Bow River Fishing Report - July 31, 2026

It's been hot. Like really hot! The river dropped sharply a few days ago in both, Banff and the Calgary, which made the fish a bit skittish. The river started to leveled off in the city and then dropped again. Things could go either way this week fishing wise, but the cooler mid-week weather should work to help the fishing. Last week was pretty good, apart from some glitches late in the week when the water dropped.

Large amounts of evening, late morning, and sometimes afternoon caddis, along a great deal of mayfly action through out the day. The Stoneflies are on their last leg, but continue to work fairly well. Hoppers all over the place now that the rain has stopped and the heat has started.

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Andrew

Left to Right from top: Galloup's Budget Dungeon, Drunk and Disorderly, FM Sculpin, Jake's Gulp Beetle, Crystal Ant, Chubby Chernobyl, Will's Chai Tea, Shammy Leech, TJ Hooker

Bow River Fishing

Heavy evening, and mid-morning, hatches of caddis continue, with PMD's, and other mayflies, are also happening over the course the day. Patient, and observant anglers have been able to cast to, and catch fish with the dry fly. A hopper-dropper rig, using either a Stonefly, or a grasshopper, as your indicator fly, is a great choice right now. 

Nymphing is a very effective way to cover water. A double nymph rig is a great setup for fishing the Bow. Tippet off of your leader using a double surgeons, or blood knot, to the length you want to your first fly (between 9-12 feet total length, including leader), then tippet off again (18-24 inches), leaving a longish lower tag end. Do not remove the lower tag end from when you attached the tippet. The fly will be attached at this junction, where it can float freely. You can tippet off again to add weights when necessary. The extra weight makes it hard to cast, but can be very useful. Stonefly nymph's are still pretty effective, but the action is starting to pick up on smaller nymphs. Pheasant Tail and Perdigon type nymphs are a good choice

The streamer fishing is going pretty good with excellent clarity, and lower water levels. Working the banks, soft seams, and pocket water will offer some good chances, but don't neglect faster water at the heads of pools, tail outs, and other faster water. Smaller bait fish patterns, and of course leeches, are working well.

The Spey fishing continues to produce some exciting strikes on the swing. Whether you are skating dry flies, or swinging soft hackles and small streamers, spey fishing is a productive and fun way to work the water effectively. Fish Tales now carries LifeStraw. The original ultralight and durable straw filter. Long-lasting membrane microfilter lasts up to 1,000 gallons (4,000 L) of water - enough drinking water to last an individual for over 5 years. 

Eastern Slopes

The Eastern Slopes streams, and rivers, are low and clear. Lot's caddis, mid-afternoon PMD's, still some green drakes, and the ever present terrestrials. Dry fly action was slowed by the hot weather, but should benefit from the cooler mid-week weather. There is still a small possibility of Green Drake hatches, more often at lower elevations.

 Pike

The coming cooler weather should helped to start the fish feeding more aggressively. Weeds have become more of an issue, with most lakes being adversely effected. Smaller baitfish patterns have become most effective.  Click to learn about tips and tactics for Northern Pike.

Books

Pocket Guides are a great resource, that you can carry with you on your adventures. And you don't need cell service, or Wi-Fi. 

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, True Golden Stone, Fool's Gold, Ken's Chubby Jack, Morrish 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

Glassware you can relate to by DeYoung.

It is very hot out so please try to limit any handling of fish. Keep them wet, and try to release them quickly after landing.

Please pinch your barbs and try to keep the fish in the water as much as possible, and limit handling, especially during the hot weather. All of these actions will help reduce the stress put on the fish. 

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

Rob