It's fishing season across Alberta and that's been keeping us hopping in-store and on-the-river. We hope everyone is enjoying a great season so far. 

The Bow river in-stream flow rates were up and down like a roller coaster for the week of Stampede which impacted bug life and fish activity. Several local groups - Bow River Trout Foundation (BRT), Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA), Trout Unlimited Canada - Bow River Chapter (TUC_BRC), and the Angling Outfitter and Guide Association of Alberta (AOGAA) - are meeting this week with Alberta Environment and Parks and TransAlta to discuss river flows and Bow river management strategies. That said, the past week or so has seen flows become more stable and a return to more consistent fishing. Cooler nights are also welcome to combat rising water temperature and help keep fish happier and healthier. 

We are still seeing intermittent early morning stonefly activity, afternoons have been productive with hopper/dropper setups, and the caddis are out in full force in the evenings. Some reports of tricos, midges, and PMD's along the Bow as well. 

This time of year nymphs through deeper holes and dragging a streamer through prime lies are good tactics for the Bow.

Flies to try: 

Nymphs: San Juan Worm (SJW), pheasant tail, chenille stones, caddis pupa, copper johns, prince nymphs. 

Streamers: gartside leeches, clouser minnow, squirrel leech, fruit roll up, skiddish smolt, flesh eating sculpin, kreelex minnows

Dries: Skid Bitch, Swisher's LSS Chernobyl, Real Stone, Catch's Hopper, White Cloud hopper, Evan's Baby Foam Hopper, Bloom's Parachute Caddis, Swisher's Dancing Caddis

Mountain Streams: 

Flies to try: 

Dries: Micro Chubby, Fat Albert, Dornan's Water Walker, lime trude, yellow sally, Green Drake patterns, humpies, Dunnigan's Dun Dun PMD, Keller's Peppermints, Parachute Adams, ants, hoppers, beetles. 

Nymphs: lightning bugs, copper johns, pheasant tails, rubber leg squirrel nymph, chenille stone. 

Streamers: Clark's Rat, Galloup's Dungeon, Galloup's Silk Kitty, flesh eating sculpin, clouser minnows. 

As you head out to fish your favorite water we encourage you to think about what makes it special. Is it the solitude, the beauty, the fish, the time with friends? Whatever your reason for getting out, we also encourage you to support the organizations that are working to keep the resource accessible and healthy. The groups mentioned above are a few that would welcome your support and involvement. There are plenty of others out there too.

Alberta is fortunate to have a fantastic assortment of excellent fishing opportunities. Help keep it that way by becoming involved. 

Happy Fishing!