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Crows Nest Pass
Considering a July trip to Crows Nest Pass in SW Alberta for fish the Crows Nest, Oldman, and Elk (in SE BC).
I would appreciate any comments including:
-Outfitter/Guide Service
-Lodging
-Good Places for Cocktails and Food
-Timing of Trip
Thanks in advance
Max
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Hi Max
I operate a first class fly-fishing guiding company and have over 30 years experience on the waters of Alberta. I have accommodation partnerships with preferred rates in the Crowsnest Pass. Have a look at my web site and feel free to call or email with any questions you may have. July is a good choice you have golden stones and pmd's are starting to appear as well as little sedge caddis .I look forward to hearing from you.
Tight Lines
Mark Sokolowski [url=http://www.fishingpoleguidinginc.com:4ad4a]www.fishingpoleguidinginc.com[/url:4ad4a]
mark@fishingpoleguidinginc.com
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July is a great time. You'll enjoy great PMD hatches on the Alberta streams, and green drakes action as well, especially if you get a bit of a short downpour and then it calms off. Last summer we had tremendous action on days like that. You'd also be able to fish caddis, stones, among others.
Lots of guides do trips down there including me (but I don't like to "toot" my own horn), do your research to figure out who fits in best to your preference. Best way is to make some phone calls and do internet searches and check websites.
Lots of places to find lodging down there, I'd assume most guiding outfits that run trips in the area have some accomodations lined up. You could also check this site
:
[url=http://www.southernalberta.worldweb.com/CrowsnestPass/WheretoStay/:54b3d]http://www.southernalberta.worldweb.com/CrowsnestPass/WheretoStay/[/url:54b3d]
I personally eat at the rum runner in Coleman if I am down there. Good food, good drinks, sometimes live entertainment, and right on hwy 3 in Coleman.
Hope you have a great trip to Alberta! We are all a friendly bunch, so if you have any questions about the area, contact any of the guiding services around here!
Brian http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
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[url=http://bowcrow.tripod.com:54b3d]Bowcrow Fishing Adventures[/url:54b3d]
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Don't miss the Crowsnest Cafe in Coleman and while you're there, you can stock up at their little fly shop as well.
Talk to Alan Brice, a guide, at eekotour@shaw.ca or check the website at [url=http://www.albertaflyfishing.ab.ca/home.html:a4a1f]www.albertaflyfishing.ab.ca/home.html[/url:a4a1f]
We've enjoyed the Crowsnest Mountain Resort, which has a wonderful restaurant, cabins and trailer hook-ups, but that link bowcrow gave you will yield lots of options. We had very special dinners at the Bistro in Coleman and a place with a Moose in the name in Bellevue.
If you're lucky, you'll be there on a day when there's a craft fair or farmer's market and can luck into some fresh produce, bread or jam in Blairmore. There's also a grocery store just of the main hiway in Coleman on the western edge of town.
After a morning of fishing and an afternoon of horseback riding, Marie Cote gave me a fabulous massage. It's a good rainy day activity even if you don't "knead" one. If the water is too murky to fish you should also see the museum in Blairmore. Rained five days out of ten last time we were there, in August.
Have a great time!
[This message has been edited by flyangler (edited 26 February 2005).]
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We have visited Alberta a few times, we found out that there are many guides to choose from,Guides that provide referances that you can contact and talk to is important not friends and relatives. We also found out you get what you pay for, the guides that promised everything delivered nothing and blamed the weather,we floated the Bow River with a guide for 2 days who cut other boats off and put us into very few fish, we then floated with anouther guide and had a blast on the Bow and Crowsnest river. He did not say anything negative about the other guide even after we discussed what had happened he told us what he would do for us and not attack the other guide a real nice touch.After a slow start we had a great time and we return regularly.
