Jan 14

Spin fishing the Bow River January 2023

The month of January has been exceptionally warm here once again in Calgary, so its off to the Bow River for some more spin fishing action. Before I head out on any fishing adventure, I like to check my gear to make sure everything is working properly. I respooled one-reel last night, with fresh, eight-pound test line. I also lubed the reel for maximum performance the next day. When you have a twenty-minute hike into a spot, Its wise to make sure your gear is in tip-top shape! I restocked the tackle box with the Robertson Tackle 3.5 inch crank-baits and headed off to bed early for a good nights rest. If you have not seen the new lures I have for sale, please head over to my other website at www.robertsontackle.com and get yourself some.

I was all set to meet Johnny and Zach at the river for a friendly fishing trip on the banks of the Bow River. I parked near the river and started to tie my lures on my freshly spooled line. Shortly after, Johnny and Zach pulled up and off we went down the river. A few casts along the way, and it was not long before I got my first trout, a brown sitting in some deeper choppy water. Johnny also got two fish in water that I normally would have walked past in the winter. Another ten-minute walk, and we were in the deeper water we had planned to fish. It was not long before Johnny was into some amazing Bow River Rainbow Trout, with Zach assisting on the net.

The weather started to warm up and the fishing got extremely good. With that sun kissing the water, and the river warming up even a few degrees, it sent the fish into feeding mode. I started letting my lure sink to the bottom of the river and tapping the bottom a few times, before slowly lifting the lure up and letting it fall again. This slow, methodic method triggered the fish to crush my brown trout pattern Robertson Tackle crank bait.

Both Zach and Johnny were having great success with this technique, and we all put many amazing trout in the net for our efforts. The two colors that were working well were the brown trout pattern and the rainbow trout pattern. With super clear water conditions, combined with that sun, made those lures shimmer and shine down there. Between the three of us, we managed to put over thirty fish in the net. There were many amazing rainbows netted, as well as a few epic browns.

Another fantastic day spin fishing the Bow River between three friends. Hopefully the weather stays warm and we can do it again soon.

~Mike

Dec 27

Winter Angling the Bow River

With the weather splendid, and the sun shining all afternoon, it was great to get out fishing with Jordan this past boxing day. We met up at a local, inner city spot, and fished a few hours landing both brown trout, and rainbow trout.

Both Jordan and I were using the 3.5 Inch Robertson Tackle crankbaits, with great success. Once the water warmed up, the fish started biting and we put some beauties in my net.

It was a total blessing to be able to fish open water the day after Christmas. Thanks so much for coming out with me Jordan. Another great trout fishing session in the books.

Cheers,

~Mike

Dec 24

Merry Christmas To All

I would just like to wish all my clients, readers and followers of the Bow River Blog a very merry Christmas this year. I sincerely appreciate each and everyone of you who take the time to read the Blog.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. With the weather as nice as it’s been, I am hoping to get out fishing Boxing Day and spank some monster Bow River trout!

Thank you so much for your continued support and readership.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

~Mike

Nov 14

Slowing it down for those big Bow River Browns

It’s that time of the year when the water temps have gotten much colder. There is snow on the ground and the fish are heading for their over-winter holes. These are locations in the river where the water is deep enough, and the river cannot entirely freeze solid to the bottom. The fish are getting slower now, and so should your presentation!

Jordan sent me a text during the week and asked if I would like to join him on Saturday to fish the Bow River. We had arranged to meet at noon in Douglasdale to fish one of the over-winter holes I just mentioned. This spot is about eight feet deep and slow-moving current, the perfect location to find hungry fish. The bug life has mostly all dried up, making the river perfect for chucking large, suspending crankbaits. As some of you readers know, I started my own business last February selling high quality fishing lures. These lures have been crushing it all year, and Jordan has been doing extremely well with them! Anyone who has purchased these lures, has caught amazing fish all throughout the Bow River basin. Jordan asked me to bring him more lures to the river so he could purchase them and use them the day of our trip. Unfortunately, he lost several of the lures the last time he fished and needed to stock up.

I pulled into the parking lot near the river and Jordan was already there getting his gear ready for battle. I gave him the lures he needed; we both tied up the 4.7-inch cranks and hiked down to the rivers edge. Jordan was smashing trout on the lure I call “The Green Goblin” all season, and that was his first choice of the day. I stayed down low in the slow water, and Jordan walked up the river into a seam coming off a nice rock bar. It was not long before he was hooked up into a beauty brown. I came running up with the net and scooped it up for him. His first of many big browns was in the net.

For me, its rewarding to see other anglers catch amazing fish, consistently trip after trip on the Robertson Tackle lures. Jordan has caught some of the best fish the Bow River has to offer, and I honestly could not be happier for him! I am grateful he asked me to come out fishing with him and was very glad he caught all the big fish of the day. We will definitely do that again soon!

Thanks for the great day fishing the Bow River.

Stay safe out there friends.

~Mike