St. Mary Angler

05/20/2026

Report #2 (May 16, 2026)

The Lakes and Columbia are in Full Go-mode now!

Spring is happening all around the Kootenay Region of S.E. British Columbia. Everyone is out camping, fishing and enjoying the great outdoors! It is nice to see so many people out fishing now that the lakes have turned over and the fish are moving closer to the shore.

Imitation chironomids and callibaetus are working when the hatches are coming off. This usually happens periodically throughout the course of the day. As we are half way through May now, pretty well everything is hatching on the lakes. In addition to the chironomids, we are also seeing dragon and damsel nymphs moving up along the shoreline where the fish are feeding on them.

We expect to see the black ant hatch when we get a couple of really hot days in a row. When this happens, it becomes mayhem out there! Dry fly fishing for trout during the black ant feeding frenzy is a real treat!

Whitetail, Whiteswan, Premier and Lazy lakes have all been fishing very well lately. Many people have been telling us they have been making regular trips out already. Of course, there will be the odd tough day thrown in, but generally we are so spoiled in the East Kootenays as ten fish day on these lakes is considered a slow day!

The flies that are working include; the small chironomids (18 - 20's), damsels, dragons, blobs, bo***es, doc spratleys, half and full backs, balanced leeches, wooley buggers and black ants (when hatching).

Most of the lakes opened very early this spring except for those up the valley by Golden. They usually come clear in first week of May, but have only recently iced off. So, there is still lots of lake fishing left to do.

The Columbia River

The Columbia River fishing has been very productive this spring as we have been out guiding clients most days. We have a few days open in the last week of May, so give us a call if you want to fly fish the Columbia.

The flows in the Columbia have been rising as the runoff starts to build now. Along with the increase flows comes more debris and logs on the water which you have to be aware of while boating. That being said, the fish have moved out into the big back eddies and are feeding there.

When on the water, you will see the caddis flies depositing their eggs on the water surface. One would think the fish would key on these females, but in fact the trout like the nymphs when they rise to the surface and fly off.

Today the guys fished the bottom section of the Columbia River; from the Beaver Creek boat launch towards the border. While the average fish caught is usually in the 17 to 21 inch range, they found them to be a bit bigger today. On this outing they caught quite a few rainbows in the 20-23 inch slot. That makes these fish on average, 3 to 4 pounds in weight which makes for some very nice fish. Moving between the big eddies on this lower stretch, the two anglers landed 15 to 20 fish on the day. They fished both streamers and nymphs under an indicator. The fish were a little picky as the weather was moving in, but they still managed to catch quite a few.

There was lots of spring wildlife active on the Columbia including; eagles, geese, turkeys and many swallows and other songbirds. Overall the Columbia is fishing very well, and the anglers are having a blast!

When in the fly shop we often have customers come in and ask, “what is the one fly that is working out there now?” As fly fishermen we all know deep down there is no silver bullet. One has to put in the time and try different patterns out on the water as trout can be quite selective. One fly that works great today, may not work at all the next. So we advise to try many different patterns and experiment, that will narrow the field down for sure. And the experimentation, is what makes flyfishing challenging and exciting!

Just a reminder to review the fishing regulations before you head out and have your B.C. Freshwater Fishing License with you at all times.

If you want to learn more about what’s going on out on the lakes, stop by the fly shop and we will help you out.

Tight Lines

Kelly and Karen
St.Mary Angler

PS We still have a couple of days open on the Columbia in the last week of May so call us at 1-800-667-2311 if you want to book one.

04/29/2026

Report #1 (April 27, 2026)

The 2026 fishing season has begun!

Southeastern British Columbia has endured typical spring weather this April. We have experienced rain, snow, sun, wind and… who can forget… hail!

One-day it is up to 20°C (68°F) and the next day the temperature is 0°C (32°F) with snow! It’s that crazy time of the year when you get up in the morning look out the window and say…Holy Cow!

