The warmer weather has brought on a ton of midges! A few Blue Winged Olives have also been spotted. Watch pool edges and backwaters for risers. Midge or BWO imitations have both been successful.
Continue to focus your nymphing on deeper pools and runs. Fish as slowly, and as deeply, as possible. Walking pace water is ideal. Small nymphs
The streamer fishing continues to improve. Deep and slow is still the way to go, but fish are now moving and starting to eating more in the moderately fast water.
Trout spey has been quite effective for picking up trout. Swinging wet flies through riffles and runs is good fun. Prepare for steelhead season, or just learn some cool casts to increase your quiver.
As usual, please pinch your barbs. Pinching your barbs will usually make releasing fish is easier on both you and the fish. A net, and/or catch and release tool, can also help with this process.
- Minimize air exposure
- Eliminate contact with dry surfaces
- Reduce handling time
Our Level 1 Fly Fishing Course is a full day introduction to fly fishing. The first half of the day is spent in classroom. Here you will learn the basics about equipment, tying knots, how to decipher river structure, insect life life cycles and more. The afternoon half of the class will be spent covering the basics of casting in a dry land setting.
This full day course costs $150, lunch included. Register in-store, by phone, or on-line.
The first three sessions, May 5, 11, 25 and June 2 are full. The next available date is Sunday June 9. Click here for further course dates and availability.
Bow River Flies to try:
Dries: Midges: Doug's Gnatty Boy, Griffith's Gnat, Parachute Midges, and Zebra Midges. BWO: Double Vision BWO's, or Foam Emerger BWO Biot are worth a try.
Streamers: Tungsten CH Sparkle Yummy, Karnopp's Space Invader, Tungsten Found Ya Bugger, Bow River Bugger, or Clouser Minnow. Leeches: Aaron's Leech, Tungsten Peacock Leech, and black, brown or olive Woolly Buggers.
Nymphs: Jimmy Legs, TJ Hooker, Rubber Legged Squirrel, Wire Worm, Atomic Worm, Will's Chai T, Kaleidoscope, Tungsten Prince, Copper John's, Zebra Midge's (Red, Olive or Black), and Tung Brassie Copper.
Trout Spey: Aqua Stu's Ostrich Intruder, Jerry's WMD Sculpin, Mini Me Graboid, Mike's Mini Sculpin Black, and AF Mattoli's Spey Bugger.
Our next After Hours Presentation, Drift Boat Introduction, on Monday, April 29, 2024. Learn the basic concepts associated with rowing and fishing out of a drift boat.
FYI:
As per the Alberta River Basins web application
Bow River Level at Calgary - WSC
| Date | Level (m) | Flow (m³/s) |
| 2024-04-05 12:00:00 | 0.870 | 45.70 |
| 2024-04-12 12:00:00 | 0.762 | 34.60 |
| 2024-04-19 12:00:00 | 0.895 | 48.50 |
| 2024-04-26 12:00:00 | 0.957 | 56.90 |
Get out there! Tight lines!
FTFS