Category Archives: On The Water

Fishing Stillwaters

May 15, 2019 by Vic Bergman | 6 Comments

It appears the spring runoff has started on the rivers and streams of southwest Alberta. The warm temperatures we have been receiving over the past week has been causing more snow in the mountains to melt. As a result, water levels have been rising on the rivers and they are becoming discolored. With rain in the forecast this week, the runoff will likely increase in intensity. Providing we don’t receive prolonged rainfall, conditions should begin to improve in a few weeks. In the meantime, we can always head out to fish some of our local stillwaters.

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Fishing This Week

April 11, 2019 by Vic Bergman | 4 Comments

I spent a few hours fishing the Crowsnest River on Monday – the first time out for me this spring. It was a perfect day to be on the water. There was barely a breeze and by early afternoon the temperature had climbed to 12°C (54°F).

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Spring Thaw

March 20, 2019 by Vic Bergman | 4 Comments

Today is the first day of spring. It looks and feels like spring, too. A week ago, we were in a deep freeze, with temperatures well below average, and snow lying on the ground everywhere. As often happens around here, the weather can turn on a dime. Conditions have been really nice outside since the weekend and it looks like it’s going to continue for a while yet. Our daytime temperature is expected to reach 18°C (65°F) today – well above average. The spring thaw is upon us.

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Fishing the Castle

September 6, 2018 by Vic Bergman | 4 Comments

 

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a couple of opportunities to fish the Castle River with two of my friends, Terry Maurer, and Bob Costa. My first trip was with Terry, and we spent the day fishing the river downstream of the newly-created Castle Provincial Park. On my second outing, Bob and I fished near the headwaters of the river in the Castle Wildland Provincial Park. Continue reading »

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Once More to Lee Creek

August 9, 2018 by Vic Bergman | 12 Comments

Several weeks ago, I posted an article here on how it’s been more than forty years since I last fished a certain trout stream in southwest Alberta. It was on this very stream, where during the summer of 1972, I was introduced to fly-fishing. Last Tuesday, and for the first time since 1976, I returned to Lee Creek – the stream of my youth. Continue reading »

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The Stream of My Youth

July 16, 2018 by Vic Bergman | 6 Comments

I have always enjoyed fishing for trout in small streams and creeks. It was at one such place in southwest Alberta, where as a young teenager, I was introduced to fly-fishing while on a school camping trip. Within a week or two of returning home, I became the proud owner of a brand new fly rod. Continue reading »

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Crowsnest River Salmonflies

June 6, 2018 by Vic Bergman | 6 Comments

The salmonfly hatch is in full swing on the Crowsnest River and fishing conditions couldn’t be better. It’s not very often where the river is clear and fishable during this elusive hatch. It is this year, though. This stonefly hatch occurs every year but it usually coincides with the spring runoff, a time where the river is running high and discolored. Everything has come together perfectly this time around, and who knows, it might be another 10 years before it happens again.
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The Cure

April 19, 2018 by Vic Bergman | 4 Comments

There’s a famous saying in Crowsnest Pass in regards to the weather. It’s quite simple and it goes like this. “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes.”
 I know there are lots of places that use the same expression, but with the rate and frequency in which things can change in the Pass, it describes our weather to a “Tee.” Continue reading »

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Last Day of Trout Season

October 31, 2017 by Vic Bergman | 4 Comments

Today is the final day of the 2017 fishing season on the majority of rivers and streams in southwest Alberta. It seems like only yesterday that I was looking forward to another great season on these waters. Beginning tomorrow, November 1, there’s only going to be a couple of rivers around here where anglers will be permitted to fish. These include portions of the Crowsnest and Oldman rivers. At least there are some places where folks will be able to stream-fish over the coming winter months, if they so desire.
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Michel, ma belle!

August 18, 2017 by Vic Bergman | 12 Comments

 

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to spend a day on the water with my good friend, Herb Vitale, of Lynchburg, Virginia. It had been a year or two since Herb fished for cutthroat trout in BC, so we headed over to one of his favourite streams in the area, beautiful Michel Creek. Continue reading »

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