Current Or Eddy

[dmelenberg]

So here's my dealio... this has happened to me more than once.

I'm dry flying downstream of an island in the bow - right where the two currents converge.

I usually float the fly into the convergence.

within 5 to 15 minutes I catch an 8 to 12 inch bow with a size 16 caddis.

so I figure that I'm using the right fly - but I want something bigger!

I want to do battle with the likes of what you all say you're catching - 20-24 inchers.

so where do I find the big ones?

in the current?

or in the eddies?

do I up the size of the caddis?

I might be flying high and dry, but that does not mean I want to be empty handed.

I want to tell fish stories! :)

[Lundvike]

In my experience the smaller fish are not always a good indication of what the bigger fisher are taking. The small guys will often take anything presented, while the bigger fish are more selective. Also try varying where you drift your fly. My 2 cents hope it helps.

[maxwell]

simple dude....fish the big slow flast and tailouts and target the bigger fish poppin...take some practice distinguishing wich are tiddlers and wich are gooders but ur probably fishing the right fly jsut not fishing over the right fish...2-4 foot flats are great for a fish too feed in the evening they ahd some deepish water too hide and tehres not a strong current and its easy too look at whats drifting above...fish are a little more spooky tho in teh flats but thats were i find the bigguns...goodluck dude

[Guest rusty]

The simple answer is that there are very, very few fish in the Bow in the 24" class, and most reports of them are exaggerated.

 

Having said that, trying to catch a fish on a dry when it's not rising is a lot harder than getting one on a nymph.

 

There was a guy here before whose signature was "Many 25" trout are caught on the Bow...but few are ever measured".

 

20" trout are a lot more common though, and you generally just have to fish the right types of water at the right times to catch them. Blind fishing a caddis will occasionally pay off, but you're much better off nymphing or fishing streamers into the right types of water until you start to see fish rising.

[steelhead]

The simple answer is that there are very, very few fish in the Bow in the 24" class, and most reports of them are exaggerated.

 

 

 

 

Hillarious. Thats the funniest thing I ever heard.

 

 

Dump the dries and throw streamers or bigger flies. Then you'll see how many 24 inch plus trout there are on the bow.

 

 

Monster fish are not going to feed exclusivly on size 16 bugs floating on the top of the water. After the 20 inch size is reached, theyre eating other fish, not bugs. Thats the nature of a trout, all over the world, and written about in books.

 

Bigger the fish, the bigger the bait. Although we all wait and fish for months and years for the monster 24 incher to hit your size 16 Caddis, you might catch 3 tomorrow throwing a bunny strip streamer.

 

 

Just because you can catch a hundred 8-12 inchers on a small dry doesnt always mean a 20+ incher is going to hit. There is probably 5, 20+ inch trout in that hole your fishing, and their feeding on the little rainbows your throwing back in.

 

Steelhead

[Guest bigbadbrent]

or not steelhead..

 

 

There are simply way more smaller fish then big..

[Conor]

To catch big fish on dries in the bow, you have to find them first (see Max's post).

 

Prospecting with dries might get you a gooder, but mainly you'll end up with a bunch of tiddlers.

 

So, become a fish stalker, or throw nymphs or streamers if you want bigguns. Still, don't expect something over 22" every trip out.

[steelhead]

Theres still about a hundred of them in a KM. A KM isnt a very far measurement. So, in that hole he fishes, there is at least 1 over 24, and if he walks another hundred meters, there is 10 more of them.

 

Even if theres 50 of them per KM, in a hundred meter walk, theres 5 over 24. Sill a great number BUT your not going to catch them unless you target big fish. And these numbers I am using are less than half or a quarter of what your chart is totalling for 2005.

 

I think thats quite a few over 24 inches in a small walk. And at that size, theyre not bug eating anymore.

 

Want little trout, use little bugs, lots of fun catching a hundred fish a day. Want a big fish, upscale your flies, walk a little bit more (within one KM) and catch a 24 inch fish per trip, or maybee 2. It all works for me and others who said use streamers.

