racers, etc. Wonderful stuff.

Above: neatest name of the trip

Below: turkey west of Russell!

Above: Russell's arches

Below: great name for a salon.

Above: still classic

Below: Russell is home to skeleton gold champ Jon Montgomery.

Above: AJ says this is the place to pick up chicks, guys.

Below: Arriving! 1/2 mile to Tokaryk, 300m to Patterson

More from MB

The fishing here in the Parkland area has been nothing short of amazing. Wed eve fishing was as we typed on Wed evening - amazing. Thursday, we arrived to Patterson and had a great time, though turn-over exploded upon us through the day. If the fishing is like it was Thursday in the midst of turn-over, then what's it llike at other times? The sight fishing for cruising browns was excellent, the fishing for rainbows a lot of fun. Today, Friday, we went to Tokaryk L just east of Patterson. We were told the water was crystal clear on Thursday, yet we arrived Friday mid day to full blown turn-over. Technically, we sure hit the worst time to fish here. But, today, we nailed some amazing fishing for amazing fish. More great fishing for browns and rainbows! :)

Above - a nice fish early in the day today. Below - AJ with one of many doubles!

Above - AJ with one of several such fat 'bows. Below, AJ's hog of a brown. A great fish!

From Russell, MB

Well, we made ok time driving into 50 - 70 kmh headwinds. We arrived about 4pm - 5 local. After grabbing a room, filling the tank, and snorfing a burger, we were on the lake by 6:30. We fished until 9:30 and likely landed 3 doz rainbows in the 3.5 to 5.5 lb range.  A great start to the trip, to say the least. Interesting, it appears we drove through the winds as this evening was dead calm on the lake. Stellar day. Would we drive 10 hrs for 3 hrs of this kind of fishing? You bet.

Cheers