Bow River Fishing Report - August 21, 2026

The fishing this past week was a bit challenging at times, but very productive at others.  Sunny, hot weather is forecast for most of next week, with slight chance of showers on Wednesday. More consistent weather should help improve the consistency of the bite. 

The bugs are back. Caddis, Pale Morning Duns, Blue Winged Olives, and more consistant Trico's, we have them all. Morning, Trico and BWO, afternoon PMD, and evening caddis hatches are the rough outline of the daily hatching cycle.

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Braydon

Left to Right from top: Bjorn's Mr. Creeper, Drunk & Disorderly, Kreelex Minnow, Swisher's Dancing Caddis, Better Foam Caddis, Morrish Hopper, Perdigon Jig, TB Ice Leech, Puparazzi

Bow River Fishing

With all of the hatching bugs the drying fly fishing improved considerably. Rising fish were more consistent, which made spotting risers a bit easier. Sight fishing still takes some keen observation, and considerable patience, to watch, and not immediately fish a likely spot, but the act of spotting, and then catching, a rising fish is its own reward. Matching the hatch is often the key to catching these fish, but not always. Have fun.

Pheasant Tail and Perdigon style nymphs will continue to be pretty good choices. The smaller the better tends to be the way it goes during clear late season water. The warmer, mostly clear, weather in the forecast might mean having to size down your nymph's, but deep and slow will continue to give you the best opportunities.

Ever tried a stripping basket on the river? If you haven't, you might be missing out. Easy Shrimp Eyes Line Master Stripping Basket. Silly name, great idea.

The streamer fishing has been pretty good. The lower clear water has made the streamer fishing a bit finicky. Riffles, buckets and faster, head and tail, water. Smaller flies have been somewhat more effective with the lower clear water.

Spey fishing is a great way to avoid obstacles in, and around, the water. Tall grasses can be avoided, and, when skating dry flies, so can the growing weed beds. Skating flies is pretty fun. Putting spey casting, and skating dries, together sounds like a recipe for fun.

Eastern Slopes

The Eastern Slope rivers and streams have all pretty much cleared up from the sporadic rains, and are fishing pretty well. Caddis, PMD's, Drakes, and often Trico' are hatching regularly, and with Grasshoppers around in good numbers. Get out there whenever you can. Time is limited. This is summer.

 Pike

The incoming, hot and sunny, weather will make the pike fishing more difficult, as will the weeds. Weeds have taken over most lakes. Surface flies, mouse, or frog imitations, fished early in the morning, or during the evening are great way to provoke strikes, and avoid the weeds. Good fun. Click to learn about tips and tactics for Northern Pike.

Books

Strategy books to help plan for that fish of a lifetime.

Bow River Flies:

Dries: Peacock Caddis, Bloom's Parachute Caddis, Swisher's Dancing Caddis, Skater Tot, Foam Run Caddis, Goddard Caddis, X-Caddis, Chubby Chernobyl, Heifer Hopper, Morrish Hopper, The Chopper Hopper, Lil Pete Copper Hopper, Para-Wulff, Adams Irresistible. Double Vison PMD

Streamers: Clarke's Rat, Gartside Leech, Jig Slum Lord Mini Leech, Coffey's Sparkle Minnow, Galloup's Butt Sump, Galloup's Mini Bangtail, Complex Twist Bugger, Bow River Bugger, Kreelex Minnow, Articulated Sparkle Yummy, Lynch's Drunk and Disorderly, Zonker Skullhead

Nymphs: Jimmy Legs, T.J. Hooker, SP Tungsten Bead Mop Fly, Werminator, Wire Worms, Reese's Pieces, Puparazzi Tungsten Jig Caddis, BH Extended Body Caddis Pupa, Tungsten BH Rock Grinder Jig, Tung Red Tie Pheasant Tail Jig

Trout Spey: Soft Hackle Hare's Ear, Tungsten Energizer Squirrel Jig, Jerry's WMD Sculpin Intruder, Stu's Mini Ostrich Intruder, Brett's Klamath Skater, Steel Plow Skating Dry, Hoody's Hanger, Mini Mousey McMouseface

Please continue to pinch your barbs, and keep the fish wet, as much as possible, Please also limit handling your handling, and try to release fish in a timely manner. All of these actions should help reduce the stress put on the fish. 

We continue to ask that you handle your fish with care by:

The warmer weather has started things rising in Banff, which may, or may not, effect things in and downstream from Calgary. Things this week should be a bit more consistent , with the only real blip in sight being possible Wednesday showers. Consistent water levels, plentiful bugs, and warm temperatures should keep fish feeding. While clear, low water may make them slightly wary. Don't be afraid to size down a bit. in both fly and tippet, to increase your chances. But going with lighter tippet is a dangerous game. Play them carefully.

Rob