Up North

Today’s cold snap and lake-effect snow blew in from Canada, home of Molson, the late Robert Goulet, and some fine flyfishing waters. Herewith some pics of eastern and western flyfishing waters in Canada.

The Margaree River is in the east central region of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Eugene, my French-Canadian guide, instructed me in the etiquette of pool rotation for Atlantic salmon fishing: Get in line, make two casts, move down two paces, repeat. I swung large blue doctors and other colorful salmon flies all day in the hope of at least hooking a fish. It was not to be.

A Margaree river regular

Red Deer river

Bow river

About 5000 km west of Nova Scotia is the province of Alberta, home of cowboys, oil sands, and k.d. lang. I floated the Red Deer river just north of Red Deer Alberta and the Bow river just outside of Calgary. The floats were interesting but not spectacular.

South of Calgary and west of Lethbridge near the Alberta and BC border is the Crow’s Nest river. This would be a great region for a future western summit.

Near the Crows Nest Angler Flyshop, Bellevue, Alberta

Athabasca River, Jasper National Park

Oh Canada, eh?

Where Am I Now?

The first person to identify the correct location in this latest Google Earth fly-by (click on the image for a larger version) will be the proud winner of a slightly used, but still functional, official industrial sized RBF Fart Suppressor.

Mulitple Choice:
a) Forks of the Delaware
b) Hammersley Fork, Pa.
c) Cross Fork, Pa.
d) First Fork - Costello, Pa.
e) Village of "Forks" (aka Coburn, Pa.)
f) Forks of Young Woman's Creek

If you know the correct answer, or think you know the correct answer, please jot it down on a slip of paper and attach it to a brand new 16" Meade aplanatic hyperbolic telescope with a 400mm aperture, a zero image-shift microfocuser, an oversized observatory-quality primary mirror with long exposure locking system, smart drive permanent periodic error correction system, Sony GPS reciever sensor, heavy duty double tine fork mounting, 26mm - 5 element eye piece, hand held Auto Star controller and a high precision 1-arc minute pointing system and mail the entire package to me, Wade Rivers c/o Cherry Springs State Park, Coudy Pike, Potter County, Pa.

Please make sure the package is properly insured.

The Lamar River Trail

The Jerkline - West Slope of Mount Norris
When evening chores are over at the ranch house on the hill
And there's nothing left to do but lay around
I saddle up my pony and go riding down the trail
Just to watch the evening sun go down

Lamar River Trail
White faced cattle lowing, sagebrush everywhere
Granite spires are standing all around
I'll tell you folks it's heaven, to go ridin' down the trail
Just to watch the evening sun go down

The Confluence
Ridin' down the canyon to watch the sun go down
A picture that no artist 'ere could paint
Harebell plants are bloomin' on the mountain side
I hear a coyote calling to its mate

From Where the Sun Now Sets, I Will Walk No More Forever
When evening chores are over at the ranch house on the hill
And there's nothing left to do but lay around
I saddle up my pony and go riding down the trail
Just to watch the evening sun go down

-Riding Down the Canyon, by Gene Autry (1936)

This was the tune that Bowhunter sang to me every night as we drifted off to sleep in our tents at the Salmon Forks in the Bob Marshall. Bowhunter sure can carry a tune. It's not the kind of thing you soon forget.

Another Young Angler

The Chief met this young man fishing upper Elk Creek. He was thrilled that his father took him fishing. The father and son traveled up from the flatlands of Berks County for a day of arduous spin fishing, bologna sandwiches and pop.

Future Pro-staffer in the making.

This young lad has all the makings of a future pro-staffer. Conditions were not perfect several weeks ago, highs in the low 40’s with low water.

He managed to fish for over 7 hours straight, only taking a couple short breaks to sit in the sun and warm up (usually while Bowhunter retied his outfit). During the day he continually showed up Bowhunter, by hooking and landing more steelhead. Here is a shot of his netting form. He is waiting for his grandpa to work a fish down to the net.

He ended up the day with 3 nice steelhead for the creel, and had many more on. All in all, not a bad day fishing with my nephew and father. We got 2 steelhead smoked and the other fish are awaiting the deep friar during buck season.

Elk Creek Steelhead

Conditions were arduous but the Chief still did manage to hook six, land four and creel two. Water was clear and low on Wednesday and it seemed that the Chief was the only angler hooking these beasts in upper Elk. Most fly anglers were slinging eggs and spawn. After a couple shots of Jeremiah Weed, the Chief selected a couple of #16 RBF Blueberry Beadheads and caught all on the dropper. It rained all night and all the creeks were up and dirty Thursday so the Chief just visited the tackle shops. Bought a life's supply of cheap split shot and headed home.

Flies and Frogs

I thought it best to post something related to fish during this trip. I noted an insect hatch in the ponds surrounding the university conference center. Looked to be about a size 10 something or other. The water did not look very safe to muck around, hence the lousy image. Didn’t notice any fish feeding.

From the piscatorial to the amphibious: One of the university professors took me for a short tour of his research. I noted a site with several small ponds and asked about them. Most of the ponds were for fish research; however, a few of the ponds were used for “frog farming” research. Apparently, one of the faculty is developing a feed mix to fatten frogs for the meat market. I’m not sure but I think this is where “Frogs Fanny” was developed. Just a guess. I didn’t notice any wild frogs in wheel chairs or on crutches.

In case you are interested, here is where I am: http://www.ufv.br/

Boa Tarde!

The RBF Girls from Ipanema

Time for only a quick post about the adventure in Brazil. The conference I am speaking at had a soiree last night with some interesting Brazilian dishes and beer. These wonderful ladies are the conference assistants assigned to helpless foreigners like me. They help us negotiate the language, explain the food, and generally try to keep us out of trouble.

