Bow River Fishing Report - April 10, 2026

All of the snow can only help things in the long run. Right? Some snow and rain are forecast for this week, but for the most part the weather is excellent. Get out there.

Nymphs and leeches fished deep, and slow, in as deep a hole as you can find have been the ticket recently. The medium fast riffles and runs have been producing better. Worm, leeches, stonefly nymphs, and large profile streamers will be some of your better choices.

Snow Pack 

As per the Government of Alberta facebook page:

So it seems that there will probably be a heavier, and possibly longer, runoff this spring. Hopefully, with some good management, we will have consistent, and healthy flows through out the summer.

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Will

Left to Right from top: Zoo Cougar, Galloup's Dungeon, King Halo Bugger, Wire Worm, Black Copper John, Will's Chai-T, Double Stacked Cubby Chernobyl, True Salmon Fly, Black/Emerald Micro Chubby

Bow River Fishing

Not much out there for consistent risers. Maybe give skwala's, or a big caddis imitation a try. Riffles and pool heads will offer the best opportunities. Skittered, or skated across the faces of pools, and buckets, where they can be seen by the most fish, can trigger some hits. Even the misses are exciting on the skitter,

Nymph deep pools and runs, deep, and slow. Heavy leeches, and worms will be well suited to this technique. Don't neglect the riffles, and runs which will be worked best using Stonefly imitations. If you are not getting hung up occasionally you are probably not getting deep enough. Try adding split shot and/or lengthening your leader to achieve a deeper drift.

Cling Magnets are awesome.

Larger profile, dark, streamers have become more effective with the off colour water. A very slow retrieve and deep presentation are crucial for deeper pools. While deep and slow is still generally the way to go, fish are now moving and starting to eating more in the moderately fast water. 

Spey fishing is a very efficient technique for covering water quickly and thoroughly. Swinging soft hackle flies through buckets and runs on clear water days is a relaxing and productive way to spend a sunny afternoon. Spey casting is like any other fly casting. It often takes some time to shake the rust off, especially in the early stages of learning to cast. More time spent on the river spey casting will improve your casting efficiency and ease. And more time on the river, is more time on the river.

Events

Join us Monday, April 13 for Fish Tales Ladies' Night. This is part of our free after-hour events lineup.

Presentations on wader fit and function, fly line tapers, what to wear for certain conditions. Along with, one on one casting tune-ups, and knot demos. Fly fishing travel opportunities, introduction to some cool and helpful gadgets, and more.

Join us April 15 for the final of our Flies and Foam series. Wrapping things up will be Hopper Dropper's with Ray Rowland.

Please purchase tickets and register in advance for each event. Tickets are $25 and include a materials kit for the night, non-tyer tickets are $10. Both receive a $9 credit toward Prairie Dog Brewing food, or beverage. Tying will start at 7 p.m. 

Please Register here

Books

Both of these annuals are essential. One brings you decades of experience fishing Alberta Lakes, and rivers. The other, is the regulations. One is good value for the money, the other is free . . . , and has a picture of a dink. Cool.

Bow River Flies to try:

Dries: Doug's Gnatty Boy, Stillborn Midge, Silverman's Crystal Stimi, Rio's Skater Tot, Dornan's Water Walker, Winged True Skwala, Double Stack Chubby Chernobyl, Harrop's Last Chance Cripple, Booty's Cripple, Double Vision BWO

Streamers: Bow River Bugger, Clouser Minnows, Slum Lord Jig Leech, Tungsten Found Ya Bugger, Galloup's Mini Bangtail , Skiddish Smolt, Lynch's Mini Drunk and Disorderly, Precious Metal

Nymphs: Will's Chai T, Perdigon, Smethurst's Stone Bomb, Goldie Hawn Stonefly Nymph, Dirty Hipster Stonefly Jig, Tungsten Red Tie Pheasant Tail Jig, SP Tungsten Bead Mop Fly, Werminator, Gummy Worm, Wire Worms

Trout Spey: She Ra Tungsten Bead Jig, Soft Hackle Hare's Ear, Tungsten Energizer Squirrel Jig, Jerry's WMD Sculpin Steelhead Intruder, Stu's Mini Ostrich Intruder, Brett's Klamath Skater, Bead Head Perpetrator, Winchester's Sunrise Squeaker

Tools to assist with various angling tasks. Make things easier for yourself. No one else is going to.

Please remember to try to keep fish wet and remember to pinch your barbs. Pinching your barbs will make releasing the fish a lot easier for both you and the fish.

We ask that you handle your fish with care by:

FYI - As per the Government of Alberta:

The river is currently in pretty good shape. The visibility is generally pretty good, with some blips due to snow or rain. The fish are moving and can be caught in faster riffles and runs, as well as the deeper holes. Heavy nymphing will be the most effective in the deeper holes, while streamer fishing should produce in run and riffles. Either swung, casting slightly down and across, or worked across the face of buckets and other structure, casting slightly upstream.

Wade with caution and watch for floating ice. There is not very much left, so it can surprise you, 

The weather is supposed to be nice, So get out there before runoff starts, With the heavy snow pack we may have to actually stop fishing at some point during runoff. Maybe.

Now is the time!