Southern Alberta's Bow River is world renown for it's hard fighting brown and rainbow trout, the Bow River is a trophy brown and rainbow fishery, the average size brown and rainbow trout is 19 inches, our fly-fishing trips take place in and down stream of the city of Calgary which makes the Bow river very accessible from most major U.S. Cities.   

THE BOW RIVER
Southern Alberta's Bow River is a Fly fisher's Paradise, Located inside and downstream of the City of Calgary this big Tailwater River boasts a self sustaining combined population of 3000 Rainbow and Brown Trout per mile that average 19inches. It is easy to see why the Bow River is rated as one of the best big fish rivers in Western North America.

The 50 mile Trophy stretch is best suited to Floating, even by Western standards it is consider a big river with a flow that averages around 3500 c.f.s, and the average width of the river is 80 yards. Except for very low winter flows the river is impossible to cross. Downstream of the city, the river has carved a spectacular valley. The banks are lined with Cottonwood and Aspen stands that give way to grass covered Breaks and Sandstone cliffs, Complete with Buffalo Jumps. Most of the land thru the valley is private and used for cattle grazing and like all Prairie river bottoms; wildlife is very abundant.

The fishing on the Bow really starts to get going in Late April, corresponding with hatches of Baetis and Midges. There are a few Skwala Stoneflies around then also. Towards mid May the trout really start to look up as March Brown s and Caddis make their appearance. Although the Rainbows are moving up tributaries to spawn, the fishing remains excellent as there are still plenty of Rainbows in the river to keep things interesting. The Browns are very aggressive, providing great action on Streamers, Nymphs and Dries.

Early June can find the Bow in runoff, however, if the flow is stable or better yet, if the river has crested and on its way down; the fishing is awesome as Anglers "pound the banks" with Streamers. By the end of June and through most of July, anglers can expect to see Golden Stone Flies, Pale Morning Duns and Caddis.

During August the river drops and the fish are much more selective than they were earlier in the season, Trico Spinner falls in the morning usually entice Bow River Trout to look up. During the day, Hopper fishing can be fantastic and evening skies are usually filled with newly hatched Caddis flies. As summer blends into fall. Hopper fishing remains strong. Hatches of Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Water Boatman and Caddis and October Caddis make up the aquatic and terrestrial diet. Click here for the S.W. Alberta Hatch Chart

A Day on The Bow River
During the course of a day you could find yourself fishing Streamers, Nymphs  and large Attractor DRY FLIES from a moving Drift boat, and then stalking LARGE, SURFACE FEEDING brown or rainbow Trout  that are eating  small caddis or mayflies, you are now in a Angling Situation that demands light Tippets, Small Dry Flies, a delicate presentation  and, a battle with a very HOT, above average Trout.

You may also find yourself  out of the boat and wading  up or along a myriad of Side Channels ,Back Channels, Riffles and High banks casting "Hopper -Dropper' or Light Nymph" Rigs to Large Trout that your Guide has spotted feeding below .. Or on top of the surface!A great blend of New Zealand and Rocky Mountain Trout fishing in one River!

Guiding Services
Since 1986, Dave Brown has fished and then guided on The Lower Bow River, Dave and all the guides of Dave Brown Outfitters  spend countless days each season guiding and fishing on this wonderful river. With our professional approach to guiding coupled with our knowledge of this river and ability to instruct at all levels, your day on the Bow River will be a memorable one.

The Season
Although The Bow River is open year round, we do not start guiding until late April and our season runs thru to the end of October. Our favorite Months to fish this river are May, July, August, September and October.

Recommended trip Duration
For some Anglers, the Bow River is their  destination of choice ,and it is very easy to spend 3-4 days fishing this river , we also suggest fishing the Bow for a day at the end of S.E.British Columbia or S.W .Alberta  Multi Day-Multi River Trip.

Other Options
Dave Brown Fly-fishing Outfitters  can easily conduct day trips  from Calgary on The Red Deer River, Upper Bow, Crowsnest and Oldman River Tailwater. We also have some very good small Streams located North West and South West of Calgary. A Day on the Bow can also be included  on a multi-River  Fly-Fishing Experience.

The "NO BULL" on the BOW  and The Dave Brown Fly-fishing Outfitter's Advantage

Despite a healthy trout population, and a reputation as the best Big Fish River in North America, the Bow can also be extremely finicky or technical, we know this and can react to tough conditions in a number of ways to ensure that your trip is a success! 

As a Client of the largest, most experienced Multi -River Guide Service in Western Canada we have the flexibility and the knowledge to move you to where fishing conditions are the BEST !

So, Why Book with us?
Unlike most  of  our competitors, D.B.O. is a  FULLTIME PROFESSIONAL GUIDE SERVICE which has been working on this river for a long time, we know why you choose this river and that is  to catch BIG TROUT preferably on Dry Flies, Our goal is to achieve yours !

Getting to Calgary
Calgary is easily accessible. Most U.S. carriers fly into Calgary and there are direct flights from Dallas, Denver, Houston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Calgary is also easily accessible from Detroit via West Jet Airlines out of Windsor Ontario.