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

Fishing Reportfair

Bow River Fishing Report

Week of June 16, 2026

By Dan King · Lead Guide, King Trout Outfitters

Bow River fishing conditions for the week of June 16, 2026 are fair. Flow is 206 cubic meters per second and falling. Water temperature is 10°C. No angling restrictions are in effect. Active hatches include Caddis, Golden Stonefly, Pale Morning Dun (PMD), Yellow Sally (Little Stonefly), Blue Winged Olive (BWO).

206

Flow (m³/s) ↓

10°C

Water Temp ↑

fair

Overall Conditions

None

Restrictions

iFlow context: Dropping off the June 9 runoff peak of 274 cms and clearing a little more every day. Still well above the summer baseline near 90 cms, but it's coming into shape fast. 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 206 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

Quick update from the water. We're past the peak. The Bow topped out around 274 cms last week during runoff and it's been dropping every day since. Sitting at 206 this morning and still falling. That's exactly what you want to see in mid-June. The water still has a bit of color, maybe 2 to 3 feet of visibility, but it's clearing fast. Fish are pushed tight to the banks and into the soft water behind structure. They're not sitting out in the heavy current right now. So get your flies in close. I've been running big stonefly nymphs and San Juan Worms deep through the soft seams, and that's been the bread and butter. Don't sleep on the streamer game either. Olive Woolly Buggers stripped right along the bank are getting eaten. Evenings have a decent caddis hatch if you stick around for it. Honestly, the back half of June is shaping up to be some of the best fishing of the year. As this drops into shape, it's going to be on. If you've been thinking about a trip, now is the time to book.

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 Caddis, Golden Stonefly, Pale Morning Dun (PMD), Yellow Sally (Little Stonefly), Blue Winged Olive (BWO). That is why our guides are fishing patterns like Pat's Rubber Legs (Stonefly Nymph), San Juan Worm, Pheasant Tail 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
Caddis	#14-16	moderate
Golden Stonefly	#6-10	moderate
Pale Morning Dun (PMD)	#16-18	light
Yellow Sally (Little Stonefly)	#14-16	light
Blue Winged Olive (BWO)	#16-18	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

Pat's Rubber Legs (Stonefly Nymph)

#6-8nymph

San Juan Worm

#10nymph

Pheasant Tail

#14-16nymph

PMD Nymph

#16nymph

Elk Hair Caddis

#14-16dry

Woolly Bugger (olive)

#4-8streamer

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

The upper Bow above Bearspaw is dropping and clearing faster than the rest of the river. Less water volume up here, so it comes back into shape first after runoff. Visibility is better, maybe 3 feet, and the fish are starting to look up a little. I'm nymphing stonefly patterns and Pheasant Tails through the soft water on the inside of the bends. A few PMDs are starting to show in the afternoon. Not heavy yet, but it's coming. If you want the cleanest water this week, fish up here.

City Section

Bearspaw to Carseland

City section from Bearspaw down to Carseland is the meat of it right now. Flow is still up at 206 cms so the fish are hugging the banks and the soft water behind boulders. You've got to get your flies in tight and get them down. I'm running a big Pat's Rubber Legs with a worm dropper deep through the seams, and that's been the ticket. Streamers are working too, especially first thing. Olive and black, stripped slow along the grassy banks. The water still has a touch of color but the fish don't care. They're feeding. As this keeps dropping the city section is going to get really good.

Lower Bow

South of Calgary

Lower Bow south of Calgary is carrying a bit more color than the city section. Still very fishable, just go heavier and deeper. Streamers are the call down here in the higher water. Big and dark, banged off the banks. San Juan Worms and stonefly nymphs are producing under an indicator through the deeper runs. I'd hold off on dry flies down here for another week or so. The fish are keyed on subsurface food while the water's up. Give it until the flow drops under 150 cms and the lower will really turn on.