The snowpack for this region of B.C. was above normal on April 1 and we have been getting lots of snow up in high country since. Our next snow update is on May 1 and we will pass it on in our next report. Okay, so what about the fishing… let’s go around the horn.

East Kootenay Lakes:

Almost all the lakes have iced off by now and have started to turn over, if they have not already done so. The word on the street is that Whitetail, Whiteswan, Premier, Lazy and Echo lakes are all fishing well.

As you know, lake fishing can be hit or miss, so you have to get out on the water and experiment in order to figure it out. Cruising around the lake looking for fish is always a logical first step.

Once you have found a good drop off ledge, anchor up and start with a balanced leach pattern. They tend to work really well until the start of the chironomid hatch. At this point, switch to chironomids.

The chironomid hatches will occur throughout the day. But if there is no chironomid hatch coming off, then you have to move on to other patterns.

To set up a chironomid rig, first measure the depth so the fly sits a foot off the bottom of the lake. Run a leader/tippet section, swivel and indicator anywhere from the depth of 14 feet to as deep as wherever the fish sit. Some guys play at 40 feet.

Most people like it when the fish are in the 8 to 15-foot depth range. This happens when the fish start to move into the shallows and hang along the drop off edges. The timing for this is usually in May. However, we are still in April and guys have been fishing on lakes that have been opened since the end of March. So, we are in full swing right now with the lakes producing well. So, get out there as much as you can this spring!

Flies that work at this time of year include; Balanced Leeches, Scuds, Blobs, Bo***es and Chironomids (the small sizes).

If you are trolling use; regular Leeches, Wooley Buggers, Doc Spratleys, Half Backs and Full Back. For along the bank edges, try dragon flies and damsels flies.

The Columbia River:

We have been guiding on the Columbia River since early April and are in full-go mode now. We fish the section of the Columbia River from Castlegar down to the Canada/U.S. Border. The weather so far has been all over the place, typical for spring as we shake off the last vestiges of winter. One day you are wearing shorts and the next you have your winter coat on! One must dress in layers for sure!

The Columbia River can fish very well some days and be tough on others. The flow of the Columbia is currently at 1,970 cubic meters per second (CMS) which is 69,500 cubic feet per second (CFS). Flows will only increase now as the runoff builds in May.

With the building flow and increased volume of water the river channel is filling up and fish have all moved out from the runs into the emerging back eddies. The challenging thing about the Columbia is that you have to find the fish, then get that fly close to where they are feeding.
Today the guys used streamer rods and fished the pickle, sculpins and other streamer patterns of choice. They also tried to nymph a bit as well using the Purple Prince, Regular Prince, Copper Johns and Hare's Ears patterns.

On this trip the anglers each landed in the range of 6 to 10 fish. The rainbows averaged 16-20 inches in length and looked very healthy. They all pulled hard and jumped a lot as soon as they realized they were hooked!

As for wildlife, the eagles and ospreys are now busy with their nests when they are not looking for their next meal for themselves and their chicks. The Canada Geese and Merganser ducks are having their newborn as well. So everyone is very busy feeding and protecting their young from being someone else’s meal. The guys could also hear the turkeys from across the river rummaging through the grass and brush.

At this time of year, we can see the sturgeon lurking along the bottom of the River in some specific areas. It is so cool to drift over one of beasts and experience them from directly above through the clear water. And if lucky, we will get to see one of these bad boys jump out of the water!

We still have a few available days if you want to come and experience the Columbia River this spring. Call us at the shop at 1-800-667-2311 to discuss available days.

Fishing Regulations:

The system for getting B.C. Fishing Licences has changed. The old Angler Numbers have been retired and do not work anymore. You now have to go through the “Wildlife Information and Licensing Data” (WILD) system using your Basic BCeID or BC Services Card Account to log in to WILD. You will need to apply for a Fish and Wildlife I.D., which is a permanent number linked to your personal online profile in the WILD system.

