"The Stamp Collection" Artshow
When:Wed, 02 Mar 2011 - Wed, 02 Mar 2011
Where:Sandbar Restaurant Vancouver

The Pacific Salmon Foundation presents “The Stamp Collection.”  A collection of limited edition hand signed lithographs by renowned Canadian wildlife artists and selected from our private Salmon Conservation Stamp collection.  For the first time reproduced in full scale and presented in a silent auction at Sandbar Restaurant.  All proceeds to benefit salmon habitat & enhancement programs. 

Tickets are $30 and include "Ocean Wise" westcoast appetizers and one drink

Please r.s.v.p. to Susan Taylor at 604-664-7664 ext. 100 by February 22nd

Venue information:   Sandbar Seafood Restaurant, Granville Island
                                     1535 Johnston St.
                                     Vancouver, BC


BECAUSE...we all love SALMON!!!

This is what happens when you get kids fishing.  This video is easily the coolest thing I've seen in a long time!


Check out fly fishing highlights from Parker and Carter Wise.

Check out the News Letter written by the Kamloops Fly Fisher's.  The article about the effects of barometric pressure on fishing is amazing.  If you are a serious lake fishermen/women you've JUST got to read it!!!  

Young Guns Fly (YGF) is proud to announce that we will have a booth at the BC Boat and Sportmen's/Hunting Show in Abbotsford, British Columbia.  The dates are March 4, 5 and 6. 

Make sure to visit us while you are at the show.  Learn how YGF is getting more youth into the sport of fly fishing and how YOU can help!!! 

Young Guns Fly would like to thank the organizers at the BC Boat and Sportmen's/Hunting Show for donating the booth to our group.

 New Zealand has always been considered one of the best travel destinations on this planet.  With its superb scenery, combing mountains, subtropical rainforests and magnificent coastlines it attracts millions of visitors from all over the world.  However, it is the gin clear rivers and lakes that make New Zealand one of the dream destinations for every fly fisherman.

After I cycled all over New Zealand in 2001, my desire to return in order to do more outdoor activities, particularly fly fishing, has never faded away.  The opportunity presented itself during the early winter of 2010 and I found myself once again landing in the world’s newest country.

After exploring must see spots on North Island and fishing in the Lake Taupo area for almost two weeks, it was time to head south.  All I wanted was to find myself in the crystal clear rivers of South Island surrounded by snowcapped mountains.

Both New Zealand’s North and South Islands offer great fishing opportunities, however trout rivers are more abundant on South Island.  The island has countless trout fishing opportunities and numerous rivers and streams hold good numbers of trout.  

Leslie-Karamea Track follows Karamea River for most of its length and runs almost parallel to Heaphy Track, one of New Zealand’s great walks in Kahurangi National Park, in the north of South Island.  This area is permanently frequented by helicopter parties, as its fishing is unbelievably good.  Helicopter transfer is getting busy after Christmas, and trout can easily be chased off.  

Very long leaders are essential, which must be casted in a side-arm position, very close to the water surface and always from behind the fish.  This is to avoid spooking the wary trout.  The dense vegetation along the rivers makes roll and spey casting necessary.  

Fishing in this clear water is a bit like hunting.  Polarized sunglasses help spotting the fish, which have to be approached as carefully as possible; one wrong movement and the trout swims away.  

I experienced many cases, in which the trout disappeared just after seeing the fly, and others took the fly shortly after being chased away by the fly line.  It does not mean a trout, which noticed a fisherman or other disturbance, will not feed for the next couple of hours.  Always try a second cast.  I watched Karl Bergdahl, a Swedish fly fishing guide who I met while fishing the Taupo district, chase away a trout twice by casting his line, before he presented his dry fly in front of the fish.  The fish took the fly seconds after, and Karl found himself smiling at my camera with a 25 inch rainbow trout in hand.  This is not as likely to happen with a brown trout, but it could!

The fishing in Leslie-Karamea Track is regarded as tougher in comparison to other regions on South Island, but it can also be very rewarding.  There are several well-equipped huts along the track and tent camping is also possible.

