Freshwater Conservation Canada's Flyathon was a Big Success

Yesterday, Freshwater Conservation Canada (formerly Trout Unlimited Canada), held their first ever Flyathon. A Flyathon includes a 5 km walk or run and fly fishing on a stretch of water. Participants are asked to get sponsors to donate to FCC as part of the event. Well Karen, Doug and I are supporters of FCC so we entered the event! The three of us raised close to $900 for Freshwater Conservation programs. A big thanks to those who made a contribution.  These programs include water restoration projects and the annual Canal Fish Rescue program (along with many more projects).

There were almost 2 dozen who entered. Karen, Doug and I knew we had to run or walk to the turn around spot down by Little Chief Park. Everyone formed up at Capstone right here in Red Deer. All three of us decided to wear waders because we wanted to get into the Red Deer River. Karen dry fly fished, Doug nymphed and I swung streamers on an intermediate line. The 2.5 km run to the mandatory turn around spot was hot. Carrying a fly rod, kit and wearing waders made the running a bit awkward. Karen and I were the first two to the turn around spot at Little Chief Park. That is also where we stepped into the river to start fly fishing.

Doug and Karen really worked the water with their flies but did not get the attention of the fish. I was more fortunate. I was casting black Slumpbusters on an intermediate line. I connected with 9 goldeye and managed to land 7 of them. I was surprised at my success although I did have a feeling that streamer fishing was a great idea. One of the goldeye I landed was around 16 inches and I ended up winning the prize for the largest landed fish!

We had 2.5 hours to complete the run/walk and fly fish. Once we made it back to the finish line, we reported in. You had to have photo evidence of your success. Thanks to Karen, I was able to substantiate what I caught!

All the participants ended up back at Troubled Monk Brewery where we celebrated the event. Kate Mairs at FCC did an excellent job organizing the event. Bo's Sandwiches supplied great food as well.

The most important part was the participants raised around $8000. That in itself made me smile.

For the inaugural Flyathon, it is the start of many more. Well done Freshwater Conservation Canada.

 

...and Then IT HAPPENED

I love water boatman and backswimmer action. Yesterday was a great example. Karen and I were fishing the "edges' until the boatman activity heated up and it did. Karen caught some decent trout along the edges in three feet of water with her trusty Tokaryk Special 2.0 and finally stripping water boatmen and backswimmers got the attention of the trout!

All the throat samples told us to tie on boatman type flies and small ones. I set up with a three fly rig. A Rinse and Repeat (backswimmer) and two size 14 flashbacks (Boatmen). I rigged up a hover line. I made a cast and counted down to figure out depth (I settled at 15). Then I stripped back with short erratic strips. The takes were hard. The interesting thing was the number of hooks ups on the drop while counting to 15. After I caught 6 plus fish, Karen switched to an intermediate line with the same set up. She hooked up a lot as well.  Karen counted down to 7 (her line sank faster than mine). The flurry of activity lasted about 90 minutes. It was awesome too! The action slowed around 3 pm. We still caught trout but it was way slower.

You have to be careful when this action happens. We both caught fish while dealing with releasing a fish, our lines were dangling in the water and fish grabbed our flies. You can lose a rod and reel doing that. We had to be way more deliberate! You also have to coordinate your casting to avoid nasty tangles. We just say casting. That helps a lot!

Time to get out there. Water temperatures are excellent and they will continue to drop. You may catch a fish of a lifetime.

A modified size 14 Flashaback Pheasant Tail. Red Bead and biot legs.

Hawkins Cheesies Rock

 

Fall is in the Air

What an interesting day out on the water. Migratory birds were getting quite active. We saw so many groups of geese and sandhill cranes today. Sloughs seem to have more resting/feeding birds than normal. We also know that boatman and backswimmers are getting active. Trout start to focus on shrimp as well! It is my favourite time of the year. The tiger trout start to colour up as do brown trout! Today we got a little bit of everything. That includes fall winds and trout moving shallow to feed. Karen and I loved our day.