BOW RIVER TRIPS

BOW RIVER TRIPS

About this trip……

Alberta is a special destination with the towering rockies as a back drop and a mixture of the foothills and the open landscape to Alberta’s sprawling prairies. It is often compared to our blue sky neighbor’s to the south.

For over 3 decades we have guided and outfitted on the Bow River, you will be hard pressed to find a staff of Guides harder working, friendly, knowledgeable and more professional then our Guides are. This experience only comes with years on the water, our guides spend as much time with beginners as they do with experienced anglers and are excellent teachers that will exceed your expectations and challenge even the most experienced anglers.

The Bow River of southern Alberta offers the fly fisherman some of the most truly pristine trout waters in the world. Anglers from all over the world travel to Alberta to fish the Bow River. The river has become famous for the strength and above average size of wild rainbow and brown trout along with spectacular hatches.

Serviced internationally by most major airlines, Calgary offers breathtaking adventure and pristine wilderness in our unspoiled backyard. We offer the best of both, you will find a wealth of cultural attractions, festivals, diverse restaurants, specialty shopping and trendy nightspots, at the same time the city’s wide open blue skies and moderate climate beckons outdoor enthusiasts. This is a perfect couples destination.

Let us help plan your next Alberta fly fishing adventure!

Best times of year….

The 50 mile stretch of the Bow just below Calgary fishes best from late April and mid October, with June typically being a month of run off (check with the shop for conditions from year to year).

April/May - Calgary springs can be short and sweet, the temperature will average 11-16C (50-60F). Late April will give way to trout starting to move into their summer haunts, with rainbows making their way up to spawn. Hatches of BWO’s are joined by great caddis hatches in early May. Runoff will generally start by the last week of May.

June - June is generally a month or runoff. Water dirties and rises making it a risky month to visit. Locals can experience some excellent fishing if there is a low snowpack and slow runoff.

July/August - These are by far our busiest months, so make sure to book early!! July can sometimes be rainy but a risk worth taking for our amazing Golden Stone hatch. Water running off color pushes the large fish up against the banks where they are willing to eat streamers, stone dries, caddis and PMD’s. August is terrestrial time with hoppers and ants during the day, and evening caddis, PMD’s and Trico’s. The weather is generally more stable in August with it becoming warmer and less chance of precipitation.

September - Evening temperatures start to drop cooling the river temperature, but still one of the better times for fishing. Early September will still be filled with hopper and caddis, with BWO’s as you get into the later parts of September. Waders and layer are a must as September comes to a close.

October - Fish are starting to fatten up for winter, continuing to eat hoppers and BWO’s on top, but most fish will be taken on nymphs or streamers. The sun starts getting low earlier in the day, so wooly’s are a must.

Successful anglers will be adaptable and be able to fish dries, nymphs and streamers. Hatches of Caddis, Stoneflies, BWO’s, PMD’s and Tricos are prolific and large Terrestrials such as Grasshoppers, Beetles and Ants can bring eager fish to the surface. Large streamers thrown to the bank can produce heart stopping takes that may leave you with broken leaders and burned fingers.

FISHING REPORTS

Bow River Report

Bow River Report

After powering through a month of high water, we’re finally seeing the river settle into its usual flow for this time of year. The conditions are looking promising, even if the fishing has become a bit more challenging compared to earlier in the season. Water temperatures are ideal, and when you do hook into a fish, get ready—they’ve been full of fight and energy! That said, convincing them to take anything besides a nymph has been a real test of skill.
Right now, Bow River flows are holding steady at 85–75 cms through the city and around 100 cms south of the city (below the Highwood). The water is crystal clear, but those endless bluebird skies have made things tricky—most trout are seeking cover or slipping into deeper pools and riffles to stay hidden from predators. Still, water temps remain perfect, and when you do connect with a fish, be ready for an exhilarating battle. The action might not be non-stop, but every fish you hook puts up a memorable fight.
Bug hatches may not have been setting the river on fire over the past couple of weeks, but that doesn’t mean the fishing has slowed down—far from it! With caddis, tricos, and grasshoppers now firmly on the menu, the opportunities are there for those willing to adjust and dial in their approach. Think of it less as a challenge and more as a chance to experiment—because when you find the right pattern, the payoff can be big.
Strategies Worth Trying:
  • Nymphing: Right now, nymph rigs are leading the charge when it comes to putting fish in the net. A well-chosen caddis pupa or trico nymph fished as your top fly (in that 2–3 foot zone) paired with a stonefly, leech, or San Juan Worm down low has been the winning combo. Keep those rigs running four to six feet deep, paying special attention to riffles and the edges of weed beds—prime real estate where trout have been hanging.
  • Streamers: Streamer action has been hit-or-miss, but when it’s on, it’s really on. Double-streamer rigs have been especially deadly, with a flashier front fly followed by a smaller leech in black, olive, or brown. Watch closely as fish have been tracking them out of faster water and committing right as the streamer reaches knee-deep depth—heart-pounding strikes right at your feet. Tailouts have also been productive with a single swung streamer, proving that sometimes less is more.
  • Dries:This is the moment many of us have been waiting for—the chance to throw dries now that flows have dropped and summer heat is pushing bug activity. While high water earlier in the season muted some hatches, the fish are starting to look up. Hopper-dropper and hopper-dry rigs have been the best bet, especially when matched with a caddis or trico pattern as the trailing fly. Rising fish aren’t everywhere just yet, but when you put the right bug in the right lane, they’ve shown a willingness to eat—and that’s always worth the cast.
The extended forecast shows stable conditions until at least mid-next week. That means you can plan around the most productive windows—early mornings and post-8 p.m. evenings. Midday may be slower, but patience pays: the trout are still there, waiting for the angler who stays committed. With the river settling into summer rhythm, this is a fantastic time to be out there.
So whether you’re drifting nymphs through riffles, swinging a streamer into a tailout, or watching a hopper disappear in a splashy take, the river is full of opportunity right now. Stick with it—you might just find yourself in the middle of one of those unforgettable days.

