Oldman system
 

Was there 10 days ago and tough fishing. Heading down today. Anybody had a go? Verdict?


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Was there yesterday. Tough fishing as well. Got one to net and had two big cuts break me off.

Fished yesterday as well two to hand two got off, tough fishing for sure

Perhaps its cause everyone and their dog and flyrod is fishing the watershed. Can hardly believe the pressure and social media mentions this year, mostly cause central Alberta is rained out.

Every year it's a busy watershed; this year, an absolute zoo.

But hey, my father and I heading down in 3 weeks, so we'll just have to put up with the crowds, since we're part of them! :)

I actually only saw 2 people fishing the stretch I was on. The Livingstone looked busier.

Livingstone is usually busier. If you really want a zoo go to the crow



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You must have done some good detective work. :)

Every single person I've talked to says it's busier than the norm.

This province needs to follow BC's lead and get going on classified waters license, and use that money to help subsidize increased enforcement.

Um...no.
 

Worst

Idea

Ever.

If it’s crowded... try another river. It’s not like the Livingstone is the only stream around.

‘Yah... let’s get all exclusionary with our waters here too so the shee shee neoprene hatch can only afford it’.... nope



Anyways..... I thought I’d give some advanced fishie advice here for anyone planning to hit the rivers for Aug long...

The spillway is fishing real well... Summerview has a great morning hatch ... then late evening is great great. Huge fish.

Waldron down to the reservoir is much the same.
Probably your best bet for fishies.

The higher upstream you go, the harder the fishing gets as the morning temps are around 5c and the waters pretty cold .... so the bugs don’t start till 10-11.... fish seem to not tune in till around 1-2 or even later.

Evenings are good fishin though.

This has been based on me fishin the upper North Forks, Waldron, Dutch, Vicary.... as well as the West Castle, Carbondale, Lynx and Lost (diff drainage system though.

Cool temps this summer so far. More like fall fishin sometimes.

You should be able to hit 20 fish days on any of those stretches.

Good luck this weekend boys.

I do not believe that you understand how 'classified' works.

It would be small additional ANNUAL fee for an Alberta resident (something like $10-$15). At $25 per year, the Alberta license is already one of the cheapest in the country.

For an out of province individual, it would be $25 per day. If someone has the cash to travel to the province. They can afford to pay a little extra cash.

A little foresight will help ensure that your children and grandchildren actually have rivers to fish.

Right there is a wealth of excellent knowledge. While the that part of our province isn't on my radar this summer or fall. It will be a priority next year.

Thanks for sharing bessiedog!

BW

Lol. Shocked I tell you. Shocked
 

Lol. Bessiedog doesn't like my idea...shocker. I wonder why...

Scel, careful, you're making sense, even common sense.

Anyways, As Scel says not sure people understand the purpose or why we would have it. As in, for example, why BC guides are allowed to guide here virtually scott free? To cherry pick one example.

I too appreciate Bessie's knowledge, clearly, he knows what's he's doing and he's willing to share, which is a kindness.

As for classified waters, AB residents would be entitled to get an annual classified license (as well as their regular). Doesn't have to be $20 per day. Although, the $20 is a steal compared to alot of other recreational - and non-recreational - activities. What does it cost to go to the movies? An NHL game? To ski, golf? To buy a decent set of waders? To support another hobby or activity? To buy an RV or OHV? Etc, etc...

If you can afford to fish, you can afford the classified waters fee. Full stop. And their would be many tangible benefits, if implemented properly.

Anyhow, I thank every one who chimed in about the best. idea. ever. Eh Bessie? lol :love0025:

Ok... I’ll go with the not letting B.C. guides guide here w/out paying. I used to guide and the B.C. boys we’re everywhere and they’d bump me outa holes all over da place.... much like us alberta boys were everywhere guiding the Elk, and Michell, St’Marys and the wigwam (god I luv da wigwam.... best stag fishing party I ever had there.... stimulators can be fished whilst hung over)... oh waitaminit... we still guide over there... heh...

Our SW Alberta fisheries are just fine without ANY need for further regulation.

There are at least a 1/2 dozen rivers and streams that used to just have dinks in them back in the early 90s when I started fishing the various drainages here seriously (1991 to be precise). Now a days these rivers and some seemingly small tiny streams will regularly yield 16inch fat healthy fish. Trust me, they never used to before.

