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Originally Posted by airbus3001
What rivers would people recommend within 3-4 hours of Edmonton that are the bigger, wider, wadable, not crazy deep with runs and riffles with public access. I知 not looking for anyone to give up their honey hole but I知 trying to narrow down the water to what I知 looking for.
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It is a very tough time of year to be at trout angler in Alberta. We are entering our run-off period. Runoff is mostly caused by the alpine snow melt. There was less snow this year, so it will not be serious. But starting around now until the 3rd week of June, it will be difficult to find clear wadeable water.
The rivers that are more consistent are tailwaters and spring-fed (like the Bow River and Stauffer). These rivers, however, can be very challenging to fish. In the case of the Bow, there are big well-fed fish that see many flies. In the case of Stauffer, it is a very productive creek with probably some of the spookiest fish in the province.
All the rivers in the province are public access. At least, once you are on the river, as long as you stay within the high-water mark, you can travel freely up and down the river. During runoff, however, it can be hard to stay within the high-water mark.
The rivers you are looking for are in the southwest of the province. They do not open until June 16 and are about 5 hours away. For an Edmontonian, they are are more suited for a weekend camping trip than a day excursion.
Until runoff is over, I would recommend cutting your teeth on the Bow River. It is 3 hours away and will produce fish 365 days per year. From what I can tell, it is probably the river that is the closest in character to the San Juan. Like I said, however, it is not an easy river to learn to fish. Once anyone learns how to catch fish on the Bow River, everywhere else in the province is fly fishing on easy-mode (except Stauffer Creek---man that place can be humbling). The thing about the Bow River is it becomes easier for people on foot to catch fish because the fish stack to the banks as the stoneflies start emerging and baitfish find safety. As long as there is 15-20cm of visibility, big nymphs and streamers are very productive.
There are certainly other rivers that will fit your expectations. Starting in July, arm yourself with a few Backroads Map Books, a print copy of the fishing regulations, camping gear/provisions for a couple days, and bear spray. Follow Highway 40 south---it is called Alberta's Trout Highway. You will likely find some of the water you are looking for.