Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Today along the Bow River - July 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

Early morning launch 7:30 am today on the Bow. ‪#‎bowriver‬ ‪#‎flyfishing‬

High today 24 °C, partly cloudy, wind avg 11, max 17.

Bow River flow 180 cms.

Canmore Folk Music Festival - Aug 3, 4 & 5, 2013

 Canmore Folk Music Festival - Aug 3, 4 & 5, 2013

Bringing exquisite folk music to the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, the Canmore Folk Music Festival is a destination for many residents of Alberta and beyond!

Jim McLennan and Lynda McLennan of McLennan Fly Fishing will have two performances at Stage 4 Festival Pub

Sunday 4:30 - 5:30
Monday 4:30 - 5:30

http://www.canmorefolkfestival.com/

Bow River Fishing Report - Saturday July 27, 2013

Photo, copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 12

"Thanks to Morton C. for this fishing report!"
- Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

Hi Michelle

I had a fantastic day last Saturday. It was my first time on the river drifting from Policeman's to McKinnon but surly not the last time, the shuttle service was perfect!

I am new to Canada from Denmark and do not have any experience with fly fishing while drifting, so i had some panic in the "office" when i hooked the first fish and it resulted in slag line and a lost fish.

I then figured out to use my anchor and succeeded in getting 4 fish to the boat, all rainbows taking large nymphs.

All in all a great day !

- Morton C.

Bow River Fishing Report - Wednesday July 24, 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 12


"Thanks to Colin J. for this fishing report!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

Hey Michelle,

Well the day started out great!

Five minutes after we launched we hooked up 5 times on one bank using streamers. One was a small bull trout which was my first bull on the bow river.

The weather was perfect with the cloud cover. Unfortunately the sky was looking really dark down river. After floating for a half hour we had to pull to shore and ride out a severe hail storm. It was hailing golf ball size hail for about an hour. We hid under a poplar bush and held on for dear life!

After the storm we thought the dry fly fishing would pick up, but the hail seemed to turn the fishing right off. I guess the fish were hiding as well. The river got quite muddy and there were no rising fish.

We only landed one more rainbow on a blue winged olive before we reached McKinnon in the dark at 10:30.

It was great to see my truck at Mac after a very tiring and late float.

Thanks again

- Colin J.

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2012

LAST YEAR. July 2012 ‪#‎bowriver‬ ‪#‎flyfishing‬

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Bow River Fishing Report - Wednesday July 24, 2013

Photo, courtesy Carl B.

"Thanks to Carl B. for this fishing report and photo!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

Hi Michelle, we had a great day on the river and will be heading out again this Friday, so I'll call Thursday night.

Light coloured streamers were the ticket. . . the brighter white the better.

We caught 5 nice rainbow and a very large Brown.

We are very new to drifting the Bow River, this is just my third run down, so we are very happy to be getting things figured out.

Attached is photo os Sam with one of the Rainbows.

- Carl B.

Bow River Fishing Report - Sunday July 28 2013

Photo, courtesy Mike N.
  
"Thanks to Mike N. for this fishing report and photos!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

We had a great float and were one of the first boats off from Policeman's.


Initially we tried some white streamers and were unsuccessful but switched up to an orange bodied streamer with rubber legs.

With just two in the boat we landed 10, at least 5 other solid hookups and countless bumps and soft takes. Most were taken within feet from the bank.



Photo, courtesy Mike N.

Grassy banks appeared to be more productive than rocky banks but those areas were hard to come by as much of the bank has been disturbed with rock or mud falls.

We got out and nymphed some promising water but did not hook a single fish with a nymph.

There were no rising fish and I have never seen so little bug activity on the river in a 6 hour period in July. There was no hatch whatsoever.

Other than one brown, all fish caught were rainbows and all of average size (17-18 inches).

There are very few obstacles in the water and the float was trouble free.

Thanks to your team in adapting to some crazy parking and access challenges.

Attached are a few pictures.

- Mike N.

Bow River Fishing Report - Sunday July 28 2013

Photo, courtesy Ken C. "Upstream from Policeman's Flats"

"Thanks to Ken C. for this fishing report and photo!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

Our trip started at Fish Crk at 10:00 am and we were off the water at 16:00 at Policemans Flats.

