Freeman or Little Smoky?
 

Hi all,

My wife's cousin is coming to town this weekend and is an avid west coast fly fisher that would like to go after some grayling. I know a good location out by Hinton but was hoping for something a bit closer to home as it will only be a day trip. I fished the Little Smoky with spinning gear close to 15 years ago and remember it being good, but I don't know how it is these days. I have also heard that the Freeman is good as well and it's a bit closer yet.

Has anyone fished either of these rivers recently? Which would you choose between the two?

SS

The Freeman is very low right now.
But early in the spring they must have had a huge runoff or flood, a lot of our favorite spots were washed out or buried. If you try closer to the mouth by the Athabasca you'll have better water, but grayling will be scarce there.

That's helpful. Thanks!

SS

I fished the little Smokey 2 years ago around this time of year so I can't speak to the flows right now but it fished excellent. every run every pool I was pulling fish out. a 14 caddis with a small dropper was the ticket. I fished at the second bridge on the bigstone road just outside of fox creek

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I'm no professional on these two rivers but I have fished them. I'd go to the little smokey. Freeman is a little to hit and miss and there can be long long stretches with no fish.

The Freeman River is where I learned to fly fish about 6 years ago. Back then it fished amazing. The last 3 years have not been impressive in my favorite sections. I've caught fish, but no where near the numbers I once did. I didn't go this year. Hopefully things have turned around there.

The Little Smoky was dead quiet all morning and didn't turn on until around 2. Once it did, we had a good day but I was questioning the choice until that happened.

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Wow congrats that secomd photo is a real winner! Good job

Gorgeous fish, lucky to have them in Alberta