Fishing About the Lodge

The Upper Bow River, Banff National Park and the Provincial Park areas in Kananaskis offer the true sport Fly-Fisher amazing scenery, great camping and lodging experiences and a myriad of opportunities for spectacular fly fishing with an abundance of Dry fly activity.

Three native game fish species, Cutthroat trout, Bull Trout and the Rocky Mountain Whitefish, can be found through most of the moving waters and lakes of the area.

Like most areas of the world, regulation surrounds fishing in and outside of the Parks. If you do plan to fish waters of the Upper Bow River, be sure to check in with the visitor centers and local fishing shops in Canmore and Banff.

While most of the backcountry Alpine Lakes will be unavailable prior to the 15th of June many locations offer exciting Spring fishing. The upper and lower Kananaskis Lakes located at the South end of Highway 40 or take the Smith Dorrien Road from Canmore.

The Upper Lake is primarily a Rainbow Trout fishery, while it can be fished from shore either at the boat launch bay, or at the Inter-Lakes outflow end it is recommended a float tube, Pontoon Boat or other watercraft. (Water-craft can be rented at The Green Drake Fly shop & a few other locations in the area.)


Reservations

Phone (403) 678-4080
Fax (403) 678-4020

e-mail:
lodge@mountengadine.com 

Mount Engadine Lodge
Box 40025
Canmore, Alberta, Canada
T1W 3H9
The Lower Kananaskis Lake is predominantly a Bull Trout fishery. For the Bull Trout present streamers, Zonkers, Bow River buggers, and Clouser-Minnows. Bulls will rise to flies such as large skating Caddis, particularly at Sundown, however most of the sipping fish you will encounter on the Lower "K" Lake will be Rainbows and Cutthroat.

Other backcountry locations include Chester Lake a 9.6km return hike, 310 height gain off the Smith Dorrien Road. This lake has Dolly Varden and Cutthroat Trout. Also the massive reservoir encompassing the Spray Lakes has has Lake Trout and Mountain Whitefish and is easily accessed from many parts of the road.
Lots of roadside parking areas make getting to the shore very easy. A boat would be best but remember the wind on this lake can be very strong.

Like all good fishers, respect nature and enjoy the mountains.


Fish Species in the Kananaskis Area
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
While not an indigenous species of the Canadian Rockies, the Brown is certainly a "landed immigrant" if not a naturalized citizen. Brown trout are golden brown in color with large black spots on the back, and red spots, some with pale halos, on the sides. They are the only trout with both red and black spotting. They can be caught with artificial flies, spoons and bait (except in waters with bait bans), such as worms.
Cutthroat Trout
Oncorhynchus clarki
Cutthroat trout are named for the bright red-orange streak in the fold under the mouth. These trout are native to the mountain and foothill streams of southern Alberta. Cutthroat prefers colder water than do the closely related rainbow trout. They spawn in the spring, which may be as late as early July in high mountain streams. Cutthroat is usually caught on artificial flies, small spoons and small spinners.
Bull Trout
Salvelinus confluentus
Also known by some as the Dolly Varden, the bull trout is a long, slim fish with a large head in proportion to its body. The fish has an olive-green to grey back and silvery sides which are marked with pale yellow to red spots. There are no black spots on the dorsal fin of this trout. This species is the official provincial fish of Alberta. The spawning fish are usually quite large (over 30 cm), and are very vulnerable to capture by bears, ospreys and people. For this reason the Alberta Natural Resources Service has placed a zero possession limit on this fish throughout the province.

All bull trout that are caught must be released.
Mountain Whitefish
Prosopium williamsoni
Mountain whitefish have large scales, no spots and small mouths with no teeth. The general body color is a bronze-white or greenish white. In Alberta, this fish is often called Rocky Mountain whitefish or (incorrectly) grayling. Mountain whitefish feed primarily on bottom-dwelling aquatic insects, but will also feed on terrestrial insects on the surface. They have also been known to feed on other smaller fish and on fish eggs.
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
The brook trout is one of the most colorful trouts with a dark green back with pale wavy lines. The sides have a purple sheen with blue-haloed red spots and the lower fins have a black stripe behind a pale leading edge. Brook trout can be taken with all types of fishing lures and baits.

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