Intro | Geography | Seasons | Hatch Chart | Map

Seasons, Hatches, Flies & Techniques

A portion of the Crowsnest River remains open to fishing all year, while other sections have seasonal closures. The stretch from Crowsnest Lake downstream to the East Hillcrest Bridge, roughly half its length, is open June 16 to October 31. The river downstream of the East Hillcrest Bridge, with the exception of about a mile of water between Lundbreck Falls and Highway 3, to the reservoir is open throughout the year. Slot-size limits and other restrictions apply to this section. Anglers should to consult the fishing regulations prior to heading out.

Warm west winds called Chinooks can create warm, sunny days with good nymph fishing. Some sections of the river stay ice-free and fishable even in colder weather.

Wind is common in this part of the province, and your choice of line weight will likely be determined by how much it's blowing at the time. Four to six-weight fly rods will cover most situations. Floating lines are used the majority of the time, but sinking-tip lines are useful when fishing streamers. Use 7-1/2 to 9-foot leaders, with appropriate tippet material to match your hook size. Most anglers wear chest-high waders, but by mid-summer it's possible to wade the river in hip boots and stay a little cooler. Make sure your boots have felt-soles, as the river's rocks are slippery.

Spring runoff generally occurs mid- to late May and lasts for several weeks. The severity of the runoff depends on the snow pack in the mountains and the amount of rain the area receives this time of year. Because its main source is a lake, and it doesn't have any major tributaries, the Crowsnest is one of the first streams in southwest Alberta to become fishable each spring. Pre-runoff fishing can be quite productive, and as long as the weather cooperates you can expect to do well. Hatches of midges, Blue-winged Olives, and March Browns can provide great early-season dry-fly fishing. Effective patterns include the Griffith's Gnat, CDC Midge Adult, Blue-winged Olive Thorax, and Parachute Adams. Nymph and emerger imitations, such as the Brassie, Mountain Midge, and Foam Midge Emerger, also produce.

Pteronarcys californica (salmonflies) are one of the most exciting hatches of the season. Although in some years spring snowmelt ruins the dry-fly fishing, stonefly nymph imitations such as the Kauffman Stone and Brooks Stone (shown above left and right with a natural on the far left) produce well from mid May through June.

One of the most anticipated insect hatches of the season is Pteronarcys californica or salmonflies. These large stoneflies generally emerge on the river in mid- to late May through early June. Their emergence frequently coincides with runoff, meaning water clarity can be an issue. If visibility is poor, dry-fly fishing is futile. However, if the water is reasonably clear, say a couple of feet or more, dry flies such as Stimulators, Terranastys, and Improved Sofa Pillows catch fish. Even when dry-fly conditions are ideal, nymphs fished along the stream bottom usually outproduce drys. Fish a nymph such as a Brook's Montana, Kaufmann Stone, or Crowsnest Stone as close to the stream bottom as possible, using split-shot if necessary, and a strike indicator to detect hits.

By mid- to late June, runoff begins to subside and water conditions return to normal. As water clarity improves, dry-fly fishing becomes more consistent. A variety of insects, including golden stones, and Yellow and Lime Sallys, caddisflies, Pale Morning Duns, Quill Gordons, and Green Drake mayflies appear when snowmelt begins to subside and the water warms a little. If you are fishing this time of year, bring Turck Tarantulas, Lime Trudes, Elk-hair Caddis, PMD Comparaduns, and Rusty Spinners as well as an assortment of nymphs such as Alberta Stones, Copper Johns, Pheasant-tails, Hare's Ears, and Prince nymphs.

Since Alberta began its no-kill policy more than a decade ago, bull trout (above) are staging a comeback in many places. Bull trout are caught occasionally on the Crowsnest River below the falls by using large streamer patterns and fishing late at night or early in the morning.

Water levels drop through the summer and by mid- to late August, low, clear water makes larger trout extremely wary and selective. The fishing becomes more technical, and you'll have to be careful and quiet when approaching feeding trout. Long leaders, light tippets, and delicate presentations are required to prevent spooking fish. Small nymphs fished deep work well during the day, and paying close attention to riseforms in the evenings increases your chances with larger trout on dry flies. Despite the low clear water, smaller trout continue to feed with reckless abandon and are easily caught.

As summer transforms into autumn, terrestrial insects such as beetles, crickets, ants, and grasshoppers become increasingly important to Crowsnest trout. Be mindful of this, particularly on windy days when these insects are more prone to being blown onto the water. Most times, a Dave's Hopper, Club Sandwich, Foam Ant, or Foam Beetle will entice trout to the surface. Fish a small bead-head nymph as a dropper beneath a hopper or attractor pattern for extra insurance. Hopper/dropper is a great technique to use on the Crowsnest when fishing riffles, or runs from 3 to 4 feet deep.

Streamer fishing should not be overlooked, either. Clouser Minnows, Zonkers, Matukas, Cone-head Buggers, and other similar patterns, stripped through deep runs and pools, often induce strikes by the river's largest trout.

After Labor Day, angler traffic diminishes and it's not unusual to find yourself alone on the river. The fishing in autumn remains productive as long as the weather holds. Caddisflies, midges, and the return of Blue-winged Olives provide ample late-season dry-fly fishing opportunities. Hatches of olives are heaviest during cool, drizzly days--the type of weather that keeps many anglers indoors at this time of year. The best fishing frequently occurs mid-afternoon, once water temperatures warm up enough to encourage insect activity.

By late October, trees along the river are bare of leaves and nearby mountain peaks are white with snow. Winter is just around the corner. It's not long before freezing rain, snow, and river ice forces most anglers to abandon the river until spring. For others, the fishing season on the Crowsnest is not over, and winter merely marks the beginning of a new season. The Crowsnest Pass is famous for its Chinooks. These warm, westerly winds blow in unannounced from the Pacific Coast, bringing spring-like weather to southern Alberta in the dead of winter. Sometimes, air temperatures climb from below freezing to 50 degrees F. or higher in a matter of hours. Chinooks can last a few hours to a few days, and occasionally, a week or more. To take full advantage of any mid-winter Chinook, it helps to live close-by or within short driving distance to the river.

Several miles of water downstream of the East Hillcrest Bridge remain ice-free during the winter months, due to springs that enter the river. If a Chinook lingers for any length of time, more sections will thaw and open up. Nymph fishing is the most productive method at this time. Small bead-head Prince Nymphs, Pheasant-tails, Hare's Ears, Lightning Bugs, and Brassies take trout throughout the winter.

The Crowsnest is a trout stream for all seasons, and it's an ideal place for anglers of all abilities, whether novice or experienced. It's an easy stream to read and trout hold in all the classic lies. During summer, the river becomes relatively busy at times, but if you're prepared to walk from some of the access points, you can usually get away from the majority of people. There's plenty of fish in the river and you really don't need to cover miles of water in a day to have an enjoyable experience.

Vic Bergman owns The Crowsnest Angler fly shop in Bellevue, Alberta. He also guides on the nearby Oldman and Castle rivers in Alberta and the Elk River in British Columbia.

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