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Fishpond Thunderhead ECO Overview

Fishpond’s Thunderhead fishing bags and accessories have long been a shop favourite since their debut in 2016. From the duffle packs to the lumbar bags, Thunderhead gear is reliable in any kind of weather. We’ve sold hundreds of Thunderhead packs and have yet to see one come back for warranty. The zippers (which are often the first thing to break on a bag), ...
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By Benjamin Day
  2022-01-22 at 17:09 pm

Fishing Report - October 4th, 2021

Fishing on the Bow has been quite productive over the past month. Excellent weather and consistent water temps have made spending time on the water enjoyable for us and the fish. As of late flows have been lower, opening opportunities for bank anglers to fish water inaccessible during higher flows. With the sun lower in the sky and cooler overnight temps, it will take a ...
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By Benjamin Day
  2021-10-04 at 20:11 pm

Streamer Fishing Considerations

Streamer fishing is an effective way to fish the river all year, and consistent success can be found in the spring, summer, and fall months. That said, it is crucial to learn to adapt tactics to be successful in both high and low water conditions. There are a couple key considerations for streamer fishing on the Bow. ...
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By Jacob
  2021-09-08 at 20:24 pm

Fishing Report - August 20th, 2021

After a period of extreme heat, the Bow is finally getting the reprieve it needs. Recent rain and lower air temperatures are returning things to where they should be this time of year. Trico’s and hopper-dropper rigs have been bringing the most fish to hand. Streamers have been hit or miss but are certainly worth a shot on overcast days or after a good rain. ...
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By Benjamin Day
  2021-08-20 at 19:48 pm

Show Stopper Hoppers

The hopper ‘hatch’ in late July/August is an occurrence many look forward to after the dust has settled from the Stonefly happenings of early-mid July. As rain decreases through the summer, grass across the province begins to dry up. This means that grasshoppers must flock to areas with lush grass to continue feeding. Conveniently, this grass is primarily ...
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By Benjamin Day
  2021-08-18 at 18:50 pm

Fly Box Considerations

Flies are expensive. If you’ve ever tied a fly (or tried to), it becomes apparent why the prices can get up there. Filling a box can easily cost $250. Nonetheless, the box that houses all these flies is often overlooked. While some anglers have a handful of different fly boxes, most have a few go-to’s that are their daily drivers. Making sure these boxes ...
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By Benjamin Day
  2021-07-30 at 17:33 pm

Fishing Report - July 16th, 2021

Flow rates on the Bow have been consistent over the past week, and some great fishing has coincided. Anglers are finding steady success fishing stoneflies, droppers, and streamers throughout the day. Fish have been feeding actively on the surface, creating some great dry fly opportunities. Dry stones will work throughout the day, particularly in the early mornings. ...
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By Jacob
  2021-07-16 at 21:00 pm

Stone Cold Crazy

The annual Stonefly hatch in early July is one of the most exciting times of the year for both anglers and fish alike. During this time trout can be easy to fool, providing a great chance to experience success on dry flies. Choosing the right flies, leaders, location, and time of day are all critical pieces to having a great experience on the water during this exciting ...
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By Benjamin Day
  2021-07-09 at 20:25 pm

Fishing Report - June 24th, 2021

Fishing on the Bow has been decent despite the varying water conditions. Hot weather followed by rain has the river up slightly, but it is on the downturn and currently flowing around ~230 m3 /s. More hot weather is forecasted for the foreseeable future, which could lead to some evening caddis activity. Streamer fishing and nymphing during the day time has been the most ...
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By Jacob
  2021-06-24 at 18:26 pm

Fishing Report - May 21st, 2021

Flows on the Bow have been increasing over the past week and despite the higher water, conditions are still quite good (until you get below the Highwood!). We are currently sitting at ~160 m3/s in town and as such the streamer fishing has picked up and nymph fishing is always consistent. Caddis have been hatching for a while now and there are still some blue-winged ...
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By Jacob
  2021-05-20 at 21:48 pm

Fishing Report - April 17th, 2021

While we are probably going to get some more snow, the past week or two has been a welcomed pleasure for weather. The water is still low and clear, but it will not be long until warmer temps induce runoff. But if you’re like us even bad weather days are tolerable if you can get out on the river. No bad weather, just bad gear! ...
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By Ben
  2021-04-17 at 22:40 pm