Water clarity was two to three feet.

Fish to the boat 6. All Rainbows, 4 were small under 6 inches, which seems unusual.

2 were 12 inch plus.

Not in the boat and back to the river before the net was out was a 24 in (approx), nice fish!

All fish were close to the shoreline and on the bottom

All trout took a rather large Royal Coachman!

No strikes or touches on leeches or stonefly flies.

River looks great, new channels and great rifts, pools and back eddies.

Photo to follow.

Regards Ken

Carseland/Johnson's Island Boat Launch - Rebuild Update

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

Bow River Shuttles writes: "The above photo, from our visit to the site last week, shows the 'plug' being replaced in the channel on river-left of Johnson's Island"

Trout Unlimited Canada writes:

"During the recent flooding in SW Alberta the Carseland area blowout was a result of an engineered 'plug' on the north side of the channel that was designed to fail to ensure that the weir was not lost in a large scale flood. 


When the blow out occurred it also took out the road and the access to the boat launches. The “plug” currently is in the process of being replaced. 

At the recent Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival held to raise funds for flood relief efforts the AESRD spoke to the audience about the Carseland Weir project. 

For more information please visit the Newsroom on Trout Unlimited Canada's website."

‪#‎BowRiver‬ ‪#‎BackCastFlyFishingFilmFestival‬ ‪#‎BowRiverShuttles‬

Water, Water Everywhere! - Exploring Engineered Wetlands (July 30)

Courtesy, Friends of Fish Creek

Water, Water Everywhere! - Exploring Engineered Wetlands (July 30)

Catch aquatic critters and learn about the important function of engineered wetlands.

Environmental Education Coordinator Roland Kirzinger leads the tour and will answe
r all your questions!

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society
http://friendsoffishcreek.org/

Location Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre

Ticket/Registration Pre-registration is required, as there is limited space. Please call 403-297-7927 or email Roland.Kirzinger@gov.ab.ca

Date Jul 30, 2013 @ 07:00 PM

Fee $2.00 suggested donation

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2012

LAST YEAR. July 2012 ‪#‎bowriver‬

Monday, July 29, 2013

Today along the Bow River - July 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

'Use At Your Own Risk'

22X/Fish Creek boat launch. Ramp on right damaged, covered with gravel. Note yellow flagging tape on rebar protruding from the gravel. ‪#‎bowriver‬

High today 12 °C, overcast w/light rain showers, wind avg 12, max 24.

Bow River flow 188 cms.

Bow River Fishing Report - Friday July 26, 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 12
 
"Thanks to Louise S. for this brief fishing report!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

Hi. The fishing was slow for us. I finally caught a nice Rainbow of 18 inches when I was resting at the back of the boat and letting my streamer trail along behind us. We had a lovely day though and enjoyed the sunny weather.

- Louise

What goes on when you are not there ...



Not fly fishing, but we think you'll like this!

Courtesy Alberta Parks Kananaskis Country 

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2012
Rendezvous for lunch. LAST YEAR. July 2012 ‪#‎bowriver‬

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Today along the Bow River - July 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

Fish on! Boat to shore! ‪#‎bowriver‬

High today 17 °C, mostly cloudy, wind avg 13, max 32.

Bow River flow 186 cms.

Bow River Fishing Report - Thursday, Friday & Saturday July 18, 19 & 20, 2013

Photo, courtesy Eric Mac.

"Thanks to Eric Mac. for this fishing report and great photos!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

Hi Michelle,

Thanks again for the shuttle service on July 18 - 20.

We were on the water before sunup each day.

Thursday the water was a bit discolored due to overnight thundershowers and only two fish were hooked on dry stone fly patterns early on.

We switched to streamers after nine and had some success with Bow buggers, clousers landing another 12 fish with as many LDR's.

Four browns, biggest just over 21 inches and the remainder rainbows in the 16 - 18 inch range. All were healthy and feisty although the rainbows were a bit thin post spawn. They more than made up for lack of girth with airborne acrobatics resulting in many spit hooks.


Photo, courtesy Eric Mac.
  
