Red Deer River Goldeye

[Runewolf1973]

So seriously... What's up with the goldeye fishing this year? Last year the goldeye were jumping like crazy all over the place and there was not an evening that went by where I did not catch at least a minimum of 5 - 10 fish. The average last year was 15 to 20+ fish in an evening. This year...completely different story. You see very few fish rising and your lucky if you catch 2 or 3. This night went out and didn't catch any. Had a few hits, but that's it. Very slow/poor goldeye fishing this year on the Red Deer River. Any ideas why? Oh, that and they're mostly just small ones. There were a lot more bigger ones last year.

[trigger7mm]

I was out the other night too, and saw hardly any risers. Caught one small one, and that was it. Fished about 2 hours. Threw all kinds of flies at them, but them just didn’t seem to be around. Was fishing by Bower Ponds.

[millsboy79]

Sorry guys I planned on catching some on the fly this year and my awesome luck ruined it for everyone.

My bad

[MK2750]

We just finished up one of the best Drake hatches in the last 10 years, you can't put your foot down without stepping on a Stone Fly shell and the Caddis are finally recovering somewhat from the last floods. Fish are not hungry and enjoying the dog days of summer.

[trigger7mm]

I’ve noticed the same thing this year on the Battle River where a usually fish. Last year was great for walleye, but this year in the same holes, I can hardly get a bite. I think one of the reasons for this here, is that the water level wasn’t really dropped to the point that the fish are more concentrated the the deeper holes. As for the Red Deer River, I don’t know?

[Runewolf1973]

My first time out fly fishing this year (Great Chief Park) was back in the first week of June sometime...before they let the dam out...and I caught 23 goldeye. The water was pretty low at the time Only reason I stopped fishing that night was because it started to rain and get dark and my arm was sore from reeling in goldeye. Here I was thinking it would be a great year...NOT. Ever since they let the dam out the fishing has been poor. The river is still high compared to last year and a lot of green gunk floating around. It seems like the goldeye are being really picky with what you throw at then too for some reason. Oh well... Went to Kraft Pond by Wimborne with the kids and caught some nice little rainbows and brookies, but it reminded me of how much I loathe bait fishing.

[Runewolf1973]

Originally Posted by trigger7mm

I’ve noticed the same thing this year on the Battle River where a usually fish. Last year was great for walleye, but this year in the same holes, I can hardly get a bite. I think one of the reasons for this here, is that the water level wasn’t really dropped to the point that the fish are more concentrated the the deeper holes. As for the Red Deer River, I don’t know?

I think you might be right about the water levels. Hasn't been good ever since they let the dam out.

[scel]

Originally Posted by Runewolf1973

I think you might be right about the water levels. Hasn't been good ever since they let the dam out.

Red Deer is at that weird flux point. The released dam water will be cooler than than the river ambient temperature. Goldeye prefer warmer water

As well, when water levels rise, this is an indicator for fish to move. Cooler temperatures and rising water levels might push goldeye downstream.

To do some science, I would check the goldeye fishing in Joffre/Drumheller. I would hazard it is still pretty good. I would check the whitefish fishing in Innisfail, which I would further hazard to be better than normal (good whitefish is usually only with a couple km of the dam).

If the hatches have been good, I would hazard the probability of catching a brown trout within city limits is higher than ever. You would have a 90minute window, from 30minutes before sunset to dark to find them.