Sunday was a great day for Team Canada and for any angler who was able to squeak in some time on the river.  Conditions continue to improve, and the fish are taking notice.  Air temperatures were a balmy 8 degrees and visibility was about 2-3′.  According to the hydrometrics chart, the water levels were at about 1.18m, but no report on the flow.  The sun didn’t keep any of the browns or bows from eating.  They, along with their cousin the whitefish, were all found in various types of water.  The majority of fish were taken from choppy water that provided the seam between the faster and slower water.  However, a number of fish were also taken from slack water and a few from the fast stuff.  The depths these fish were hunting in were about 2-5′.  The gold medal fly was the worm, both blood and red San Juan.  However, leeches, prince nymphs tied for silver while the flashback pheasant tail took bronze.  Fishing should continue to improve from now until runoff, but be careful as ice shelves continue to break up and float down the river.  Always keep one eye on your line and another keeping a lookout!

Feb. 14: If you were lucky enough to head to the river once the weather warmed up, you were hopefully rewarded with a tight line or two!  Weather began clearing in the afternoon, providing sunshine with temperatures a few degrees above zero.  There was minimal wind and the water clarity was phenomenal, at about 4+ visibility.  Today was spent exploring conditions within city limits.  Fortunately, much of the ice shelves have dissipated making for much safer fishing conditions.  However, always be sure to let someone know where you’re fishing and take any necessary precautions depending on the conditions of the area you are fishing.  Fishing was fairly slow for the middle part of the afternoon, despite a nice midge hatch around 1:00.  Later in the afternoon, the fish became more active feeding on prince nymphs, san-juan worms, yellow and copper copper-johns, and green caddis larvae/pupae.  All fish were taken on flies ranging from size 12-16.  Despite there still being snow on the ground, fish were not simply in their “winter” holdouts.  The largest fish, a healthy mid-twenty brown, was taken about 5′ from shore in medium depth water and a number of other fish were taken on the seams of medium paced/slower water.  I’m happy to report, all fish looked quite healthy with only a few looking thin from a hungry winter.

Feb. 15:  Weather continued to improve, with partial clouds throughout the day.  Clarity lessened a bit from the previous day, likely due to melt from the warmer temperatures.  Visibility was about 2-3′.  Unlike the previous day, fish were consistently active throughoutt the afternoon taking all the similar variations and sizes of flies from the previous day.  The one surprising part of the day was three healthy, vibrant and active low-twenty rainbows taken from fast water.  This illustrates that with the warmer temperatures fish will begin moving from their winter holdouts to various types of water, so be sure to cover not simply your winter holes, but all types of water!

Nymphs are the go-to method for the most consistent fishing experiences. Continue fishing the San Juan Worm with a small BH pheasant tail, red copper john, evil weevil, or other small nymph pattern trailing behind it. Some reports of success with a hopper/dropper rig. Use hopper’s like Barrett’s Golden Stone, or stonefly imitations on top with a small beadhead dropper in behind.

Lots of caddis around early in the evening and as the sun is going down. Favorite patterns like the peacock caddis, CDC and elk caddis, or Swisher’s caddis continue to produce in 16’s and 18’s.

The hotter temperatures and bright sky mean nymphing should be your go-to method on the Bow for now. Try fishing a two-fly set-up with a heavy fly on the top to get both flies down. Small beadheads size 14,16 (prince nymphs, red copper johns, tungstuds, beadhead pheasant tail, and hare’s ear).

Hopper/dropper combination is also worth trying with one of the nymphs suggested above used as the dropper. Try a “Trina’s flexi girdle bug’ or a ‘barrett’s golden stone’ size 8 or 10 as your hopper.

Morning fishing with tricos is still going stong - lasting until about noon. Evening fishing with small peacock caddis, parachute caddis or CDC and elk caddis is also effective.

Reports on smaller streams in Southern Alberta are good but the water is still high. Try attractor patterns like the lime trude or ‘yeger’s 409.’

Cold weather has brought great fishing to the Bow! Water temperatures have dropped and levels are at a great level for productive fly fishing. All sections are fishing well now that the Highwood has cleared, allowing for great visibility from the city down to Carsland. Recently, some patterns that have been producting especially well are:

 Nymphs: San Juan Worm #6,8; Evil Weevil #14,16; Pheasant Tail #14,16.

Streamers: Black Bow River Bugger #6; Kiwi Muddler #6,8.

