Bow River Fishing Report - September 12, 2026

More cool weather, and rain, are forecast for the weekend, and following week. The fishing was good this week. Nymphing was the best producing technique, followed by streamer fishing, with Dry fly fishing being the toughest, but most rewarding. There are still plenty of bugs around. 

The abundant bug life, includes, Trico's, Blue Winged Olives, Caddis Flies, and a ton of Midges. Blue Winged Olives and Midges have increases in numbers due to the cooler, rainy, weather. Grasshoppers continue to thrive, and this should continue until first frost. 

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Kira

Left to Right from top: Sir Sticks a Lot, Gartside Leech, Bead Head Sparkle Minnow, Elk Hair Caddis, Morrish Hopper, Hi-Vis Parachute Midge, BH Flashback Pheasant Tail, BH Pheasant Tail Jig, Dee's Boatman

Bow River Fishing

Hopper, small, dropper rigs have been producing well, both on, and under, the surface. Things picked up as the week progressed. Steady risers, and pods of risers, were more common this week. A trend that should continue barring any drastic weather, or river condition, events. Matching the hatch is a good first tactic, but don't be afraid to throw something different out there. Getting the fly cleanly into the feeding zone is, as, or more, important, than specific fly choice. If you find decent fish rising, and put them down, often waiting patiently will payoff. The same, or sometimes another fish, will often start rising in the same place, which will be a prime current seam bringing lots of actual bugs their way.

There are all sorts of weights to help get your flies into the zone.

Nymphing is probably the most effective way to consistently catch fish on the Bow. There are lot's of nymphs in the river right now. Weeds will probably be your biggest obstacle when fishing nymphs at this time of the year. If you can tolerate the weeds, and cleaning off your flies fairly often, it is a great way to go.

The streamer fishing was good this past week. Smaller streamers have caught some very large fish. Heads, and tail outs, of pools, and runs, have been money for finding aggressively feeding trout. Swing flies though, or strip flies across, these active trout sections of the river. Hits on the swing are quite exciting, but often the hook up rate will be slightly better for flies fished across the heads, or tails. 

Spey fishing is a great way to avoid obstacles in, and around, the water. Tall grass can be avoided, and when skating flies, weed beds can be avoided too. Skating dry flies is really fun, and putting spey casting, and skating dries, together is a pretty good recipe for good times.

For more useful information on fall fishing check out out our Small for Fall article.

Eastern Slopes

The Eastern Slope rivers, and streams, are extremely clear, and running at seasonal levels. Fishing has been very good, for the most part, with the change to cooler weather. Still lots of bugs and grasshoppers around. Light hopper dropper, or nymph rigs will be most effective, but sticking to the dry will often pay off. What are you waiting for? The time is now.

Pike

The cooler evenings and shorter days have increased the pike activity. They are more actively cruising, looking to strap on the feed bag before winter sets in. Click to learn about tips and tactics for Northern Pike.

Books

Books on tying streamers.

Bow River Flies:

Dries: Peacock Caddis, Bloom's Parachute Caddis, Swisher's Dancing Caddis, Harrop's Last Chance Cripple, Foam Run Caddis, Goddard Caddis, Klinkhammer Dry, Chubby Chernobyl, Heifer Hopper, Morrish Hopper, The Chopper Hopper, Lil Pete Copper Hopper, Booty's Cripple, Adams Irresistible, Indicator Spinner Trico

Streamers: Coffey's Sparkle Minnow, Galloup's Mini Bangtail, Complex Twist Bugger, Bow River Bugger, Kreelex Minnow, Sparkle Yummy, Lynch's Drunk and Disorderly, Zonker Skullhead, Vampire Leech, Zoo Cougar, Yo Mama's Lama, Precious Metal

Nymphs: T.J. Hooker, SP Tungsten Bead Mop Fly, Wire Worms, Reese's Pieces, Puparazzi Tungsten Jig Caddis, BH Extended Body Caddis Pupa, Tungsten BH Rock Grinder Jig, Copper John, Red Shop Dip, CDC Pheasant Tail Jig, Soft Hackle Lightning Bug Jig 

Trout Spey: General Practitioner, Tungsten Energizer Squirrel Jig, Jerry's WMD Sculpin Intruder, Stu's Steelie Piglets, Brett's Klamath Skater, Steel Plow Skating Dry, Hoody's Hanger, Mini Mousey McMouseface

Just arrived. We have received a new shipment from Hareline. come on in and check it out.

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

The flows are up in Banff, but way down in Calgary. The low levels in Calgary are probably due to irrigation, and other upstream water management concerns, both of which tend to remove water from the Bow. There is also rain in the forecast, which could add to any water level fluctuations. These fluctuation may slow fishing slightly, but even the fish are used to them by now. Of more concern is the lower than normal water levels in Calgary.