Bow River Fishing Report - May 24, 2025
May 25, 2025
The caddis hatch is on!
River levels have been declining and runoff, whatever that is going consist of, seems to be delayed by the previous week of cool weather. The forecast is for much warmer temperatures this week which could start things moving. The river above the Highwood is high with a couple of feet of visibility. Below the Highwood, however, visibility can be considerably worse, depending on the quality of water that is coming out of the Highwood.
Bow River Flies - Caddis
Some great fish have been caught on the dry fly this past week. The caddis hatch is happening, and days with calm sunny evenings are your best bet. However, any day you can make it out you have the chance of spotting sipping trout, given a sheltered spot and a keen eye. The hatch has been mainly during the day, but numbers should increase in the evenings as they get warmer. Get out there if/when you can. Golden Stoneflies should start to hatch in earnest in the next few weeks.
Nymphing has been great. Continue to try to get your fly, or flies, down as deep as possible seeking out deeper walking pace water with defined pools and current seams. If you are not getting hung up occasionally you are probably not getting deep enough. Try adding split shot and/or lengthening your leader to achieve a deeper drift. Caddis emergers have been working great, as have stonefly imitations. Hopper-dropper rigs have been working well for fishing riffley water, and even producing the occasional dry fly eat.
The trout are hard on the streamers. They are chasing and hitting hard, and this should continue, barring drastic spikes in the water levels, and/or clarity issues. Larger, darker streamers with a heavy profile have produced some very good fish.
Trout spey with an aggressive sink tip, has been producing well in the heavier water. Swinging wet flies through runs and riffles is an great way to cover water quickly, without a great deal of effort. As with all aspects of fly fishing, spey casting requires practice, and quite a bit of self-diagnoses, before a consistent and effective rhythm can be comfortably established.
We have all kinds of rain jackets for the coming rain.
Echo Fly Rod Demo Day Saturday June 21, is Echo Fly Rod Demo Day. Test out a new rod, or two, and receive some valuable casting input from industry experts.
A one day session where students will spend the morning in a classroom environment, learning about equipment, lines, knot tying, etc. Then, after the included lunch, the students will head outside for a dry-land casting session.
Classes are filling up quickly. Click here for Course Dates and to Register Online
Lanyards are great way to carry your tools, tippet, and even flies.
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:
- Pinching your barbs
- Keeping fish wet
- Eliminating unnecessary fish contact with dry surfaces
- Reducing handling time
Books of tips and tricks for every level of fly angler. If you are looking for a little guidance in reading form we have lots of options.
Sun shirts for when the sun finally, and thankfully, gets too hot. Lot's styles, colours, and fishy patterns.
Dries: Klinkhammer BWO, and Pheasant Tail, Doug's Gnatty Boy, Booty's DL Cripple BWO, Double Vision BWO, Black Micro Frank, Galloup's Double Winged Caddis, Keller's Centre Stage Caddis, RIO's Skater Tot, Ninch's Iceberg Caddis,
Streamers: Bow River Bugger, Hi Res Bugger, Tungsten Found Ya Bugger, Slum Lord Jig, FM Olive Sculpin, Clouser Minnow, JT's Kreelex Minnow, Cone Head Lightning Bugger, Marabou Clouser
Nymphs: Jimmy Legs, Rubber Legged Squirrel, Will's Chai T, Kaleidoscope, Tungsten Prince, BWO Killer Jig, Bead Head Prince, MFC Lightning Bug Purple, Puparazzi Tungsten Jig Caddis, 4 Bead Caddis, Juan's Jig UV Kryptonite Caddis, Tungsten Mic Drop
Trout Spey: Rio's Pocket Rocket, Aqua Stu's Ostrich Intruder, Jerry's WMD Sculpin, AF Mattoli's Spey Bugger, King Squirrely Muddler
The forecast calls for nice warm weather all week. The warmer weather will almost certainly cause melting, effecting river flows, and colour. Colour and water levels on the Bow in Calgary, and down stream, really depend on the management of flood mitigation protocols, along with irrigation needs, and reservoir levels. It is kind of unclear what form runoff will take, but it should happened soon.
The river is high, and off colour, so make sure you wade with caution. Dirty high water can make wading more hazardous, so take your time and ensure your footing. If you are feeling unsteady you may want to consider a wading staff.
Get out there! What are you waiting for? Depending on runoff, the river may be unfishable in the near future. But, who knows? Go fish while you can. Just in case.
Fish Tales
