Bow River Fishing Report - July 3, 2026

What a mess. The rain seems to have brought a lot of what was still left in the mountains downriver. This week was chocolate milk starting on Sunday night and continuing through the week. After a slight bump last night, due to rain, the water levels are receding in Banff, as well as the city. There is still Boating Advisory in effect for the City of Calgary

Lot's of bugs. Caddis, a ton of mozzies, PMD's, and Stoneflies. Once clarity, and water levels return to closer to normal levels, the angling should be pick up. The levels are dropping, but clarity will be the main issue. Possible rain is forecast for both, Banf,f and Calgary, this weekend, which once again puts us in a wait and see situation. 

Boat Launch Update

The boat launches are a mess.

All city launches are still closed.

Fish Creek Provincial Park boat launch is closed until further notice.

The road is fixed, but Policeman's Flats is still closed. 

McKinnon's Flats is a mess. It might be usable, but we won't know more until the water recedes.

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Gideon

Left to Right from top: Crystal Ant, King Staggered Stone, Yellow Humpy, White Bow River Bugger, Boulden's Egg Sucking Flesh Fly, King's Squirrelly Bugger, Red Juan's Jiggidy Jedi, Copper John, Two-bit Hooker

Bow River Fishing

Dry fly fishing, like all other forms of fishing, was a bust this week on the Bow River. the Caddis were around in numbers some evenings, but still not many risers. Rising fish will become more consistent once the river drops and visibility returns. Caddis, Stonefly, and Pale Morning Duns will all be in play once the dry fly fishing returns.

Nymphing . . . Bust. Finding, and fishing, walking pace water will be your main focus once fishing resumes. Stonefly nymphs, and leeches patterns will be particularly useful in off-colour water situations. Sink your flies as deep as you can, for as long, as possible. Your indicator should be located on your leader at about twice the depth of the water, if possible. If you are not hanging up occasionally, you are not deep enough. Adjust rig, if necessary, by adding tippet and/or weight. Lead and other types of split shot are going to be a big part of the successful anglers fishing gear for the remained of the high water.

The trout were chasing steamers . . . ,previous to this week, which was a bust. When clarity returns, and fishing resumes, continue to work the banks, and soft seams, with heavy sink tips and/or heavily weighted flies. Large profile, dark, streamers should be effective for the duration of the high water.

Spey casting, and swinging large dark flies through runs, and riffles, will be a good tactic for when the river shapes up, after last weeks bust. A heavy sink tip should be appropriate for the high water conditions that will probably continue, once the visibility is suitable for fishing. Skating dry flies may also be an idea with the Stonefly hatch, either well underway, or tailing off.

Eastern Slopes

The Eastern Slopes are going to be hit, or miss, for the next week, or so. 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. Plenty of bugs, caddis, PMD's, possible Green Drakes, and plenty of terrestrials. There has not been much top water action so far this season, but that should all change as levels and clarity improve.

Pike Fishing

Weeds are now the main issue, and occasionally the wind, but lot's of persistent anglers have been rewarded with great fish. All of the prairie lakes are high, with clear water and often dense weeds, which will only thicken with hot, sunny weather. Give frogs and mice a try on the top water to try and avoid the weeds, and hopefully entice a surface strike. 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

Books on tactics, because you might as well plan when you can't fish.

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

Weighted eyes of almost every size, and weight. to help sink your creation, and see where they are going.

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