 

Great chart, confirms what I am saying.

 

Steelhead

[Carlodabroads]

Am I missing something? Isnt 380mm 15"?

[Guest rusty]

Uh...yeah. 380mm = 15". In other words, there are 1800 fish per km near Mac, and only 20 browns and say 350 rainbows are over 15".

 

I believe the numbers last time I looked was that 1 in 10,000 fish are 600mm+. Taking the correct numbers that there are roughly 1800 trout per km, that means there's an honest 24"+ fish every few km - certainly not one in every hole. I think anglers beat those odds by fishing prime lies, because the biggest fish always get the best shot at the food. You can obviously dramatically increase your odds at a big fish by fishing specifically to them as Conor said, but you still won't beat the fact that 24"+ fish in the Bow are not an everyday occurrence.

 

I concur completely that big fish are more likely to be caught on a streamer or a nymph than a dry fly (which is what I'd said above).

 

I have fished the Bow heavily for a number of years. I can honestly say that in all my time spent on it, I haven't landed more than a dozen fish over 24" - and I fish streamers far more than most. Maybe I'm just a poor fisherman.

[Carlodabroads]

I have fished the Bow heavily for a number of years. I can honestly say that in all my time spent on it, I haven't landed more than a dozen fish over 24" - and I fish streamers far more than most. Maybe I'm just a poor fisherman.

 

I suck too Rusty,

 

Any newcomer to the sport should realize that the bow is a jewel in the fact that you have the chance, THE CHANCE, at hooking, landing if your lucky, a truly large fish. But these moments should not be expected, they should be cherished as the rare moments that keep you coming back for more.

 

I remember each gooder that I have caught, or not caught but rather pulled in a straightened out hook, or dangling peice of broken tippit.

 

There are some terrific, knowledgeable, skilled anglers on this forum and on any given day, one or more of them may come online with a true story of a gooder.

 

I would however be very surprised, and possibly depressed, if tomorrow 15 of these anglers went out for a 4 hour fish, and all 15 came home with photos of a 24" fish.

 

be happy with each day, look at your surroundings, and take the advise that has been offered to boost your odds, but Do not dissapoint yourself with, in my humble opinion, Unrealsistic expectaitons.

 

Tight Lines!

[steelhead]

When i first started to fish the bow, like many, I started with spin fishing. Casting rapalas.

 

Many a day i went out and i would call it a waste of a day if I didnt catch my 26'er. 24 inch fish were a regular occurrance, with more than one caught in a day by all involved in the float. I got 2- 24+ inch browns in a day casting a crank this spring in one hole! One fella I know uses rubber baits and hauls in the monsters left and right out of one hole south of 22X.

 

With that, i believe theres more than enough large fish in every hole and everyone has a more than excellent chance of hauling one in.

 

Throw bigger streamers(i'm talking 6-8 inches long) and imitate rockies and suckers with browns or gold colours.

 

Since I started fly fishing the bow, I have been dissapointed with the big fish results. I tied up larger golden streamers and its a 20 inch plus fish almost everytime I get out.

 

If I can do it, you all can do it. Dont be afraid to change your strategy, it pays off.

If your gonna keep using a wire worm and a size 10 stimmie, get used to small fish.

 

 

steelhead

[walker1]

I think fish over 24 are uncommon, but, are there. I have seen the proof live and on this board. However, I have 8 plus years in on the bow and throw everything at em. This, I realize does not make me a pro. I do not do a lot of dry fly on the bow as I agree with the statements made, a streamer or nymph will take more big fish. If you target the biguns with a dry you can get them.

 

Probably landed a few dozen at the 24" range and only a few over this debatable mark. One brown was a measured 28". This is why I have my opinion.

 

BTW, I can vouch as I am sure 10 others can, that Russ is a great fisherman. I hate to say it, but, most people do not measure accurately at all! Sure some do, but.............

IMO

[dmelenberg]

sorry it took me so long to come and check what you all have written...

but thanks for the chat.

