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Build an Outfit

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

Bow River Report

Bow River Report

Happy June everyone!

June marks the start of runoff season on the Bow River, bringing high and muddy water. The upper stretches around Canmore and Cochrane are already running high and dirty, so it won’t be long before we see similar conditions here in Calgary. Current flows on the Bow are sitting around 200 cms and are expected to rise further over the coming days. The Highwood River is also contributing a significant amount of muddy water to the Bow which is affecting the conditions downstream toward Carseland. 

We’re seeing consistent temperatures between 18–22°C, with occasional scattered showers here and there, but don’t worry—warmer, sunnier days are on the horizon!

With higher flows, fish move toward the banks to find slower water so focus your efforts along the banks and near structure where the current breaks. Also, the muddy water limits visibility for you and the fish, so use larger, darker fly patterns to help fish see your flies like a TJ Hooker in a size #6 or Prince Nymph in sizes #10–12 are solid choices. Runoff also pushes lots of worms into the river so a classic San Juan Worm in size #8–10 can be highly effective in these conditions. If you are nymphing, the faster flows make it harder to reach the strike zone, so it is a good idea to use tungsten-weighted patterns, split shot, or sinking lines to get your flies down where the fish are.

Unfortunately, hatches of midges, BWOs, and caddis have tapered off with the rising muddy water, so expect fewer surface risers as fish settle into slower holding water to conserve energy. But do not worry, caddis, stonefly, and hopper hatches are on its way!

For all the streamer junkies, this is the perfect time to throw some meat! Look for current breaks and structure along the banks where fish are likely to hold and ambush their prey. Try bulky-headed streamers like the Sex Dungeon in black or olive in size #1, or Bow River Buggers in black size #2 to push water and trigger strikes. But if fish aren't chasing, dead drifting patterns like Ron's Cone Leech maroon size #8 or a Black Balanced Leech in size #8 under an indicator can be a deadly way to pick up some fish. Vary your retrieve and throw in some longer pauses to see what the trout are into that day!

Just a quick safety reminder: high water means stronger currents! Your favourite spots that are normally wadeable might be unsafe right now. Remember to use caution, wear a wading belt, and never wade deeper than you're comfortable with. Also keep an eye out for floating debris coming down the river!

Father’s Day is right around the corner so come see us to get your Dad some new and much deserved fishing gear! 

 

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


    Flies:

    • Streamers: Sex Dungeon Black #1, 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.
    • Nymphs: TJ's Hooker Brown #6-12, Jimi-Legs olive/Brown #6-12, Cheater Belly Black/Brown #4-8, 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, Tung. Psycho May Olive #14-20, Bloom's Tung Dart #14-18
    • Dries: GT Adult BWO #16-20, Ninch's Hangman BWO #16-20, Hi-viz Spinner BWO #16-20, CDC Biot Emerger BWO #16-18, H&L Variant #12-18, Rocky Mountain Mint Adams #12-18, Midge Emerger #18-20, Snowshoe Caddis Olive #14-16, CDC Bubble Back Caddis Olive #14, Peacock Caddis #14-16, X-Caddis Olive #12-16, Parachute Hopper Olive #10-14.

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    Southern Alberta

    Southern Alberta

     

    As of mid-May, water levels on both the Crowsnest and Lower Oldman Rivers are seasonally variable, influenced by recent snowmelt and intermittent rainstorms. Mornings typically offer better clarity and lower flow before warming temperatures accelerate runoff in the afternoons. Water temperatures are rising steadily, hovering in the 7–10°C range, bringing increased insect activity and more consistent trout feeding behavior.

    Key Flow Considerations:

    • Crowsnest River: clearer and more stable due to its spring-fed nature, making it highly fishable even during light runoff.
    • Lower Oldman River: can fluctuate more dramatically with rain or snowmelt, especially near mountain inflows. Watch for turbidity after storms or warmer days.
    • Wading is generally safe in the mornings, though caution is advised near deeper or faster runs, especially below Waldron Flats on the Oldman.

    During the early part of the spring, the water is still cool, and much of the fishing revolves around subsurface presentations. Nymphs, pupae, and larvae are the primary food source for trout, so patterns like Copper Johns, caddis pupa, and stonefly nymphs are often go-tos. The cooler water temperatures slow down the metabolism of the fish, making them more sluggish and less likely to rise to the surface. However, as the water warms and daylight hours lengthen, the rivers will begin to heat up and will trigger the first hatches. From that point on, it should be dry fly heaven.

