Fishing Reports August 4

Bow River Report – August 4, 2016

Nymphing with Stoneflies, Worm patterns, and small leeches has been very good. Yes, we said leeches, try a small leech like a Chamois Leech or Crystal Bugger under and indicator.

Streamer fishing has been good at times, but inconsistent when it’s sunny. If it’s a cloudy day, it will likely be very good. Bright days, you will have to work at it. The last few weeks we have guided clients catch some truly big fish, both Rainbow and Brown Trout. Several of the biggest Browns we have seen in a couple of years.

Although we have had a number of little pushes of colored water with these rains, the river has remained fishable almost all of the time. A little colored water is far preferable to what we likely would have had without the rain.

Our heavy hatches of Tricos are getting wasted. With the colored water from rains we likely won’t see fish up on them. We likely don’t have much time left for the Trico hatch so it might go completely uneaten for this year.

Good news is that there are hoppers on the banks everywhere. Some of them are like a Hitchcock move there’s so many bugs. Keep your fingers crossed. Guys have been throwing a few hoppers here and there at sighted fish with decent reactions over half the time.

Remember #KEEPEMWET

Hatches:  Tricos

Dry Flies:  Chewbakka Hopper, More-Or-Less Hopper- Tan or Peach,

                  Quigley’s Flag Ant, Flying Ant-Black or Cinnamon

   

Nymphs:   Jimmy Legs-Coffee, Tung Stud-Olive #14, B/H Pheasant Tail,
                  Hotwire Caddis, Chamois Leech, Crystal Bugger

Streamers:  Silveys Sculpin Leech, Grand Master Flash, Chamois Leech,                            

                   Clouser Minnow, Crystal Bugger-Black or Purple

Crowsnest River Report – August 4, 2016

Things are getting way more technical (picky, spooky fish) on the Crowsnest, which is normal for this time of year. Levels are very low (3.1 CMS) and clear.

Fishing does continue to be quite good though. When it’s hot and sunny, you’ll likely see more bug activity early or late in the day.

Hoppers and Ants are getting started!

Southern streams are a lot lower and warmer than the Bow and north of Calgary. Show care when releasing fish. Remember #KEEPEMWET

Hatches:  Yellow and Lime Sally Stones, PMD’s, Caddis, Hoppers, Ants.

Dries: Purple Haze, E/C Caddis, Yeager’s Foam Caddis,Helen Keller PMD,

          PMD Stacker Cripple, Chewbakka Hopper, Quigley’s Flag Ant.

Nymphs:  Tung Stud-Olive, B/H Pheasant Tail, Holo Prince, Prince of Darkness
  
Streamers: Medusa, Ice Pick Streamer, Skiddish Smolt

High Country River Report – August 4, 2016

All of the high country streams are essentially heaven for all of the dry fly aficionados. Only times that isn’t the case is when it’s cold and rainy.

Green Drakes are going strong, some PMD’s still around. Some fish being caught on hoppers, especially on the Oldman.

Southern streams are a lot lower and warmer than the Bow and north of Calgary. Show care when releasing fish. Remember #KEEPEMWET

Hatches:  PMD’s, Caddis, Green Drakes, Hoppers, Ants

Dries: Morrish Hopper, Point Guard Hopper,  Elk Hair Caddis, 

          Neversink Caddis, PMD Thorax, Parachute Green Drake,

          Film Critic-Green Drake

Nymphs:  Prince of Darkness, B/H R/L Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail
  
Streamers: Ice Pick Streamer, Silvey’s Sculpin Leech, Medusa.