About this trip……
A short 1 to 2 hour drive from Calgary are hundreds of miles of Blue Ribbon creeks and streams that wind their way down off the eastern slopes of the rockies through the foothills and out onto the sprawling Alberta prairies. It is these streams and creeks that offer anglers some of the best fly fishing opportunities in North America. If you are looking for a more remote fishing opportunity that offers exceptional fishing, lack of crowds and spectacular scenery on lesser known small streams, spring creeks and rivers, this will meet even the most experienced anglers expectations!!
Most of Southern Alberta’s mountain creeks and streams don’t open until mid June and will generally fish well until they close in October.
The Oldman River and tributarities offers excellent opportunities to walk and wade small to mid size freestone streams teeming with cutthroat, rainbow, bulls and brown trout. They provide superb fishing for the new angler with consistent summer hatches offering dry fly fishing through to the fall. Chances at large bull trout on skillfully placed, aggressively stripped streamers are an added bonus.
Because of altitude and weather conditions these southern streams are on fire from July through September. Streams open June 16th during run-off but you can expect Golden Stones right through the end of June and July. Late June through to early August you can expect great Green Drake hatches. Hatches of PMD’s, BWO’s and Caddis keep the fishing interesting during the summer months. From late July on you will need your Ant and Hopper patterns.
The Red Deer River tributaries offer some of the best brown trout streams in North America, and these streams can offer great opportunities if fished with a guide. The key to these brown trout streams is the local knowledge, private access, and expertise of a guide, which is essential to a positive fishing experience. Fish average between 15”-20” with chances at truly trophy browns.
These foothills streams start to fish with great regularity from May on, with early season hatches of Stone Flies, Golden, Salmon, and Skwala’s. Brown and Green Drakes, Caddis, PMD’s, BWO’s and Trico’s bring these fish to the surface. Many fish are taken on large streamer patterns as well. Later summer and early fall give way to fish aggressively taking Caddis, Water Boatman and terrestrials off the surface. The right hatch will bring almost every brown trout in a pool to the surface, you’ll want to be here for that!!
Anglers should be proficient casters of at least intermediate to expert skill level and in good physical condition to maximize this experience on these brown trout streams. Successful anglers will be adaptable and be able to fish dries, nymphs and streamers.
Gear recommendations
For small stream fishing you will need a 3 - 5wt rod, medium to fast action for a more delicate presentation. A 4wt would be the perfect set-up. If you are looking to land a big Bull Trout, bring a 7wt with a sink tip and your largest streamers. Leave the brightly colored lines at home, many manufacturer’s make line specific for this application. Bright clothing should stay in the closet as well, it could be the difference between catching and not catching!! Bring colors that blend in with the background, camo works great!! Come prepared for all weather conditions, things can change dramatically during the day.
* Please note that we do not offer half day trips, but are more than willing to work with you and any time constraints you may have.
Full Day Walk and Wade Trip - $800/day, 1 or 2 anglers
What’s Included
Lunch, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages for the day.
What’s Not Included
5% GST is not included on any trips, licences and optional gratuities for the guides. Please contact the shop if you have questions regarding gratuities. Please ensure that you have a valid Alberta provincial fishing license which can be purchased through www.albertarelm.com.
Full Day “All In” Guide Trip - $900/day, 1 or 2 anglers
What’s Included
Lunch, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages for the day. All rods, reels, waders, boots, flies, leaders and tippet.
What’s Not Included
5% GST is not included on any trips, licences and optional gratuities for the guides. Please contact the shop if you have questions regarding gratuities. Please ensure that you have a valid Alberta provincial fishing license which can be purchased through www.albertarelm.com.
Terms and Conditions
A fifty percent deposit is required at the time of booking in order to confirm all reservations. Final balance is due sixty days from from trip date. All deposits and/or final payments are non-refundable. Refunds or credits cannot be issued for fishing time lost due to inclement weather. If Iron Bow cancels due to weather or water conditions, you will receive a full refund or we can reschedule at the customers request. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses. Travel insurance is highly recommende
Fishing Reports
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
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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
Southern Alberta
The weather in Southern Alberta has been pretty great lately, similar to conditions in the Bow area. There have been plenty of sunny days, some windy moments, and a few days with intense gusts—nothing unusual for the region. River flows are higher than normal due to runoff, but most rivers haven’t experienced significant spikes in water levels. Instead, they’ve mainly been displaying discolored water. It seems the fish are unfazed by this, which bodes well for the opening weekend if you're prepared to handle the crowds.
After visiting the Crowsnest last weekend, it’s difficult to give a full picture of how all the rivers are performing. However, here’s a summary for the core four rivers:
- Highwood River: A little high but clean.
- Sheep River: Not very high but quite murky.
- Oldman River: Slightly elevated and somewhat off-color (enough that fish are hiding in eddies rather than in the main flow).
- Livingstone River: Charts suggest it's at a decent level, but similar to the Oldman, it may also have some discoloration.
In terms of bugs, the hatches are thriving! Caddis, PMDs, green drakes, flying ants, beetles, and stoneflies are all present, and fish are eagerly feeding on them. Currently, the most prominent insects are ants, beetles, drakes, and caddis in the late afternoon. Wind tends to be a bigger factor in the south than it is here on the Bow, so it’s wise to pack a good variety of dry flies and nymphs. The stronger the wind, the more challenging it can be to place your dry flies accurately. When fishing in windy conditions, having heavier leaders (2x and 3x) is important for turning your flies over and ensuring they land where you want them.
Streamer fishing should also be productive down here. Sections lower in the river that have been open for some time have yielded good catches on small squirrel leeches for cutthroat trout and larger, more substantial streamers for bull trout. Both types of flies can be fished on a sink tip line, but the leeches have been particularly effective on monofilament leaders.
No matter your preferred fishing style, it’s advisable to bring a variety of tackle. As reports start coming in and more of our shop team gets out on the water, we will provide more detailed updates on what’s been working best.
Lastly, always check flow rates before heading out, as the warm weather can lead to rapid changes in water levels and clarity within a single day.
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
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
For more information or to book your Southern Alberta adventure
Email or call us at 403-288-3474