Jealous!

It turns out I am much shallower than I had realized. Normally I have no problem, even encourage the crew around here to go fishing. But with Brent being  in the Smithers/Terrace area for over a week now and Kevy on his way, I'm starting to get antsy!

Brent keeps sending me updates about dry fly Steelhead, McIntyre and their crew stuck 18 fish on Wednesday, I'm having a mild stroke. I don't go for another 16 days!

Brent with a pretty damn nice fish from last week (with a hat found behind a dumpster at a gas station in Burns Lake)

Fishing Reports

Bow River Report –September 27, 2012


Seems that the calendar got screwed up in a big way this year. It seems it’s not September 27 but August 27. Can’t remember a year where we have stayed so warm, so late, with the nights not even getting that cold. Only real evidence of how late it is would be the longer nights.

Anyways, not a lot changed in the last week, there’s a mind blowing number of rising fish kicking around right now. Small flies, small tippets (fished 6X on the Bow for the first time in 30 years), selective fish, spooky fish….it’s a little like a spring creek out there right now. Tricos (slowing down), Pseudos, and Baetis are the deal right now.

Hopper fishing has shown signs of resurgence in the past week but still remains somewhat inconsistent. One day it rocks, the next, not so much.

Boatmen are thick right now! Sight fishing with an appropriate pattern can be pretty darn good. Or even hanging one under a hopper is very effective. You can use Boatman patterns or the usual…Prince, Black Copper John, any slim profile black nymph will likely get eaten.

Hatches: Hoppers, Tricos, Ants, Beetles, Pseudos and Baetis on the cloudy days

Streamers: Slap-N-Tickle, C/H R/L Bugger-Black, Egg Stealing Super Sculpin
Nymphs: Tung Stud, Peacock Water Boatman, TB Biotic Nymph, Present tail
Dry Flies: Frankenhopper, Slice Above Hopper, Glitter Flag Ant, Glo-Ant, Berrett’s Cricket, Micro Mayfly-BWO #18, Almost Dun-BWO #18, Parachute Adams #20

Crowsnest River Report – September 27, 2012


Small flies, both dry and bead head, are the ticket right now on the Crow! If you get sick of that, a smaller Hopper or Ant fished through the likely holding water will do well.

Hatches: BWO’s, Terrestrials (Hoppers, Ants, Beetles)

Streamers: Bead Crystal Bugger, Jawbreaker
Nymphs: Holo Prince, Queen Prince, TB Biotic Nymph
Dries: Parachute Adams #20, Dave’s Hopper , Glitter Flag Ant, Glo-Ant

High Country River Report – September 27, 2012


Not a lot changed for the high country, still fishing very well. Which is why the below report is exactly the same as last. Only change, make sure to take some small BWO patterns!

Ants, Beetles, and BWO’s! This report doesn’t need to extend much past that. Weather’s nice, won’t be for long, get out there! Only a month left on the east slope streams.

Hatches: Terrestrials (Ants, Beetles, Hoppers)

Streamers: Sleech-Pink, Hare Sculpin (Double Bunny)
Nymphs: B/H Prince #14, TB Green Rock Worm, Queen Prince
Dries: Neversink Trude, Dominick’s Sprucie, Hi-Vis Flying Ant, Glo-Ant, Parachute Adams #20, Micro Mayfly-BWO #18

Books and DVDs

Whole bunch of new DVD and book titles have arrived.

Just a few:

Gaula River of Silver & Gold - From the makers of Tapam.

River Pimp

Sacred Headwaters, Wade Davis

New title by Kelly Galloup

Jungle Fish-Arapaima on the fly!

Passion For Tarpon-Andy Mill

And lots of others!

Don't forget, most DVD titles are available for rent.



Articulated Shanks

Now in Stock. Senyo's Articulated Shanks for Steelhead and Salmon.

Several colors and sizes available.

Backcountry Golden Dorado

From Todd Moen and Catch Magazine

Fishing Reports

Bow River Report –September 13, 2012


The biggest down side of fishing this past week has been WIND! Earlier in the week was positively hateful with wind….you may have noticed. The last coupleof days have been much better. One might say we’re having perfect September weather right now.

Tricos have made a resurgence with the warmer temps and there’s a lot of fish rising. A lot of them are fairly spooky right now, the “stomp and slosh” approach doesn’t work great.

Lots and lots and lots of Boatman around. Spent Sunday sighting fish and evry fish reacted very positively to a boatman pattern.

Hopper fishing is somewhat schizophrenic, one day it’s quite good, and then the next pretty much sucks. It’s worth a try, within an hour you’ll know which kind of day it is.

Weather forecast for the next while is as good as it gets for end of September.


Hatches: Hoppers, Caddis, Tricos, Ants, Beetles, Pseudos on the cloudy days


Streamers: Slap-N-Tickle, C/H R/L Bugger-Black, Egg Stealing Super Sculpin
Nymphs: Tung Stud, Peacock Water Boatman, TB Biotic Nymph
Dry Flies: Frankenhopper, Slice Above Hopper, Bloom’s CDC Caddis, Glitter Flag Ant, Glo-Ant, Berrett’s Cricket

Foam Bug Brown from this week

Crowsnest River Report – September 13, 2012


Small flies, both dry and bead head, are the ticket right now on the Crow! If you get sick of that, a smaller Hopper or Ant fished through the likely holding water will do well.

