My name is Mike Robertson and welcome to the Bow River Blog. The Bow River is world renowned for its large hard fighting Rainbow and Brown trout. I am very fortunate to live in a city where fantastic trout fishing is right out my back door. I fished the Bow River for 15 years now and like fine wine, this river just keeps getting better and better with age.
The stretch of river I concentrate on fishing most is known as the Lower Bow River, which is the “trophy” section of the river. I have become very intimate with this river and know every inch of water here. The Bow River is Canada’s number one fishing destination for massive Brown and Rainbow Trout. Once you fish this river you will be “hooked”.
Thank you to all who read the Blog and share the content contained here with other fishermen and women.
~Mike Robertson
28 comments
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Great site… I am new to Calgary and have my WIN and licence… but want to go out fishing the bow. I live in the Bowness area. Are there any places north of Bearspaw dam that are open?
Hi there, thanks for the nice comment. I am glad you like the site, it grows and grows every year. The answer to your question is yes, the stretch of river that is open to fish at this time is from the 1x bridge to the Bearspaw Reservoir (not including the reservoir), and tributaries except Ghost River and Jumpingpound Creek.
April 1 – to June 15 – Trout limit 0; Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over 30 cm; Bait Ban is in affect.
Please read the provincial regulations guide in section ES1 for all other info on the Bow River.
Welcome to Calgary and welcome to the best trout fishing on the planet. Please feel free to ask any questions pertinent to fishing and I will do my best to answer those questions quickly and accurately.
~Mike.
Just wanted to say great job on a website that i can relate to being a spinner/hard bait fisherman
Those fish you have been catching are Awsome
Keep up the good work and info.Hope to see you
on the BOW sometime….Cheers!!!
Tony
Tony, right on man. Thanks for the comment, I hope to see you out this year on the Bow as well. Please say hello if you see me !!! We are coming into a great month for large Bow’s and Browns. I look forward to posting more great pictures and videos on the Blog very soon.
Thanks for taking the time and leaving me a comment, much appreciated.
~Mike.
Hi Mike,
You inquired about joining the Outdoor Bloggers Summit on the OBS blog. Joining is very simple. Just add a link to the OBS blog on your blogroll or add the OBS badge to your site. Once you’ve done that, just let me know and I’ll add you to the OBS blogroll.
Thank you for your interest in the OBS.
Kristine
hey buddie thats a nice blog you have there. I want to know if there any good spot i can go on the bow without a boat. Doesnt matther where.
Thanks!!!
Hello,
First of all I just wanted to let you know I love your website, and we need more sites online like yours. With that said I have a couple of questions for you:
1) Is it OK if I link to your website from my site kareemskicks.com?
2) Is my Shoe website kareemskicks.com worthy enough to be linked to from your website?
Please let me know when you have some time. Talk to you soon.
Arleen
Hello Arleen, you can add a link to my site on your site no problem. If your site sells hiking shoes or shoes that have to do with hiking then I will add a link on my site to your site. If it is just running shoes or women’s high heel shoes than I will not be able to add your site to my Blog roll.
Thanks so much for your kind words,
~Mike.
Hi,
I live in south Calgary, Bridlewood area. Is there any place close by in Calgary where I can fish?? Also, can I fish from shore or do I need a boat?
Hello Wendy, sorry about the slow reply to your question. You DO NOT need a boat to enjoy great fishing. The Bow River offers anglers great fishing from shore.
A spot close to you would be driving to the Mackenzie Meadows golf course and instead of turning right into the golf course parking, keep going straight until you reach the Bow River. There is a parking lot there and once you have parked, walk up river past the bridge until you find some deeper water, its not too far up river from the bridge.
There you will find some fish Wendy. Or you can walk a little down river and there is another good spot where fish like to live, just look for the deeper water and you should catch.
~Mike.
mike,
thanks for posting the link to THE FISHING LIFE as well as your kind comments. I look forward to a day on the Bow with you soon. Ari
You betcha Ari, I also look forward to fishing with a professional angler like yourself, I need all the help I can get !!!!
Hope to see more videos soon,
~Mike.
Wow, If the fish in your graphic header were from the bow river, then I definitely need to stop by there next time I am in Canada. I will be checking up on your blog once in while for new posts. Thanks.
Hey William, yes all my header images are taken from/on the Bow River. We have some great fishing here on the Bow River. Please let me know if you are interested in a trip. I will be happy to guide you for some of those monster trout’s.
Thanks for the comment,
~Mike.
Your blog has inspired me to get to Canada next year and fish the Bow River. Would be interested in float trip on the Bow River for myself and a mate. What area of the Bow do you fish ie. where is the boat launched and where do you drift to?
Hi Keri, I would love to have you out on a trip next year. Where are you from?
I concentrate on the lower Bow River “The trophy section” which in down stream of the city limits. I float from Policeman’s flats which is just out of the city down to the Carseland Weir. Great fishing and tons of fun for the day.
