Sep 12

General Info- Online Fishing Tournament

Well, it looks like all you fisherman are going to get a chance to put your money where your mouth is, and in turn win up to $1000.00 for your efforts. Here is the challenge to all my friends here in Calgary and in the province of Alberta; catch a longer fish than me and you will win $1000.00 cash. How will this happen you ask, well click onto Bountyfishing.comand read all the details. Here is the short and sweet version, you sign up for either a one day tournament $7.00 US Dollars or a one week tournament $19.00 US Dollars. You choose whatever week you wish to fish. They want the longest fish for the species of fish you are fishing for, and if you happen to be the lucky guy/girl to catch the longest fish for that day/week than you win $1000.00 cash, it’s that simple; or is it?

Bountyfishing.com requires their contestants to register for their website (FREE) and than you are eligible to enter their tournaments. You will receive a code from Bounty Fishing which will be valid for that day/week you choose to fish. You then proceed to fish for the day/week until you have caught your longest fish possible. You are required to measure the fish on a flat surface with a ridged tape measure placed beside your catch. You then will take a picture of the fish in this position and then they require you to take a picture of you holding your catch as close to your chest as possible. You then submit your photos to Bounty Fishing for review and if you catch the longest fish that day/week for the species you have chosen to fish for, 1000.00 is coming your way.

I wish all those who participate in this online tournament the best of luck as there seems to be some stiff competition out there. Also, make sure you are not cheating as they claim to have the world’s most advanced digital imaging forensics software. This software is based on counterfeit digital image detection used by the world’s top law enforcement agencies. Bounty Fishing’s patent pending measurement technology is used to verify the accuracy of competitive photos and declare authentic winners in the tournaments. If you are sending falsified photos into this website, in my books they call this fraud so get ready to go to jail. Good luck and hopefully your name is up on the leader board.

Aug 15

Ask Mike – Tips and Advice

Big Browns in the Twilight, Or At Night PHOTO GALLERY

August here in Alberta is prime time to be fishing Brown Trout when the sun it getting ready to set. I packed up my fishing gear and headed straight for the river. I think it’s funny how I tell people, usually experienced fisherman that fishing Brown’s in the dark is the best time to fish, and they look at me and laugh. I have taken many long time experienced fishermen out in the dark and wiped that smile clean off their faces. I even like to go out and prove my statements all by myself, just to prove to myself that the biggest Brown’s will be caught in total darkness.

After driving for five minutes tonight I arrived at the Bow River in a quiet spot along the south bank. Just as I am arriving everyone is packing up and walking out toward their vehicles, “Perfect”, I say to myself, and hike up to a prime location alongside the river. Before I walk up the river bank I have already tied up my Minnow Spinner by Blue Fox and de-barbed the Eagle Claw hooks attached to it. It is very frustrating trying to tie your hook up in the dark, I do this prior to leaving the house that way I am ready to fire away anytime, anywhere! I chose a spot where two channels converge which leaves a slower back eddy along the south bank. Now here is the trick to success for me when fast water meets slower water, make sure you cast well into the faster moving water and slowly come into the deeper slower water so not to spook the big fish sitting on the edge of the seam; or in the middle of the slower water. As I was reeling from the faster water into the slower water I was hooking fish, big fish practically every cast with a slow retrieve speed. Remember, Browns have the best eye sight of all the trout species and combined with a lure that makes sonic vibrations or rattles, can be highly effective when fishing at night!

I stayed on the bank of the south side for two hours, 9:00 PM until 11:00 PM and had an awesome evening fishing. I landed three 22 inch Rainbows and had at least 10 fish on, not including all the bites I was getting. All was well and I made a super long cast into the fast water and slowly worked my lure below the clear blue water. As I was twitching and reeling I latched into what I think was about a 25- 30 inch Brown. There was still a little light left in the sky and this monster Brown loved what I had offered. He smashed my hook and started to battle like a true gladiator, he came to the surface and suddenly I felt the line go limp? Puzzled I reeled in my hook which was still attached to the line to investigate. Low and behold this massive specimen bent my split ring almost bone straight and the hook attached to it was gone. Now that was the big one that managed to get away. The moral of the story here is even though people will not buy into what you say about fishing in the dark, you will be the one with the big smile across your face and not them. Until next time, happy fishing and stay safe when fishing in the dark.

Jul 22

Fishing Trips- Floating The Bow River

Liam’s Monster Brown

Who says that the pros’s or even the most experienced anglers catch all the big fish? We were floating the Bow River again today in severely hot weather conditions. It reached 30 degrees Celsius by two o’clock and we set out to find those big Bow River trout. My better half Kerri and her five year old son Liam were out for a nice five hour float from Police to MacKinnon flats with blue skies and mountain views as our backdrop. I must admit I was a little bit skeptical to how many fish we were going to land today as the sun was very hot. I know Liam sure did not mind the conditions and he was gung ho on landing what he calls those fat boys that the Bow River is known to produce on a regular basis.

I tied Liam up a gold Panther Martin sonic spinner in a size 9 and he was itching to get that hook in the water even before we launched the boat. Looks like Liam takes on the same characteristics as I possess, just can’t wait syndrome. Liam asked me curiously Mike, are we going to catch any trout’s today and I gave the young lad my personal guarantee that we were. The top end of the float was a little slow and I was only able to land two smaller trout. Liam’s patience level was wearing a little thin and he stopped fish briefly but after I landed my third fish, an 18 inch Cutty, he snapped upright and re-launched his Panther Martin sonic spinner. We veered of the main channel into a narrow side channel that looked like it may hold some fish. Sometimes bigger fish will go into these side channels in search of baitfish or insects to feed on.

As we entered the side channel Liam’s fishing rod bent over aggressively and he hollered Igot one Mikeand I encouraged him to keep his rod tip up and slowly reel him in towards the boat. This young boy is a complete natural at fishing and he did a fantastic job keeping his cool and doing just as I instructed. As I caught a look at Liam’s monster a massive smile came upon my face. I knew this trout was the biggest fish Liam had ever seen and netted him carefully into the boat. Liam was so excited he started saying that’s bigger than any fish you have caught today Mikefollowed by “that sucker is the biggest fish in this river”. I love it when little kids rub that kind of stuff in your face. I must admit though he was sure right. My hat is off to you young Liam and both my thumbs are up as well. Liam’s final words to me were, “I want to fish everyday Mike”. Well Liam, I want to fish every day with you buddy.