Low Rivers And New People

Summer is in full swing in Southern Alberta and it's the perfect time to take new people out fly fishing.

I took my cousin out for her first experience on a river last week. It was a float down one of the more seasonal rivers in the area.

She had never done anything like this and it was fun to see someone brand new interact with their surroundings in a new way.

I think adding the element of pursuit to a person's interaction with "nature" really changes the dynamic.

You become a participant as opposed to an observer and that subtle shift forces a person to slow down and be inquisitive if they are to be successful.

But what is success? Is it catching a fish? Or is it the experiences and the struggle that led up that moment?

I think you need to have some sort of endorphin-rush-hero-shot type success to  keep people coming back but in my opinion the little moments of discovery and obstacles overcome are longer lasting and more impactful.

Maybe that means learning how currents work so you can mend line and get a good drift or learning the name of a new bug that you would have previously ignored.

Maybe it is the small personal wins like overcoming anxiety and fear while hunkering down during a thunderstorm or seeing fresh grizzly poop while bushwhacking through riverside willows.  

But it also takes patience for the person providing those experiences especially when it involves children.

But I think the crazy casting knots, complaints, and missed fish are worth it to be involved in sparking a new passion or at the very least a new appreciation for a sport and the unique environments we get to visit.

Water/Weather Conditions

Water conditions are beginning to get quite low. I haven't been carrying a thermometer but the lower stretches of rivers are certainly warming up.

If we get some long stretches of hot weather it will become important to not over play fish and maybe avoid fishing in the heat of the day all together.

With the current thunderstorm cycle there are small creeks that will bring a lot of colour to the main rivers if they get heavy rain in them. This is normally short lived but it is probably better to relocate if it happens to you.

Along with that make sure you carry rain gear even if the skies are blue bird in the morning. And maybe an extra layer of insulation as the temperatures can drop dramatically in those thunderstorms.

  Bugs Observed

The usual suspects for midsummer bugs are around right now.

During a particularly blustery moment on the river the other day, a large yellowish green grasshopper landed in the river beside us.

It proceeded to float right over a prime piece of water. No fish ate it as we watched, but we did proceed to catch several nice rainbows and cutthroat on Chubby Chernoblys.

Other than terrestrials keep an eye out for summer mayfly hatches and the appearance of  caddis flies in the evening.

Suggested Gear and Flies

Ideal Rods: For nymphing - 9ft to 10ft, 5wt or 6wt rod.

For dry fly fishing - 8ft to 9ft, 3wt to 5wt.

Line/Leader: Line matched to the rod weight, 9ft/3X leader, 3X or 4X tippet.

Flies: Nymphs- Pheasant Tail 10-14, Hares Ear 6-14, Prince 8-12, Copper John 10-14

Terrestials/Attractors - Fat Albert brown and black 6/8, Stimulator yellow or olive 8/10/12, Black Ant 16/18, Black Beetle 12/14/16

Caddis- Elk Hair Caddis 14/16/18, X-Caddis 14/16/18, Little Black Caddis 18/20, Lafontaine sparkle pupa 14/16/18

For PMDS- Compara Dun yellow 14/16, Parachute PMD 14/16, PMD emerger 14/16

For Yellow Sallys- Yellow Stimulator size 10-14, Yellow/Lime Trude 10-14, Elk Hair Caddis yellow 10-14

Streamers- Sparkle Minnow size 4, Chartreuse/Olive Clouser Minnow Sz 4 and 6

Other useful patterns- Purple Haze 12/14/16, Parachute Adams 14/16/18, Henryville Special 14/16,  Parachute Green Drake 10/12

Fishing Tactics

We are in the primetime of the best fishing conditions for the year right now in Southwestern Alberta. And this is the best time to take a new fisher fishing!

Here is a small checklist of things that might ease the process of taking someone new out:

1). Pack snacks. Nobody likes being around someone hangry.

2). Go to a piece of river that you know well and are confident fishing. In my experience combining two new things is a recipe for disappointment.

3). Keep explanations simple. If someone is brand new to everything they will just get overwhelmed with information.

4). If you have the option choose a soft action rod so that it is easier for the person to load. Also using an overweighted line for the rod helps.

5). Choose visible flies. It is frustrating not being able to see the fly.

6). Cut back the leader and don't use tippet smaller than 3x. A shorter leader will be easier for them to turn over. And they will abuse the tippet on rocks, trees and probably crack it like a bullwhip. So if they do hook a fish and inevitably clamp down on the line in shear excitement you will want to give yourself the best chance of actually landing the fish.

7). And finally don't get carried away with the day. If they look like they are done, it probably means that they are. Suggest heading back to the truck and maybe they will come back out with you the next time you ask.

Get out and enjoy!

That is all for this week!