Brahma is one of the local beers, a pilsner that is ok.

Gotta go. I give a talk in a bit and need to settle my nerves.

More later.

Toto, We are not in Kansas anymore

Just an update on Agrontrutta's trip to Brazil. I arrived in Belo Horizonte Tuesday morning after enduring flights from State College to Philly to Miami to Brazil. The flights, however, were nothing compared to the bone-jarring four hour drive from Belo Horizonte to Vicosa, where I'm visiting a small agricultural university. I have not had much time to gather photos or compose thoughtful posts. I just found a free wi-fi hotspot so I'm taking advantage. The Brazilian barbeque is great and the beer is just as cold down here. I think I spotted RBF girl at the Belo airport. There are many who resemble her in this tropical paradise. I will try to post something more interesting in the next few days.

Bom Dia!

RBF Girl's Chocolate Coconut Kisses

When it gets chilly outside, I love making cookies! Here’s the recipe for my favorite! Hope you guys enjoy!

Gently butter your cookie sheet and set the oven for 350o so it is hot and ready. Wow, that reminds me of the night Wade and I shared up at Cherry Springs!

Anyways, sift together 1 ½ cups of confectioners’ sugar and 1 tablespoon flour. Take 3 egg whites and beat until they stand up in soft, delicate peaks.

Beat in sugar mixture, 2 tablespoonsfuls at a time. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Gently fold in ½ cup shredded coconut and 1 package of chocolate bits. Spoon out onto cookie sheet by tiny teaspoonfuls. Bake 12 – 15 minutes.

I’ll bring some to share at the Christmas Fishin Gathering!

Love and Chocolate Coconut Kisses,
Carrie

Back East

...Big Woods Summit style photo spam. I'm just grabbing the baton from Matt (aka Agrontrutta).

Around Wharton, Pa.

Forget about the Poconos and the Catskills, the forks at Wharton were the cradle of wet fly fishing in America long before Annie Oakley or Grover Cleveland brought their greenheart fly rods to vacation at the Henryville House on the Broadheads Creek. Early settlers of this region were swinging trios of wet flies (sometimes at night) even before Cyrus Goodsell built his planing mill at the mouth of Mill Creek on the upper Allegeny River in Coudersport, Pa.

First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek

Sinnemahoning State Park

The Outhouse Beat

Around Costello - Upper First Fork

The village of Abbott on Cross Fork Creek is only about 30 miles away as the crow flies. Abbott & Costello are two of my favorite places in the Big Woods Country.

Big Woods Summit - circa 2005

Around Austin, Pa.

Austin Dam Remains

Barrie & Paul Mann - Sportin' Around the Wharton Bar

Glen G. Plies the East Fork
Fish fear him, chicks dig him.

Around the Rossiter Lodge

The East Fork

Cold Front

Around Oleona

Night - Night!

It's About Time!

Bowhunter's Beautiful 2005 Cutthroat with RBF's Equally Beautiful Streamborn 945 Fly Rod

It's about time this blog got back to normality. We drifted offshore a bit with venison reports, football and what not. Thanks Matt for those interesting posts!

Coming Soon -

• SundayAfternoons Hats - Official Field Test
• RBF Pro Staff Makes the Cover of Fly Fisherman Magazine Again - "Cooler Fishin with the RBF Girl"
• RBF Pro Staffer Now President of PA TU
• Trout Lake - YNP
• RBF Endorsed Outfitter - Matthew Long
• RBF Pro Staff Special Project (Call to Action) "Getting Our Youth Outdoors"
• Spanish Youth Fly Fishing Team

RBF Stickers have not yet been shipped. Hopefully they will get here this week.

Out West

The low water and slow fishing in these parts has me pining for western waters with its spectacular scenery and accomodating (sometimes) fish. Herewith a few scenes from a 2006 trip to Wyoming and Montana.

Clarks's fork of the Yellowstone river between Cooke City MT and Cody WY

Clark's Fork cutthroat

Cricket the flyfishing dog staying alert for Mr. Griz

The better half enjoying her needle craft along the Gallatin river.

The foot bridge at Soda Butte, Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone cutthroat from the Lamar River just upstream of the highway bridge.

The Sanderson boys with their nephew, Mike Kuhnert, the best young guide on the Missouri River. Left to right, Sam, Mike, Matt (Agrontrutta).

Pelican Point take out on the Missouri River near Cascade MT.

"The morning of a beautiful summer day in Montana. What more could be asked? " Tom McGuane, The Longest Silence.

Frank Lloyd Wright and Rossiter Lodge

Some weeks ago Bowhunter posted news of the exciting new addition ("continuous architecture" as an anonymous poster termed it) to Rossiter Lodge. What Bowhunter didn't say was that he was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, Falling Water, in western PA. The original renovation plans called for a cantilevered anteroom overlooking the outhouse stretch of First Fork creek. It was to be called "Making Water" but the local code enforcement officer would not grant a variance for the french doors leading to the cooler fishing deck and Bowhunter's architectural dreams were dashed. Despite the setback a dedicated team of craftsmen began crafting a new west wing.




A solid foundation being constructed for the addtion. Note the trueness of the floor boards. That was my job.

Bowhunter overseeing the most important aspect of the renovation project.

Smokey, Bowhunter's dog, also pitched in.

The seasoned construction crew worked feverishly to get the framing under plastic before the rains came.

Bowhunter's Dad provided topnotch supervision and continuous encouragement.

I'm looking forward to breaking in the new addition at the fifth annual Big Woods Summit in 2009.