Rainbow

I have been told by a worthy source that Salmoninae are a bit like many of us and don't have a very high IQ so I fool them once in a while with just about anything on the end of the flyline. I have found that sometimes even Oncorhynchus Mykiss will lower themselves to go for that "English feathers bound by pure silk upon a partridge hook......"

Charlie standing on shore over the Frazil ice that contributed to causing the shifting of the fish trap.

Pauly testing his new fly rod.... Dipper testing his new tippet...

Young Boss leading his assistant....attachment=4359:Charlie & Quentin.JPG]

Good day with good people. A little work, a little play and Dipper Dan reaffirmed his nickname..... Thanks guys. I checked the temp. at Lodgepole and Robb this morning and it looks like the weather stayed well above 0 overnight so hopefully Zack and Co. didn't experience the Frazil ice at 3 in the morning. Forecast is mid twenties for the next couple of days up there.....go Grayling go!

Knowing that even with all their knowledge, Chan and Hafele have slow days, so I plan to change flies, move, go smaller, be more observant on/near the water, etc. Can't wait for spring. Dan, I thought your key takeaway from the seminar was the TOM TOM! J

It was both, George had fished the upstream portion a month or so ago, I teamed up with him for the downstream section on Tuesday. Always good to get out and yes if we get a good couple of days I would be game to go again. I would like to try out those big yellow beetle bugs that I tied up for Muir before the 31st as well. J.

Went out to Dismal with George I. on Tuesday to check out his designated site, DC10, downstream of the bridge. George had completed upstream of the bridge early last month. Not only was it Dismal Creek it was "dismal weather" as well. We no sooner got started and the rain and wind came up. An hour and a half later the rain turned to sleet then snow. We gave it a good effort but only had one rise to the "hopper", none were taken on the dropper. At least the guides didn't freeze up on us. What a day to forget the rusty nail(s) back home. John

Thanks guys, I guess I'm getting Oooooold, just seen the B-day posts today, infact retirement is like a B-day everday anyway.

A few photos.... Quentin and company enjoyed there time at the Dismal Creek Spa & Resort.... Dan and Paul, as always, catching the fish.....

The showers in different areas were passing through on Friday night that caused most of the turbidity in Dismal. It poured at Wolf Lake on Friday evening but Sat mornning 10 km away some of the roads were quite dusty. As stated Sat at site DC 13A the clarity was good but Sunday at site DC14, we started with visibility about 1.5 feet however Quentin caught his in turbid water - with a beadhead nymph. Four hours later vis improved to 2'. Great looking water habitat and a good time. Hopefully, we will be back in late summer or fall.

I don't think it is a number of beavers issue as much as it is the engineering feats that they can achieve, right here in good ole Alberta... The longest beaver dam found with Google Earth to date (October 2 2007) is located in Northern Alberta. The dam has a length of about 850 meters (2790 ft). It has at least existed at this spot for over 25 years as it can be observed on the 1990 LandSat 7 Pseudo Color Imagery Provided by NASA World Wind. However 1975 aerial photo's show that this dam did not exist in 1975. The actual location of the world longest beaver dam (that is until someone find a longer one) is just south of Lake Claire, and about 190 km to the NNE of Fort McMurray, just inside Wood Buffalo National Park. A future option is that we can vote to leave the beavers alone and then that nice little trout creek will be suitable for Stillwater where the fish will be bigger if that is what we want to support. I agree that it would be a good topic to have some knowledgable folks share the pros and cons on this issue, including those who lose their land due to the resulting flooding of the dam(s).

Way to go Lance & Bennie. You guys can sure keep Pops (Scratch) busy with the net!!! John

Thanks for the update Paul....did you you say you removed the ice before you left????? John

HEH? SAY What????

Too bad it was a bad experience for you Russell. I’ve been to a few meetings over the last several years, some meetings aren’t as great as I’d like them to be but then I find life and fishing are like that....some good days and some great days. I always felt what really matters is how one deals with it. I’ve learnt a lot from many of the club members who shared their stories and techniques, but most of all I appreciate all the countless hours of their volunteering and giving for the benefit of the sport and other great causes. Enjoy your fly tying. John

Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis) ...now I got to get busy and tie up a few backswimmers/boatmen....

Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)

Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis),

Way to go Mike, don't be too upset, there are some of us that are still staufer virgins!

Yeah, but will he ever use it?

It was great to share the table and tying time with you and Karen as well Bob, come again. John

Great Day, Thanks to all those who contributed to it's success. J

Great Pics, thanks for sharing them.

Right on Dipper, we will celebrate next weekend. J