Bow River Shuttles: July 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Today along the Bow River - July 2012

Drift boat rower soaking up the sun. The high today was 25.0 °C.
Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All Rights Reserved 2012

For current Bow River conditions and weather forecast, click on this link:

Photo, courtesy Kristian Bartholin

"A great day at the bow. Lots of action"

Posted by Kristian Bartholin

Excessive heat prompts fishing closures in Yellowstone area

Lower Madison River below Ennis, Montana. Photo, via Pete Thomas Outdoors

Excessive heat has caused problems around the country, and in Yellowstone National Park it's jeopardizing trout to the point where fishing restrictions and bans have been ordered.

The Spokesman-Review reports that fishing will be banned, beginning Wednesday, on the Gibbon River below Gibbon Falls, Firehole River below Keppler Cascades, and the Madison River.

Time-of-day restrictions already are in place on the Smith, Dearborn and Sun Rivers.

The closures and restrictions are intended to prevent added stress for trout, which thrive in cold water but struggle to survive in warm water. Water temperatures in some parts of the rivers are in the high 70s, and more hot weather is on tap this week.

LINK (via Pete Thomas Outdoors)

Calgary International Blues Festival July 30 - August 5, 2012

Calgary International Blues Festival features a full week of the best in blues concerts and workshops, culminating in 4 days & nights of mainstage performances and the nightly Twilight Blues Dance Parties.

Courtesy, John Rutherford Calgary blues musician John Rutherford.

Blues’ clues Rutherford to bring stories, memories to audience

By Mike Bell,

Calgary Herald

July 30, 2012

Read more here:

Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011

One of our rental drift boats. From Bow River Drift Boat Rentals/Bow River Shuttles.
Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All Rights Reserved 2011

Monday, July 30, 2012

Today along the Bow River - July 2012

Tuesday morning launch of a vintage drift boat.
Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All Rights Reserved 2012

For current Bow River conditions and weather forecast, click on this link:

Carseland Boat Launch - Rehab Underway

BEFORE

The boat ramp at Johnson's Island/Carseland was compromised during the high water run off this spring.

AFTER

When we arrived at the boat launch this morning, we found that repairs were underway.

Bow River Fishing Report - from July 28 2012

Evening light, done for the day!
Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All Rights Reserved 2012

"Thanks again for the shuttle service.

The AM float was very good but not spectacular.

The River has dropped dramatically and was expecting more fish to be looking up.

Turned 20+ fish in the AM on smaller stone patterns and netted 10.

Yellow Bobs, Fat Alberts or similar Barrets Stones in size 8 or 10 seemed to be the ticket.

No monsters netted but had several LDR's with big fish, all netted were in the 16 - 18 inch class and all rainbows. I think the big stonefly / salmonfly hatch is fading.

Not sure why the smaller stones were working, Skwalas late ?, hoppers early ?, or just a latent memory.

Switched to streamers by mid morning and had many hookups but didn't land any big fish except for the "monster" attached.

We had a good chuckle after seeing the snap.

You need not include it on your blog but it's an indication that if the little fellows are on the banks the big boys are in the deeper holes.

Cheers,"

- THANKS TO ERIC M. FOR THIS FISHING REPORT AND PHOTO (Photo not posted)

We Are Nature

LINK (via: Give a Shit About Nature)

Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Today along the Bow River - July 2012

Sunday afternoon take out on the Bow.
Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All Rights Reserved 2012

The Bow River at Calgary continues at 213 cms, having decreased 60 cms on Thursday July 27.

For current Bow River conditions and weather forecast, click on this link:

Some early morning trickery.
Photo, courtesy Chronicles of Cod, All Rights Reserved

Our friend Aaron over at 'Chronicles of Cod' provides an excellent update on Bow River fishing conditions over the past ten days or so.

"All in all the fishing has been excellent for the clients who are willing to work hard to get them. We would all like to see some more eats on the surface. The dry fly has been producing a lot of the bigger fish in my boat, its just the eats don’t seem to be as frequent as other years.

Tons of great things happening but no time to write about em’

Livin’ the dream"

Check out more details and photos at Aaron's post "Life Updated"

FiftyNorth Flyfishing - Altered Vision

Red Ants Pants Music Festival - July 26-29 2012

We're late on this one. However, if you're anywhere near White Sulfur Springs, Montana, you can catch the final day of the Red Ants Pants Music Festival 2012

Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Today along the Bow River - July 2012

Yesterday, the gravel bar at Mac appeared. This morning, a drift boat hatch showed up.
Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All Rights Reserved 2012.
Click directly on photo for much larger image

The Bow River at Calgary continues at 213 cms, having decreased 60 cms on Thursday July 27.

For current Bow River conditions and weather forecast, click on this link:

Kudos to Country Pleasures Fly Fishing for putting this together. Very creative! And it sure tells the story of the Bow River at this moment.

THINGS SEEN THIS WEEK THAT WE'VE NOT SEEN IN A WHILE:

* The river bottom!

* Fish somewhere between the surface and bottom.

* More than 2 foam eats in a day.

* More than 2 PMD's in a day.

* Fish actually eating aforementioned insects.

* More than 2 Caddis on the water in a day.

* Fish actually eating aforementioned insects.

* Large Brown Trout killing 4" long, black, bunny flies with prejudice.

* Being able to see the carnage mentioned above.

