Prairie Creek Project Needs Our Help!

This project will happen on Saturday September 12th!

Lets get behind this project gang!

Contact Elliot if you can help!

D/ 403-209-5184   F/ 403-221-8368  

E/ elindsay@tucanada.org

Trout Unlimited Canada is working on a restoration project on Prairie Creek. Part of the project involves the harvest of live willow cuttings that will be used a brush layers Elliot Lindsay, a biologist with Trout Unlimited Canda is working on coordinating a volunteer workday to harvest the live cuttings (approx. 700). The TUC Central Alberta chapter co-owns with the Alberta Conservation Association a conservation property along Stauffer Creek known as Stainbrook Springs. This site came to mind as a potential willow harvest site and Lesley (also a TU biologist) mentioned to me that it has been used previously for this purpose. A site closer to the actual project area might provide a donor stock which is better adapted to local conditions, perhaps on a property owned by Husky. 

The idea is to conduct a volunteer workday with about a dozen or so volunteers from Husky, the TUC Central Alberta Chapter along with our Central Alberta Fly Tying Club to harvest and gather these willows and transport them to the project area to be soaked. 

 The volunteer workday will be an all-day event, we could meet up in the morning at the harvest site or a meeting area nearby and spend the morning and early afternoon cutting and bundling willows, then in the later afternoon transport the cuttings to the site and store them in the pool or a nearby side channel. If we can’t find a good spot for soaking, we can always use tubs.

The final details will be sent to everybody just before the project day!

Bob

Fly Fishing in the Big Smoke

It is incredibly smokey out in the west country as well as Central Alberta. The forest fires in the southern Okanogan and Washington State are certainly cause for concern and the wind patterns have brought the fire smoke to  Alberta. The view along the gravel roads as we travelled towards our destination was obscured by smoke, fog and of course lots of dust.

I had the opportunity to get out with one of my son-in-laws early in the week and today I spent the day with a long time friend who is passionate about fly fishing.

My son-in-law, Adam, is still developing his fly fishing skills but he is a quick study. We arrived a bit early to our first run because the mercury said in was a chilly 2C. We probably could have started our day an hour later. Not much happens until the water starts to warm and the bugs get going! We were both in shorts and a sweater. Burr, but we started off on a run that required very little wading so we were going to be just fine. Adam was into fish all day and he caught some dandy cutthroat. I discovered that Adam in a darn fine nymph fisherman! As the wind came up, the casting became a bit challenging but Adam was game. We fly fished one run that had lots of flavs bouncing down the riffles. The cutthroat were all busily gulping down these bugs. Adam had a chance at some sizeable cutthroat in a run that required some precise casting. He tangled with several 16 to 19 inch cutthroat. As you can see from the pictures, the smoke was hanging in the river valley.

The neat thing about our day was the wolves that Adam spotted on our trip out as well as the elk and many deer! Adam has many interests. I think that fly fishing may surpass his gold panning hobby!

Today was much warmer and not as smokey. My buddy, Byron, and I decided to do a run and gun day. That meant we would cover lots of water and not spend a lot of time at any one spot. We were rewarded with lots of beautiful cutthroat and we got to check out several runs that we have not fished this year. We did have three black bears wander by, a mom and two cubs. These big furry creatures remind us to carry bear spray and always stay alert as we walk along the river.

There are hatches still on the water. We saw yellow sally stones, flavs, BWOs and PMDs. The cutthroat are a bit more wary this time of the year! The cutthroat are getting quite colourful and the cool water temperature makes them quite feisty!

The fishing window during the day is now a bit smaller as we approach fall. No need to hit the water real early unless you are keen!

Euro Nymphing

I finally got the opportunity to euro nymph with my 11 foot Shadow II 4 weight made by Echo that Troy at TC Outfitters ordered in for me. After taking the euro nymphing course this past winter, I wanted to take the flies that we tied and the slinky indicators that we all made and give it a go!

What an effective technique to say the least. The heavily weighted flies and the ultra sensitive "slinky" system makes for some very effective fly fishing. I watched Phil Rowley euro nymph a run that had already given up 20 fish and he continued to catch the next dozen quickly with precision !

Karen and I set up our rod and had a blast. As a matter of fact, I had to wrestle with Karen to get my rod back.

Getting used to the wrist snap (set) at the end of the drift and then flick the line upstream takes some practice but it helps with the next cast.

You can use your regular rod with a slinky indicator although the longer rod allows for better drifts and covering more water.

I might never use an indicator on moving water again.