Rainbow Trout — Calgary
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.
Brown Trout — Calgary
Selective, wary, and capable of trophy size in the Bow River. Browns hold tight to structure and reward precise presentations.
Where to Catch: Bow River’s cutbanks, deep runs, side channels, and woody structure below Calgary.
Best Time to Fish: All year where open; best in fall (pre-spawn aggression) and spring (pre-runoff).
| Season | Activity |
|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Excellent pre-runoff; streamers/nymphs along banks and ledges. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Good; early/late with hoppers/ants; deeper nymphing mid-day. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Outstanding; large streamers; respect spawning fish/closures. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Fair; slow presentations in wintering holes. |
Peak Season: Sept–Oct (trophies); Mar–May (quality fish).
Tackle & Tips
Lures: 3–4″ streamers, jerkbaits, spinners near cover.
Bait: Single eggs/worms where legal.
Leaders: 9–10 ft, 6–10 lb fluoro; 3X–4X for flies.
Gear: 5–7 wt fly rods (floating/sink-tip); medium spinning with 8–10 lb line.
Cutthroat Trout — Calgary
Iconic western trout with orange throat slashes. Closer to Calgary in select foothill streams; superb dry-fly target in clear water.
Where to Catch: Small–mid foothill streams west/southwest of the city; clear, cold creeks with gravelly bottoms.
Best Time to Fish: Summer through early fall when flows stabilize and insect activity peaks.
| Season | Activity |
|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Fair to good late spring; small nymphs/leeches in soft seams. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Excellent on dries (caddis, PMD, ants, hoppers); small streamers on cloudy days. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Good; fish feed up before winter; terrestrials/attractor dries early fall. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Limited; many small streams ice over or close—check regs. |
Peak Season: Late June–August in clear, stable flows.
Tackle & Tips
Lures: Ultralight spinners/micro spoons; subtle presentations.
Bait: Often artificial-only—verify rules.
Leaders: 9–12 ft, 5X–6X tippet.
Gear: 3–4 wt fly rods; ultralight spinning, 2–6 lb line.
Brook Trout — Calgary Area
Colorful char common in cooler tributaries, beaver ponds, and select stocked waters near Calgary. Aggressive and great on light tackle.
Where to Catch: Small shaded creeks, spring-fed ponds, alpine/foothill lakes with steady inflow/outflow.
Best Time to Fish: Late spring through early fall; all day in cool, shaded water.
| Season | Activity |
|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Good late spring; small nymphs, leeches, attractor dries. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Excellent; eager dry-fly takes (caddis, ants, hoppers); micro spinners. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Very good pre-spawn; bright colors; small streamers. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Limited; rare open-water windows or stocked pond ice fishing. |
Peak Season: June–September in cool, shaded tributaries.
Tackle & Tips
Lures: Tiny spinners (#0–#1), micro spoons.
Bait: Worms/single eggs where legal.
Leaders: 9–10 ft, 5X–6X.
Gear: 2–4 wt fly or ultralight spinning (2–6 lb).
Bull Trout — Calgary Area
Native char and apex predator in connected river systems. Conservation-minded handling a must; know local regs and closures.
Where to Catch: Larger rivers and tributary confluences west/south of Calgary; deep green pools, cutbanks, and mouths of cold creeks.
Best Time to Fish: Late spring–early fall with stable flows; avoid spawning fish/closed areas.
| Season | Activity |
|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Good as temps rise; swing big streamers; overcast days shine. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Excellent first/last light near baitfish concentrations and trib mouths. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Variable; respect closures; post-spawn fish feed heavily where open. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Limited; very slow presentations in deep pools if open. |
Peak Season: Late June–September (stable flows, non-spawning/open waters).
Tackle & Tips
Lures: 3–5″ minnow plugs, #3–#5 spinners, 1/4–1/2 oz spoons.
Bait: Often artificial-only—check regs.
Leaders: 10–15 lb fluoro.
Gear: 6–8 wt fly rods with sink-tips; medium spinning with 15–20 lb braid + fluoro leader.
Mountain Whitefish — Calgary
Abundant native salmonid sharing habitat with trout. Subtle takes but strong fighters; great for numbers and winter action.
Where to Catch: Bow River pools and runs below riffles; deeper holes in winter; cool lakes with gravel bottoms.
Best Time to Fish: Year-round in open water; concentrations increase in late fall during spawning activity.
| Season | Activity |
|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Good with nymphs/small jigs in moderate current. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Very good early/late; drift scuds, midges, small soft plastics. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Excellent pre-spawn; egg patterns and nymphs in riffles/tailouts. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Fair under safe ice or in open tailwater; tiny jigs/flies near bottom. |
Peak Season: Sept–Nov (pre-spawn/spawn concentrations).
Tackle & Tips
Lures: Small spoons, micro-jigs, beadhead nymphs.
Bait: Maggots, worms, single eggs (where legal).
Leaders: 7–9 ft, 4–6 lb mono or 4X–5X tippet.
Gear: 3–5 wt fly rods or light spinning with sensitive tips.
Northern Pike — Calgary Area
Hard-striking ambush predator available in nearby reservoirs and slower backwaters. Great option when you want a change from trout.
Where to Catch: Glenmore Reservoir, Chestermere Lake, Ghost Lake, and slower reaches downstream; weed beds, bays, and points.
Best Time to Fish: Ice-off through early summer, and again in fall as water cools.
| Season | Activity |
|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Excellent post-spawn in shallow bays; spoons, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Good early/late; go deeper or troll in mid-day heat. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Very good; big swimbaits/spoons as fish feed up. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Fair to good on weed edges with large deadbait tip-ups. |
Peak Season: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct.
Tackle & Tips
Lures: 4–6″ spoons, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, swimbaits.
Bait: Large deadbait/live bait where legal.
Leaders: 12–18″ steel or 40–60 lb fluoro.
Gear: Med-heavy/heavy rods; 30–50 lb braid or 15–20 lb mono.
Walleye — Calgary Area
Popular gamefish in prairie reservoirs near Calgary; excels in low light and cooler water. Not common in the Bow through the city.
Where to Catch: Pine Coulee, McGregor, Travers, and other nearby impoundments; points, rocky shoals, mid-lake humps, inlet/outlet current edges.
Best Time to Fish: Spring and fall; summer during dawn/dusk or when trolling deeper structure.
| Season | Activity |
|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Excellent post-spawn near rocks/inflows; jigs with minnows or plastics. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Good at dawn/dusk/cloudy days; troll crankbaits or spinner rigs deeper. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Very good; fish stack on breaks; jigs, spoons, live bait rigs excel. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Good ice bite on points/saddles with spoons or live minnows. |
Peak Season: May–June and Sept–Oct.
Tackle & Tips
Lures: 1/8–3/8 oz jigs (plastics/minnows), crankbaits for trolling.
Bait: Minnows, leeches, crawlers (check bait regs).
Leaders: 8–12 lb fluoro; slip-bobber rigs for precision.
Gear: Medium spinning, 6–10 lb mono or braid + fluoro leader; slow, subtle presentations.
