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Bow River Fishing Report - October 10, 2025

Bow River Fishing Report - October 10, 2025

The forecast calls for "precipitation" this weekend, but warmer weather starting on Tuesday. The river is cooling off, very low, and still crystal clear. The moisture is needed, and will maybe colour up the water a little bit, possibly to our advantage.

For more fall fly fishing tips see: Fall - a favorite fishing season

Fewer hoppers out there, but still enough of them to provoke the occasional strike. Lot's of Trico's, along with some Midges and BWO's. There are still some very large mayflies flying around. The fish are rising. Lot's of small ones.

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Rob Top to Bottom - Left to Right: Pheasant Tail Hot Spot Soft Hackle, Simi Minnow, Dee's Boatman/Backswimmer, Double Bunny, Kousin Kim, Sparkle Minnow, Alyward's Pop Top Spinner, Doug's Gnatty Boy, Trico Spinner

Still lot's of Trico's. Lot's. Smaller dry flies are working pretty good, but the water is gin clear, so often lighter tippet, and/or stealth are needed. Soft seams, and slow backwaters, are prime locations for spotting rising fish, but don't forget that any bucket, or deflection, can hold feeding fish. These risers are hard to spot, but a keeping a keen eye out can be very worthwhile. 

Light nymphing has really good, to great, with very small nymphs working quite well. Deep runs, and riffles, with walking pace water will, as usual, be your main target. Tail outs have been especially productive recently. Letting your flies finish their drift, until the line straightens, and ascends, is especially important in a tail out situation. The fly moving towards the surface will often provoke a following trout.

Streamers are working great right now. The cool nights and cloudier days seem to have put the bite on. A deep presentation, and varied retrieve, through deep runs, and riffles, is a great way to prospect for trout. Working up a run, or swinging down it, will both work with varying degrees of success, depending on the run. Narrower, faster runs, are usually fished best working upstream, while flatter, slower water is often fished best on the swing. 

Trout spey is a great way to cover a large amount of water, while taking in the fall splendor. A small streamer, leech, or wet fly fished through a riffle, or run, can provide excitement, and often create peace of mind.Fly Line not casting right? Tip not floating like it used to? Time for a new fly line? We have a good selection to choose from.

ES1

Eastern Slope rivers, and streams continue to be low and clear. Nymphing, with very small nymphs, or streamer fishing, with a small streamer, or leech, will be your most effective options. There are still fish coming for the dry fly, but the clear, low water, and bright sunlight have made catching them a challenge.

Pike Fishing

The pike are actively cruising and looking to eat. Shallow bays on cloudy days can provide some good action, with fish cruising, or hanging in ambush, looking for their next meal.  Click to learn about tips and tactics for Northern Pike.

Puzzles are a great way to spend a cold afternoon, or to engage the kids.

Please try to keep fish wet and remember to also 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:

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

Flies and Foam Fly Tying Series at Prairie Dog Brewing

Join us at Prairie Dog Brewing for a series of four fly tying nights between October 2025 and April 2026. This series focuses not only on fly tying, but fun, and community too.

Tyers will need to bring their vice, tools, thread, and glue, but non-tyers are very welcome too! The focus will be fun, with a touch of instruction to take with you. Tickets for each event are $25 and include a materials kit for the night and a $9 credit toward Prairie Dog Brewing food or beverage. The $10.00 tickets for non-tyers does not include materials kit.

Clic Readers. For your tying, or tying-on, needs. The nose piece of Clic readers, separates, and clicks back together magnetically, for easy on/off.

Level 1 Fly Tying 

Start you fly tying journey in style. Get expert instruction from Fish Tales own, Will Spokes. Chai Tea Master, and all round good bloke. Will will get you off to a good start with a great base of skills, and techniques.

Fall 2025 Course Dates:

Session 1 - Tuesdays - October 21st and 28th, November 4th, 11th, and 18th

Winter 2026 Course Dates:

Session 1 - Tuesdays - January 27th, February 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th

Session 2 - Tuesdays - March 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st

Cost: $120 instruction fee - vise, tools and materials not included

Bow River Flies to try:

Dries: Lil Pete Copper Hopper, Bjorn's Hopper, Extra Chubby Chernobyl, Pav's X-Caddis, Micro Frank, Rowley's Water Floatman, Arrick's Flying Ant, Royal Ant, Glo Ant, Tom Thumb, Goddard Caddis

Streamers: Bow River Bugger, Skiddish Smolt Clouser Minnow, JT's Kreelex Minnow Jig, Slum Lord Mini Leech, Cheech Leech, Gartside Leech, Rickards' BH Seal Bugger Leech

Nymphs: Jimmy Legs, TJ HookerWill's Chai T, Tungsten Jig Mic DropTung Stud, Perdigon, Wagler's Boatman, Dee's Boatman/Backswimmer

Trout Spey: Aqua Stu's Ostrich Intruder, AF Mattoli's Spey Bugger, Brett's Klamath Skater, McGovney's Skater, Darkes' Naknek Leech Tube FlyJerry's Baby MouseDee's Boatman/Backswimmer, John Deer Caddis, TB Swing Nymph 

FYI - As per the Government of Alberta:

The forecast is for cooler temperatures, and weekend precipitation, with increased cloudiness. The clouds will be clearing later in the week, along with an increase in the daytime temperature. The fishing may improve with some water coloration caused by the precipitation.

Please wade with caution. The colder weather, along with the colder river, makes any accidental plunge a bit more dangerous. The river seems especially slippery this year.

The river is in great shape and the weather, at least later in the week, will be nice. Take advantage of the nice weather we have left, because soon the opportunities will be few.

Tight lines!

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