Hatches continue for Trico's, Blue Winged Olives, and still Caddis. The grasshopper's continue to be epic. The forecast is for hot next week, which should keep the bugs happening. Cooler water temperatures have the trout moving. Get out there and hit it! Caught one on a backswimmer on Monday. Hint, hint.

Staff Picks - Daniel

Flies: Left to Right from top to bottom: RIO's Precious Metal, Olive Clouser Minnow, Voodoo Leech, Otter Hopper, Henneberry Hopper, Black Ant CFO, Perdigon, Tungsten Prince, Jig Lightning Bug

The dry fly fishing is going great. Lots of caddis still around, as well as Trico's BWO's and Crane Flies. Golden Stoneflies are still hanging around and a lot of Hoppers. Prime time for dries, and the only way to catch fish on the dry fly is to fish a dry fly.

Nymphing is a great way to catch fish on the Bow. There are a ton of nymphs in the water, fish eat underwater over 90% of the time, conservatively. You do the math. Deep walking pace water will be your best bet when nymphing. Again, weeds will be your biggest obstacle, followed by catching dinks.

A larger fly box to hold your growing collection of streamers is often a good idea. Get it together.

The streamer fishing is going great. Throwing large streamers has resulted in some big fish. The fish are chasing and the strikes are fast and violent. Fun.

The Spey fishing continues to produce. Whether you are skating dry flies, or swinging soft hackles and small streamers, spey fishing is great way to spend your time on the water. 

A well thought out lanyard can help you centralize what you need to carry with you. Load up your nippers, tippet, forceps, catch and release tool, floatant, and some flies. You can now grab your lanyard, maybe another box of flies, your rod, and go. 

Eastern Slopes Update: 

The Eastern Slopes are low, but still in pretty good shape and fishing well. There are Caddis, Trico's, hatching regularly, and still a few stoneflies and PMD's hanging around. The Grasshoppers are on their last legs, and will start to decrease rapidly with the colder temperatures. A single hopper is still a great choice, especially on gusty days.

Dries: Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, Yellow & Orange Stimulators, H&L Variant, Royal Wulff, Callibaeti Parachute Extended Body, KK's Henneberry Hopper, White Cloud Hopper, Micro Frank

Nymphs: Traditional Prince, Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear Nymphs, Rubber Legged Squirrel, Smethurst's Stone Bomb, San Juan Worm variations, Will's Chai Tea

Streamers: Pink/White Dali Lama, Black Conrad Sculpin, White Tungsten CH Sparkle Yummy, Galloup's Mini Dungeon, Clouser Minnows

Leave it better than you found it. Pack your trash out with you, and probably someone else's as well.

Please pinch your barbs. Pinching your barbs will make releasing the fish a lot easier. A good set of plyers, forceps, or mitten clamps can make the task easier on both of you.

We ask that you handle your fish with care by:

Looks like this guy escaped from Red Lobster. A crayfish found on the Bow River last week.

Bow River Trout Foundation Fall Fishing Festival 2024 is Saturday September 28, 8am - 11pm. Enjoy a fantastic day on the water, and then head down to the Deerfoot Inn & Casino for an evening of good food and great company. Doors open at 6:00 PM, with an Alberta Prime Rib Dinner served at 7:00 PM. 

Enjoy a Bow River update and a presentation from Amelia and Dave Jensen, and then participate in a silent auction in support of the Bow River Trout Foundation. 

For more information, and ticket options, please see the Bow River Trout Foundation Website.

Bow River Flies to try:

Dries: Swisher's Dancing Caddis, Peacock Caddis, Purple Haze, Galloup's Double Stack Caddis, Yellow & Orange Rubber Legged Stimulators, RIO's Skater Tot, Chubby Chernobyl, Willy's Ant, RIO's Moorish Hopper, KK's Henneberry Hopper, Fat Frank, Bjorn's Hopper, Juicy Hopper.

Streamers: RIO's Precious Metal, Veil Leech, Bow River Bugger, Hi Res Bugger, Skittish Smolt. Leeches: Gabriel Leech, Fruit Roll Up, Tungsten Ice Leech.

Nymphs: Jimmy Legs, Rubber Legged Squirrel, Will's Chai T, Kaleidoscope, Tungsten Prince, Puparazzi, BH Extended Body Caddis Pupa, Caddis Sparkle Pupa, Dee's Boatman, Wagler's Boatman.

Trout Spey: Rio's Pocket Rocket, Aqua Stu's Ostrich Intruder, Jerry's WMD Sculpin, AF Mattoli's Spey Bugger, Brett's Klamath Skater, McGovney's Skater.

FYI:

As per the Alberta River Basins web application

Bow River Level at Calgary - WSC

Bow River Level at Banff - WSC

Water levels in the city and below are still fluctuating due to irrigation needs and rain water. These changes occasionally put the fish off, but only temporarily. The cooler water seems to have ramped up the trout. Get out there while the getting is good.

Tight lines!

FTFS