Bow River Report August 24
 

Folk's;
Just a quick report on 3 trips in the last week on various trips on the Bow .
River is high and fast, very unusual for this time of year.
Below Calgary, Fly Fishing has been very slow on all types of presentations.
No matter the sun or cloud cover, very little surface feeding.
Way below average..
Streamer fishing has been way below average.. Slow !
Nymphing has been average at best..
I would hate to be Guiding this year !!!! I am sure the last hour or two might have saved the day, but what a generally unproductive last 2 months.
Jetted above Cochrane on Monday to Ghost and caught a pile of uneducated Trout..Was fun as usual, bit nothing above 18 inches..
I think that the Bow is having a difficult year, fishing wise."..
I sure would not want to be Guiding at $650 per day Plus tip for the 2019 Bow River Experience...

Was out a couple was ago, only managed 3 or 4. Not worth the drive or gas in the boat

I have been out around 6 times this month on foot and in the boat only in the city.This certainly is a hard fishing year I have barely seen any risers in my spots that are usually full of risers almost like a kid with a handful of rocks.Not a single fish caught on the dry and only a couple nymphing it seems the that the river is almost dead at times.This is all in the city.This is what I have seen but maybe it’s time for some new spots.lol Or maybe join the masses in the lower section.

Fish are getting very educated from all the flies they see. There is a lot of refusals happening that people don't even know about. This happens with a river as busy as the Bow.
In addition, I believe the numbers of fish is down quite a bit. One sad thing I have noticed is the lack of little fish. The future doesn't look too bright at this point

We floated on Sunday, saw quite a few refusals on the hopper patterns, came into a few rising fish that were decent enough to stop and cast a fly to. Lots of small fish along the float eating on the trico’s, mayflies and caddis.

Which float did you do Kritofr? Glad you saw some small ones

Lower section Mac to Jensen’s

More little fish dumping out of the Highwood. Not seeing many above the Highwood

I found them!
 

Fished the Bow in Calgary several times over the weekend. Got into some really nice rainbows who were more than willing. Several over 20" and lost one over 28". All caught on flies that these fish have seen many times. Although I do believe fish can be educated, but I think a well presented fly can fool the smartest of fish. I have noticed less whitefish and browns this year but haven't been targeting them really.