All the rivers except the Columbia and Kootenay rivers are closed April 1st to June 15th for the spring freshet and cutthroat spawning.

So that’s some of what you need to know before you head out to enjoy spring time on the lakes and rivers. The rest is in the B.C. Freshwater Fishing Regulations which everyone should review now. It’s a beautiful time of year, a time of birth and renewal.

If you want to know more about the lakes, how to set up your leaders or where the fishing is great at the time of year, drop into our shop on Cranbrook Street. We will be happy to help you along on your fishing adventure!

Tight Lines

Kelly and Karen
St.Mary Angler

PS Call at 1-800-667-2311 to book your summer fishing adventure today.

01/22/2026

St.Mary Angler Guide Service: Review of the 2025 Fishing Season.

An Overview of the Environmental Conditions for 2025

The Snow Pack:

By early January each year, nearly half of the annual snowpack has typically accumulated in British Columbia. As of January 1, 2025, the snowpack stood at about 90% normal. This was way up from the previous year, so things were looking good. However, by March 1st we were at about 70% of normal and as of April 1, when we usually have all of the snow we are going to see, things had inched up to about 80%.

On May 1st the West Kootenays had about of 70 percent of the normal snow pack and over on the east side it stood at 62%. On average, approximately half the seasonal snowpack melts by June 1st. But in 2025, two thirds had already melted by then and most of it was gone by June 15th. The lower snowpack coupled with warmer than normal temperatures in April and hot weather in late May, sped up the melting significantly. While the expectations of flooding were low, these conditions brought on concern about low flows and higher water temperatures in the summer.

You can see how the season turned out by going to the PDF at on our website...

https://www.stmaryangler.com/fishing-reports/

10/21/2025

Report #11 (October 15, 2025)

It’s Another Fine Day on the Columbia River as we get Close to Shutting Things Down for the Season!

We are nearing the end of our season with only a few more trips on the Columbia to go. We can’t believe how fast the 2025 season has come and gone and what a great summer it has been!

The weather this fall has been absolutely beautiful with bright blue skies accompanied by very cool mornings. The fishing on the Columbia has been very good.

Today we decided to fish the section of the Columbia River from Robson, just above the confluence with the Kootenay River, down towards Trail. The water level of the Columbia has been higher than normal this fall, but flows are now starting to decrease. With the decline in flows the fish are transiting out of the eddies into the runs and along the bank edges.

We hit the water with all the rods set up and ready to fish on nymphs, streamers and dry flies.

The weather on this day started off very cool at a brisk 5C° (41F°). The afternoon sun warmed things up to a balmy 15C° (60F°)… definitely fall temperatures. The trees are all in fall color now with red and orange leaves wafting thru the air, it’s just lovely out on the River.

The anglers climbed into the boat and powered downstream looking for some promising bank edges and runs to fish. They casted their streamers and nymph rods and as the day warmed up, caught and released around 10-15 rainbows each. The average size of the fish ranged from 16 to 20 inches with beautiful colors. And these Columbia River rainbows fight hard! There is such an adrenaline rush when you hook one of these and watch them take off like a torpedo to the middle of the River, jerking and jumping like crazy!

Under these late fall conditions, the flies change constantly. When you think you have figured the fish out, it changes once again! So, it is most effective to bring a selection of flies; nymphs and streamers. At this time of year, the dry flies only work if the fish are feeding on the surface. The dries of choice included; October Caddis, Blue Winged Olives and small midges. The nymphs of choice were the Purple Prince, Copper Johns and Hare’s Ears, plus sculpin and streamers patterns.

As the guys fished they spotted a bear rambling through the bush and then saw a beaver moving thru the current. They also spotted ospreys and merganser ducks doing their thing above and on the River.

The days are getting shorter and the window to fish is narrowing daily. For those hearty souls, they can fish the Columbia through the winter season. It means starting late in the morning and going till early afternoon. But it means fighting to stay warm and we prefer to wait till next spring now!

