Water levels

[davesilva]

Alright so this would be my second year of fly fishing this year
Spent most of my first season learning how to false cast, roll cast, mend, rig flys, knots etc

Now with all rivers like red deer river bow river etc
The water levels are typically high until what month?

I'm only assuming varying conditions depict when the levels lower

But I'm asking from previous years a general time when the majority of rivers are "fishable"

Also with tributaries such as the embarass, or stauffer etc

Are the water levels not as effected due to them being a smaller stream?

[Lornce]

Rivers are always fishable, some of the largest Browns and Rainbows I'v caught have been during the high water.

[davesilva]

Well I am wondering when the water levels are low and clear and if there is usually a general month when they're good like May most streams are good?

[Xiph0id]

Originally Posted by davesilva

Well I am wondering when the water levels are low and clear and if there is usually a general month when they're good like May most streams are good?

There is a small peak in apr/may from ground/field runoff.

Then its good until may'ish and the mountain runoff starts.

Come june, a lot of rivers are high and muddy.

July is when rivers start to clear up.

Aug is real nice

sept fish start to pool up

oct is gets cold.


All mixed in are variables like rain, snow pack, temp, wind.

[davesilva]

Yeah sounds like a lot of variables lol they should just make an app of recent reports of water levels on rivers or a website?

[Xiph0id]

Originally Posted by davesilva

Yeah sounds like a lot of variables lol they should just make an app of recent reports of water levels on rivers or a website?

There is usually a decent amount of reports on here.

You can also check the Environment and Sustainable Resource Development website on river levels and flows.

http://www.environment.alberta.ca/ap...s/default.aspx

[Bhflyfisher]

You will find fall spawners (Browns, Bulls) Will be in their prime earlier in the year May-July ish. and spring spawners (Cutts, Bows) will be in prime condition in the later months august-oct. If you're looking for waters to fish during the run off period, look for creeks/rivers coming out of springs, ponds, lakes or reservoirs. These are typically clear through the runoff season and most of the year.

Late April-May is a good time of year to fish on waters that are open if you can find good water conditions. Temps come up, and bugs get going, fish are fattened up and still looking to feed heavily after a long winter.

You will find a lot of skinny fish in early April, anything that did the dance in the fall will be very beaten up early spring. They've conserved energy all winter with little to eat, and are most vulnerable. Its very easy to do considerable damage to a fish population in early spring when you have fish from long stretches of river/creek all pooled up in 1-3 holes and hungrier/skinnier then they ever are. Please keep that in mind, especially our bull trout rivers that are opening april 1, thats coming up shortly.