Guide's Blog

2007-06-26T00:37:00.001-07:00

The spring found us guiding and fishing in Alberta on the Oldman and Bow rivers with some great success. The Bow produced some excellent browns on a variety of patterns while the Oldman showed us again why it's a world class rainbow trout fishery. The weather in May was excellent and it seemed as if summer was approaching fast. Then the clouds opened up in June and began hammering rain upon us here in the Elk Valley. It got so depressing I fled to the West Kootenay's for some relief and upon returning found some sunshine. The rains brought the river up fast and it's pretty much looked like chocolate milk for the last little while but it's slowly coming around. Brown or not the Golden Stones are so big and bright the fish still find there way up top to them and its seems the fishing, although spotty is really turning on at some moments. We have a few more days of sunshine and by the weekend the river should be explosive. Some green drakes are showing up as well and the trout are responding well to them. We will pretty much be fishing everyday from here on in and will be using this here blog for updates. Stay posted for photos, talk and all that other fish stuff.

Spring Arrived and Gone Again

2007-04-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

I have returned from the Coast after a miserable month of March which saw epic rainfall and cool temperatures. As I drove back into the interior of our lovely province I was expecting to re-embrace winter but was warmly welcomed by spring thaw and warm temperatures.
After a brief stop in Nelson, I continued further east and didn't start seeing snow in valley bottoms until I reached the Rocky Mountains and the Elk. There wasn't much left on the ground but the Mountains where still thick with white reminding me of the heavy snowfalls that were pasting the mountains before I departed.
The weather was nice, sunny and warm so my brother Kevin, Jeff and I took a boat out to a small lake and fished chironimids for a couple hours. Kevin's first two casts resulted in some nice rainbows and Jeff hooked a few right after. The day was a little sporadic after that, but the sun and the melting of the last patch of ice on the lake made for a pleasant afternoon.

The following day we headed east to Alberta to fish the tail water of the Oldman Reservoir, again blessed with warm sunny weather. The visibility was good and we hooked some beautiful rainbows along with some cutts and a good bull trout. We focused fishing the shallow troughs along the banks as the mid-river seems were showing any signs of feeding fish. It's a beautiful stretch of river and the fishing will be improving dramatically as the weather warms and bugs begin to hatch. This is a great time of year to fish on this river and temperatures are often in the between 70 and 80 degrees.

Another gem of a river at this time is the Crowsnest which we will be hitting soon. More photos and river reports will follow, however; it is snowing lightly again today and I am definitely your fair weather angler type. Ice on the guides and cold fingers doesn't appeal to me as much as baked goods, tea, a fire, and a tying bench.

Selenium Release From Coal Mining on the Elk Watershed

2007-03-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.trcr.bc.ca/docs/2004-chapman.pdf

This was a study conducted on the Elk River in regards to the release of selenium in the Elk Watershed. Although the study appears to show no ill effects on fish stocks as selenium release increases during active coal mining periods, the study also indicates that certain levels are unacceptable (toxic) in some lentic zones of the watershed. Currently there are more studies being done on the cutthroat trout of the river system for genetic imperfections. Deformities in fin and maxillary growth can be contributed to the increase of selenium in the wathershed yet it remains to be proven. Check out the link for further information. This is in no way an endorsement by us for continued coal mine process' in the Elk watershed, it is just a study that both shows the release of by products due to the mining process as well as the ablity of the Elk to absorb larger amounts of a natural occurring elements without hurting fish stocks.
Coal bed methane on the other hand has no beneficial elements releasing back into the environment. Cyanide and ammonia are not in any way beneficial to the watershed' inhabitants. This process presents a greater danger and should not be exercised in the headwaters of our system. More on this later.

Alternative Floats for 2007 and Welcome Atlanta

2007-02-22T18:20:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in the first post of this blog, Homewaters was planning on expanding it's portfolio of floatable waters which included a two day float on the St. Mary's River. We are also planning on adding two boat trips on the Bull River which requires 'guerilla style' launching techniques and some goat trail access points; the extra effort is well worth the scenery and will pretty much guarantee isolation from other boats. There is the possibility of an upper float on the Elk as well but some recon will have to be done in the spring to ensure the drift is snag free, but we will update in the spring and let you know of it's availability when the time comes. The upper section is a bit of a late starter compared to the Elk's lower runs, so we are hoping that float will be ready for the second week of July. We will be running these trips with pontoon boats that will be added to the fleet this year.
In other news Homewaters would also like to welcome The Fish Hawk from Atlanta Ga. as one of our new travel outfitters. We already have a strong contingent of quality anglers from this area and are welcoming more representation from the eastern side of the continent. Their site is being updated but anyone wishing to check out their shop can have an online preview at www.thefishhawk.com

