A drift boat resting on the Bow River near Calgary with the far bank and a bridge in the distance

Fishing Reportgood

Bow River Fishing Report

Week of July 24, 2026

By Dan King · Lead Guide, King Trout Outfitters

Bow River fly fishing conditions in Calgary on July 24, 2026 — clean green summer water running through downtown Calgary past the skyline and Centre Street Bridge, with some wildfire smoke haze in the sky, prime guided Bow River trout water from King Trout Outfitters — The Bow River through downtown Calgary on July 24, 2026 — clean, low summer water dropping to 181 cms, the clearest it's run since the June flood. There's a bit of wildfire smoke haze in the sky, but the water's in prime shape for guided Bow River fly fishing. (Timestamp shown is from the camera.) Source: Calgary Live Camera (DELTATECH) on YouTube →

Bow River fishing conditions for the week of July 24, 2026 are good. Flow is 181 cubic meters per second and falling. Water temperature is 18°C. No angling restrictions are in effect. Active hatches include Terrestrials (Hoppers/Ants/Beetles), Caddis, Trico, Pale Morning Dun (PMD), Yellow Sally.

181

Flow (m³/s) ↓

18°C

Water Temp ↑

good

Overall Conditions

None

Restrictions

iFlow context: The Bow's dropped to 181 cms and it's fallen clean all week, 215 last Thursday down through the 200s and 190s to 181 today. No rain bumps, no spikes, just a steady, healthy summer drop. This is the lowest and clearest the river's run since the June 30 flood near 558, and it's finally settling into that prime late-summer range. Still a touch over the 90 cms baseline, but at 181 it wades better than it has all season, the floats are easy, and it fishes exactly the way you want the Bow to fish this time of year. This is the water we've been chasing since the runoff. Source: Environment Canada

A red FLYPOD drift boat with two anglers on the Bow River near Calgary, ready to launch for a guided fly fishing trip

On the Water

Do You Need a Boat to Fish the Bow River?

You can wade the Bow in spots, but most of the best water sits along banks and seams you can only reach by drift boat. That is why guided trips here run from a boat. It covers miles of productive water in a day and keeps you safer when flows are up, like the 181 cms running this week.

What Are Conditions Like on the Bow River This Week?

“

Dan King

Lead guide at King Trout Outfitters · 15+ years on the Bow River

The river's finally where I want it. We're down to 181 cms and it fell clean all week, no rain, no spikes, just a steady summer drop. This is the lowest and clearest the Bow's been since the flood and it's fishing like it. I'm calling it good and it's the best good we've had all season. This is hopper season, dead center. Tie on a big foam bug and throw it tight to the grassy banks, best on a warm windy afternoon, and wait for that bank-eat. It's the most fun you'll have on this river all year. Evening caddis is still the best bite going, thick in the last two hours of light, and there's PMDs midday and Tricos on the calm mornings for the small-fly crowd. I'm running hopper-dropper most of the day and only nymphing deep in the heavy runs. Here's the one to watch. Water temp's up around 18 and climbing with this heat. No closure on the Bow as I write this, but late July into August is prime time for heat restrictions, so check My Wild Alberta the morning you head out and fish early on the hot days. We release every fish, so let's fish them right. July's about done. August is open and it's setting up as the best stretch of the year. Let's get you on the water.

Close-up of a wild brown trout held gently in hand showing distinctive spotted markings

What They're Eating

What Flies Are Working on the Bow River Right Now?

Right now the trout are keyed on Terrestrials (Hoppers/Ants/Beetles), Caddis, Trico, Pale Morning Dun (PMD), Yellow Sally. That is why our guides are fishing patterns like Foam Hopper, Chubby Chernobyl, Elk Hair Caddis this week. Match what is hatching, get a clean drag-free drift, and you will move fish. The full fly chart for this week is right below.

What Hatches Are Active on the Bow River?

Insect	Hook Size	Activity
Terrestrials (Hoppers/Ants/Beetles)	#8-16	heavy
Caddis	#14-18	heavy
Trico	#20-24	moderate
Pale Morning Dun (PMD)	#16-18	moderate
Yellow Sally	#14-16	light

See the full month-by-month Bow River Hatch Chart →

What Flies Are Working This Week?

Close-up of a hand selecting a fly from a well-stocked fly box

Foam Hopper

#8-12dry

Chubby Chernobyl

#8-10dry

Elk Hair Caddis

#14-16dry

Pheasant Tail

#14-16nymph

PMD Nymph

#16-18nymph

Olive Woolly Bugger

#4-6streamer

Pro Tip

No restrictions this week. Fish from dawn to dusk. The best window is mid-morning through late afternoon when the hatches are active and the water has warmed a few degrees.

Where Should You Fish the Bow River This Week?

Upper Bow

Above Bearspaw Dam

Above Bearspaw is the best it's been all year. The Ghost keeps this reach cold and gin-clear, and now that the whole river's down at 181 the wading up here is as good as it gets. Hopper-dropper all day. Put a foam hopper or a Chubby up top with a Pheasant Tail or a PMD nymph a foot or two down, and work it tight to the inside seams and the grass. The fish are looking up hard right now. PMDs come off midday and the Tricos are on the calm mornings, so get up here early. That morning spinner fall on light tippet with a #20 is the finest fishing on the river this week. Long leaders, good drifts, and don't line them in this clear water.

City Section

Bearspaw to Carseland

The city stretch is in peak summer form. The water's dropped in and cleared up, the fish are locked into the seams and the bucket water, and the dry game is wide open. This is prime hopper time. Throw a big foam bug tight to the grassy banks, best on a warm afternoon with a little wind knocking terrestrials onto the water, and hang on for that bank-eat. That's how the good July browns come. Dropper a Pheasant Tail off the back if they want convincing. Evenings are still the headline, though. The caddis come off thick in the last two hours of light and the soft water from Carburn down through Policeman's Flats has noses up. If it's a hot one, fish the morning and the evening and take the middle of the day off.

Lower Bow

South of Calgary

Below town toward McKinnon Flats and Carseland is dialed right in. Full visibility, low settled water, and the big browns that rode out the June high are eating out in the open now. Hopper-dropper tight to the banks is the ticket down here, and I'm swinging an Olive Woolly Bugger early and late for the bigger fish sitting in the deeper runs. The evening caddis is heavy through the lower reaches. One caution: the lower river runs warmer than the city, and with water temps up around 18 now, fish it early and rest the fish through the heat of the afternoon.