Any advice on Southern Alberta fly patterns?

[Pekan]

Guys, I work as a sales rep for a distributor of outdoor products. We sell to retailers only.
I love to hunt, shoot, camp, and archery but I don't fly fish.

I thought I'd just put it out there, if anyone can give me a list of their top 6 patterns for the bow, oldman, crowsnest with sizes?

I want make up free sample packs of our flys for retailers to try.

Anyhow, it's appreciated.

[freeride]

Elk hair caddis always works for me.
A foam wasp pattern that I made up as well

[SouthWestRanger]

Very different top 6 depending on the river but I’ll give you my general one for streams.

General SW Rivers and Streams:
Bead head pheasant tail (12-16)
Golden stone nymph (6-10)
Elk hair caddis (12-16)
Parachute Adams (14-18)
Stimulator (6-10)
Small Mudler Minnows (can’t remember exactly what sizes I run)

[Pekan]

Thanks guys, I didn't realize there is variation between rivers in S. AB.

[vanslays]

Originally Posted by SouthWestRanger

Very different top 6 depending on the river but I’ll give you my general one for streams.

General SW Rivers and Streams:
Bead head pheasant tail (12-16)
Golden stone nymph (6-10)
Elk hair caddis (12-16)
Parachute Adams (14-18)
Stimulator (6-10)
Small Mudler Minnows (can’t remember exactly what sizes I run)

I like this list a lot. Might swap the stone nymph for a green drake pattern because I rarely nymph, but that’s it.

[SouthWestRanger]

Originally Posted by vanslays

I like this list a lot. Might swap the stone nymph for a green drake pattern because I rarely nymph, but that’s it.

I’ll actually agree with that trade if you aren’t a fan of nymphing

[Soab]

Throw a foam fly in there too. ( fat Albert or hopper ). Maybe a black wooly bugger

[spurly]

San Jon worm
Bead headed hares ear
Copper John
Blue winged olive
Pale morning dun

[goldscud]

A dark wooly bugger

[vanslays]

Originally Posted by Soab

Throw a foam fly in there too. ( fat Albert or hopper ). Maybe a black wooly bugger

Fat Alberts are the best. Easy to tie too. They’re my only hopper pattern and they work great.

[FinnDawg]

Just always make sure you have elk hair caddis in a number of sizes lol. For fun maybe some chubby Chernobyls, I like the purple variety.

[Cain32mag]

https://bowcrow.tripod.com/flyfishing/id50.html


It might be helpful

[midgetwaiter]

IMO outside of the really heavily pressured streams high country trout aren't very selective so I tend to use just a few flies. I carry around a ton of course but use the same few.

Caddis - EHC, Tom Thumb, X caddis
Small Mayfly - Parachute Adams in grey and tan
Big Mayfly - Something drake-ish or a Humpy
Stimulator - Stonefly or use as an indicator
Ant / Midge - RS2 or a Griffiths Gnat
Small Streamer - Bugger or a Slumpbuster
Nymph - Hare's Ear, Brassie, Lightning Bug

[flyrodfisher]

Originally Posted by Pekan

I thought I'd just put it out there, if anyone can give me a list of their top 6 patterns for the bow, oldman, crowsnest with sizes?

Not really....different waterbodies....different species of fish....different times of the year...different water conditions...all require different flies to be successful.

[Mr Flyguy]

Originally Posted by flyrodfisher

Not really....different waterbodies....different species of fish....different times of the year...different water conditions...all require different flies to be successful.

That was really helpful!

[flyrodfisher]

Originally Posted by Mr Flyguy

That was really helpful!

Always glad to help...
My point was that the question, as asked, can't be can't be narrowed down to 6 flies.

As you can see from the answers already given...(which are all good suggestions by the way...and will work)...there are too many variables.

For example...I can tell you that a green drake on Stauffer will be effective at a different time of year than it is on the North Ram...

[Jayhad]

Coffee's Sparkle Minnow

[cbc_anderson]

If we are talking about flowing water, from small streams to the Bow, my go-to 6 flies would be:

- Bead-head pheasant tail (size 14-18)
- Bead-head gold-ribbed hare's ear (size 12-16)
- Elk hair caddis (size 14-18)
- Parachute Adams (size 16-20)
- Stimulator (size 12-14)
- Black wooly bugger (size 6-10)

- And exchange the bugger for a San Juan Worm if you don't want a streamer in your sample pack.

This is a good representation of the flies you'd need for most conditions and types of fishing in SW Alberta streams and rivers.

[densa44]

I'll leave the nymphs to the experts, but under the right conditions, you can't beat an elk hair grasshopper, the bigger the better. You will get wet inside your waders!
If there is a drought this summer and a hatch of hoppers, you want one of these on the end of your leader.
Cast it on to the far bank and pull it into the water from the long overhanging grass, where the water is slow moving. Be ready.

[Pekan]

Thanks to you all for your help with this.
I'm sure it's just a matter of time until I take up flyfishing. Haha.

[Pekan]

Originally Posted by Pekan

Thanks to you all for your help with this.
I'm sure it's just a matter of time until I take up flyfishing. Haha.

Alright, I'm going to pick up a rod/reel combo.
Any suggestions for length and weight to use on the crowsnest, oldman, castle?

Thanks!

[vanslays]

I like my 5wt.

[Flymph]

1. Evil Weevil
2. Prince Nymph
3. BHPT
4. Chironomid

Pick combinations of two of the above depending on hatches, water temps, time of year, etc. Fish Czech nymph style and have fun!

[cbc_anderson]

Originally Posted by Pekan

Alright, I'm going to pick up a rod/reel combo.
Any suggestions for length and weight to use on the crowsnest, oldman, castle?

Thanks!

You can't go wrong with a 9ft, 5 weight, 4-piece, moderate-fast action rod. You might have more fun with a 3 or 4 wt, but when the wind is blowing hard, you will be glad you have the 5 weight. Have fun!