We would like to thank everyone who fished with us or visited our shop in 2025. You all made it an amazing season! We really appreciate your patronage.

We plan on attending tradeshows this winter in Denver, Bellevue and Pleasanton. If you are in the area, call us about tickets.

All the best,

Kelly and Karen

St.Mary Angler

PS Our fly shop in Cranbrook remains open, come by and check it out.

10/07/2025

Report #10 (October 1, 2025)

As the Calendar Flips to October, the Fishing Remains Strong!

With the onset of fall, we are just wrapping up our last few trips on the St. Mary and Elk rivers. It has been a very successful fishing season here in the East Kootenay region for all those who took part!

Today we decided to give the Elk River another shot. The morning was very cool with the early temperature starting off at around 3C° (37F°). Yes, it was one of those mornings when the guides had to scrape the windshield first thing and you wanted to have a few layers on!

They loaded the vehicles in Cranbrook and go onto the road at first light, driving over to Fernie where they slid the boat into the Elk.

When we pass through the highway tunnel on the way to Fernie, it is like entering a portal into a whole different weather system! We saw some rain and dark clouds in the morning, with things clearing up by lunch time with the temperature topping out at 16C° (61F°).

The leaves on the trees have all turned orange and yellow now and many are on the ground, such a beautiful time of year.

The Elk River is flowing at its normal fall rate. As the days are getting shorter and very cool in the mornings, the fish are very slow to come to the surface for dry fly action. So, the guys started off by fishing nymphs and small streamers. As the day warmed up and the sun got high enough to pierce deeply into the stream, they switched over to dry flies. The switchover always seems to be signalled by the trout trying to eat the indicator!

The anglers fished along the bank edges, behind rocks and along structures such as old logs and this season’s fallen trees. On the day, they landed 15-20 cutthroat trout each. These Westslope cuts from the Elk are very healthy and pull hard. The average sized fish hooked up was between 14-17 inches…they are such vibrant looking fish!

At one point the guide suggested fishing a mouse pattern, which the anglers were eager to try. It soon proved to be a hit as they landed a fish. It was so exciting for one of the guys to hook and land a fish on a mouse pattern!

Other patterns that worked throughout the day included; the Prince Nymph, Copper John, Lightning Bug, Hare's Ear and Stonefly nymph. Streamers like the Pickle worked well. Later in the day they used some dries including; Green Drakes, Mahogany Duns, BWOs, Stimi Chew Toys, as well as beetle and small ant patterns.

As they floated down the Elk River they took in the gorgeous fall scenery. With the mist rising off the water and the leaves turning color against the backdrop of the Rockies, it was just beautiful! It is such a scenic river to float… fall or summer. In addition, the guys got to see a bear trundling along the bank edge. At this point someone expressed their happiness with being in a moving boat! Several eagles were visible flying high above and they also observed some bucks pestering some does… the boat gave them a front seat to nature today.

The lakes are starting to fish pretty well again as the fish are moving back into the shallows before winter comes, feeding aggressively. The talk in our shop is that Premier, Grundy, Echo and Whitetail lakes are all fishing quite well.

Presently, we are still guiding on the Columbia River for another couple of weeks, where the fishing has been very good.

The weather this fall has been very nice in the Kootenays and there is still time to get out and fish and explore the back country before nature shuts us down.

Have fun on the water and stay safe out there.

Tight Lines,

Kelly and Karen

PS Drop into our fly shop in Cranbrook for the latest fishing intel and full line of gear, flies and accessories.

09/19/2025

Report #9 (September 15, 2025)

It’s Fall on the Columbia River and we are back Chasing the Big Rainbows Again!

September is starting to feel like fall now, so it’s goodbye to the summer of 2025. The weather has definitely cooled down and we have had some rain these past few days. It was almost like one day we were wearing shorts and then, wham! the slacks and jackets have come out.

The good news is that our guided trips on the Columbia River have started up and we are excited to be back on this mighty river!

