Rough but usable

Dallas Houser, manager at Lethbridge Dodge, and former fishing guide, gets really excited about fishing in the Oldman River. “There really are hundreds of fish per kilometre there,” making it hard to choose just a few favourite spots. If he had to narrow it down, Houser has three favourite spots on the tailwaters of the Oldman River: Cottonwood Park for rainbow trout (Inset 1), the one kilometre stretch downstream of Fort MacLeod by Hwy 811 (Inset 2), and the train bridge by Hwy 3 for goldeye (Inset 3). “There are so many spots that are excellent fishing, but these are some of my favourites,” Houser says. These spots are easy to get to, especially by truck. Many anglers appreciate the river’s rainbow trout fishery, and still others enjoy fishing for cutthroat. In the upper reaches of the river, above the reservoir, there are bull trout, brown trout and rainbows, too. Houser regularly targets these species, but notes that the goldeye fishery in the tailwaters section is one of the highlights of fishing the Oldman River in the stretch near Lethbridge. “Goldeye are aggressive. They’re a really neat fish, and fun to go after. They’re a great target for kids because there’s no bad cast for goldeye. Also, they’re easy, they’re gentle and have no teeth. Perfect for kids,” Houser states. Goldeye tolerate the warm waters of the Oldman River, even when it’s muddy (which doesn’t happen a lot), and even when other fisheries slow down. “Goldeye will still hit your flies even when the water is really silty. Fishing for other species will turn off in muddy water, but not goldeye,” Houser notes. For spring and summer, Houser suggests Pale Morning Duns. These are some of his favourite patterns for the Oldman River as a whole, not just in the Lethbridge area. Not to be forgotten, the trout fishery on the Oldman River is amazing. “Up closer to the dam, at Cottonwood Park, there are huge rainbows,” Houser suggests. “Also by Fort MacLeod, and about two kilometres downstream from there, is a great section, very consistent with great gravelly shoals.” Although the water in the Oldman River can tend to be warm, Houser points out that there are several really deep pools where the trout will hang when the rest of the river warms up. For trout, Houser recommends Pale Morning Duns, Golden Stone patterns, Caddis patterns for winter, and Hoppers all summer. Whitefish are another target that anglers often overlook. “These can get really big, in the five to six pound range,” Houser says, “and they’re easy to catch on Bloodworm patterns, Stones or Midge patterns.” Part of the appeal of the Oldman River, Houser says, is that the water is consistent in so many ways. The temperature, the water clarity, water levels, and the fishing are all good, all the time. “The river snakes back and forth a lot. There are several eddies where the fish hang, and the water is warm enough to wade in.” There are parts of the river, too, that are loaded with islands. The underwater shoals and islands make terrific fish habitat. RIVER ACCESS Below the dam, the Oldman River can be both a shore and boat fishery. In some spots you can wade out and fish, though the unpredictability of the deep pools warrants extreme caution. As well, please be mindful that much of the land around the river is private. Much of the Oldman River belongs in the Eastern Slopes zone. Please ensure you consult the appropriate regulations for the section you plan to fish.

Mike Jokinen hooked this massive 31.5 inch bull trout in the Oldman River. He was practicing with his center-pin setup and caught this monster on a tiny blood worm. Netting this fish took many attempts and is a fishing experience I will not soon forget.

A beautiful brown trout caught on a streamer while walking the banks of the Oldman River.

First fish of the fly fishing season. It was nice to sneak in and catch a nice rainbow before the run-off.

Cool fish.

Cool fish.

Cool fish.