Dry Flies: Swishers Dancing Caddis #14,16,18; Hi Vis Para BWO #18; Skid Bitch #6,8.

Remember, don’t be afraid to take off those indicators and look for rising fish tight to the banks on nice overcast days. Identify the hatching flies, make an upstream presentation, and set the hook!

Despite heavy rains last week the Bow is in great shape.

 Visibility is 24″ and clearing below the Highwood and closer to 3 - 4 feet above it. All methods - nymphing, streamer fishing, and dry fly have been productive.

Nymphs: San Juan worm, leech patterns, caddis pupae, Evil Weevil, Prince Nymphs, Rubber Leg Squirrel and other Golden Stonefly imitiations.

Streamers: Woolly Bugger, CH Rubber Bugger, Clouser Minnow.

Dries: BWO’s on overcast days; Tricos (by the millions); caddis like the peacock caddis or CDC and Elk; golden stone imitiations including the skid bitch and assorted stimulators.

Once again, had about an hour and a half before the chores started this morning. Made it out from about 6-7:30. Much less cloud cover and a bit chillier this morning, with a temp of about 14. Like yesterday, didn’t see much insect activity above the surface. A hatch of midges about 7 or so, but that’s it. Visibility was holding okay, at about 2-3′. The still/slackwater has much less visibility. Levels seemed about the same as yesterday as well. Was less productive on the fishing side of things, with 3 in the net 2 browns and a bow. All were taken on a size 14 orange rubber legged copper colored copper john. Also tried brown worm, caddis, black copper john, red copper john and stones. Fish were in mid-deep (3.5-4.5′) riffly water towards middle/end of run. All fish were btw 15-17. Still beautiful colors though!

Went out this AM for an hour and a half before work.  Great cloud cover, no wind, and outside temperature was about 14.  This morning’s information from Alberta Environment shows flow at 86.76 m3/s and water level at 1.175 m.  Information from Banff is flow of 72.70 m3/s and water level of 2.531. Visibility was okay at about 2-2.5 feet.  Didn’t see much activity in the air/surface, but there must have been something nice going on sub-surface.  Hooked into five. Three cookie cutter bows and two nice browns around 21/22.  Bows were caught in medium-depth water (about 4′) that was choppy and slightly faster than walking pace.  All of them took a 14 rubber legged bh copper john.  The two browns were both caught in really shallow, choppy water (about 1-2′).  One took a size 14 caddis and the other took a 14 black rubber legged bh copper john.  Didn’t flip any rocks or run the sieve, as I had to get to work.  The cloud cover was great, as it helped with the early AM glare.  Heard that there are some size 6/8 stones coming up, as well as bwo’s (14-18), midges, and march browns (10-12).

Made it out for 4 hours this AM within Fish Creek.  Outside temp. started in the mid digits and rose to 14. Visibility has remained stable at this spot at 2-3′ and levels have risen about 6″ or so within the last few weeks.  As soon as cloud cover left, the wind picked up-but not bad enough to stop the fishing. There was a tiny midge hatch around 7:45, not prolific, around size 18/20.  Later on, about 9:30 or so, BWOs came off sporadically at size 16/18.  Forgot both the sieve and the water thermometer in the car.   Flipped some rocks and saw some decent size caddis like yesterday (~14), but no large numbers. Hooked into two brown brutes, one took a size 14 ice caddis, and the other a size 16 black flashback midge.  Also hooked into a rainbow, but he shook me off before I could see what he took.  Unfortunately, I ran out of smaller stuff or I think the numbers would have been better.

Tip of the day:  Try sizing down if you’re showing the fish the hatch but not having any takes.

Made it out for a quick 2.5 hour outing this AM in a popular city stretch. Outside temperature started at 7 and rose to 11. Visibility is okay at 2-3′. No wind and some off/on cloud cover. Ran a sieve through the water and saw some midges and aquatic worms. Flipped some rocks and saw some decent size caddis (~14). Landed one brown between 17-18.” Took a size 14 caddis. He was in about 4-5′ of fast water. At about 8:45 lots of insect activity started with a big BWO hatch (size 14/16 or so) as well as tiny midges (~22). Hope folks can make it out today and take advantage of the nice conditions before runoff starts!

Tip of the day:  check and clean your flies often, as the didymo is pretty thick and can be the difference between a take and a shake.