Bow River Conditions?

salmonfan · #1 04-09-2014, 12:19 PM

How are the conditions on the Bow at Policemans? Is there still a lot of snow on the banks? I may go check in out Thurs or Fri. How about McKinnon?

Thanks to anyone who has been recently.

Scott N · #2 04-09-2014, 12:42 PM

I haven't been myself yet this year, but a guy posted a picture on Fly Fish Calgary taken on April 7 at Policeman's and the bank ice he's standing in front of is about 5' deep by the looks of things. The north side of the river looked to be free of snow or ice, but that's just observations from a couple of photos. He had caught a really nice pike down there, and a decent rainbow.

A report from last night stated the visibility was about 8", and to watch for floating ice.

fishermansfriend · #3 04-09-2014, 01:00 PM

sooooo brown and fast spend saturday on river didnt get a bit... looks like chocolate milk

The Fisherman Guy · #4 04-10-2014, 01:27 PM

Zero ice at Policemans, water is low and clarity is under 1 foot.

No debris in the water yet. Once the surface melt is done, clarity will return. The first hatches have started.

Gust · #5 04-10-2014, 02:16 PM

Try brassy spinners or brassy floating rapalas or good ol LT 5 of Diamonds when the water gets like this.

goldscud · #6 04-10-2014, 02:36 PM

Elbow is brown, Fish Cr is chocolate milk....tends to dirty up the Bow. Will have to hit them in the face with your offering

The Reel Deal · #7 04-10-2014, 05:17 PM

action was great sunday, but as of tuesday its been impossible.

Anyone know how long it typically takes to clear up again?

BeeGuy · #8 04-10-2014, 05:39 PM

Once the last of the snow melts and the ground/roads dry up a bit it will improve. Shouldn't take too long.

WayneChristie · #9 04-10-2014, 07:24 PM

chocolate milk at my end but wide open now

MoFugger21 · #10 04-10-2014, 07:46 PM

The Bow at Hidden Valley (taken from a buddy's Facebook page)

Gust · #11 04-10-2014, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

chocolate milk at my end but wide open now

Is this part of your recovery?

aulrich · #12 04-13-2014, 04:22 PM

Muddy but clearing

salmonfan · #13 04-23-2014, 11:40 AM

thinking of heading out next wed - Policeman's or McKinnon. Anyone been this week?

aulrich · #14 04-23-2014, 12:08 PM

I was out Monday, the water is settling into normal spring fishing conditions.

I need to float it ASAP I did not fish it much last year post flood and my "Normal spots" are not really there anymore. Path access is spotty as well.

It slipped my mind on just how torn up the banks got.

salmonfan · #15 04-23-2014, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aulrich

I was out Monday, the water is settling into normal spring fishing conditions.

I need to float it ASAP I did not fish it much last year post flood and my "Normal spots" are not really there anymore. Path access is spotty as well.

It slipped my mind on just how torn up the banks got.

What's the visibility like?

Tigger72 · #16 04-23-2014, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salmonfan

What's the visibility like?

Was there on Monday just up from policeman's visibility was maybe a foot, the fish were rising tried flies tried spinners no luck... but what a gorgeous day!!

Iwantsfish · #17 04-23-2014, 01:25 PM

Was at Policemans on the 20th, no snow other than the odd patch around a rockbed. River was pretty muddy, about 1-2 feet visibility at most.

This was my first time ever trying the river south of Calgary, didn't expect much but a nice day to practice casting with my fly rod which I realized i forgot once i opened up the trunk. So I grabbed my spin rod and had a CD-7 rap and a silver panther martin spinner and waded down for a couple of hours until i lost both lures, no luck as expected I guess.

Only saw one other person trying their luck upstream of the boat launch and had a couple of boaters put their boats in before I left.

I had no idea how much the flood affected the area, the parking lot isn't what it used to be and right before the boat launch there is a skinny part of the road that looks pretty washed away and dodgy. Walking along the south bank you can see all the water damage with the trees and bushes toppled over.

Since I'm in learning/research mode I did read somewhere that majority of the trout actually migrate out of the Bow to its tributaries to do their work and then head back after the runoff has cleared. If this is true what do you target in this area and what time of day as the tributaries are closed still?

aulrich · #18 04-23-2014, 08:24 PM

The real run off has not started yet, not till just after May long or so. so the fish are mostly still in the river.

I would be nymping, sort of matching the speed of the water to how warm the day is.

I don't dry fly much, but when i have in spring it's been evenings with itty bitty blue winged olives (24 iirc)