Evenings on the Crowsnest

The highlights of our week in Alberta were evenings on the Crowsnest. There was a reliable baetis hatch - 18s and 20s, mixed with some pmds, a few bigger mayflies (flavs?), and some spinners - every evening. The trout were selective to size. I tried a variety of patterns and did about as well with each. A #20 fly with an olive body and a tuft of CDC was as good a pattern as any, every evening except my last on the river (when the trout were clearly selective to #16 or #14 rusty spinners).

Although there were exceptions, the bigger trout were typically bank feeders, and required accurate casts tight to the brush on shore. When the presentation was right, we had a good chance at a take. These rainbows ranged from 15 to 18 inches. We did very well on the TU stretch upstream from the Castle road. On my first and last night on the stream, I fished above and below the East Hillcrest access, and had good evenings there as well, with lots of smaller trout upstream of the access. There I also saw tracks of a big cat - I don't know what kind.

During the day, fishing was slow on the river, with the larger trout seeking cover in the hot sun. This is the time to find a cutthroat stream and chuck some attractors.