One of the best pieces of advice for high elevation anglers is to “lighten up.”
Fly rods in the 4 or 5-weight range are more than adequate for angling the high country. A small selection of fly imitations is also a better choice over lugging a vest stuffed with hundreds of patterns up a drainage for many hours with the prospect of having to retrace your steps back to the truck when the day is done. Because mountain trout tend to be opportunistic feeders, dry flies like Stimulators, Variants, Humpies and Elk Hair Caddis will serve you well.
At times, especially in mountain streams with extensive stream-bank meadows, hopper patterns are very effective. Although I prefer to fish on the surface, when the trout aren’t responding to a floating fly nymphs like the traditional Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail, Copper John and Prince patterns may also elicit strikes. A way of having the best of both worlds is to employ a “hopper/dropper” set up where a nymph is suspended from the bend of the dryfly hook on a two-foot length of tippet. As well as imitating trout food in its own right the dry fly also acts as a strike indicator.
So whenever you see it bob, hesitate or suddenly disappear below the surface set the hook by lifting the rod tip because chances are your Hare’s Ear just got eaten by a fat trout.
While Alberta’s high altitude rivers are usually running icy cold and vodka clear, even in the middle of summer, wading wet can be a pleasant way to spend a hot summer afternoon. But be aware, the mountains harbour a host of biting insects, including fierce horse flies which tend to be all revved up in the warm weather. So wading in a pair of jeans or hiking pants is probably a better bet than shorts. You’re probably better off in the long run donating any excess blood to the Canadian Blood Services then the bug the old fur traders used to call the “bulldog”.
