monger

I will tell the 20" rainbow I watched a pelican eat last week that it shouldn't worry...pelicans don't eat game fish....ya right I wonder why you see all the pelicans that are hunting right in the spots where there is good dry fly fishing....maybe they know where the trout are in the shallows. Historically the pelicans are lake dwellers, but the Bow river pelicans are not following the text books. They can eat huge fish well over 5lb. No trout in the Bow is safe

Pelicans showed up on the river down by Carseland in the mid-70's. Before that time there was none "on the river" above the weir. One July day we saw them riding thermals way up above Legacy Island.....strange to see "snow geese" in the summer. Then they slowly circled down until we could see they were pelicans. No one had ever seen them before. They figured out the Bow was a great place to fish. I know some breed at Newell. I am not sure where these local birds breed....but they seem to be very good at multiplying. Migrating birds just found a new habitat to exploit

A very well thought out theory Rick.

Quats are good thing to soak your boots in You are probably asking yourself, what is a Quat? “Quats” is the nickname used for quaternary ammonium compounds. Their disinfectant properties have been recognized for nearly 100 years. Quats have a common molecular structure. (Think of a basic car with interchangeable fenders.) Changing the basic molecule changes the characteristics of the compound and gives quats the ability to be used in a wide variety of household, institutional, and industrial products. These products range from disinfectants, sanitizers, and cleaners to wood preservatives, fabric softeners and personal care products. Quat-based disinfectants and sanitizers are used in medical facilities, food service operations, water treatment, and many industrial applications. They are also used to control algae in ponds and other aquatic environments.

Bron...it is your skillful fault...please take up golf

They are below Bassano dam already

As the city gets bigger, the quantity of low quality run-off water and the load of undesirable chemicals in the sewage system is ever increasing. These chemicals are causing genetic changes to the fish and the invertebrates. These changes are then passed down to the next generation. As time rolls forward it will be interesting to see how the trout handle these stresses along with all the angler related issues.

You guys forgot one factor that has been a rapidly growing pressure on the fish population.....large, white fish vacuuming birds with big hooks on the ends of their bills. The pelicans didn't show up on the river until mid 70's. Since then the population has exploded. Seeing flights of 50 of the buggers head upstream for the "evening float and dip" makes me shudder to think how many fish that move into the shallows in the evening are disappearing. But they only eat suckers.......right. Check out these wounds

25min but worth it. Great story of how fishing changes lives

I think the numbers have rebounded since the loses due to the 2013 flood. Fish were massive in 2015-16 with less competition around. The fish this year have greatly reduced condition factors (a lot thinner). I hope there isn't a problem with the invertebrate populations. Hopefully the government plans to allocate more funds to monitor the population. Dr Post at the U of C has a steady stream of students eager to crunch some numbers

Those will make a trout fat! Must have been some great takes

Jayhad is a lover of the Brown trout

No geese will ever land there. The spread cannot be stopped

Got mine at Can Tire on the weekend

Quite a few errors in the new printed regulations. See changes here: https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/advisories-corrections-closures/default.aspx

Toolman, do you find your T14 ever gets snagged in the rocks....or do you just make sure you cast downstream enough so there is not so much arc to the swing?

Do you guys use an Ugly Stick for this style of fishing...

There are a few lakes on the ranch that the non-paying public can't fish at. Pennask lake rainbows home lake is in the area. The water was stained with tannins at the lakes I visited. Lots of chironomid fishing. Would be helpful to figure out a fly for fish eating emerging chironomids. Caddis will stop popping if it warms enough. Fish at Hatheume had external parasites that made them leap for the sky

Whitefish should love you. I think they follow the spawners around. Most rainbows don't spawn in the river so I would imagine the other fish don't see many of their eggs. More eggs available in October from those gold colored fish

I've only caught 2 over 28" in 40 years. I need more lessons I guess

Saw this on the other provincial forum. Anyone else experience this kind of results. Very impressive: Jetboatjimi Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 6 Fishing the Bow River for big Brown Trout is a long living passion for me. Early in the season, I drift Bow River Buggers slowly through the fishes over wintering spots. Size 2 and 4. I also use Clouser Minnows and other large Streamers. Early on in the season, I use a slow retrieve. I have caught many Browns over 28" every year for almost 40 years. From Dry Fly Caddis fishing to pounding the banks.

Literature talks about bigger buffer zone around water to limit sedimentation.....that would be great. Hopefully there is staff to enforce the new ideas And maybe not log the valley with the premier Bull spawning creek in the bottom....brutal planning in the past.

https://talkaep.alberta.ca/livingstone-porcupine-hills-footprint-and-recreation-planning

Rotenone has been used in flowing water. I wonder if there are any rainbows above the falls on the Oldman. That is the kind of spot they could pour in some rotenone and restock with pure Cutts. I think there are some places in the States where they created some fish barriers and started over again with pure fish