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Let our SmartBuilder help pair the best rods and reels with fly lines, leaders and tippet. It provides suggestions for the best package for your needs!

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FLY TYING Tutorials

Gotcha

Gotcha

Originally tied by Jim McVay the first Gotcha with some carpet trimmings from a Nassau taxi cab, and caught a bunch of bonefish on the fly in the following days. Nowadays this is a must have in all saltwater fisherman's fly boxes.

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Klinkhammer

Klinkhammer

The perfect pattern to imitate an emerging caddisfly to catch grayling and trout which feed from them as they float in the surface film. This pattern has proven to be an extremely effective fly for imitating an emerging mayfly.

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Hare and Copper

Hare and Copper

This fly has caught me many a fish over in New Zealand and since bring it back to Alberta it has continued to do the same! It is a super easy tie with minimal materials so pumping out multiple color variations won't be hard.

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Fishing Reports

Southern BC

Southern BC

The Elk and its surrounding waters have started off strong this year! The fish are feeding on everything we hope for, making it an ideal beginning to the season. We hope this trend continues throughout the summer. However, there are some concerns regarding water levels and temperatures. Currently, the water conditions are acceptable for mid-season, which has allowed for a more spread-out fishing experience. The fish are hiding in their usual cutthroat spots.

Bull trout fishing is expected to pick up towards the end of the month. Moving forward, it will be important to keep an eye on the weather forecast and water levels to ensure that the Kootenay Valley doesn’t experience any extreme fluctuations.

When it comes to bug hatches, having the right flies in your tackle box will significantly improve your chances of success. Currently, the following bug hatches are expected:

  • Golden Stones: Sizes 6-10
  • Green Drakes: Larger sizes this year, particularly sizes 10 and 12
  • Pale Morning Duns (PMDs): Sizes 14 and 16
  • Ants and Beetles: Flying ants in sizes 12-16, along with small beetle imitations around size 12
  • Grey Drakes: Similar sizes to the green drakes, with a focus on size 12
  • Hoppers: Though not yet out, they should be appearing soon if the weather continues to heat up.

With the right bugs, you should have a successful outing. Remember to cover a good amount of water, as the fish are dispersed across their usual hiding spots. Keep an eye on the surface; cutthroats will reveal themselves if they are feeding on top. Even if they are eating nymphs, there’s a good chance they won't be deep—look for them in the top third of the water column, as we would expect.

Weather/Flow Rates, Follow The Link's Below:

Weather

Flow

 Flies:

  • Streamers: McClure's Kill Whitey Mottled Tan #1/0, SexDungeon White #2, Dolly Lama Flesh/Tan as well as Pink/White #2 or #6, CH Sparkle Minnow Pink #6, Yo Mama's Lama Tan #2 or #4, Skerik’s Apex Predator Pink #5/0, Skerik's Public Flasher Pink or Grey #2, Trick or Treat White/Pink #2/0, Brayden's Musky Killer Chartreuse/Black #5/0, Menage a Dungeon Olive/Yellow #4
  • Nymphs: Optic Nerve Pheasant Tail #12-16, Purple Prince Nymph #14-16, Dirty Hipster Olive #10-14, Tungsten Jig Assassin #12 and 14, TJ Rainbow Assassin #12-16, TJ's Hooker Black/Coffee #8-12, Bloom's Tung Dart #12-16, Drag Queen #14, Tung Stud #12-18, Copper John Green #12-16, BH Anatomical Green Drake #10-14, TB Jiggy Knuckle Dragger Olive #10-16, and Tungsten Jig Yellow Sally
  • Dries: Gt Adult Adams #12-18, Royal Trude #12-17, Better Sweater Adams #12, KGB Green Drake #12, Tilt Wing Green Drake #10-12, Parachute PMD #12-16, Foam back Sparkle Dun PMD #12-16, Water Walker Peanut #6-12, Dornan's Micro Water Walker Golden Stone #10-16, YFG's Fat Frank Grape #6-10, Humpy Chernobyl Red #12-16, Improved Mega Ant #12-16, Hi-vis Flying Ant Cinnamon #12-18

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Southern Alberta

Southern Alberta

After a significant rain in the mountains, it seems that conditions are improving, and many of the rivers are reaching their prime for the summer. With the drop in water levels, fish are becoming more active. Reports suggest that the best fishing spots are in the rivers further south, which didn't receive as much rain as the city and surrounding areas. With better weather on the horizon, we can expect the topwater fishing trend to continue.

