Bow River Fishing Report - August 29, 2026

Good mornings, followed by slow afternoons, followed by good evenings, was the general pattern this past week. The clear water, and skies, made for some wary fish. Low light times, like early morning, and dusk, provided the most active fish.

Hatches of Caddis, Pale Morning Duns, and Blue Winged Olives have all increased, in both frequency, and numbers. Clouds of Trico's have finally made an appearance on the bottom end. It's buggy out there. Hoppers are thriving with the heat, and dry conditions.

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Rob

Left to Right from top: Tungsten Prince Jig, Tungsten Pheasant Tail Jig, Lightning Bug Jig, Flintstone Hopper, Trina's Chew Toy, Lil' Pete, Tungsten Found-Ya Bugger, Miss Kim, Conehead Crosseyed Muddler

Bow River Fishing

The fish were rising with more consistency, which also made spotting them easier. It still took some keen observation, along with patience, to catch those rising fish. Matching the hatch continued to be effective in catching these fish, but sometimes it was some change of pace fly that the trout couldn't resist, or adding a bit of action to the fly at the right time, or luck.

Smaller, lightly dressed nymphs continue to be a good choice. Smaller nymphs, along with lighter tippet are often needed to fool later season trout, mostly due to clear water and sunny skies. The faster water at the heads and tails of pools will often hold trout, and sometimes, only sometimes, they are a bit easier to fool due the the speed, and turbulence, of the water. They are often good fish.

Smaller flies have become somewhat more effective for streamer fishing the lower, clear water. They tend to be less intrusive and often get to depth faster due to their slight profile. Deeper, or faster shallower water, will both be holding water for trout. Deeper water should be fished with an upstream cast, followed by mending, and stripping your fly across the pool. A heavy sink tip, or fly, or both, is essential to getting your fly as deep as possible. The faster water can be fished in the same fashion, or swung through in more of a spey fashion. Swinging flies is often easier if you start at the top of the pool, or run, and work your way down through it.

Using spey casting to avoid the high grass on your back cast, worth its weight in gold. It increases your casting efficiency, while allowing you to cover a great deal of water in a short period of time. Spey casting, combined with skating dry flies, is pretty much an unbeatable combination.

Hareline UV Life Flex Wrap is an excellent way to give your streamers the life, and shimmer, that you are looking for.

Eastern Slopes

The Eastern Slope rivers, and streams, are extremely clear, and running at seasonal levels. Fishing has been challenging, mostly due to the clear water, and warm weather. Still lots of bugs and grasshoppers around. Light hopper dropper, or nymph rigs have been effective, but sticking to the dry will often pay off. Seriously, what are you waiting for? Time is running out. Also, some October Caddis were spotted.

 Pike

Weeds, and heat, are taking their toll. Surface flies, fished early in the morning, or during the evening, may provoke some strikes, and at least avoid weed beds. Small flies fished deep have produced fish, but more often weeds. Persistence, and patience, as always, is the key to success. Click to learn about tips and tactics for Northern Pike.

Books

Orvis produces books on almost every aspect of fly fishing. These books are a great resource for anyone looking to learning the basics, or looking to sharpen their game.

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: Jig Slum Lord Mini Leech, Coffey's Sparkle Minnow, 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:

A vest is a great way to carry and keep your gear, and all your flies, close at hand.

The forecast is for possible rain this weekend with warm temperatures and, mostly clear skies early in the week, and late week cloudiness and the possibility of rain. If the river is able to maintain consistent water levels, and the bugs stay plentiful the fish should keep feeding. The clear, low water could make the fish wary, so don't hesitate to size down on both fronts, flies, as well as tippet.

Rob