Fishing · Alberta
Fly Fishing Bow River
A Calgary fly fishing outfitter with nearly 200 five-star reviews for patient guides, float and walk-and-wade trips on the Bow River, and a welcoming approach for beginners.
What visitors say
Fly Fishing Bow River is a Calgary-based outfitter run by Dana with a sizeable team of guides, taking anglers onto the Bow River for float and walk-and-wade trips. With 195 of 197 ratings at five stars, it's one of the most consistently praised outfitters in the region.
Guides are the centre of the reviews: patient, knowledgeable about the river and its ecosystem, and easy company. Guests describe short casting lessons before hooking fish, instruction on fighting and handling trout carefully, and guides rowing upstream for another pass. Boats are described as immaculate, gear as top quality, and lunches, snacks and drinks as a nice touch.
Many reviewers were complete beginners, including couples, a parent with a teenage son, and a ladies-only beginner trip that one guest called the highlight of her summer. Experienced anglers throwing streamers for big browns come away just as happy, with reports of several large brown trout and resident rainbows in a day. The company also runs a multi-day guide school for people who want to work as fly fishing guides.
Two low ratings don't come with details. The main thing to know is that guides book up; one family visiting Banff got in last minute only because the owner found them a spot. Reserve early for summer, and expect a full day outdoors in whatever weather the river gives you.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 197 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Fly Fishing Bow River directly.