jayanderson

I use a Lucky Strike net with a retractable handle that I've extended then filled the handle with spray foam and wrapped the frame with foam pipe insulation so it floats. Its cheap and candle handle large fish with ease. The rubber mesh also seems to aid with removing hooks and often pop out with minimal handling if the fish. I run a 14" Koffler Rocky Mountain Trout so room isn't an issue. I have a long handle $300 fish pond but that is now reserved for steep grassy banks on Stauffer and Raven.

Simms flyweight are an awesome all around boot! I wear them with neoprene socks for wet wading and with my waders, so much that I very rarely ever put on my G3s. If it's very cold and/or fast current I'll put on G3s for safety. The Flyweight are like a comfortable hiking boot, well worth the money and have stood up to a fair amount of wear and tear.

Look into driving to Southend on Reindeer Lake and charter a flight out of there.

From what I've heard through many a conversation with a lot of fisherman over the years, just go to Saskatchewan! Piles of DIY options as there is 1000x more lakes, both fly in and drive in. Just look Slims cabins out of Sandy Bay.

This topic has been discussed and debated in-depth on this platform. Yes the waterway itself is public access, nothing above the high water mark which is where "the grass meets the mud" mark. Basically you have to stay in the water and proper etiquette says get permission.

I haven't fished the Bow in a couple years now because of it condition. I'm largely in favour of massive regulation change such as seasonal closures, single barbless, etc. Would be highly in favour of a conservation stamp/endorsement/fee increase for the Bow to fund the fishery. All that being stated I'm very sceptical that regulation change is going to have the impact we desire and the things you and the AEP state "aren't a problem" are actually much bigger problems than realized. Whirling disease has been a major problem in every single watershed it's entered into, not the Bow?

You aren't the only one I've heard/seen commenting on the quality of hatches and the state of aquatic ecosystems on the Bow. Without an abundance of food/insect life it will be impossible for a river to reach a high carrying capacity for a large number of trout.

The issues with the Highwood should be included, at the top of the list, for any management plans for the Bow as far as I'm concerned.

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.

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.

I'm looking for a business that would custom make a set of snap in carpets for my Koffler Rocky Mountain Trout drift boat. Looking to protect fly lines from being stepped on, quite things down, etc.

Floods, rampant poaching and an ever growing population of walleye and pike have made the brown trout's life quite difficult in the Red Deer river. I've only fished it since 2011 when I moved to Red Deer but with each passing year their numbers seem to decrease a bit. I've spoken with quite a few members of the local fly fishing community and it seems water quality and hatch numbers aren't what they once were as well.

A CW system isn't about limiting angling pressure, it's more about revenue generation. Why give away a resource which other jurisdictions charge heavily for? BTW this whole whirling disease debacle is going to need $$$, big time

I'm all for the implementation of a CW system for the SW streams, not as a way to limit angling pressure (but that might be a side benefit) but for revenue generation and as a way to collect general angling information. Also, guides/guiding must become regulated and taxed/fees charged accordingly. I love fishing on the east slopes few days each season, maybe 3 or 4 days tops on a good year, fishing drys to rising fishing and then I leave those fish alone. I heard of a great idea a few years back from a fellow angler for an endorsement stamp type of licensing system with a fee paid for each watershed fished with the revenue generated staying on that watershed/river system for enhancement and enforcement. I think the fly fishing community in Alberta should put more pressure on the gov't to improve/enhance to quality of the lake fishing experience, it might take some pressure off the rivers. Sorry I kind of rambled there but so many things that tie together I'd have to right an essay.

thanks for the info! how long is the drift? I'm thinking a very long day

I've been very interested in drifting the tailwater section of the Waterton and am wondering if anyone out there has any experience with floating this stretch of river? I've got a 13ft NRS raft w/fishing frame that great for tough access and low water conditions. I'm wondering about the time/distance covered during the normal post run off conditions, is it a long one day or needs 2 days? Is there a place to take out before the bridge crossing north of Glenwood? Any info would be greatly appreciated

The question to be asked is what is the new fly fisherman expecting of the outing? will it be more hiking than fishing? 8kms can be a challenging distance depending on conditions like terrain and weather. Someone new to the sport might get tired and discouraged by encountering a lot of variables that vets just brush off as part of the day.

For me the eastern slope streams have always just been the occasional mid-week day trip runs, especially during summer holidays/camping season. Some really good dry fly action to be had in September and even into October if the weather co-operates and then you can avoid the crowds!

Sorry Northfork, my post took a shot people posting on this thread and I really should have stated what was my personal experience with steam access and trespass. I've had heated conversation with a couple of farmers while using road allowance to access crown lands for elk hunting, I understand there are those out there that just don't want you/me/us on their property no matter what the case may be. If what Bcubed stated is correct and it's generally interpreted as the 1-2 year high-water mark, basically where "the grass meets the mud", you've got to stay in the water which makes makes moving through some of these streams very difficult and dealing with brown trout damn near impossible. As to the question "Are you new to fly fishing?" I've covered enough water to know that when conditions are right I need a lot less than a half a mile stretch to enjoy myself.

I can't believe how many people posting do not have the courtesy to ask land owners for access to property! With all of the information that is really available (county maps, iHunter app) it is inexcusable not to make a phone call or knock on a door, shake a hand and state your business. As someone who has spent years hunting on private land and being farmed raised I find it hard to fathom how many people in this sport claim a right to trespass by way of a loophole that is meant to protect navigation/commerce (the movement of goods and services by way of water, example one logging company couldn't buy of a section of river to stop another company moving logs, or as applies to mining, fur trade etc.) People are spending thousands on gear/fuel and won't spend the money for a few maps and couldn't be troubled by a simple human interaction. This year I lost access due to some land changing ownership and I can totally sympathize with the land owner's reasoning, too many people trespassing without permission! I hadn't been out on the land in question for a couple years but heard rumour of it changing hands, checked the maps, went for a drive and knocked on his door. We had a good friendly talk for well over an hour, lots to BS about as I come from a family farm background, and he explained some of the trouble he's had with the going's on and the lack of courtesy/respect. He runs a third generation small mixed farm operation who worked oil and gas when times weren't that rosy for agriculture and put three kids through university. It took hard work and smarts to get his hand on that quarter, people didn't respect that. Show some respect out there!

With a lot of worry and concern being directed at the Bow river, here is some food for thought. It has been the focus of a few studies and some scientific research, the negative effects of birth control and other pharmaceuticals on the sexual development and reproductive health of fish and other aquatic life. Calgary has over doubled in population in the past 30 years? what has this done to the river in terms of the the amount of mentioned toxins in the watershed. I think the problems in the Bow drainage have moved well beyond angling pressure and poor fish handling. Fish the Bow and enjoy it while there is something left. Reducing angling pressure, season closures will do nothing for it.