toolman

I'm not surprised that this thread is going to be a "Soap box derby" with folks lining up to pontificate to the perceived ignorant guides, their virtuous wisdom. NEXT....

I think there are likely many contributing factors and events such as the extended high flows of turbid water releasd in 2011 from a malfunction at one of the upstream power generators, which coated the stream bottom with fine clay from the high Alpine. These turbid flows which lasted through the summer into late autumn, reduced sunlight penetration down to the stream bed where aquatic vegetation and moss's grow. (The Sapro outbreak followed soon after). That year, I noticed a major reduction in many species of common Mayflies. The downward trend of aquatic invertebrates continues to this day, with many species of stoneflies, water boatman, back swimmers, fall caddis greatly reduced or virtually eliminated. Then came the flood of the century in 2013 which certainly had a huge impact on biomass loss and habitat. As for the water treatment upgrades, it has most likely had an impact on biomass reduction. The numbers of fish we now have is simply what the habitat can support. Rivers are living, dynamic systems that are constantly changing. The fish are healthy and not showing signs of major stress and disease, so maybe their numbers will rebound when conditions allow.

I believe that the Bow river bio mass has been greatly diminished since 2011. I have been collecting, photographing and observing the annual hatches on the river in great detail for the past dozen years. Simply put, my conclusion is there are a lot less aquatic invertebrates in the river and many species have all but completely disappeared. River angling closures or reducing fishing pressure will not solve this issue. The assumption that fishing pressure is mainly responsible for the trout population decline is misguided and speculative at best.

Why should this be a fishing guides responsibility? It's the anglers responsibility. Not a guides, nor a fly shop owner or wading boor manufacturer or anyone else's, in my opinion.

I use a gentle roll cast to start, then a lift into the back cast. This releases (unsticks) the line with minimal water disturbance and additional line speed is possible into the back cast, with fewer false casts required. A roll casts at the start of the casting cycle also allows you to lift longer lengths of line off the water.

Downstream presentations may work. With the clear water the trout often see your fly when you cast it as it passes over them and are spooked by it, so try casting immediately when the fish rises and is turning back down.

Yes, water boatman and backswimmers are a very good option. Especially if it's a warm sunny day.

Sounds like a great cause.... The trophy should be a big red SWJ, because that's the fly that will win the tournament...🐟

For clarity..RAP.... Restricted Activity Period Google "AEP Restricted Activity Period fact sheet", for details.

Some species of emerging nymphs emit body gases which become trapped inside their mostly transparent nymphal cases. This creates buoyancy that causes the nymph to float up too the surface. These trapped gases create the color hues that trout cue in on. There are many other examples of these color variations as well, such as the purplish black egg sacks of gravid females, wings which are formed from body fluids/gas excretions, to name a few. There is a species of mayflies that emerges in small numbers on the Bow, called "pink ladies" (Epeorus albertae). They are actually pink as the name implies.

Both bait rods were set on forked sticks. The man was the only one sitting near them, occasionally working the rods by reeling in any slack in the line and checking his bait. The lady with him was just hanging around 15'-20' away. He was the only one I saw "fishing" the two bait rods.

Likely a written warning for bait fishing and a fine for each retained fish unless he had a previous fisheries violation. He had a fishing license as I saw him hand it too the CO. The CO filmed him before making his appearance. Then they all headed back to the parking lot to do the paperwork.

Yes they got him and his wife. I watched the bust from across the river. Most of the "poaching" is usually just people who don't know any better who come from a culture of eating their catch. For the majority of anglers in the world, catch and release is a bizarre concept. I try and have a friendly talk with people I see fishing with bait or attempting to keep fish and educate them to the reasons behind the C&R laws. If they get hostile or continue bait fishing, I call it in too RAP. I've handed out plenty of SJW's, leeches and bobbers over the years. Education is an important tool in successful conservation.

I have been using Rio mono leaders with Frog Hair fluro tippet without incident for almost a decade. A four wrap surgeons knot to connect tippet too leader and it never breaks off at the knot. A Duncan loop knot to the fly.

Wicked ties Doc, as always. Them fishies in big trouble next time you visit.

It has been my experience that if you fight fish on the line rather than reel, you can adjust line tension frequently and quickly and regain contact/line tension faster if the fish turns back down your line. I also try to the keep the rod tip low and parallel to the shoreline unless there are obstacles that may snag/entangle the line/leader or to guide the fish to a suitable landing/netting location.

I've also caught a few as well. All 8"-12" and always on the dry fly, including one I caught last week.

Set the hook faster and on everything. Strip slack out of the line through the drift. The problem is not your rod/line nor tying droppers from the hook shank.

There was a fish population survey completed on the Bow in August of 2014. I spoke to the fish techs on the river a few times during that month. Personally, I would like to see annual entomological surveys completed on the Bow river. Starting with one comprehensive survey to establish a baseline, followed by annual surveys of key indicator species such as Stoneflies that are very sensitive to low levels of dissolved oxygen saturation and pollution. Aquatic invertebrates are important indicators of the health of rivers/riverine systems and this data should be included in management decisions and policies. If the aquatic food chain starts to erode at the bottom, logically, declines in populations of fish, shoreline birds, amphibians, mammals will follow. Of course I am off topic, Whirling disease.

I have mostly used type 2/3 or 3/4 full sink scandi heads for swinging on the Bow. Intermediate Scandi heads are not going to get you very deep even with type 6 poly tips and I've not had as much success as the type 2/3 or a type 3/4 for deep and/or colder water fishing.

I prefer a fast action 12'-12"6" spey rod, in a 6wt., for fishing the Bow. Gets pretty windy sometimes and you need to create high line speed to maintain control and that's what gets it done for me. Effortless. I also like casting many other switch/spey rods with a variety of lengths/actions/line systems. I have fished dozens of different switches and spey rods in just about every length/weight/action made, but my favorite to date is still the Loop Goran Anderson Series 6120. Though there are many great sticks that are similar in performance from a variety of manufacturers.

Just curious when a "mass fish kill" due to water temps, ever occurred on the Bow river?

I have never seen significant numbers of Salmon fly's on the Bow. Have never even collected more than a couple of samples in any single season. Have tried fishing large Salmon fly patterns starting in early May with very little success. However, that said, things can change dramatically on the lower Bow from year to year and Salmon fly's could suddenly appear in large numbers. It has happened with Skwala's and March Browns that went from historically minor hatches, too epic dry fishing in a single season. Although Salmon fly's (Petronarcys dorsata) thrive in high oxygen environments of mountain streams, as do Skwala stonefly's, several Bow tributaries can be a source of new Bow river aquatic invertebrate species. From an entomological perspective, the lower Bow is still maturing as an aquatic environment. Thus the recent arrival of Skwala curvata which was not positively identified or documented until 2009. Another previously undocumented newcomer is a species of Mahagany dun, paraleptophlebia bicornuta.

Great to see and thanks for your positive contributions, Brent.

Sad news. Was a pleasure to have known and fished with him. He contributed much to our fly fishing community and also served our nation.Thank you Ron. You were a good man. Condolences to his family.