Another advisable region are the Nelson Lakes.  There are water taxis along both Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotoroa.  All rivers, south of these lakes hold good numbers of trout and offer excellent backcountry fishing...hiking is essential!  Fishing is similar to the other rivers on South Island and small nymphs work well.

Milford Track is New Zealand’s most popular walk.  Almost 54 km long, it follows Clinton River at its beginning, and Arthur River on its northern side.  A boat transfer is necessary to get at the beginning of the track and out to Milford Sound.  Both rides can be booked in Te Anau.  You need to disinfect your fishing equipment at the Department of Conservation Office in Te Anau in order to get a gear-cleaning certificate, which has to be carried along while fishing in Fjordland.  This is done as an attempt to slow down the spread of the invasive freshwater algae Dydimosphenia geminata, which was obviously introduced to the country by a party of North American fishermen.  Both Clinton and Arthur Rivers are at the moment dydimo free and the DOC is trying to keep it that way.

Camping is not permitted within 500 meters off the track, so we followed the northern branch of Clinton River, where we camped for some nights.  The water in Clinton is amazingly clear, and there is an excellent number of fish in the river.  The scenery is exactly like most fly fishing pictures show New Zealand – simply breathtaking!

The first fish we caught was from a run that seemed to be empty during the day.  During the last hour of daylight, trout moved out from their hiding places under the shore and started feeding in the river-bed.  I hooked and landed 2 rainbow trout of about 24 inches, both on small floating caddis flies.

During the next day, we used bigger caddis dry flies, and caught 2 fish each, but did not return to the good run where we fished the previous evening.  We went there the same time as the day before and waited until the fish started moving into the main river-bed and started feeding.  I spotted the first rainbow trout and presented a small mayfly, the trout took it right away.  Shortly after this catch Karl hooked into the first brown trout using a caddisfly.  It was a beautiful fish of 24 inches.  We stayed in this area for 2 more days and had similar successful stories, before moving further upstream, walking on the Milford Track.  As we walked upstream the river became smaller, and we fished some smaller pools where Karl was able to hook and land a 7 lb rainbow trout.  

We both moved downstream, where we spotted a beautiful rainbow trout in a overgrown, but beautiful pool of the river, which made it difficult to cast.  The trout swam several times through the pool and was obviously feeding.  

I used a rollcast in order to get the fly out and let it drift towards the middle of the pool, but the trout was somewhere else.  I casted again, the trout saw the fly but did not take it.  I presented again, and it rejected again.  So I tied a little dark nymph about half a meter behind the dry fly and casted the fly out again.  The dry fly swam first over the fish.  However the fish took the nymph, which came shortly after into his field of sight.  It had to be about 27 inches, a beautiful fish!

We had one more day to fish Arthur River at the end of Milford track, so we started hiking early the next morning, and arrived there in the afternoon. We spotted a nice brown trout right away and caught it on the first cast. The fishing there was superb.  I, myself hooked 9 brown trout in 2 hours, the biggest ones being over 60 cm. We both agreed, that this was the best dry fly fishing we had ever experienced.

The next morning I caught more fish and kept two for dinner, as we had to catch the boat to Milford Sound later on in the day. 

Fishing in Fjordland is fantastic and the scenery can be overwelming.  However, most rivers are difficult to access and weather can be very wet.

General Information and recommendations
It is possible to spend thousands of dollars travelling in New Zealand, but it is also possible to travel there on a small budget without missing anything when it comes to fishing. Traveling in the country is very easy and fishing licences are cheap compared to Europe.  As well, camping is possible all over the country and there are endless fishing opportunities.

For trout fishing, fly rods between 8 and 10 feet and class 5 and 6 weights will work. Mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies will catch fish as nymphs and dry flies (Adults).  Leaders should be very long (12 plus feet) and tapered ones roll out better with less flyline out of the guides. Polarized sunglasses are a must.  Most New Zealand fly fishermen/women do not wear waders.  Instead they use neoprene socks and wading boots and long-johns, to protect their skin from thousands of biting sandflies.

It is not advisible to wade too far and each unessential cast should be avoided. The fish are too easy to scare off.

Camping gear is a must. Even if you do not hike a couple of days, just a few hours make a big difference. The tent should be water and insect-proof and bring plenty of sun tan lotion and insect repellent.

