When it comes to handing out the angling hardware hereabouts, it’s not a very crowded podium.
Cold-water trout, and rainbows in particular, perennially share the laurel wreath with their warmer-water cousins the walleye.
When winter arrives many fly fishers put away their rods and find other ways to pass away the time in this off-season. Fly tying, tackle tinkering, book reading and various other diversions help pass the Canadian winter. In southern Alberta, where I spend most of my fly fishing days, we have a very short season; many streams don't open until June 15th and close again on October 31, not nearly long enough to suit me. A fortunate few will avoid what has been dubbed the "shack nasties" by heading to warmer climes to fish for bonefish, permit, tarpon and other saltwater fish. Fortunately there are a few rivers in Alberta that not only have no closed season, or sections that don't close, but also have stretches of open and fishable water all year round. The advancement of outdoor technical clothing and equipment combined with the occasional Chinook or bout of warmer weather allows the Alberta fly fisher to cast off the winter blues every once in awhile.
