Float the Bow mid November with a guide? 50th Bday for my bro.
 

I live in Calgary and love fishing and love the Bow but never been on it with a guide. And found it very difficult to fly fish which is not news to anyone. But I know a guide will make all the difference.

My brother is living in Tampa Bay now and will be here Nov 20th timeframe. Going skiing at Sunshine actually. And it's his 50th and I'd like to take him fishing as he did for me back in the day. But I don't want to splurge for a guide and fish in sub-optimal off-season conditions. We can push the gift trip out even a year if we have too. But his Bday is in November and if that is a good time to float and fly fish the Bow then we can look at a guide.

And I have one day to do this trip and it has to be a day trip from Calgary. We have family events to attend to. So no sturgeon on the Fraser or cutties on the Elk etc. I need a day trip from Calgary. And prefer fly fishing obviously.

Would you advise to pursue this or push it out for another time?

Thanks, Bryan.

another time, with the cold weather he might not have a good time.

Water is cold, fish are slow, Browns are post spawn, not many bugs around, could be a blizzard....
I would pick another time....like early to mid-July

Thanks a lot for the feedback. Looks like 2 no's makes it a strong NO recommendation. I'm sure my brother will thank me for this non-trip!

Just tell him you will take him out on a float next summer!!:rolleye2:

And of course next time, I'll read the entire post before responding... :(

Good call, I took a buddy of mine that came up from the US on a late October and we had snow blowing sideways for half the float. He did not have a good time. Once you are on the river you are committed for the day.

Early season ice fishing?

November on the Fly
 

As others have posted probably best to wait till next to up the odds of favorable climatic conditions...... but even in the summer you can hit an off day of sideways wind..... but boy its been good this year particularly the last month:)

If the weather is good, go for it. If it's below freezing you'll be fine to cancel. Just make sure the shop knows you'd like to go "weather pending". They won't be busy and will be able to accommodate.

rent a ice shack in dec for him...he will have a blast....try gull lake

happy

I have never fished the BOW River but have fished others with Ice flowing down in late October and had decent luck, both with nymphs and small spinners.

BW