The Downtown Fly Fisher Calgary, Part 2 Typical Bow Brown By Bruce Masterman
A virtual smorgasbord of fly fishing opportunities awaits along the
Eastern Slopes southwest of the city. Heading south on Secondary
940 - a road Alberta author Barry Mitchell dubbed Alberta’s Trout
Highway in his recent book - you could fish a lifetime without
doing justice to Cataract Creek (brookies and rainbows), Willow
Creek (browns and brookies), Livingston River (cutthroats and bull
trout), Oldman River (rainbows, bulls and cutts), Racehorse Creek
(cutts), and Dutch Creek (cutts). In the southwestern corner of
the province, cutthroats and rainbows abound in the Crowsnest and
Castle rivers.
If fly fishing for northern pike is more your cup of tea, you
should head east and southeast of Calgary. Several irrigation
reserviors offer good pike fishing, including Chestermere Lake,
Travers Reservoir and Badger Lake. Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary
also offers good pike fishing. Even the Bow has a few. I once
caught a 24-inch pike in the Bow during an early-morning float
with legendary fly fishing writer John Gierach. He looked back
at the streamer hooked pike, disdainfully muttered “Nice pike” and
resumed fishing with a disgusted look on his face. For pike, you
should bring a good selection of large rabbit-fur streamers, such
as the Deceiver and Bunny Bug. Big Woolly Buggers also work. You
might want to check first with your doctor, to make sure your heart
can take it.
Main Attractions: The Bow
These rivers originate in the Rocky Mountains and flow eastward,
finally meeting more than 100 kilometers later at their confluence
near downtown Calgary, where Fort Calgary was established in 1875.
The part of the Bow that most interests fly fishers can be split
into three distinct stretches: the upper river that begins in Banff
National Park and tumbles eastward in a rollicking series of rapids,
pools, and long deep runs; the city section, a shallower reach blessed
with riffles, pocket water, and lively runs; and the most popular
reach, 55 kilometers of trout-rich classic fly-fishing water downstream
of Calgary to the Carseland Wier. Although there’s some good fishing
for several kilometers downstream of Carseland, public access is limited
because much of it runs through a Native Reserve. Below that, the
Bow turns into a warmwater fishery, with northern pike, walleye and
burbot more common than trout.
Visiting anglers never cease to be impressed by Bow River rainbows,
often likening them to West Coast steelhead. They’re powerful,
deep-bodied and extremely tenacious when hooked. Some fly fishers
call them silver bullets. The brown trout as just as tough, with
hooked jaws and thick, distinctive yellow bodies. Neither species
are pushovers, especially the big tackle-busters. When hooked,
larger browns and rainbows have a tendency to head straight for the
middle or far side of the river. Meanwhile, you’re nervously
contemplating your fly line zipping off your reel and wondering how
much back you have on, and whether the connecting knot is good. It’s
also difficult not to be impressed by the sheer numbers of trout. The
stretch between Calgary and Carseland boasts up to 2,000 rainbows and
browns per 1.6 kilometer.
The Bow is a big river, more than 75 meters across in places. As such,
many first-time visitors are inexperienced fly fishers find it
intimidating and frustrating. After all, with so much water to fish,
it can be difficult to know where to start. The best approach is
to view the river in smaller parts, rather than as one massive entity.
Look at it as you would a smaller river, creek or stream. Identify and
concentrate on potential trout-holding areas: the seam between fast
and slow-moving waters, undercut banks, natural pockets and indentations
along the banks, deep runs and shallow riffles, grass-lined banks,
sunken or overhanging trees, and other promising looking spots. Rather
than spending a lot of time trying to cast in mid-river, focus on
water closer to shore, where most of the trout hang out waiting for
insects and other good to drift by. Bow River dry-fly fanatics have
learned to be patient, looking before they cast, or wading to ensure
they don’t spook a monster methodically sipping mayflies in 12 inches
of water tight against the bank. Random dry fly casting can be effective,
but a more selective approach is almost always better. You’ll need to
be patient - and prepared to chance flies and techniques on a regular
basis until you hit the right one.
Continued Next Time!
Credits: This article is from the Canadian Fly Fisher magazine. We appreciate use permission!
