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Old 03-01-2018, 03:28 PM
lds lds is offline
 
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Default Bow river rant/HELP

So I had a different thread for winter nw bow river fishing but thought this could be it’s own thread. This is a copy paste of my other thread. Also this is more a summer struggle as I haven’t done much winter flyfishing.
Well I ended up down at the glenmore bridge yesterday and just as expected I sucked. I don’t understand what my issue is but I’ve been flyfishing for 10 years now with no problems on any other water but the bow. For some reason that river just laughs in my face almost every time I go out. I have never read as much or tried as many techniques or watched as many videos as I have on the bow and haven’t gotten very far. I would say very minor improvement since I started and by that I mean I caught 5 or 6 fish on the bow last year with probably 15 times goin out and only 2 worth mentioning. Any advice that is not the typical bow river advice. Anyone doing anything crazy and unique that works for you. I feel like I’m the only one struggling this much for this long on this river
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Old 03-01-2018, 03:44 PM
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Scott N Scott N is offline
 
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Most important thing I learned about fishing the Bow was how to mend my line properly to ensure my nymphs were bouncing along the bottom of the river, drag-free. What kind of set up are you using? What kind of flies?
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Old 03-01-2018, 03:48 PM
googan googan is offline
 
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cover lots of water, keep moving
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Old 03-01-2018, 04:55 PM
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vital shok vital shok is offline
 
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Glenmore bridge sucks anyway stay away from there lol plus it stinks like crap and is a little better in summer.Your best bet is follow the foot steps up steam to the corner.Right now fish the deep water and seams like normal throw a few cast right on the edge of the ice shelves before you walk up to the assuming it’s deep water.Try San Juan worms ,midge patterns or even a streamer with a indicator.Slow and deep and find places where there’s not 500 steps going to a spot and you will hook fish.tight lines hope I helped a bit pm me if your interested and I can pm you some winter spots.
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Old 03-01-2018, 06:21 PM
scel scel is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lds View Post
So I had a different thread for winter nw bow river fishing but thought this could be it’s own thread. This is a copy paste of my other thread. Also this is more a summer struggle as I haven’t done much winter flyfishing.
Well I ended up down at the glenmore bridge yesterday and just as expected I sucked. I don’t understand what my issue is but I’ve been flyfishing for 10 years now with no problems on any other water but the bow. For some reason that river just laughs in my face almost every time I go out. I have never read as much or tried as many techniques or watched as many videos as I have on the bow and haven’t gotten very far. I would say very minor improvement since I started and by that I mean I caught 5 or 6 fish on the bow last year with probably 15 times goin out and only 2 worth mentioning. Any advice that is not the typical bow river advice. Anyone doing anything crazy and unique that works for you. I feel like I’m the only one struggling this much for this long on this river
You certainly are not the only one suffering. Unless you spend time with a guide/teacher, successfully fishing the Bow takes a great deal of time and attention. Since the flood, winter fishing on the bow has been tough. Fish will congregate in the slower deeper pockets. Pre 2013, the river was narrower and deeper. Now, most of those pockets are out of casting distance. The holes where the fish congregate are much further apart.

All the fly fishing mantras that work on other rivers still apply to the Bow, but you really have to be on your A-game, and little things tend to make a difference. The Bow River is filled with food, and it is why the Bow river fish get so big and strong. The Bow river is trout fishing university.

Flexibility is key with the Bow for most of the year. In the winter (Nov to Mar), however, I only fish 4 flies: chenille SJW, gartside leech, zebra midge, and disco midge. My catch rates are 1/3 SJW, 1/3 leech, and 1/3 midge. As of April, I travel with 3 spools of line: one rigged for dries, another for nymphs, and type 4 sink tip for streamers.

Because there is so much food, the fish tend to be a little pickier. I am not sure if it actually works, but I find fluorocarbon tippet is superior for nymphs and streamers (it is more likely, however, that I just became a much better angler).

