Rock Snot in Bow River

[JackieFisher]

I admire the patience of Bow River fishermen as the few times I tried there there was so much rock snot and my line came back like cloth hanging wire. Rock snot is the toilet paper-like stranded organism growing on the rocks and falling off constantly. In recent years they are taking over the Bow for some unknown reason. The section in downtown Calgary seems full of it. How are you experts coping with this? I suppose a floating fly is not gonna catch any?

[58thecat]

Was on the river south of Calgary this wk-end and never had no issues with this rock snot you speak of.
Guess you gotta get out of the city area?

[fordtruckin]

Is it an invasive species or an algae that grows due to changes in the warm water temps and low flows?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

Is it an invasive species or an algae that grows due to changes in the warm water temps and low flows?

The river was low and the warmer temps probably didn’t help out either.

I was in two foot pools casting into the deeper water but now I do recall walking out on the rocks in shallow water and they were covered in algae so maybe in areas it breaks off?


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[BEL]

This crap has been in the Old Man River downstream from the dam for at least 20 years. Terrible stuff to fish through. BEL

[goldscud]

Didymo

Didymosphenia geminata, commonly known as didymo or rock snot, is a species of diatom that produces nuisance growths in freshwater rivers and streams with consistently cold water temperatures and low nutrient levels

[fish99]

This not new to bow river used to get 40 years ago down stream from the carsland dam