    In terms of hatches that are bumping down south, they will be as follows. Blue-winged Olives (BWOs) begin to emerge, often on overcast days with cooler water temperatures. These mayflies are a significant early-season hatch, and during cloudy afternoons, trout get very keyed into them, rising to sip them off the surface. From there, we should see Caddis. Caddis are one of the most abundant insect families on the rivers, and their emergence has an immediate effect on trout feeding behavior. The trout respond aggressively to the rapid, erratic movements of caddis adults skating across the surface, while their pupal stages become important subsurface food for trout as well. So if you see some explosive eats, there's a good chance they are chowing down on these. But as the month carries on, the most anticipated hatches should start. Those being the Salmon Flies and the Golden Stones. These bugs are not only large and highly visible but also highly sought after by trout. Salmon's, in particular, bring the big boys (and girls) to the surface with dramatic surface takes. The larger sizes of these insects, coupled with their clumsy flight patterns, provide a visual feast for the fish, and it's during these hatches that anglers can often see the most exciting surface action of the season.

    As we move through the month, the trout should shift their attention to the stoneflies, and when that happens, there will be no need to fish the small stuff. But for the time being, the best approaches in this neck of the woods are the subsurface strategies. The blue wings are going and the caddis are starting, so using something in their nymphal state as your top fly and then adding a stonefly nymph as your bottom fly would be the best play.

    Quick Fact: Although the stonefly hatch once a year they are usually in a body of water for around five years in there nymph form. Because of this they are a constant food source for trout and as we get closer to the back end of May the fish only key into them more.

    Streamers will get the job done as well. Using bigger streamers on the lower Oldman would be a great choice, as the bull trout and their predatory nature love to gulp them down. But in the Crow, the best call would be the smaller streamer patterns along the lines of a Sparkle Minnow (size 4-8), Black or Olive Buggers (size 6-10), and the Taupe Leech. Because of the lower flows, adding a split shot to your floating line rig should get the job done. But as the flows begin to rise, it wouldn't be a bad call to change out the floating line for a short(ish) sink tip to better aid in keeping your streamer in the feeding zone.

    This is shaping up to be a fantastic spring season for fly fishing in southern Alberta. With consistent hatches on the horizon and fish eager after a long winter, both the Crowsnest and Lower Oldman offer rewarding opportunities for anglers of all experience levels.

     

        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, Bow River Bugger White or Olive #2-8, Telleen's Bandit #4, Catch's 4x4 White #4
        • 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: Hackle Dun BWO #16-20, BWO Thorax #14-18, Last Chance Cripple BWO, #16-20, Midge Emerger #18-20, Rocky Mountain Mint Purple #16-18, Micro Water Walker #14-16, 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, Franklin Salmon Fly #6.

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        Southern BC

        Southern BC

        Fishing on the Elk has proven to be pretty good as of late! There has been lots of bug life and no shortage of eager fish wanting to come up and take a dry.  Because we are hitting the dog days of summer it's going to be time to get to some of the bread and butterflies that will get the job done.

        It's still been slow in the morning (as is the case always with cutty fishing) but as the day carries on the fishing only gets better and better so don't head back to the car too early or you might miss a good evening hatch. As mentioned, the fish are eating almost everything right now! If you are headed out it would be worthwhile to start your day with either an ant or a beetle as a dry but if you want to go subsurface, then we suggest starting with some version of a hot-head or hot-butt nymph. Streamers have been working as well and pretty well anything in that #4-8 range should produce some fish as well. if you want to go for the bullies then throwing the big meat will be the move. They have been destroying the Dali Lama pretty well along with Yo Mama's Lama as well.

        The good days of fishing are dwindling so if you have some last vacation days to use, using them to fish the Elk and surrounding waters would not be a bad call.

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

        Weather

        Flow

         Flies:

        • Streamers: McClure's Kill Whitey Mottled Tan #1/0, Galloups Dungeon 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, Czech Nymph UV #12-16, Dirty Hipster Black #12-16, Evil Weevil Purple #16-18, TJ Rainbow Assassin #12-16, TJ's Hooker Black/Coffee #8-12
        • Dries: Griffith's Gnat #18-22, H+L Variant #12-18, CDC Midge #18-20, Cluster Midge #16-20, Smoke Jumper Black #18-20, Purple Haze #12-20, Dun Midge Cluster #18-20

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