Essential Bow River Flies
Jul 07, 2022
Every day we help people pick out flies to head out fishing on the Bow River. Yes, they can change a bit through the season, but here is a selection of the best patterns that will work under all sorts of conditions and cover the range from the top to the bottom. For more specific recommendations, view the full collection of Bow River Flies
On any given day nymphing will most likely be your most productive technique so this an area to focus on as you build up your Bow River fly box. Bow River Nymphs -
- Wire Worm
- Reese’s Pieces Worm (aka San Juan Worm or Chenille Worm)
- Jimmy Legs Stone (aka Pat's Rubber Legs or Sili Legs Stonefly)
- Prince Nymph
Streamers can produce very well and many times we'll see the largest fish of the season caught on streamers. As the Bow River stays open, these can also be used 365 days a year. Streamers for the Bow -
- Jig Peacock Leech
- Kreelex Minnow
- Bow River Bugger and Conehead Bow River Bugger
Dries are without question the most exciting way to fish the river. This is definitely seasonal but once you start to get a few fish on dries, whether it's a sipping brown to a small dry or a smashing rainbow on a foam hopper, you will get attached to dry fly fishing. Here are some must-have dries for the Bow River -
- Stimulator
- Skid Bitch, Chubby Chernobyl, and the regular Chernobyl
- BWO Comparadun
- Griffiths Gnat or Renegade (can be used all year as midges are the only bug that will hatch through winter)
- Swishers Dancing Caddis
- Parachute Adams
Half of the above flies are tied by local tiers - Check out our Locally Tied Flies
