Summer Time Fishing On The Bow River

 

The Smell Of Summer Is In The Air.

The sun comes up over the horizon; the birds are a sweet sound to the ears early in the morning. The worms are squiggling out of the moist cool soil after a fresh spring rain. No need to dig for worms, they are all covering the lawn. The coffee pot clicks on and the shower fills the bathroom with moisture. The coffee is made and the first few sips go down so smooth. The fishing gear is ready and waiting at the front door and the mental check is complete. Rods, yep, hooks, yep, good to go. Then the mad dash for the river bank, there is no traffic at six am so the drive is a quick one. Then the heart starts pumping rapidly, adrenalin rushes though your veins as you walk to the fish. You know where they are and you’re prepped to get some reel screaming action. The hook is tied and you double check its strength in case a monster hits hard. Finally the first cast is launched and you’re in heaven.

Yes the sure joy of fishing, many do not fully comprehend. What’s so cool about a slimy fish, well until you catch the bug you will never completely understand! For those of you who know, there is no need to explain. The lure is searching, high and low, bottom to middle to top. The wait is agonizing until finally a hit, a glimpse of hope that you will catch and land one. Tap, tap and then BANG, a solid hook set and the battle ensues. From side to side fights the trout, tugging the rod as it pumps up and down, then the trout takes flight and you see it in all its glory, the silver bullet splashes down and then you pick up the slack taking back the line he stripped just moments ago. Wow you say as you try and catch your breath, then the moment arrives you have been waiting for; you get to touch him and gently remove the hook from his jaws. Then you let him go back to where he came from, watching him with awe.

Fishing is enjoyed by all, young and old. It is cheep to get into and it’s rewarding far beyond words. Many campfire stories are told about the big one landed, or the one that got away. Memories that will never be forgotten are made on the water all over the world. New world records are being broken month after month and fishing just keeps getting more and more popular every year. For me, I think about catching fish almost every day. It’s that passion for the sport that keeps me on the river back year after year. What keeps you coming back for more? I’d like to read your comments, feel free to add your comment here.

Bow River Fishing Spots

 

Bow River Fishing Spots

I want to go fishing on the Bow River; I’m not familiar with the river all to well so where do I start to fish. Where is the best fishing hole on the Bow River I can drive up too and start catching fish? I used to think like that and even searched Google for the answers, so many websites out there one of them must hold the answer to my question! After a few wasted hours and nothing on good ol Google, I drove down to the river and just did the old fashioned thing; cast my lure into the river. I remember the days when there was no Google, there was no internet and there was not an easy way to the answers I was looking to find, what ever answers they were. The answer is found on the river, the answer is found by looking at the water, the answer is found by studying the type of fish you are hunting for.

For myself I read and study the fish I am looking for and get to know what they eat and where they go at different times of the year. I also read a lot of books on trout fishing, spin fishing for trout as that’s my forte, then after reading I would go put it into practice. I used the hooks they talked about in books and I fished the water they discussed in the chapters. Not one book ever told me what spots to fish on the Bow River, and believe me I looked far and wide. The books and DVD’s did tell me where to find fish in rivers and streams, the classic holding spots for trout. What times of the year were the best for trout fishing and so on. When to fish a river is as big a factor as to where to fish a river. So after reading and watching, I was catching more fish, bigger fish, stronger fish and more often.

I want to show you where the best spots are on the Bow River; I don’t want to tell you, that’s too easy. I want you to do the work like I had to. I want you to catch more fish like I do. I want you to learn how to read the water, what signs to look for when you fish a river and what water to pass by or ignore completely. I have just finished putting the finishing touches on my new Saturn Inflatable raft and I want you to get in and fish. I want you to hook twenty fish in a five hour trip, or more. I want you to see what it takes to find the prime holding water where multiple trout dwell, and then slam them down until your arm wants to fall off. We won’t be watching DVD’s we will be making them so you can remember for years to come.

Yes you too will find out where every great fishing spot is on the Bow River. We will cover miles of water and stop at all the prime fishing spots on the Bow River, get out and get into the trout. So if you feel like fishing this spring and learning to catch more fish, then this is a trip you can’t miss. Click onto the “Guided Fishing Trips” page of the Blog and book your next float trip. I know you will be happy you did after your fishing day is over.