* Islands!

* Boat launches with few vehicles and general calm and sanity.

* Flow volume less than 300 cms!

Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011

Friday, July 27, 2012

Today along the Bow River - July 2012

The Bow River at Calgary continues at 213 cms, having decreased 60 cms yesterday.

For current Bow River conditions and weather forecast, click on this link:

Photo, courtesy Ryan L.

We had a very enjoyable albeit crowded day on the river as I took my son and two fellas he works with for a trip down the river. Four in the boat was a little tight.

Never the less, the fishing was great fun with everybody getting into fish, including the rookies.

Photo, courtesy Ryan L.

We nymphed the entire day and took all fish on large either light or darker coloured stones.

Even with heavier tippet, many broke us off leaving the fisherman happy yet hungry for more!

- THANKS TO RYAN L. FOR THIS FISHING REPORT AND PHOTOS.

Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011

Michelle's shuttle van leading client's truck & trailer out of 22X/Fish Creek boat launch area.
Photo, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All Rights Reserved 2011

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Today along the Bow River - July 2012

The Bow River at Calgary has decreased 60 cms over the past 24 hours, and is at 213 cms! We saw gravel bars today that have been underwater for many weeks!

For current Bow River conditions and weather forecast, click on this link:

Photo, courtesy Ryan L.

We had a great trip. The river was high and fast and milky green in colour.

We landed a ton of fish and hooked a bunch more that were tougher than we were.

Photo, courtesy Ryan L.

We saw the odd one rising and took one on top but the rest were taken nymphing with big stones.

A fun day all round.

- THANKS TO RYAN L. FOR THIS FISHING REPORT AND PHOTOS.

The Bluegrass & Classic Country Music Festival July 27 -29 2012

Photo, courtesy The Bluegrass & Classic Country Music Festival

"Three Days of Incredible Music on our outdoor stage, in the parking lots, and around the campfire. Our 9th Annual festival will be a weekend of great music and great food."

Near Hillspring, in Southern Alberta.

The Bluegrass & Classic Country Music Festival 2012

Bow River Fishing Report - from July 21 & 22, 2012

Trips were great. Saturday the water was high and we didn’t see many fish on the dry.

But got some on the stone fly nymph, then Sunday we were getting a lot of fish on the dry (skid bitches) and a few on black streamers (stripping the streamers as fast as possible).

- THANKS TO BRAYDON W. FOR THIS FISHING REPORT.

Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Today along the Bow River - July 2012

For current Bow River conditions and weather forecast, click on this link:

Calgary Franco Festival 2012

Ottawa set to cut 130 positions from fish habitat programs (text only)

"Trout Unlimited Canada CEO Jeff Surtees and others comment briefly on the closure of DFO offices across Canada in this CBC news piece." - TUC

Text only. Please see previous post for CBC TV News clip.

Ottawa set to cut 130 positions from fish habitat programs

Changes a result of new direction caused by changes in the Fisheries Act

CBC News

Posted: Jul 24, 2012

Federal habitat management programs will soon be closed around the country, says the union representing Department of Fisheries and Oceans workers.

Ottawa is set to trim the number of habitat management programs across Canada from 63 to 15, eliminating more than 130 jobs, representatives of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) told CBC News.

On Tuesday, the department responded with a written response to CBC News confirming that 130 positions will be lost.

"This does not necessarily mean that they will lose their job; they may be asked to relocate or be redeployed within the department or government," Kevin Hill, director of communications said, adding that no fisheries officers will lose their jobs.

Hill also said there has been no final decision on office closures.

But Marianne Hladun, who speaks for PSAC, said the only offices remaining in the Prairie region will be in Edmonton and Winnipeg.

“It’s going to be too late. By the time this government realizes they've made a mistake, they could seriously damage the environment, the ecosystem, to a point of no return,” Hladun said.

The programs were established to protect fish habitat and monitor industrial development on or near water.

Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Today along the Bow River - July 2012 (The colour yellow)

For current Bow River conditions and weather forecast, click on this link:

Photo, courtesy Country Pleasures Fly Fishing

Here is a brief fishing report, courtesy Country Pleasures Fly Fishing!

Bow River Fishing Report - from July 19 2012

“Had one brown on, to the boat, and lost it. Used a white streamer. My friend Rod caught one white fish.

Water was very dirty. Other boats were catching fish. We were off the water by 11:00 pm.”

- THANKS TO DOUG O. FOR THIS FISHING REPORT (see photo of Doug O's party above)

The Wonders of Wetlands - July 24 (Fish Creek Provincial Park)

Cinnamon Teal can be seen in Fish Creek Park. Photo courtesy, Matthew Sim

July 24: The Wonders of Wetlands

Wetlands provide habitat, clean water, and stability in our ecosystems. From the insects and amphibians that make their homes in ponds and sloughs to the plants that grow along the edges of fens and marshes, every aspect of a wetland has an important job to do in providing wildlife, plants, and people with clean and plentiful fresh water.

Join Environmental Education Coordinators Alison Cole and Lauren Zabel on a tour of Fish Creek’s wetland network and get up close and personal with the life that thrives within.

When: Tuesday, July 24

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre,

Shannon Terrace Area (access off 37 Street

and 130 Avenue SW)

For info, 403-297-7286 or alison.cole@gov.ab.ca #FB