flyfishersteven

Goldeye will often go crazy for a fly that skims across the surface. After your cast just start slowly lifting your rod tip 'till you ge a nice little wake after it. They'll often take several hard snaps at it

The first day there were 30-40 people on the water (labour Day) so it was naturally a lot busier. The second day there was maybe 12. I've heard that it can get crowded and there are certain prime spots that you want to get to before others, but there is a lot of good access that it's not really a big issue.

The license fees were quite reasonable. It cost me $32.50 for a 4 day license. Considering I spent over 3 times that for 2 days in BC once I was quite pleased!

You have to see it to understand it, but it's not a creek and it's not really a pond. It's almost a cross-breed of the 2 that is spring fed. Very cool place! I did manage to catch one on the surface, but I think it was more dumb luck than anything. Flashy leech patterns were the ticket. I think at it's deepest point it was maybe 6 feet deep. You pretty much sight fish the whole time because it's nice and clear, and shallow, and your not allowed to enter the water.

Got to do some fishing at Rocky Ford in Washington this last week. What a great trip it was. You have to drive out to the middle of nowhere in desert (rattlesnake) wasteland and hidden in this wasteland is this jewel of a fishery. About a half mile of water that is spring fed has pools on either end and actual running water in the middle like a fast stream and full of big Rainbows. The only section of green for miles, Flyfishing only, barbless hooks, catch and release. Nothing short of a blast!!!

Anyone know if there is a website that shows which lakes can have gas and which only electric motors? In particular for Swan Lake west of Red Deer?

It's a little off topic (because it's not about the bow), but it is connected to the Bow. I was out one year when the Elbow was open early in the spring below the Reservoir. My friend and I were struggling to catch anything but some whitefish so we decided to go stomp some of the ice in a shallow spot by the Dam just for something to do. Well, In the process of doing that I looked behind me to see about a 16" Burbot flaping around on the ice. It was hilarious! Somehow when we stomped on the ice it scooped a burbot up and onto the ice. Easiest fishing I've ever done!!

I've actually seen the fish trying to committ suicide. Up at the Carsland Weir when they are trying to get up the fish ladder they constantly slam their heads into the concrete wall!!

They will typically migrate into Red Deer in July and then you can expect to slay never ending numbers, and have them destroy your flies. Ideally I find the best is to us something like a stimulator or hopper w/floatant, and rather than a classic drift when the fly lines up with you're body start lifting your rod tip and let the fly drag across the water. They'll chase that thing down till they destroy it, and it's a heck of a lot of fun. I've had days with hundreds of hits in an hour or so. The odd time you'll even find a nice Brown mixed within them with similar plans for the fly! You can also use a dropper with the same dragging technique, and may even get some double takes. In murky conditions when they are rising less a good dark leech seems to work good.

LOVE IT!!!

It looks great. Now we'll all just have to do some explorering and check out it's potential (while figuring it all out)