eagleflyfisher

Merry Christmas and happy holidays !

So I know rainbows in the spring and browns in the fall… other than that have limited knowledge of what goes on. I know some rainbows stay in the bow during spawn but a large percentage head up tribs. i don’t know why some stay or go. I know the waters on the bow below police fairly well as I live down there. I saw many many washed off areas on some flats that I know as reds. This was a month back. At this point a month back are the browns laying their eggs and getting fertilized? Do the trout return to these reds and stay on them for a period of time ? Where are the bull trout spawning ? Ones that live in the bow spawn in the bow ? inquiring minds ….

Thanks Doc ! Enjoy the next chapter and many thanks for keeping the forum alive. Have fun digging around and finding new waters. Dave

Woh… no good. great shots !

Take a lighter and heat the top guide until it slides off. grab a glue stick and put some tiny pieces into end of rod guide , heat it slightly again to melt glue and stick it back onto broken tip. You are repaired.

I’ll let him know.

Some info for you all. a friend did a last of the season float this past Saturday on the lower Bow. Jensons to carsland. yes water is crazy low, water is cold, water looks clean. They floated partially through the back channels above carsland, ( little must be nice etc..) They pulled off to the side at one point and observed more than 40 6-8” dead trout around their boat. They conversed w a stranger at the launch who mentioned that they saw many dead minnows on their float. I participated in the meetings held last year covering all the posssible reasons for the low numbers.. I love fishing the Bow and have done so for over 35 years now. The past decade has been on a big decline and we haven’t made any changes. Remember when the river was closed several years back due too heat& low water, remember how “ hot” the fish were after we left them alone for a month any half. Maybe a permanent closure for a period of time then a re opening with a new game plan of regulations to protect what we have. Managing guiding, rec anglers, out of province and country better. There has been no mention of the spin casting guides on the river either. They cover water like no other and jet boat runs over and over and over. You know, gotta get em all ! Way too much pressure on a crumbling resource. Anyhow wanted to let u know about the dead fish, and I may be off base on the closure suggestion ?

Maybe not what ur after but saw a set I believe were sawyers in iron bow hanging from the rafters. have my square tops and love em.

Well... My neighbor below police had the whole bank rip rapped. Had allot of good years prior on that bank.16 to be exact. Is it dangerous to walk on ? You bet ! Do I walk on the rip rap ? Nope ! If you had a choice of doing nothing and having your property eroded away with run off , floods etc.. Or would you take the government funding, rip rap it and protect what is yours ? As much as I truly hate that rock bank in a selfish sort of way I respect the decision to protect it and property. Yes I understand this is private property and most other rip rap banks through the city are not.

I’m so grossed out I don’t know how to respond. after 30 plus years of adventure on this amazing stream. Not knowing the exact answer how did the rivers in US manage through this ? Restocking ?

Finally got my MRI on my knee from a crash on the rocks as I was wearing vibram or whatever Patagonia calls theirs. Get results next week. They suck on the bow but are better on streams that rocks are clean. Ive said it before ... can they not add some kind of grit into the rubber to add traction, as sole wears down new grit is exposed. A course silica .

Some chunkers there. nice

For little guys I just grab em accross back of head and retrieve fly. next size up to about 12-14 lbs I’ve used a grey glove , some kind of light chain mail. Grips those slippery buggers well. Past that size glove doesn’t work as my hands not big enough and fish are too strong. Next is cradle , get them in and orient them the right way that it’s reasonable to work on. Big ones easily crunch down jaw spreaders and dwarf your baker hook outs making getting fly out a challenge and hard on the fish. I will slide my hand under gill up to end of jaw getting no more than first 2 knuckles in. Any more and you will be a bleeder for sure after momma does a head shake or 2 as there are many teeth. Anyhow , hand under gill, head up, fish in control, hook quickly out and ready for a quick pic. Back in cradle for revival and off she goes.

Are you using RiverApp, shows flow rates on mine.

Did not put garden in last year...too busy ..paying for it this spring as beds are out of control! Soon as things thaw I’ll sort the beds ...hopefully knock down the high ph w some ash I’ve saved up ? Basics, spuds carrots , corn peas lettuce herbs etc.. Anyone ever grown peanuts ? I remember as a kid my folks had them growing. Ive got this neat stretch up the shady side of our drive, gives wild asparagus, morel mushrooms, strawberry’s gooseberry and raspberries.

Don’t know what weights they come in but like my Recon for a streamer stick. All my old stuff is RPL’S

Wow, killer place to fish. Amazing! Its now on the list .

Guided trips weekdays only.

Registered

What is the Sam Livingston hatchery doing now ? I haven't been in there in 20 years.

Okay so what's it going to take ? You may have a smaller stream that has less urban impact. Easier to identify and try to regulate the obvious destructive forces ?Could be logging, gravel pits, ag. Smaller streams already have fishing seasons ( closures) for a reason. They have a small group of very concerned anglers fighting for the health of the systems. Looking at the Bow specifically, huge city, constant construction, river re tooled to suite our needs. What is it going to take ? When we have excavation to build bridges, construction. Rip rap walls to keep banks together. Fluctuating water levels Unchecked pollution entering water system, sewers, chemicals,road salt etc.. What habitat enhancement would be the most beneficial to help fish be happy, spawn, grow, thrive ??

Good points in that read. Angler education will be a benefit in helping to restore rivers. A little over stated but fished to death comes to mind for our Bow.

Why is a restocking a "bad" idea ?

That's encouraging! I fished after a few floods, 98?, 05, and don't remember a big decrease in fish numbers. Do you see a bunch of Pelicans and Cormerants up there as well ? Fishing pressure is considerably lighter up there, I expect that helps ? We are now 6 years since the 2013 flood, how long should it take to rebound ? Where is our cleaned water entering into the Bow, right at calf robe bridge? Would this mean all water up stream has more nutrients ? Jay I don't mean for you to answer all my questions just putting some thoughts out there.