Bow River Fishing Report - September 5, 2025
Sep 06, 2025
Cooler than expected this week, with smoke smothering the sunlight and inducing some coolness. Fish have been active and are chasing flies recklessly right now. They are coming hard for streamers, and hoppers, and are also starting to nip at the boatmen.
Still buggy out, and this should continue until the cold nights, and/or inevitable frost take their toll. Hatches of caddis, a variety of mayflies, Trico's, and even some BWO's have been spotted. The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend, and early in the week, with possible showers later in the week.
Bow River Flies - Staff Picks - Gideon
Top to Bottom - Left to Right: Heifer Hopper, Bloom's Parachute Ant, Evan's Baby Foam, Bow River Bugger, Silvey's Sculpin Leech, Kousin Kim, Tung Jig Copper, Newbury's Purdee John Jig Nymph, BWO Killer
It has been kind of a tough dry fly year. It has been hard to pin down consistent sippers. Things are finally in summer form. But for how long? Get out while you can. Hopper dropper rigs have still been producing, but a hard frost could turn off the hopper hits. Caddis have slowed down a bit, but you still can sometimes entice a riser to take one.
A hopper-dropper setup is the preferred nymphing strategy right now. Hopper-dropping gives the angler a chance at both, subsurface, and surface eats. Fished through fast riffles, or in close to the bank, it can be deadly. Water Boatmen have started to be more effective. Swinging the fly/flies, through riffles and runs, and then short stripped back through the soft water, has produced some violent strikes.
Streamer fishing continues to produce. Smaller streamers have been a bit more effective than the larger ones recently. Fish are coming hard off the banks. Get as close to the bank as you can, give it a literal couple of seconds, and strip back. Depending on the situation you may want to throw in mend. Otherwise, in riffles and runs, sink your flies as deep as possible. If you are not ticking off of the bottom at some point during your swing, or strip, change your configuration, adding tippet, weight, whatever, until the desired depth is achieved.
The spey fishing continues to be effective, and so much fun. Use spey casts to avoid the high grass on your back cast is worth its weight in gold. Spey casting combined with skating dry flies to avoid the weed, and because surface action is so much fun, to is pretty unbeatable.
New Shirts from HUK.The Eastern Slope rivers, and streams, are still clear and running at higher than recent seasonal levels. Fish, however, has been tough, mostly due to the clear hot weather. Caddis, a variety of mayflies, and Trico's are still hatching regularly. There are a still some high country grasshoppers around. Get out there while the regulations and weather allow.
As the weather starts to cool off the pike fishing should pick up. Smaller flies are starting to pick up larger fish. Click to learn about tips and tactics for Northern Pike.
Instructional casting books are a great way to self-diagnose, and cure, casting problems.
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:
- Pinching your barbs
- Keeping fish wet
- Eliminating unnecessary fish contact with dry surfaces
- Reducing handling time
We just got a re-stock of large hooks by Owner. For your salt water, and large fish flies.
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.
Session 1 - Tuesdays - October 21st and 28th, November 4th, 11th, and 18th
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
Dries: Morrish Hopper, Juicy Hopper, Henneberry Hopper, OG Chubby Foam, Extra Chubby Chernobyl, Pav's X-Caddis, Double Vision PMD, Bloom's Para Ant, Rowley's Water Floatman,
Streamers: Bow River Bugger, Skiddish Smolt, Clouser Minnow, JT's Kreelex Minnow, Jig Slum Lord Mini Leech, Cheech Leech, Silvey's Sculpin Leech
Nymphs: Jimmy Legs, TJ Hooker, Will's Chai T, Puparazzi Tungsten Jig Caddis, Tungsten Jig Mic Drop, Lightning Bug Barbless Jig, Pearl Core Pupa Tungsten Bead Caddis, Tung Stud, Perdigon, Wagler's Boatman, Dee's Boatman/Backswimmer
Trout Spey: Rio's Pocket Rocket, Aqua Stu's Ostrich Intruder, AF Mattoli's Spey Bugger, Brett's Klamath Skater, McGovney's Skater, Senyo's GL Predator, Mini McMouseface, Dee's Boatman/Backswimmer
Cling Magnets are a great way to protect and store your rod and store your net. The Rod Rack keeps your rod out of the way while you are on the move, or busy unhooking that lunker. Beats holding your rod in your teeth, or throwing it on the bank. The Net Rack attaches to your boat for easy access, and storage.
The forecast is slightly cooler this week, with possible showers later in the week. The cooler weather should increase the trout activity, but will also decrease some bug activity and hatches. Grasshopper and boatmen imitations are a great idea right now.
Please wade with care, and continue to watch out for bank erosion on high banks, and undercuts. The rocks are super slick right now. Be careful.
It appears that conditions are now as, "summerlike" as they are going to get. Go and enjoy it while you still can. Soon enough, we will be forced inside to tie flies, and wait for open water. More fishing now, equals less regret later! That's math.