Most of our cutthroat streams are in excellent condition, although a few closer to the city still have slightly elevated water levels and reduced visibility. I can confidently say that the streams nearby should be ideal for fishing this weekend. If you're eager to try some topwater action but can't make it out during the week, don’t worry—the best fishing is just around the corner!

With great weather coming, the bug hatches will only improve, making it essential to have a well-stocked dry fly box. As we enter the peak season on the southern Alberta streams, it's important to be prepared for the various hatches. Here’s what you can expect to see right now and into next week:

  • Golden Stones: sizes 8 and 10
  • Pale Morning Duns (PMDs): sizes 14 and 16
  • Green Drakes: size 12
  • Caddis: sizes 12-16, with an emphasis on the smaller sizes
  • Ants and Beetles: Beetles in sizes 10-14 and ants in sizes 12-16, with a focus on cinnamon ants rather than black
  • Yellow Sallies (with some lime sallies mixed in): sizes 12-16
  • Additionally, there have been reports of the occasional bull trout being caught, so don’t forget to bring a handful of streamers in case you encounter a bull trout while fishing for cutthroat.

Looking ahead at the weather forecast for the next couple of weeks, it appears to be trending positively, with only an occasional sprinkle expected. This is great news, as it will lead to excellent fishing weather and hatches. As many of you know, wind can be a factor when fishing in this area, but try not to let it discourage you. As long as the wind doesn't exceed 40 km/h, you should still be able to cast your dry flies effectively. And even if it gets windier, that’s why we always recommend bringing nymphs and streamers. The added weight will help cut through the wind, allowing you to keep the good times rolling.


 

      Weather/Flow Rates, Follow The Link's Below:

      Weather

      Flow


      Flies:

      • Streamers: Galloup's Dungeon Black/Olive #4, Ron's Cone Leech Olive #4-8, Trevor's Mini-Loop Sculpin Olive #6, Bjorn's Hog Hooker Black #4, Eric's Jealousy Tan/Black #4, Butt Monkey Rust #2, Dali Lama White/Olive #4-6, Wooly Bugger Black or Olive #2-8, Telleen's Bandit #4, Catch's 4x4 White #4, Peacock Bugger #6-10, BH Squirrel leech #10
      • Nymphs: T.J. Hooker Brown #4-10, Jiggy Catch Rubberleg Coffee #8-12, UV Rainbow Czech Nymph #12-16, Bloom's Hare's Ear Tungdart #14-18, Skerik's Tung n' Groove Purple #14-16, Riffle Drifter Olive #14-18, Tungstud #12-18, Jiggy Rainbow Warrior #14-18, Jiggy Lightning Bug Silver #14-20, Tungsten Jig Drag Queen #14, Bloom's Optic Nerve PT #12-16, Jiggy Soft Hackle Hare's Ear Red Ass #12-16
      • Dries: Hi-vis Foam Back Caddis #14, Henry's Fork Caddis #12-16, Pav's Elk Butt Caddis #14-18, Hi-viz CDC Caddis Olive #12-14, Cloud 9 #8-12, Pete's CDC Stone Gold or Purple #8-12, Swisher's LLS Chernobyl Black #6-10,  Humpy Chernobyl #10-14, KGB Green Drake #12, CDC Thorax Green Drake #10-14, Wulff Green Drake #10-14, Foam Back Sparkle Dun PMD #14-16, Parachute PMD #14-18, Micro Chubby #10-14, Hi-vis Flying Ant #12-16, Power Ant #12-16

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      Bow River Report

      Bow River Report

      Summer is almost officially here, at least according to the calendar! The weather on the river certainly feels like summer, and it seems the fish are starting to get into that mindset as well. The river flows have been fluctuating, creating some interesting conditions, but overall, the fishing has remained quite consistent.

      For the most part, the weather has been in the high twenties, although occasional rain has caused the temperature to drop briefly. With the constant threat of another flood or river shutdown, particularly at Ghost and Bearspaw dams, the flow rates have varied significantly. This inconsistency has affected fishing on certain days, but fishing tight to the banks has generally produced good results.