Floating The Bow River

The First Float In The New Saturn Boat

If you are like me you are impatient. My new boat arrived from Idaho about two weeks ago and I have been staring at it ever since, or it has been staring at me I’m not sure which. I opened it from the box and removed the contents. I then organized the contents which included five paddles, the patch kit, two hand pumps, two replacement valves, and the valve replacement tool. I unpacked the boat and wrapped it into the boat bag that was included in the purchase. All was great and then the weekend arrived. Like a typical fisherman, I could not wait until spring to launch the boat. So I made a phone call to Andrew and we made plans to launch the boat early Saturday morning. Friday I went out to Wholesale Sports and purchased a battery powered pump which would take care of the back breaking manual pumping for us. All my gear was ready to go Friday night and then I went to sleep.

I woke up early on Saturday morning and packed the gear into the car, then the boat was to come out of my basement, this baby weighs 150 pounds and I was not feeling very strong at eight AM. I felt like a body builder trying to lift a heavy box spring mattress. This boat is awkward and bulky. I finally heaved the boat onto the last stair and paused for some deep breaths of air and I was not even half way to the car yet. I managed to get it to the car and into the trunk with the back seats folded down; after all it’s 14.6 feet long. Then I made the long drive to the river. Is it just me or when you’re in a hurry to get fishing you seem to hit every bad driver on the road and every red light along the way. Must be just my luck? I met up with Andrew and we dropped his truck of at MacKinnon Flats.

Andrew and I arrived at Policeman’s Flats an hour later and unpacked the boat and all the gear. We removed the boat from its bag and my eyes then opened wide. “This thing is huge” I stated to Andrew. This Mickey Mouse electric pump is never going to fill this monster. We managed to get most of the inflatable raft pumped up with the electric pump and then she ran out of juice. I made Andrew do most of the work as he stated to me he needed the exercise. After an hour of pumping we finally got enough air in the boat to start or trip.

Once we had her in the water the first session of rowing began. We needed to get to the other side of the river in a real hurry; the water levels are low at this point in the season. We paddled our buts off and made it to a safe deep section of river. Then the rods came out and the lures hit the water. I never expected to catch a whole bunch of trout as it’s not the right time of year. We floated for five hours and managed to yard out seven trout between the both of us. Not so bad all things considered. I was glad to finally get the boat that was staring me in the face for weeks, in the water. The Saturn inflatable performed like a dream and I was completely satisfied with my purchase. I look forward to adding the fishing frame to the boat and making it even more comfortable for this fishing season. Soon the river will be experiencing the spring run off, but after the water clears up, I will be out floating the river and looking for those large Bow River trout’s.

Get your boaters operating card here.

Getting Ready For Spring

Spring Has Sprung, So lets Get Fishing.

One more day or so and it will officially be spring. I have stocked up on all my favourite tackle for this coming fishing season. I can’t begin to tell you how much money I have spent over the winter months, but I know I have what I need to get the job done this season. There are many new and exciting new lures out this year, and as always I gather the ones I feel will work the best when I fish. Now I just need to go and try them out. Speaking of trying things out, my new boat has arrived from Idaho and I cannot wait to blow it up and spend the day floating the bow river. It’s a Saturn inflatable raft and its 14.6 feet in length. I am now going to buy an aluminium rack for the boat and my clients will be sitting in swivelling bucket seats. I look forward to seeing you out this year on a guided fishing trip with me. Out with the old boat and in with the new one!

Speaking of old stuff, I have noticed that some of the tackle and fishing rods I use have been discontinued. That is one thing that really gets me heated up. I use a particular product and I love the product. Then the next year they decide that they are going to take it off the market forever. I get frustrated with tackle companies that make lures or rods and reels. They keep on removing the good stuff to make room for the new and improved lures, rods or reels. Now when I find something I really like, I buy at least two of them so when they do stop making it, I know I have at least one back up. Here is what I have two or more of. Berkley Precision Tech spinning rods, Berkley Series One spinning rods, all sorts of discontinued Rapala lures. Berkley crank baits that have been discontinued and the list could go on and on. I was just in Wholesale sports looking for another Berkley Precision Tech rod last weekend and could not find what I was looking for. Seems to me I made a good call when I bought two of them instead of just the one. I am getting smarter with old age.

One more thing I would like to mention is this coming fishing season is looking like a good one. I know I say that every year but I can’t help it. With the new boat and new fishing gear, I hope to see many of my past clients out again fishing with me this year. I have booked three guided trips for this coming season and hope to do many more. Guided fishing trips make great presents for dads, uncles or brothers and sisters who love to fish. Please do them a favour and buy them a guided fishing trip this year. I’m sure they would love you for it not to mention the fact that they will have a blast and catch tons of fish. So with that I hope to see many new faces this year and many of you who I have already served in the past. Let’s get on the river and into some monster trout!