Bow river is rocking now!!

[ericlin0122]

White fish is hitting SJW and nymph like crazy
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4495357605_6de1c9f167.jpg

Rainbow is raising too, taking dry fly.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4495393645_57f4501356.jpg

Hope everyone enjoy the gift of spring.

[baitfisher83]

Nice lookin fish, I think I'm gonna have to pick up some SJW's...

[RedFisher]

WOw thats a nice size white... but you cant keep them eh... what a shame almost...

[baitfisher83]

from the Western Headworks Diversion (W.H.D.) Weir downstream to the Carseland Weir (includes 500 m of the Highwood River) but excluding all waters in the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (see Inglewood Bird Sanctuary) – Open all year.
Apr. 1 to Mar. 31 – Trout limit 1 under 35 cm; All Trout over 35 cm must be released; Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over 30 cm; Bait Ban.
Looks over 30cm to me, but everyone seems so scared to keep fish from the bow..lol

[linus]

Nice fish....will catch some like these in this summer....... I ... hope...

[howlin]

every one is scared cause f and w seem to make up there own rules .i had a buddy get a fine for been 2 feet out off the bait zone.those guys are so hard up for quota they dont issue warnings

[Beazer]

When its really nice out I'll be hitting the bow like crazy...hoping soon!

[marlin1]

nice whitey ,where'd you get it ?

[ericlin0122]

glenmore bridge

[marlin1]

nice , didn't really expect a reply.

[FishBrain]

Nice Fish Eric!!!

[aulrich]

I like spring on the Bow the best, the fish are not as spunky as after runoff but there are less guys out.

[fishstix]

White fish is hitting SJW and nymph like crazy
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4495357605_6de1c9f167.jpg

Rainbow is raising too, taking dry fly.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4495393645_57f4501356.jpg

Hope everyone enjoy the gift of spring.
Nice fish.. what sort of set up were you using? A sjw with some split shot?
Fishstix!!

[jacenbeers]

Forgive my noob fly fisher question, but what is an SJW?

[moosehunter3-0]

nice fish.




Forgive my noob fly fisher question, but what is an SJW?

^San juan worm - pink/red on longish hook

[ericlin0122]

Just use bobber > spitshot > sjw > nymph (tie on sjw hook). That's all I use.
BTW, copper john works amazingly too.

[lineman4 life]

Forgive my noob fly fisher question, but what is an SJW?
San Juan Worm

I don't have any pics to prove it but today I caught my first brown on a SJW and I think I am spoiled now. Had a hard time fitting him in the net and it took approximately 15 minutes to get him there. Estimate 3.5 to 4 lbs 26-28". What a blast!!!

[jono88]

i can for sure vouch that the bow has been really hot the past couple of days. just got back from there this evening. Fished it for a couple of days. We managed to land browns, rainbows even white fish all over the 20" mark all day long. Can't wait to do it again.

[jacenbeers]

I tried my hand at fly fishing the bow for the first time yesterday and did not have much luck but I did find a nice spot where lots of browns were surfacing and eating flies on the surface. I watched lots of them for about an hour but could not get them to bite.

[S.A.S]

I have an Orange SJW. I will try fly and bubble very soon. I am excited for this season. Have not fished here in awhile.

[Beazer]

Goin out tommorow afternoon.
Going to try around glenmore bridge and fish creek with some new rap's, poppers, and give mr. san juan a try since its productive.

[McDeth]

My secret holes below Ghost have been productive for me as well. Hittin SJW`s, Wired Caddis Pupae and even tricked a few browns into taking a small dry adams.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs441.snc3/25357_422028709552_513724552_5028646_7365375_n.jpg

[ericlin0122]

today, i will call it sucker day.
my first cast today landed this sucker 20". (I knew what i would catch all day)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4501512842_00d0e28e1b_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4501509678_8d3a2b7ec9_b.jpg

Second ok size sucker hit, and then here comes the third one. it fought like a trout... I thought it was a trout, but ..... it was an even bigger sucker. 22"
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4501519104_a29fa9c1ac_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4501528372_f03eaab402_b.jpg


That's all I caught today. SUCKERS!

[biggamehunter]

Anyone been catchin at fish creek?

[the local angler]

wow thats incredible eric. i have never seen suckers caught on the fly before, that is so cool and i bet they put up a heck of a fight for ya.

[Trout Addict]

That's when you know your in the right place, bouncing bottom!

[horton213]

ive been skunked about five times in a row on the bow... i wonder what im doing wrong....

