Quick Report - September 4, 2026

by Nick Berenyi

Water Levels

Bow River Flies

Dries

Juicy Hopper

Trina's Carnage Hopper

Henryville Special

Polywing Spinner Trico

Harrop's Fertile Caddis

Streamers

Galloup's Laser Legal

Woolly Bugger

Brammer's Pheasant Bugger

Hot Head Squirrel Leech

Coffey's Sparkle Minnow

Nymphs

RIO's Pheasant Tail Flashback Bead

Fastwater Prince Nymph

RIO's Morrish Dirty Bird TB

RIO's Morrish Hotwire Caddis TB

RIO's CJ Jig Gold TB

Flies for Other Places

Yeti Hopper

CDC Spinner, Rusty

Glo Ant

AJ's Beetle

Edible Emerger

Tips for the Bow

The Bow has been stable most of the week and is now flowing at typical fall rates.
Caddis hatches are still on in the evenings and fish have been rising to them.
Swinging leeches on trout spey rods has been effective when using intermediate and S3 tips. Don't worry about dredging the deepest runs, fish are happy in 2-4 feet of water.
Move to smaller streamers as water continues to drop & clear.

Tips for Other Places

Water levels are mostly looking great except for a few low streams in the Red Deer & Highwood basins.
Strong hatches are still occuring on ES2 streams. PMDs, lime & yellow Sallys, caddis, and even October caddis are out.
Foothills brown trout are starting to show spawning colors, feeding heavily but selectively, & showing aggressive behavior.
Afternoon to early evening on overcast or semi-cloudy days will see the most consistent sippers. Try a split-wing PMD spinner pattern.
Hoppers are still doing well both North and South of Calgary on the foothills streams. Ants are still a top producer for cutties.
Hatches will begin later in the day on mountain waters as overnight temps drop. Small flies & midges will do well in the mornings.

Bottom Line

The Bow has been stable at around 80 cms most of the week. It looks like summer out there but autumn's touch can be felt in the mornings and in every shady corner of the creek. Hatches are still strong in ES2 but beginning to lighten on ES1 cutty streams. Rain is in the forecast for the upcoming week here in Calgary which may put a damper on the Bow river hopper fishing. Sunday-Tuesday will be the wettest days before clearing, but the hot weather seen in August seems to have subsided. Keep at it with the hoppers while you can.