Ft Mcmurray fly fishing

[Flight01]

I know there area few of us up here in the RMWB. What do you guys target and when? I have really enjoyed grayling in the small streams and pike in the lakes . Also had a blast last year at Engstrom with Elk Hair Caddis and royal coachmen. with What do you enjoy ?Others who fish northern streams and lakes are welcome to comment as well

[catnthehat]

The walleye opener on the rivers can be crazy in the evenings!
Cat

[Flight01]

I remember you telling me about the opener... What set up do you use?

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Flight01

I remember you telling me about the opener... What set up do you use?

Usually a 7 or. 8 weight rod with a 6' leader and a weight toward line with one Of my specialized streamers tied "Fernandez style" but I tend to change stuff up every now and then with standard streamers and a 5 weight
Cat

[Flight01]

Perhaps I will give it a go . I have a 9wt for pike with sink tip on it and I have a wff line on my 6wt. I find the big rivers up here hard to find fish. The usual spots such as tribs are about the only place I catch. Smaller creeks and grayling are easy . I can read the water enough to find them. Big murkey rivers however still baffle me.... One day I guess

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Flight01

Perhaps I will give it a go . I have a 9wt for pike with sink tip on it and I have a wff line on my 6wt. I find the big rivers up here hard to find fish. The usual spots such as tribs are about the only place I catch. Smaller creeks and grayling are easy . I can read the water enough to find them. Big murkey rivers however still baffle me.... One day I guess

Good access to the tributaries of the Athabasca up here can be difficult without a boat.
When I fish the openers at night i have never used the boat, but I'm thinking maybe Mountain rapids this year- go up in the evening and come back in the morning!
Gotta check the regs and days , I guess!
Oh, one more point -the best gear is CHEAP GEAR for up here on the Athabasca and its tributaries!
it's a delta system up hear and very silty, and some rivers like the Mackay and Ells have lots of bitumen floating in the water from the banks!
Cat

[Flight01]

Yeah . Abrasive and coating . Ells river for sure has free floating bitumen. That's ok cause I have no high end equipment.

[Flight01]

The tributaries open on June 1st but what about fishing the main river? It is dang wide but is open all year so really you have to wait for ice flows to move through after river break. Is it possible to fish anywhere with foot access after the ice moves on? Is it worth it?

[Bjay]

Hi guys
Learn how to use a spey rod and fishing the bigger rivers from shore gets much easier even with high banks or trees behind you
Bjay

[Flight01]

Have considered Spey before. There's also a lot of sand or gravel bars as water levels go down . My bigger issue in the large murky water is finding fish. Where do you target what species, when, and what fly? That's sort if where I'm at right now.... Basically clueless on this big water