Fishing Report - March 19th, 2021

After being stuck inside due to very cold weather, many anglers are finally getting back out on the water. Recent mild temperatures have made for more open water and (somewhat) more active fish. While the weather has improved, most fish will still be in their wintering holes, colder water temps mean the fish will have slower metabolisms ...
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By Benjamin Day
  2021-03-19 at 17:23 pm

What to Look for When Purchasing Tying Tools

Having a good set of tools is fundamental to the art of tying flies. Not only do the tools determine the quality of your flies, but also your enjoyment of the process. Dull scissors that mash materials or a bobbin that frays your thread can become both frustrating and discouraging. While it is possible to spend inordinate amounts of money on tools, with a basic ...
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By Benjamin Day
  2020-12-21 at 20:24 pm

Fishing Report - January 11, 2020

Happy new year! As we enter the new year and set intentions to fish more than ever in 2020, winter continues to punish us viciously, forcing us to stick to the vise most days, not the mighty Bow. Although the frigid temperatures can sometimes make fishing hardly enjoyable, the cold can ...
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By Matt
  2020-01-11 at 19:28 pm

Fishing Report - September 21, 2019

Although we are now well into the month of September, most of us are still refusing to concede the fact that our summer is coming to a close. There are still a couple solid months of regular fishing left before the number of fishable days decreases and we have no choice but to don our waders and warmest pair of long johns for a chance at a fish. For trout in Alberta, ...
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By
  2019-09-21 at 21:04 pm

Fishing Report - April 17th 2019

Spring has finally sprung! Warmer temperatures should hopefully mean more bugs and more aggressive trout. We want to remind you to renew your fishing license as they expired on March 31st. Please remember that your license isn't valid unless it is signed. The new fishing regulations are online and we've been told now that the election is over the hard ...
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By Jeff
  2019-04-18 at 18:40 pm

Stay Warm This Winter

It's that time of year again. Fair-weather fishermen have already set their gear aside. Some anglers are now shifting their gaze longingly upon the mountains that gather blankets of fresh snow, feeling the call to lay down some carefully planned, yet aggressive slashes on a blank white canvas. However, if you are reading this, ...
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By BRT Shop
  2018-09-15 at 18:18 pm

Fishing Report - September 8, 2018

Although we are now well into the month of September, most of us are still refusing to concede the fact that our summer is coming to a close. There are still a couple solid months of regular fishing left before the number of fishable days decreases and we have no choice but to don our waders and warmest pair of long johns for a chance at a fish. For trout in Alberta, ...
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By BRT Shop
  2018-09-08 at 17:51 pm

Fishing Report - April 17, 2019

Spring has finally sprung! Warmer temperatures should hopefully mean more bugs and more aggressive trout. We want to remind you to renew your fishing license as they expired on March 31st. Please remember that your license isn't valid unless it is signed. The new fishing regulations are online and we've been told now that the election is over the hard ...
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By BRT Shop
  2018-04-30 at 01:28 am

Review: Winston Microspey Line-up

When Winston introduced their new series of two-handed rods, aptly named the BIII TH MS (Micro Spey), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one (or three!). Being a steelhead fanatic who happens to live east of the Rocky Mountains, I’m limited to a few weeks of steelhead fishing per year. Fortunately, I live a stone’s throw from the world-famous Bow ...
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By Elliott Barnes
  2018-04-10 at 20:08 pm

Fishing Report - April 4th 2018

We have had a long cold winter here in Calgary and I am confident in speaking for all Albertans and saying that the snow and cold weather has overstayed its welcome. Even with being said, cheers to the first fishing report of the season. ...
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By BRT Shop
  2018-04-04 at 18:57 pm

Southern Alberta Hatch Charts

Below are hatch charts for the Red Deer, Bow, and Old Man river. These charts are a rough guideline for what insect hatches to expect in these three river systems, but as we know, nothing is certain when it comes to a day on the river. Hopefully this general guideline will be able to provide you with the information to properly prepare your fly arsenal for your trip. We ...
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By BRT
  2018-04-02 at 19:39 pm

Fish Handling Best Practices

Proper fish handling is essential to protecting our province's currently bountiful resource. Using proper catch-and-release techniques will help to ensure that the future of fishing in Alberta is a bright one. Before I get all purist on you, I would like to mention that it is not at all unethical to keep fish that are in accordance with a particular ...
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By Matt Hodgson
  2018-04-02 at 17:50 pm

