Anglers Outlook, Friday June 14, 2024
West Central Alberta’s Current Water Conditions & Fly Fishing Report
Flows are surging again on the Upper Red Deer River above Gennifer Lake as runoff begins. Water conditions on the upper main stem sections are very poor to completely blown and high flows are starting to set in. We anticipate with the continued runoff and forecasted rain over the next week we will see conditions worsen. Many of the upper section tributaries still have good water conditions and flows however as runoff persists and the rain falls, we could see these conditions deteriorate as well over the next week. If you’re looking to get out, we suggest checking out the tribs for angling opportunities. While water temps are still relatively cold in the higher elevations and many fish are still lethargic look to attractor patterns to get some attention and get fish moving. Naturals are present so watch for hatches as mayflies, stones and midges have been sporadic.
On the Tailwater section of the Red Deer River below Dickson Dam the water levels are rising as the reservoir fills up and river flows increase from run off. We expect to continue to see this trend throughout the week. Many of the lower section tributaries are cleaning up well and good water conditions are present. Mayfly and Caddis hatches are present as well as Salmon flies and Skawalas. We will be looking for Drake hatches to show up now any day.
Local Stillwater’s are still fishing well however the ice off bite has slowed, and fish seem to be getting a little more particular as water temps rise and more hatches are present. Chironomid hatches are still present daily along with Mayflies as well as Stillwater Caddis that are starting to show up. We expect things to continue to trend this way throughout the week.
In the West Country we are getting ready for the Fathers Day Opener on Sunday for many of the high country streams! Currently many of the high country streams have good water conditions and we anticipate that many of these streams could see this continue for the opener and throughout next week. However, conditions are changing quickly in some areas as run off sets in, daily temperatures increase, and heavy rain is forecasted. For now, the upper section of the Ram continues to look stable as flows on the lower section are surging. Check out the Alberta River App or give us a call at the shop for more accurate updates as the week progresses.
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