Small flies, big trout and Pierre Berton

Railroad Hike To Crownest River

I fished a section of the river tonight that I haven't been on in a long time. I hiked in on train tracks. Along the rails I noticed many discarded railway spikes. I thought about the great Canadian author Pierre Berton and his historical book: The Last Spike. I eventually dropped down into the river and waded a long section of water where there is usually a chance to spot a large bank feeder. I didn't see one tonight in spite of many PMD's, which were tumbling and cartwheeling due to the strong wind. I pushed  further upstream to a shallow section that sometimes holds an impressive fish. I watched it briefly but it looked vacant; no sign of life. At that point I made the decision to slow down and sit down. As soon as I got comfortable on the bank a big fish sipped on a mayfly just four feet upstream of me. It is amazing how often this happens. You stop, look and listen and then you notice something. I backed off downstream a bit and put on a black winged PMD  for visibility as I had to cast into a silvery grey surface due to the lighting. On the second cast I hooked him. He went downstream and leaped. Seconds later I broke off even thought the battle was going well. My leader had snapped two feet above the fly. I tie my own leaders. Earlier that night, while in my backyard, I added tippet to my leader while being visually challenged (without my glasses). I probably blew the knot! An hour later I got the chance to cast to him again. I wanted to remove the fly lodged in his mouth. He surged at my small imitation. When I tried setting the hook the fly simply came out of his mouth; no contact. Missed him! He didn't rise again. By then it was late so I hiked the tracks home and thought about Pierre Berton and the Last Spike.

Crowsnest River Sippers

I was on the Crow last night and tonight from 5 pm until about 9pm. The river has dropped considerably lately and is now fishing in the slow areas like a wonderful spring creek. Although hatches aren't thick there are bugs around. The predominant hatch as expected is the Pale Morning Dun, size 16 and 18. Other flies include: PMD spinners (rusty), yellow sallies, lime sallies, still some golden stones...I didn't see many green drakes as in past weeks.

I searched for bank sippers and shallow feeders in slow water below gentle riffles and found a few. Most of my success was in looking for them in the evening shadows away from the sun. I had to cover some water to find them and be very observant. A couple of great fish on small flies. The bank fish I caught tonight was in 1 foot of water. I watched him feed for 15 minutes before casting to him downstream, fly first. I fished a size 16 PMD pattern, white polypro for wing and visibility and light dun hackle clipped on bottom so fly rides low. The sippers are around!

Crowsnest River Rainbow Trout

Crowsnest River, Back Eddies

It is the second week of July and water in the Crow is still higher than usual but clear. The PMD hatch hasn't busted out like it has in some years past. They are around but not in great numbers. As a result, there are not a lot of bank feeders yet. In terms of hatches there are: some Green Drakes, the large kind, coming off of the water; little yellow stones; some caddis (rust and tan); still the occasional golden stone. The only place I'm seeing predictable rising fish is in the back eddies where flies are being circulated and therefore collecting in enough numbers to bring fish up to surface or to feed just subsurface. These spots have been reliable. I have spotted some great fish on banks but few and you have to really look as they are feeding very subtly and not with great frequency as there is not a steady parade of mayflies. I took a picture of a beautiful rainbow I caught the other day and will post it next time I blog. I also took some pictures of the Crow. The water is still very cool: around 50f, mid day. A lot of the locations that I often search for shallow water trout are still a little too high and fast to hold fish and see them sip flies. Hopefully the water will continue to drop and hatch densities will improve so that there will be more dry fly opportunities. Everything is late this year.

Went to the Lower Oldman other evening to check it out. Flows there are double what they usually are and water visibility not great, 2ft. Flows: 90-80 cubic meters. Water levels are also high. I saw lots of bugs and some river locations that are slow enough to have feeding fish. Lots of little stone flies and PMD spinners (rusty). If water drops lower in next couple of weeks river could start producing great dry fly fishing in evenings and mornings if not too windy.

I went up to fish the Upper Oldman above the Gap and will describe that experience in another blog. The water temperature there mid day was 47F.

Crowsnest Bank Fish - Caught by Author

Crowsnest Back Eddy Fish - Caught by Joe F.

Fly Fishing the Crowsnest River, Small Fly Paradise

Summer Time On Crowsnest River

The Crowsnest River, affectionately called the "Crow", is a beautiful, classic walk and wade stream in southwestern Alberta that is rich in insect life. I first visited it from afar 10 years ago. I was so taken with the quality of the angling I moved to the region 6 months later. Now I live within walking distance and during the season wade it at least a couple of times a week.

After Spring run-off sections of the Crow fish like a tailwater or spring creek and there is plenty of opportunity to hunt for trout and sight-cast with a dry fly. The largest rainbows in the river, in the 15 to 19 inch range, can be taken this way. This is when the river is in its prime and dry fly anglers like me get giddy! Generally it is small fly angling; flies size 16 and under; not too small but small enough. Between hatches fish can be spotted sipping on leftovers, so some surface action still can be found. It keeps you in the game

Crow trout can be selective so matching the hatch, especially fly size and attitude in the water, is important. You don't need a Richardson's five tray chest fly box to fish this river but a good fly selection is needed with a couple of different patterns for each potential hatch. Think flatwater patterns that ride low.

The rainbows are wild and wary, and often hold in difficult locations which makes angling that much more intense and demanding. Locating fish is not always easy as many feed softly and in spots where anglers often wade or walk by. It is a subtle river; very subtle. That is part of its charm. When fly fishing with dries you have to pay attention to the "little things", slow down and above all stop casting! The key is observation and patience. You search for a fish ( hopefully find one), then strategize your approach, wade cautiously and try to carefully present your imitation. It is quality not quantity angling. You generally have to do things well in order to be rewarded, which makes a "hook-up" that much more satisfying. Spending time on this river will make you a better angler.

The most consistent dry fly fishing occurs in the Summer and Fall, July through October. Like on any river the hatches can vary from year to year. I've learned that if there are bugs on the water surface feeding fish can usually be found. Season after season I've found the river to be a consistent producer and a small dry fly angler's paradise.