guide helping guest with large trout catch

A Look Back at the 2024 Fly Fishing Season on the Bow River

By Scott Smith, Lead Guide

Reflecting on a Memorable 2024 Fly Fishing Season

The 2024 season has come and gone way too quickly. Thank you to all our guests, guides, and partners for allowing us to avoid real jobs and get on the water every day! Mother Nature kept river flows steady, water temps cooler, and thwarted the drought conditions we were expecting. Healthy, thick, line-ripping trout let us know they also appreciated the stable conditions. Here’s to big snow in the Rockies this winter!

guide helping guest with large trout catch

Grateful for Returning Guests and Community Support

I am beyond grateful for all our returning guests! I was kept extremely busy this season, mostly because you came back for more! Several of you came out for multiple guided days in 2024, which means I need new boat jokes. I’m working on new material in the off-season, so be ready!

We have a fantastic guiding community on the Bow River. As an independent outfitter, we often collaborate with other outfitters and guides for group trips or when our staff guides are fully booked. This community spirit was essential, especially during the busy 2024 season. We’re thankful to work in this vibrant fly fishing community!

Large trout caught by drift boat fly fishing

Most Popular Fly Fishing Trips of 2024

By far, our most popular float trip was the Half Day Beginner Float, which we’ll continue to offer. We love getting people into our sport, and this is a great place to start. A close second is the Bow River Boot Camp. This combination of our introductory lesson package with a half-day float became a real hit during 2024. I had a ton of fun teaching this past season, and it was great to see so many of our guests on the river afterward, practicing skills and enjoying time on the water.

fly fishing gear from group trip on bow river near calgary

Advice for Beginners: Keep at It!

The best piece of advice I can give anyone starting out in this sport is to keep at it. Grab that fly rod and figure it out. Make a mess. Find out what you can and can’t do, and always return to the fundamentals to correct casting mistakes. You’ll soon learn to move your feet and where to place that fly for the best drift.

 

fly fishing lessons in group setting

Build Your Fly Fishing Skills and Knowledge

Learn your knots so you can quickly change your fly selection or adjust the size of your bug. Soon, you’ll understand why depth matters more than fly selection, and you’ll figure out how and why to fish one rig over another. While there’s plenty of information available, nothing beats getting out the door and onto the water.

women fly fishing group in calgary, alberta.

Find Your Fly Fishing Community

My second piece of advice is to find your people. I’ve been fortunate to build friendships with great fly fishers and even better people. Some of the best relationships start with, “You Fly Fish?” There are several clubs and groups you can join to connect with like-minded anglers:

For more resources, visit our Fly Fishing Resources page.

lead fishing guide with large trout

Discovering Your Favorite Fishing Spot

Lastly, find your water. When I began taking fly fishing seriously, I had a spot I’d visit as often as possible. Even today, I head there whenever I get the chance. This area has become my testing ground and foundation for learning about river anatomy. This stretch of water features a shallow riffle, transitions into an inside run, and then flows into a flat before hitting a second riffle. The second riffle dives into a deep run and forms a soft pool off a defined point adjacent to a high bank.

Fishing here at different times and in varying weather conditions taught me where fish hold, what the bug life is doing, and how fish react to different presentations. It’s time well spent for learning and often being humbled.

kevin with large trout catch on bow river

Looking Ahead to the 2025 Fly Fishing Season

We love being part of your fly fishing journey, and we’ve got some exciting opportunities planned for 2025. We hope you’ll join us on the Bow River! Check out our Guided Fly Fishing Trips for the upcoming season.

Scott fly fishing guide with drift boat on the bow river near Calgary.

Bow River Fly Fishing: Anticipation for the 2024 Season

By Scott Smith, Lead Guide

As the season begins, I’m already excited for the 2024 guiding campaign. Experiencing a mild off-season in the Calgary area, plenty of winter trout pics fill my social feeds daily. I’m not a winter fly fisher, but I certainly appreciate the need to get on the water at every opportunity. Perhaps tomorrow will be the day?

Scott fly fishing guide with drift boat on the bow river near Calgary.

