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How come stocking the Bow never seems to be raised as a solution if not the only solution to the declining sport fishery in the Bow river. It's time the Bow get treated for what it is, a polluted tailwater full of non-native fish infected with WD. An on-river hatchery using "wild" genetics taken directly from the river could easily be implemented and should be the number one demand of the angling community that uses the Bow. Fund it using a conservation stamp/endorsement, Surcharge guided days and solicit corporate donations. When one reads the ACA article it's really quite clear that reducing angling pressure will most likely do very little to increase fish population and the decline will continue until nothing remains as the other 4 factors of the "Big 5" aren't changing anytime soon.

I forgot to add,predation from birds.Mainly cormorants,pelicans.I think,that Ont.has a pest control,bylaw in place.To allow shooting of cormorants.

Good point, is it possible that low water, warm water, stream degradation due to the flood and poaching on the Highwood is impacting the natural recruitment of rainbow trout for the Bow River? A trial stocking program to restore the numbers could be a good option to offset these potential issues with the Bow's major spawning tributary. Not to mention stream/spawning enhancements for the Highwood would help the Bow, no?

Why are we allowing guides from BC and the States to work here?

The attempts at limiting angling pressure on the Bow will prove fruitless in actually impact on the fishery, this includes guiding. For a river that runs through a metropolis of over a million people it receives light to moderate fishing pressure but its actually the metropolis itself that's the problem. The Bow is suffering a "death by a thousand cuts" scenario caused by human encroachment in the Bow valley and surrounding watersheds. It's time face the fact the Bow is a tailwater, full of non native fish, infected with WD that will be in a constant state of decline unless it becomes a stocked water. I know many don't want to hear this but it's really the only solution, a trial enhancement project has to be implemented and soon.

Sure do, and that's my point. It's one of the most important factors for the fishery and it has nothing to do with angling pressure.

Giving the guiding group a pass in the light of their efforts to stop WD is ludicrous. Don

Professional guides enable the handling of LOTS of fish. I would suggest much more than the average joe on the side of the river. If there is a move to "limit angling effort/number of fish handled". the government better limit the guiding industry that exploits a public resource before the regulations go after recreational anglers. I don't want to see some crap about "rod days" and their associated monetary value being used as a reason to give the guiding industry a pass on limiting their impact.