July Through October

Where has the summer gone?! The past few months have just flown by and now the leaves have turned and have fallen off the trees, Autumn  has most certainly arrived.

It was a few weeks after the flood that Zach and I decided to check out a couple of mountain streams. After taking a good look around, it was clear a lot had changed We decided to cast some dries, and had no trouble finding cutties that were willing to sip a hopper. After landing a few fish, we headed downstream to throw some streamers in search of bulls. It wasn't long until we had hooked into multiple fish! Zach hooked into a huge bully that had us crossing a tricky section of the river (we nearly fell in), and down through multiple pools to finally land this awesome bull.  Not too long after, I hooked and landed a nice fish myself to end a great day.

Zach with sweet Bull

Photo by : Zach Southgate

Photo By: Zach Southgate 

Most of the summer I spent walking the banks of the Bow, analysing and learning the new water and structures that fish are now holding in. Fishing the river had its on and off days for everyone, but during the good days the fish could be found by casting hoppers and other dries overhead.

Early September came fast, and I made a trip out to BC to visit family and friends. My mom (Myrna) and I packed up the SUV and headed west. We stopped for the night at my family's property that is located along the Thompson River. As soon as we parked, I jumped out, grabbed my rod and got  in a hour of fishing for some rainbows before dark. The next morning I woke up early to get in a few more hours of fishing before we continued our way West. While I was on the coast, a good friend of mine; James invited me out for a day of Sturgeon fishing on the Fraser River. I met up with James and Ryan, and we spent the day on the water. We had been on the edge of a big storm that was blowing in , but luckily for us it stayed away for most of the day.  As James, Ryan and I were chatting on the deck, one of the rods started to bend over and they both told me to grab it and set the hook. I looked over, and a second rod hooked into a sturgeon as well. Both Ryan and I were hooked up for a double header. A little while later I landed my first sturgeon. With a grin on my face from ear to ear we celebrated and threw around a few hi-fives. The next few days I spent on Vancouver Island visiting with  friends and family, and spending a bit of time on the beach. By the end of the week I was back on the mainland and met up with James again for a day of pink salmon fishing before making my way back to Calgary.

View from the property 

James Cunningham

My first Sturgeon!! 

Ryan Pohl

Pink Salmon

James casting to some Pinks

 The day I got back my good friend Nick (aka Flatlander) had come all the way from the flat province of Manitoba, and arrived in Calgary to visit some awesome people here in Alberta.  Nick, Adrienne and I headed out to the mountain streams to look for bulls, but didn't find much more than a few rainbows and brook trout that day. We spent most of the time laughing at one another and sharing good conversation before we headed home. After a great few days Nick sadly had to make his way back East .

Photo By: Nick Laferriere

Adrienne, Nick and me doing what we do best.. goofing around!

On a gorgeous mid September day Jordan and I decided to pump up the Watermaster and go for a nice float down the Bow in search of some trout. We were able to pull off into many different areas, and cast to a few sections of river that were holding fish. They day finished up with a few nice rainbows but even better laughs.

Photo Taken By: Jordan Besenski

Photo Taken By: Jordan Besenski

Near the end of September Adrienne and I decide to pack up the boats and head West to try some lake fishing for the day. After a minor detour which consisted of driving 30km+ past the lake and up the mountain into the snow, we finally made it there. The weather was not in our favour that day with  70km/hour winds making casting difficult, and our patience wear thin. We decided to pack up and try our luck at another lake in hopes that the wind would be a little more cooperative. The fishing wasn't overly successful, but we both enjoyed the adventure just as much.

Just a little bit Gusty.......
Photo Taken By: Adrienne Comeau 

Photo Taken By: Adrienne Comeau

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Adrienne Casting to Grayling

September was coming close to an end which meant some of the streams and rivers would be closed for the rest of the season. Justin and I took advantage of the last few days to fish these streams, and went out to explore a few new areas that we had yet to fish. By late afternoon we were reminded that it was fall, and that the weather was changing as a bitter cold wind started to sweep in. I was thankful I had brought multiple layers to keep warm, but before long the layers that I had brought were no longer a match for that cold wind. As the sun set behind the mountains, we decided it was best to make our way back to the truck and head home.

October arrived and Justin and I headed South West to one of our favourite mountain rivers. The day started very early and I was packed up and ready to go by 5 in the morning. We had a hot breakfast over the fire before we started fishing. I started the morning off with a dry fly and with success as I landed a few cutties, but by mid afternoon the wind had become so intense, we had no choice but to brave it by chucking heavy streamers with extreme caution for a few more hours. The wind blew to over 100km/h and the parked truck was being pushed forward. At one point Justin got blown off a ledge and left skid marks from his shoes in the gravel, while I had to hold on to the truck to stay on my own two feet. It was at this point that we knew it was best to call it a day.

Early morning breakfast to start the day