    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 Perdigon Black Tiger #14-18, Nygren's The Killer #14-16, BH Brassie #14-20, Zebra Midge #16-20, Jiggy Lightnin Bug Black #16-18, Jiggy Rainbow Warrior #16-18
    • 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, White Cloud Hopper Yellow #6-10, Army Ant #8-10, Barry's Fat Black Golden Stone #6-10, Chubby Chernobyl Tan #6-10, Trico Spinner #18-20, GT Adult Trico #18-22, Rusty Spinner #16-18 
    Southern Alberta

    Southern Alberta

    Now that the rain is tapering off, Southern Alberta’s streams are finally starting to shape up quite nicely! Although most rivers are still flowing higher than usual, the water clarity has improved significantly which has kickstarted exciting action on the surface. So, time to bust out your dry fly rods!

    A word of caution: high water has made many familiar crossing spots unsafe or completely uncrossable so be extra careful when wading and stick to shallow, riffly water for safer passage. 

    As for bugs, dry fly fishing is definitely picking up as mentioned. The banks are littered with terrestrials like grass hoppers, beetles, and ants so those will be your best bet when thinking about what fly to throw on for the day, especially on warm, sunny days. On cooler, overcast days, watch for hatches of green drakes. These big bugs can be fished up to a size 10 and provide some awesome dry fly action.

    If the fish seem spooky, try lengthening your leader to 9-12 feet for a stealthier presentation, especially if the water is crystal clear.

    Nymphing is still effective especially if the water is a little stained or the surface activity is slow. Hopper-dropper setups have been producing fish and will be an effective way to fish both the surface and sub-surface. Using a buoyant hopper, paired with a jimmy leg pattern for stoneflies or a prince nymph as a dropper can be a deadly rig! 

    If streamer fishing is your thing, that has been effective as well for enticing takes from fish. Target deeper pools, shaded undercut banks, and along drop-offs. Work these streamers slowly, especially early in the morning and after heavy rain showers. Play around with the size and colour of your streamers to see what the fish are liking that day, and vary up your strips to mimic a fleeing or dying fish!

    Conditions are improving daily so get out there when you can to enjoy some of the best late-summer action southern Alberta has to offer!

     

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

        Weather

        Flow


        Flies:

        • Dries: Chubby Chernobyl 4R Golden #6-10, Micro Water Walker #14-16, Humpy Chernobyl Red/Purple/Black #12-16, Fat Albert #6-12, Morrish Hopper Peach #6-10, Chernobyl South Fork #6-12, Kenny’s killer Queen Ant Purple #12-16, Stimulator Olive #6-12, Trina’s Paratrooper Green Drake #10-14, Last Chance Cripple Green Drake #10-14, GT Adult Green Drake #10-12, Rocky Mountain Mint Purple #14-18, Parachute Adams #12-20

         

        • Nymphs: Copper John #16-18, Peach Fuzz #12-16, Prince Nymph #12-18, Quasimodo Pheasant Tail #14-18, BH Anatomical Green Drake #10-14, BH Prince Nymph Purple #12-18, Jiggy Catch Rubberleg Coffee #8-12, UV Rainbow Czech Nymph #12-16, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #12-18, TB Blowtorch #12-16, Peacock Perdigon #14-18, TB Jiggy Perdigon Black El Tigre #14-18, Riffle Drifter Olive #14-18

         

        • Streamers: The Grinch #6, Skiddish Smolt Brown #8, Wilson's Sparkle Minnow #6, Pine Squirrel Leech #10, Jointed Urchin White #4, Bow River Bugger White #6, Kreelex Minnow #6, Rio's LE Marabou Leech Black or Olive #4, Sculpin #4-8, Pumpkin Leech #10,  Doc's Articulator Olive #4, Galloup's Dungeon Bighorn #4, Ron's Cone Leech Olive #4-8, Trevor's Mini-Loop Sculpin Olive #6, Bjorn's Hog Hooker Rainbow #4.

         

        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

        For more information or to book your Bow River adventure

        Email or call us at 403-288-3474