[jinx]

me too horton213 :mad2:
got to keep trying i guess :)

[Beazer]

Thank god I've just been skunded 3 times so far.

[ericlin0122]

I think this thread might help if you keep getting skunked.

reading water... (http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=56668&highlight=read+water)

Once upon a time I could not catch anything from Bow. NOTHING. Somehow I do better now, all I can say is you need to find the fish (pool).

[superspud]

Go to this site http://www.killroys.com/articles/articles.htm

i think this is a decent write up on how to become a decent flyfisherman in general.
second- visit flyfishcalgary.com they a have a write up on nymphing that is a big help.

if thoes both dont work, then i will be fishing the bow like crazy when i get back at the end of this month and would be willing to meet up with someone and give them pointers. just shoot me a pm

[otdrsmn]

Ericlin, was it Glenmore brigde or Crowchild bridge ? The only Glenmore bridge I found on the map was the bridge across Glenmore reservoir:(

[ericlin0122]

Ericlin, was it Glenmore brigde or Crowchild bridge ? The only Glenmore bridge I found on the map was the bridge across Glenmore reservoir:(
park right here.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Calgary,+Division+No.+6,+Alberta,+Canada&ll=50.987814,-114.024353&spn=0,0.01929&z=16&layer=c&cbll=50.987222,-114.026303&panoid=IwG_g-4PYMj33KoK1X6V-A&cbp=12,129.89,,0,21.67

[SNAGGLEPUSS]

Its known as the graves bridge

[otdrsmn]

Thanks Ericlin !

[on the rise]

I'm with Horton. I've been out three times and skunked at fish creek.
I have used the SJW tactic, but still no bites.
Not enough weight? too much weight? Strike indicator too high? I have changed them all and still nothing:mad2: Perhpas wrong time of day ( 10:30-15:00 )

I think I will try tomorrow at fish creek and hopefully my fate will change.

[superspud]

the bow is definitly a tough river to learn how to fish.

here are a few hints i can give

1 if you arent catching bottom every two casts then you are not fishing deep / heavy enough. i usually tye san juans with a heavy gauge wire then use a bead head nymph as a dropper fly.

2 strike at anything! its not like bobber fishing where the indicator will always dip under. any slight hesitation can be a fish.

3 pay particular attention at the end of your drift, when your fly starts to rise from the river bed it imitates a nymph rising to the surface and the majority of your strikes will happen here.

4 spend a day (or week) learning how to mend your line properly. this is essential in getting long natural drifts.

5 just cause the bow is a larger river dosent mean you just wade in and start casting. treat it just like a smaller creek and approach each hole carfully. i dont know how many times i have just crashed into a hole just to see a 24inch brown bolt out of the shadows into the deep.
spend time looking at the river and determine the seams holes the eye of the hole and the shelves.

there are alot of fish to be caught right along the banks.

i met a old guy out there once and i asked him for a few tips, all he said was "cast cast, cast again" 4 casts later i hook into a large bow that spit the hook after ten seconds. just keep trying.....

[on the rise]

Thanks Superspud... I'll give it a try again tomorrow. I think I was not deep (heavy enough) as I did not really skim the bottom.

Thanks for the tips and I will be more patient in approaching the river.

[ericlin0122]

the bow is definitly a tough river to learn how to fish.

here are a few hints i can give

1 if you arent catching bottom every two casts then you are not fishing deep / heavy enough. i usually tye san juans with a heavy gauge wire then use a bead head nymph as a dropper fly.

2 strike at anything! its not like bobber fishing where the indicator will always dip under. any slight hesitation can be a fish.

3 pay particular attention at the end of your drift, when your fly starts to rise from the river bed it imitates a nymph rising to the surface and the majority of your strikes will happen here.

4 spend a day (or week) learning how to mend your line properly. this is essential in getting long natural drifts.

5 just cause the bow is a larger river dosent mean you just wade in and start casting. treat it just like a smaller creek and approach each hole carfully. i dont know how many times i have just crashed into a hole just to see a 24inch brown bolt out of the shadows into the deep.
spend time looking at the river and determine the seams holes the eye of the hole and the shelves.

there are alot of fish to be caught right along the banks.

i met a old guy out there once and i asked him for a few tips, all he said was "cast cast, cast again" 4 casts later i hook into a large bow that spit the hook after ten seconds. just keep trying.....

nice one.
I always have split shot(s) on my line to get to the bottom quicker.

[superspud]

ya i somtimes use split shot when i fish faster current. but i find for ease of casting i just like to use heaveir flys. i find the back cast out of the water is easier since there is less drage. each to there own though