Jul 25

Bow River Trout Fishing July 2020

Bow River heats up in July.

What an amazing month this has been for trout fishing the Bow River. With the borders still closed, the river has seen a lot less traffic then it has in past years. They call the Calgary Stampede “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”, but this year, with the Stampede closed, the Bow River is the greatest outdoor show on earth. Temperatures have been skyrocketing into the 30’s almost daily, so it is important that we head out early and get the morning bite before the heat in on. As the heat turns up, the fishing slows down somewhat, and by 2PM we are back at the boat launch and finished our day.

It is of the utmost importance in the heat of the afternoon, that you don’t fight the fish too long, or you don’t keep the fish out of the water very long. Keep them wet, a quick pic and back they go into the river.

We have been landing some epic fish using different techniques, different kinds of lures, and finding fish deeper into the water column on those stifling hot afternoons. Knowing the river intimately as I do, understanding where to locate the fish has been an integral part of our success.

Have a look at these beauty fish caught and released in July 2020! I hope to see you on the water with me this August.

Until then……

Sharp hooks and tight lines,

~Mike.

Jun 29

Choosing A Fishing Partner

What I look for in a fishing partner.

Having the right person to fish with can make your day productive and your time on the water enjoyable. For myself, fishing with delighted positive people are the folks I select to be my fishing partner. Normally I choose one angler that shares the boat, or the banks of the river with me. After fishing with this human for long periods of time, you begin to establish rapport with that chosen individual, leading to proper communication and time well spent on the water.

When choosing the person to be my fishing partner, they must possess several qualities, such as.

  1. Responsible. There is nothing worse than getting cancelled on at the last minute, especially when I put my time, money and effort into planning a trip. To me, there is nothing harsher than a flaky person who does not respect my time and efforts that go into pre-planning a fishing trip. Often, I will add gas to the boat, buy new lures and make lunches a day ahead of the trip. It frustrates me greatly when a fishing partner does not respect that and cancels last minute. My fishing partner shows up on time, contributes to gas money for the boat, helps cover the costs of bait if fishing a lake, or buys his own bait for the day. I understand things happen, but if happens more then twice for no good reason, I will select another person to fish with going forward. As they say, “time is money”. I appreciate people who waste neither my time, nor my money!
  2. Organized. It is always disheartening when your fishing partner shows up unprepared and unorganized. Their tackle is in shambles, their reel is falling apart and has three-year-old line, and or, their rod is not suitable for the fishing conditions at hand. Have you ever seen that when your partner shows up? I sure have, and it is frustrating when they are not on the same page as you are. The fishing partner I choose has his line re-spooled with the proper test, and strength. He or she has their gear in working order and is completely ready to fish the day ahead. His lures are in order and he has modern, quality gear with a back up set-up ready to go. Normally when fishing a whole day in the jet boat, I bring two rods fully spooled with fresh line and service my reels the night before the trip, making a hundred percent sure that everything is in proper working order well before the trip. I have two rods and reels with me the whole day in case I break something or blow a reel along the trip. If one rod is inoperable, I have a back up to fish with the rest of the day. Its very disheartening when you break something and do not have a backup. Being organized and ready to fish is especially important when I choose a fishing partner.
  3. A good steward of the resource. I choose to fish with people that are always ethical and respect the resource. My fishing partner follows all rules and regulations set out by the governing body and treats the fish caught with the utmost respect possible. For example, they gently release the fish rather then “throwing” them back in the water. It is important to me that my partner does not cheat in any way, follows all written laws properly and sets a good example, both in person and online. I strive to be a role model for younger anglers, so my fishing partner must employ these same ethics and philosophies as I do. It is important to keep a healthy fishery; to leave the fishery as intact as possible for future generations to enjoy. It may sound silly, but my partner must have a fishing license, and know all the applicable laws according to what body of water we are fishing. All fish MUST be released means just that! When fishing where barbed hooks are prohibited, my partner must know that and follow the law, just as I do. Both my fishing partner and I will care for the fishery, protecting every watershed the best we can.
  4. Same Skill Level. At the start of my fishing journey, I chose to fish with a partner that was at the same skill level as me. We both knew the basics of sport fishing a river, and we had mid-range quality gear at that time. Our casting abilities were about the same, and our skill levels matched up nicely, which made for enjoyable trips all over Alberta. We both fished our local river about the same amount of time, so our skill set progressed equally. Since then, I have become an advanced angler and have spent countless hours honing my skills on the river, not only from shore, but from all different types of watercraft. I do however, like to guide and fish with beginner anglers often, but when I am fishing with a friend or partner, I chose to fish with other anglers who are at the same skill level. Here are some of the things I look for in a partner with the same skill level. Must know how to net a fish properly as to ensure the “trophy” does not get away. Being a good “net man/woman” is a skill all in its own. Must know how to take proper images of the fish once the fish has been netted. There is nothing worse than looking at the images taken later, only to find your head is cut off the image, or the fish is not completely in the image or someone’s finger is blocking the shot taken.
  5. Positive Attitude. Being positive and having fun is the reason I am there, the fish are a bonus! I dislike fishing with negative Nelly’s, as it normally makes for a long day. I will always choose, happy fun people to fish with over negative people every time. If I fish with someone who gets upset easily, gets frustrated quickly and ruins my experience, it is highly likely I will not fish with that person again. We all have our bad days, and of course, there is exceptions to this rule! I love to fish with people who make me laugh, tell jokes along the trip, or have funny stories to share that make the day fun. I have a positive outlook on life, so it is important to me that I surround myself with others who share my positivity. Often, I will make up my own “fishing” related lyrics to songs and sing them out loud while I am fishing or tell funny jokes and stories while looking for the next fish. I like a partner who can do the same, be serious out there as well as be happy and fun. I do believe that positive energy leads to catching more fish, as the fish can feel your vibrations through the line. It may sound silly to you, but it is how I see it. Being with another angler and having as much fun as possible, while being safe and smart on the water is how I choose to fish. These are the kinds of fishing partners I want to spend a day in the boat with, or a day on the banks of any river or lake.