The Bow is 'alive'. I know that is going pure hippy, but your best bet is to pick a couple of weeks and fish every other day for a couple of hours. Where the fish hang out is very seasonal. It is hard to fish the Bow without learning its 'heartbeat'. There are sections that look super fishy, that almost never hold fish. In the summer evenings, however, they become dry fly havens. In mid-spring, the Bow acts almost like any other trout stream, except numbers will be reduced because the rainbows start making their move to spawn. By summer, the fish are literally everywhere, so it is important to cover water and vary techniques. By fall, fish have become pickier, but will start moving into classical fishy water. By the beginning of November, you are back into the winter game.
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Old 03-01-2018, 08:48 PM
FlyDuke FlyDuke is offline
 
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Don't be afraid to use two or three nymphs at 12-15 inch intervals. This ensures a variety of the water column is covered. A 20 lbs mono leader to your first nymph and 15 lbs to second nymph 12 lbs to third nymph makes loosing one fly on a snag more likely than loosing the entire rig. Tapered leaders are fine but they are a little slower getting the nymphs down like a straight leader line would. (and saves you money) Weighted wire wrapped worms eliminate the need for lead or split shot and of course a Non Slip Loop Knot gives your nymphs and streamers a more life like drift. Streamers vary the strip speed through runs and especially drop offs don't be in a hurry to retrieve.
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Old 03-02-2018, 05:29 AM
lds lds is offline
 
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Thanks for the info. I think I’ve tried everything mentioned but I guess I’ll just keep playing with depth speed and location. Eventually I will graduate. It just might be another 10 years. Thankfully the bow is close and I love fishing too much to give up on it.
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Old 03-02-2018, 02:59 PM
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FlyTheory FlyTheory is offline
 
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Also go in with a positive mindset. If you don’t think you even have a chance at catching something, you’re screwed. Bad mindsets are hard on your game, and it’ll harm your performance. Be positive and driven and you’ll actually fish better.
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Old 03-02-2018, 04:54 PM
lds lds is offline
 
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Originally Posted by FlyTheory View Post
Also go in with a positive mindset. If you don’t think you even have a chance at catching something, you’re screwed. Bad mindsets are hard on your game, and it’ll harm your performance. Be positive and driven and you’ll actually fish better.
Ya I know. This was just my rant so not a good attitude as I came away skunked again. Normally I get a big confidence boost before I go from reading some new info and I usually end up going thinking I’m going to do really well this time. I’m not actually mad about not catching fish just making fun of myself little
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Old 03-02-2018, 05:25 PM
marty1 marty1 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lds View Post
So I had a different thread for winter nw bow river fishing but thought this could be it’s own thread. This is a copy paste of my other thread. Also this is more a summer struggle as I haven’t done much winter flyfishing.
Well I ended up down at the glenmore bridge yesterday and just as expected I sucked. I don’t understand what my issue is but I’ve been flyfishing for 10 years now with no problems on any other water but the bow. For some reason that river just laughs in my face almost every time I go out. I have never read as much or tried as many techniques or watched as many videos as I have on the bow and haven’t gotten very far. I would say very minor improvement since I started and by that I mean I caught 5 or 6 fish on the bow last year with probably 15 times goin out and only 2 worth mentioning. Any advice that is not the typical bow river advice. Anyone doing anything crazy and unique that works for you. I feel like I’m the only one struggling this much for this long on this river
Things will get better keep plugging away and one day things will align and wham your catching trout regularly. I've been fishing the bow for over twenty years and still once in awhile come off skunked, the river has changed so much over the last couple floods that some of my good reliable spots are now gone,and find myself struggling at times. Fishing will be picking up soon,i hope to be down in the next couple weeks (weather pending) if you're interested I can pm you and we can chuck some bugs when it's time.Cheers
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Old 03-03-2018, 08:53 PM
lds lds is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marty1 View Post
Things will get better keep plugging away and one day things will align and wham your catching trout regularly. I've been fishing the bow for over twenty years and still once in awhile come off skunked, the river has changed so much over the last couple floods that some of my good reliable spots are now gone,and find myself struggling at times. Fishing will be picking up soon,i hope to be down in the next couple weeks (weather pending) if you're interested I can pm you and we can chuck some bugs when it's time.Cheers
My fishing usually ends up last minute just as time pops up. I have 3 kids under 3 so normally I just pop down to the river for an hour or 2 in the nw. But if I get a chance where I have time to organize ahead of time I might just take you up on it.
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