Favourite Bow River Patterns

[admin]

I'm looking for a few suggestions on flies to tie to stock my box for my next trip to the bow. What are your top patterns?

[OneMoreLastCast]

You can never go wrong with Caddis Pupa of course.

I tie mine with tan bodies and Claret heads instead of the standard Greens and they seem to work.

 

Spent Caddis and various Cripple Mayflies are very effective as well. They also allow some variance in your tying.

 

A simple, but deadly fly in the past on the Bow and the other rivers in Southern Alberta is the "Bird's Nest".

 

I tie these in Tan, Brown, Green and Black of various sizes. Some with bead heads, some without.

Very easy and effective pattern.

 

As some that have fished with me will attest, I like my Stones.

I believe it is never wasted time at the bench if you are tying, or experimenting with Stone Fly patterns....Nymphs, Emerging or Adult Stones.

[maxwell]

my top 3 would be midges red black tan and olive, bwos and caddis larvae

[gravelman]

What is a Birds Nest?

[Lawrence]

Birds nest

[kungfool]

You can never go wrong with Caddis Pupa of course.

I tie mine with tan bodies and Claret heads instead of the standard Greens and they seem to work.

 

I'm with you on this one. I use golden pheasant tail for these which results in a tan body. I have had much luck on them also.

[Badger]

...

[Glenbow]

#10 SJW, #14 PT, #12 GRHE, #14 EHC, #14 P-Adams, Buggers #10-6 black, rust, olive. Bring hoppers for summer too. Stones also. Or just call me & I will hook you up with one of my you-know-whats!

[Lawrence]

For me it all depends on what time of year it is, I've had go to flies all through the year. Spring time Caddis larva, streamers, for summer dries pretty much, caddis, small PMDs. Fall I had really good fishing with a size 18 copper john right into december and winter well a sanjuan of course

[admin]

Sounds like good advice. I have most of those stocked already. Max, the midges you use, are they a thread midge like a Chironomid pupa or are they more of a dry?

[birchy]

I catch all my big whitefish on the San Juanabe.

 

But for trout, San Juan Worm, Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear have all worked for me this year..