Bow River Fishing Report - July 10, 2026

The Bow has finally turned around, with more consistent levels and is slowly clearing. Levels have come back to close to the normal range in both Banff, and Calgary, while Carseland remains slightly high, but continues to recede. Things should only get better from here on out. Clarity is the main issue right now. Anglers have been out the past couple of days, and report some tough fishing, but also some pigs.

Now that things are getting closer to normal, it is time to anticipate the dry fly fishing that should start to heat up as things clear. Lot's of bugs. Caddis, Stoneflies and PMD's will be the most prevalent.

Boat Launch Update

All of the City of Calgary boat launches are open.

Policeman's Flats is still closed. 

McKinnon's Flats is open, and everything seems pretty good there.

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Ethan

Left to Right from top: Fool's Gold, Elk Hair Caddis, Swisher's LLS Chernobyl, Willy's Fruit Roll-up, Reese's Pieces, Hai's Jig Leech, Galloup's Budget Dungeon, Galloup's Dungeon, Stroil's Headbanger Sculpin

Bow River Fishing

The dry fly fishing should become better as clarity returns. It might take some time. A foot, or two, would be nice. Plenty of Stonefly, caddis, and Pale Morning Duns are hatching through out the day. There are tons of imitations to choose from. Pick one that you can see easily. Makes it more fun!

Finding walking pace water will be your main concern once fishing resumes. The high water might be around for a while, so it might be sightly more difficult than usual to find, and access water that has good pace and depth. Stonefly nymphs, and leeches patterns will be continue to be useful in the murky high water. Fish your nymphs as deep as possible. Add weight, and/or tippet, until some contact with the bottom is occasionally happening. Pretty soon we will all need floatant. Make sure you get yours!

The streamer fishing has been tough, but has also resulted is some very nice trout. As clarity returns, and the river continues to journey down to more typical levels, keep working the banks, and soft seams, with your heaviest sink tip, or favorite heavily weighted fly. Large profile, dark, streamers should be effective for the duration of the high water. You could even trail a leech for some extra chances. Deep, with a slow retrieve will be a good tactic.

Swinging wet flies, and skating dries through runs, and riffles, with you trout spey will become good tactics when the river is in better shape. A heavy sink tip will still be appropriate for the high water conditions that will probably persist for a while yet. Skating dry flies with the Stonefly hatch underway is often a great idea.

Care Plus Insect SOS Gel for insect bites. Care Plus Natural Bug Repellent. FishPond  Sun Screens. All here at Fish Tales For your protection.

Eastern Slopes

The Eastern Slopes streams and river Many rivers, and streams, are quite high, and dirty. Some rivers and streams, did dropped over the last couple of days, but also bumped due to the evening rain. River, and stream, levels are slowly receding, and clarity will become biggest issue. Still lot's of bugs, caddis, PMD's, and terrestrials, including early hoppers. Top water action can't be very far away. As levels and clarity improve fish should become more willing to feed on the surface. They know summer is short too.

Pike Fishing

Weeds and wind, but lot's of persistent anglers have been rewarded with great fish. eary, or late in the day, along with overcast days will provide your best chance if warm weather finally becomes the norm. Click to learn about tips and tactics for Northern Pike.

Courses

2026 Level One Fly Fishing Course

This one-day session features both classroom instruction and an afternoon of hands-on fly casting. Students with spend the morning in a classroom environment learning the basics about equipment, lines, knot tying, and more. After lunch, (included with registration), students head outside for a dry-land casting session. By the end of the day students will be able to cast 30 feet of fly line.

Click here for 2026 Dates, or to register online.

Books

Hatch books are a good way to figure out what is happening on the river, or when it is happening.

Bow River Flies:

Dries: Peacock Caddis, Bloom's Parachute Caddis, Streaking Caddis, Swisher's Dancing Caddis, Chubby Chernobyl, True Golden Stone, Extra Chubby Chernobyl, Skater Tot, Harrop's Last Chance Cripple

Streamers: Conrad Sculpin, Tungsten Found Ya Bugger, Clarke's Rat, Gartside Leech, Jig Slum Lord Mini Leech, Bjorn's Sculpalicious, Coffey's Sparkle Minnow, Galloup's Butt Sump, Galloup's Mini Bangtail, Gallou's Budget Dungeon,

Nymphs: Jimmy Legs, T.J. Hooker, Smethurst's Stone Bomb, Stonefly Jig, Rubber Legged Squirrel, SP Tungsten Bead Mop Fly, Werminator, Gummy Worm, Wire Worms, Hai's Jig Leech Bomb, Egg Sucking Leech, Vampire Leech

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

Please try to keep fish wet, and remember to pinch your barbs. Keep fish in the water as much as possible. 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:

Rob