Every fisherman wants to know how to either catch fish or catch more fish when they go fishing. This post will be dedicated to discussion about how to increase your odds of catching fish when you go fishing. What lures are effective for certain species of fish. What depth will these lures dive to? What color of lure works best for Brown Trout? What color of lure works best for Rainbow Trout? Why use a spinner instead of a plug or a fly. What type of rod works best for river fishing? There are so many questions a new fisherman asks before he goes out to catch the big one. In these postings I will answer as many questions as I possibly can about what works from my experiences trout fishing. If you are not new to the sport you still may have some questions about fishing! You may even be able to help me with some of the questions I have to become a more knowledgeable fisherman. Let’s face it, the more we know the more chance we have at being successful when we are out on the water. I would like to know more about fly fishing, as I am as green as the grass grows when it comes to that type of fishing. So let’s talk about what we love to do. Catch BIG FISH. Catch more fish. Catch fish period.
Jan 09
Testimonials
Well just moved to Alberta this is the best fishing I have had in along time. Not since I was a kid when lakes and rivers weren’t affected by all the acid rain and other pollutions have I caught so many fish. It is really heart warming to see a nice healthy fish population in a river (the Bow) that is just so beautiful to float down never mind catching the big lunkers. A true bonus to living in Alberta, awesome; just an unreal fishery. Thanks to Mike for all your help and knowledge while guiding me out on the Bow River. Tom. G.
Jan 07
Rainbow Trout Info
The rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss), aka redband trout, is a species of Pacific salmon(1989) native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. Fish which have gone to sea (including those returning for spawning) are known as Steelhead, or ocean trout (Australia). The species has been introduced for food or sport to at least 45 countries, and every continent except Antarctica. In some of these locations, such as Australia, they have had very serious negative impacts on upland native fish species.
The species was originally named byJohann Julius Walbaumin 1792. In 1855, W. P. Gibbons found a population and named it Salmo iridia, however this name became deprecated once it was determined that this was a population of the already named species. Rainbow trout are unusual in that although they can spend their entire life in fresh water, they are capable of migrating to sea water when conditions are right, though they must return to fresh water to breed.The freshwater form is called “rainbow trout” or “redband trout”, based on the broad red band along their sides. After going to sea, their color changes, including loss of the red band, and they are called “steelhead”.
They occur in well oxygenated lakes and streams where the temperature doesn’t rise above 12°C in summer. Rainbows and steelhead have small black spots along their back, dorsal fin and caudal fin. Behind the dorsal fin, rainbows have an adipose finthat is commonly clipped from fish raised in a hatchery. Clipping the adipose fin helps distinguish hatchery fish from wild fish when they are taken by anglers. This allows enforcement of regulations to protect wild rainbows. Rainbows have a red or pink streak that runs from the gill cover to the caudal fin, inspiring their name. The color of a rainbow’s back varies from blue or green to a yellow-green or brown. Steelhead usually lack the pink stripe and have chrome-colored sides. Rainbows are distinguished from their cousins, the cutthroat trout(Oncorhynchus clarki) by their short maxilla, which reaches to, but not past the rear margin of the eye. Rainbow trout also lack hyoid teeth, a feature present in cutthroat trout.Rainbows range from 12 to 36 inches in length.
Steelheads grow longer, ranging from 50 to 100 cm (20 to 40 inches) in length. Steelhead range in weight from 2.5 kg to 10 kg. The world record rainbow was a 42 pound specimen caught near Bell Island, AK.Here in Calgary Alberta, there are no Steelhead present as we have no ocean. On the Bow River specifically, we support a large population of Rainbow Trout which can grow to lengths of over 30 inches long.
Rainbow Trout spawn here in the spring where they make their way down stream to the Highwood River in early March. Once the ice on the Highwood River has thawed, the Bow River Rainbow Troutmake their journey up to spawn in the Highwood River and it’s many tributaries. You can fish for the Rainbow Trout at the staging point where the mouth of the Highwood River meets the Bow River. If you are looking for great Rainbow Trout fishing than you need not look any further than the Bow River. If you would like a guided trip to fish for these “Bow River bullits” as they are called here, click the guided fishing trip page at the top of the Blog, or click here.
Jan 05
Gone Fishing- Bow River
I was back on the Bow River today and had some great success again. I was spin fishing in search of the big Brown’s and Rainbow’s that live in this river. The trout that are in this river system are wild trout, they reproduce naturally and grow to be very large. I started off using the Blue Fox Minnow Spinner and was not having much luck to begin with. Todd on the other hand was up four fish to my nil, not that I’m counting. This river system never ceases to amaze me, almost every deeper hole has fish holding in them. That’s where I fish in the winter months, in the deeper holes.
I went out of the city limits today into another deep long hole that probably stretches a quarter of a mile. Once again I found a large conglomeration of fish in this area. In the summer months I float the Bow River so I know where all the deep holes are along the river. In the winter I go to these different holes to find the fish. This system has worked for me for many years now. This system can also work for you as well. I watch lots of fishing shows and lots of them say, “the locals know” or “stop in to the nearest fly shop and ask lots of questions”. Yeah sure, you think these guys are going to tell you where they fish on the weekend; I don’t think so. That’s why you need to go and do your own homework.
If I can give the reader one tip, study the water and mark all the prime locations you think fish will hold. Go out and fish those locations and use various different hooksto increase your catch ratio. Keep looking and never give up easely. I took me a long time to hone my skills on the Bow River, at one time I thought there were no fish in the Bow River; boy was I ever wrong. See the photo gallery on the right column for visual proof that there are actually fish that live in the Bow River. If you have any questions on fishing, feel free to ask me.