Thanks for the comment and I hope to see you out fishing next year.
~Mike.
Hi Mike,
I’m from South Wales, Uk. I’m looking to hire a vehicle and travel for 10 -14 days fishing different rivers around Calgary. Your boat trip will definetly be one I’ll be taking advantage of for 1 or 2 days. Do you have a contact email I can get you on or if you could respond via my email above, I have a few questions and generally want to tap into your experience of the area. Many Thanks in advance
Keri
Hey Keri, no worries mate I will send you an e-mail after I reply to your comment. Sounds like you are going to have a blast next year. I will send you info on all the great rivers and lakes to fish here in Calgary and surrounding area’s. You will need 10 days for sure as there is some awesome fishing in our province to be had.
Thanks so much for the comment and hope to chat with you again soon,
~Mike.
Hello,
I’ve put together a fly fishing conservation video to attempt to thwart the BC government’s attempts to increase the number of hydroelectric projects in our province. Here’s the link: http://www.vimeo.com/18862387 . Check it out and if you support the cause and/or enjoy the footage, please share with your followers in the blogosphere.
Cheers,
Roy Wheeldon
Fly Fishing Fantasies
Hello Roy, I will check it out and I will support your cause !!!
I will share it with all my friends for sure. Thanks so much for the heads up.
~Mike.
Nice blog Roy! Im glad to see that there a lots of fish in the Bow.
Ian
Great site I enjoy all the info and links.
Hello Rick, thanks for your comment. Many more features and cool stuff to come in 2011. Bookmark the site and share with all your fishing friends.
Thanks,
~Mike.
Hi mike, we recently move here in calgary, is prince’s island a good place to fish? I live in the NW (huntington hills) where can you suggest a good spot to fish with my son. We are just shore fishing. Thanks.
Hi Mike!
I am new to Alberta and for the last year I have been spending way too much money on lures that I get suggested will work on the Bow and I always come up empty handed!
I live out near Canmore and so I tend to fish in this area of the Bow! I really need help though, I hear that panther martins work good or even rapala’s but I am hesitant to fork out any more money unless I am certain they will work!
Can you suggest any good spots in the Canmore area of the Bow and any lures that you know work well?
Awesome site I just came across this site today and I find it very informative!!!!
Thanks a lot Mike
Hello Wilson, seems as though I missed your comment. Very sorry to not get back to you. I never fish in that area so I have no good recommendations for you unfortunately. When I fish the river it is always below the Glenmore Tr bridge. Sorry I cannot be of more help too you Wilson.
~Mike.
Hey Ken, first off thanks so much for your kind comment. If it is not a good brand name then most of the time it’s junk. I buy good quality tackle as this is what works. If you buy spinners, pick up Panther Martin #9’s or #15’s in silver, gold, black or yellow. Blue Fox Vibrax Wild Eye’s are also awesome spinners, #3 or #4’s will be the ideal size for the Bow. Rooster Tails are also very good, I like White’s, Black’s or browns.
For crankbaits there is nothing that beats Rapala, these lures are dynamite for the Bow River. Upper Bow, Lower Bow doesn’t matter, you WILL catch fish. I like the Husky Jerks, The Original Floaters, the X-Raps, The Countdowns and The Clackin Raps. More world records have been taken on Rapala’s then any other lure in the world. If it says Rapala on the box you will catch fish sooner or later. It better for 10.00 and up or less depending on what you buy.
Another crankbait I love is called Koppers Live Target. I thoroughly tested these out this summer/fall and caught some seriously large trout with them. They are cheep at 15.00 a lure but they work well. Most of the pros use them and they are a well built lure. Check them out at http://www.koppersfishing.com.
That will get you a good start Ken and hopefully land you some awesome trout. If you plan to fish the Bow in the winter, look for deeper water and there should be fish. I am not familiar with the upper Bow at all so I cannot suggest any locations for you too fish up your way. I believe there are a few guides that operate out of Canmore that could guide you and show you the river up there. Not too sure if there are any spin fishing guides in Canmore though. If you want to learn how to fish the Bow this spring, I would be happy to guide you on the Lower Bow.
Thanks very much for your comment and hope you catch the big one !!!!
~Mike
Hi,
I’m coming to the CR on Monday,July 17. I will be in Banff Thursday thru Saturday.(My wife and I live in Davie, Florida near the Everglades!)
I have a guide trip booked on lake Minnewanka on Saturday with Jeff.
Is their a stretch of the Bow River that I can fish from shore with my ultralite spin outfit without waders i Banff. I’ll be staying at Banff Park Lodge. I would love to have an hour or so of fishing each day by myself. I have some barbless, magic lures that will work with my 4 lb test and 2 lb flourocarb leader!
Really appreciate any information.
Tight lines