Mar 07
11
Day 4. Stauffer Surprise
Once in a while – the stars align and things go as you planned (even though they didn’t.)
LT and I headed out at 9am for the Red Deer River at Dickson Dam just west of Red Deer Alberta. We decided for a laugh to go via Innisfail and pick up Subway sandwiches along the way and yes folks – if you go through Innisfail – there IS a Subway on the main drag. We didn’t believe it – so we stopped at the SLOWEST Tim Hortons this side of the Rockies.
I (being uber-nerd) Googled up the regulations on the Red Deer (as I always do before wetting a line – and dammit… Closed to fishing March 1.
Doh. Shock and surprise. Alternate plans picked up quick and we were headed 20km west to the North Raven river. Along the way however, a quick detour into Caroline introduced the Ranger to “Caroline Supplies” a rural hardware / camping / grocery / gun and fishing shop. Neat product selections for a small shop – and we both dropped a few unexpected dollars for goodies.
Lance says that it’s ‘Spring’ when Barry Mitchell’s Alberta Fishing Guide comes out. Well – we both got our copies. It’s Spring baby!
We hauled ass off to Stauffer Creek (which I wrote about in Fly Fusion Magazine in 2005) for a little creeping in the willows.
Spring fishing in Alberta isn’t a sure-thing by any stretch, and on Stauffer – it’s not a sure-thing when the fish invite you personally. So the 3 hours on stream interrupted by a single hook-up and lost fish a solitary rise was quite acceptable.
Funny thing about fishing with friends. It isn’t all about fish. Friends allow you to vent about things your spouse will find you crazy for. We talked all afternoon about some crazy concepts and as usual – a little clarity followed for the drive home.
Good day – and sometimes the surprises come from the journey, and not the destination.
