My Life My Way

Stauffer Creek, AB I find it funny how some fly fishermen are all about the numbers game. Showing off their catch but never post anything related to the days when they are just enjoying the beauty of the sport. The whole point of being a fly fishing person is to get away from what I call the "Bass Pro" crowd. Don't get me wrong I still get jazzed about catching fish. But I also take comfort in just being out on the water just for being out on the water. This past weekend just proves my point. The father in law and I went on a cabin fever mission to a little Alberta creek know to the locals as "Stauffer Creek." I have posted related articles about this creek as it hold a special place in my heart. Not because its loaded with beautiful Alberta Brown Trout but more so because of the sure beauty of this small creek.  The two of us didn't catch a single fish but that's not what I will take away from days like that. What I will remember most

 I have had this "Fish Tale" on file for the past fourteen years and now that I'm recording my fishing adventures I'd been thinking of posting it but had no pictures to go with the events of those four days. In a strange twist of fate, my grandparents stopped by for a visit, this past week, and wouldn't you know it they bring me the story along with the pictures my grandpa and I took on our trip. The below is a raw unedited story telling event, the way I saw how those days played out back in 2001, hope you enjoy it! PROLOGUE:                                                       “THE LIST” WELL WHAT TRIP WITH “BIG JOE” CAN ANYONE EVER REMEMBER THAT DIDN’T INVOLVE A LIST OF SOME FORM OR ANOTHER?  HIS LIST WOULD BE ONE ITEM AND YOU WERE LEFT WITH THIRTY ITEMS, WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET NASA’S R&D DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW BEFORE YOU COULD PUT YOUR STAMP ON IT.  HIS LIST CONSISTED OF ONE THING, THE TRIP.  MINE HOWEVER CONSISTED OF RESEARCHING TH

  Living in the northern half of Alberta, for a fly fisherman, there are two seasons, Fly Fishing and Fly Tying. Right now I am stuck in the "Fly Tying" season, a.k.a WINTER! Not that I don't enjoy fly tying, I don't enjoy the six months of winter. I have produced some new flies, just I can't wait to chuck this year as the cabin fever is starting to set in.   The majority of Alberta lakes open every Victoria Day long weekend in May. That being said, it's 70ish days and counting for the Pike and Walleye season to open and I'm stoked to get out there. Hungry post spawn Pike in shallow water with a surface fly equals smiles and laughter for days on end. My local haunt, Buck Lake, doesn't produce the largest of fish but I will take what it produces any day of the week. Either trolling a deep water fly for Walleye or casting for Pike when I am out on Buck I am in my happy place. Once the spring run off has passed, the Alberta trout streams of the easter