Friday and Saturday the early morning dry stone action was better but not spectacular. AT least a dozen fish to the net with the majority being browns. Stims, noble Chernobyl's and other foam stone fly patterns in smaller sizes (8, 10) were the ticket when fished close to the bank. Streamers were effective after 10 on Friday. Saturday we fished dry stones all day and even had hook ups just before take out at Mac with 20 landed.

Photo, courtesy Eric Mac.
  
The river has certainly changed and finding the prime lies was a challenge. The river is wider in spots with many new side (or main) channels and many new gravel bars. The large cliff just downstream of Cottonwood golf course was severely eroded and noticed a large amount of rocks and dirt ( the size of a small car) fall into the water as we passed on the north side. I would recommend caution when floating near there or other large undercut cliffs.


Photo, courtesy Eric Mac.

No significant hatches were observed but we did see a few stones and plenty of shucks. The occasional caddis in the shade but we were off the river by mid afternoon each day.

The Bow is not dead and all fish were healthy and active. It is a new river in many respects and well worth exploring.

I have attached a few snaps but not all fish are CRP (catch, picture, release).

Cheers,
Eric

Fish stranded by flooding get helicopter ride to Bow River

Photo, courtesy Gavin Young/Calgary Herald
Fish stranded by flooding get helicopter ride to Bow River

Salvage operation saves up to 1,000 trout and other species trapped in pools of water

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald July 25, 2013

Read story here: http://bit.ly/12vQQzC

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

 Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2012 

LAST YEAR. July 2012 ‪#‎bowriver‬

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Today along the Bow River - July 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

Yellow drifter searching for rainbows. ‪#‎bowriver‬

High today 19 °C, scattered clouds, wind avg 21, max 48.

Bow River flow 191 cms.

Calgarian Kyle Snarr in Ireland at World Youth Fly Fishing Championships (2 of 2)


Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival's 2013 beneficiary was the Canadian Youth National Fly Fishing Team

Photo: Czech Republic's Eliska Markova netting one of her fish with Team Canada's Kyle Snarr looking on. — with Wyffc Ireland at Woodford Fly Fishery.

The team is competing in Ireland this week (July 21-26, 2013) at the World Youth Fly Fishing Championships.

You can follow all the action, and view photos, at these links:

World Youth Fly Fishing Championship (wyffc): http://on.fb.me/18DSTEE

Innovative Fly Fisher: http://bit.ly/13FG2Nn

Canadian Youth National Fly Fishing Team: http://on.fb.me/1dWgEoi

Calgary Folk Music Festival - July 25-28, 2013


Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2012

Stella. LAST YEAR. July 2012 ‪#‎bowriver‬

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Today along the Bow River - July 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

The Office. ‪#‎bowriver‬

High today 18 °C, overcast, wind avg 13, max 26.

Bow River flow 186 cms.

Bow River Fishing Report - Friday July 19, 2013

Photo, courtesy Ryan L.

Bow River Fishing Report - Friday July 19, 2013

Pre-Flood & Post-Flood Reports from Ryan L.

"Thanks to Ryan L. for this fishing report and photos!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

NOTE: RYAN L. WAS ONE OF THE LAST FLY FISHERS TO DRIFT THE BOW PRIOR TO THE FLOOD. HIS REPORT FROM THAT TRIP IS POSTED BELOW. HE WAS OUT AGAIN LAST FRIDAY. THIS IS HIS REPORT FROM THE 'NEW' BOW RIVER.


Photo, courtesy Ryan L.

Hi Michelle,

We had a great day on the re-designed river.

First of all, the river looked great and exploring was good fun.

We were into fish within sight of the launch and hooked up on both streamers and nymphs.

We caught fish all day long, even in the bright sun and had three double-headers. Most of the fish were big and healthy and fooled on leeches or stones and streamers fished tight to the bank.

Brown with a bit of yellow was the streamer colour that worked well for us.

We were pleased to catch some nice fish below the Highwood as well.

Water clarity was about 3 feet.

We did catch a couple 6 inchers which was encouraging.

I've included a picture of what I believe was a buffalo bone bed and a short video of the Cliffs.

- Ryan L.

Bow River Fishing Report - Friday June 14, 2013


Photo, courtesy Ryan L.

Bow River Fishing Report - Friday June 14, 2013

Pre-Flood & Post-Flood Reports from Ryan L.