What types of people do you choose to fish with? What makes a good fishing partner to you? I understand we are all different, so your comments and feedback are always appreciated. Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know who you choose to be your fishing partner.
Thanks for reading and hope you have a great summer out there on the water.

~Mike

May 06

Big China on the Bow River

Team work makes the dream work.

I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting up with fellow teammate, and friend, Garther last year when Garther was in town visiting family. Garther had asked if I could take him out on the Bow River, as that river has been “his nemesis”. I gladly accepted and here is the video footage we shot of that great day back in July of last year.

For me, it’s always a pleasure fishing with another angler who has as much energy and enthusiasm for the sport as I do. Garther and I were both casting the Live Target smelt in multiple color patters as well as the Live Target Trout Parr. Both are very effective lures for all the game fish found within the Bow River system.

Please check out the video of our amazing day together last July.

Thanks,

Mike

Apr 30

Angler’s Atlas MyCatch App

Dear fishing friends, on behalf of Angler’s Atlas and myself, Mike Robertson of the Bow River Blog, I am asking for your help in collecting data on our fisheries and waterways here in Alberta and beyond. As some of you may, or may not know, there is an urgent need to collect data from lakes and rivers across Canada. Traditional survey methods are expensive, and as a result, thousands of water bodies are left unmonitored. The MyCatch app is designed to help solve this problem with your help! Collective data will help all of Canada’s fisheries!

What is MyCatch App?

MyCatch app is a citizen scientist application which assists fishery biologists in getting real time data from anglers about catch rates, species distribution and other research topics. MyCatch is a simple way to track each one of your catches and assist fisheries biologists in getting real time data from anglers just like you. We are looking for data on distribution and other research topics. Check it out here https://www.anglersatlas.com/mycatch.

Will my secret spots be revealed?

Many anglers like to keep their “honey holes” or secret spots they fish confidential, and we can all respect that. We can assure you that NONE of your secret locations will be shared or compromised! Your secret spots will remain secret, while we collect the data needed to enhance our fisheries, and waterways in Canada. As any seasoned angler knows, having a catch log is a great way to keep personal fishing logs, and the MyCatch App is the perfect compact application to store this information all in one place. It is a win for the fisheries biologists, and a win for the angler.

Bathymetric Maps Included!

What is a bathymetric map? A bathymetric map/chart is a type of isarithmic map that depicts the submerged topography of oceans, sea bottoms, lakes and reservoirs. Their primary purpose is to provide detailed depth contours of lakes, or reservoirs, as well as provide the size and shape distribution of underwater features. MyCatch app as a simple way to track your catches for anglers, which now has bathymetric maps in Alberta. Please head over to download the MyCatch app here https://www.anglersatlas.com/mycatch and help us help the fisheries in Alberta now. The fisheries and waterways will greatly benefit from your help!

Thank you,

~Mike Robertson
Angler’s Atlas