I will actually mention two waterways here that have gone from dink’s to regular pigs ...... and have stayed that way for the last decade at least.

Crow

West Castle

There’s no poaching problem... so what the hell kind of ‘enforcement’ you guys lookin for?

Fish cops run around and give me a pop quiz about the dynamics of the watersheds baetis hatch and fineme for incorrect answers or if I don’t have sterilized forceps and piscatorial manipulation and emancipation gloves...?

$$ from licensing pretty much goes to general revenue boys.... so no... please don’t tax us Canadian tire ‘it’s a green bug’ flailin peasants ... we need our beer money.

You catch a poacher... do wut I do... Chuck a rock at em... make sure it hits them
Or their truck.

Or just call em an f***tard and move on. Cause it’s not impacting the fishery in any meaningful way.

Rant over......... you..... you guys you!...,
Anyhoo.....

Upper upper racehorse fished well today. High country cuties.

Dutch had risers.... but thems was picky picky... pack size 18 parachute green Adams... or small green body comparadun and if you present well... you’ll be rewarded.

The big waters that hold the heat have reliable 2-4pm hatches. Sum kinda BWO emerger (hate emergers.... FisH tO THe RiSe.... arg) around the Gap and down from there... Big size 8-10 grey to green drakes comin up real nice.
Good caddis dancing by 6 Pm.... I’ll bet the evening was epic.

I’m gonna make a martini w/whiskey now....

As I'm sure you know, F&W officers do more than tag poachers. But since you asked:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Vn...nRA1wTEQ=w2400

Oldman river.

Plus the 2 incidents I have personally witnessed in the last 2 years that I called in (and I don't get down there alot). Both in involving bull trout retention. I definitely wouldn't say poaching is rampant, but its not non-existent either.

Plus, other issues, like random camping violations, improper OHV use, etc.

I for once wouldn't mind be checked by an officer down there...

Yes, you're correct, I believe it was Getty or Klein that re-directed F&W revenue into the general revenue slush fund...big mistake...

Anyhoo, no way we'll see eye to eye on this. C'est la vie. But I am definitely in favour of jacking fees for non-resident Albertans, and banning non-AB guides completely.

Yep, as you said, there are other waters to fish. Which my 82 yr old father and I will be happy to explore, or, in some cases re-acquaint ourselves with.

Tight lines. Enjoy the whiskey.

Yup

Those guys were the exception on the OMR.... and they got caught with the current regulatory model.

Increased fees r not gonna improve nuffin.

Still plenty o fish..... big uns...

Evidence.... there’s a tons o big fish there.

We certainly will agree to disagree

Bessiedog, How long have you lived and fished in SW Alberta? Just curious...

Pm sent

Bang on advice had the boat out today

Planned on starting at Dutch Creek early tomorrow morning but maybe I'll sleep in a bit for the temps to rise

Thanks for all the tips Bessie

That conditions report was 8 days ago. Since then we’re had 7/8 days of +28 weather.

Fished an upper headwaters stream that was pretty exposed yesterday... water got pretty warm by 3. Fishies we’re feeding hard at 11:40, prolly earlier even. So the games changed and the feeding windows are earlier... with possibly shutting down round 3 or 4. I wet wade and you could tell the water temp change was significant.

We didn’t see another soul all day. I did see a sparrow hawk actually take a bird... never seen that before... very cool. One pool had just the tail of a mid sized cutty sittin in the water..... mink havin dinner maybe?

Late evening feeds pretty consistent on the big waters.

Just a friendly reminder to the guides on the Livingstone.... just because you have a client does NOT mean you can waltz up and get your client into a hole when da other guy is sittin, or changing flies.

Ask nice

Better yet.... move up 2 holes at least and fish on. Thanks to the azzhat that was doin that to sum buddies of mine yesterday. It wuz her birthday you money chasing slug.... tanx fer makin it special.

Spent yesterday on the Oldman with a good friend, we also hit the Livingstone. What an excellent day, the weather cooperated and the fishing was decent. Between the 2 of us we landed several, mostly on dry flies with a couple on nymphs.