 

the bottom line as I read it is this:

if you want big fish, use big hooks.

and go to where the big fish are - by using nymphs and streamers.

cool!

 

while I do like the feel of tight lines (Carlodabroads signature) and could fish all day catching the littluns,

I do want to land a few bigguns, so it looks like I need a lesson or two on nymphs and streamers.

any suggestions where to go?

[OneMoreLastCast]

I have to step in and say something and I'm sure it will offend, but what Steelhead wrote is ridiculous.

 

Big fish eat the same food as small fish, just more of it. They are also opportunistic and of course more aggressive, so yes, your options open up as far as being able to catch them on Streamers.

 

Big fish get big because they are wiser and harder to catch, but getting to know a fish's feeding cycles, etc. will get you into big fish using the exact same patterns used to catch small fish.

 

You can also catch big fish on Dries, especially at this time of year. You just need to know what to look for and target big fish to catch them. I've caught a number of +20" Trout on size 20 - 24 dries/emergers at this time of year, so I will not debate whether or not you can catch Big Trout on Dries.

 

By blind casting dry flies on the Bow, you will be lucky to catch any fish at all, so you should feel lucky to catch even small fish. Learn how to read rise forms in order to know what the fish are feeding on and also to know whether it is a big fish or a small fish.

 

Taking Fly fishing advice from someone that was "Casting a Crank" as recently as this Spring, might not get you the results you are looking for.

[Hawgstoppah]

I have to 100% agree on the HONEST fish over 24". Go look around and have a CLOSE look at some guides web pages out there.... if you know your fish sizes pretty well, you'll see what I mean. And these are GUIDES overestimating fish by 3-5 inches. In 15 years of Bow river fishing I'd say I come by an honest 24+ incher about one in every 5 trips out. And that's knowing where to find 'em. There's fish over 30" in the bow if you can fool 'em. Heck with 24

[kungfool]

I have to step in and say something and I'm sure it will offend, but what Steelhead wrote is ridiculous.

 

Big fish eat the same food as small fish, just more of it. They are also opportunistic and of course more aggressive, so yes, your options open up as far as being able to catch them on Streamers.

 

Big fish get big because they are wiser and harder to catch, but getting to know a fish's feeding cycles, etc. will get you into big fish using the exact same patterns used to catch small fish.

 

You can also catch big fish on Dries, especially at this time of year. You just need to know what to look for and target big fish to catch them. I've caught a number of +20" Trout on size 20 - 24 dries/emergers at this time of year, so I will not debate whether or not you can catch Big Trout on Dries.

 

By blind casting dry flies on the Bow, you will be lucky to catch any fish at all, so you should feel lucky to catch even small fish. Learn how to read rise forms in order to know what the fish are feeding on and also to know whether it is a big fish or a small fish.

 

Taking Fly fishing advice from someone that was "Casting a Crank" as recently as this Spring, might not get you the results and you are looking for.

 

I have to agree with you MTB. I have only fished the bow about 8 or 10 times since spring and have caught fish over 20 inches each outing all on nymphs and dries no larger than size 14. Most times I'm throwing size 16 or smaller. I even had my best day ever this spring with 5 large browns taken in one day with my biggest ever at 27 inches (taped) all on size 16 caddis larvae I tied.

 

Learning the river, the feeding patterns, and proper presentations is what has made all the difference for me regarding the number, and size of fish hooked. I do throw large streamers at times (especially in still waters) but do not find I catch larger, nor more trout.

[steelhead]

LOL, you didnt offend me, you made me laugh!

 

 

What, not interested in what a MULTI-SPECIE and MULTI-METHOD angler has to say or his opinions??

 

Thats pretty (extreemely) narrow minded there "missin the bow". I kinda expected that. You must think I just started fly fishing this year after a spring of crank casting.

 

 

I throw streamers, and big ones. I dont catch 10-18 inchers, I catch 20 inch plus fish. I may only catch 1-4 fish over 24 inches in a trip, but I do catch them and with that method. No little squeekers, no whitefish, just big fish.

