Mountain Fly Fishers
                 (403) 609-7967
        Canmore, Alberta, Canada
             

                                            john@mountainflyfishers.com
Providing excellence in guiding and instruction on the waters of the Canadian Rockies since 1985. Mountain Fly-Fishers offers guiding and instruction on the waters of the Upper Bow River and the Headwater streams of the Bow Crow Forest preserve. 

                                         

2009  -  As with most years, the waters of The Upper Bow likely will remain clear and low until somewhere around May 19th +/- a week or so, as snow melt begins in earnest- just prior to the full onslaught of the spring freshet, there is a definite awakening in the river and Trout become more active and any signs of lethargy disappear. The trigger is likely subtle increases to the flow rate and in stream temperatures. All too soon by the end of the May the river will change character to a raging muddy, sediment saturated mass, and it is at this time that most fly-fishers declare the Upper Bow as not fishable. Nothing could be further from the truth, as the fish must continue to earn a living they will gravitate to flood channels, adjacent pools, ponds, and lakes provided there is some connectivity to river. These adjacent waters will filter the suspended silt quickly, and soon become clear gems, filled with early aquatic activity among the invertebrates (fish food), and significant populations of hungry Brown trout.
                                                                                             -Fish hard and live long-

"Having guided on the Upper Bow and area for many years I have learned to allow the Trout  to dictate the day, as opposed to simply working out of my same old box, day in day out. Often the best fishing opportunities will occur in some of the most unusual and unexpected places (not all pretty either), however there are so many possible facets to a day outside in the Rockies it would be a shame to not at least make an attempt at being creative, and share some of the spontaneous possibilities created by the Trout of the region.  They (the Trout) are not restricted by the same boxes we build, and so unfortunately if we choose to ignore that, then we will have missed the essence of being a fly-fisher, not to mention often some of absolutely the best fishing to be had." John Samms -Canmore

 

Bow River - Upper: Canmore to Seebe -
Open year round with. 10km. closure Hwy.1 Bridge to Pigeon Creek
   Size  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct
                                 Midge  18-20                
                     March Brown  16-18                
             Pale Morning Dun 16-20                
            Blue Winged Olive 16-18                
Blue Dun 14-18                
             Pale Evening Dun 16                
      Western Green Drake 10-12                
Mothers Day Caddis/Tan 8-12                
Caddis -Pencil/Micro 16-18                
Caddis - Sedges Rust 14                
  Golden Stone Migration 8-12                
                                  Trico                  
Ant Migration-Females Blk 14-16                
Ant Migration-Males Red 16                
Upper Bow River Conditions 
 May 1st, 2009 -  Currently low and clear. 


Head Waters: Livingstone & Oldman Area
Open June 16th - October annually
   Size  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct
                                 Midge  18-20          
                     March Brown  16-18          
             Pale Morning Dun 16-20          
            Blue Winged Olive 16-18          
                        Grey Drake 14-16          
      Western Green Drake 10-12          
              Assorted Caddis 10-16          
  Golden Stone Migration 6-12          
                                  Trico 20          
                           Hoppers 12-16          
  16          
Head Waters Conditions 
May 1,2009 No report