Choosing The Right Running Line

Two-handed fishing has become drastically more popular over the last few years, particularly with the advent of 'trout spey,' or the use of light two-handers when fishing for trout. At Troutfitters, we're fully on-board with trout spey fishing because the casting is dang fun and there aren't many things that are more exciting than hooking into a fish on ...
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By
  2018-01-26 at 16:41 pm

Tying Flies With UV Cure Resins

UV cure resins are easy to use, make flies more durable, add a unique look to standard patterns and can even be used to create completely unique patterns. Here is a quick look at the variety of the uses and advantages UV resins have in fly tying. ...
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By
  2017-12-19 at 20:58 pm

Winter Fishing Layering Tips

Layering for winter fly fishing can be a bit different than layering for other winter activities such as skiing, snow shoeing and even ice fishing. The biggest difference is that the keen winter angler is still wading into the water to fish, even on cold days. This means we aren’t only losing heat from being in cold air (convection), we are also losing heat ...
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By Mark
  2017-09-07 at 20:49 pm

Trout Food - Skwala Stonefly

When it comes to hatches, stoneflies are arguably one of the most exciting there is. Few can argue that big flies on the surface aren’t one heck of a lot of fun and beyond mice; stoneflies are the epitome of this when we’re talking about trout. In Southern Alberta, we certainly dream of the early summer golden stonefly hatches, but what of their relatively ...
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By Mark
  2017-03-21 at 18:46 pm

Review: B-IIIX 9 ft 6wt

In fall of 2016 I set out to find myself the perfect “do it all” trout rod. More specifically, I was searching for a rod to cover all of my medium/large sized river applications, as well as some cutthroat and stillwater stuff. I demanded a rod with enough finesse to softly present a sz. 18 dry, and enough power to launch an indicator rig or sink tip 60+ ...
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By Aiden
  2016-11-24 at 21:02 pm

Everything Fly Lines

So, your fly line is starting to get a bit beat up, it wont shoot through your guides, its covered in cracks and there may be a solid chunk of coating missing part way through your running line. What’s next? Replacing the line seems pretty steep since you’re looking at $60 to $110 dollars depending on the line. But wait, here’s a blog from BRT ...
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By Mark
  2016-10-08 at 21:14 pm

5 Essential Items That Make Great Stocking Stuffers for any Fly Fisher

We have put this short list together to help the non fisher make a more educated decision as to what are good inexpensive gifts for the fly fishing fanatic in there life. These ideas fit for the beginner fly fisherman to the grizzled vet. You won’t go wrong here and if they do want to exchange a gift we can easily accommodate. Remember fisherman that would be ...
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By BRT Shop
  2016-10-06 at 21:17 pm

Gear Review: R.L. Winston BIII LS 8' 3 wt

At the start of the 2015 season I was looking for a new light line weight rod as a tool to use in smaller headwaters and spring creeks. I love spending time on mountain streams and clear spring creeks throughout western Alberta and Eastern BC and I wanted the ultimate tool to softly present small dries in tight places. The ...
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By BRT Shop
  2016-06-27 at 21:44 pm

High Country Trout

Opening day of the high country streams. It’s that magical number 16, which seems to trump the number 21 in terms of signifying that it really is summer. It means you’re about to embark upon three months full of backcountry camping, smores and smokies over the fire and most importantly, west slope cutthroat on dry flies. There are a few rules of ...
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By John
  2016-06-14 at 21:47 pm

Caddis: Properly Match the Hatch

In this blog I’ll talk about dry fly fishing imitating caddis from May through to October, and share what insight I have on fishing them to rising trout. Why focus on caddis? Because if there's one aquatic insect order that a trout is liable to be looking for on any given month through spring, summer and fall, we'd guess that insect would be a caddis. Not ...
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By BRT Shop
  2016-05-18 at 21:49 pm

Guide to Winter Fly Fishing in Southern Alberta

Winter fishing is a wonderful way to break the ice of the long winter freeze, stretch out the legs, and get that casting arm going again. Despite the chilly temps, winter fishing is a beautiful time to be on the water, and the low flows can really aid the angler to gain a better understanding and perspective of the holding water that exists on the rivers you may fish. ...
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By Mark and John
  2016-02-02 at 21:58 pm

Adventures with Hooké

In early November, John and I had the amazing opportunity to close up the shop and head out to Eastern British Columbia for some fishing with the guys from Hooke. Hooke is comprised of a group of fly fishers who, like us, are completely sick for fishing. Their goal is to share the excitement of fly fishing with the world through visual media and there's no doubt ...
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By BRT Shop
  2016-02-01 at 22:05 pm

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