As the Crow Flies Map information

Those who live in the Crowsnest Pass call it God's Country. Those who visit want to come back for more. Others simply want to stay. We did, although our decisions came 15 years apart.

We're Richard Burke, a former newspaper and magazine editor and now journalism instructor and Mike Lamb, a former outdoors and environment reporter/writer who decided over a coffee to publish a map called As the Crow Flies. The map, sold in many fly shops in Alberta, contains tips on how to fish the Crowsnest River as some of the area's oldtimers (not necessarily us - we're not that old) have fished it. We've figured that the combined fishing experience of our sources is over 200 years. The map also provides easy directions to access points, detailed hatch information from a number of fisheries biologists and long-time fly fishers and a directory to some of the bed and breakfast establishments and sports shops in the Pass and elsewhere in Southern Alberta.

The map, which fits easily into your vest, points to key access locations along the Crowsnest River, measured in kilometers from the eastern access to Bellevue. Bellevue is not too far from the centre point of the 40 km-long river, which flows from Crowsnest Lake at the B.C.-Alberta boundary and into the Oldman Reservoir north of Lundbreck.

A narrative provides valuable information on the river's fishing history, productivity, insect populations and flies that work. One page offers details on the prolific hatches throughout the year.


You can get a copy of the map by sending a note with your address and check for $5, payable to Caddis Shack Publications, #1313-7th Ave. S., Lethbridge, Alta. T1J 1K9. We'll mail you a map promptly. We've met requests from flyfishers in places such as Winston-Salem, N.C., Sacramento, Calif., Oklahoma City, Okla., Richmond, Va., Locust, NJ, Winnipeg, Man., Prince Rupert, B.C., Eureka, Cal., Prince Albert, Sask., Roswell, Ga. and Marshfield, Wis.

 The map is also available for about $5 at the following fly shops and businesses in Alberta, B.C. and Montana:

Cherokee Sports, 12925 20th Ave., Blairmore
Jerry's Sport Shop, 21508-27th Ave., Bellevue
Bellevue Turbo Gas Station East Bellevue access
Country Pleasures, #570 Willow Park Village, 10816 Macleod Trail S., Calgary
Hanson's Fishing Outfitters, Calgary and Vancouver
Russell Sporting Goods, 8228 Macleod Tr. S.E., Calgary
Marksman Guns and Sports, 312-13th St. N., Lethbridge
Hoyt's Sporting Goods, 318-6th St. S., Lethbridge
Roberts Fly Shop and Fishing Company, 104-2nd Ave. West, Cochrane, Alta.
Bow River Troutfitters, 2122 Crowchild Trail N.W., Calgary
Fish Tales #420 - 9737 Macleod Trail S.W., Calgary
Kootenay Fly Shop and Guiding Co., 821 7th Ave., Fernie, B.C.
Lakestream Fly Fishing Shop, 15 Central Ave., Whitefish, Mont.

 



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