A Log That Moved
By Mike Robertson, Canadian Field Editor
Todd and I had decided to fish the McKinnon Flats, a wildlife refuge on the Bow River, southeast of Calgary just past where the Sheep River meets the Bow River. It was quite chilly that Saturday, the last day in March. A cold spring wind blew in off the distant Rockies from the northwest. Clouds covered us most of the morning, but we had a welcome break of blue with direct sun for about 25 minutes.
By then we'd each taken a trout or two when suddenly Todd hooked up on what he thought was a bottom snag. He pumped the rod and tried to break free. But it began to pump back. He had on a large fish of some sort--that was evident--but it was strange as it didn't fight at all like a Bow River Brown or Rainbow.
Fact was, it hardly fought at all. Total time to net couldn't have been more than two minutes. I figured it might have been because of the cold water conditions. Had he hooked this big baby in June or July, we'd have seen a more voracious tussle, I'm sure. But hey! It makes for a nice picture!
Todd was fishing a Brown Trout Rapala Countdown casting long and fishing deep. Landing this massive Pike was a rare experience for both of us. So far it's the largest Pike the landing of which I've been part of on the Bow River. You can catch bigger Pike north of Calgary and some south near the border, but one this size is a rare catch on the Bow. We know they're here, but it's not often you see one this size.
Todd caught one more trout after that, until three other fishermen invaded our spot. I had taken 3 smaller Rainbows fishing pretty much the same way and landed one monster Brown, but when these other fishermen came in, we left.
I have to put in a note here on river etiquette. When a river is long and full of fish and has few fishermen on it, there's no excuse to come in on top of other fishermen. I find it hard to understand why they couldn't fish somewhere else. I try to show courtesy to other fishermen whenever possible. Good river etiquette is important. The Bow gets crowded sometimes especially in August and September when so many people are on vacation. When it's like that sometimes you just can't help floating over someone else's spot; but to come right in on other fishermen when there's plenty of open water is a discourtesy. I found myself irritated with these guys because they simply had no regard for us. Had they shown some courtesy my attitude toward them might have been different.
At any rate, I left happy with the fishing, which on the Bow is almost always great.
###Mike Robertson
Todd and I had decided to fish the McKinnon Flats, a wildlife refuge on the Bow River, southeast of Calgary just past where the Sheep River meets the Bow River. It was quite chilly that Saturday, the last day in March. A cold spring wind blew in off the distant Rockies from the northwest. Clouds covered us most of the morning, but we had a welcome break of blue with direct sun for about 25 minutes.
By then we'd each taken a trout or two when suddenly Todd hooked up on what he thought was a bottom snag. He pumped the rod and tried to break free. But it began to pump back. He had on a large fish of some sort--that was evident--but it was strange as it didn't fight at all like a Bow River Brown or Rainbow.
Fact was, it hardly fought at all. Total time to net couldn't have been more than two minutes. I figured it might have been because of the cold water conditions. Had he hooked this big baby in June or July, we'd have seen a more voracious tussle, I'm sure. But hey! It makes for a nice picture!
Todd was fishing a Brown Trout Rapala Countdown casting long and fishing deep. Landing this massive Pike was a rare experience for both of us. So far it's the largest Pike the landing of which I've been part of on the Bow River. You can catch bigger Pike north of Calgary and some south near the border, but one this size is a rare catch on the Bow. We know they're here, but it's not often you see one this size.
Todd caught one more trout after that, until three other fishermen invaded our spot. I had taken 3 smaller Rainbows fishing pretty much the same way and landed one monster Brown, but when these other fishermen came in, we left.
I have to put in a note here on river etiquette. When a river is long and full of fish and has few fishermen on it, there's no excuse to come in on top of other fishermen. I find it hard to understand why they couldn't fish somewhere else. I try to show courtesy to other fishermen whenever possible. Good river etiquette is important. The Bow gets crowded sometimes especially in August and September when so many people are on vacation. When it's like that sometimes you just can't help floating over someone else's spot; but to come right in on other fishermen when there's plenty of open water is a discourtesy. I found myself irritated with these guys because they simply had no regard for us. Had they shown some courtesy my attitude toward them might have been different.
At any rate, I left happy with the fishing, which on the Bow is almost always great.
###Mike Robertson
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