The Art of Fly Fishing on Boat Pontoons"

Welcome as always and today just sit back and take a journey with me and lets move ahead a few months. A time when all the snow is gone and the leaves are full and the sound of a fishing reel is all you hear.

It is that time of year when I start to get itchy feet to be on the river fishing again. I can actually hear the fish calling. The next best thing is watching all the fishing shows on WFN and dreaming of being where ever they take you. Both the US and Canada have vast areas to choose from and any are rewarding.

I have plans to head over to the West Coast of Canada for a few weeks of Salmon fishing in the last week of July and first in August when the runs are in full swing. I must tell you it will be yet another adventure to remember as the last was fantastic.

Gather around as I take you to a few places I love and a video I sit and love watching of a man who is an expert at the art of Fly Fishing. It is not hard to see the appreciation he has for the sport and the love of being on the river.

This picture was taking many years ago in the Yukon at it was 1:30 in the morning. It is called the land of the midnight sun for a reason and I think you can see why.

For those of you who have been following the book "The Quiet" and the now book offered here on HP called "Alone" this is the setting I have been writing about. This picture was taken by my friend Wes the helicopter pilot who would drop me into these isolated places. This lake was called Squawgha Lake and it was situated as part of a chan of lakes. The closest inhabited settlement would have been 130 miles away by air.

The scene here is one that was played out over and over over the years. Look close and you can see Tannis my dog watching over the action. Her name was derived from the Cree Indian language and means little girl.

This boat I bought in a repossession sale. It was a summer project. As you can tell I did have my work cut out for me. The boat, 50 horsepower motor that purred like a kitten and trailer cost me next to nothing.

I had a neighbour living next door to me who spent many hours helping and coaching me through the process. Les was invaluable in so many ways and a wealth of information.

By the end of the summer she was ready and her maiden voyage took Tannis and I a 135 miles up the Yukon River to some of the best fishing a man could ask for. Game was plentiful and the scenery was something to behold.

The beauty of this boat was it could sleep a man and his dog in comfort. During the renovations I added a bunk under the cabin. We would anchor in small coves for the night and be up early the next day on our way again.

When I left the North I left it with a friend to sell. It fetched a tidy $2700.00 and I netted a tidy profit of $2450.00 for the effort and that was after I got to use it for four years. From what I understand the Sweet Rover is still being used. Good to hear life has carried on for her.

This fella was taken on light tackle in a shallow bay during breeding season. I found the bay on one of my adventures into a series of lakes I called "Lil Yukon". This fish would be close to world class as he weighed in at 38 pounds. It is hard to see his depth but he measured close to 14 inches from his back to underside. I suppose if you looked at his head it would be close to the same size as mine.

Needless to say the commotion in a 14 foot canoe with gear and a dog still brings a smile to my face. The fishing in the bay was such a man could stand in the canoe and pick out his fish. They looked like logs, just waiting for the girls to swim past.

Teslin Lake is in the Yukon again and the lake trout there can reach as high as 50 pounds. This stringer was from a morning of fishing close to the settlement there close to the bridge behind me on the Alaska Highway.

Two days later I had 80 pounds of smoked trout. The natives in the area smoke all the fish in their traditional way and they keep for years after being prepared. The smoke they use comes from green aspen trees along with a secret mix of natural herbs and spices. A recipe they never share wit others.

This is a 9 foot Pontoon river boat that takes 3 inches of draft and is 67 pounds full loaded. It has all the storage I need to carry anything I might need on the 13 hour trip on the river. I wear water proof chest waders with boots and flippers plus I can use the paddles to get me somewhere faster. The usual trip is 55 miles on the river one way and I have someone meet me at the other end.

It has a back platform that I can carry a tent and all the camping gear if I choose to camp on one of the many islands found along the way. It is a great little unit and has afforded me some great fishing in the out of the way places many have trouble reaching. I as well have a Belly Boat for the small lakes that weighs only 26 pounds and is easily strapped onto my back. They are both manufactured by Outcast and reasonable in price. I would highly recommend the brand to anyone.

This is but a sample of the Browns that are in the Bow River... this one was 28 inches and a nice fish caught i one of the many hot spots I stop at on the way.

Statistics just released estimate the fish count to be in the 2000 fish per mile on this river. They are very smart after all the years of artificial flies being tossed at them. Once you find the key and what the hatch is they are taking you are in for a day to remember. I have had so many I have lost track on this river. All I know is they have all been memorable.