December 2004

The summer of 2004 caught a lot of Crowsnest fly rodders by surprise.

Mother Nature sent a whack of strange weather our way, especially in August, usually the most predictable, hottest, driest month of the year.

Fishing started great with an early, dry spring. Nymphs produced well through March and April when water temperatures were 4 to 6C. Airborne bug life was unusually abundant in May, and steady dry fly fishing began in June, as usual, with water temps averaging 6 to 10C, and clarity good.

It was another poor year for salmon flies, although big trout were once again taking big attractor patterns. Regardless. the Crowsnest's insect life continues to evolve. Once known for its huge (locust-like) hatches of salmon flies, the river is now better known for its mayfly activity.

The only apparent major change in river chemistry during the 20-year period has been a major improvement in water quality, that due to improved sewage treatment in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass.

A generally light snow pack once again made for early season opportunities. The river remained traversable throughout spring runoff for the third time in five years. (In years past, the river would remain uncrossable for weeks at a time.) In the end, conditions suggested another fine spawning season.

A series of early July storms that daily sent sheet-rain across the basin kept most anglers at bay until the 10th when pressure increased dramatically. Pressure this year appeared evenly spread through the week, although the increased number of four day work weeks seems to have resulted in more anglers heading out on Fridays. Thus, Friday is now often the busiest day of the week.

July 15 through 30 brought steady sunny days and warm temperatures. The water temp on July 16 jumped to 14C and wet wading became the norm, for locals anyway. July fishing success was reportedly down somewhat from previous years.

All remained predictable until Aug. 20 when again a series of severe thunder and hail storms swept across the region on a daily basis. The Crow and virtually all other streams in southern Alberta and southwest B.C. were unfishable. Virtually all were torrents of murk until the first week in September. The Crow ran at the annual high water mark for much of the month, an occurrence unheard of in the past 25 years.

Since then. the Crow had dropped in volume but remains fully and unexpectedly recharged. An anticipated late season (September/October) boon in dry fly activity never materialized and the river is enters winter in a lightly fished fashion. Flows should provide excellent volumes for overwintering rainbows, cuts and browns.

Winter angling opportunities during Chinooks should be excellent if the few stretches that remain ice free year round.

Until then, and until spring...it's been good to help you.

August 19-04

River is clearing nicely, and ahead of what we anticipated. At noon today river is easily fishable with visibility of at least three feet. It will be clear by this evening, however... Thundershowers are again in the forecast for late in the day. Forecast calls for highs of 26C and mostly sunny skies with late day showers and/or storms through Saturday. Sunday temps are expected to drop by 12C. Showers likely. -30-

August 18-04

River virtually unfishable. Monsoon-like rains yesterday and last night turned the Crow to chocolate. Visibility perhaps two inches at noon today. It will likely take at least a couple of days to clear, especially with unstable weather in the forecast. Heavy rains were also recorded in the headwater areas, which picked up considerable sediment from last summer's forest fires.

July 30-04

Two weeks of steady warm temperatures with little rain has pushed the Crow's flow down to usual mid August levels. Water remains very clear with a 3 p.m. temp today of 14C. Air temp is 29C. Hot, sunny weather is forecast through this long weekend. River today is very busy with a mix of anglers and inner-tubers. Fishing poor mid day. Best angling has been just before and after dark. Large caddis and PMD hatches. Emerger patterns are providing best results.

July 14-04

Crowsnest continues to drop, clear and rise in temperature. Visibility perfect. Wet wading very comfortable. Considerable bug activity. Also considerable fishing pressure. Air temp at 10 p.m. is 17.5C, water temp. 13C. River is very busy at all access locations, especially during evening hours. Weather forecast calls for hot temps (near 30C) and the possibility of thundershowers through the week.

July 9-04

The Crow continues to run at a high clip for this time of the year. Still, most established runs are well developed, and wading is generally easy. Fishing is not. Numerous thunderstorms and cool air temps have resulted in flow and temperature fluctuations have thrown a wrench in what is usually a very predictable time of the year. Fishing has been only fair with dries that run the gamut from big stones in the morning, to small mayflies in the evening, to all sizes of caddis in the dark. Visibility good and virtually unimpeded. Water temp at 3 p.m. 9C. Air temp. 22C. Fishing pressure is very heavy. Bring a book. Forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and near seasonal norms of 24C.

