One of my good friends Matt Zlotkowski just sent me this jaw-dropping brown trout photo and the following message for blog readers.
“Josh Nugent, owner/operator of Out Fly Fishing Outfitters, is one of the hardest working guides that I have had the pleasure to fish with and a great guy to boot. We spent several days in and around Calgary on the Bow River with Josh and experienced first-hand why the Bow is regarded as a tremendous wild trout fishery that is home to both browns and bows in significant numbers. Give Josh a call if you’re planning a trip to Calgary – he’ll make you a believer in the Bow.”
Matt says it’s a big streamer show when he was there. Definitely considering my own trip to Calgary now.
-MS
Matt, and everyone,
GO! The drive up through Wild Rose Country is incredible. Calgary is a beautiful city out on the Alberta plain. Jasper, Banff , and Lake Louise are a half day away.
Now, the Bow. Big ass wild and nasty browns and rainbows, right through Calgary. The day my wife and I went, we got numerous big browns (by Oregon) standards, in bright July sun. But the rainbows, on the top! Tons of hook ups on dries, but all charged the boat and jumped. Way more rainbows hooked than released voluntarily.
By memory, the Calgary Stampede is in the first 2 weeks of July. It is one of the Big 4 in rodeos, along with Pendleton, Cheyenne, and the NFR in Las Vegas. That is a great time to go, as the city is alive.