"Thanks to Ryan L. for this fishing report!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

NOTE: RYAN L. WAS ONE OF THE LAST FLY FISHERS TO DRIFT THE BOW PRIOR TO THE FLOOD. HE SENT IN THIS REPORT. HOWEVER, BY THE TIME WE RECEIVED IT, WE WERE IN THE FLOOD AND IT DIDN'T GET POSTED. 


Photo, courtesy Ryan L.

Hi Michelle,

We had a great day on Friday. The river was high but a nice milky green colour with about 18" of visibility.

The fish were tight to the bank and eager to take stonefly nymphs.

We actually did better fishing from the bank because we could get the flies tighter that way. There was a dense hatch of small dark mayflies later in the afternoon after a good rain storm.

We had to endure a lightning storm lying face down on the bank while it hailed on our back sides and stormed above our heads.

We found a few risers for a short time but nothing consistent.

Toward the end of the day we got a number of exciting follows on a white streamer.

The rainbows put on a good show and we lost more than we landed. They were fat and feisty for sure.

All in all a worthwhile early season trip.

- Ryan

Back Cast Flood Relief Benefit Film Night - A Look Back

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013


Michelle Magotiaux, Owner/Operator Bow River Shuttles with Guest Speaker Dave DePape, Program Manager - Fish and Wildlife, Prairies Area, ESRD

Calgarian Kyle Snarr in Ireland at World Youth Fly Fishing Championships (1 of 2)




Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival's 2013 beneficiary was the Canadian Youth National Fly Fishing Team

Photo: Calgarian Kyle Snarr is directly behind the flag bearer.

The team is competing in Ireland this week (July 21-26, 2013) at the World Youth Fly Fishing Championships.

You can follow all the action, and view photos, at these links:

World Youth Fly Fishing Championship (wyffc): http://on.fb.me/18DSTEE

Innovative Fly Fisher: http://bit.ly/13FG2Nn

Canadian Youth National Fly Fishing Team: http://on.fb.me/1dWgEoi

‘Changed’ Bow River still fine for fishing

Jan Cadra casts a line along the Bow River pathway in Riverbend earlier this month. Fishing guides and Alberta Environment officials say there are still lots of fish out there to be caught, but want anglers to catch-and-release until the population stabilizes.  PHOTO:
Tijana Martin/calgary Herald


‘Changed’ Bow River still fine for fishing

Anglers say flood actually had ‘a lot of positives’

By Erika Stark, Calgary Herald , 25 Jul 2013

Although the Bow River has “completely changed,” since the June floods, there’s at least one thing that seems to have stayed the same: The fish are still biting.

Anglers who have cast their lines into the river this month say the floods transformed the Bow into an unfamiliar river with new channels and pools.

For Aaron Feltham, that makes fishing the river all the more interesting.

“It’s fun to learn new water — that’s why you travel to different places,” says Feltham, a guide at Bow River Troutfitters. “Now I don’t have to.”

While provincial officials estimate that the fish kill this year could be significant because of the floods, Feltham says there are still many to be caught out on the river.

“People that have been out have been catching fish in a whole bunch of different sizes,” he said. “They’re really hungry.”

Paul Christensen, a senior fisheries biologist with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, said this initial high catch rate might decrease as the river starts to calm down.

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2012

Trout Pond at Bow Habitat Station (Calgary) LAST YEAR. July 2012 ‪#‎bowriver‬

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Today along the Bow River - July 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

Michelle chatting with shuttle clients at Policeman's Flats this afternoon. ‪#‎bowriver‬

High today 21 °C, scattered clouds, wind avg 11, max 22.

Bow River flow 188 cms.

Back Cast Flood Relief Benefit Film Night - A Look Back

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

TUC - Bow River Chapter volunteer Craig Cooper (left) with Guest Speaker Brian Meagher, Provincial Biologist, Trout Unlimited Canada

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

Bow River Fishing Report - Thursday July 18 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 12
Bow River Fishing Report - Thursday July 18 2013

"Thanks to Bret W. for this fishing report!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

Hi Michelle,

Great day to float, we caught both rainbows and browns, biggest 26” brown.

The go to flies were black and white streamers fished on the bank.

