Bow River Fishing Report - July 11, 2025

Consistent flows, and excellent clarity, has made for very good, and consistent fishing this week. Apart from a sharp water level dip on Wednesday, which did affect fishing temporarily. This week's weather is a bit unstable. With rain forecast for several days this week water levels and visibility may be temporarily effected.

Bugs everywhere! Stoneflies, caddis and Pale Morning, and Evening, duns are hatching daily in large numbers. The fish are fat and happy. Lot's of anglers are too!

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Kira Top to Bottom - Left to Right: Gallup's Mini Bang Tail, Maddin's Chromatic Peanut, RIO's Precious Metal, Bloom's Parachute Caddis, Double Stack Chubby Chernobyl, Trina's Chew Toy, Strolis' Dimmer Stone, BH Flash Back Pheasant Tail, Double Tungsten Rubberlegs

Now is the time for your favorite Stonefly imitation. Evenings and mornings will be the best time to throw your large foam, or hair, fly. Faster riffles, and runs have been producing well. Skittering flies through longer runs has produced some good fish, and some heart stopping misses. A dropper rig, or trailing an emerger, or wet fly pattern, is also very effective at this time.

The nymphing has been very good lately, with some slight pauses in the action due to water and weather conditions. Nymphing should continue to work, but may get more difficult as the weed mass increases. Runs and pools with walking pace water should be targeted, as usual, and weight and tippet should be added until the desired drift is achieved. The desired drift is dragging along the bottom.

Streamer fishing has become a bit more difficult with clear water and lower water levels. Large is still the way to go, but lighter coloured flies are also becoming more effective depending on conditions. Light coloured flies, and a cloudy day, provide an exciting visual, and fishing experience. You can see the fly. You can see the fish. Fun.

The trout spey fishing continues to be fun as heck, with skating flies on the surface being one of the most fun. Skating flies are cool to watch as they skim across the surface, and even more fun to watch as trout, slash, nip, and lunge at them. 

River and streams continue to improve as water levels recede. Lot's of Caddis and Pale Morning, and Evening Duns happening. Green and Brown Drakes have been spotted, along with some sporadic Hex hatches.

Click here for our Eastern Slopes Opener

Ladies Sun Shirts. The heat is coming. Lots of colours and styles to choose from.

Level 1 Fly Fishing Course

We ask that you handle your fish with care by:

1. Pinching your barbs
2. Keeping fish wet
3. Eliminating unnecessary fish contact with dry surfaces 
4. Reducing handling time

A new shipment of feathers from Veniard has arrived. Lot's of choice feathers to cover just about any need.

Bow River Flies to try: