Crowsnest River – July 29, 2016
The fishing season in southwest Alberta is in full swing and things have been going really well, so far. Actually, the fishing has been excellent, if I do say so myself. Most of the rivers and streams were in great shape right from the get-go, and the fishing was productive when the season officially opened in mid-June. That doesn’t happen every year.
Last winter’s mountain snowpack was below-average in Crowsnest Pass, and we didn’t receive the usual amounts of rain this spring. As a result, there wasn’t a big runoff this year. No high water or flooding of any kind, anywhere around here. It was like this last year, too. I’m not sure whether the early start to the season will bode well for later this summer. If water levels continue to drop and temperatures become too warm in the next few weeks, there could be concerns for some of our trout streams. Fortunately, we have been receiving cooler weather, along with some rain, as of late. Hopefully, this will continue into August.
A cooler day on the Crow
The dry-fly fishing has been excellent on all the local streams, including the Crowsnest River. There have been plenty of insect hatches and fish have been quite eager to rise to dry flies. Until a couple of weeks ago, the bigger trout were coming up for dries all day long on the Crowsnest. It’s a little different now, though, and the best time of the day to find larger fish feeding on the surface is in the evenings, just before dark. That’s not unusual for the Crow, this time of the year. As water levels drop, and the water becomes really clear, the bigger fish tend to wait until the very end of the day, before they begin to feed on top. This is especially true on bright, sunny days. If you’re patient, and willing to wait until late in the day, you will often be able to cast to these larger trout, sipping on the water’s surface. Oh yeah, you might want to bring a flashlight or headlamp, so you can find the way back to your vehicle after nightfall.
A fat, healthy Crowsnest River rainbow trout
2 Comments
Vic: You have created an excellent site. We are very blessed to live in Alberta and have the opportunity to roam the mountains and streams. Having spent time sharing these experiences with you, I look forward to posts.
David: I agree with you. We live in an amazing area. There’s no shortage of things to see and do around here, whether it’s spending time in the outdoors, fishing, or taking photographs. I know you enjoy all of these, as much as I do. Thanks for your comments. They are much appreciated!