The Bow is producing some great fish these days, but it is getting pretty technical with these higher temperatures. It is absolutely worth braving the heat to get out on the water, but just know you might have to work pretty hard to drum up some fish. Some mornings they are eating big foam, and if you run into any picky fish try hanging a small Caddis nymph or a PMD nymph as a dropper. As the day warms up, they start to turn onto some bigger streamers, so bring the 7 weight and sling some streamers with a heavy tip to get it down. Flashier streamers have been working, along with white and olive or yellow and brown, and don’t be afraid to throw a leech behind that streamer too, it can really make the difference with pickier. Later in the evenings you can hunt for snouts along the banks. Bring a hand full of small caddis with you, settle in and watch that flat water for some sneaky subtle rises. I hope you have a great long weekend, and good luck out there!
How to attack the river:
- Deflections and pools close to shore
- Seams and inside bends and corners
- Deep drop offs near rip rap banks
- OCD Caddis (sizes 14-18)
- Cheater Belly (size 12-16)
- San Juan Worms
- Small leeches
- JIggy Dropper PMD (Sizes 14-18)
- Chubby Chernobyl Purple or Golden Stone (sizes 6-10)
- Caddis adults (size 12-16)
- White Cloud Hopper (sizes 10-14)
Things to remember no matter the fishing technique:
- Use sink tips or heavily weighted flies
- Focus on deflcetions and slack water close to shore
Safety Considerations:
- Watch your step and try to avoid wading too deep, the current is strong right now and it is easy to lose your footing.
- Don't forget to wear sun protection at this time of year, though it may not always be hot you can still burn easily being out all day.
