A New Venture; Purely Pleasure!

It all started in the Spring of 2007, I was driving west on Crowchild trail and happened upon a group of people playing with fishing rods and exceptional amounts of line along the median across from McMahon Stadium. I wondered what on earth was going on and I realized, as I sat in that famous afternoon traffic jam, that they were learning to fly-fish. A small desire bubbled up inside, I wanted to learn, and I wanted to learn how and where to go to catch the big one.

It has taken a couple of years to even give it an attempt, and I still have yet to own my own equipment, but this summer I have started a new hobby! This new hobby is slowly growing into a passion, a search for more than just the big fish; it has become a quest for knowledge and understanding about the treasures that are hidden so close too and within this beautiful city we call home. The places that can be found, the awe-inspiring species of fish hiding right in our backyards and the vanity in which some will go to catch one.

Even if there is just a few hours left at the end of the day, great fishing is not far away. A short drive to Policeman’s Flatts or McKinnon can open up the opportunity to catch a great fish before heading home for the evening. These fish are usually not large, but they are river fish, out of a world-class river that runs directly through our city, and they put up a good fight, especially on a fly line. For those beautiful days when you have nothing but time, a 45 minute to 2 hour hike out in Kanaskis can land you in some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and our lovely government has stocked most of the lakes with beautiful and hungry trout.

What I am saying, is if you are up for a new challenge, this hobby is guaranteed to keep your attention and has the potential to steal your heart. There is so much to learn, so much to explore, and many new people to meet. If you have a little bit of red neck in you and love to be outside I highly recommend you give it a try, you don’t need to be a pro to have a great time!