I can just say pay attention when you are rowing .

Thanks again for the reliable shuttle as always. (you did scare me a little as I couldn’t see me truck when we pulled in, just had to walk to the over flow lot)

- Bret W.

Canadian Youth National Fly Fishing Team competes in Ireland this week!


Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival's 2013 beneficiary was the Canadian Youth National Fly Fishing Team

The team is competing in Ireland this week (July 21-26, 2013) at the World Youth Fly Fishing Championships.

You can follow all the action, and view photos, at these links:

World Youth Fly Fishing Championship (wyffc): http://on.fb.me/18DSTEE

Innovative Fly Fisher: http://bit.ly/13FG2Nn

Canadian Youth National Fly Fishing Team: http://on.fb.me/1dWgEoi

Bow River Fishing Report - Thursday July 18 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 12

Bow River Fishing Report - Thursday July 18 2013

"Thanks to Brian E. for this fishing report!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

HI Michelle,

Wasn’t quite sure what to expect on our Thurs float, but we had a great day of fishing, streamers were the ticket for us.

Clousers, smaller leeches, and some larger articulated creations as well.

We had about 20 fish to the boat, all rainbows except one small brown, almost everything was taken very close to the bank.

Still waiting for some pictures from the guy with the camera, I will send a few when I get them.

Thanks again for the Shuttle.

- Brian E.

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2012

LAST YEAR. July 2012 ‪#‎bowriver‬

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Bow River Boat Launches - Rebuild Stalls - Glenmore Trail/Graves Landing

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013
The entrance to the overflow parking lot for the Glenmore Trail boat launch is just to the right of this photo.  The boat ramp area has undergone some basic repair, so as to be useable by the Calgary Fire Department rescue boats.  
Both parking lots experienced significant damage, with the overflow lot rendered unusable.  However, they dumped a load or two of gravel on that lot, and spread it around a bit, to make it passable for the rescue boat trailer. 
However, as the Calgary Herald article below explains, further repairs are on hold. 
Pit filled with junk uncovered as crews fix flood-damaged road (with video)

By Erika Stark, Calgary Herald July 17, 2013

Read story here: http://bit.ly/1aHNY2y

Bow River Fishing Report - Monday July 15 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 12

"Thanks to Colin J. for this fishing report!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

Hey Michelle,

Our float wasn't too bad. The water still had lots of sediment in it but the visibility wasn't bad.

The flood had also cleaned the river bottom so there were no weeds and rock snot to contend with.

The fishing was really good on white streamers on the grassy undercut banks. We hooked up so many times and never landed a single fish. It was very frustrating! I also had luck nymphing with stone flys.

Most of the guides were using stone flys with a stone fly dropper.

Talking to a few of the guides, they weren't having much success on the drys. Streamers and nymphing were definitely the way to go today.

- Colin J.

Bow River Boat Launches - Rebuild Begins - Johnson's Island/Carseland (vid)



The earthen dam on the river-left channel of Johnson's Island was breached and destroyed during our 2013 Flood which began June 21, 2013. The rebuilding has begun.

Bow River Fishing Report - Monday July 15, 2013

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 12

Bow River Fishing Report - Monday July 15 2013

"Thank you to Zach S. for this fishing report!" - Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

Hi Michelle, the Bow has been fishing well with fish coming on streamers nymphs and dries now that we are seeing cleaner water.

We did quite well with black streamers Monday as well as nymphing.

I'm not sure how many fish we landed but it was a few. The fish are strong and really healthy right now as well!

This whole week has been fishing well and Sunday a client of mine caught and taped a 25" rainbow which was clean and very healthy!

River is dropping so it's a great time to get out.

- Zach S.

Back Cast Flood Relief Benefit Film Night - A Look Back

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013


Lynda McLennan, in black & white, McLennan Fly Fishing, chatting with an event attendee.

The McLennans donated a significant portion of the proceeds from their evening sales of photos, cards, books and school registrations to our event beneficiary, The Calgary Foundation - Flood Rebuilding Fund!

Thank you Lynda and Jim!!

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2012
Take a close look at the duckling that is standing behind the others. LAST YEAR. June 2012 ‪#‎bowriver‬

Monday, July 22, 2013