Mining Operations Affecting the Elk River and Sorroundings

2007-02-15T20:47:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to some information regarding resource extraction in the Elk Valley. These are mining proposals that are quite simply unacceptable to introduce to a watershed as magnificent as the Elk. Eco-Tourism is clearly a more sustainable and healthy route to the future of our residents and I strongly urge anyone opposed to this to forward commentary. Coal Bed Methane Extraction is not what we need in our headwaters!!!! The open pit mining operation at the headwaters by Cline Minging is contained within the document below.
http://www.flathead.ca/issues/issue9.asp
Please read

From White to Green

2007-02-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

I have finally made it to the coast of BC and am about to begin my work in silviculture again, the grass is green here, the flowers are budding slightly and the East Kootenay's and it's snow-chilled winter seem a long way away. I am looking forward to my spring return, however; open lakes and rivers, green snow capped mountains and fresh winter thawing air. I live in a very special part of the world and feel blessed to have found it's clean water and fresh air, two things that are becoming less and less available to people in the world. It is sad to think that most people in the world will never share that same clean breath or that clear, quenching sip but it is also something that could be eliminated from my part of the world if industry continues to push it's hunger for resource consumption and we have to protect this as well as the rest of the world where people are already living without these basic rights to life....clean air, clean water.

The mining business has gone out of control! As commodity prices rise the appetite of the beast increases and machinery exploits the ground worldwide ripping our mother earth open, selfishly exposing and removing her insides. In a previous blog entry I addressed the Cline Mining Project of the Flathead Valley that has seen great opposition from many groups here in Canada and the US and this opposition recently lead to the resignation of Bill Bennet (BC's Minister for Mining) after he responded to a letter of opposition using profanity. Sounds like Billy kind of snapped. This is the sort of pressure that can create change if people share their feelings strong enough to create a positive and forceful message. This does not mean the successor to the position will have a better objective when it comes to issues of mining but what it does show is that when people come together through word, song or congregation we can have an effect on our world and the people who attempt to control it. The struggle will continue but perhaps under a more watchful and caring eye.

It has been brought to my attention that there is currently another mining project proposed in the Alexandra Creek Drainage (main tributary of the Michel Ck) and I do not yet have full details on this, but will be gathering information shortly and posting it. For those of you who have fished these waters with me know, this area deserves special attention and should not be subjected to industrial exploitation. I will be back to you soon on this, however; I am still en route to my forestry workplace and have not yet had a chance to unfold the information regarding this issue. I will be back to you soon though.

Early Season Options....Get Off the Couch and Throw Some Line!!!!

2007-02-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

This year we are beginning to look at early season options, a way to extend our somewhat minute season and expose some of you to new waters and new areas. For the last few years Jeff has been taking people to the Bow and Oldman Rivers in early season and having great success fishing for large browns and rainbows without crowds. These trips are staged out of the city of Calgary which is easily accessed through it's international airport. April, May and June are prime months for this river.

Another option for May and June is the Columbia and Salmo Rivers in our neighbouring West Kootenay region. The Columbia is a huge body of water that contains numerous rainbows and even some walleye pickerel, but it is the caddis and mayfly hatches that we pay attention to in these waters. Dry fly is again the chosen method although during periods of hatch inactiivity we also throw streamers and nymphs, it is fished from boats.
The Salmo is a little more intimate but can still be floated, there are many mediocre sections throughout despite it's fishy appearance but in recent years a catch and release section has had a positive impact on the fish stocks here. There are green drake and caddis hatches here as well and during these hatch periods, rainbows readily look and feed on the drifting bugs. There are, however; a few delicious little sections with boulder runs that contain many 20" fish and the areas are quite secluded. This is also an early season fishery although sections of the Salmo can fish quite well throughout the year. Trips would be run out of Nelson BC, which is a cute and funky heritage town located on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. There are some unique accommodation options here, one of our favourites is the Nelson Guesthouse www.nelsonguesthouse.com
Please feel free to contact us about these destinations and we will do our best to answer any questions you may have.

