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There are many other good reasons why a Guide service would be wise to shut down for a few days such as, public perception, very high river traffic through the long weekend (drift boats, kayaks, canoes, jet boats, rafters, shore anglers, long line ups at launches, dog walkers throwing sticks in the water). And, its been mediocre fishing this past week for most anglers because the hatches have been dismal so many of the trout are holding in fast, deep structure making them difficult to catch. During the day, there's not very many active, adult trout holding near the bank, so Hopper/dropper rigs or Streamers stripped back to the boat which are often very productive tactics that many anglers enjoy while drift fishing, have not been very productive. And during peak runoff, most Guide trips are also postponed when fishing conditions are poor or safety is a concern. Clients rely on Guide services to be honest and forthright about fishing conditions and they generally are.

I can appreciate your concern, Jim and I know you have been fishing the Bow for almost 50 years and have the expertise and experience to mitigate your fishing impacts, so my post is meant as general info for the wider fishing community. It's difficult to predict what conditions will be through August, but they certainly won't improve until we get cooler temps as flow rates are sure to decline without some rain. I fished a few times this week and mid day water temp averaged 67 F. I caught a nice healthy Rainbow today, in the city, around 1:00, that put up a good fight and recovered quickly. Thermally stressed fish will retreat to deeper, cooler water with less direct UV exposure and generally won't sit in 16" of slow water, a foot off the bank, eating my #20 Trico. The Bow still has good flow (currently at 110 cms) and the Bearspaw dam is a bottom draw which releases cooler water into the river, averaging 6-7 C, year round and that has certainly helped with keeping water temps down. I Floated Mac too Janssen's yesterday and water temps were 64 F at about 10:00 am. We started early, around 6:30 am. It gets hot every summer in late July/August and this year is no different. Just check water temps through the day where you are fishing. Start early and call it a day if it hits 69-70 F, or sooner if the trout are sluggish and don't recover quickly, which is a sure sign of thermal stress/low dissolved oxygen. And anglers need to cut out the 5 minute grip n grin photo shoot's for their instagram/facebook page. Land them quickly and release them immediately. Keep em' wet!

Hello Folk's; Just looking at the Forecast and rethinking my Plans.. I had a few trips booked with various Calgarians this coming month. Mostly friends and a few regulars.. I only fish during the week, and usually from mid morning to 7or 8 ish.. Guess I am going to push those trips off to September.. I wonder how the Guides and Fly shops and also regular Walk and Waders are going to deal with the Conditions.. River is warm..

A few recent ties

Well Vitalshok, if you're that convinced that the fish are in such eminent danger then maybe you should send off a letter to Minister Nixon and ask him to close down the Irrigation Canal at Calgary that is currently diverting over 20% of the Bow river flow and an additional 25% of flows at Carsland instead of preaching your version of morality to responsible adult anglers who are quite capable of making ethical decisions for themselves. And I wonder how many water temperature readings you have taken on the Bow this week? None? Nice editing btw. At I least I own my words.

Fish tales closed down guiding for the weekend and said they would go day by day for the next week.So good on them.Fish or don’t fish you decide where all adults Here I have heard.