Warm Waters
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Hi Max
I would try Vic Bergman at the Crowsnest angler. He offers trips in both B.C and Alberta. I have also heard that Bowcrow would also be a good choice. Here are their websites: [url=http://www.crowsnestangler.com/:0882e]http://www.crowsnestangler.com/[/url:0882e] [url=http://bowcrow.tripod.com/flyfishing/index.html:0882e]http://bowcrow.tripod.com/flyfishing/index.html[/url:0882e]
There are a lot of bed and breakfast places in the crowsnest pass. Follow the link from Bowcrow. You can't go wrong with 1)Anglers ridge, 2)Burmis bed & bales or 3)Nestle Inn.
As for food establishments I would also recomend the Rum Runner in Coleman.
If there is any other info that you might be interested in email me. blairspence@shaw.ca
Good luck and enjoy your visit.
Guito
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There is some excellent advice posted here for you, Max!
The crowsnest angler website that Guito recommends is an great source of info for the area.
[url=http://www.crowsnestguide.com/:64c52]http://www.crowsnestguide.com/[/url:64c52]
If you get a chance hit Thunder in the Valley (July 15th) The most amazing fireworks show you will ever see!!! (Busiest time in the area so expect to deal with alot of non-locals 4X4ing, fishing, drinking, and taking up all the camping and hotels http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/frown.gif )
I won't recommend B&B's cause I've never had to stay in any. There are some nice ones in the Pass and surrounding towns. I have had a great breakfast at the Anglers Ridge and I have stayed in the Goat mountain get-away (business http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif) just east of Blairmore. You can hear the Crow flowing past (<100 yrds away) your cabin at night! Nice folks that run the place but it is always booked pretty far in advance.
Amazing places to eat...
Pure Country Salon (Frank)- Great Saturday night BBQ Beef or bison steak or buger plus buffet!!! Great place for whiskey and tequila. If you think you can eat hotwings... you haven't tried them here!
Wild Rose (Alberta Rose)Cafe (Lundbreck)- Big great breakfasts. Good old guy runs it, I think his Mom is the cook still. You won't be dissapointed if you like a heavy coffee and eggs before fishing!
Bellevue Inn (the BI) (Bellevue)- Dirty little mining town bar, perfect place to buy the locals a drink. Karaoke on Thursday thru Sat.
Popiels (Coleman)- Excellent Italian food.
Stella's (Beaver Mines Pub in... Beaver Mines)- Nice quiet place to eat and drink. Good food, Great owners. I've had a couple of drinks with Guito there... If you stay later you have to watch out. The bar staff will start drinking with you and before you know it you'll be on a table dancing with the owners daughter http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif. watch out for the McRae clan when they come strolling down the road into the bar. Things get a little wild.
Rum Runners has been mentioned.
Don't forget about Pincher Creek when you're in the area. Some nice little restaurants in town. Not so tourist oriented.
Southern Alberta can't be beat!!!
Cheers,
Paul
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Great information in this thread. My wife and I have been thinking about going back up that way this summer or maybe next.... I'd like to spend a few days with a guide and do the rest of the time on my own. I have my own drift boat, which I'd like to bring, but I've hear rumours of vandalism to those who live south of the border. Any truth to those rumours?
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Paul,
I'm sure it can happen anywhere. You can't float the Crowsnest so drift boats aren't as common on in the far south. There are those who drift the Oldman but I haven't heard vandal reports.
Conserning the Bow... I think Brian (Bowcrow) would know better?
I have been fishing near the Crow and have had people drift right across my line. Smaller river and not what I would expect in S. Alberta. They then proceded to pull off about 100 feet downstream and fish the pool I was working my streamer towards. My familly's land on both sides of this river and when I got down to where they were (they never stuck around to say hi!?!), there was sandwich wrappers. Now if I was a little redder around the collar and a mite meaner I would have gone looking for trouble. People sure could give a better impression and be a bit more polite.
I think that unless you were off to the Bow or west to the Elk, you wouldn't need a drift boat at all. There is pretty good access to most of the fishin' in the area.
Walk and wade rules http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif
Paul
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Thanks Paul. I think I may have been thinking about the Elk. We spent our honeymoon in the area, before I was a fly fisherman, and really can't wait to get back!