|
Fly Fishing for Rainbow Trout on the Bow River |
|
The 175 kilometre stretch of the Bow River south of Calgary,
Alberta, Canada is reputed to be one of the premier Blue Ribbon trout
fishing streams in the world. It boasts a population of over a quarter
of a million trout (including rainbows, browns, cutthroats, and bulls)
sized ten inches or longer. The river was one of many that were
reshaped during the extensive rains and flooding that occurred in the
spring of 2005, the scouring effect of which moved rocks, flushed out
silt and created new gravel areas, bringing about new spawning areas
abundant with revitalized bug life. With conditions now returned to
normal, the water levels in the lower Bow are kept steady by the
constant flow from the Bearspaw Dam in Calgary to the Brooks reservoir
in the south. The fly fishing season normally begins in early May and
extends to mid-October, with the beginning of July being prime fly
fishing time.
Some advice for those new to fly fishing: cool, overcast days are
ideal because of increased insect activity, which brings out the trout.
Watch for birds circling, searching for midge hatches, or sandpipers
wading in the shallows. Look for insects over the water and watch the
surface as it ripples over the slight depressions in the riverbed where
fish like to hide. Listen for the soft gurgle of a fish coming to the
surface, and the soft pop that happens when a trout breaks the surface
to capture a meal. Cast into the eddy lines where fish wait on the cusp
of slow and fast moving water to make an easy meal of an unwary insect.
Once a fish pulls on the line, you must give the rod a quick jerk to
set the hook. You then have to begin reeling the fish towards you until
it runs, but if you try to resist the run, you risk snapping the line.
On the other hand, if you allow too much slack on the line, the hook
can slip out of the fish’s mouth. The greatest potential for a line to
snap is when you are about to net the fish - it will usually put up the
greatest struggle as it panics at being near you or your boat. Don’t be
in a rush, patience is one of your greatest assets when fly fishing -
and what better time to relax and enjoy your surroundings.
|