Life as a Bow River Guide

Feeling extremely fortunate, I am among an amazing group of outfitters and guides working on the Bow River. Being on the river almost daily, I’ve met and worked with so many great people. Loving our guiding community, we support one another. Each guide brings a different perspective, always with the guest’s success top of mind for the day. In recent travels, I’ve been lucky enough to visit some sought-after trout waters in Montana and Idaho the past two seasons. While adventuring the Henrys Fork and the Bighorn Rivers, I was guided by some top-notch pros.

What Defines a Great Fly Fishing Guide?

Regarding engagement and communication, I value guides and outfitters that ask many questions. From the first hello, I hope to connect and have an easy conversation with potential guests. After all, when you book a float, you’re going to be stuck in a drift boat with each other for a solid 8 hours or more. During our initial chat, I ask questions to paint a picture of your ultimate day. Once we discuss it together, I can plan your unique trip down the river. Even if booking online, we ensure we build your trip based on shared expectations. Once we’re on the water, I appreciate a guide who leads with confidence.

Discovering the Passion of Fly Fishing

Talking about passion, if you’re discussing your trip with the outfitter, you can just tell they love what they do. The best guides I know bring the same passion and excitement on Day 100 of the season as they do on Day One. Despite the challenges, guides get tired. We’re out there for long days, preparing lunches, washing boats, adjusting gear, and sleeping. However, my motivation comes every morning when I meet the guests for the day. Your excitement and anticipation energize me and keep me fresh. During the float, I love to see you hook up trout, but I also celebrate seeing you make that perfect cast or lead a dry fly perfectly into a big brown.

fly fishing adventure prep drift boats

Building Skills and Patience in Fly Fishing

Considering skill and patience, I’ve been fishing with a fly rod for a long time but I’m always learning. Each outing with a fellow guide, or experienced guest, teaches me something new. Great guides help you with your game no matter where you are on your fishy journey. Taking moments to teach, skilled guides can turn a good day into a great one by improving casting, presentation, rigging techniques, or just reading the water.

Gaining Knowledge and Experience on the Water

With a focus on knowledge and experience, your guide should have good historic knowledge of the water they’re guiding. Learning about the area, I enjoy discovering interesting facts about the geography or human history of the places I fish. Additionally, your guide needs to know the river intimately along with the bug life.

Flexibility and Preparation in Guiding

Starting my guiding journey, I learned the importance of flexibility. Your guide should be well-prepared with the right gear and flies, and also for unexpected issues like broken rods, reels, line failures, and weather events. Being prepared for mishaps is part of good guiding. It’s perfectly okay to ask what safety and contingency gear is on board.

Character Traits of a Successful Guide

In terms of character, it goes beyond showing up on time and having a clean vehicle and boat. When I’m on the water, I’ve learned to relax and let the day unfold, taking what the river offers while respecting the guest vibe. I ensure my guests are enjoying every part of their trip genuinely. Maintaining respect for all, it’s also important that guides never speak poorly about other guides on the river and practice etiquette beyond expectations.

scott luke bow river fishing guides trout

How to Be a Great Fly Fishing Guest

Being upfront about your expectations helps us tailor your adventure. Assessing your skills realistically avoids misunderstandings and ensures a more enjoyable experience. Staying curious, asking lots of questions, and not being afraid to explore new techniques can significantly enhance your learning and enjoyment on the water.

Making the Most of Your Fishing Trip

Encouraging fun, remember, this is fishing in a beautiful river valley. The atmosphere is relaxed, there is little to no cell service, and the guides think they’re funny. Enjoy every minute including the impossible tangles, missed fish, and casts in the trees!

bow river valley near calgary for fishing

Make Your Fly Fishing Trip Memorable

Embracing every moment, remember, this is fishing in a picturesque river valley. The relaxed atmosphere, the minimal cell service, and the humor of the guides all contribute to a unique experience. Enjoy every aspect, including the challenging tangles, the one that got away, and even the occasional tree snag.

Plan Your Adventure on the Bow River

As we look forward to a new season, I hope it holds many adventures for you. If a Bow River float is on your agenda, check us out to see if we’re a good fit and get in touch! We’d love to have you out to wet a line and share some stories.