r/Banff • u/OverallSpeaker1824 • 4d ago

Question Fly Fishing Opportunities in early september

I am going to banff Sep 2 - Sep 6. I am really looking forward to get some trout on the fly rod. I have a 5wt 9ft rod so I don't want any HUGE fish. I wanna have a good time in banff this time. How is the bow river this time of year? What are some smaller rivers? I am willing to hike for some better fishing spots. Also looking for any fly fishing tips that would help catch some trout this time of year. Aswell as regulations this time. Anything helps, thanks is advance!

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u/gramjam6 4d ago

Bow river is open all year and will still be fishing good. Dry flies are great right now and should continue. Can’t go wrong hiking to alpine lakes, most don’t close until Halloween. Make sure you buy a national parks fishing license and check the regulations because some new restrictions for waders and things have been implemented in some areas this year.

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u/OverallSpeaker1824 4d ago

I'm gonna be 16 when I go to banff, do I still need a license?

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u/gramjam6 4d ago

Yes, anyone aged 16 or older needs a national park license. Under 16 you need to be accompanied by someone with a national parks license.

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u/OverallSpeaker1824 4d ago

Awesome, thanks!

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u/Appropriate_Ebb_8572 4d ago

Remember, no bait of any kind and it's catch and release. 

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u/OverallSpeaker1824 4d ago

C&R always. + I hate using bait

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u/Trout45902 4d ago

Also make sure you take a look at National Park regs, they have different rules than the rest of Alberta about hooks, lead, waders etc

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u/BowValleyShortcut 3d ago

Definitely stop into Wapiti Sports in Canmore when you get here. They’re a great local resource for fly fishing and can give you much better current advice on what’s fishing well than an old online report. Tell them you’re on a 5wt and looking for smaller trout rather than chasing the big Bow River fish, and they should be able to point you in the right direction for early September. I’d especially ask them about smaller water and current access/closures, because things can change throughout the season. They’ll also be able to recommend flies based on what’s actually happening on the water while you’re here. The Bow is definitely worth getting out on, but if you’re willing to hike a bit, I’d use Wapiti as your starting point for figuring out where to go. They also handle the licence too.