onthefly7 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 I am visiting Calgary for July, and would like to pack the most Canadian fun into those 30 days as possible. I am willing to drive however far it takes! (within reason) So where is the BEST place to camp for quality fishing?! Thanks! andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teck71 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 for the month of July. first gotta hit Stampede. second find a backroads map book, find the forestry trunk road. Drive up and down it, see water fish it. You could not posible properly fish all the water there in a month but would be worth a try. Teck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reevesr1 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 In no particular order, in the south..... Livingstone, Crowsnest, Castle system, Upper Bow (for the unreal beauty of it), Lower Bow (for the big ass fish), Upper oldman. And that is just the south. As Teck said, you can fish every stinkin' piece of water Hwy 40 crosses and rarely if ever be disappointed. If it was me, I'd get myself a copy of Barry Mitchell's "Alberta Trout Highway." Read it and fish whatever strikes your fancy. I've camped at Livingstone falls, and there are campgrounds nearby (Racehorse Creek and Dutch Creek) that open up all of the south. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawgstoppah Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 spend at least 5 days on the Bow too. Don't miss out on those fish. Not quite secluded, but the lower bow r valley has quite a scenic appeal, it's a wonderfull river full of fish. others to hit N Ram, Red Deer Crow Oldman Livingstone If I were you I'd slip into BC and try some of the Elk R , and tribs there... only 2.5 hrs from calgary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 I thought you moved to Calgary a year ago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly7 Posted June 17, 2009 Author Share Posted June 17, 2009 haha I was planning on moving but then I decided to stay in houston and I visit my dad in calgary every summer thanks for the input Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly7 Posted June 17, 2009 Author Share Posted June 17, 2009 I decided that the factors of scenery and such are not important compared to... GOOD FISHING! (beginner friendly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly7 Posted June 17, 2009 Author Share Posted June 17, 2009 I fished cataract creek last July which was easy fishing, but the fish were very small so I am hoping for a little bigger than 4-5" this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
putzer Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 for all of the southern alberta rivers mentioned above this post there are great campgrounds provided by one company called rocky mountain camping, just google rockymountaincamping.ca and you will see what I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly7 Posted June 17, 2009 Author Share Posted June 17, 2009 Is the elk river forgiving to beginners? What flies are recommended? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gokaroach Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 There are a couple of fly shops on the main street of Fernie that you should stop into and ask them what is hatching and working. Last year in July we had an amazing day on green drakes. A great river to float! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly7 Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 Which rivers are beginner friendly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jksnijders Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 for the month of July. first gotta hit Stampede. second find a backroads map book, find the forestry trunk road. Drive up and down it, see water fish it. You could not posible properly fish all the water there in a month but would be worth a try. Teck This man is wise. Follow his words carefully... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly7 Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 I think that could lead to a lot of frustrating wasted time as I am a beginner and would not know the first thing about fly selection, fishable water, leader length, or indicator rigging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jksnijders Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Many people have learned exactly where he describes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbransfield Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Cutt's on the trunk road are extremely forgiving, the're the gentleman's fish meaning they love to feed from 10am to 5pm and arn't hungup on presentation. The bow's another story, the fish arn't too hard to catch but for a beginer, man spend your time on the trunk, you will thank yourself. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveM Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I think that could lead to a lot of frustrating wasted time as I am a beginner and would not know the first thing about fly selection, fishable water, leader length, or indicator rigging Heck, I don't let all those shortcomings bother me none! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teck71 Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I think that could lead to a lot of frustrating wasted time as I am a beginner and would not know the first thing about fly selection, fishable water, leader length, or indicator rigging That water is alot easier to read than the bow and on most days you will see the cutts rising, for flies stop in at fish tales or south bow they will set you up but safe bets are drys stimmies size 8-12 Elk hair caddis size 10 - 16 adams size 12 - 18 royal wulff 10 - 16 nymphs beaded pheasant tails 12 -16 gold ribbed hairs ear 12-16 copper johns 10 - 16 streamers (go big) clousers minnows (black, olive, red) Zonkers (white, natural) wooly buggers (black, brown, white) muddlers (brown, wine) dry and nymph fish up stream, switch to the streamers for the trip back to car for some bully action. if you can carry 2 rods (1 3-4 wt for cutties, and a 6-7wt for bulls)this way you can have both rigged for a quick switch if you see a bull while fishing for cutts. if not a 6wt will cover both situations. have fun take a tonne of pics. Teck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly7 Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 Thanks everyone, that trunk road sounds good! What river does it run along and is there any camping there? I will definitely stock up on the listed flies Teck, thanks alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teck71 Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Oldman, livingstone, racehorse creek, dutch creek, highwood, sheep, cataract creek, fallen timber creek, red deer river, James river, raven river, ram river. reaally too many to list. the trunk rd runs from hwy 3 in coleman up north to past 16 I believe. that is the great thing about it if one river is not fishing well, move to the next 5 mins down the road. www.rockymountaincamping.ca any of their campsites will put you in the thick of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acurrie Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 First off, I don't believe there is really any SUPER EASY fishing anywhere. I mean if you say you don't know the "first thing about fly selection, fishable water, leader length, or indicator rigging" then I would grab one of Jim Mclennan's Books, preferably "Trout streams of Alberta" link: http://www.mclennanflyfishing.com/ for starters. The book also has a lot of maps, access points, campgrounds, flies etc etc. I don't know of to many places where you can tie on whatever fly you want and catch 100 fish/ day. But trying some different water and techniques should get you into a fair amount of fish. It might also be a good idea to start off with a guided trip down the Bow just to get your feet wet. Just my 0.02 Good luck, Drew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly7 Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 Actually, I have already gone on 2 guided bow river trips and 2 guided texas coast redfish trips and I have been fly fishing for 3 years. I can cast fine and warmwater and saltwater fly fishing have been no problem, but trouting on my own has proved particularly daunting. I am hoping to figure it out this summer, and I was just asking for some more friendly spots, not some stupid-easy places for someone who has never cast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly7 Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 No thats okay Id like to get it on my own. Thanks for the input on the Trunk Forest Road and the Elk River, I really like the sound of those. But is the elk river special enough to warrant its own trip or is it too similar to the Forest Road streams? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Saying that the Elk is too similar to the forest streams is like saying that Angelina Jolie is too similar to Marilyn Monroe to...well...you know. Honestly, with the limited amount of experience you have there is just no way you could become jaded with this area. You're talking about a full on binge in some of the best flyfishing country on the planet. Get real! Here's what I'd do given a month to fish like a man possessed: Week 1: South FTR - Cataract, Liv, RH, OMR, Dutch, etc. Week 2: Crow, Castle, Waterton area Week 3: Koots - Elk, Wiggy, tribs. Bring cash. Week 4: All Bow and nothing but the Bow. I would also try to find some time in there to hike into some of the higher mountain lakes in K-Country, like Rawson, etc. If the water stays high put the Bow week first and move everything back a week. You could easily fish a different stream every day and eat up a month without fishing some of the finest streams we have to offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acurrie Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 But then you leave out Stauffer, Ram, Clearwater, Red Deer, Prairie Cr, Fallen Timber, Little Red, Bullshead, ...etc etc It's just way to hard to pick! I know I couldn't do it. Just move here man, and make life easy for yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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