But be aware, if you camp on shore and not on one of these islands, you may be on private land and camping on private land requires permission from the landowner. Or if you do not like camping altogether, you can drive back into Calgary and stay at one of the many Hotels this city has to offer. So whichever route you choose to make the Bow River your next fishing trip destination, one thing is for certain, LARGE TROUT.

So when you take your next fishing trip on the Bow River be sure to stay alert or else you could end up crying the blues over the loss of your expensive rod & reel. There are several different campgrounds along the Lower Bow River to accommodate you on your fishing trip down the river. There’s the Nature’s Hideaway campground on The Highwood River just about 500 meters before this river system meets up with the Bow River. There’s also the campground just south of the Carseland weir rite on the Bow River itself. This is a Provincial campground which charges campers a fee of 21$ Canadian for a one nights stay. This campground has a store on site which sells everything from firewood to ice cream. This campground also has outhouses and running water but I’m not sure if the water has been treated for human consumption so I bring my own water from home. If you’re the type of person who does not like camping in a crowded campground, on a long weekend, than I suggest camping on one of the many Islands along your fishing trip on the Bow River. These islands are Government property and camping on them is perfectly ok and free.

Trout that would be the talk of the town on other rivers are a common occurrence on the Bow River. The Bow River is by no means a one-lunker-a-day fishing hole. Today fisherman catch more fish over 20 inches than fish that are less than 12 inches. When you take your next fishing trip on the Bow River you will soon see why people from all over the world come here. Bow River “bullets” as they are called by the local fishermen, are some of the hardest fighting Rainbow trout in the world. I remember floating on the Lower Bow last year 2005 after the flood that hit, I was kicking back taking in the scenery when a monster Rainbow took hold of my offering. The trout hit so hard it almost pulled my rod out of the dingy; I reached over the side of the boat to get my rod back in the boat.

There are a number of great destinations in Alberta to go on a fishing trip.  So why are so many anglers from all over world coming to Calgary to fish the middle or Lower Bow River? I feel it’s because of the size and sheer strength of fish being caught here. Normally there are rivers in Canada where you can catch a large number of small fish and there are also places where you can catch a few large fish. But the Lower Bow River is one of those rivers where you can catch a lot of large trout. On one of my many fishing trips on the Bow River, I have had days when catching five trout over 20 inches in two hours has not been uncommon. Nineteen to 23-inch trout are daily occurrences on the Middle and Lower Bow River.