A Deeper Look Into the Fly Box

2007-01-27T09:29:00.000-08:00

For fly fishermen living in northern climates, winters can be difficult at times. This time of year usually finds those of us inflicted by the sport, running to fly shops for tying materials and updating our fly boxes with 'hot' new patterns for the upcoming season. It's always a little discouraging to find out that the extended bodied, hackle stacked pattern you took one week and a sore neck to perfect doesn't work very well in the end. Looks great in the box but........... Those are the flies we pass on to other fly anglers in the hopes that they can instill some magic on those painstaking creations you tied and since they look good they are generally recieved well.
These trade encounters often occur because those promising 'techy' little patterns you spent your winter time wrapping and filling your box with actually suck and you've just spent the last two hours watching your 'new friend' fleece trout after trout out of a tiny seam you had already vigorously worked. Has you humbly offer your patterns up hoping 'new friend' will offer his `magic' pattern, you notice on the end of his tippet is a #14 cream sparkle dun. Upright deer wing, little bit of dubbing and z-lon tail....so basic you could cry. And he offers you one because he cares and in his own moment of angling knighthood he has taken pity on you and your elaborate but pointless offering. As he opens his box you notice an assortment of about 8 patterns, but lots of duplicates, because all his years on the river have taught him, that's all he really needs to put trout to hook.
Fly boxes tell a lot about an angler and how they fish or feel they should fish. Some fly boxes are meticulously arranged, hook bends/sizes/patterns in formation like they're waiting to be told to march!!! Organization is key and this angler likely spends a good deal of time analyzing the sorroundings and thinking about the proper method of presentation. The chosen rod and reel combined are no less than $1000 and purchase occurred after reviewing countless consumer reports and harrassing shop owners into weeks of casting demonstrations. His flies are bought or tied with rigid imitation of the original pattern, very little experimentation exists. Not satisfied with just any fish, this angler will ignore all other rising trout to focus on the one that appears largest in the pool. Getting to that fish means casting over and putting down the 6 others that are feeding aggressively downstream of the prime lie giant, but that's the fish of choice and the others may as well be rain droplets on the surface of the water. The fly is chosen carefully and chronologically, the cast is meticulous and in place, the mend reacts as it was planned and the fly freely drifts to it's quarry. The fish, who has no concern for chronological fly selection and organization adheres to the path of nature and rises to the fly only to shun it at the last moment returning to it's well selected home behind a boulder. Never discouraged but slightly perplexed the angler neatly clips the fly off the tippet, opens the fly box replaces the fly in it's orginal setting and selects the next logical pattern. Re-tie, dress, cast, mend, drift......rise and .......success!!! Sense of entitlement is fulfilled, time to go home and relish in the greatness of their accomplishment.

Then there's people like myself. I've got flies stuck in my hat in my pockets, in my skin sometimes. My fly boxes are chaos by the end of the day because I am constantly trying to find the perfect fly. Not satisfied with a fly that catches only half the fish, I want that fly that works everytime a proper presentation is made so I feel as if I've imitated nature as opposed to tricking it. It's like piecing a puzzle together in that you know that perfect piece exists somewhere amidst the chaos of the pile and sometimes only experimentation will lock the puzzle tags together. After finding that pattern, I can put the rod down and just enjoy watching nature onfold as trout gently sips fly. Followoing a tough day of guiding, my boxes will take about an hour to sort and re-organize and as I place the flies back in there appropriate compartments, I re-enact the day wondering "why the *#@! would have I had tied that on when all I needed was that cheesey little sparkle dun!!!!

As years pass I simplify my choices and can confidently say that when guiding I have about 12 patterns that I catch 90% of my fish on. So why do I need 10 large fly boxes with countless patterns? Because there is always that one fish that doesn't like your top 12 and you need to dig deep in order to open up it's jaws and this sometimes requires a lot of choices to find the right fly and I will change so many patterns in anticipation of the right choice that there is no time for proper compartment alignment in the fly box.....later is a good time for sorting and I become totally consumed by the puzzle and the quest to unlock the mystery nature has presented to me.

A good day generally takes very little clean up, the combination of one to five patterns and a whole lot of praise from satisfied clients. In actuality these are the easiest days, the days that don't challenge the guide. The guide's knowledge of the river and it's natural cycle is a process of elimination more so than creation and when the guide becomes more tuned to the environment, the good water and the right fly are used more often and bad days become few. But there is always the need for creation when something is not exacting enough to satisfy your curiosity and an inquisitive guide will grab some thread, hit the vice and continue the quest for imitating nature's flow.