Getting around is easiest with your own vehicle and second hand cars can be bought in every town for extended travelling.

Do not wait too long if you intend to travel and fish in New Zealand. The invasive algae Dydimo is present in many watercourses all over New Zealand and is extending its range, despite environmental stakeholders doing everything possible to slow down this development. It is so much more fun, to fish a crystal clear river without exessive algal growth. When I came to New Zealand the first time in 2001, every little stream appeared to have no algal growth at all, but unfortunately, this number is declining. 

Credits:
Writing by Robert Klinger.  Photography by Robert Klinger, Karl Bergdahl and Katerina Christophi.

Robert's Bio:
Robert Klinger, originally from Germany, is a true world traveller with an intense passion and love for photography, fly fishing, and adventure.  You can usually find him camping in a random vehicle, by a wild river filled with wild fish.  Buy his books, "How to catch trophy fish anywhere in the world with 2 Euros" and "Fly Fishing; the Fountain of Youth?"

The 2011 Fly Fishing Film Tour

Coming this Summer/Fall to

Vancouver, British Columbia

“Casting in the Park” this past Saturday was an overwhelming success.  Of the six casters, four had never held a fly rod in their lives.  Within an hour all four were casting silky smooth loops.

Here are a few pictures to show that YGF has talent.

If you have ever thought of picking up the sport of fly fishing please feel free to attend our free “Casting in the Park” sessions.  It is a positive, fun and safe environment to either learn how to cast for the first time or fine-tune your existing fly casting skills.  

There is no better way of improving your chances of catching fish on the fly than practicing the physical act of fly fishing….fly casting!

Please view the events page for YGF’s latest “Casting in the Park” date.  

I hesitate to be unkind, 
but the salmon has a one track mind.
Once every season full of fire
he swims upstream higher and higher

Up rocks and rills, up streams and hills
Up high cascades, up glassy glades.
Through canyon steep, through waters deep
up stones and rocks, up dams and locks.

From day to night, from dark to light
Until at last on one bright dawn - 
he gets there just in time to spawn.

Now having done his salmon duty, 
and having wooed his salmon cutie, 
and weary from his trip uptown
in quite waters he will drown.

Pondering with his dying bubble - 
just why is Sex so darn much trouble!!

Author: Anonymous

As posted on the Steelhead Society of BC website.  

If you are a steelhead fishermen in British Columbia and are in the Vancouver area then make sure to come to the 2011 AGM.  Meet other people who share your passion and help preserve the stocks of wild steelhead throughout BC.  

The Board of Directors of the Steelhead Society of British Columbia hereby gives notice that the Annual General Meeting will be held:

DATE: Saturday, January 29, 2011

TIME: 10:00 am to approximately 2:00 pm

PLACE: BCGEU Fraser Valley Area Office
8555 - 198A Street, Langley Twp
(“Twp” required for mapquest)

AGENDA:

10:00am-12:00pm

We are excited to have as guest speaker Craig Orr from Watershed Watch who will be giving a scientific look at what the effects of a hatchery on the Thompson River would be.

We are also very excited to have Craig Wightman from the BC Conservation Foundation on Vancouver Island. He will be presenting on the activities of the BCCF on Vancouver Island and what they are doing to help improve steelhead populations.

Dave Harper will also be presenting on behalf of the Lower Mainland BCCF. His presentation will also be on their yearly activities as well as some future plans.

12:30 to Adjournment:

General Business
a) President’s report
b) Financial report
c) Election of officers and directors
d) Other business

If you are unable to attend this meeting in person, you may appoint a Steelhead Society member to act on your behalf by submitting the attached proxy form by mail or facsimile.

The Board of Directors
January 5, 2011

YGF is proud to donate the following raffle prizes to raise funds for the Steelhead Society of BC.  Half the proceeds will be donated to the YGF Mentorship Program.  

I spent a whole 2 hr of the first Québec Spey clave on a prep course for steelhead fishing only for the kids of the youth center...funny all the adults kept dropping by and getting closer every minute.

So just remember next time you have a chance of giving back to the world of fishing....it’s not about the money to be made, more to ensure a future to our sport by taking kids fishing. If they like it, you will have friends for life...