Elk River Float Trip

[rms]

Hi,

I am planning to do a 3 day float fly fishing trip on the Elk River next August long weekend. We want to camp on the river bank each night. Can some please recommend a good place to put in the river and a good place to take out? What part of the river has the best fishing? Are they any dangerous parts of the river to avoid?

Thanks,

Ryan

[Robins36]

Pick up a Backroads Mapbook. It has all the info you need for access points, fishing, hiking and roads to take you there. The books are about $30 and are available at Chapters, fishin hole, cabelas and wholesale sports in Edmonton.

[thunderheart]

did u do the trip?

[rms]

No, I am looking to go next August. I fished the river this saturaday, the conditions were awful but still manager to get a dozen cutthroat.

[thunderheart]

had my dates wrong lol 07 09 .. not 09 07 ..

[lannie]

You could start out at "Olsons" and take out shortly after Hosmer for day 1
Hosmer to Fernie for day 2. I would go a bit past Fernie rather than stay in the town. Day 3 go to Morrisey. Stop and fish often rather than floating non stop, you will enjoy it much more and learn the river much better. The option would be to put in up by Line Creek Mine and go to Olsens the first day and cut out the Fernie to Morrisey section.
The Elk is an easy river to navigate down with the exception of many log jams with many sweepers. Be very careful and good advice is never try to Oar and fish as it will always bring a bit of trouble. Have a contingency plan so if you do end up heading into sweepers everyone knows what they will do. Can't let the trees stop the raft while in the current... The Hosmer to Fernie stretch is the worst for obstacles this year but is a nice stretch. The Elk does see lots of traffic so do your self a favor, if you start at Olson's or other spots each morning be on the water before 8:30 am and your stretch will be fresh and a "new" morning for the trout too. I think 70% of traffic is guided and most are not on the water before 9 am. It is very worthwhile not to be in the armada of rafts and drifters....

[rms]

Awesome, thanks for the great information!