Today the weather was great; starting off at a cool 6C° (43F°) and warming up to the mid to high 20‘s C (high 70’s F°). This stretch of the Columbia River valley can warm up quite quickly over the course of the day.

The jet boat went in at the Gyro Park boat launch in Trail and the guys powered upstream from there. The fish have been eating loads of caddis all summer and are now in prime condition and good sized!

The rods were all strung up in advance; nymphing, streamer and just in case they hit a hatch, the dry fly rods!

The Columbia River is still holding a lot of water now, running at about 1,850 cubic meters per second (650,000 cubic feet per second), so the flow is nice.

Once upriver far enough, we cruised around looking for fish. With more water there are more places for fish to be.

We let the boat control drift down some runs, throwing the lines along the bank edges. Once we hit a suitably big back eddy, we looked for feeding trout then keyed on them and went on from there. The day did start off a bit tough, but as it warmed up the fish were happy and began to feed on flies.

In terms of the hatches there were some small midges and Blue Winged Olives coming off, but not too many.

On the day, the anglers caught and released 8 to 10 fish each, in the 16 to 18 inch class. There was one exception where they landed a very nice 22 inch rainbow which took him into his backing! A crazy good fight with lots of jumps out of the water and deep dives! It was a tough fish to handle and the angler was shocked at how hard the fish fought!

The flies that were working included Copper Johns, Lightning Bugs, Green Drake nymphs and Prince nymphs. In addition, some streamers were also producing including the Pickle and Kelly's Super Streamer. That said, you have to cycle through your flies to find out which ones work the best on any day! So, remember to work that fly box.

There was a lot of bird activity out on the River today with eagles and ospreys circling above and groups of turkeys patrolling the bank edges.

Sometimes we see a river otter pop up to check us out in this section of the Columbia, but not today.

The rivers back over in the East Kootenay region are still fishing quite well. The kokanee are up in the streams spawning now. Dry flies, nymphs and steamers are all still working quite well over there.

The mornings may be cool, but the days are still warm. So, get out and enjoy them while we still have them. It is absolutely beautiful out in the backcountry at this time of year. There is very little angler pressure, the weather is great and bugs are subsiding.

Remember to check the regulations when you go fishing and make sure you are with a buddy if you are going deep into the backcountry.

If you have any questions about the fishing feel free to pop into our shop in Cranbrook. We are more than happy to answer any queries you may have; where to go and what flies are working!

Hope to see you out on the river!

Tight Lines

Kelly and Karen

PS Drop into our fly shop in Cranbrook today and check out our fully stocked shop!

09/09/2025

Report #8 (September 5, 2025)

September is upon us and fishing is great!

September rolled in with clear sunny skies. So far things have remained quite warm. With the turn to September we have seen the rivers drop into their normal seasonal low and the kokanee starting to travel into the small tributaries to spawn.

On this float of the lower section of the St. Mary River we put-in at the Mission and floated down to Fort Steele. Its very skinny water now, but we use Slipstream and Maravia rafts so we are not concerned! The low water levels aside, the guides have not had to get out of the boats to pull or push their rafts through certain spots, so far...

The weather this past week saw very cool mornings, starting off at around 8C° (46F°) but warming all the way up to highs of 30C° (86F°) by the late afternoon.

We are seeing some smoke in our area now, coming up from the fires from both the south and north of us. The forecast is for some rain in the near future which will hopefully help suppress the fires in those areas.

Presently we are seeing lots of kokanee travelling upstream especially on the bottom section of the Mary. This can make it tough to dry fly fish as the cutthroat are keying on the kokanee, trying to steal their eggs. In addition, the big Bull trout are up the rivers now and spawning.
The spawning bulls will not look at a fly now. However, you can catch a few of the smaller non-spawning bulls in there, which can still be a lot of fun!

On this day the dry fly action was really good.

The guys started off with dries in the morning, with some nymphing on the appropriate runs. But with fish coming up to the surface they went strictly to the dries.

