FraserN

In that last picture, the rainbow trout looks as big as a steelhead.

In the fall I have had luck with an olive emerger pattern, size 18, when the dry fly bwo is not working.The emerger I use as a general pattern is a size 16 curved hook in a white body and copper wire ribbing, with a few peacock herl tips for the throat and a black head. Works well on whitefish.

So do I (love this river). It looks like I ended my season a little too early this year. Those are some nice prime trout. Isn't the water getting a bit cold now, though?

This is why I prefer fishing the Northwest stretch. The trout are smaller and there are not as many as below Bonnybrook. But, more often then not I get the solitude I desire. The more I see this, the more i am convinced it is a social issue. Last time it happened to me this fall was at Policemans. I had walked along ways to access the North side of the river and was alone on a nondescript riffle. A drift boat launched from the access and proceeded to row thousands of yards through decent water, and across the river to park 20 feet in front of me and start fishing. The client was a nice enough fellow and asked how my fishing was going. I had already caught a few, so I did not mind so much. What is disturbing is how I was fishing a nothing spot and these guys passed up a mile of prime water to come fish right below me. I am becoming more and more convinced it is deliberate, because it has happened too many times in the last 3 years. More people fish the river now, and 25 years ago this never happened. But I think the attitude has also changed, which is too bad as well.

Right. I still see the odd flyfisherman fishing the Northwest stretch of the Bow river in the city at this time of year and in the spring closure time. Losing 4 months of the year to these spawning closures may be too much for some, but since these regs took effect, the fishing has improved greatly in this stretch. It has been worth the improved fishing from June to end September. You cannot fish above the zoo weir on the Bow river after September 30. If you do, you should get a fine. By now, everyone should know the regs up here.

I commend you sir, for all the work you have put in to rid the lake of perch and produce a habitat that can produce trout of this size. That is just an incredible rainbow trout, Sundance fisherman.

I bought his book, "Fishing These Parts" when I was in Bragg creek awhile back. Guy has single-handedly engineered trout habitat improvements in and around the Cochrane area. We are starting to see the results of this down in Bearspaw reservoir, with the rainbow trout there. Now that this Jumpingpound strain of Rainbow trout is protected in the waters of the reservoir, thanks to strict new regulations, the trout fishing should continue to improve. All of this is due to the vision and considerable efforts of one man. I commend Guy for all the good work he has done.

Experience comes with time spent fishing a particular waterbody. So, yes, in that sense years spent fishing do matter. I have gotten better with each year I fish the Bow. I have learned through trial and error what works for Me, and what will happen at a specific time of year. All of this takes time. Thus, I spend at least 25 days at the least on the Bow every year, since it is a gradual process to improve. The other thing is that it is a very individual thing. What I have found works for me on the river, may not work for others due to differences in skill levels and personal tempermant. Some flies guys mention,( such as the san juan worm) have never worked well for me on the Bow, for whatever reason. I have stood near fishermen catching fish after fish with the worm, while I get nothing. Then, when I switch to what I know works for me, I start getting the occasional fish. The Bow is a difficult river to understand, so I know all about the frustration of some people just starting, who are having trouble catching fish. It simply takes a lot of time fishing to become an effective fly fisherman.

Interesting. I have heard alot about that fishery. Closest I have gotten to there is the lower Elk River. It's not too bad, either!

Looks like a highwood fish to me. Nice catch.

Really like the pinks. I would love to fish for those someday on the fly.

Those fish are the finest sportsfish we have in Canada. Some day, I will go up to the Skeena river system and fish those streams. Amazing report.

I caught about a 9 inch rainbow trout on the pattern on the far right of the 3 in the picture, in a size 14. Only difference was the legs were partrige instead of rubber. First and only trout so far on the pattern; caught in Bowness stretch of the bow. I like this nymph because it sinks fast, and is a good representation of the small darker mayflies in so many of uor rivers.

Daiichi 1100 and 1550. Excellent hooks. Far superior to the mustads.

