Bow River Fishing Report - May 29, 2026

With flood advisories in Banff it appears that run off is starting in earnest. It would figure that the caddis are starting to appear in numbers and the Stoneflies are about to go off. The river was pretty stable from Monday through Wednesday, and and fishing improved and became more consistent. Bugs and risers tended to happened whenever the wind was down and the sun was shining. Dry fly opportunities where available on caddis to patient and observant anglers.

The warm weather has started the flow. The forecast is for cooler temperatures along with rain, which should also speed run off along. This next week could be a rough one.

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Hai

Left to Right from top: Tungsten BH Sparkle Minnow, Galloup's Dungeon, Galluop's Barred Micro Dungeon, Trina's Chew Toy, Double Stacked Chubby Chernobyl, Demoe'a Mill Creek Golden Stone, Hai's Jig Leech Bomb, TJ Hooker, Vampire Leech 

Bow River Fishing

Well the caddis are here, but so is run off, so  . . . Once the river settles down a bit there should be some dry fly opportunities. Consistent flows, more than water levels, will dictate what happens with the fishing. Abrupt level changes make for difficult dry fly fishing. Caddis and Stonefly dries should both be in play once dry fly fishing resumes.

As with other fly fishing techniques, more consistent flows would help the nymphing.  When fishing resumes, try to get your fly, or flies, down as deep as possible, for as long as possible. Add weight and/or tippet until there is occasional contact with bottom, without hanging up too much. Target, deep, walking pace water in pools, and runs. Caddis and Stonefly nymphs will be a great choice in the higher water conditions that will be around for a while.

How is your footing in the river? Maybe it's time to get new boots.

High, green, water is a great situation for streamer fishing. The abrupt level changes are not great for any type of fishing. Once the river stops it's rapid rising, and settles, even at a high level, it will time to hit the banks for "the big one."

Before the run off using a trout spey to swinging wet flies, and small leech imitations, through runs and riffles was producing some outstanding hits and takes. Multiple hits per swing sure gets the blood pumping. This should resume, and skating dry flies should start to really produce, once the stonefly hatch starts in earnest, but only when the river settles. Pike Flies for your next adventure.

Pike Fishing

Pike fishing has been pretty good lately. The Bow River along with Lake McGregor, Crawling Valley Reservoir, Lake Travers, Little Bow, Clear Lake, Twin, Badger, and Lake Newell, are all great options, especially with the run off conditions on the Bow.  Click to learn about tips and tactics for Northern Pike.

Events

Come on in to Fish Tales on Saturday, May 30, get your waders tested for leaks. It's a great way to find out exactly where the holes are and make it easier for self repairing.

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.

Water Not Coal is Corb Lund's Citizens Initiative Petition to protect the Eastern Slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. We are now in the home stretch. Please sign the petition!

Books

Stillwater fly fishing books are a great way to plan a lake trip, while the river is out. Run off might be here for a minute.

Bow River Flies:

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

Streamers: Conrad Sculpin, Tungsten Found Ya Bugger, Gartside Leech, Gartside Leech, Jig Slum Lord Mini Leech, Bjorn's Sculpalicious, Coffey's Sparkle Minnow, 

Nymphs: Smethurst's Stone Bomb, Hai's Jig Leech Bomb, Stonefly Jig, Rubber Legged Squirrel, Tungsten Red Tie Pheasant Tail Jig, SP Tungsten Bead Mop Fly, Werminator, Gummy Worm, Wire Worms

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

A new shipment has arrived from Veniard. A nice variety of feather and fur from the UK.

Please remember to try to keep fish wet and remember to pinch your barbs. 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:

Bow River Basin

Flood Watch:

Bow River near Lake Louise

(Unchanged)

2026-05-28 10:02 AM

The Flood Watch for the Bow River near Lake Louise remain in place.

• Water levels may be impacting safety fencing adjacent to a campground
• Increased debris in the Bow River has been observed
• Water levels are expected to continue to rise for the remainder of the week as warm temperatures persist

High Streamflow Advisory:

Bow River from Banff to Ghost Reservoir

(New)

2026-05-28 10:09 AM

A new High Streamflow Advisory has been issued for the Bow River, from upstream of the Town of Banff to Ghost Reservoir.

• Water levels are rising on the Bow River due to snowmelt.
• An additional 30 cm increase is expected through Friday, May 29, as warm weather persists.
• Low-lying pathways along the river in Banff could be impacted.
• Groundwater issues are possible in Canmore and Exshaw.

Rob