Fishing - Everything Fishing!

[Dion]

A big day for local anglers as the Highwood and Sheep River's open for sportfishing for the year.

Both river's are open from Saturday, June 16 until the end of October, with the exception of one stretch on the Sheep, which closes at the end of August.

If you're looking to keep some fish for the table, the Sheep is your better bet, as you can keep a pair of either rainbow or cutthroat trout over 35 centimetres, while the Highwood is catch and release only.

Also no bait is allowed in either river.

https://www.highriveronline.com/loca...shing-saturday

[rbochan]

Went out for Tiger Muskies the other day. This was all I got...

Spoiler!

[Kybosh]

Hiked up to Picklejar lakes today and totally slayed with small dry flies. Between the two of us 30-40 fish were landed and a strike most every cast. Most of the fish are super small but you couldn't wipe the smile of my face with all the action.

[rbochan]

Had a good day!

Spoiler!

[holden]

Just gearing up for the September-October trout season. I've been off flying for a couple years (mostly been after walleye/pike), and am looking for any recommendations at all for which flies to buy/try.

Any recommendations for the fall south Alberta trout season would be appreciated!

[troutman]

Calgary River Access Strategy – Shouldice Park Boat Ramp Opens

For the fishing community the ability to launch a trailered boat into the Bow River at Shouldice Park is a game changer. It allows for fishing from a drift boat over an addition 22 Km of Calgary’s Bow River. It more than doubles what was previous available from Graves Bridge down to Fish Creek Park.

https://bowrivertrout.org/2018/08/30...at-ramp-opens/

[vanisleflamesfan]

Originally Posted by holden

Just gearing up for the September-October trout season. I've been off flying for a couple years (mostly been after walleye/pike), and am looking for any recommendations at all for which flies to buy/try.

Any recommendations for the fall south Alberta trout season would be appreciated!

Why not both? Seriously... go grab yourself an 8 weight and go chase some pike on the fly. Pike on the fly is crazy good fun.

But more to the point of your post... where are you aiming to go? I mean... what you asked is like saying "I want to go to a restaurant, where can I get a good meal"?

Anyway... the 'more general, less jerk' answer is... right now is hopper season (although it hasn't really been hot enough for a proper hopper season) so any hopper-dropper or stonefly-dropper (look it up if you don't know what I mean) combo should yield good results until about mid/late September (weather depending of course). Some good combos this season (on the Bow) seem to be: Panty-Dropper Hopper/San Juan, Joe's Hopper/Stonefly Nymph, Foam-body Stone/Prince Nymph. These are all pretty standard flies. If you don't have them in your box, you should. Go get a few in various sizes and mix and match to your heart's delight; any fly shop or even the box stores will have these flies (and this winter on the days when you can't fish, learn to tie your own).

Generally speaking at this time of the year, the browns are getting ready to spawn and therefore are gorging themselves to build up calories so you can still have a ton of fun on straight dries. Anything big and buggy on any water with browns in it (provided that you do everything else right to catch browns ((proper approach, great delivery (((delivery beats fly selection every time)))) should see some success. Crazy buggy, leggy whatevers (chernobyl ants, fat alberts, etc.) or huge streamers if nothing is rising (sex-dungeons, etc.).


If you prefer nymphs (and being a boring pike/walleye worm and bait guy you probably won't mind watching a bobber for several hours - ((just kidding... kind of...))) you can try bead-head pheasant tails which the rainbows seem to (inexplicably) like during the fall.


This late summer/early fall has seen some amazing fishing on the usual spots. Basically, just get out there and throw something.


Have fun, follow the regs, take lots of pictures, and dream of next July.

[PaperBagger'14]

30lbs worth of salmon meat (60 pounds in total)!

Spoiler!

[Dion]

From early September. My brother fishing on the Shuswap with a couple of his friends.

[troutman]

50% drop in rainbow trout puts Bow River's 'world-renowned' sport fishery at risk

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...G-19q8hjU-N61s

From 2003 to 2013, the population of rainbow trout in the river dropped between 43 and 50 per cent, biologists from the University of Calgary and the provincial government found in the study published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

The researchers weren't able to pin down a specific cause leading to the decline, but instead flagged multiple stressors that Cahill described as "smoking guns."

The first is flooding. Major floods in 2005 and 2013 likely displaced fish downstream and modified habitats enough to impact populations.

