FLY FISHING THE CANADIAN ROCKIES WITH ANGLERS LANE

                                                SUMMER 2008

Trip Preparation

You will be fishing the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and if you have fished the rivers of Montana in July you can expect similar conditions. The last few years we have had warm days with temperatures in the 80’s. Expect cool evening and morning temperatures. It is not unusual to start a day in a fleece jacket and be fishing in shorts by the afternoon, changing back to fleece in the evening to fish the late caddis hatch. Whenever you fish the rivers at these latitudes and altitudes you can run into a sudden weather change and I have experienced some really cold conditions with sleet, snow or hail and wind, so an extra sweater and Capilene under clothes can come in handy along with the light fleece jacket. Of course a breathable rain jacket is a must and should always be in your boat bag or pack. Do not leave home without it. 

Layering is the way to go, better to have it and put it on or take it off, as needed. We have had dry conditions the last couple of years so bugs have not been a problem but you could run into mosquitoes in the evening. A ”Buzz Off” shirt and hat might be a good idea and of course a good repellent in your kit is a must, along with a good sun blocker. UV exposure is greater at the higher altitudes.  A broad-brimmed hat is also a good idea and good pair of polarized sun glasses with UV block will serve to protect your eyes from the sun as well as an errant fly and help you see into the water to spot fish and bottom obstructions when you wade.

Speaking of wading, the wading conditions on the rivers you will be fishing are generally pretty good but a wading staff can make wading more comfortable and safer. Chest waders and felt soled boots are essential although wet wading on a warm afternoon can be great fun. No cleats because the raft and boat guys hate them.

Tackle is pretty standard. A good 9 ft 5 weight will be your rod “of choice” to handle nymphs and dry flies and it is really important when the wind comes up at 2:00 PM.

The good news is that in the evening it is usually calm. You can expect to do some streamer fishing for big rainbows and browns on the Bow and perhaps on the Oldman and Elk for Bull Trout, You will need a 6 or 7 weight rod to handle streamers and a fast sink tip line to match. Reels with a good drag and at least 100 yards of backing are essential as you will have a very good chance of seeing that backing in the water when you hook a big one.

Flies - You will be fishing three great rivers, each with its own character in terms of water, biomass, and wonderful scenery. The flies you will need will vary according to river and the water conditions you encounter this summer.  The following are some flies that you should have in your vest and are most likely to “work.” The flies mentioned are standard patterns and you will be able to use them in Virginia and other trout fishing venues.

NOTE:  ALL OF THE WATERS YOU WILL BE FISHING REQUIRE BARBLESS HOOKS  SO BE SURE AND PINCH DOWN THE BARBS ON ALL FLIES,  YOU  MAY FISH TWO FLY RIGS IN ALBERTA BUT ONLY ONE FLY IN BC.

Bow  Bow River:
 

You can almost always count on some surface caddis action. Caddis dries size 14-18 in brown , tan and olive are a must. Caddis emergers and pupa in the same sizes can work well before and during the hatch, I like the Lafontaine Sparkle Pupa in tan and brown and soft hackles in brown and rust. You could encounter some late Pale Morning Duns and size 16-18 should do it and they could also be useful on the Oldman and Elk. Take a few rusty spinners in sizes 16-18 just in case you encounter a PMD spinner fall.

Nymph fishing is pretty straight forward with a couple of standard patterns effective most of the time.

            Gold ribbed Hares Ear (Bead Head and Unbeaded) Size 10-16

            Prince Nymph (Bead Head and Unbeaded)                      10-16

            Bead head Pheasant Tail                                                   16-18

            Golden Stones                                                                      8-12

The river is loaded with aquatic annelids and leaches so you need to have:

San Juan Worm in red and tan                                               Size   8-12

Leeches and Wooly Buggers in grey, olive and black            Size   8 -12

Streamers are often the flies to fish for the big predatory Bow River browns and rainbows and should be fished on a high density sink tip line.

Crystal Buggers and Woolly Buggers in black, brown and olive       Size   8-10

Clouser Minnows                                                                                Size    2-6

Other minnow and sculpin imitations like the “Screamers”

and Wiers Sculpin  in black, brown, olive and grey                            Size   2-6

Oldman River:

Depending on where you fish the Oldman River, above or below the dam you may encounter Pale Morning Duns, Caddis, Stoneflies and late hatching Western Green Drakes.

Dry Flies:

Pale Morning Duns and Light Cahills                                      Size 14-18         Assorted Caddis in tan, brown, black and olive                                  Size 14-16

Stimulators in yellow, tan, orange, and olive                                      Size   8-14

Western Green Drakes                                                                      Size   8-14

Nymphs:

Hares Ears, Prince Nymphs and                                                       See Bow

C.K. Nymphs in yellow and green                                                    Size 10-14                              

Copper John in red, copper, and green                                            Size 10-16

Streamers that work on the Bow will also produce on the Oldman

Elk River

You may see Western Green Drakes,  Size 10-12 and the Smaller “Green Drakes” Drunella flavilinea  Size 14-16

The Adams is a good fly for all three rivers and I wouldn’t leave home without them. Size 12-18

The Stimulators mentioned for the Oldman will work for Elk.and may be a great pattern to drop a nymph from on the Oldman . DO NOT USE A DROPPER ON THE ELK. IT IS ILLEGAL TO USE MULTIPLE FLIES ON THE ELK

Nymphs recommended for the Bow and Oldman will also work well for the Elk.

Generally dry flies will work well on the Elk but occasionally you may have to go to streamers for the cutthroats,  If you want to catch a big Bull Trout, “really big” pink or purple streamers are the way to go and remember to give them a try when you are on the Oldman, as there are plenty of big Bulls in that river.

Bring some of Chuck Kraft's Kreelex flies in copper and bronze and his Baitfish in white and chartruese. I have fished them successfully on the Bow and on tributaries of the Elk. They are great attractor patterns that the fish have never seen. A very fast retrieve with an occasional pause seems to work best.

You will need 9’ leaders in 3x, 4x and 5x.

Tippet material should include regular 3x, 4x and 5x and 2x, 3x and 4x in fluorocarbon.

Bring stike indicators of your choice, Yarn works for me.

The rivers you will fish are full of wonderful wild trout and some of them are really big. You can fish “too hard.” Take time to look around you and enjoy some of the most beautiful places in North America. 

I hope this information will prove helpful. Should you need additional assistance please call on me and the folks at Anglers Lane’

Herb Vitale 2-7-08