That is the brown I was looking for saturday morning. The one I got was 18 inches. Congratulations on a fine fish.

Its how I always fish mayfly nymph patterns because they are strong swimmers and standard swing techniques work well. But I always use an indicator when using a stonefly pattern, as swinging does not work as well in that case. After so long swinging nymphs, I have developed an instinct for subtle strikes. I find most of the time on the bow, the "tugs" are fairly obvious, and you know its a fish. Setting the hook is a whole different matter, and I am still always working on that one. Keep hooks super sharp when swinging fles on the bow, as alot of times the trout will just swim out and "tap" the fly,and without sharp hooks you won't catch these fish.

Unquestionably a squawfish. Pretty common in southeastern B.C. lakes.

I keep trying for this big Brown trout on a flat up in the Bowness stretch of the bow. He is incredibly elusive, and the flat is very long and wide. Last time I saw him was last year, when I finished fishing into the darkness. I waded to shore and shone my light down, seeing him right near my boot. I pulled my streamer past him, but of course he just swam away. He is about 24 inches long and very unusually colored. Lots of little black spots, no red ones I could see. Big ugly male head with hook-jaw. Not the biggest fish in the river, but still large and almost impossible to catch. I tried for him again last night, and managed to get my biggest rainbow trout of the year so far out of the Bow at 19 inches on a huge streamer designed for big browns. Not a bad consolation prize, but not what I am after. I don't know if I will ever catch him, as the larger browns in this stretch of the bow that are local fish are super tough to catch.

I am very logical about my flyfishing. I keep a written record of every fishing trip I make. Water clarity, temperature, insect hatches, weather, what flies I use and what species of fish I caught that particular day. If I am going to be dry fly fishing, Its 100% observation. Looking at which exact insect is hatching at the moment and duplicating size and color exactly.The results are usually good, if your presentation is adequate. For sub-surface, usually a mayfly nymph pattern like a march brown or hares ear in sizes 10-14. 75 % of a trouts diet in most any stream are mayfly nymphs, so it is hard to go wrong using them. For larger fish, where it might be only 1 or 2 good fish per day, I always go with special hand tied wooly buggers I make. Success here, especially on the bow, is to cast, cast, cast, and then cast some more until you move a good fish. Also, when streamer fishing from shore, do not stay in one place too long. Cover lots of water, and eventually you will move a fish. Most of all is perserverence. Not all days will be good ones, so you need to develop the ability to fish long and hard on slower days for success.

My best Brown from the Bow was exactly 27 3/4 inches, caught in bowness stretch, years ago. I do have a photo of it , as proof. My best Rainbow, by length, is 23 inches. Caught at mackinnons flats, way back in 1985. However, I caught a rainbow trout in fish creek park in October, 2005, which dwarfed my longest as far as size goes. That one was 22 inches and over 5 lbs. in weight.

I was one of those at the gap on thursday. Only the second time ever fishing that place. This trip I did very well. I was not expecting the size or quality of cutts I caught. Now I know why everyone was there.

Very nice cutts, Jeremie.I am a bit envious. You see, I have been trying to get some cutts this summer, without success. I have been to the highwood twice so far and have got a bunch of rainbows, but not a single cutt! Go figure. I thought it would be a sure thing, but thats what is so appealing about fishing. You can never be 100% certain of anything, even cutties.

I hit the Elbow river in Calgary this morning for the first time this season. In 5 hours I put 5 trout in the net. 4 browns and surprisingly a tiny Rainbow, also (a rare catch for me in the city stretch). Nothing big (largest brown was 11 inches), all taken on tiny nymphs and dries. It is different from the Bow river,and a surprisingly nice change of pace from my usual day on the water. 5wt. rod, long fine leaders, very small flies, and intimate water. A prairie creek type of brown trout stream in the center of a major metropolitan city. Great stuff!

Wow! Is that ever a huge Brown trout. My best ever brown trout was caught in Glenmore reservoir. 11.5 pounds. A mere minnow compared to that guy!