July 2-04

Crowsnest continues to clear and drop after deluge of rain earlier in week. Still a bit silty, but visibility good at three to four feet. Water temp at noon this date 10C. Air temp 26C. Fishing pressure moderate. Considerable bug activity continues.

June 30-04

Heavy overnight rain, about two inches, has resulted in muddy conditions with visibility limited to a foot or less. Flow is up. Clearing will likely take at least 24 hours unless more showers sweep across the Rockies. The forecast calls for sunny mornings, warm and afternoon thunder showers. Water temp at noon is 8C. Air temp 20C. Fishing pressure non existent. Considerable airborne bug activity. Stones, mayflies and caddis.

June 23-04

The Crow continues to fall, and flow at unseasonably low levels. Easily crossable at usual locations. Definitely wadeable. Good visibility. At 3 p.m. water temp was 11.5C. That's up 3C in past two days. Air temp 24C. Fishing pressure mid week remains moderate. Competitive on Fridays and weekends. Bug life abundant. Success rates are improving dramatically with both nymphs and dries. Afternoon thunder busters and sheet rain may periodically muddy otherwise great conditions.

June 17-04

Air and water temperatures are the same this morning at 8 a.m. Both pegged at 6C and overcast.

The Crowsnest is up and off colored again after one inch of rain the past 24 hours. Still easily wadeable. Visibility about three feet. Should clear again later in the week.

Forecast calls for a mix of sun and showers, mild temperatures.

Spring runoff for all intents and purposes is over. River levels have been dropping the past week, leading up to yesterday's cloud-burst. This marks the second time in the past three years that the river was crossable every day of the spring. Low flows like that were unheard of in year's past. Either that or our legs are getting longer.

Once again, expect low flows late this summer with earlier than normal dry fly action. Bug activity has been sporadic, and most anglers are still relying on nymphs. Angler activity has been moderate with little difference between weekday and weekend pressure.

June 11-04

Flow in Crowsnest remains moderate with good visibility. Easily wadeable. Crossable with caution. Water temperature at 2 p.m. back up to 8C. Air temp 19C. Forecast calls for mild temps, mixed skies, light showers and some wind.

June 4-04

Another hot sunny day. Air temp at 1:30 p.m. 25C. Water temp 8C. (That's up 3 degrees past 24 hours, and first significant jump in weeks.) Nice enough to wet wade during afternoon hours. Flow moderate. Visibility fine. Wadeable. Crossable in spots with extra caution. Weather forecast, more of same. mrl

June 3-04

Crowflows: This may prove to be another of those years when one can cross the river at reliable spots any day of the spring. Flow remains moderate and at annual high water mark. Visibility is yummy. Water temperature at 3:30 p.m. this date was 5C. (about 42F) Air temp 20C.

May 31-04

Crowflows: River velocity steady and in sem-serious run-off mode. Quite wadeable. Crossable with caution. Color good. Improving visibility once again. Good at 2 feet or more. Water temp this date at noon 5C. Air temp 15C. Semi-windy. SW at 30-40 kph. Semi-sunny. Forecast: more of same through Friday with showers possible.

May 19, 2004

Crownest river flows remain moderate with visibility of four to five feet , even after warm (17C temps) the past several days. River is up five inches past 24 hours.

Water temps quite cold. Plus 6C (or 42F) at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., dropping to 4C at 9 a.m.

The government’Äôs current flow-forecast suggests the Crowsnest will run at 74 per cent of its 91-year average through the post runoff period. It’Äôs an average that has been driven lower by the ongoing, half a decade long, drought. Remaining snowpack remains heavier as one moves south towards the Castle River drainage.

Heavy snow at mid to higher elevations, and rain at lower elevations is forecast for the long weekend of May 22, 23.

Alberta Environment officials say the potential for a rapid, scouring flood will remain through mid June.

Current river and snow pack conditions, they add, are strikingly similar to those in June 1995 when major (bridge busting) flooding occurred over a two day period. mrl

May 18, 2004

River temp at 1:30 p.m. today (May 18) was 6C or 42F. Air temp 17C. River visibility five plus feet. Flow moderate.
mrl

May 17, 2004, from Clive Schaupmeyer

I don't know how to say this without sounding like a bloody liar. I was on the Crow from 1:15 PM until 5:30 PM. Some sun, mostly cloud with occasional cool breezes and a few snow flakes and sprinkles. Water is getting up to the grass level on the edges with 21/2 feet of viz. Hard to say how long it will stay fishable.

