New To Calgary, Just Got Into Fly Fishing Looking For Some Spots I Can Wade Down The River

[DevinC]

I moved here for a summer job and being an avid fisherman back home I thought I would learn to fly fishing (when in Calgary, do as the Calgarians do). I had taken a lesson earlier in the season, but then I got super busy and the flood hit as well. So I am looking to get out tomorrow. I am looking for some spots I can drive to and than walk along the river. I heard south of Carseland is good, but it is a bit of a drive. Just wondering what you guys think.

 

Also I am looking a fishing an Elk hair caddis with a stone fly nymph, and/or san jaun worm with a stone fly. Do you guys think these are good options? Or is there something else I should be using?

 

Thanks in advance

[mark42]

Personally, for walk and wade, nothing beats the upper oldman/livingstone area, but I've heard it might still be a bit high/fast. There are other options in that area of the upper oldman like racehorse and dutch creek. If you are looking for somewhere with plenty of access close to the road, great walk and wade water, and hungry cutts, that area is second to none. Especially where you are new to fly fishing, they are supposedly more forgiving to a less than ideal presentation.

 

You can check this site for some hatch charts http://bowcrow.tripod.com/flyfishing/id8.html

 

Again, in my own experience, anything blue or green works pretty well. BWO's and PMD's are my go-to flies, but you should certainly bring some green drakes and various colors of elk hair caddis (again, blue and green are my favs, maybe some oranges later in the year). It might be a bit early, but I always bring some big foam hoppers and ants too. As a backup if nothing is happening on the surface, some black nymphs or white fluffy streamers could be useful.

 

Hope this helps, good luck!