A river runs through it: Cochrane Upper/Middle Bow

BeeGuy · #1 10-05-2011, 10:53 PM

Well, now that the season is closed close to home I've been heading to Cochrane to fish, and I am enjoying it much, much more than the lower sections in Calgary.

Not only are the fish healthier, but there is a few more species of Salmonids, or at least larger populations of some select species.

I have yet to see a Bull or Cuttie in the lower sections although I know there is the odd Bull there.

The fish here hit way harder and fight much better than the ones in the lower Bow.

So, here's my PB cuttie again, and the surprise of the evening, a 20" Laker.

steve · #2 10-05-2011, 11:03 PM

A laker? How did it get there. Nice pics

jacenbeers · #3 10-05-2011, 11:08 PM

Those are some great fish. I am also pretty surprised you found a laker. I guess since Spray ends up in the Bow and since Ghost is attached to the Bow, it would make a bit of sense.

BeeGuy · #4 10-05-2011, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve

A laker? How did it get there. Nice pics

No idea how it got there.

There's lakers from Minnewanka->Ghost R.->Ghost Res.->Bow R.->Bearspaw Res.->Bow R. (Bowness).

I'm not sure if the Lakers in Spray could make it to the Bow.

Anyone have any comments on this?

Their movements are a mystery to me though.

I've read that sometimes the Lakers make it through the overflows at the dams into the river, but I'm guessing not too many...

Who knows.

Anyone have any radio telemetry equipment?

JaredAnderson · #5 10-05-2011, 11:19 PM

Where abouts in Cochrane were you fishing?

Been out that way a couple of times with limited success.

BeeGuy · #6 10-05-2011, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredAnderson

Where abouts in Cochrane were you fishing?

Been out that way a couple of times with limited success.

Pretty much in town.

Park near the bridge and hoof it to the deepest holes.

Fisher_man#1 · #7 10-06-2011, 12:00 AM

Caught a couple lakers in the bow over the years most have been Cochrane and up, but i have landed some nice ones below the bearspaw dam recently. Good job and congrats, not the most common catch for the bow.

Cheers,

BeeGuy · #8 10-06-2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fisher_man#1

Caught a couple lakers in the bow over the years most have been Cochrane and up, but i have landed some nice ones below the bearspaw dam recently. Good job and congrats, not the most common catch for the bow.

Cheers,

Thanks,

I hooked into a large charr (5-6lbs+) below Bearspaw right before the season closed and thought it looked like a laker, but it threw the hook before I landed it, so I'll never know.

Certainly was exciting though!

Coulee · #9 10-06-2011, 09:53 AM

Yeah, it's true. I caught a lake trout during a really high spring run-off in about 1991 below the Bearspaw dam. Threw a spinner into some slack water that under normal conditions would have been ground, not river, and he hit it like a freight train.

The Fisherman Guy · #10 10-06-2011, 11:53 AM

There's the odd laker in Ghost, it makes sense that the odd one makes it's way below the dam. Strange to hear that they get to that size, in an unusual habitat for a lake trout.

Thanks for posting BeeGuy

highwood · #11 10-06-2011, 12:39 PM

Id say the Cutt is probably and Cuttbow, definitely not purestrain westslope

Toirtis · #12 10-06-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeeGuy

Pretty much in town.

Park near the bridge and hoof it to the deepest holes.

Pretty much my favourite place within an hour of Calgary....I am out there every chance that I can.

BeeGuy · #13 10-06-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highwood

Id say the Cutt is probably and Cuttbow, definitely not purestrain westslope

Well, to my knowledge there are very very few places in Alberta where there are pure westslope cutthroat.

I'm not sure all of the cutthroat in AB are of the Westslope (O.c.lewisi) Subspecies either.

Perhaps some members here can share some info on the source of Bow River Cutthroat genetics???

All I can say about the fish, was that it had a distinct orange slash under the jaw, lots of spots, and a square tail.

From what I've read it is not possible to differentiate between a cuttie and a cutbow using typical morphological characters. Cutbows apparently can have a slash under the jaw as well.

Any trout I catch that has a slash under the jaw is a cuttie in my books.

If anyone has more info about this or actually knows the specifics about the current state of Bow River, Rainbow, Cutthroat, and "Cutbow" genetics, I'd love to hear it.

maverick_8teen · #14 10-06-2011, 03:42 PM

Been out there a few times last year and the year before earlier in the season and had no such luck.

Tezma · #15 10-06-2011, 11:17 PM

I have been out there aswell, Caught a Bull, Cuttie, Rainbow and whitefish.. near that bridge aswell...

Awesome pictures Bud

slivers86 · #16 10-06-2011, 11:21 PM

cochrane area open 365? never looked into it?

Tezma · #17 10-06-2011, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slivers86

cochrane area open 365? never looked into it?

I think it closes Oct 31. I do believe, But I would have to check.

BeeGuy · #18 10-06-2011, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tezma

I think it closes Oct 31. I do believe, But I would have to check.

That's right.

BeeGuy · #19 10-07-2011, 08:34 PM

Headed to Cochrane again for the evening.

Caught one nice fat 17.5" (45cm) Rainbow.

Hit HARD, and fought like crazy.

Pound for pound the best fight of the season.

First fish to actually make some serious runs on the drag other than a big bully from lower K.

Gust · #20 10-07-2011, 08:38 PM

have you caught any for the pan? or are they all just a wee too big?

BeeGuy · #21 10-07-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GustavMahler

have you caught any for the pan? or are they all just a wee too big?

Well, I'm not really inclined to keep a trout from the Bow. I have slaughtered about a dozen whities tho. So, I'm not sure where my sentiment is coming from.

That said, I have only caught 2 trout under 35cm in the Bow this whole season.
1 rainbow from the lower section, and a small brown 3 blocks from my house.

mmhmmm

trouty · #22 10-08-2011, 07:42 AM

fly fishing or chucking hardware? What's working for you lately?

good work.

BeeGuy · #23 10-08-2011, 10:04 PM

Back to Cochrane again.

Might have to buy one of those cottages on the lake.

BeeGuy · #24 10-08-2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trouty

fly fishing or chucking hardware? What's working for you lately?

good work.

Little silver spinners for trout/charr and beadhead nymphs for whities.

Tezma · #25 10-08-2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeeGuy

Little silver spinners for trout/charr and beadhead nymphs for whities.

x2

BeeGuy · #26 10-16-2011, 03:23 PM

Finally got a decent brown out of that spot, not a monster by any means, but much larger than the 15" size class which is abundant.

Alberta Bigbore · #27 10-16-2011, 06:40 PM

nice fish.. congrats.

Spidey · #28 10-16-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeeGuy

Back to Cochrane again.

Might have to buy one of those cottages on the lake.

Ummmm.....just curious BeeGuy. Why is one of the pics you posted here also the avatar for Tezma? Post #23 and #25. Either Tezma is a huuuuuge fan or your Alter Ego? Post counts very similar.... hmmmmm.....

Gust · #29 10-16-2011, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spidey

Ummmm.....just curious BeeGuy. Why is one of the pics you posted here also the avatar for Tezma? Post #23 and #25. Either Tezma is a huuuuuge fan or your Alter Ego? Post counts very similar.... hmmmmm.....

they fish together

Spidey · #30 10-16-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GustavMahler

they fish together

Ahhh, good point. Now makes a bit more sense from some previous posts....