Map of the Kootenays, BC Canada

2007-01-23T22:23:00.000-08:00

Map of the Kootenays, BC Canada

Far Away Flies

2007-01-23T22:12:00.000-08:00

After several trips to northern Thailand in search of a fair trade/fair wage fly producer, we came across a small family run company that we create and replicate quality patterns with. It is a healthy work environment and we wish to expand their business through sales here in North America and will be creating an online catalogue which we will make available to fly shops, guide services and some of our clients. We will keep you updated on the progress of the site but if you wish to make some orders you could request our order list which is in excel format. Basic patterns can be ordered by request via my email: bcfly@telus.net at an average price of $10 cdn/dozen.

Flathead Valley Coal Mining

2007-01-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

Flathead Valley Coal Mining

Say No To Cline Coal Mining Project in the Flathead

2007-01-21T10:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

The Elk Valley's history is deeply rooted in the coal mining process and today remains a large part of our economy and tax base. As more people discovered the natural beauty of our valley, tourist dollars began shaping a new look to the sleepy little mining town of Fernie. Condo developments, resort lodges, vacation property development sprouted up and continue to sprout up. Outfitters began operating successful tourist based business that rely on the natural beauty of the area and visitors have responded positively to them. This is a special part of the world, our water is clean, our forests diverse and wildlife is abundant throughout the area, there are few places like it left in the world and it should be treated as such.

The development of our land for recreational property has certainly scarred the landscape of the Elk Valley and will continue to as more dollars flood in from out of province. But with proper care and attention many of these developments could minimize their environmental impact through ecological building options and land use integrity (ie. wildlife corridors etc.) This is something we can visibly monitor and must improve on as a community as we strive towards becoming a more sustainable eco-tourist based economy.

One of the greatest threats our environment currently faces is the extraction of coal and coal bed methane from the upper part of the Elk and Flathead Rivers. Current provincial legislation allows wastewater created from coal bed methane extraction to be released back into the environment. Within this salty wastewater there are traces of both cyanide and ammonia which could have devastating effects on our fishery and personal health.

The Cline mining project in the Flathead will degredate an area of extreme and unique beauty. Areas like these should not be subject to the monetary aspirations of company's who have no interest in our community or the preservation of wildlife. The project will affect the Flathead valley as well as the Wigwam and Lodgepole area due to an open pit mining process and increased traffic from large mining vehicles. And this is no small project, this is a 20 year extraction plan!!!For those of you who have been to this area with us, I would ask you to visit www.wildsight.ca for further information and links on how to voice your concerns regarding this and other issues affecting our area.

"Till taught by pain, men know not water's worth"--Byron

New St. Mary's Options for 2007

2007-01-16T17:09:00.000-08:00

The St. Mary's river is located an hour from us here in Fernie and is also a blue ribbon trout fishery. Part of the allure of the river is the uncrowding of boats due to a serious lack of public access. The only way into the 'middle floats' (which are coincidentally the best) is through private access or city approval and from there, two sections exist until you reach a private takeout close to the Delta Eugene Mission Golf Course. This year we are offering a two day float package on the St. Mary's which will include an option of camping or clients will be shuttled to their chosen accommodation. The guides will camp on the river with the boats and meet up with the clients in the morning at the same drop off point and fish the following section. It is a beautiful drainage which is encompassed by hoodoos and pine trees and is a nice change from the Elk. The average size of fish here is smaller than those of the Elk, however; there are still some large fish here and this river still boasts my largest cutthroat to date; an incredible 22" that fought with the verocity of a rainbow. And oh yes, there are some rainbows in here as well.

2007 Anticipation of a Good Year

2007-01-14T16:25:00.000-08:00

I created this blog so all our guides could contribute to it as we are often in various parts of the world and unable to communicate with our beloved clients. It will also be a place where you can get updates on some of things we are up to, river reports, issues of the area, new waters etc. I'm not sure what kind of input I will get from our guides as their winter work on the ski hills, poker rooms, night club circuits etc. makes for an arduous schedule that affords little time for much else, but I will remain dedicated to it.
We are definitely feeling winter here in Fernie, -20 and below is 'glacializing' our hills and strengthening the snow pack. The Ski Resort reports a solid base of 89" at mid hill which is critical of course to the flows of our drainage. The snow is the blood source of our waters and we are anticipating great flows in our rivers all season if our winter continues. That said, Mother Nature is unpredictable and the imminent threat of climate change through global warming can manipulate weather quickly in our snow capped valley. Time will tell and we can only hope that we as a people will come together and make changes now so our water sources remain fresh and abundant.

More fresh water, more fresh fish, more happy piscavores!!!