Another factor is whirling disease — a parasite that infects trout and makes them swim in circles. It's usually fatal.

One factor that might surprise people is the increased mortality rate from practising catch and release.

Sean F. Britt I am not in agreement with this study. When you look at the methodology and some conclusions, there are some fatal flaws which sets up the results to be what they are. Two major ones are time and location of fish count. They were done at places and times where fish naturally won’t be. [Facebook]

[troutman]

Alberta Fishing Guide is now also available free on-line:

http://www.albertafishingguide.com/

Magazine:

https://www.afgmag.com/

[peter12]

Originally Posted by troutman

50% drop in rainbow trout puts Bow River's 'world-renowned' sport fishery at risk

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...G-19q8hjU-N61s



Sean F. Britt I am not in agreement with this study. When you look at the methodology and some conclusions, there are some fatal flaws which sets up the results to be what they are. Two major ones are time and location of fish count. They were done at places and times where fish naturally won’t be. [Facebook]

I've been waiting for news like this.

Over the past 15 years, the Bow has just been absolutely slammed. When I was in my teens, me and my dad could take his Mackenzie boat down from Policeman's to McKinnon's Flats and maybe see another boat.

I went a few years ago, and there were dozens. At one point, maybe 15-20 hitting the same part of the river.

They need to call a moratorium on the fishery. No question.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by peter12

I've been waiting for news like this.

Over the past 15 years, the Bow has just been absolutely slammed. When I was in my teens, me and my dad could take his Mackenzie boat down from Policeman's to McKinnon's Flats and maybe see another boat.

I went a few years ago, and there were dozens. At one point, maybe 15-20 hitting the same part of the river.

They need to call a moratorium on the fishery. No question.

I don’t think you’ve seen “slammed” until you’ve seen the Missouri in full swing. It gets far more pressure.

I do believe the study though, because scientifically speaking my results on the Bow always suck!

[troutman]

https://www.facebook.com/thecrowsnes...762195?__xts__

Today in a Lethbridge courtroom, the Brooks Motocross Club and one of it's directors were sentenced in regards to recent convictions under the federal Fisheries Act and the Species-at-Risk Act (S.A.R.A.).

The case revolved around a motocross race held in the Racehorse Creek drainage in August 2014. As the pictures indicate, little concern was shown towards the welfare of the stream and its inhabitants.

Both westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout are present in the drainage which is listed as, "Critical Habitat" for westslope cutthroat trout. Bull trout were known to be spawning in the area at the time of the race with sediment from the unbridged crossings certain to have negatively impact both species.

In rendering its decision the court noted the lack of proper bridges and applied $45,000 in fines to the club and $25,000 to the individual involved for offences under sec 35.1 of the Fisheries Act and sec 32.1 of S.A.R.A..

Beyond the fines, the court also ordered an article be written by the offenders explaining the nature of the crimes to be published in a rider's magazine or other appropriate outlet.

The court went on to explain its intent in applying the remedy of an article noting, "You do this, you get fined".

https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/le...fines-in-june/
https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/le...r-fined-70000/

[Bagor]

25k for riding through a creek?
Seems excessive?

[troutman]

Just came across this - flyfishing introduction course at U of C (only $40 for 2 hours):

https://www.ucalgary.ca/ActiveLiving...Oceans/Fishing

https://www.ucalgary.ca/ActiveLiving...Oceans_Fishing

Spend a few hours learning the basics of fly fishing theory and casting before you try it on the water. Our guides will teach you everything from setting up the rod to finding the best spots to fish. Then we'll head outside to work on the perfect cast—we'll even bring all the gear. Prerequisite: none. Includes: instructor, fishing gear.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bagor

25k for riding through a creek?
Seems excessive?

Seems like not enough.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Slava

Seems like not enough.

How much do you think it should be?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bagor

How much do you think it should be?

I don't know, but the truth is these guys know exactly what they're doing. It's not an accident, and not spur of the moment. This is just plain destruction of our natural resources and habit for a joy ride.

[jeep991]

Originally Posted by troutman

Just came across this - flyfishing introduction course at U of C (only $40 for 2 hours):

https://www.ucalgary.ca/ActiveLiving...Oceans/Fishing

https://www.ucalgary.ca/ActiveLiving...Oceans_Fishing

Thanks Troutman! Been thinking about learning to fly fish. For only $40, signed up.