Fishing Reports - Canada Day Weekend Edition

Bow River Report – June 30, 2016

The much anticipated Stonefly event has gotten under way. A reasonable number of fish up to the big bugs but there hasn’t been a “lights out” great day as of yet. It semms that this years emergence is very location specific. Lots of bugs in some areas, not so many in others.

Lots of fish on the Jimmy Legs. Our guys have been fishing them as a hopper/dropper under the foam bug.

Decent number of fish on the caddis, especially on the cloudy days. On the bright days it’s a late evening thing.

Streamer fishing continues to be pretty good.

Hatches:  Caddis, PMD’s, Stoneflies

Dry Flies:  Chubby Chernobyl-Gold or Tan #10, Berrett’s Barred Leg Golden Stone #10, Spent Partridge Caddis, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis, Film Critic-PMD

Nymphs:   Jimmy Legs-Coffee, Sexy Stone, Tung Dart, Tung Stud-Olive #14

Streamers:  Kreelex Minnow, Pseudo Sculpin, Circus Peanut, Skiddish Smolt,

                   TB Squirrel leech.

Crowsnest River Report – June 30, 2016

The Crow continues to fish really well. There’s all kinds of assorted bugs. The Green Drakes have set a new record for being way earlier than normal.

It is ridiculously low for the end of June at 4.5 cms. Pray for rain and cooler weather.

Hatches:  Golden Stoneflies, PMD’s, Caddis, Green Drakes

Dries: Chubby Chernobyl-Gold or Tan #10, Bank Robber, Noble Chernobyl,

         E/C Caddis, Yeager’s Foam Caddis, Helen Keller PMD, PMD Stacker  

         Cripple, Trina’s Carnage Drake, CDC Winged Emerger-Green Drake

Nymphs:  Rock ‘n’ Roller Stone, Parkin’s Muskrat Stone, WMD-Golden Stone
  
Streamers: Double Bunny, Ice Pick Streamer, Skiddish Smolt

High Country River Report – June 30, 2016

All of the high country has been fishing really good. Everything is really low.

Lots of bugs, especially Stones and Green Drakes.

Hatches:  Golden Stoneflies, PMD’s, Caddis, Green Drakes

Dries: Chubby Chernobyl-Orange, Yellowstoner Chubby, Elk Hair Caddis, 

          Neversink Caddis, PMD Thorax, Trina’s Carnage Drake, CDC Winged Emerger-Green Drake

Nymphs:  Rock ‘n’ Roller Stone, Conestone, Pink Headed Stone.
  
Streamers: Ice Pick Streamer, Silvey’s Sculpin Leech, Medusa.

Gear Review- Winston BIII Plus

This past winter I was given a new Winston BIII Plus 9 weight to take on some saltwater trips. I have to admit, my expectations were to experience a slower, albeit pretty, saltwater rod.

I used the BIII Plus 9'  9 weight and switched back and forth for a few days with my usual Sage Method 909-4 so I could compare as best as possible. I then fished the Winston exclusively for 3 days to see if there were any situations that it didn't work well or if there were instances where it excelled.
here's what I came up with:

Even though not as quick as I'm used to in the Method it had all sorts of power. A number of other rods I have cast require a change in how I cast, almost babying the rods due to their slower action. At no time did I feel like I had to do that with this rod. It generates great line speed even though it's a smoother action rod.

Tracking/accuracy on the BIII Plus is fantastic. Certainly on par with great entries like the Helios 2 and Sage Konnetic technology. Plain and simple, they're really accurate fly rods.

Feel in the hand is really nice. They feel light in the hand and feel crisp/quick (if that makes any sense to all of you). It just feel great in the hand, both at the ready and while casting.

Butt strength/feel is very good with this rod. While playing fish it never felt like the rod was under-gunned,  a not uncommon issue with a number of the high end, lightweight rods of today. It's got lots of jam.

My opinion is that this rod is a better choice for a broader spectrum of anglers looking for a premiere big game rod than say the Sage Method, which is quite unforgiving.

Last, and some would argue not important is the absolutely stunning finish and construction on the Winston rods. I own Sage methods, Orvis Helios 2, and now tried this Winston. All three of these rods sell for around $1000. With the Winston and Orvis I get immaculate finishing and fitting (guides, wraps, cork, reels seats) configuration. They are absolutely stunning! Then, with brand C, I get a $1000 fly rod with cork and fitting that is, as diplomatically put as possible, mediocre. Plain black reel seats and so-so cork. Not everyone would agree, but for $1000 I want a rod that looks awesome.
The Winston rods are, and always have been, quite possibly the most beautiful rods on the market.

Fishing Reports - Summer Solstice Edition

First fishing reports of the summer! Those others were just spring solstice versions...nowhere near as good.

Bow River Report – June 23,  2016

River levels have been stable at, or just shy of, 80 CMS for the better part of the week. Lower than normal by a ways but at least stable.

There’s been a LOT of bugs around lately. Caddis and PMDs being the most prevalent. There’s been a reasonably good number of rising fish on both. Most of the good Caddis fishing has been right at the end of the day but on days with some cloud there’s been fish up on them throughout the day.

Mid afternoon for the PMD’s for the most part. If it’s cloudy and you look for them you’ll likely find some fish up on them.

Based on the night time emergence seen the last couple of nights we are right on the edge of peak emergence of the Stoneflies. Been getting a reasonable  amount of eats on Chubbys, etc. but it’s likely going to “go off” any day.

Nymphing has been good, particularly with Stonefly nymphs. You can fish them either with an indicator rig or as a hopper/dropper with a Stonefly dry.

Streamer fishing has been pretty good. Leeches or something small and bright like a Kreelex Minnow. The fish have been eating them all day so streamer are a great choice if you don’t feel like nymphing in between rising fish.

Hatches:  Caddis, PMD’s, Stoneflies

Dry Flies:  Chubby Chernobyl-Gold or Tan #10, Berrett’s Barred Leg Golden Stone #10, Spent Partridge Caddis, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis, Film Critic-PMD

Nymphs:   Jimmy Legs-Coffee, Sexy Stone, Tung Dart, Tung Stud-Olive #14

Streamers:  Kreelex Minnow, Pseudo Sculpin, Circus Peanut, Skiddish Smolt,

                   TB Squirrel leech.

Crowsnest River Report – June 23, 2016

The Crow is kind of blowing up right now. Fishing has been really good on Stonefly dries and nymphs.

It is ridiculously low for the end of June at 4.5 cms. Pray for rain and cooler weather.

Hatches:  Golden Stoneflies, PMD’s, Caddis

Dries: Chubby Chernobyl-Gold or Tan #10, Bank Robber, Nobel Chernobyl,

         E/C Caddis, Yeager’s Foam Caddis, Helen Keller PMD, PMD Stacker  

         Cripple

Nymphs:  Rock ‘n’ Roller Stone, Parkin’s Muskrat Stone, WMD-Golden Stone
  
Streamers: Double Bunny, Ice Pick Streamer, Skiddish Smolt

High Country River Report – June 23, 2016

All reports from the high country were quite good since opening day last week. Dry fly fishing in clear water during the third week of June doesn’t happen very often.

Lots of Stoneflies everywhere!

Hatches:  Golden Stoneflies, PMD’s, Caddis

Dries: Chubby Chernobyl-Orange, Yellowstoner Chubby, Elk Hair Caddis, 

          Neversink Caddis, PMD Thorax

Nymphs:  Rock ‘n’ Roller Stone, Conestone, Pink Headed Stone.
  
Streamers: Ice Pick Streamer, Silvey’s Sculpin Leech, Medusa.