Date: July 23, 2026

The Bottom Line: Runoff is finally easing its grip on the Bow River, with water clarity improving and flows dropping back into the normal range for this time of year. As visibility continues to improve, trout are becoming more active and feeding with greater confidence. We're seeing fish look up for dry flies, while streamer anglers are finding success with fish willing to move farther to chase a well-presented fly. Overall, the river is settling into a much more fishable pattern, making this a great time to get out.

The Move: Focus on classic feeding water where trout can comfortably hold while staying close to a steady food supply. Productive areas include boulders, soft pockets, log jams, grassy banks, and well-defined seams where fish are feeding consistently. Dry fly and hopper dropper opportunities continue to improve, particularly during hatches in the cooler parts of the day, while streamers are becoming increasingly effective as fish are willing to move farther to intercept them. If you're planning your day, prioritize early mornings or late evenings before the heat of the day peaks, when water temperatures are cooler and trout are at their most active.

Water Level and Clarity: Fluctuating levels daily, refer to https://rivers.alberta.ca/ for accurate levels. Clarity is signficantly improving. Anglers will see 4-5 feet of clarity depending on the stretch of the Bow River you choose to fish.

Water Temps: Cold.

Wading Difficulty & Safety: High water creates faster, more powerful currents that can make wading unsafe. Exercise caution when the bottom is not visible.

Understanding Fishing as Runoff Clears

As runoff recedes on the Bow River, improving water clarity and stabilizing flows allow trout to return to more predictable feeding behaviour. Rather than hugging slow, protected water, fish spread back into classic feeding lanes around boulders, seams, log jams, and grassy banks where they can efficiently intercept drifting insects. Lowering river levels also trigger the annual stonefly emergence, providing trout with a high-calorie food source and increasing both subsurface and surface feeding activity. With visibility restored, trout are more willing to rise to dry flies and travel farther to intercept streamers, particularly during the cooler hours of early morning and late evening before water temperatures peak.

The Strategy: Why These Techniques Work

• Target Classic Feeding Water: As the Bow River clears and flows return to seasonal levels, trout spread different holding water. Focus on current seams, boulder gardens, log jams, grassy banks, and soft pockets where fish can hold with minimal effort while intercepting a steady drift of insects. These areas consistently produce because they offer the ideal balance of food, cover, and current.
• Match the River's Shift to Surface Feeding: Improving water clarity allows trout to rely more on their vision, making them increasingly willing to feed on emerging and adult insects. Lowering river levels are also triggering the annual stonefly emergence, adding another high-calorie food source to the menu. Keep an eye out for rising fish, and don't hesitate to switch between stonefly nymphs, dry flies, and droppers as conditions change throughout the day.
• Cover Water with Streamers: As visibility improves, trout are willing to move farther to intercept larger prey. Instead of making repeated casts to one spot, fish streamers with an active retrieve and cover structure such as boulders, log jams, undercut grassy banks, and deeper buckets. Cleaner water gives fish more confidence to chase, making this one of the best times to target aggressive trout.
• Fish the Coolest Parts of the Day: Early mornings and late evenings continue to offer the most consistent fishing as cooler water temperatures keep trout comfortable and actively feeding. As air temperatures rise through the afternoon, trout often become less active, so planning your day around these low-light windows will typically produce the best results.

The Summer Transition Hatch Mix (Clear Water & Active Feeding)

As the Bow River settles into summer conditions, improving water clarity and stable flows are bringing trout back into more consistent feeding patterns. Golden Stones have been emerging as dropping river levels trigger their migration to shore, while PMDs and Caddis continue to provide dependable feeding opportunities throughout the day. With better visibility, trout are increasingly willing to feed on the surface and travel farther to intercept larger prey.

• The Play: If trout are rising, fish Golden Stone, PMD, or Caddis dry flies over classic feeding lanes, seams, and along grassy banks. If fish aren't looking up consistently, a dry-dropper rig remains an excellent choice, with a stonefly nymph or PMD nymph suspended beneath a buoyant dry.
• Nymphing: Stonefly nymphs continue to be a top producer as trout key in on migrating nymphs before and during the emergence. Pair them with smaller PMD or caddis patterns to match the variety of insects drifting through the water column.
• Streamers & Swinging: Cleaner water means trout can see—and chase—your fly from farther away. Target structure like boulders, log jams, grassy banks, and deeper buckets with natural or lightly flashy streamers, using a varied retrieve to trigger aggressive eats from fish taking advantage of improving conditions.