The nymphing did produced some rainbows while the dries attracted the cut-bows and cutthroats coming to the surface. The clients caught and released over 20 fish each.

We have noticed over the years that the rainbows have integrated themselves into the St. Mary River ecosystem. So, it’s not just a wild Westslope Cutthroat stream anymore...

On the float the anglers used Grasshoppers, Purple Haze, Stimi Chew Toys, Foam Patterns, Chubby Chernobyl Ants, Fat Alberts, Beetle Patterns, Sparkle Caddis, Clinkhammers and Mahogany Duns.

The nymphs of choice included; Prince Nymphs, Copper Johns, Lightning Bugs, Green Drake nymphs and big stone nymph patterns. Whether using dries or nymphs, is always a best practice to cycle through your patterns to find out which are working best.

With the coming of September the seasons are shifting and we can see the color changes in the trees, brush and grasses. While it’s still warm, even hot by the afternoon, fall is just around the corner.

The animals are all around the rivers now; elk, deer, bear and moose. And there is so much bird life to see while floating down the rivers.

Columbia River: Coming Soon

We are getting close to guiding over on the Columbia River for the fall season. We still have a couple spots open, so if you are interested call the shop at 1-800-667-2311. If you want to check out the big rainbows on the Columbia River tailwater fishery, this is your chance!

Fall fishing can be so exciting as you get to see Green Drakes, Blue Winged Olives and Mahogany Duns hatching! The dry fly fishing on the Elk, Bull and St.Mary can be so exciting!

So, before it’s too late, get out and enjoy the back country or go to your favorite spot one last time.

When in Cranbrook, stop into the fly shop to check it out. If you need help setting up your rod and reel, or if you want to know what is working on the rivers at this time, just ask, and we will help you out.

Tight Lines

Kelly and Karen

PS Call us at 1-800-667-2311 to book your fall fishing adventure on the Columbia River today!

08/24/2025

Report #7 (August 16, 2025)

It’s August and the fishing is easy!

Summer seems to be moving along quickly this year. We are already entering the second half of August, prime summer fishing for sure!

The fishing has been very good on all the rivers this month, but what really stands out is how the weather has been in the Kootenays this summer. Most days see the clouds rolling in late afternoon and we get rain somewhere. Whether it comes to Cranbrook, Fernie or back over in Kimberley, it has been happening with great regularity.

The mornings have been quite cool with the afternoon temperatures reaching the high 20's C° (mid 80’s F°) some days. It has absolutely been the nicest summer we have had in a long time.

That being said, the storms can put the trout down, but usually after it rains the fish start feeding like crazy again.

On this day the guys floated the scenic Bull River. The Bull runs through such a beautiful part of the world. Our approach was to have the clients follow the guides up in their vehicle and park their car at the take out. They then jumped into the guide’s truck and proceeded to the put-in. On this River you can dry fly fish, all, day, long. The Bull is loaded with so many fish willing to come to the surface for a dry fly. On the upper portion of the Bull River above the dam, there are only wild Westslope Cutthroats. Below the dam it’s a mix of rainbows, cutthroats and bull trout. So, the guys floated the section above the dam today.

The Bull River is in great shape after lots of rain. The water levels are good for this time of year. As soon as the boat hit the water and the lines went out, the fish were hitting. It was nonstop action all morning.

The guys casted along the bank edges and behind rocks in the faster water, working hard to control their line with perfect tension. You definitely need the fly to float naturally to bring up these fish!

The average sized cutties caught were between 12-14 inches. The anglers did land a nice 16-inch cutthroat in one of the runs... very exciting! On the day they landed around 25 fish each.

The flies cycled through included; Fat Alberts, Chubby Chernobyl Ants, Purple Haze, Stimi Chew Toys, Caddis patterns, Sparkle Parachute Adams, H &L Variants, Royal Wulffs and Hoppers.

The Bull River has such beautiful scenery and once in a while you have to look up and check out the surroundings! It’s absolutely amazing to see this bona fide eye candy!