 

This guy asked how to catch big fish on the Bow with regularity. Thats my method. I dont care what you think of it, it works for me, I pass it on. I know it will work for this fella. It has worked for others I know.

 

MTB - "Taking Fly fishing advice from someone that was "Casting a Crank" as recently as this Spring, might not get you the results and you are looking for."

 

 

Taking fly fishing advice from someone who is narrow minded enough to not accept others points of views or methods, might not get you the results you are looking for.

 

Thats more like it.

 

 

Steelhead

[Weedy1]

Steelhead, hit the river with the newspaper of the day, a digital camera and a tape measure. Lay all the 24"+ fish on the newpaper with the tape measure, make sure the date on the paper can be seen, then take some shots. Do this for several days then bring back the proof and post it on the board.

 

That'll show em for not knowing Rubes like you and I catch all the big fish!

[kungfool]

When i first started to fish the bow, like many, I started with spin fishing. Casting rapalas.

Many a day i went out and i would call it a waste of a day if I didnt catch my 26'er. 24 inch fish were a regular occurrance, with more than one caught in a day by all involved in the float. I got 2- 24+ inch browns in a day casting a crank this spring in one hole! One fella I know uses rubber baits and hauls in the monsters left and right out of one hole south of 22X.

 

Waste of a day with no 26 incher... man I could only wish to fish half as good as you. Every day is a great day for me even if I get skunked .

[OneMoreLastCast]

LOL, you didnt offend me, you made me laugh!

What, not interested in what a MULTI-SPECIE and MULTI-METHOD angler has to say or his opinions??

 

Thats pretty (extreemely) narrow minded there "missin the bow". I kinda expected that. You must think I just started fly fishing this year after a spring of crank casting.

I throw streamers, and big ones. I dont catch 10-18 inchers, I catch 20 inch plus fish. I may only catch 1-4 fish over 24 inches in a trip, but I do catch them and with that method. No little squeekers, no whitefish, just big fish.

 

This guy asked how to catch big fish on the Bow with regularity. Thats my method. I dont care what you think of it, it works for me, I pass it on. I know it will work for this fella. It has worked for others I know.

 

MTB - "Taking Fly fishing advice from someone that was "Casting a Crank" as recently as this Spring, might not get you the results and you are looking for."

Taking fly fishing advice from someone who is narrow minded enough to not accept others points of views or methods, might not get you the results you are looking for.

 

Thats more like it.

Steelhead

 

Not in the mood for this debate Steelhead. All I will say is that I have no problem with multi-method anglers and have often defended them when the elitist attitudes show up here. I will also say that if you are any kind of serious Fly Angler, you would have no use for your "Cranks" on a River like the Bow.

 

Regardless of what I, or anyone else says, you will be correct, so I'll just end it by saying, "You're right, I'm wrong"....Sorry.

 

For anyone that wants to catch bigger fish, don't bother learning the Fish's feeding patterns, insect's life cycles, reading water, etc. Just go buy some 6" to 8" Streamers or better yet, just throw the Fly rod in the closet and start chuckin' Cranks. It turns out I haven't got a clue what I'm talking about, my apologies.

[esleech]

Yes, you will catch bigger fish throwing big meals. However, as was said, large fish feed on a large range of items, and sizes of items. You will nail big fish on #20's and on #2 lefty's decievers if it is you perogative. However steelhead, you're authourative overtones make me snicker, how's about a little subtlety, but judging by your fishing techniques, that is not your style. Give it a try. Oh yeah, there is a photo section here as well, I would love to see these bigguns, fishporn is always great!

[birchy]

Just for the record.. I slammed a 20"+ rainbow tonight with a #16 or so Posse Nymph. And I have 2 witnesses.

[Guest bigbadbrent]

my biggest trout of the year was a 27" bull on a dry fly...

 

second biggest was a 25" brown on a elk hair caddis

 

I've caught my fair share of over 20's every year, and i never streamer..

[Guest bigbadbrent]

infact, i'd say i catch more big fish (22+") on the bow on dries..since the big boys come and play at night with dry flies..