A favorite among anglers for acrobatics and surface eats, rainbow trout are abundant in the Bow River corridor and nearby stocked ponds around Calgary.
Where to Catch: Bow River through and below Calgary; select community ponds and small lakes; tributary creeks in spring/early summer.
Best Time to Fish: Year-round where open; strongest during spring hatches and summer–early fall dry-fly windows.
| Season | Activity |
|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Excellent during midge/BWO hatches; nymphs and streamers shine pre-runoff. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Outstanding early/late on dries (caddis, PMD, hoppers); nymph deeper mid-day. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Very good; mayflies and active streamer bite before winter. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Fair; target slow pools with small nymphs during warm spells. |
Peak Season: June–September (dries); March–May (pre-runoff nymphs/streamers).
Tackle & Tips
Lures: Small spoons/spinners, minnow plugs along seams.
Bait: Single eggs/worms where legal.
Leaders: 9–12 ft fluoro (4–6 lb); 4X–5X tippet.
Gear: 4–6 wt fly rods; light spinning with 6–8 lb mainline.