The wildlife can be very abundant in this part of the back country. But on this day, they were limited to seeing eagles flying overhead and a couple deer on the drive to the put in. However, when you hit it right you can see deer, elk, cougars and bears up in these parts.

Just a reminder that we recommend fishing with a partner when out in the backcountry. Make sure you also have your back road map book so you can find your way around as cell phone coverage can be spotty. Before you head out, pop into our shop for a chat. We can help you with where to go and what specific flies you will need for each river. We want you to have fun and catch lots of fish out there.

Tight Lines

Kelly and Karen

PS Call us at 1-800-667-2311 to book your fall fishing adventure on the Columbia River today! If you are in the area, check out our fly shop on Cranbrook Street.

08/14/2025

We have a new podcast on the Columbia River where we fish. You can check it out at:

Explore fly fishing BC's Upper Columbia with Kelly Laatsch—big rainbow trout, huge eddies, and wild stories from the Columbia, Elk, St. Mary, and Skookumchuck rivers.

08/08/2025

Report #6 (August 1, 2025)

It’s August, the skies are clear and the Elk River is fishing great!

August here we come! Wow, the weather has been all over the map. From beautiful warm days to thunder and lightning with huge crazy down pours of rain and hail! We have had it all.

This summer has been wonderful with a number of cool days with overcast skies to go along with the warmer ones. It has been so much better than those extremely hot extended periods that set the stage for fires and river closures. There are no fires of note in our area of southeastern B.C., nor are there any river closures, which is very good news.

Today we floated the Elk River from Morrissey down to Elko. It has been a few days since all the rain and the Elk River has cleared up enough to fish very well. The day started off cool with temperatures around 12 C° (54 F°) and reached a high of 25 C° (77 F°) by late afternoon. There were a few showers on the day, but it was mostly sunny with scattered clouds.

The guys started off by dry fly fishing the runs, along the bank edges and behind big rocks in search of trout. They worked their way down the Elk, changing flies and trying to find that perfect fly on the day.

Throughout the float they mostly dry fly fished, but did nymph on some of the runs. They changed back and forth between the two techniques. Nymphing can work very well, but also catches more whitefish so there is a bit of a trade-off.

The anglers landed about 20 fish each, missing quite a few more along the way. These Elk River cutthroat trout are very beautifully colored to go along with their chunky appearance and gnarly attitude!

The flies that were most effective at bringing fish to the surface included; Black or Red Fat Alberts, Beetle patterns, Chubby Chernobyl Ants, Purple Haze, Klinkhammers, Elk Hair Caddis with rubber legs, and when it was showering; Green Drakes, Blue Winged Olives and of course the Stimi Chew Toys.

As for nymphs, the most action was prompted by Prince nymphs, Copper Johns, Lightning Bugs and Green Drake nymphs.

The fish were quite active all day only slowing down in the late afternoon. Overall the fishing was quite good.

There were a few days back in July around the full moon when it was tough fishing. So, remember on a full moon, the fish eat all night. Therefore, the day fishing can be challenging, but don’t let that stop you from going out!

The wildlife viewing on the Elk trips can be quite exciting with eagles and ospreys flying overhead on the hunt. Today they spotted a mother deer with her twins, still with their spots, jumping around! So cute!

Overall the fishing this summer has been very good and our guests have had a wonderful time seeing this beautiful part of the world.

If you are in the area and are looking for a little insight into what’s working on the rivers, stop by the shop and we will help you out. The shop is fully stocked with everything you will need to be successful on the water.

The summer is flying by so we hope you are getting out and enjoying the back country. We encourage everyone to try different rivers and sections of rivers to find something new.

Make sure you have checked the regulations before you head out and remember to have fun!

Tight Lines,

Kelly and Karen
St.Mary Angler

PS Call us at 1-800-667-2311 to book your summer fishing adventure today! If you are in the area, feel free to check out our fly shop on Cranbrook Street.