Float Fishing The Bow River

Rainy Days and Sunday’s

I know that is not the name of the Carpenters song but we were out fishing the Bow River Sunday so I chose this title. It was raining and cold but Chris still wanted a shot at some Brown Trout. I asked Chris if he still wanted to fish in the rain and he never hesitated. We launched out at Policeman’s Flats and casted away into some fast flowing murky water. The river had to have come up at least four to six inches overnight. I figured it was going to be a productive day but boy was I wrong.

Usually when the water is stained a little I have good luck fishing trout in the Bow River. The trout can still see and hear the lure but cannot quite identify it resulting in more strikes. We tied up a mid depth crank bait and a spinner on the other rod. We started with the spinners and heaved the crank bait into the deeper pockets of the river. No such luck with either choice. I figured that it was the colors I was choosing to use. I proceeded to try almost every color option known to man kind and still no trout to be caught. Puzzled and confused I went to yellow spinner with a salamander spinner blade and finally after two hours caught a decent rainbow.

I was quite disappointed at the lack of fish we were not catching. I have had really good luck after a rain fall when the sun is shining and the temperature warms up. I rarely fish when it is raining and it looks like that trend will continue. Believe me when I say it was not for a lack of trying today. Chris finally latched into his first trout on the day three hours into the trip. He was happy to get the smell of skunk of off his cold hands. A feisty brown trout leaped out of the water after he hooked it, fought to shake the hook and was successfully landed. That would have been rotten if the fish popped off before being landed.

We were shivering and casting as we struggled to keep warm. The rain was starting and stopping all day long. The day ended with only three fish landed, a disappointing day out on the Bow River in my opinion. I would advise you to stay home and watch a fishing show when it is cold and raining, you will be glad you did.  However if it stops raining and turns sunny and warm, grab the rod and a buddy and cruse on down to the river. I’m sure you will have more success fishing than we did today.