August 3, 2006

Back to back cool nights and milder afternoons have resulted in dropping water temperatures. Trout are far more active than they were a week ago and good evening success is being reported by anglers using PMD emergers.

Some fish are being taken mid-day with stimulator patterns, although grasshoppers remain few and far between.

July 30, 2006

Fishing on the Crow remains in the summer doldrums with opportunities for good dry fly fishing limited to late evenings and early mornings. Caddis, BWO and PMD hatches are sporadic. For the first time in nearly three weeks air and water temperatures cooled slightly late today, although hot temps are expected again mid-week.

Fishing pressure across Southern Alberta and B.C. should jump as a result of numerous river closures in Montana. Such was the case with similar circumstances three years ago.

The Montana Fish and Game Department Sunday halted fishing on eight popular mainstem rivers because water temperatures exceeded 73F for three straight days. Biologists say fishing in waters above 73F places too much stress on trout, resulting in high death rates among released fish.

Western Montana rivers now closed include the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, Little Blackfoot, Madison, Gallatin, Sun, Smith and Yellowstone. The Thompson, Rock Creek and Big Blackfoot may close early this week.

July 21, 2006

Heat wave continues with no let-up in sight through the middle of next week. Water level dropping rapidly, water temperatures rising. Miniscule amounts of snow left in the Rockies.

Kids in inner tubes far out number anglers these days. Fishing remains slow except during early morning hours and after dark.

July 16, 2006

River is producing prolific hatches of caddis, red quill and pmd's. Angling best during evenings til dark and very early mornings.

Mid-day action has been slow. Flow is clear with new runs forming every day as the river drops. Fishing pressure moderate. Forecast this week calls for sunshine and temps approaching 30C.

June 23, 2006

River is on.

Good visibility. Surface fishing is hot and has been getting hotter by the day.

After last year's dismal production it's nice to again see lots of large fish. Many 16 to 18 inches landed this week as greedy rainbows try and pack-on post spawn weight.

Bug life is everywhere; still lots of stoneflies. River is now crossable in usual spots.

June 19, 2006

The river continues to clear and drop albeit slowly. Decent visibility to about three feet, and trout have resumed taking salmon flies in eddies and along shore.

Runoff velocity makes wading difficult and crossing isn't advised. It all adds up to challenging, limited dry fly fishing.

The forecast calls for a few showers early this week followed by sunny warm days and cool nights. Light winds.

And that adds up to a promising coming weekend.

June 15, 2006

After three days of steady rain - five inches of moisture here, more higher up - the Crow runs at it's highest, dirtiest level of the spring.

Zero visibility. Flyfishing virtually impossible. Clearing not expected until early next week when a clearing trend is in the forecast.

June 1, 2006

Two wildlife specimens at opposite ends of the spectrum made an appearance this week on the Crow.

The first salmon flies of the year are testing their wings, and what appears to be a two- year-old solitary grizzly has been meandering the river bottom near Burmis Lake.

The river is clearing daily and remains good shape for big patterns and dry fly fishing.

May 28, 2006

Despite two and a half inches of rain over a two day period the Crow runs high, but with surprising clarity. Drizzle continues today.

Much of the moisture was absorbed by a dry earth resulting in relatively little runoff. Visibility is fair and improving.

The first salmon flies of the season should start showing themselves within the next week.

May 16, 2006

Record breaking warm temperatures have made a muckery of the river.

Visibility can be measured in inches.

Temperatures in the 30C plus range (The 80s) are expected to continue into the weekend.

Although the Crow is dirty, it's flow is surprisingly well behaved. A lack of rain should keep the river tame.

Still, decent angling will call for the hardest hardware of tackle.

May 12, 2006

The Crow flows at spring rates with velocity that can make crossing difficult.

Visibility is good, but angling remains slow. It's just nice to see leaves on the trees again.

Breezy, mild temperatures ahead. Angling pressure has dropped.

April 22, 2006

Light rain is falling and the Crow is high and dirty again. The forecast calls for continued rain through the day, but clearing with colder temperatures.

The river should return to fishable conditions early in the week.

April 18, 2006

Flow has dropped and the river has cleared considerably with cooler day and nighttime temperatures.

Considerable midge activity.

With rain at times heavy in the forecast this weekend, the next few days may offer a brief window of opportunity for dry fly fishing.

April 15, 2006

River continues to run at the annual high water mark with poor visibility of perhaps two feet. Still, a fair amount of angling pressure. The river is crossable at usual fords.

High flows, despite cool air temperatures of 6C to 10C, will likely continue for the next few days as lower elevation snows melt away. Fresh snow up high, gusty inhospitable winds down here. Trees just starting to bud.

April 7, 2006

Two days of light but steady rain in the valley and snow above have resulted in cloudy river conditions. The river's flow hasn't increased significantly, but the first wave of soil debris has resulted in off-conditions.

Nymph and streamer fishing would be advised. With a two-foot visibility level, dry fly fishing will be tough if not impossible.

River clearing can be expected. Sunshine returned today and remains at least partially in the forecast for the next several.\

Highs of 12C.

From here through the end of May conditions will likely fluctuate with each shower or wave of warm air.

April 5, 2006

The first spring-like rain showers were recorded today with 1 cm the past 24 and another 1 cm expected tonight. The Crow is up a hair and still running clear.

Alberta Environment today released results from the latest snowpack survey indicating normal to slightly above normal snowfall through March in the Rockies this past winter. Survey plots on the Crowsnest drainage indicate snowfall is 1% higher than the past 42-year average.

Oldman River survey plots snow snowfall is 5% higher than the past 27-year average, and Castle River snowpack is 25% above the past 26-year average.

It's currently snowing at all plots, and the last measurements of the year will be made at the end of this month.

Fishing has been good on the bottom with nymphs and spotty on top with midge patterns. Some large trout are being landed. Pressure has been fairly high, likely because other nearby streams remain closed.

March 27, 2006

Angling on the Crow has been excellent for big trout. The weather has been equal.

Hare's ears, large stone fly nymphs, and prince nymphs are producing the best results.

Dry midge clusters have been doing well on warm overcast days. River is clear, easily crossable and healthy looking.

Mid-day air temperatures range around the plus 9-degree C mark.

Fishing pressure has been modest.

Forecast calls for mild temperatures through the week.

February, 2006

In days long passed, when asked when to fish, we might have said "August or September when hoppers swarm like carpets or July when salmon flies fight for river landing rights!"

'Til years recent, when asked when to fish Southern Alberta rivers, we were more likely to say, "When the ice is off."

But surely, the Crowsnest River and other truly great, nearby streams are in a state of meteorological flux. The past few years, entire summers have been heartbreakingly unpredictable for run-off, weather, hatches, even gas prices.

August looks like May and June looks like, well, June. June always looks about the same. High and wide. Sometimes muddy. Lately high, but clear. And somewhat wide, but wadeable.

So therefore, June is predicted to be the 2006 month of the year for dry fly fishing on the Crowsnest.

Unless, of course, we return to normal weather patterns. And annual floods return to spring rather than fall.

Then it will be September, or October. Or, if the forest fires don't return, maybe even August.

And never forget July. July is always good. Usually always.

Have a good spring and bring along a back-up plan. ml