Robert and I head down to the Crowsnest, meet up with Kenneth Short. The road to last year’s campground (through the graveyard) is now blocked so we head to Chinook Lake to camp in the campground. Approx. 11:30 a.m. we start fishing a section of the Crow upstream from Coleman – beautiful sunny day; river is quite clear but relatively high. Fair number of small yellow stoneflies about (although not on the water), one or two Green Drakes spotted so I tie one on and head out. From 11:30 – 5:30 I go 3 for 11 one 12” ‘er (approx.) and a couple of little guys. Stream is 53° at noon – another first – i.e. first fish ever caught on the Crow, first rainbow on a dry fly. Ken catches 5 or so (biggest a 9” ‘er), Robert gets 1. In the evening, we fish the stretch straight south of Allison Creek turnoff (access through gas compressor station – old farm). Lots of bugs out, and lots of little guys rising – I go 4 for 10, all tiny rainbows, on Royal Wulff. Ken & Robert are about the same for the night – note a good number of pale morning duns (?) and largish brown mayflies. One or two large golden stones spotted.
Note: Interviewed earlier by a guy from RR&L (private firm) doing a stream survey. He mentions that some guys in float tubes catching big rainbows on dry flies @ Summit Lake (about 9 p.m.). Don’t see any other fishermen all day. Water temp 55°.