Originally published May 13th, 2002 on Fly Anglers Online by Bruce Masterman.
Part 3
The Downtown Fly Fisher Calgary, Part 3 The Upper Bow River By Bruce Masterman
Main Attractions: The Elbow
Calgary’s Elbow River is like a smaller version of the Bow. It’s
physically smaller, and the trout also tend not to be as big. But
it shouldn’t be overlooked, especially on those overcast days or
magically summer evening when big brown trout wander out of their
secret lairs and shed some of their natural wariness in pursuit of
this great opportunity. The same techniques that work on Bow River
browns also apply to their Elbow counterparts.
Below the Glenmore Reservoir, water levels in the Elbow fluctuate
depending on how much water is being drawn from the reservoir. Flows
downstream can be rather inconsistent. But when you hit it on the
right days, the Elbow River can be pure dynamite. As noted, however,
the browns are being increasingly forced to share their space with
northern pike, which likely have migrated from the Glenmore Reservoir.
A friend once told me about the time he was fighting a 14-inch brown
- no slouch, really - in the Elbow close to downtown, when suddenly
a 30-inch pike came out of nowhere and attacked it. The pike
grabbed the trout sideways and started swimming away. But my friend
held fast, and so did his leader. After a tug-of-war of about two
minutes, the pike released the trout and swam away. The trout was
landed and released. The next time my friend fished the Elbow, he
went armed with a stouter fly rod and assortment of big pike flies.
Equipment
If you can bring only one rod and reel outfit on your trout-fishing
trip, make it a six-weight, with the reel equipped with spools of
floating and sink-tip lines. Otherwise, if space isn’t a problem,
it’s a good idea to pack two or three rods ranging from three to
seven-weight. On the Bow River, where the current is strong and
trout big-shouldered - and weed growth heavy late in the season -
many fly fishers rig a six or seven-weight for streams and nymphs,
and a four or five weight for delicate dry fly presentations.
Leader length varies, from four to six feet for chucking streamers
and nymphs, to nine to 15 feet when casting Size 22 Tricorythodes
mayfly imitation to a 24-inch trout. Three to five weight rods are
perfect for many smaller streams, lakes and beaver ponds in the
nearby foothills and mountains, where you can expect to find
west-slope cutthroats, Eastern brook trout, rainbows and bull trout.
Although chest waders with good felt soles are recommended for the
Bow River, fly fishers can easily fish smaller waters outside town
with hip waders or, on a warm summer day, wading boots and shorts.
Glenmore Reservoir, Carburn Park Ponds and subdivision trout lakes
in Calgary can be fished from shore, a belly boat, conoe or
oar-equipped car topper.
Guides and Access
For first-time anglers, or if you only have a day or two to fish,
it’s a good idea to hire an experienced guide. The Bow has
spawned a growing guiding industry in recent years. Most of the
more reputable guides or companies can be contacted through local
fly shops. Fly shops also are good sources of information
regarding current hatches, successful patterns and where to go,
at least generally speaking. Public access for walk-and-wade
anglers downstream of Calgary is limited. Maps showing access
points are available at most fly shops.
Walking-and-wading, or floating in a driftboat are both effective
approaches on the Bow. You’ll cover more water when drifting, but
a wading angler can cover the water more thoroughly. All motorized
boats are prohibited within Calgary city limits. Several local
fly fishers regularly use jet boats downstream of Calgary, much to
the chagrin of other anglers who prefer a quieter, wakeless
experience. Jetboats also disturb wildlife along the river. On
a good day, even within Calgary city limits, you can expect to see
mule and white-tailed deer, beaver, ducks, and geese, bald eagles,
and American white pelicans.
An impressive 330-kilometre network of paved urban pathways used
for cycling walking and in-line skating connects the Elbow and
Bow rivers in Calgary. The pathway system includes dozens of
public parks and green spaces, providing free and easy access
to a great deal of incredible trout water within the city.
~ Bruce Masterman
Credits: This article is from the Canadian Fly Fisher magazine. We appreciate use permission!
Originally published May 20th, 2002 on Fly Anglers Online by Bruce Masterman.