While some of the most famous and best fishing spots are right outside the back door, the Bow River is still a bit of a mystery. Even those who fish it daily say that it can be variable at times. Thomas Cutmore, Calgary fishing guide and owner of Must Be Nice Drift Company, says that the size of the fish is probably the river’s only consistent attribute. The river is known for its “great fish and great unpredictability.

“The best advice I can give is to concentrate on parts of the river with character -- variations in depth, current speed and direction, bottom type and surface type.”

Cutmore says that anglers need to be especially versatile. Dry flies, nymphs and streamers are generally the best bet for brown trout, he says, and use equipment somewhat heavier than for lake fishing. If you’re fishing from shore, he suggests a mid-weight setup. In a boat, you could take along both a lighter and a heavier weight. Go heavy because these are not your standard size trout, and they fight hard.

Early spring can be a tricky time for brown trout. Their eyesight is very good, and usually they take cover and wait for food. When the water is murky, as in the spring, they’ll emerge. Nymph patterns can be very effective then. Into early summer, trout will head for cover. Cutmore says that Streamers are great all year, but especially into early summer. “At this time of year the fish often hold very close to the banks, making early summer the best time for ‘pounding the banks’ from a drift boat. He adds that you need to get right in close, within inches of the banks, when you cast. Retrieve your fly, “just a few feet before being recast.”

Further into the summer, your techniques will change. “The Caddis, Blue Winged Olive and Pale Morning Dun hatches are unparalleled for producing large trout, and lots of them. The mid-season hopper hatch offers some very exhilarating and explosive surface action,” Cutmore advises. “Runs, or any water over 6 inches deep right next to the bank will hold trout and drifting a Dave’s or Letort Hopper along the grass will quickly erupt in a splashy battle. Depending on the time of year and conditions, you will have the opportunity to fish streamers, nymphs and dry flies all in the same day for large, strong fish.”

There are several fishing guide services who offer trips exclusively on the Bow River, and these people are ideally suited to help you fish the river more efficiently and productively, even if you’re a seasoned Bow River angler. Thomas Cutmore offers one such service with Must Be Nice Drift Company in Calgary. Cutmore can take you out for a full day or a half day trip.

As well, he offers some in-depth suggestions and insight on his website. See thebowriver.com/calgary_to_carseland_and_down_stream.htm for his blog, fishing reports and descriptions of his services.

RIVER ACCESS

The Calgary to Carseland section of the Bow River is famous for incredible fishing. In this stretch of the river, there are several standard locations for put-in and take-out, giving you choices for your trips from a couple of hours to a full day on the water. These are labelled on the map, and described in the table on the left.

The upper section of the river, from Kananaskis to Calgary, offers some of the world’s best back stream fishing. That section offers an entirely different character of fishing than the urban lower section. (Look for this feature on our website in the near future!)