Unbelievable fishing. I landed 17, 18 or 19 rainbows and 4 or 5 rockies and unhooked several more 'bows and rockies. Just nuts! Four rainbows on dry flies (#16 tannish-brown spent-wing/cripple) imitating the March Browns (???) that were coming off between 2:30 PMish until about 3:45 PMish.

Measured two rainbows at 18" and change, but was unable to measure the big one of the day--which would have been close to 19"...19" for anyone who calls themself a fly angler! Wink

The rest of the fish were on a "new" caddis larva I have been using. It seems to work well. The caddis larva is a garish green with dark large thorax section. Likely HEs would work too. I just know the fish are jazzed.

Saw a few midges flying but none on the water. Saw what were likely BWOs, but only 2 or 3. Not sure what the large mays were, but they must have been March Browns...sparse #14 (large #16) mottled brindle may...although some had a green tinge, but were definitely (likely) not BWOs. Doesn't matter what they were as the road kill mayfly pattern I used was okay while the fish were up.

I was out three times in March and the fishing was very good. And then missed all of April and not out in May until now. (I am retired so naturally am too damn busy working.) I told someone else that maybe I was not trying hard enough to get out because maybe I was scared because the fishing could never be as good as it was in March. Shows you what I know. The Crow has fished better for me this spring than any spring previous--and I've been going down there for 15 years. (It's been open in early season since what? 1991 or 1992.) Outstanding day!! ¬Ý

May 7, 2004

The river still looks good. There's been the odd day it's been murky, but with these cooler temps it has cleared up considerably. Visibility about four or five feet. Flow is up but not what you'd call fast.

Am told everyone is doing well with the usual nymphs. Some bwo hatches so dries have worked on occasion.

Looks like everything is about three weeks ahead of sked. Maybe a month ahead of last year. Stonefly hatch may come early this year.

March 2004

By Mike Lamb

Crowsnest Forest Fires that swept through heavily timbered tributary valleys of the Crowsnest and Castle rivers last summer may have a significant bearing on this year’Äôs runoff dynamics.

Swift, heavy flows may come earlier than normal. And should heavy rains come during June’Äôs peak runoff, local flooding can be expected.

If the Crow’Äôs snowpack, now 80 per cent of the last 20-year average. remains constant, there probably won’Äôt be a discernible impact, according to provincial hydrologists.

Drum and Lyons Creek -- timbered valleys that held tightly packed, moisture consuming fir and pine trees -- will remain charred this coming season. That, the result of last July’Äôs 40,500-acre ’ÄúLost Creek Fire.’Äù

Some areas suffered blast-furnace temperatures during huge blowouts. Forest duff along entire slopes was incinerated to the limestone bedrock.

Yet other slopes actually benefited from wind blown infernos. Those, faster moving blazes left soil relatively intact and will provide new grazing opportunities for elk, moose and deer, and of course cattle.

At any rate, the backdrop while angling some stretches of the Crow and Castle rivers will again appear as it did in the 1920s after fire swept through the region, leaving montane grassland, cyclically replacing timber.

About 80 per cent of the Lost Creek blaze was located in the Castle’Äôs headwaters. Affected were the valleys of the Carbondale River (a major Castle trib) as well as Lost, Gardiner and Lynx creeks. The Castle’Äôs snowpack as of March 1 nearly matched its 20 year average. Fast, heavy and dirty spring flows are even more likely in this system.

Both the Crow and Castle suffered through another drought last July, August and September, but both were recharged by timely heavy rains late last fall, and entered the winter in fair to good shape. Fish crushing ice jams in both systems have been minimal so far this winter.

March 2004
Air Temperature: 10C. range. (50 F.)
Water Temperature: 6 Celsius (45 F.)
Water level: Low, wadable.
Water clarity: About three feet. Normal river color

Bugs and activity: Trout responding to nymphs - gold-ribbed hare's ear, bead-head prince, cased-caddis imitation, stoneflies.