weedcatcher

Sorry for the slow response. I was down at 'Thunder in the Valley' in the Crowsnest Pass. Good time. I was only able to slip away from the wife and kids for about 30min at a time on a few occasions and I was right by the towns [Coleman/Blairmore]. I still caught 3 fish. Little guys [10-12 inches], but I wouldn't expect monsters up there. To answer the question of the biggest thing I changed, that is actually kind of tough. I changed the way I cast, the way I mend, how I tied/rigged up, how I set the hook, and he taught me some tricks how to fight the fish better making him more tired and keeping him on. Probably the biggest help was how I set the hook. I was getting bites before, but they'd get off. My setting was not as assertive as it should've been, and that was a big part of the problem. Need more of a 'snap' to it. Even just on the Crow this weekend I noticed that I landed the fish I 'snapped' it on, and the ones I didn't got off.

So after my whining session on the board last weekend Dutchie, from Bow River Adventures, took pity on me. He took me out for a few hours last night free of charge. He showed me what I was doing wrong. It was a lot. And even though the water was high and dirty [so I wasn't thinking we'd actually catch anything just because of the poor visability and fast current] I caught 3 fish! Because my disposable camera didn't work I don't have pics, but all 3 were rainbows. And the largest was over 20". The other big one was 19" and the first one I caught was a little guy at under 12". He showed me quite a few of his personal secrets to help catch fish, and obviously they worked! I'm still riding high from last night just because I was trying so hard on my own and really not seeing much success. A few tips, and the help of actually seeing someone else do it, and things seem to have come together. So, thanks a ton Dutchie! You're THE MAN!

Thanks all. A lot of great advice and encouragment has been sent my way. I think the encouragement was what I was looking for most when I originally posted. My wife would be more than happy if I just gave up I'll work on applying the advice as well. When I was last out I just kept on thinking to keep a positive outlook and not just get frustrated. Anyways, all the posts are much appreciated. Thanks

Thanks for the comments. It's good to know that it isn't just me. I actually just came from an evening at Police Flats. I hooked 2 good rainbows, and had another nibble that I was too slow setting the hook on [it pulled on my line, but I was not assertive enough in the set]. The first rainbow jumped upstream of me just after I set the hook and got off. The second surprised me with how hard it ran the split second after I set the hook. The leader broke. Right after my line went slack it jumped out of the water like I was still fighting it. Probably because it was still hooked. Anyway, even though I didn't land anything I saw some action and that was more fun and positive. Quick question: how common is it to get hung up on rocks/ logs subsurface and have to break off? Happend to me twice this evening.

Thanks all. I'm feeling a lot less angry now. Maybe I'll try again this evening. And I'll have to send Maxwell a PM.

Thanks for the encouraging words. But I thought that nearly everyone was doing it. Whenever I go to the river it's pretty crowded I was down in the crowsnest pass a couple weeks ago. I didn't have much time to spend fishing [i was with the wife and kids] but I managed to land a couple rainbows on the river there and 4 little guys at Chinook Lake. So I can catch fish with a reasonable amount of success, but the Bow River kills me.

It was a rant, but also looking for help. Only 10% has fish. I haven't really though of that before. I try to do as you say, though, and look for a dead pocket with faster water coming by. I try to fish the seam of the faster and slower water, and I'm aware that I need to be bounding along the bottom with a drag-free drift. Knowledge and the application of knowledge are 2 different things though. I don't know what is meant by 'high sticking'.

I've been nymphing. I usually have either a wire worm or a sheneel [sp?] worm on of some sort, and then a phesant tail or a pince nymph. I have a 9 ft tapered leader, 2X. I use 2X tippet. I put the hooks about 12inches apart and an idicator near the top of the leader. I'll use weight if it seems like I'm not getting to the bottom quickly enough. I'll be the first to admit my casting is sucky.

I'm so frustrated. I hate the Bow. I'm relatively new to fly fishing, but I've been out about 20 times in the past couple of months, and I've only caught 2 fish. I've gone out with others on several occasions who are more experienced, and I watch them catch fish, but I don't catch any. I popped into Fishtales this morning and everyone in there was talking about how great the river is, and how you can't NOT catch fish, so I went out to the Deerfoot Extention Bridge for a couple hours. All I did was lose a hook. Not even a nibble. I even used the set-up the guides there told me to use. Nothing. It just really makes me angry how I've spent so much time and money in the attempt to catch a few fish and all I do is lose equipment. Every time I walk into a fly shop I end up dropping around $50 in the hopes that this time it will work. Then it doesn't. Plus the intial set-up and the time away from home etc. So I hear I could shorten the learning curve if I get a guide. Yeah, another $500 to watch him catch fish, and I'll just wind up losing a few more hooks. I know this is a really negative post, especially for a first post, but that's just how I'm feeling right now. Royally Pissed. :$*%&:

This might be a very dumb question, but I need to ask it anyway... Are there fish in Fish Creek? I don't mean in the Bow River along Fish Creek Park, but rather in Fish Creek just downstream from the Tsuu Tina Reserve. How about in the creek that runs by Priddis? I think this is still Fish Creek, but UPSTREAM up the reserve, but I'm not sure. Thanks in advance.

Y'all have a great forum here and thanks for welcoming me into the pack!

Hello all, I am new to this site and also very new to fly fishing. I've found a lot of helpful advice on this site. I've also found that fly anglers here in Calgary are very helpful and friendly! I met Wetduck and his friend a few weeks ago, and he spent some time talking with me and giving advise. Much appreciated. Also, last night in Fish Creek Park when I was having no success along the Bow, a nice gentleman not only gave me some advice, but also gave me a streamer and told me where and how to fish with it! Thankyou so much, if you are out there! Using his advise [and streamer] I actually caught my first Bow River Brown Trout! It wasnt that big, mind you. Actually quite small, but it was still a fish and it was fun. Thanks to you All!