      Recently, streamers have been the primary flies in use, with darker colors being particularly effective, especially for anglers fishing from the bank. For those floating, the most productive setup has been a double streamer rig, featuring a flashy fly at the front and an olive or black streamer as the trailer. In terms of locations, while fishing close to the banks has been reliable, when the river levels drop, the fish tend to move to riffles or current breaks. This shift appears to be linked to clarity; these areas allow sediment from the dams to settle or be filtered, giving fish a better visual advantage. Therefore, it's essential to keep an eye on the flow rates, as they can significantly affect your fishing locations and tackle choices.

      The dry fly fishing has also been decent, with better action reported in the late afternoon rather than early in the day. Currently, the most effective bugs include caddis flies, some PMDs, and a few stoneflies. Similar to the streamer fishing, the best dry fly action has been close to the banks. When fishing caddis or PMDs, you can either use a single adult fly or combine an adult pattern with an emerger style pattern behind it. While using the same bug for both setups can work, don’t hesitate to mix it up—try pairing a caddis in front with a PMD behind, or vice versa.

      When deciding what tackle to use, the first step is to determine whether you’ll be fishing dry flies or streamers. Once that’s settled, there are a few technical details to consider. For streamers, there are three main strategies. First, use a sink-tip line with a short leader. Second, go with a floating line and a fluorocarbon leader. Third, you can use a floating line with a standard leader, adding a heavy streamer and a split shot on a standard monofilament leader. 

      If you’re fishing dries, there are two primary setups. For smaller dries, opt for a 3x or 4x monofilament leader that is 9-14 feet long. If you’re planning to fish a hopper-dropper setup with stoneflies, a 2x monofilament leader that is 7.5-9 feet long will provide the necessary strength to turn over those heavier rigs.

      The most important takeaway is to always check the flow rates on the day you plan to fish, as they will determine your focus areas and may influence your fishing style. If you’re unsure about the flow rates, please don't hesitate to call us or stop by the shop for advice. We are always happy to chat about fishing!

       

        Weather/Flow Rates, Follow The Link's Below:


        Flies:

        • Streamers: Catch's 4x4 Olive/Black #2-4, Bow River Bugger #2-6, Rio's LE Marabou Leech Black or Olive #4, Sculpin The One Black #4, Wooly Bugger #4-10, Skerik’s Public Flasher Black #2, Peacock Bugger Brown #6-12, Coyote Clouser #6, Kreelex Black/Purple/Silver #6, Simi Seal Leech Bloody Black #8-10, Taupe Leech #4-6, Dali Lama Black/Olive #6, Ron's Cone Leech black or Olive #6-8, Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #4-8, 
        • Nymphs: TJ's Hooker Brown #6-12, Jimi-Legs Olive/Brown #6-12, Cheater Belly Black/Brown #4-8, Purple Prince Nymph #10-14, Brassie #12-16, Blowtorch #14-18, TJ's Jig Assassin Natural, Euro Caddis #8-12, OCD Caddis Green #14-16, Jiggy Riffle Drifter Olive #14-18, Quasimodo Pheasant Tail #14-18, Copper John Green #12-18, Depth Charge Birds Nest Natural #12-16, Jiggy Dropper PMD #14-18, BH Soft Hackle Lightning Bug Gold #14-16, Jiggy Lightning Bug Purple #14-16, Tj's Jiggy Assassin #12-16
        • Dries: H&L Variant #12-18, Rocky Mountain Mint Adams #12-18, Snowshoe Caddis Tan #12-14, CDC Bubble Back Caddis Olive #14, Peacock Caddis #14-16, X-Caddis Olive #12-16, Missing Link Caddis #12-16, Hi Vis CDC Caddis #12-16, Pav's Elk Butt #12-16, Water Walker September Stone #6-10, Pete's CDC Stone #8-10, Barry's Fat Black Golden Stone #6-10, Chubby Chernobyl Tan #6-10, Sparkle Dun PMD #14-16, No Hackle PMD #14-18, Tilt Wing PMD #14-18, Hi-vis Parachute PMD #14-18 

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