Last Day on the Eastern Slopes, ... Happy Halloween!

It is hard to believe that our eastern slopes fly fishing is now closed for the season. The last day of October, aka Halloween, is the final day we can fly fish in these areas on many rivers.

Well Karen, Colin and I headed out for one last chance to fly fish for cutthroat trout. Yes, we love fly fishing for cutts. It was cold when we arrived, -6C. We bundled up and headed to a few runs. Surprisingly enough, the cutthroat were quite active and willing! Well it was the usual nymphing game. We caught lots and we called it a day once our hands became numb and the wind chill was well below zero. It was also Halloween so we wanted to be home in plenty of time to greet the trick or treaters who will be coming to our doors.

The good news is that we still have rivers and lakes that are still open and ice free at the moment! Bundle up and get out there! Our long Alberta winter is about to set in!

Just Me and My Dad!

I was fly fishing a few weeks ago just below the spillway on the Red Deer River and saw Tim Hepworth and his daughter, Wren, having a great time on the far bank. I stopped to watch the incredible bonding that was happening between dad and his beautiful daughter. It made me smile. I know Tim and Wren are fixtures along the river having a great time. When the time comes, I am sure that Tim will need a few more fly rods for Wren!

Well played Tim. I absolutely love the images!

Garnet's Montana Rainbow

What a fabulous picture of Garnett Clews! The image was captured by Tim Hepworth while fly fishing in Montana. I believe Garnett was using a trout spey rod. I just love the expression on Garnett's face! Priceless!

Only Two Days Left to Fly Fish Along the Eastern Slopes

Oh man, there are only two days left until November 1st. Our Eastern Slopes rivers will then be closed until June 15th of 2019. That is a long time. Well today my neighbour and friend, Colin Allison, and I headed to the west country to tangle with our beautiful West Slope Cutthroat Trout! It was another cold start to the day but we had our layers of clothes and we were comfortable. We bumped along the gravel to a spot I have not fly fished for almost 3 years. We saw 4 moose on the way out and another 7 moose on the loose over the rest of the day. That is a new record for me by far!

Well the thermometer rose to 7 celsius. We had a very comfortable day wandering along a river that was in perfect shape. We saw no other fisherman on the water other than two others who were gearing up earlier in the day on different sections.

Well it was again a nymphing game and the cutthroat were quite active. We tied on our usual wiggle worm and a size 16 flashback. Again the cutts were quite cooperative. We covered a lot of water and encountered a lot of beautifully coloured and for the most part cooperative west slope cutthroat!

I love fly fishing for cutthroat! That season is almost over here in Alberta. We hope to get out one more time.

Last Saturday of the Season on the Eastern Slopes

Our Eastern Slopes rivers will close for the season on the last day of October! Reid, Kate, Karen and I headed to the foothills for one more crack at the cutthroat fishing! It was a cold start to the day but after a couple of hours in the truck we hiked to a few runs that we try to visit late in the season. It is a nymphing game this late in the season although Reid did catch a cutthroat on a dry fly later in the afternoon!

The cutthroat were quite aggressive and hungry considering that the water temperature was frigid! There were a few midges on the water and every once in a while there was a rise. Small size 16 nymphs and a wiggle worm definitely got the attention of the cutts.

It was a very enjoyable day. We caught more cutthroat than we expected. We just wanted to spend the day wandering and casting. It was a bonus that the cutthroat wanted to take our offerings. 

The best part of the day was the great company.