An Angler's Viewpoint On River Management

Based on a speech given by Jim McLennan
Co-owner of Country Pleasures
and Author of Blue Ribbon Bow
October 14, 1994

Artificial flies like these are used to catch trout

My background and bias is that I like to fish and I like to learn about rivers. Anglers are very proud of their relationship to the whole river ecosystem. I've come to appreciate the beauty of the Bow River in all its seasons and along its entire length.

Two Rivers In One

Nears its source at Bow Lake in Banff Park, the Bow River is a cold, high mountain stream used by kayakers. At the same time farther downstream, it is a slow, warm and dignified prairie river where it joins with the Old Man River. Always, though, the river is central to great beauty and abundant wildlife.

Headwaters

By the time the Bow River reaches Banff and Canmore, it contains enough insects to support fish populations. However, power dams on the upper river watershed have decreased the fishing potential there because trout cannot adapt to wildly fluctuating water volumes.

This angler is making the most of day spent fishing

Million Dollar Tourist Industry

Once the river reaches Calgary, trout fishing becomes a multi-million dollar tourist industry. The brown and rainbow trout in the river were originally introduced species but now have become wild and reproduce on their own. The river flow volumes, speed, depth, bottom type, spawning habitat and temperature are all perfect for producing very large trout.

Calgary's River

The Bearspaw Dam just upstream of Calgary was constructed in 1954 to stabilize the river flow against fluctuations caused by upstream hydro dams. As it turns out, trout also benefited from this stable river environment.

Calgary has not killed its river and we have to be happy the way it's all turned out. The river is in remarkably good condition considering everything that is poured into it. Nutrients contained in Calgary's sewage effluent provide phosphates and nitrates used by aquatic plants. And where there are aquatic plants, there are insects to feed large fish!

Good Fishing

Out-of-province tourists like the convenience of being able to fish a first-class trout river close to a major city centre. I sell over 600 non-resident fishing licenses each year at my store.

The surprise for many people is that fishing is good in shallow water while either wading or floating in a boat. Since 1983, all fish over 40 cm have been released for spawning. The result has been that fish over 5 pounds are now being caught more often.

Construction Can Affect Fishing

Any increased turbidity during bridge construction can affect fishing

Trout need clear water and stable flow volumes. While fluctuations caused by spring run-off and precipitation are natural, the fish and fishing are affected by water quality changes caused by pipeline crossings, roads, bridges, golf courses and dam repairs.

Tourists plan to arrive in Calgary at the best times to fish. If their guide says that the water is clear and flowing at a good level, and they arrive at the river to find it muddy because of unannounced pipeline construction, they won't ever come back.

Everyone involved with riverside construction must time things better and communicate with the fishing community.

Help Protect All Rivers

After all my years of fishing and guiding, I still get excited and have trouble sleeping the night before I go fishing on the Bow River. I've come to appreciate more than just the fish and more than just the Bow River. All of us should help protect all rivers.