Feb 04

2015 Calgary Boat and Sportsman’s Show

Calgary Boat And Sportsman's Show 2015

Once again this year I will be attending the Calgary boat show to represent and support my current sponsors Northland Tackle, Vexilar Electronics, Live Target Lures. I will be at the Fishin Hole booth Thursday (1-5), Friday (1-6) and Saturday from (10-3 PM). This year we have special guest Mariko Izumi signing autographs and talking fishing Friday and Saturday from 3-5PM. Mariko is the daughter of Pro angler Wayne Izumi, Bob Isumi’s brother.

Mariko has her own popular fishing show on the World Fishing Network called Hookin’ Up with Mariko Izumi. Some background information from her page on the WFN website. “Mariko Izumi is best known as the host of World Fishing Network’s flagship original production, Hookin’ Up with Mariko Izumi, and the reimagined follow-up series, Hookin’ Up with Nick & Mariko.Both series are popular fishing, travel and adventure shows that combine fishing and fun in some of the hottest locations on the planet. Mariko’s natural presence in front of the camera and her lifetime of experience on the water are contributing factors to her ongoing success.

The daughter of Wayne Izumi and niece of Bob Izumi, her experiences with the family fishing show, Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing, took her across North America and around the world from a young age, doing everything from kayak fishing in Louisiana to salmon fishing off the northwest coast of British Columbia. Mariko’s education in public relations and foreign languages has been instrumental in her growth as a television personality.

From her early beginnings with World Fishing Network in 2007, Mariko has presented a web series on current events of the fishing industry, hosted her own travel and adventure series, been used extensively as the face and voice of the network in promos and station IDs and built an extensive network of fans through the use of social media. She always looks forward to fresh adventures, meeting new characters and exciting times both in front of the camera and on the water. Join Mariko for all-new adventures in 2015 as Hookin’ Up with Mariko Izumi returns for its fifth season”.

I always wonder why the Boat show is so early in the year, there is still snow on the ground and the weather is usually always cold. It seems to me the show should be later in the spring, in say May. I feel this would draw a far higher crowd of people to the show! The last few years’ attendance has been down considerably with the early time for the show probably playing a factor. None the less, the show promises all the latest and greatest Rods, lures, sonar equipment and boats for your outdoor pleasure.

If you are looking to purchase new gear for the 2015 fishing season, please come down and see me. I will be happy to both educate you and help you make the best possible decision for all your tackle needs.

Hope to see you there,

~Mike

Feb 02

2015 Guided Fishing Trip Price Change

Bow River Blog price change

2015 Price Changes

After keeping my prices the same since I started my guiding business back in 2009, I would like to inform my regular clients that I will be raising the price of the trip this season to 500.00 from the 425.00 I was previously charging for a one day float trip. With the cost of tackle, gas and the shuttle service that went up the past few years, I had to adjust the cost of the trip accordingly.

My main goal is to still keep the cost of fishing with me affordable for all my new and existing clientele. To break it down in simple math, the cost per person has only gone up 30.00. 2015 promises to be a great fishing season after what was a severe flood on the Bow River in 2013. Last year the number of fish caught went up with some clients having 30 fish days!

We also saw larger fish being landed and released which is optimistic the fish population is on the rise. It will take approximately 5 years for the numbers to come back to what they were pre flood but I am confident they will return to pre flood levels in the next 2-5 years.

I still have a couple of prime fishing dates available for July, July 12 and the 19th and Aug 29th and 30th, so if you plan to float this coming season with me, I would reserve one of these dates as soon as possible.

I am looking forward to seeing you all out again this year.

Cheers,

~Mike

Jan 25

The Great Escape To The Lower Kananaskis Lake

Ice Fishing Lower Kananaskis Lake 2015

The Mountains Are Calling

Escaping the concrete jungle of the city of Calgary was a much needed stress relief, it has been several months since I was able to leave the noise and pollution of the city behind and head for peace and serenity the mountains of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park offer. Clean air combined with peace and quiet was just what I needed after a crazy busy Christmas season. I don’t often fish the ice but I could not pass up the opportunity to try my skills on a willing Bull Trout who was hungry for some hardware. I have been to the Lower Kananaskis Lakes many times in the summer months and have even docked a friend’s boat on an island and slept there overnight, but never drilled holes in the black ice and jigged Buzz Bombs and or spoons for willing fish.

The Canadian Rockies are a major tourist destination with many coming from Asia and Europe to hike, cross country ski, downhill ski, mountain bike and fish. According to Wikipedia “the Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, which is a system of multiple ranges of mountains which runs from the Canadian Prairies to the Pacific Coast. The Canadian Rockies mountain system comprises the southeastern part of this system, laying between the Interior Plains of Alberta and Northeastern British Columbia on the east to the Rocky Mountain Trench of BC on the west. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA. In geographic terms the boundary is at the Canada/US border, but in geological terms it might be considered to be at Marias Pass in northern Montana. The northern end is at the Liard River in northern British Columbia.

The Canadian Rockies have numerous high peaks and ranges, such as Mount Robson (3,954 m (12,972ft) and Mount Columbia (3,747M (12,293ft). The Canadian Rockies are composed of shale and limestone. Much of the range is protected by national and provincial parks, several of which collectively comprise a World Heritage Site”. Continue reading