Hatches: Caddis, Quill Gordon Mayflies, Terrestrials (Hoppers, Ants, Beetles)

Streamers: Bead Crystal Bugger, Jawbreaker
Nymphs: Holo Prince, Queen Prince, TB Biotic Nymph
Dries: Parachute Adams #20, Dave’s Hopper , Flag Ant, Glo-Ant

High Country River Report – September 13, 2012


Ants and Beetles! This report doesn’t need to extend much past that. Oh, you might want to add #20 Parachute Adams to that list.
Weather’s nice, won’t be for long, get out there!

Hatches: Terrestrials (Ants, Beetles, Hoppers)

Streamers: Sleech-Pink, Hare Sculpin (Double Bunny)
Nymphs: B/H Prince #14, TB Green Rock Worm, Queen Prince
Dries: Neversink Trude, Dominick’s Sprucie, Hi-Vis Flying Ant, Glo-Ant, Parachute Adams #20

Tis The Season!

Fall is here, already! And with Fall comes the new lineups from manufacturers for the next year. Sage has new rods for 2013 to replace the Vantage and Flight (more info to come later).

Because of this, all remaining inventory of Sage Vantage and Flight fly rods are now 30% OFF, while supplies last. 4 piece rods as low as $175.

Just Got Here!

Simms Crest Hoodies

Getting Ready For Steelhead?

Got that trip west coming up? Here's a few suggestions that might make your Steelhead trip a little more comfortable.

DownUnder Merino Tops from Simms
Excellent base layer

Bulkley Jacket from Simms
Looking for a little longer storm jacket? Here it is!

Simms Fall Run Jackets
Primaloft technology available in two colors.

Coldweather Shirt
Insulated flannel available in two colors.



Lots of glove style in stock!



Cold weather hats and toques now in stock.

Howler Hats!

Another round of Howler hats (and clothing) has arrived!

Fishing Reports

Bow River Report –September 4, 2012


Now that the last of the summer long weekends is over we can hopefully look forward to a little peace and serenity.

Hopper fishing last week was pretty good but for some reason it pretty much sucked over the weekend (gale force winds with whitecaps on Sunday didn’t help).

Still a lot of Tricos around. Most days of late have been like some sort of stew on the water, with Tricos, Pseudos, Caddis, etc. all on the water at the same time.

The Hopper/Dropper stuff has been pretty good but the closer you get to the Highwood the more you have to deal with the storm of 6” “Turbo” Rainbows.

Cloudy days will bring a couple of things…insane streamer fishing and BWO’s with lots of fish rising.

Hatches: Hoppers, Caddis, Tricos, Ants, Beetles, Pseudos on the cloudy days

Streamers: Slap-N-Tickle, C/H R/L Bugger-Black, Egg Stealing Super Sculpin
Nymphs: Tung Stud, Peacock Water Boatman, TB Biotic Nymph
Dry Flies: Frankenhopper, Slice Above Hopper, Bloom’s CDC Caddis, Glitter Flag Ant, Glo-Ant, Berrett’s Cricket

Crowsnest River Report – September 4, 2012


Low and clear, the Crow is at the point where I like it most. It’s not for the faint of heart as you’ll find very selective, spooky fish but with patience, observation, and a lot of different ammunition you can have a lot of fun.

Hatches: Caddis, Quill Gordon Mayflies, Terrestrials (Hoppers, Ants, Beetles)

Streamers: Bead Crystal Bugger, Jawbreaker
Nymphs: Holo Prince, Queen Prince, TB Biotic Nymph
Dries: Wilcox Low Rider, Berrett’s Cricket, Dave’s Hopper, Flag Ant, Glo-Ant


High Country River Report – September 4, 2012


Good reports from most everywhere of late. Still a few Green Drakes around. Highwood sounds like it has fished a little tougher some days and the Castle fished very tough last week. Very good reports from everything else though.

It’s hard to believe, but there’s only two more months until they close.

Hatches: Caddis, Terrestrials (Ants, Beetles, Hoppers), Green Drakes

Streamers: Sleech-Pink, Hare Sculpin (Double Bunny)
Nymphs: B/H Prince #14, TB Green Rock Worm, Queen Prince
Dries: Berrett’s Emerging Green Drake, Hippie Stomper, Neversink Trude, Dominick’s Sprucie, Hi-Vis Flying Ant, Glo-Ant

For The Ladies....

From Orvis, the incredibly popular Safe Passage Sling Pack in

ladies graphics. As with the standard, very well thought out.

A great replacement for a vest that doesn't break the bank!

Simms G4 Guide Boots On Sale!

All remaining inventory on Simms G4 Guide Boots now 30% OFF, while supplies last.