Outdoor Fishing Fun In The Chinook Sun
It has been along time since I have been able to fish. The weather was pleasant on Friday which made my decision an easy one. Time to go fishing! The warmth of the Chinook on my face was welcomed. It has been bitterly cold here the last month and not suitable to cast a hook. Usually the third day of a Chinook is the perfect time to get out and fish the Bow River. The ice that floats down the river disappears and is replaced with open fishable water. The fish have been lying low and are looking for a big fat juicy minnow or two. So guess what I tied up on my eight pound test line, yep a big fat juicy minnow imitation.
Today I walked up the river into a slow calm pool where I knew there would be fish. How did I know you ask? I have studied this location very carefully in past years and know it intimately. I also know that this is an over wintering location for both brown and rainbow trout. This spot has everything a trout loves. It has slow moving water; it has weed and rock cover along with ice cover from the bank. It also has another important feature and that’s a good food source. Bugs gathered on the ice ledges that cling to the bank and those small minnows cursing under the ice ledge make for a prime fishing location. It is important that you get to know your local fishery. I have spent many days and even nights getting intimate with the Bow River. I can honestly say that I know every great fishing location from Graves Landing to the Carseland Weir.
Once I arrived in that perfect location I fired the Rapala into the current. It was not long until the first fish hammered my offering. This was the first fish I had battled in over a month’s time and it sure felt good to feel the pull of a hard fighting brown trout on the end of my life. I landed the fish and release them back into the river. I then walked to the top of the hole to see if I could catch that monster trout I had been waiting over a month to catch. Three or four casts later I was into a brown trout that was over 20 inches. What a pretty fishy he was! Dark brown colors and that bright orange under belly brought a grin to my face from ear to ear.
I had my new E21 Carrot Stix rod with me and attached to it was the new Shimano Stradic spinning reel I just signed for a few days ago. I bought both the rod and the reel from E-Bay so I was hoping that my money was well spent. I must admit, the reel is awesome but the rod is going to take me some getting used to. It’s kind of like driving a car one day and then driving a pick up truck the next, feels awkward. The more I use the rod the more comfortable it will feel in my hands. One thing is for sure, the rod is sensitive and well built.
I walked up and down the river’s edge hooking and landing both rainbows and browns. It is important for me to not stay in one location for too long. This gives the fish a rest and I find that I have more success moving up and down the bank then fishing a hole out for too long. I only fish a section of water for five or ten minutes and then I move on either upstream or down stream. This is my system of fishing the banks of the Bow River. I hope you enjoy the photo of the brown trout I caught. I also hope to see you all out this winter fishing the banks of the Bow River. Please use caution when walking on the ice and always fish with a partner and let someone know where you are going. Be safe and have fun out there.
