Bow River Fishing Report - September 27, 2026

Fishing this week was good. Lot's of bugs, clear water, and quite often willing fish. Wind was a factor on some days, but that is not really unusual. It seems that there has not been as many windy days this year, but maybe that is just me. When the wind cooperated, the river fished very well. Very small nymphs worked well, often in a hopper-dropper situation, using a smaller hopper. Rising fish were caught on small flies of the BWO, midge, and caddis variety. Larger Water Boatmen, in larger numbers, have been spotted in the Bow.

Slightly cooler temperatures, and possible precipitation, should keep the bugs going until heavier frost takes most of them out. Until then there will be plenty of insect life to try to imitate, and for the trout to eat. The Water Boatmen are late to the party. Maybe everything will be late, and we will have a long fall season. Hope so.

Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Hai

Left to Right from top: Bead Head Hare's Ear, Dee's Jig Boatman, Tungsten Assassin, Jig Slum Lord, CH Bow River Bugger, BH Tungsten Sparkle Minnow, Oikawa's KD Caddis, Morrish Hopper, Double Vision BWO 

Bow River Fishing

The dry fly fishing continues to be very good. There are still lots of hatching bugs around, and this should continue through, at least, the coming week. Blue Winged Olives, Midges, a variety of mayflies, along with a few of the last of the caddis. Very small flies (18-20) continued to be effective when fishing to rising fish this week.

Nymphing continues to be very effective. Small is still the way to go. Water Boatmen have started to appear, which opens up a very different nymphing experience. Boatman nymphs can be swung effectively, on a tight line, through riffles and runs, and then stripped back to you through the softer seam water. Water Boatmen should be stripped back in quick, short, jerky, strips. This Imitates the darting motion of the actual bugs. Hits are usually pretty aggressive. Fun. Fishpond waterproof bags, and accessories, on SALE now.

It's time start trailing a water boatman behind your streamer, or leech. Why not? Attach the trailing boatman off of the bend of the hook, or a tag end, with a clinch knot 18-24" behind the streamer of your choosing. It is not much more difficult to cast, it at all, and increases your chances of hooking up.

Trout spey is a fun way to cover a large amount of water, in a very efficient manner.  Spey casting allows you to fish runs, and riffles, in a shorter amount of time, and often with greater coverage, than a single hand rod. Swinging Small dark streamers, wet flies, and Water Boatman imitations through riffles, and runs, is a great way to effectively cover a lot of water.

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

Eastern Slopes

The Eastern Slope rivers, and stream are running low, and clear. The fishing has been great, with lots of bugs still hatching, Water Boatmen darting everywhere, and the remaining grasshoppers weakening due to the cooler temperatures, making them more vulnerable to winds pushing them into the water. If the dry fly doesn't work for you, you can always fall back on nymphing, or fishing small streamers. 

Level One Fly Tying Course - Fall 2026 and Winter 2027

Our Level One Fly Tying Course is designed to provide new tiers with the skills needed to sit down at the vise and tie most flies.

In this course you'll learn the key fundamentals of fly tying, including but not limited to:

• Vise and Tool Use
• Proportions
• Material and Hook Selection
• Proper Finishing Techniques

This course is one evening per week for five weeks. Classes start at 7 pm and run for about 2 hours. Courses are offered in-person at Fish Tales Fly Shop in our fly tying space.

Courses are limited to five participants.  or visit the store to secure your space today!

Fall 2026 Course Dates:

Session 1 - Tuesdays - October 27, November 3, 10, 17, 24

Register Here for Fall 2026

Winter 2027 Course Dates:

Session 1 - Tuesdays - January 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16

Session 2 - Tuesdays - March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Register Here for Winter 2027

Pike

The cooler evenings and shorter days have increased the pike activity. They are actively cruising, and looking to eat as much as they can before winter sets in. Click to learn about tips and tactics for Northern Pike.

Books

We have several new titles in stock for your reading pleasure.

Imported tools, and tool kits, to make your tying journey yours.

Fish Tales' Flies and Foam Series

Flies & Foam is back with an all-new lineup of fly tying events hosted at  Prairie Dog Brewing.

Tickets for each event are $25 and include a materials kit for the night's flies and a $9 credit toward Prairie Dog Brewing food or beverage. Tying will start at 7PM, but participants are welcome to arrive earlier.

Registration is required for these events.

This winters line-up:

Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 - Flashy Streamers with Gideon

Wednesday, November 18th, 2026 - Life Stages of Caddis

Wednesday, January 6th, 2027 - Leeches for Alberta Streams

Wednesday, February 17th, 2027 - Stonefly Life Stages

Wednesday, March 31st, 2027 - Terrestrials with Ray

Click here to register

Bow River Flies:

Dries: Harrop's Last Chance Cripple, 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, Trina's Hi-Vis Sprout, Doug's Gnatty Boy, Renegade, Parachute Extended Body Mayfly, Parachute Sipper Mayfly

Streamers: Coffey's Sparkle Minnow, Galloup's Flat Head Kitty, Bjorn's Sculpalicious, CH Bow River Bugger, Kreelex Minnow, Lynch's Drunk and Disorderly, Zonker Skullhead, Vampire Leech, Precious Metal, Cheech Leech, Gartside Leech, Jailbreak Jig Leech,Bead Head Rabbit Leech

Nymphs: BH UV Zebra Midge, 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, Tungsten Tailwater Tiny 

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

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

The weather is forecast to be relatively stable and calm, and the river should follow suit. The fish should settle into their pre-winter feeding pattern. This basically consists of eating as much as they can before the snow flies.